Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Isochromenes by CH Activation with Weakly Coordinating Aliphatic Hydroxyl Groups

Cationic ruthenium(II) complexes have been employed for the highly effective oxidative annulation of alkynes with benzyl alcohols to deliver diversely decorated isochromenes. The hydroxyl‐directed C?H/O?H functionalization process proceeded efficiently under an atmosphere of air. Detailed mechanistic studies were indicative of a kinetically relevant C?H metalation.     

Rh(III)‐Catalyzed Denitrogenative [4+2] Annulation of Benzamides and 3‐Diazoindolin‐2‐imines: Expedient Access to Indolo[2,3‐c] isoquinolin‐5‐ones

An effective and pragmatic strategy for the synthesis of structurally diverse indolo[2,3‐c]isoquinolin‐5‐ones has been developed via a Rh(III)‐catalyzed C?H activation and [4+2] annulation reaction of N‐methoxybenzamides and 3‐diazoindolin‐2‐imines. The reaction involves the efficient formation of two new (one C?C and one C?N) bonds under operationally simple conditions and has the benefits of a broad substrate scope.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Redox‐Neutral Annulation of Tethered Alkynes: Formal Total Synthesis of (±)‐Goniomitine

A Rh^III‐catalyzed intramolecular redox‐neutral atom‐economic annulation of a tethered alkyne has been developed to efficiently construct 2‐amidealkyl indoles with completely reversed regioselectivity by a C?H activation pathway. Furthermore, using the Rh^III‐catalyzed C?H activation/annulation as a key step, a one‐pot synthesis of pyrido[1,2‐a]indoles has also been developed and applied to a highly efficient formal total synthesis of (±)‐goniomitine.     

Hydrogen bonding in 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine, 2‐benzylamino‐4,6‐bis(benzyloxy)pyrimidine and 2‐amino‐4,6‐bis(N‐pyrrolidino)pyrimidine: chains of fused rings and a centrosymmetric dimer

Molecules of 2‐amino‐4,6‐di­methoxy­pyrimidine, C₆H₉N₃O₂, (I), are linked by two N—H?N hydrogen bonds [H?N 2.23 and 2.50 Å, N?N 3.106 (2) and 3.261 (2) Å, and N—H?N 171 and 145°] into a chain of fused rings, where alternate rings are generated by centres of inversion and twofold rotation axes. Adjacent chains are linked by aromatic π–π‐stacking interactions to form a three‐dimensional framework. In 2‐­benzylamino‐4,6‐bis(benzyloxy)pyrimidine, C₂₅H₂₃N₃O₂, (II), the mol­ecules are linked into centrosymmetric R(8) dimers by paired N—H?N hydrogen bonds [H?N 2.13 Å, N?N 2.997 (2) Å and N—H?N 170°]. Molecules of 2‐amino‐4,6‐bis(N‐pyrrolidino)­pyrimidine, C₁₂H₁₉N₅, (III), are linked by two N—H?N hydrogen bonds [H?N 2.34 and 2.38 Å, N?N 3.186 (2) and 3.254 (2) Å, and N—H?N 163 and 170°] into a chain of fused rings similar to that in (I).     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation of 5‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrroles with Internal Alkynes through C(sp2)H/Alkene Functionalization

This study describes a new rhodium(III)‐catalyzed [3+2] annulation of 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrroles with internal alkynes using a Cu(OAc)₂ oxidant for building a spirocyclic ring system, which includes the functionalization of an aryl C(sp²)? H bond and addition/protonolysis of an alkene C?C bond. This method is applicable to a wide range of 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrroles and internal alkynes, and results in the assembly of the spiro[indene‐1,2′‐pyrrolidine] architectures in good yields with excellent regioselectivities.     

Methylenecyclopropane Annulation by Manganese(I)‐Catalyzed Stereoselective C−H/C−C Activation

C−H/C−C functionalizations with methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) were accomplished with a versatile base‐metal catalyst. A robust manganese(I) complex enabled the expedient annulation of MCPs by synthetically meaningful ketimines to deliver, upon one‐pot hydroarylation, densely substituted polycylic anilines in a step‐economical fashion. Mechanistic studies provided strong support for a facile organometallic C−H manganation, while typical cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium catalysts were found completely ineffective.     

C7‐Indole Amidations and Alkenylations by Ruthenium(II) Catalysis

C7?H‐functionalized indoles are ubiquitous structural units of biological and pharmaceutical compounds for numerous antiviral agents against SARS‐CoV or HIV‐1. Thus, achieving site‐selective functionalizations of the C7?H position of indoles, while discriminating among other bonds, is in high demand. Herein, we disclose site‐selective C7?H activations of indoles by ruthenium(II) biscarboxylate catalysis under mild conditions. Base‐assisted internal electrophilic‐type substitution C?H ruthenation by weak O‐coordination enabled the C7?H functionalization of indoles and offered a broad scope, including C?N and C?C bond formation. The versatile ruthenium‐catalyzed C7?H activations were characterized by gram‐scale syntheses and the traceless removal of the directing group, thus providing easy access to pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds. Detailed mechanistic studies through spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses shed light on the unique nature of the robust ruthenium catalysis for the functionalization of the C7?H position of indoles.     

Arene‐Free Ruthenium(II/IV)‐Catalyzed Bifurcated Arylation for Oxidative C−H/C−H Functionalizations

Experimental and computational studies provide detailed insight into the selectivity‐ and reactivity‐controlling factors in bifurcated ruthenium‐catalyzed direct C?H arylations and dehydrogenative C?H/C?H functionalizations. Thorough investigations revealed the importance of arene‐ligand‐free complexes for the formation of biscyclometalated intermediates within a ruthenium(II/IV/II) mechanistic manifold.     

Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Spirobenzofuranones by a Decarbonylative Annulation Reaction

The first decarbonylative insertion of an alkyne through C?H/C?C activation of six‐membered compounds is reported. The Ru‐catalyzed reaction of 3‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐chromones with alkynes works most efficiently in the presence of the ligand PPh₃ to provide spiro‐indenebenzofuranones. Unlike previously reported metal‐catalyzed decarbonylative annulation reactions, in the present decarbonylative annulation reaction, the annulation occurs before extrusion of carbon monoxide.     

A ruthenium(II) complex with p‐cymene and (S)‐2‐(anilinomethyl)pyrrolidine

The title compound, [(S)‐2‐(anilino­methyl)­pyrrolidine‐N,N′]‐chloro(η⁶‐para‐cymene)­ruthenium(II) chloride, [RuCl‐(C₁₀H₁₄)(C₁₁H₁₆N₂)]Cl, has been synthesized by the reaction of [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)]₂ (p‐cymene is para‐iso­propyl­toluene) with (S)‐2‐(anilinomethyl)­pyrrolidine in triethyl­amine/2‐propanol. The Ru atom is in a pseudo‐tetrahedral environment coordinated by a chloride ligand, the aromatic hydro­carbon is linked in a η⁶ manner and the amine is linked via its two N atoms. The chloride anion is involved in hydrogen bonding with the di­amine moieties through N—H?Cl interactions, with N?Cl distances of 3.273 (4) and 3.352 (4) Å.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and DNA Interaction Studies of the Ruthenium(II) Complexes [Ru(bpy)2(ipbp)]2+ and [Ru(ipbp)(phen)2]2+ (ipbp=3‐(1H‐Imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthrolin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one; bpy=2,2′‐Bipyridine; phen=1,10‐Phenanthroline)

A novel ligand 3‐(1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthrolin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one (ipbp) and its ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(bpy)₂(ipbp)]²⁺ ( 1 ) and [Ru(ipbp)(phen)₂]²⁺ ( 2 ) (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and mass, ¹H‐NMR, and electronic‐absorption spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of the complexes was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The DNA‐binding behavior of the complexes was investigated by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. The results indicate that complexes 1 and 2 bind with calf‐thymus DNA in an intercalative mode. In addition, 1 and 2 promote cleavage of plasmid pBR 322 DNA from the supercoil form I to the open circular form II upon irradiation.     

Exploring Bis(cyclometalated) Ruthenium(II) Complexes as Active Catalyst Precursors: Room‐Temperature Alkene–Alkyne Coupling for 1,3‐Diene Synthesis

Described is the development of a new class of bis(cyclometalated) ruthenium(II) catalyst precursors for C? C coupling reactions between alkene and alkyne substrates. The complex [(cod)Ru(3‐methallyl)₂] reacts with benzophenone imine or benzophenone in a 1:2 ratio to form bis(cyclometalated) ruthenium(II) complexes ( 1 ). The imine‐ligated complex 1 a promoted room‐temperature coupling between acrylic esters and amides with internal alkynes to form 1,3‐diene products. A proposed catalytic cycle involves C? C bond formation by oxidative cyclization, β‐hydride elimination, and C? H bond reductive elimination. This Ru^II/Ru^IV pathway is consistent with the observed catalytic reactivity of 1 a for mild tail‐to‐tail methyl acrylate dimerization and for cyclobutene formation by [2+2] norbornene/alkyne cycloaddition.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed [3+2]/[5+2] Annulation of 4‐Aryl 1,2,3‐Triazoles with Internal Alkynes through Dual C(sp2)H Functionalization

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed [3+2]/[5+2] annulation of 4‐aryl 1‐tosyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles with internal alkynes is presented. This transformation provides straightforward access to indeno[1,7‐cd]azepine architectures through a sequence involving the formation of a rhodium(III) azavinyl carbene, dual C(sp²)? H functionalization, and [3+2]/[5+2] annulation.     

Metal‐Catalyzed Annulation Reactions for π‐Conjugated Polycycles

The progress of the metal‐catalyzed annulation reactions toward construction of various π‐conjugated polycyclic cores with high conjugation extension is described. This article gives a brief overview of various annulation reactions promoted by metal catalysts including C?H bond functionalization, [2+2+2] cycloaddition, cascade processes, ring closing metathesis, electrophilic aromatization, and various cross‐coupling reactions. A variety of conjugated polycycles with planar, bowl‐shaped, and helical structures have been constructed in high efficiency and selectivity.     

Divergent Reactivity in Palladium‐Catalyzed Annulation with Diarylamines and α,β‐Unsaturated Acids: Direct Access to Substituted 2‐Quinolinones and Indoles

A palladium‐catalyzed C?H activation strategy has been successfully employed for exclusive synthesis of a variety of 3‐substituted indoles. A [3+3] annulation for synthesizing substituted 2‐quinolinones was recently developed by reaction of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with diarylamines under acidic conditions. In the present work, an analogous [3+2] annulation is achieved from the same set of starting materials under basic conditions to generate 1,3‐disubstituted indoles exclusively. Mechanistic studies revealed an ortho‐palladation–π‐coordination–β‐migratory insertion–β‐hydride elimination reaction sequence to be operative under the reaction conditions.     

Iron‐Carbonyl‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral [4+2] Annulation of N−H Imines and Internal Alkynes by C−H Bond Activation

Stoichiometric C?H bond activation of arenes mediated by iron carbonyls was reported by Pauson as early as in 1965, yet the catalytic C?H transformations have not been developed. Herein, an iron‐catalyzed annulation of N?H imines and internal alkynes to furnish cis‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinolines is described, and represents the first iron‐carbonyl‐catalyzed C?H activation reaction of arenes. Remarkablely, this is also the first redox‐neutral [4+2] annulation of imines and alkynes proceeding by C?H activation. The reaction also features only cis stereoselectivity and excellent atom economy as neither base, nor external ligand, nor additive is required. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal an oxidative addition mechanism for C?H bond activation to afford a dinuclear ferracycle and a synergetic diiron‐promoted H‐transfer to the alkyne as the turnover‐determining step.     

Di­iodo­bis(1‐methyl‐1,3‐imidazolium‐2‐thiol­ato‐S)­mercury(II)

The reaction of 1‐methyl‐1,3‐imidazole‐2‐thione (meimtH) with mercury(II) iodide in methanol in a 2:1 molar ratio resulted in the formation of single crystals of the title compound, [HgI₂(C₄H₆N₂S)₂]. The Hg atom is coordinated by two I [2.7809 (9) and 2.7999 (8) Å] and two thione S atoms [2.520 (3) and 2.576 (3) Å] with irregular tetrahedral coordination geometry. The NH groups of the imidazole ring take part in intra‐ and intermolecular hydrogen bonds with I atoms [N?I 3.596 (8) and 3.611 (9) Å, respectively] joining mol­ecules into infinite chains parallel to the z axis.     

Adducts of 1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­ethane with 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)­ethane and 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)­ethene: continuously interwoven structures in three dimensions

In the adduct 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)­ethane–1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­ethane (1/2), C₁₂H₁₂N₂·2C₂₀H₁₈O₃, the bipyridyl component lies across an inversion centre in P. The tris‐phenol mol­ecules [systematic name: 4,4′,4′′‐(ethane‐1,1,1‐triyl)­triphenol] are linked by O—H?O hydrogen bonds to form sheets built from R(38) rings, and symmetry‐related pairs of sheets are linked by the bipyridyl mol­ecules via O—H?N hydrogen bonds to form open bilayers. Each bilayer is interwoven with two adjacent bilayers, forming a continuous three‐dimensional structure. In the adduct 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)­ethene–1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­ethane–methanol (1/1/1), C₁₂H₁₀N₂·C₂₀H₁₈O₃·CH₄O, the mol­ecules are linked by O—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds into three interwoven three‐dimensional frameworks, generated by single spiral chains along [010] and [001] and a triple‐helical spiral along [100].     

Merging Photochemistry with Electrochemistry: Functional‐Group Tolerant Electrochemical Amination of C(sp3)−H Bonds

Direct amination of C(sp³)?H bonds is of broad interest in the realm of C?H functionalization because of the prevalence of nitrogen heterocycles and amines in pharmaceuticals and natural products. Reported here is a combined electrochemical/photochemical method for dehydrogenative C(sp³)?H/N?H coupling that exhibits good reactivity with both sp² and sp³ N?H bonds. The results show how use of iodide as an electrochemical mediator, in combination with light‐induced cleavage of intermediate N?I bonds, enables the electrochemical process to proceed at low electrode potentials. This approach significantly improves the functional‐group compatibility of electrochemical C?H amination, for example, tolerating electron‐rich aromatic groups that undergo deleterious side reactions in the presence of high electrode potentials.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Tandem [2+2+2] Annulation–Lactamization of Anilides with Two Alkynoates via Cleavage of Two Adjacent C−H or C−H/C−O bonds

An electron‐deficient Cp^E rhodium(III) complex bearing a cyclopentadienyl ligand with two ethyl ester substituents catalyzes the tandem [2+2+2] annulation–lactamization of acetanilides with two alkynoates via cleavage of adjacent two C?H bonds to give densely substituted benzo[cd]indolones. The reactions of meta‐methoxy‐substituted acetanilides with two alkynoates also provided benzo[cd]indolones via cleavage of adjacent C?H/C?O bonds. Furthermore, 3,5‐dimethoxyacetanilides reacted with two alkynoates to give dearomatized spiro compounds.