Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Alkynylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Palladium‐catalyzed regio‐ and diastereoselective C?H functionalization with bromoalkynes and electronically unbiased olefins is reported. The picolinamide directing group enables the formation of putative 5 and 6‐exo‐metallacycles as intermediates to afford monoalkynylated products in up to 91 % yield in a stereospecific fashion. The systematic study reveals that substrates with a wide range of substituents on the olefin and bromoalkyne coupling partners are tolerated. Chemoselective transformations were demonstrated for the obtained amides, olefins, and alkynes.     

Thioketone‐Directed Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C−H Arylation of Ferrocenes with Aryl Boronic Acids

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed thioketone‐chelation‐assisted direct C?H arylation of ferrocenes is described. With thioketone as an efficient directing group, various monoaryl‐ and diaryl‐substituted thiocarbonylferrocenes were obtained by palladium‐catalyzed direct C?H functionalization in high yields under mild and base‐free reaction conditions. Furthermore, the arylated thiocarbonylferrocene could undergo diverse transformations.     

Mild and Efficient Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Trifluoroethylation of Aromatic Systems by C−H Activation

The introduction of trifluoroalkyl groups into aromatic molecules is an important transformation in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry. However, the direct installation of fluoroalkyl groups onto aromatic molecules still represents a challenging and highly demanding synthetic task. Herein, a simple trifluoroethylation process that relies on the palladium‐catalyzed C?H activation of aromatic compounds is described. With the utilization of a highly active trifluoroethyl(mesityl)iodonium salt, the developed catalytic method enables the first highly efficient and selective trifluoroethylation of aromatic compounds. The robust catalytic procedure provides the desired products in up to 95 % yield at 25 °C in 1.5 to 3 hours and tolerates a broad range of functional groups. The utilization of hypervalent reagents opens new synthetic possibilities for direct alkylations and fluoroalkylations in the field of transition‐metal‐catalyzed C?H activation.     

Axially Chiral Dibenzazepinones by a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Atropo‐enantioselective C−H Arylation

Atropo‐enantioselective C?H functionalization reactions are largely limited to the dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl substrates through the introduction of steric bulk proximal to the axis of chirality. Reported herein is a highly atropo‐enantioselective palladium(0)‐catalyzed methodology that forges the axis of chirality during the C?H functionalization process, enabling the synthesis of axially chiral dibenzazepinones. Computational investigations support experimentally determined racemization barriers, while also indicating C?H functionalization proceeds by an enantio‐determining CMD to yield configurationally stable eight‐membered palladacycles.     

Enantioselective Access to 1H‐Isoindoles with Quaternary Stereogenic Centers by Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed C−H Functionalization

A catalytic enantioselective method for the synthesis of chiral 1H‐isoindoles bearing quaternary stereogenic centers is reported. Powered by readily accessible phosphordiamidite ligands, the presented palladium(0)‐catalyzed C?H functionalization uses trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides as electrophilic components. It delivers previously inaccessible perfluoroalkylated 1H‐isoindoles in high yields and enantioselectivities. The subsequent diastereoselective addition of nucleophiles provides access to densely substituted and sterically hindered isoindolines.     

Palladium/Norbornene‐Catalyzed C−H Alkylation/Alkyne Insertion/Indole Dearomatization Domino Reaction: Assembly of Spiroindolenine‐Containing Pentacyclic Frameworks

Reported is a highly chemoselective intermolecular annulation of indole‐based biaryls with bromoalkyl alkynes by using palladium/norbornene (Pd/NBE) cooperative catalysis. This reaction is realized through a sequence of Catellani‐type C?H alkylation, alkyne insertion, and indole dearomatization, by forming two C(sp²)?C(sp³) and one C(sp²)?C(sp²) bonds in a single chemical operation, thus providing a diverse range of pentacyclic molecules, containing a spiroindolenine fragment, in good yields with excellent functional‐group tolerance. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that C?H bond cleavage is likely involved in the rate‐determining step, and the indole dearomatization might take place through an olefin coordination/insertion and β‐hydride elimination Heck‐type pathway.     

Chiral Bifunctional Phosphine‐Carboxylate Ligands for Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C−H Arylation

Previous enantioselective Pd⁰‐catalyzed C?H activation reactions proceeding via the concerted metalation‐deprotonation mechanism employed either a chiral ancillary ligand, a chiral base, or a bimolecular mixture thereof. This study describes the development of new chiral bifunctional ligands based on a binaphthyl scaffold which incorporates both a phosphine and a carboxylic acid moiety. The optimal ligand provided high yields and enantioselectivities for a desymmetrizing C(sp²)?H arylation leading to 5,6‐dihydrophenanthridines, whereas the corresponding monofunctional ligands showed low enantioselectivities. The bifunctional system proved applicable to a range of substituted dihydrophenanthridines, and allowed the parallel kinetic resolution of racemic substrates.     

1,4‐Iron Migration for Expedient Allene Annulations through Iron‐Catalyzed C−H/N−H/C−O/C−H Functionalizations

C?H activation bears great potential for enabling sustainable molecular syntheses in a step‐ and atom‐economical manner, with major advances having been realized with precious 4d and 5d transition metals. In contrast, we employed earth abundant, nontoxic iron catalysts for versatile allene annulations through a unique C?H/N?H/C?O/C?H functionalization sequence. The powerful iron catalysis occurred under external‐oxidant‐free conditions even at room temperature, while detailed mechanistic studies revealed an unprecedented 1,4‐iron migration regime for facile C?H activations.     

Palladium(II)‐Mediated C−H Tritiation of Complex Pharmaceuticals

Tritium‐labeled molecules are critical tools for elucidating the binding and metabolic properties of bioactive compounds, particularly during pharmaceutical discovery. Direct tritiation of inert C?H bonds with T₂ gas is an ideal approach for tritium labeling, but significant gaps remain for direct tritiation of structurally complex molecules with diverse functional groups. Here we report the first application of palladium(II) C?H activation chemistry for tritiation with T₂ gas. This practical transformation exhibits novel substrate scope and greater functional group tolerance compared to previous state of the art tritiation methods, and has been applied to directly tritiate 9 complex pharmaceuticals and an unprotected dipeptide. The isolated tritium‐labeled products exhibit >15 Ci mmol^?1 specific activity, exceeding the typical requirements for application in studies of molecular interaction and metabolism.     

C−H Bond Activation/Arylation Catalyzed by Arene–Ruthenium–Aniline Complexes in Water

Water‐soluble arene–ruthenium complexes coordinated with readily available aniline‐based ligands were successfully employed as highly active catalysts in the C?H bond activation and arylation of 2‐phenylpyridine with aryl halides in water. A variety of (hetero)aryl halides were also used for the ortho‐C?H bond arylation of 2‐phenylpyridine to afford the corresponding ortho‐ monoarylated products as major products in moderate to good yields. Our investigations, including time‐scaled NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies, evidenced that the coordinating aniline‐based ligands, having varying electronic and steric properties, had a significant influence on the catalytic activity of the resulting arene–ruthenium–aniline‐based complexes. Moreover, mass spectrometry identification of the cycloruthenated species, {(η⁶‐arene)Ru(κ²‐C,N‐phenylpyridine)}⁺, and several ligand‐coordinated cycloruthenated species, such as [(η⁶‐arene)Ru(4‐methylaniline)(κ²‐C,N‐phenylpyridine)]⁺, found during the reaction of 2‐phenylpyridine with the arene–ruthenium–aniline complexes further authenticated the crucial roles of these species in the observed highly active and tuned catalyst. At last, the structures of a few of the active catalysts were also confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Silylation through Palladacycles Generated from Aryl Halides

A highly efficient palladium‐catalyzed disilylation reaction of aryl halides through C?H activation has been developed for the first time. The reaction has broad substrate scope. A variety of aryl halides can be disilylated by three types of C?H activation, including C(sp²)?H, C(sp³)?H, and remote C?H activation. In particular, the reactions are also unusually efficient. The yields are essentially quantitative in many cases, even in the presence of less than 1 mol % catalyst and 1 equivalent of the silylating reagent under relatively mild conditions. The disilylated biphenyls can be converted into disiloxane‐bridged biphenyls.     

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.     

Cascade One‐Pot Synthesis of Orange‐Red‐Fluorescent Polycyclic Cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium Salts by Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation of 2‐Azobiaryl Compounds and Alkenes

Quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized in moderate to good yields through double oxidative C?H bond activation on azobenzenes. The mechanism of the highly regioselective reaction of 2‐azobiaryls with alkenes to give orange‐red‐fluorescent cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium salts and 15H‐cinnolino[2,3‐f]phenanthridin‐9‐ium‐10‐ide is proposed to involve ortho C?H olefination of the 2‐azobiaryl compound with the alkene, intramolecular aza‐Michael addition, concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD), reductive elimination, and oxidation.     

Desymmetrization‐Oriented Enantioselective Synthesis of Silicon‐Stereogenic Silanes by Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Olefinations

A palladium‐catalyzed chelation‐assisted enantioselective C?H olefination of symmetrically diaryl‐substituted tetraorganosilicon derivatives was developed, enabling the generation of nitrogen‐containing silicon‐stereogenic tetraorganosilicon compounds with modest to good yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95.5:4.5 e.r.). The Thorpe–Ingold effect exerted by the substituents on silicon was observed to have a profound influence on formation of olefinated products which were further converted into other relevant chiral organosilanes without the loss of enantiomeric purity, thus demonstrating the synthetic utility of the developed enantioselective olefination.     

Mild C−H/C−C Activation by Z‐Selective Cobalt Catalysis

Cationic cobalt complexes enable unprecedented cobalt‐catalyzed C?H/C?C functionalizations with unique selectivity features. The versatile cobalt catalyst proved broadly applicable, enabled efficient C?H/C?C cleavage at room temperature, and delivered Z‐alkenes with excellent diastereocontrol.     

Ru‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C−O Bond Formation with Anilines and Phenols

The Ru catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative C?O bond formation between anilines and phenols is described and discussed. The exclusive C?O versus C?N bond‐formation selectivity, moreover in the absence of chelating–assisting directing groups and while leaving the N?H position untouched, is a remarkable feature of this metal‐catalyzed radical cross‐dehydrogenative coupling.     

Highly Stereoselective Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component C−H Bond Addition Cascade

A highly stereoselective three‐component C(sp²)?H bond addition across alkene and polarized π‐bonds is reported for which Co^III catalysis was shown to be much more effective than Rh^III. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature with both aryl and alkyl enones employed as efficient coupling partners. Moreover, the reaction exhibits extremely broad scope with respect to the aldehyde input; electron rich and poor aromatic, alkenyl, and branched and unbranched alkyl aldehydes all couple in good yield and with high diastereoselectivity. Multiple directing groups participate in this transformation, including pyrazole, pyridine, and imine functional groups. Both aromatic and alkenyl C(sp²)?H bonds undergo the three‐component addition cascade, and the alkenyl addition product can readily be converted into diastereomerically pure five‐membered lactones. Additionally, the first asymmetric reactions with Co^III‐catalyzed C?H functionalization are demonstrated with three‐component C?H bond addition cascades employing N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines. These examples represent the first transition metal catalyzed C?H bond additions to N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines, which are versatile and extensively used intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines.     

Ortho‐Functionalized Aryltetrazines by Direct Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Halogenation: Application to Fast Electrophilic Fluorination Reactions

A general catalyzed direct C?H functionalization of s‐tetrazines is reported. Under mild reaction conditions, N‐directed ortho‐C?H activation of tetrazines allows the introduction of various functional groups, thus forming carbon–heteroatom bonds: C?X (X=I, Br, Cl) and C?O. Based on this methodology, we developed electrophilic mono‐ and poly‐ortho‐fluorination of tetrazines. Microwave irradiation was optimized to afford fluorinated s‐aryltetrazines, with satisfactory selectivity, within only ten minutes. This work provides an efficient and practical entry for further accessing highly substituted tetrazine derivatives (iodo, bromo, chloro, fluoro, and acetate precursors). It gives access to ortho‐functionalized aryltetrazines which are difficult to obtain by classical Pinner‐like syntheses.