Metal‐Free Oxidative CC Bond Formation through CH Bond Functionalization

The formation of C?C bonds embodies the core of organic chemistry because of its fundamental application in generation of molecular diversity and complexity. C?C bond‐forming reactions are well‐known challenges. To achieve this goal through direct functionalization of C?H bonds in both of the coupling partners represents the state‐of‐the‐art in organic synthesis. Oxidative C?C bond formation obviates the need for prefunctionalization of both substrates. This Minireview is dedicated to the field of C?C bond‐forming reactions through direct C?H bond functionalization under completely metal‐free oxidative conditions. Selected important developments in this area have been summarized with representative examples and discussions on their reaction mechanisms.     

The Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling of CH Bonds: A Versatile Strategy for CC Bond Formations

Over the last decade, substantial research has led to the introduction of an impressive number of efficient procedures which allow the selective construction of C? C bonds by directly connecting two different C? H bonds under oxidative conditions. Common to these methodologies is the generation of the reactive intermediates in situ by activation of both C? H bonds. This strategy was introduced by the group of Li as cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) and discloses waste‐minimized synthetic alternatives to classic coupling procedures which rely on the use of prefunctionalized starting materials. This Review highlights the recent progress in the field of cross‐dehydrogenative C? C formations and provides a comprehensive overview on existing procedures and employed methodologies.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Domino CH/NH Functionalization: An Efficient Approach to Nitrogen‐Bridged Heteroacenes

Palladium‐catalyzed domino C?H/N?H functionalization for the synthesis of novel nitrogen‐bridged thienoacenes and 10H‐benzo[4,5]thieno[3,2‐b]indole derivatives from dihaloarene is reported. This domino sequence consists of initial C?H functionalization of the benzo[b]thiophene moiety, followed by Buchwald–Hartwig coupling. This transformation is also useful for the synthesis of highly π‐extended compounds.     

Enantioselective ortho‐CH Cross‐Coupling of Diarylmethylamines with Organoborons

The commonly used para‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl (nosyl) protecting group is employed to direct the C? H activation of amines for the first time. An enantioselective ortho‐C? H cross‐coupling between nosyl‐protected diarylmethylamines and arylboronic acid pinacol esters has been achieved utilizing chiral mono‐N‐protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands as a promoter.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling Reaction between Allylic CH Bonds and α‐CH Bonds of Ketones or Aldehydes

A dehydrogenative cross‐coupling reaction between allylic C?H bonds and the α‐C?H bond of ketones or aldehydes was developed using Cu(OTf)₂ as a catalyst and DDQ as an oxidant. This synthetic approach to γ,δ‐unsaturated ketones and aldehydes has the advantages of broad scope for both ketones and aldehydes as reactants, mild reaction conditions, good yields and atom economy. A plausible mechanism using Cu(OTf)₂ as a Lewis acid catalyst was also proposed (DDQ=2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone; Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonate).     

Synthesis of Dibenzo[c,e]oxepin‐5(7H)‐ones from Benzyl Thioethers and Carboxylic Acids: Rhodium‐Catalyzed Double CH Activation Controlled by Different Directing Groups

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of benzyl thioethers and aryl carboxylic acids through the two directing groups is reported. Useful structures with diverse substituents were efficiently synthesized in one step with the cleavage of four bonds (C? H, C? S, O? H) and the formation of two bonds (C? C, C? O). The formed structure is the privileged core in natural products and bioactive molecules. This work highlights the power of using two different directing groups to enhance the selectivity of a double C? H activation, the first of such examples in cross‐oxidative coupling.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed/Norbornene‐Mediated CH Activation/ N‐Tosylhydrazone Insertion Reaction: A Route to Highly Functionalized Vinylarenes

A straightforward method for the synthesis of highly functionalized vinylarenes through palladium‐catalyzed, norbornene‐mediated C?H activation/carbene migratory insertion is described. Extension to a one‐pot procedure is also developed. Furthermore, this method can also be used to generate polysubstituted bicyclic molecules. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions to give the products in satisfactory yields using readily available starting materials. This is a Catellani–Lautens reaction that incorporates different types of coupling partners. Additionally, this reaction is the first to demonstrate the possibility of combining Pd‐catalyzed insertion of diazo compounds and Pd‐catalyzed C?H activation.     

Modular Synthesis of Phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophenes by a Sequence of CH Activation,Suzuki Cross‐Coupling and Photocyclization Reactions

A total number of 15 different 3,4‐diarylthiophenes were synthesized, which bear a chlorine atom in ortho‐position of one of the aryl substituents. One aryl group was introduced by an oxidative cross‐coupling reaction, involving a C?H activation at C4(3) of the thiophene core. The other aryl group was in most cases introduced by a Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction, which succeeded the oxidative cross‐coupling step. Photocyclization reactions of the 3,4‐diarylthiophenes were performed in a solvent mixture of benzene and acetonitrile (50:50 v/v) at λ=254 nm and proceeded to the title compounds in yields of 60–82 %. The selectivity of the photocyclization was determined at the ortho‐chloro‐substituted aryl ring by the position of the chlorine substituent. At the other ring, a single regioisomer was observed for phenyl and para‐substituted phenyl groups. For 2‐naphthyl and ortho‐substituted phenyl rings a clear preference was observed in favor of a major regioisomer, while meta‐substitution in the phenyl ring led to a about 1:1 mixture of 5‐ and 7‐substituted phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophenes. Mechanistically, the photocyclization is likely to occur as a photochemically allowed, conrotatory [(4n+2)π] process accompanied by elimination of HCl. It was shown for two phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophene products that they can be readily brominated in positions C1 and C3 (74–77 %), which in turn allows for further functionalization at these positions, for example, in the course of halogen–metal exchange and polymerization reactions.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Annulative Coupling of 3‐Phenylthiophenes with Alkynes Involving Double C‐H Bond Cleavages

Double C?H bond activation took place efficiently upon treatment of 3‐phenylthiophenes with alkynes in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and a copper salt oxidant to form the corresponding naphthothiophene derivatives. Dehydrogenative coupling with alkenes was also found to occur on the phenyl moiety rather than the thiophene ring. These reactions provide straightforward synthetic methods for π‐conjugated molecules involving a thiophene unit from readily available, simple building blocks.     

Mechanistic Study on Rh‐Catalyzed Stereoselective CC/CH Activation of tert‐Cyclobutanols

A mechanistic study was performed on the Rh‐catalyzed stereoselective C?C/C?H activation of tert‐cyclobutanols. The present study corroborated the previous proposal that the reaction occurs by metalation, β‐C elimination, 1,4‐Rh transfer, C?O insertion, and a final catalyst‐regeneration step. The rate‐determining step was found to be the 1,4‐Rh transfer step, whereas the stereoselectivity‐determining step did not correspond to any of the aforementioned steps. It was found that both the thermodynamic stability of the product of the β‐C elimination and the kinetic feasibility of the 1,4‐Rh transfer and C?O insertion steps made important contributions. In other words, three steps (i.e., β‐C elimination, 1,4‐Rh transfer, and C?O insertion) were found to be important in determining the configurations of the two quaternary stereocenters.     

Carboxylic Acids as Traceless Directing Groups for the Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative CH Arylation of Thiophenes

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed carboxylic acid directed decarboxylative C? H/C? H cross‐coupling of carboxylic acids with thiophenes has been developed. With a slight adjustment of the reaction conditions based on the nature of the substrates, aryl carboxylic acids with a variety of substituents could serve as suitable coupling partners, and a broad variety of functional groups were tolerated. This method provides straightforward access to biaryl scaffolds with diverse substitution patterns, many of which have conventionally been synthesized through lengthy synthetic sequences. An illustrative example is the one‐step gram‐scale synthesis of a biologically active 3,5‐substituted 2‐arylthiophene by way of the current method.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed [3+3] Annulation between Diarylamines and α,β‐Unsaturated Acids through CH Activation: Direct Access to 4‐Substituted 2‐Quinolinones

A C?H activation strategy has been successfully employed for the high‐yielding synthesis of a diverse array of 4‐substituted 2‐quinolinone species by a palladium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling involving diarylamines. This intermolecular annulation approach incorporates readily available α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids as the coupling partner by suppressing the facile decarboxylation. Based on preliminary mechanistic studies, a reaction sequence is proposed, involving ortho palladation, π‐coordination, β‐migratory insertion, and β‐hydride elimination.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Dehydrogenative Functionalization of C(sp2)H Bonds

The catalytic cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction has received intense attention in recent years. The attractive feature of this coupling process is the formation of a C? C bond from two C? H moieties under oxidative conditions. In this Focus Review, recent advances in the palladium‐catalyzed CDC reactions of C(sp²)? H bond are summarized, with a focus on the period from 2011 to early 2013.     

Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Heck Reaction/CH Activation/Amination Sequence with Diaziridinone: A Facile Approach to Indolines

Indolines are important moieties present in various biologically significant molecules and have attracted considerable attention in synthetic chemistry. This paper describes a Heck reaction/C? H activation/amination sequence for forming indolines using di‐tert‐butyldiaziridinone. The reaction process likely proceeds via a pallada(II)cycle, which is converted into an indoline by oxidative addition to the diaziridinone and two subsequent C? N bond formations.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed CS and CN Functionalization of Arenes: Combination of CH Activation and Hypervalent Iodine Chemistry

Rhodium‐catalyzed sulfonylation, thioetherification, thiocyanation, and other heterofunctionalizations of arenes bearing a heterocyclic directing group have been realized. The reaction proceeds by initial Rh^III‐catalyzed C?H hyperiodination of arene at room temperature followed by uncatalyzed nucleophilic functionalization. A diaryliodonium salt is isolated as an intermediate, which represents umpolung of the arene substrate, in contrast to previous studies that suggested umpolung of the coupling partner.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Activation and Indole Synthesis With Hydrazone as an Auto‐Formed and Auto‐Cleavable Directing Group

An efficient, practical, and external‐oxidant‐free indole synthesis from readily available aryl hydrazines was developed, by using hydrazone as a directing group for Rh^III‐catalyzed C?H activation and alkyne annulation. The hydrazone group was formed by in situ condensation of hydrazines and C?O source, whereas its N?N bond was served as an internal oxidant, for which we termed it as an auto‐formed and auto‐cleavable directing group (DG^auto). This method needs no step for pre‐installation and post‐cleavage of the directing group, making it a quite easily scalable approach to access unprotected indoles with high step economy. The DG^auto strategy was also applicable for isoquinoline synthesis. In addition, synthetic utilities of this chemistry for rapid assembly of π‐extended nitrogen‐doped polyheterocycles and bioactive molecules were demonstrated.     

Mechanochemical Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Bond Functionalization of Acetanilides under Solventless Conditions in a Ball Mill

In a proof‐of‐principle study, a planetary ball mill was applied to rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C? H bond functionalization. Under solventless conditions and in the presence of a minute amount of Cu(OAc)₂, the mechanochemical activation led to the formation of an active rhodium species, thus enabling an oxidative Heck‐type cross‐coupling reaction with dioxygen as the terminal oxidant. The absence of an organic solvent, the avoidance of a high reaction temperature, the possibility of minimizing the amount of the metallic mediator, and the simplicity of the protocol result in a powerful and environmentally benign alternative to the common solution‐based standard protocol.     

Towards Ideal Synthesis: Alkenylation of Aryl CH Bonds by a Fujiwara–Moritani Reaction

An overview of recent progress in the Fujiwara–Moritani reaction, which is the palladium‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of arenes with olefins to afford alkenyl arenes, is described. It is emphasized that regioselectivity on aryl ortho‐ or meta‐C?H activation could be controlled very well in the presence of Pd, Rh, or Ru catalysts with the assistance of various chelation groups on aromatic rings in this coupling reaction. Catalytic alkenylation of aryl C?H bonds from simple arenes is also discussed, especially from electron‐deficient arenes. These advanced protocols would not only make the Fujiwara–Moritani reaction more useful and applicable in organic synthesis but also light the way for the further development of the functionalization of normal C?H bonds.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Regioselective Silylation of Aromatic and Benzylic CH Bonds Directed by a Secondary Amine

Reported herein is an iridium‐catalyzed, regioselective silylation of the aromatic C? H bonds of benzylamines and the benzylic C? H bonds of 2,N‐dialkylanilines. In this process, (hydrido)silyl amines, generated in situ by dehydrogenative coupling of benzylamine or aniline with diethylsilane, undergo selective silylation at the C? H bond γ to the amino group. The products of this silylation are suitable for subsequent oxidation, halogenation, and cross‐coupling reactions to deliver benzylamine and arylamine derivatives.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Acylation of Heteroarenes by sp2 CH Functionalization

Nickel‐catalyzed ligand‐free decarboxylative cross‐coupling of azole derivatives with α‐oxoglyoxylic acids has been developed. This work represents the first example of decarboxylative cross‐coupling reactions, in a C?H bond functionalization manner, through nickel catalysis, and tolerates various functional groups. Additionally, this approach provides an efficient access to azole ketones, an important structural motif in many medicinal compounds with a broad range of biological activities.