Synthesis of beta-, gamma-, and delta-lactams via Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H activation reactions

Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular amination of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds are developed using a combination of CuCl2 and AgOAc as the oxidant. The reaction protocol tolerates the presence of a double bond in the substrates. This catalytic reaction provides practical access to a wide range of beta-, gamma-, and delta-lactams.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular amidoarylation of alkenes with molecular oxygen as sole oxidant

Stereoselective palladium-catalyzed synthesis of structurally versatile indoline derivatives, using molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant, is described. New C-N and C-C bonds form across an alkene in an intramolecular manner. The C-N bond-forming step proceeds via a syn-amidopalladation pathway. The moderate kinetic isotope effects (intramolecular KIE = 3.56) suggest that electrophilic aromatic substitution occurs in the arylation step.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed acetal/ketal hydrolysis/exchange reactions

PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ catalyzes the hydrolysis of dioxolane acetals and ketals in moist CH₃CN, while in acetoze, efficient and more reproducible exchange reactions take place.     

Intramolecular Pd(II)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amination of alkenes: synthesis of six-membered N-heterocycles

Use of a base-free Pd(DMSO)(2)(TFA)(2) catalyst system enables the synthesis of six-membered nitrogen heterocycles via a Wacker-type aerobic oxidative cyclization of alkenes bearing tethered sulfonamides. Various heterocycles, including morpholines, piperidines, piperazines, and piperazinones, are accessible by this method.     

Pd(0) or Pd(II)-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of benzylidene- and alkylidenecyclopropyl ketones and aldehydes

Pd(0) catalyzed reactions of methylenecyclopropyl carbonyl compounds afforded a convenient method for the synthesis of conjugate (E,E)-1,3-diene derivatives 2 in good to excellent yields. Moreover, we also found that Pd(II)-catalyzed reactions of methylenecyclopropyl carbonyl compounds with water gave 1,5-diketones in good to high yields via a carbene-palladium intermediate. The plausible reaction mechanisms have also been provided on the basis of control and ¹⁸O-labeling experiments.     

Facile synthesis of (E)-alkenyl aldehydes from allyl arenes or alkenes via Pd(II)-catalyzed direct oxygenation of allylic C-H bond

Palladium-catalyzed oxygenation of allyl arenes or alkenes has been developed to produce (E)-alkenyl aldehydes with high yields. Allylic C-H bond cleavages occur under the mild conditions during this process. Mechanistic studies show that oxygen source is water.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular diamination of unfunctionalized alkenes

Intramolecular diamination reactions are described which yield cyclic ureas as direct products of an oxidative alkene transformation in the presence of palladium acetate and iodosobenzene diacetate as terminal oxidant. The reaction is truly catalytic in metal catalyst and represents the proof of principle for this elusive type of alkene oxidation.     

Synthesis of N-(2-pyridyl)indoles via Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidative coupling

Readily available Pd(II) chloride catalysts can catalyze selective and efficient oxidative coupling between N-aryl-2-aminopyridines and internal alkynes to yield N-(2-pyridyl)indoles. This process involves the ortho C-H activation of N-aryl-2-aminopyridines, and CuCl(2) was used as an oxidant. Compared to our previously reported Rh(III)-catalyzed synthesis of this class of product, this method is advantageous with a wider scope of alkynes and cost-effective Pd(II) catalysts. Molecular oxygen can be used as a terminal oxidant.     

Expeditious enyne construction from alkynes via oxidative Pd(II)-catalyzed Heck-type coupling

The enyne, ubiquitous in natural products, can be a challenge to generate since these moieties require many synthetic transformations to assemble them. We developed a simpler protocol to construct enynes while we found that this oxidative reaction was tolerant in substrate scope. In addition, the utility of this reaction was demonstrated through the attempt in synthesizing antifungal agent Lamisil^™.     

Pyridine ligands as promoters in Pd(II/0)-catalyzed C-H olefination reactions

Commercially available pyridine ligands can significantly enhance the rate, yield, substrate scope, and site selectivity of arene C-H olefination (Fujiwara-Moritani) reactions. The use of a 1:1 ratio of Pd/pyridine proved critical to maximize reaction rates and yields.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation of cyclopropanes

Systematic ligand development has led to the identification of novel mono-N-protected amino acid ligands for Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation of cyclopropanes. A diverse range of organoboron reagents can be used as coupling partners, and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions. These results provide a new retrosynthetic disconnection for the construction of enantioenriched cis-substituted cyclopropanecarboxylic acids.     

Intra/intermolecular direct allylic alkylation via Pd(II)-catalyzed allylic C-H activation

The first catalytic direct alkylation of allylic C-H bonds via Pd(II)-catalysis is described in the absence of base. Polysubstituted cyclic compounds can also be constructed by the intramolecular direct allylic alkylation.     

Cu(II)-catalyzed oscillatory chemical reactions

The role of copper ions in the copper-catalyzed chemical reactions is discussed. It is pointed out that copper ions can induce oscillatory behavior in many systems for the following reasons: (1) Copper cations can exist in three oxidation states (+1, +2 and +3); (2) Copper cations can form precipitates and stable complexes with a large number of reactants and intermediates; (3) Copper ions can participate in both oxidation and reduction processes, due to the surprisingly large range of redox potentials exhibited by the Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ and Cu³⁺/Cu²⁺ couples (known redox potentials span from 0.1 to 1.8 V, depending on the counter-ion or ligand present).     

Cu(I)/Cu(II)-catalyzed allylic amination of alkenes

Allylic hydrocarbons are selectively converted to the corresponding allyl amines in good to excellent yield by reaction with aryl hydroxylamines catalyzed by a 1:1 mixture of CuCl and CuCl₂ (10 mol %). Under these conditions unsymmetrical olefins react highly regioselectively with N-functionalization at the less substituted vinylic carbon. Trapping experiments indicate that a free nitrosoarene is not an intermediate in these reactions.