Oxidation‐Induced C—H Functionalization: A Formal Way for C—H Activation

Cross‐coupling reactions have developed widely and provided a powerful means to synthesize a variety of compounds in each chemical field. The compounds which have C—H bonds are widespread in fossil fuels, chemical raw materials, biologically active molecules, etc. Using these readily‐ available substances as substrates is high atom‐ and step‐economy for cross‐coupling reactions. Over the past decades, our research group focused on finding and developing new strategies for C—H functionalization. Compared with classical C—H activation methods, for example, C—H bonds are deprotonated by strong base or converted into C—M bonds, oxidation‐induced C—H functionalization would be another pathway for C—H bond activation. This perspective shows a brief introduction of our recent works in this oxidation‐induced C—H functionalization. We categorized this approach of these C—H bond activations by the key intermediates, radical cations, radicals and cations.     

2‐{[(3‐Fluorophenyl)amino]methylidene}‐3‐oxobutanenitrile and 5‐{[(3‐fluorophenyl)amino]methylidene}‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione: X‐ray and DFT studies

In the crystal structures of the title compounds, C₁₁H₉FN₂O, (I), and C₁₃H₁₂FNO₄, (II), the molecules are joined pairwise via different hydrogen bonds and the constituent pairs are crosslinked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The basic structural motif in (I), which is partially disordered, comprises pairs of molecules arranged in an antiparallel fashion which enables C—H...N[triple‐bond]C interactions. The pairs of molecules are crosslinked by two weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The constituent pair in (II) is formed by intramolecular bifurcated C—H...O/O′ and combined inter‐ and intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In both structures, F atoms form weak C—F...H—C interactions with the H atoms of the two neighbouring methyl groups, the H...F separations being 2.59/2.80 and 2.63/2.71 Å in (I) and (II), respectively. The bond orders in the molecules, estimated using the natural bond orbitals (NBO) formalism, correlate with the changes in bond lengths. Deviations from the ideal molecular geometry are explained by the concept of non‐equivalent hybrid orbitals. The existence of possible conformers of (I) and (II) is analysed by molecular calculations at the B3LYP/6–31+G** level of theory.     

(E)‐N′‐(4‐Chlorobenzylidene)‐, (E)‐N′‐(4‐bromobenzylidene)‐ and (E)‐N′‐[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐ derivatives of 4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide

The 4‐chloro‐ [C₁₄H₁₁ClN₂O₂, (I)], 4‐bromo‐ [C₁₄H₁₀BrN₂O₂, (II)] and 4‐diethylamino‐ [C₁₈H₂₁N₃O₂, (III)] derivatives of benzylidene‐4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide, all crystallize in the same space group (P2₁/c), (I) and (II) also being isomorphous. In all three compounds, the conformation about the C=N bond is E. The molecules of (I) and (II) are relatively planar, with dihedral angles between the two benzene rings of 5.75 (12) and 9.81 (17)°, respectively. In (III), however, the same angle is 77.27 (9)°. In the crystal structures of (I) and (II), two‐dimensional slab‐like networks extending in the a and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐tail viaπ–π interactions involving the aromatic rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7622 (14) Å in (I) and 3.8021 (19) Å in (II)]. In (III), undulating two‐dimensional networks extending in the b and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐head viaπ–π interactions involving inversion‐related benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6977 (12) and 3.8368 (11) Å].     

Hydrogen bonding between aromatic H and F groups leading to a stripe structure with R‐ and S‐columns: the crystal structure of (2,7‐dimethoxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)(3‐fluorophenyl)methanone and comparison with its 1‐aroylnaphthalene analogues

In the molecule of (2,7‐dimethoxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)(3‐fluorophenyl)methanone, C₁₉H₁₅FO₃, (I), the dihedral angle between the plane of the naphthalene ring system and that of the benzene ring is 85.90 (5)°. The molecules exhibit axial chirality, with either an R‐ or an S‐stereogenic axis. In the crystal structure, each enantiomer is stacked into a columnar structure and the columns are arranged alternately to form a stripe structure. A pair of (methoxy)C—H...F hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between the benzene rings of the aroyl groups link an R‐ and an S‐isomer to form a dimeric pair. These dimeric pairs are piled up in a columnar fashion through (benzene)C—H...O=C and (benzene)C—H...OCH₃ hydrogen bonds. The analogous 1‐benzoylated compound, namely (2,7‐dimethoxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)(phenyl)methanone [Kato et al. (2010). Acta Cryst. E 66 , o2659], (II), affords three independent molecules having slightly different dihedral angles between the benzene and naphthalene rings. The three independent molecules form separate columns and the three types of column are connected to each other via two C—H...OCH₃ hydrogen bonds and one C—H...O=C hydrogen bond. Two of the three columns are formed by the same enantiomeric isomer, whereas the remaining column consists of the counterpart isomer. In the case of the fluorinated 1‐benzoylated naphthalene analogue, namely (2,7‐dimethoxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)(4‐fluorophenyl)methanone [Watanabe et al. (2011). Acta Cryst. E 67 , o1466], (III), the molecular packing is similar to that of (I), i.e. it consists of stripes of R‐ and S‐enantiomeric columns. A pair of C—H...F hydrogen bonds between R‐ and S‐isomers, and C—H...O=C hydrogen bonds between R(or S)‐isomers, are also observed. Consequently, the stripe structure is apparently induced by the formation of R...S dimeric pairs stacked in a columnar fashion. The pair of C—H...F hydrogen bonds effectively stabilizes the dimeric pair of R‐ and S‐enantiomers. In addition, the co‐existence of C—H...F and C—H...O=C hydrogen bonds makes possible the formation of a structure with just one independent molecule.     

N‐tert‐Butyl‐N′‐[5‐cyano‐2‐(4‐methylphenoxy)phenylsulfonyl]urea,a new TXA2 receptor antagonist

The title compound, C₁₉H₂₁N₃O₄S, crystallizes in the space group P2/c with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The conformation of both molecules is very similar and is mainly determined by an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond between a urea N atom and a sulfonyl O atom. The O and second N atom of the urea groups are involved in dimer formation via N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding motif and conformation of the C—SO₂—NH(C=O)—NH—C fragment are explored and compared using the Cambridge Structural Database and theoretical calculations. The crystal packing is characterized by π–π stacking between the 5‐cyanobenzene rings.     

N‐(o‐Chloro­phenyl)‐2,5‐di­methyl­pyrrole‐3‐carb­aldehyde

Crystal structure analysis of the title compound, C₁₃H₁₂ClNO, reveals three crystallographically independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The main conformational difference between these mol­ecules is the orientation of the phenyl rings with respect to the pyrrole rings. The coplanar arrangement of the aldehyde groups attached to the pyrrole rings influences the pyrrole‐ring geometry. The C2—C3 and N1—C5 bonds are noticeably longer than the C4—C5 and N1—C2 bonds. Two independent mol­ecules of the title compound form dimers via intermolecular C—H⃛O hydrogen bonds [D⃛A = 3.400 (3) Å and D—H⃛A = 157°]. The perpendicular orientation of the phenyl and pyrrole rings of one independent mol­ecule and its symmetry‐related mol­ecule allows C—H⃛π interactions, with an H⃛centroid distance of 2.85 Å and a C—H⃛π angle of 155°. The distances between the H atom and the pyrrole‐ring atoms indicate that the C—H bond points towards one of the bonds in the pyrrole ring.     

Hydrogen‐bonded chains of rings in 1‐(4‐chloroanilinomethyl)‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2‐thione and hydrogen‐bonded sheets in 1‐anilinomethyl‐5‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2‐thione

In 1‐(4‐chloroanilinomethyl)‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2‐thione, C₁₆H₁₆Cl₂N₄S, there are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit which form inversion dimers via two weak N—H...S hydrogen bonds. The dimers are then linked into C(9)C(14) chains by a C—H...S hydrogen bond and a C—H...Cl contact. In 1‐(anilinomethyl)‐5‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2‐thione, C₁₆H₁₈N₄S, molecules are linked into complex sheets via a combination of N—H...S and C—H...π hydrogen bonds.     

Cu‐Catalyzed Selective Oxy‐Cyanoalkylation of Allylamines with Cycloketone Oxime Esters and CO2

The radical‐initiated carboxylative cyclization of allylamines with CO₂ represents an efficient and highly promising strategy to afford valuable 2‐oxazolidinones. However, the radical precursors and pathways to generate radicals in such processes are still limited. Herein, we report the first Cu‐catalyzed selective oxy‐cyanoalkylation of allylamines with cycloketone oxime esters and CO₂ via C—C bond cleavage. Many cyanoalkyl‐substituted 2‐oxazolidinones are obtained in moderate to good yields with high regio‐ and chemo‐selectivities. The utility of this redox‐neutral and cyanide‐free method is demonstrated with mild conditions, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance and easy scalability.     

1,4‐Bis(p‐tolyl­ethynyl)benzene

The rod‐like molecule of the title hydro­carbon, C₂₄H₁₈, is centrosymmetric, with the centroid of the central benzene ring residing on an inversion center. The molecules display a planar conformation of the benzene rings and aggregate into stacks along the [010] direction via Csp³—H⋯π(arene) interactions, thus forming a stair‐like pseudo‐two‐dimensional network. Each molecule acts as both a C—H hydrogen donor and a π‐arene acceptor, forming four hydrogen bonds per molecule.     

Inter‐ring and endo anomeric effects,and hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular motifs in two 2,4,6,8‐tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives

In 2,4,6,8‐tetrakis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,4,6,8‐tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, C₂₈H₂₂Cl₄N₄, the imidazolidine rings adopt envelope conformations, which are favoured by two equal endo anomeric effects. The molecule lies on a crystallographic twofold axis and molecules are linked into a three‐dimensional framework via two C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds. In 2,4,6,8‐tetrakis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,4,6,8‐tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, C₃₂H₃₄N₄O₄, one of the methyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites and the same methyl group participates in an intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond, which in turn causes a considerable deviation from the preferred conformation. There are two unequal inter‐ring anomeric effects in the N—C—N groups. Molecules are linked into corrugated sheets by one C—H...π hydrogen bond and two independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds involving methoxy groups.     

Hydrogen‐bonding patterns in three substituted N‐benzyl‐N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)acetamides

The molecules of N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐2‐chloro‐N‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)acetamide, C₂₃H₂₆ClN₃O₂, are linked into a chain of edge‐fused centrosymmetric rings by a combination of one C—H...O hydrogen bond and one C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bond. In N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐2‐chloro‐N‐(4‐chlorobenzyl)acetamide, C₂₂H₂₃Cl₂N₃O, a combination of one C—H...O hydrogen bond and two C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, which utilize different aryl rings as the acceptors, link the molecules into sheets. The molecules of S‐[N‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐N‐(4‐methylbenzyl)carbamoyl]methyl O‐ethyl carbonodithioate, C₂₆H₃₁N₃O₂S₂, are also linked into sheets, now by a combination of two C—H...O hydrogen bonds, both of which utilize the amide O atom as the acceptor, and two C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, which utilize different aryl groups as the acceptors.     

5‐Formylsalicylic acid and 5‐(benzimidazolium‐2‐yl)salicylate

Both title compounds are derivatives of salicylic acid. 5‐Formylsalicylic acid (systematic name: 5‐formyl‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid), C₈H₆O₄, possesses three good hydrogen‐bond donors and/or acceptors coplanar with their attached benzene ring and abides very well by Etter's hydrogen‐bond rules. Intermolecular O—H...O and some weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a planar sheet. Reaction of this acid and o‐phenylenediamine in refluxing ethanol produced in high yield the new zwitterionic compound 5‐(benzimidazolium‐2‐yl)salicylate [systematic name: 5‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium‐2‐yl)‐2‐hydroxybenzoate], C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₃. Each imidazolium N—H group and its adjacent salicyl C—H group chelate one carboxylate O atom via hydrogen bonds, forming seven‐membered rings. As a result of steric hindrance, the planes of the molecules within these pairs of hydrogen‐bonded molecules are inclined to one another by ∼74°. There are also π–π stacking interactions between the parallel planes of the imidazole ring and the benzene ring of the salicyl component of the adjacent molecule on one side and the benzimidazolium component of the molecule on the other side.     

Two N‐(2‐phenylethyl)nitroaniline derivatives as precursors for slow and sustained nitric oxide release agents

Notwithstanding its simple structure, the chemistry of nitric oxide (NO) is complex. As a radical, NO is highly reactive. NO also has profound effects on the cardiovascular system. In order to regulate NO levels, direct therapeutic interventions include the development of numerous NO donors. Most of these donors release NO in a single high‐concentration burst, which is deleterious. N‐Nitrosated secondary amines release NO in a slow, sustained, and rate‐tunable manner. Two new precursors to sustained NO‐releasing materials have been characterized. N‐[2‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]‐2,4‐dinitroaniline, C₁₆H₁₇N₃O₆, (I), crystallizes with one independent molecule in the asymmetric unit. The adjacent amine and nitro groups form an intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bond. The anti conformation about the phenylethyl‐to‐aniline C—N bond leads to the planes of the arene and aniline rings being approximately perpendicular. Molecules are linked into dimers by weak intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds such that each amine H atom participates in a three‐center interaction with two nitro O atoms. The dimers pack so that the arene rings of adjacent molecules are not parallel and π–π interactions do not appear to be favored. N‐(4‐Methylsulfonyl‐2‐nitrophenyl)‐l ‐phenylalanine, C₁₆H₁₆N₂O₆S, (II), with an optically active center, also crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. The l enantiomer was established via the configuration of the starting material and was confirmed by refinement of the Flack parameter. As in (I), there is an intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bond between adjacent amine and nitro groups. The conformation of the molecule is such that the arene rings display a dihedral angle of ca 60°. Unlike (I), molecules are not linked via intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Rather, the carboxylic acid H atom forms a classic, approximately linear, O—H…O hydrogen bond with a sulfone O atom. Pairs of molecules related by twofold rotation axes are linked into dimers by two such interactions. The packing pattern features a zigzag arrangement of the arene rings without apparent π–π interactions. These structures are compared with reported analogues, revealing significant differences in molecular conformation, intermolecular interactions, and packing that result from modest changes in functional groups. The structures are discussed in terms of potential NO‐release capability.     

Glycosidic linkage,N‐acetyl side‐chain,and other structural properties of methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐mannopyranoside monohydrate and related compounds

The crystal structure of methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glycopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside monohydrate, C₁₅H₂₇NO₁₁·H₂O, was determined and its structural properties compared to those in a set of mono‐ and disaccharides bearing N‐acetyl side‐chains in βGlcNAc aldohexopyranosyl rings. Valence bond angles and torsion angles in these side chains are relatively uniform, but C—N (amide) and C—O (carbonyl) bond lengths depend on the state of hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl O atom and N—H hydrogen. Relative to N‐acetyl side chains devoid of hydrogen bonding, those in which the carbonyl O atom serves as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor display elongated C—O and shortened C—N bonds. This behavior is reproduced by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicating that the relative contributions of amide resonance forms to experimental C—N and C—O bond lengths depend on the solvation state, leading to expectations that activation barriers to amide cis–trans isomerization will depend on the polarity of the environment. DFT calculations also revealed useful predictive information on the dependencies of inter‐residue hydrogen bonding and some bond angles in or proximal to β‐(1→4) O‐glycosidic linkages on linkage torsion angles ? and ψ. Hypersurfaces correlating ? and ψ with the linkage C—O—C bond angle and total energy are sufficiently similar to render the former a proxy of the latter.     

Transition‐Metal‐Mediated and ‐Catalyzed C−F Bond Activation by Fluorine Elimination

The activation of carbon–fluorine (C?F) bonds is an important topic in synthetic organic chemistry. Metal‐mediated and ‐catalyzed elimination of β‐ or α‐fluorine proceeds under milder conditions than oxidative addition to C?F bonds. The β‐ or α‐fluorine elimination is initiated from organometallic intermediates having fluorine substituents on carbon atoms β or α to metal centers, respectively. Transformations through these elimination processes (C?F bond cleavage), which are typically preceded by carbon–carbon (or carbon–heteroatom) bond formation, have been increasingly developed in the past five years as C?F bond activation methods. In this Minireview, we summarize the applications of transition‐metal‐mediated and ‐catalyzed fluorine elimination to synthetic organic chemistry from a historical perspective with early studies and from a systematic perspective with recent studies.     

Different hydrogen‐bonded structures in three 2‐thienyl‐substituted tetrahydro‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepines

The molecules of (2RS,4SR)‐2‐exo‐(5‐bromo‐2‐thienyl)‐7‐chloro‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₄H₁₁BrClNOS, (I), are linked into cyclic centrosymmetric dimers by C—H...π(thienyl) hydrogen bonds. Each such dimer makes rather short Br...Br contacts with two other dimers. In (2RS,4SR)‐2‐exo‐(5‐methyl‐2‐thienyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₅H₁₅NOS, (II), a combination of C—H...O and C—H...π(thienyl) hydrogen bonds links the molecules into chains of rings. A more complex chain of rings is formed in (2RS,4SR)‐7‐chloro‐2‐exo‐(5‐methyl‐2‐thienyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₅H₁₄ClNOS, (III), built from a combination of two independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds, one C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bond and one C—H...π(thienyl) hydrogen bond.     

Radical‐Promoted C−C Bond Cleavage: A Deconstructive Approach for Selective Functionalization

Just as “Deconstructivism” appeared as a novel movement in architecture in the 1980s, deconstructive approaches have recently emerged as excellent strategies for scaffold hopping modifications in chemistry. The deconstruction and functionalization of cyclic molecules mainly involves the cleavage of the carbon–carbon (C?C) bond followed by the construction of new bonds. The cleavage of inert C?C single bonds, especially in unstrained cycles, and their subsequent functionalization is still one of the most sought‐after challenges in chemistry. In this vein, radical‐mediated strategies provide an excellent approach for achieving this aim. This minireview is an outline of the history of homolytic cleavage and highlights the recent advances in exploring new chemical space by deconstructive functionalization.     

N,N′‐Dicyclohexyl‐N‐[4‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)butanoyl]urea

The title compound, C₂₅H₃₅N₃O₂, is a novel urea derivative. Pairs of intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds join the molecules into centrosymmetric R₂²(12) and R₂²(18) dimeric rings, which are alternately linked into one‐dimensional polymeric chains along the [010] direction. The parallel chains are connected via C—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a two‐dimensional framework structure parallel to the (001) plane. The title compound was also modelled by solid‐state density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A comparison of the molecular conformation and hydrogen‐bond geometry obtained from the X‐ray structure analysis and the theoretical study clearly indicates that the DFT calculation agrees closely with the X‐ray structure.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade Double C—N Bond Activation: A New Strategy for Aminomethylation of 1,3‐Dienes with Aminals

A new palladium‐catalyzed selective aminomethylation of conjugated 1,3‐dienes with aminals via double C—N bond activation is described. This simple method provides an effective and rapid approach for the synthesis of linear α,β‐unsaturated allylic amines with perfect regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies disclosed that one palladium catalyst cleaved two distinct C—N bond to furnish a cascade double C—N bond activation, in which an allylic 1,3‐diamine and allylic 1,2‐diamine were initially formed as key intermediates through the palladium‐catalyzed C—N bond activation of aminal and the α,β‐unsaturated allylic amine was subsequently produced via palladium‐catalyzed C—N bond activation of the allylic diamines.     

1,3‐Bis(ethylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene, 1,3‐bis(n‐octylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene and 4‐ethylamino‐2‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazole

1,3‐Bis(ethylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene, C₁₀H₁₅N₃O₂, (I), and 1,3‐bis(n‐octylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene, C₂₂H₃₉N₃O₂, (II), are the first structurally characterized 1,3‐bis(n‐alkylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzenes. Both molecules are bisected though the nitro N atom and the 2‐C and 5‐C atoms of the ring by twofold rotation axes. Both display intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amine and nitro groups, but no intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The nearly planar molecules pack into flat layers ca 3.4 Å apart that interact by hydrophobic interactions involving the n‐alkyl groups rather than by π–π interactions between the rings. The intra‐ and intermolecular interactions in these molecules are of interest in understanding the physical properties of polymers made from them. Upon heating in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate in dimethylacetamide, (I) and (II) cyclize with formal loss of hydrogen peroxide to form substituted benzimidazoles. Thus, 4‐ethylamino‐2‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazole, C₁₀H₁₃N₃, (III), was obtained from (I) under these reaction conditions. Compound (III) contains two independent molecules with no imposed internal symmetry. The molecules are linked into chains via N—H...N hydrogen bonds involving the imidazole rings, while the ethylamino groups do not participate in any hydrogen bonding. This is the first reported structure of a benzimidazole derivative with 4‐amino and 2‐alkyl substituents.