N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(III) Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)–H Amination of Alkyl Azides

Metal‐catalyzed intramolecular C?H amination of alkyl azides constitutes an appealing approach to alicyclic amines; challenges remain in broadening substrate scope, enhancing regioselectivity, and applying the method to natural product synthesis. Herein we report an iron(III) porphyrin bearing axial N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands which catalyzes the intramolecular C(sp³)–H amination of a wide variety of alkyl azides under microwave‐assisted and thermal conditions, resulting in selective amination of tertiary, benzylic, allylic, secondary, and primary C?H bonds with up to 95 % yield. 14 out of 17 substrates were cyclized selectively at C4 to give pyrrolidines. The regioselectivity at C4 or C5 could be tuned by modifying the reactivity of the C5–H bond. Mechanistic studies revealed a concerted or a fast re‐bound mechanism for the amination reaction. The reaction has been applied to the syntheses of tropane, nicotine, cis‐octahydroindole, and leelamine derivatives.     

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.     

Palladium/Norbornene‐Mediated Tandem CH Amination/CI Alkenylation Reaction of Aryl Iodides with Secondary Cyclic O‐Benzoyl Hydroxylamines and Activated Terminal Olefins

A novel palladium‐catalyzed norbornene‐mediated three‐component reaction for the construction of ortho‐alkenyl aromatic tertiary amines has been achieved, which represents a useful extension of the Catellani‐type tandem ortho‐selective C?H amination transformations.     

Whole‐Cell Biocatalysts for Stereoselective C−H Amination Reactions

Enantiomerically pure chiral amines are ubiquitous chemical building blocks in bioactive pharmaceutical products and their synthesis from simple starting materials is of great interest. One of the most attractive strategies is the stereoselective installation of a chiral amine through C?H amination, which is a challenging chemical transformation. Herein we report the application of a multienzyme cascade, generated in a single bacterial whole‐cell system, which is able to catalyze stereoselective benzylic aminations with ee values of 97.5 %. The cascade uses four heterologously expressed recombinant enzymes with cofactors provided by the host cell and isopropyl amine added as the amine donor. The cascade presents the first example of the successful de novo design of a single whole‐cell biocatalyst for formal stereoselective C?H amination.     

2,4‐Dinitrophenol‐Catalyzed α‐C(sp3)−H and C(sp)−H Bond Functionalization of Cyclic Amines and Alkynes: Highly Regio‐/Diastereoselective Synthesis of α‐Alkynyl‐3‐Amino‐2‐Oxindoles

A transition‐metal‐ and oxidant‐free DNP (2,4‐dinitrophenol)‐catalyzed atom‐economical regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of monofunctionalized α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole derivatives by C?H bond functionalization of cyclic amines and alkynes with indoline‐2,3‐diones has been developed. This cascade event sequentially involves the reductive amination of indoline‐2,3‐dione by imine formation and cross coupling between C(sp³)?H and C(sp)?H of the cyclic amines and alkynes. This reaction offers an efficient and attractive pathway to different types of α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole derivatives in good yields with a wide tolerance of functional groups. The salient feature of this methodology is that it completely suppresses the homocoupling of alkynes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a DNP‐catalyzed metal‐free direct C(sp³)?H and C(sp)?H bond functionalization providing biologically active α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole scaffolds.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Amination of Heteroarenes and Arenes by C?H Zincation

Direct amination of heteroarenes and arenes has been achieved in a one‐pot C H zincation/copper‐catalyzed electrophilic amination procedure. This amination method provides an efficient and rapid approach to access a diverse range of heteroaromatic and aromatic amines including those previously inaccessible using C H amination methods. The mild reaction conditions and good functional‐group compatibility demonstrate its great potential for the synthesis of important and complex amines.     

Direct sp3 C?H Amination of Nitrogen‐Containing Benzoheterocycles Mediated by Visible‐Light‐Photoredox Catalysts

Visible‐light‐mediated direct sp³ C? H amination of benzocyclic amines via α‐aminoalkyl radicals by using photoredox catalysts is described here. The obtained N,N‐acetals were also successfully applied for carbon–carbon bond forming reactions with carbon nucleophiles. The procedure is suitable for a late‐stage modification of C? H bonds to C? C bonds.     

Heterogeneously Porous γ‐MnO2‐Catalyzed Direct Oxidative Amination of Benzoxazole through CH Activation in the Presence of O2

Oxidative amination of azoles through catalytic C? H bond activation is a very important reaction due to the presence of 2‐aminoazoles in several biologically active compounds. However, most of the reported methods are performed under homogeneous reaction conditions using excess reagents and additives. Herein, we report the heterogeneous, porous γ‐MnO₂‐catalyzed direct amination of benzoxazole with wide range of primary and secondary amines. The amination was carried under mild reaction conditions and using molecular oxygen as a green oxidant, without any additives. The catalyst can easily be separated by filtration and reused several times without a significant loss of its catalytic performance. Of note, the reaction tolerates a functional group such as alcohol, thus indicating the broad applicability of this reaction.     

A Metal–Organic Framework with Exceptional Activity for C−H Bond Amination

The development of catalysts capable of fast, robust C?H bond amination under mild conditions is an unrealized goal despite substantial progress in the field of C?H activation in recent years. A Mn‐based metal–organic framework (CPF‐5) is described that promotes the direct amination of C?H bonds with exceptional activity. CPF‐5 is capable of functionalizing C?H bonds in an intermolecular fashion with unrivaled catalytic stability producing >10⁵ turnovers.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Amination and Allylic Amination of Alkenes

Enamines and enamides are useful synthetic intermediates and common components of bioactive compounds. A new protocol for their direct synthesis by a net alkene C? H amination and allylic amination by using catalytic Cu^II in the presence of MnO₂ is reported. Reactions between N‐aryl sulfonamides and vinyl arenes furnish enamides, allylic amines, indoles, benzothiazine dioxides, and dibenzazepines directly and efficiently. Control experiments further showed that MnO₂ alone can promote the reaction in the absence of a copper salt, albeit with lower efficiency. Mechanistic probes support the involvement of nitrogen‐radical intermediates. This method is ideal for the synthesis of enamides from 1,1‐disubstituted vinyl arenes, which are uncommon substrates in existing oxidative amination protocols.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Amination of Aryl‐ and Heteroarylzinc Pivalates with N‐Hydroxylamine Benzoates

Aryl‐ and heteroarylzinc pivalates can be aminated with O‐benzoylhydroxylamines at 25 °C within 2–4 h in the presence of 2.5–5.0 % CoCl₂?2 LiCl to furnish the corresponding tertiary arylated or heteroarylated amines in good yields. This electrophilic amination also provides access to diarylamines and aryl(heteroaryl)amines. A new tuberculosis drug candidate (Q203) was prepared in six steps and 56 % overall yield by using this cobalt‐catalyzed amination as the key step.     

Ligand‐Promoted Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho‐C−H Amination with Free Amines

Ligand development for rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C−H activation reactions has largely been limited to cyclopentadienyl (Cp) based scaffolds. 2‐Methylquinoline has now been identified as a feasible ligand that can coordinate to the metal center of Cp*RhCl to accelerate the cleavage of the C−H bond of N ‐pentafluorophenylbenzamides, providing a new structural lead for ligand design. The compatibility of this reaction with secondary free amines and anilines also overcomes the limitations of palladium(II)‐catalyzed C−H amination reactions.     

Chemoselective Amination of Propargylic C(sp3)H Bonds by Cobalt(II)‐Based Metalloradical Catalysis

Highly chemoselective intramolecular amination of propargylic C(sp³)? H bonds has been demonstrated for N‐bishomopropargylic sulfamoyl azides through cobalt(II)‐based metalloradical catalysis. Supported by D_2h‐symmetric amidoporphyrin ligand 3,5‐Di^tBu‐IbuPhyrin, the cobalt(II)‐catalyzed C? H amination proceeds effectively under neutral and nonoxidative conditions without the need of any additives, and generates N₂ as the only byproduct. The metalloradical amination is suitable for both secondary and tertiary propargylic C? H substrates with an unusually high degree of functional‐group tolerance, thus providing a direct method for high‐yielding synthesis of functionalized propargylamine derivatives.     

Copper‐Catalyzed α‐Amination of Phosphonates and Phosphine Oxides: A Direct Approach to α‐Amino Phosphonic Acids and Derivatives

A direct approach to important α‐amino phosphonic acids and its derivatives has been developed by using copper‐catalyzed electrophilic amination of α‐phosphonate zincates with O‐acyl hydroxylamines. This amination provides the first example of C? N bond formation which directly introduces acyclic and cyclic amines to the α‐position of phosphonates in one step. The reaction is readily promoted at room temperature with as little as 0.5 mol % of catalyst, and demonstrates high efficiency on a broad substrate scope.     

Selective Reductive Elimination at Alkyl Palladium(IV) by Dissociative Ligand Ionization: Catalytic C(sp3)−H Amination to Azetidines

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed γ‐C?H amination of cyclic alkyl amines to deliver highly substituted azetidines is reported. The use of a benziodoxole tosylate oxidant in combination with AgOAc was found to be crucial for controlling a selective reductive elimination pathway to the azetidines. The process is tolerant of a range of functional groups, including structural features derived from chiral α‐amino alcohols, and leads to the diastereoselective formation of enantiopure azetidines.     

A theoretical investigation on palladium‐catalyzed one‐pot coupling of aryl iodides,alkynes, and amines through CN bond cleavage for the synthesis of indole derivatives

Detailed mechanism of one‐pot coupling of aryl iodides, alkynes, and amines catalyzed by a palladium complexes is studied using density functional theory. The reaction of three‐component proceeds in four steps after the insertion of alkyne into C? I bond. The four‐component case comprises eight steps incorporating two times of nucleophilic addition. The C? N bond cleavage is rate‐limiting. The reaction sequence is maintained the same. The function of metal Pd is reflected by the coordination ability and electrophility of different oxidation state. The high selectivity of ligand is originated from the style of electron distribution in C? N bond cleavage and amination steps. We also discuss the amination from a bonding orbital matching perspective by means of frontier molecular orbital analysis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Nucleophilic Iron Complexes in Proton‐Transfer Catalysis: An Iron‐Catalyzed Dimroth Cyclocondensation

The nucleophilic iron complex Bu₄N[Fe(CO)₃(NO)] (TBA[Fe]) is an active catalyst in C?H‐amination but also in proton‐transfer catalysis. Herein, we describe the successful use of this complex as a proton‐transfer catalyst in the cyclocondensation reaction between azides and ketones to the corresponding 1,2,3‐triazoles. Cross‐experiments indicate that the proton‐transfer catalysis is significantly faster than the nitrene‐transfer catalysis, which would lead to the C?H amination product. An example of a successful sequential Dimroth triazole–indoline synthesis to the corresponding triazole‐substituted indolines is presented.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Amination of Allenyl Phosphates: Enantioselective Synthesis of Allenes with an Additional Unsaturated Unit

A highly enantioselective Pd‐catalyzed amination of allenyl phosphates generating 2,3‐allenyl amines with central chirality has been developed. Under the optimized conditions, chiral 2,3‐allenyl amines with or without (an) additional C? C double or triple bond(s) have been prepared at 0 °C with up to 90 % yield and 94 % ee by identifying (R)‐3,4,5‐(MeO)₃‐MeOBIPHEP as the ligand.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Direct Amination of Unactivated C(sp3)−H bond with Anthranils Under Mild Conditions

C?N Bond formation is of great significance due to the ubiquity of nitrogen‐containing compounds. Here, a mild and efficient Rh^III‐catalyzed C(sp³)?H aryl amination reaction is reported. Anthranil is employed as the nitrogen source with 100 % atom efficiency. This C?H amination reaction exhibits broad substrate scope without using any external oxidants. Mechanistic studies including rhodacycle intermediates, H–D exchange, kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiments, and in situ IR are presented.     

Regioselective Insertion of o‐Carborynes into the α‐CH Bond of Tertiary Amines: Synthesis of α‐Carboranylated Amines

o‐Carboryne can undergo α‐C? H bond insertion with tertiary amines, thus affording α‐carboranylated amines in very good regioselectivity and isolated yields. In this process, the nucleophilic addition of tertiary amines to the multiple bond of o‐carboryne generates a zwitterionic intermediate. An intramolecular proton transfer, followed by a nucleophilic attack leads to the formation of the final product. Thus, regioselectivity is highly dependent upon the acidity of α‐C? H proton of tertiary amines. This approach serves as an efficient methodology for the preparation of a series of 1‐aminoalkyl‐o‐carboranes.