Leveraging Metal and Ligand Reactive Sites for One Pot Reactions: Ligand-Centered Borenium Ions for Tandem Catalysis with Palladium

Tandem catalysts that perform two different organic transformations in a single pot are highly desirable because they enable rapid and efficient assembly of simple organic building blocks into more complex molecules. Many examples of tandem catalysis rely on metal-catalyzed reactions involving one or more metal complexes. Remarkably, despite surging interest in the development of chemically reactive (i. e., non-innocent) ligands, there are few examples of metal complexes that leverage ligand-centered reactivity to perform catalytic reactions in tandem with separate catalytic reactions at the metal. Here we report how multifunctional Pd complexes with triaminoborane-derived diphosphorus ligands, called TBDPhos, appear to facilitate borenium-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions at the ligand, and Pd-catalyzed Stille and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions at the metal. Both transformations can be accessed in one pot to afford rare examples of tandem catalysis using separate metal and ligand catalysis sites in a single complex.     

Commercially available simple ionic liquids-promoted dehydrative carbon–carbon bond-forming reaction of diarylmethanols and triarylmethanols with pyrroles,thiophene, furan and indoles

Two commercially available simple ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate and 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate, effectively promote the solvent-free dehydrative carbon–carbon (C–C) bond-forming reaction of a variety of diarylmethanols and triarylmethanols with π-rich heteroaromatics, such as pyrroles, indole, furan, and thiophene without ring-opening and polymerization to give the corresponding not only 2-substituted pyrroles, furan, and thiophene but also 3-substituted indoles in good to excellent yields with moderate to excellent regioselectivities. These dehydrative C–C bond formation reactions of alcohols offer several advantages, such as the use of stoichiometric amounts of π-rich heteroaromatics and ionic liquids, water is the only by-product, there is no need for either organic solvents or expensive metal or strong Brønsted acid catalysts in the reaction, and the diversity of diarylmethylation and triarylmethylation.     

Ligand Effects on the Chemoselectivity of Transition Metal Catalyzed Reactions of α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α-diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well precedented. Early work in this area made use of insoluble copper catalysts. Although these catalysts are still employed today, their use has decreased significantly with the advent of homogeneous copper catalysts and catalysts based on other metals. The discovery that Rh^II carboxylates facilitate nitrogen loss from diazo compounds rekindled significant interest in the field of diazo/carbenoid chemistry. Since the realization that Rh^II carboxylates are superior catalysts for the generation of transient electrophilic metal carbenoids from α-diazo carbonyl compounds, intramolecular carbenoid addition and insertion reactions have assumed strategic importance in C? C bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II ) framework are most amenable to ligand modifications that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. This article will emphasize the chemical behavior of transition metal carbenoid complexes that are greatly affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center. Much of the discussion will center on the ability of the dirhodium(II ) ligands to determine reaction preference toward different functional groups on the same molecule.     

Syntheses with Radicals—C?C Bond Formation via Organotin and Organomercury Compounds [New Synthetic Methods (52)]

C? C bond formation is one of the most important synthetic steps in the construction of organic molecules. In the last few years it has been increasingly achieved by radical addition to alkenes. In such reactions the adduct radicals have to be trapped by an donor subsequent to the C? C bond formation in order to prevent polymerization. This task can be accomplished with organotin and organomercury hydrides, the use of which has led to new synthetic methods. The occurrence of radical chain reactions in which reactions take place between radicals and nonradicals is decisive for the success of the synthesis. In these cases small amounts of radical initiators suffice and numerous functional groups may be used in the C? C bond-forming reactions. The yields and selectivities of these radical reactions are often very high.     

锰催化的C?C键生成反应研究进展

迄今为止,贵金属(铑、钯、钌等)在过渡金属催化的碳碳键生成反应中发挥着主导作用,然而使用廉价金属催化剂更符合可持续发展的要求。锰是地壳中含量排第三位的过渡金属,价格便宜,环境危害性小,有潜力成为贵金属催化剂的替代品并发挥其自身独特的反应性。尽管锰参与的当量反应有大量文献报道,目前锰催化的反应尤其是碳碳键生成反应的发展还不成熟,如何实现高效的催化循环是锰催化领域面临的主要难题之一。本文对锰催化的付-克烷基化反应、格氏试剂的酰化反应、偶联反应、碳金属化反应、自由基反应和碳氢键活化反应进行了综述。     

Carbon Dioxide as an Alternative C1 Synthetic Unit: Activation by Transition-Metal Complexes

The carbon dioxide molecule has been of limited importance as a synthetic unit in organic chemistry. When it is coordinated to transition metals, however, completely new possibilities arise; CO₂ can bond to metal complexes in a variety of ways and can enter into insertion and coupling reactions, or become catalytically attached to other substrates. The formation of C? C bonds between carbon dioxide and unsaturated hydrocarbons under conditions of homogeneous catalysis makes available new synthetic routes to industrially interesting organic compounds.     

Recent Trends in Copper‐Catalyzed C−H Amination Routes to Biologically Important Nitrogen Scaffolds

Nitrogen‐containing heterocycles have found remarkable applications in natural product research, material sciences, and pharmaceuticals. Although the synthesis of this interesting class of compounds attracted the interest of generations of organic chemists, simple and straightforward assembly methods based on transition‐metal catalysis have regularly been elusive. The recent advancements in the development of C?H functionalization have helped in accomplishing the synthesis of a variety of complex heterocycles from simple precursors. This Focus Review summarizes the recent advances in one particular field: the copper‐catalyzed C?N bond formation reactions via C?H bond functionalization to furnish a comprehensive range of nitrogen heterocycles. Applicability and synthetic feasibility of a particular reaction represent major requirements for the inclusion in this review.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed C(sp2)‐ or C(sp3)−H Bond Functionalization Assisted by Removable Directing Groups

In recent years, transition‐metal‐catalyzed C?H activation has become a key strategy in the field of organic synthesis. Rhodium complexes are widely used as catalysts in a variety of C?H functionalization reactions because of their high reactivity and selectivity. The availability of a number of rhodium complexes in various oxidation states enables diverse reaction patterns to be obtained. Regioselectivity, an important issue in C?H activation chemistry, can be accomplished by using a directing group to assist the reaction. However, to obtain the target functionalized compounds, it is also necessary to use a directing group that can be easily removed. A wide range of directed C?H functionalization reactions catalyzed by rhodium complexes have been reported to date. In this Review, we discuss Rh‐catalyzed C?H functionalization reactions that are aided by the use of a removable directing group such as phenol, amine, aldehyde, ketones, ester, acid, sulfonic acid, and N‐heteroaromatic derivatives.     

Microfluidic Synthesis of Palladium Nanocrystals Assisted by Supercritical CO(2) : Tailored Surface Properties for Applications in Boron Chemistry

On the surface: A library of organic-inorganic hybrid palladium nanocrystals was synthesized using continuous supercritical microfluidic technology. The nanocatalysts show moderate to excellent activities towards C(Ar) ?B and C(Ar) ?C(Ar) bond-forming reactions, thus illustrating the relationship between surface properties and modulated catalytic activity.     

Base metal-catalyzed alcohol C–C couplings under hydrogen transfer conditions

Comparing to classical Grignard-type carbonyl additions, transfer hydrogenative C–C bond-forming reactions using alcohols as carbonyl precursors have shown remarkable advantages from the perspective of atom economy, step economy and redox economy. The significant drawbacks of conventional method, such as the use of multi-step reactions, the premetalated reagents, and stoichiometric oxidants and reductants, can be avoided by using hydrogen transfer processes. Moreover, the development of reactions employing earth-abundant and eco-friendly base metal as catalysts is an important objective in modern sustainable chemistry. In this review, we summarized recent advances in base metal-catalyzed C–C coupling of alcohols under hydrogen transfer conditions.     

Photoactive Nickel Complexes in Cross-Coupling Catalysis

Transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are important in chemical synthesis for the formation of C−C and C-heteroatom bonds. Suitable catalysts are frequently based on palladium or nickel, and lately the cheaper and more abundant first-row transition metal element has been much in focus. The combination of nickel catalysis with photoredox chemistry has opened new synthetic possibilities, and in some cases electronically excited states of nickel complexes play a key role. This is a remarkable finding, because photo-excited metal complexes are underexplored in the context of organic bond-forming reactions, and because the photophysics and the photochemistry of first-row transition metal complexes are underdeveloped in comparison with their precious metal-based congeners. Consequently, there is much potential for innovation at the interface of synthetic-organic and physical-inorganic chemistry. This Minireview highlights recent key findings in light-driven nickel catalysis and identifies essential concepts for the exploitation of photoactive nickel complexes in organic synthesis.     

Recent Progress in Application of Graphene Supported Metal Nanoparticles in C−C and C−X Coupling Reactions

The carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bonds catalytic formation is among the most significant reactions in organic synthesis which extensively applied for synthesis of natural products, heterocycles, dendrimers, biologically active molecules and useful compounds. This review provides the latest advances in the preparation of graphene supported metal nanoparticles and their application in the catalytic formation of both carbon‐carbon (C−C) and carbon‐heteroatom (C−X) bonds including the Suzuki, Heck, Hiyama, Ullmann, Buchwald and Sonogashira coupling reactions. Numerous examples are given concerning the use of these catalysts in C−C and C−X coupling reactions along with the reliable and simple preparation methods of these catalysts, their characterization and catalytic properties and also the recycling possibilities.     

Transition Metal Complexation of σ Bonds

The first σ complexes were found in the 1960s and 1970s, but they did not attract more than passing attention. Only now are we beginning to recognize their key role in the chemical reactions of σ bonds, and this has encouraged more detailed study. In contrast with the more familiar π-donor complexes such as M? (CH₂?CH₂) and complexes like M? NH₃, in which the one pair of electrons on the N atom is bound to the metal atom, in a σ complex an X? H group binds to the transition metal atom; the X? H σ-bonding electron pair acts as a 2e donor to give an (X-H)-M type complex. Dihydrogen complexes (X = H) are one important group of σ complexes. C-H-M complexes (X = R₃C) with an agostic C-H-M interaction have not only been found in the ground state but also implicated in the transition states of many important organometallic transformations such as Ziegler–Natta catalysis and sigma bond metathesis. The importance of X? H bond activation will encourage continued growth in this field.     

Cyclizations via Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylations [New Synthetic Methods (79)]

The history of ring systems in organic chemistry parallels their synthetic accessibility. Transition-metal-catalyzed cyclizations offer a new opportunity to create carbo- and heterocyclic compounds with great facility. Among these methods, allylic alkylations catalyzed by palladium have proven unusually productive because of the extraordinary chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity and the continuing possibility for the development of enantioselectivity. The rules for ring closure differ from those for non-transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. A major benefit is the ability to generate medium (eight-, nine-, ten-, and eleven-membered) and large rings in preference to normal (five-, six- and seven-membered) rings. With the appropriate substrate, efficient macrocyclizations are possible under conditions of normal concentrations. A second major benefit derives from the complementary stereochemistry of the metalcatalyzed substitution (net retention of configuration) compared to non-metal-catalyzed reactions (inversion of configuration). Further, the requirement for the substrate to conform to the transition-metal template may impose a stereochemical preference in the intermediate that ultimately translates into the thermodynamically less stable organic product regardless of the stereochemistry of the starting material. While more work has focused on carbocyclic synthesis, the possibilities for heterocyclic synthesis are just beginning to be tapped. In addition to forming heterocycles by C? C bond formation, use of a heteroatom as a nucleophile has already proven effective for oxygen and nitrogen, with other nucleophiles awaiting investigation. New dimensions for cyclization via allylic alkylation arise by generating the requisite π-allylpalladium intermediates by methods other than palladium(0)-initiated allylic ionizations. In addition, metals other than palladium will clearly expand the possibilities, but as yet remain untapped.     

Regioselective Arene C−H Alkylation Enabled by Organic Photoredox Catalysis

Expanding the toolbox of C?H functionalization reactions applicable to the late‐stage modification of complex molecules is of interest in medicinal chemistry, wherein the preparation of structural variants of known pharmacophores is a key strategy for drug development. One manifold for the functionalization of aromatic molecules utilizes diazo compounds and a transition‐metal catalyst to generate a metallocarbene species, which is capable of direct insertion into an aromatic C?H bond. However, these high‐energy intermediates can often require directing groups or a large excess of substrate to achieve efficient and selective reactivity. Herein, we report that arene cation radicals generated by organic photoredox catalysis engage in formal C?H functionalization reactions with diazoacetate derivatives, furnishing sp²–sp³ coupled products with moderate‐to‐good regioselectivity. In contrast to previous methods utilizing metallocarbene intermediates, this transformation does not proceed via a carbene intermediate, nor does it require the presence of a transition‐metal catalyst.     

The Reactivity of the Porphyrin Ligand

The physical properties and the chemical reactivity of the porphyrin macrocycle, whose formation can be rationalized by a simple statistical argument, are related in many respects to those of aromatic hydrocarbons. The reactivity of the porphyrin ligand in its metal complexes varies within wide limits because of the difference in the inductive effects of different central metal ions on the conjugated π-electron system. One-electron reactions, phlorin formation by addition of hydrogen or oxygen to the methine bridges, and the formation of π complexes predominate. The biochemical reactivity of the porphyrin ligand largely corresponds to its in-vitro chemistry.     

同核铁系双金属络合物及其在均相催化体系中的应用

随着合成化学的不断发展,开发高活性催化剂来活化一些惰性化学键或者惰性分子受到越来越多的关注。双核金属络合物作为一类特殊的催化剂展现出了不同于单核金属催化剂的催化活性。在双核过渡金属催化体系中,因两个金属中心存在协同作用而表现出了独特的催化活性。铁、钴、镍为第四周期第VIII族元素,也称为铁系元素。该类金属廉价易得且参与的催化反应种类繁多,近年来引起了人们的广泛关注。本综述重点介绍了近年来同核双金属铁系络合物的合成及其表征。同时,对相关同核铁、钴以及镍催化剂在均相催化体系中的应用也进行了详细的介绍和总结。     

Well-Defined,Versatile and Recyclable Half-Sandwich Nickelacarborane Catalyst for Selective Carbene-Transfer Reactions

Catalytic carbene-transfer reactions constitute a class of highly useful transformations in organic synthesis. Although catalysts based on a range of transition-metals have been reported, the readily accessible nickel(II)-based complexes have been rarely used. Herein, an air-stable nickel(II)-carborane complex is reported as a well-defined, versatile and recyclable catalyst for selective carbene transfer reactions with low catalyst loading under mild conditions. This catalyst is effective for several types of reactions including diastereoselective cyclopropanation, epoxidation, selective X−H insertions (X = C, N, O, S, Si), particularly for the unprotected substrates. This represents a rare example of carborane ligands in base metal catalysis.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Dithienopyrazines**

Heteroacenes developed to widely used building blocks in organic semiconductors for application in organic electronics due to their tunable structures and properties concomitant with inherent stability. Here, we report efficient preparation and investigation of so far unknown heterotriacenes, basic anti- and syn-dithienopyrazine 5 and 6 . The comparison of the two isomers with respect to electronic properties and follow-up reactions gives insights into structure-property and -reactivity relationships. Examples of transition metal-catalyzed C−C cross-coupling reactions of corresponding halogenated derivatives show the practical impact for extended π-conjugated systems applied in optoelectronic devices.     

Methandiide as a Non‐Innocent Ligand in Carbene Complexes: From the Electronic Structure to Bond Activation Reactions and Cooperative Catalysis

The synthesis of a ruthenium carbene complex based on a sulfonyl‐substituted methandiide and its application in bond activation reactions and cooperative catalysis is reported. In the complex, the metal–carbon interaction can be tuned between a Ru?C single bond with additional electrostatic interactions and a Ru?C double bond, thus allowing the control of the stability and reactivity of the complex. Hence, activation of polar and non‐polar bonds (O?H, H?H) as well as dehydrogenation reactions become possible. In these reactions the carbene acts as a non‐innocent ligand supporting the bond activation as nucleophilic center in the 1,2‐addition across the metal–carbon double bond. This metal–ligand cooperativity can be applied in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation for the reduction of ketones. This concept opens new ways for the application of carbene complexes in catalysis.