Palladium-Catalyzed Atroposelective Kinetic C−H Olefination and Allylation for the Synthesis of C−B Axial Chirality

The direct C−H functionalization of 1,2-benzazaborines, especially asymmetric version, remains a great challenge. Here we report a palladium-catalyzed enantioselective C−H olefination and allylation reactions of 1,2-benzazaborines. This asymmetric approach is a kinetic resolution (KR), providing various C−B axially chiral 2-aryl-1,2-benzazaborines and 3-substituted 2-aryl-1,2-benzazaborines in generally high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (selectivity (S) factor up to 354). The synthetic potential of this reaction is showcased by late-stage modification of complex molecules, scale-up reaction, and applications.     

CO2 Hydroboration: Impact of the Boryl Moieties on the Reactivity of Four Bis(boryl)acetal Compounds toward 2,6-Diisopropylaniline

The hydroboration of CO₂ into bis(boryl)acetal (BBA) compounds is an important transformation, since it enabled to selectively reduce CO₂ by 4e^- and to subsequently use the BBA compounds as C₁ and C_n sources. However, the influence of the nature of the boryl moieties on the reactivity of BBA compounds has not been evaluated so far. In the present study, four BBA compounds – including two new ones – were reacted with 2,6-diisopropylaniline to afford the expected imine. Significant differences in the rate of the reaction from minutes to weeks have been observed depending on the BBA used, showing the importance of the nature of the boryl moieties. Theoretical investigations enabled to propose a mechanism involving the addition of the aniline to the BBA as the rate-determining step and to determine that the steric hindrance of the BBA compounds is the main factor driving the rate of this condensation reaction.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Trifluoromethylated Allylic Alkylation of N-Substituted Glycine Ethyl Esters with α-(Trifluoromethyl)alkenyl Acetates

An efficient strategy for asymmetric trifluoromethylated allylic alkylation of easily available N-substituted glycine ethyl esters with α-(trifluoromethyl)alkenyl acetates has been developed. Catalyzed by a [Pd(C₃H₅)Cl]₂/(R)-BINAP, various trifluoromethyl-containing N-substituted glycine ethyl ester derivatives are afforded with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. The product can be readily converted into diverse fluoro-substituted species, which shows the practicability of this method.     

Tumor Carbohydrate Associated Antigen Analogs as Potential Binders for Siglec-7

We investigated two recently synthesized and characterized sialyl derivatives, bearing the Neu5Ac-α-(2-6)-Gal epitope, as promising binders for Siglec-7, an inhibitory Siglec mainly found on natural killer cells. A variety of sialoglycan structures can be recognized by Siglec-7 with implications in the modulation of immune responses. Notably, overexpression of sialylated glycans recognized by Siglec-7 can be associated with the progression of several tumors, including melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. NOE-based NMR techniques, including Saturation Transfer Difference and transferred-NOESY NMR, together with molecular docking and dynamic simulations were combined to shed light on the molecular basis of Siglec-7 recognition of two conformationally constrained Sialyl-Tn antigen analogs. We, therefore, identify the ligands epitope mapping and their conformational features and propose 3D models accurately describing the protein-ligand complexes. We found that the binding site of Siglec-7 can accommodate both synthetic analogs, with the sialic acid mainly involved in the interaction. Moreover, the flexibility of Siglec-7 loops allows a preferred accommodation of the more rigid compound bearing a biphenyl moiety at position 9 of the sialic acid that contributed to the interaction to a large extent. Our findings provided insights for developing potential novel high affinity ligands for Siglec-7 to hinder tumor evasion.     

Modular Synthesis of Triarylamines and Poly(triarylamine)s through a Radical Mechanism

A modular protocol for the triarylamine synthesis has been developed using diarylamines and electron-rich arenes, such as phenols, as the building blocks. The KI/KIO₄ system proves to be highly efficient for the cross-dehydrogenative coupling of phenothiazines/phenoxazines with phenols/anilines. A wide range of functional groups attached to both coupling partners were well tolerated. Through the manipulation of reaction temperatures, the sequential assembly of bis-triarylamines could be achieved to provide the unsymmetrically bis-aminated phenols efficiently. Furthermore, the multiple aminated polyphenols were rapidly constructed in good to high yields by a single operation.     

The meta and para OH Substitution Effect on C-Phenyl-Nitrilimine Bond-Shift Isomers

The geometric and electronic structure of 1,3-dipolar species, in particular of nitrile imines, can be surprisingly intricate. A particular example is the C-phenyl-nitrilimine, which exists as two energy minima that constitute bond-shift isomers. To examine the effect of substituents in the phenyl ring, here we investigate the meta and para OH substituted derivatives. These two nitrile imines were generated in an argon matrix by UV-irradiation of 2H-tetrazole precursors and found to photoisomerize to carbodiimides via 1H-diazirines. The different effects of the OH substitution in meta and para positions on the bond-shift isomerism are rationalized with the support of Natural Resonance Theory and Hirshfeld atomic charges. The understanding of how substitution affects the structural characteristics of C-phenyl-nitrilimines, opens a door to modulate the chemistry of those compounds (e. g. in cycloaddition reactions) by appropriate tuning of their substitution (substituent type and position).     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazine Derivatives via Cross-1,3-dipolar Cyclizations of Azaoxyallyl Cations with N,N′-Cyclic Azomethine Imines

A cross-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of α-halohydroxamates (in situ generated azaoxyallyl cations) with N,N′-cyclic azomethine imines was developed. The synthetic protocol provided facile and rapid access to pyrazolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazine derivatives in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities under mild metal-free conditions.     

Pd(II)/Lewis Acid Catalyzed Intramolecular Oxidative C−H Amination to Construct Carbazoles with Dioxygen

Transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative C−H amination reactions are among the most attractive topics in organic synthesis to construct nitrogen-containing motifs. The challenge is that most of these reactions employed stoichiometric oxidants to achieve satisfied catalytic efficiencies. Herein, we report a Pd(II)/LA-catalyzed (LA: Lewis acid) oxidative C−H amination reaction of 2-acetaminobiphenyls to construct carbazoles by using dioxygen balloon as the sole oxidant source, and the presence of LA sharply improved the catalytic efficiency of Pd(OAc)₂. Remarkably, in certain cases, the deacetylation of the annulation product happened under standard conditions to afford free carbazoles as the final product. The H/D exchange studies confirmed the reversibility of C−H activation and also disclosed multiple C−H activation sites by using −NAc and −NTs as the directing groups. In addition, the palladacycle compound was identified through ¹H NMR characterizations and proved to be the intermediate prior to the carbazole formation.     

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Aza-Friedel–Crafts Reaction of Indolizines with 2-Aryl-3H-indol-3-ones

A Friedel–Crafts reaction of indolizines with 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones catalyzed by B(C₆F₅)₃ is described. This protocol gives access to indolizine derivatives that are valuable building blocks in synthetic and pharmaceutical chemistry. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, affording various C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones based on indolizine with high yields and regioselectivities. Moreover, the synthetic transformations of the target products were realized by N-methylation and trifluoromethane sulfonation.     

Vibrational Properties of LaNb0.8M0.2O4-δ (M=As,Sb, V,and Ta)

LaNb_0.8M_0.2O_4-δ (where M=As, Sb, V, and Ta) oxides with pentavalent elements of different ionic sizes were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The vibrational properties of these oxides have been investigated. These studies revealed that the substituent element influences both Debye temperature value as well as the Raman active vibrational modes. Additionally, the low-temperature vibrational properties of LaNb_0.8Sb_0.2O_4-δ have been determined to show the phase transition occurrence at 260 K which is lower than previously reported.