Homogeneous Light‐Driven Catalytic Direct Carboxylation with CO2

Carbon dioxide is a ubiquitous and inexpensive one‐carbon source for chemical synthesis, and the efficient incorporation of CO₂ into organic molecules is of widespread research interest both for economic and ecological reasons. The methodologies to employ carbon dioxide as a single‐carbon unit to construct molecules relevant for agrochemical and pharmaceutical research include many elegant approaches, including asymmetric transformations. Even though remarkable achievements have been made in the field of light‐driven catalysis, especially photoredox catalysis, homogeneous light‐driven catalytic carboxylation by employing CO₂ as the key reagent has only become a subject of increasing attention in recent years. Therefore, this concise review will discuss the latest advances in this research area.     

Enantioselective CO2 Fixation Via a Heck-Coupling/Carboxylation Cascade Catalyzed by Nickel

A novel asymmetric nickel-based procedure has been developed in which CO₂ fixation is achieved as a second step of a truncated Heck coupling. For this, a new chiral ligand has been prepared and shown to achieve enantiomeric excesses up to 99 %. The overall process efficiently furnishes chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ylacetic acids, an important class of bioactive products, from easy to prepare starting materials. A combined experimental and computational effort revealed the key steps of the catalytic cycle and suggested the unexpected participation of Ni(I) species in the coupling event.     

Carboxylation Reactions with Carbon Dioxide Using N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Copper Catalysts

The development of versatile catalyst systems and new transformations for the utilization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is of great interest and significance. This Personal Account reviews our studies on the exploration of the reactions of CO₂ with various substrates by the use of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐copper catalysts. The carboxylation of organoboron compounds gave access to a wide range of carboxylic acids with excellent functional group tolerance. The C?H bond carboxylation with CO₂ emerged as a straightforward protocol for the preparation of a series of aromatic carboxylic esters and butenoates from simple substrates. The hydrosilylation of CO₂ with hydrosilanes provided an efficient method for the synthesis of silyl formate on gram scale. The hydrogenative or alkylative carboxylation of alkynes, ynamides and allenamides yielded useful α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids and α,β‐dehydro amino acid esters. The boracarboxylation of alkynes or aldehydes afforded the novel lithium cyclic boralactone or boracarbonate products, respectively. The NHC‐copper catalysts generally featured excellent functional group compatibility, broad substrate scope, high efficiency, and high regio‐ and stereoselectivity. The unique electronic and steric properties of the NHC‐copper units also enabled the isolation and structural characterization of some key intermediates for better understanding of the catalytic reaction mechanisms.     

超临界二氧化碳介质中钯催化的一些交叉偶联反应的研究

构建新的C—C键, 在有机合成中占有非常重要的地位; 超临界二氧化碳, 作为环境友好的有机反应介质, 已引起人们的广泛关注. 综述了近年来超临界二氧化碳介质中钯催化的C—C键形成反应的研究进展, 包括Heck, Suzuki, Stille和Sonogashira反应等.     

Direct Carboxylation of Electron-Rich Heteroarenes Promoted by LiO-tBu with CsF and [18]Crown-6

We herein demonstrate that the combination of LiO-tBu, CsF, and [18]crown-6 efficiently promotes the direct C−H carboxylation of electron-rich heteroarenes (benzothiophene, thiophene, benzofuran, and furan derivatives). A variety of functional groups, including methyl, methoxy, halo, cyano, amide, and keto moieties, are compatible with this system. The reaction proceeds via the formation of a tert-butyl carbonate species.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Alkenyl Carboxylates

Carboxylate esters have many desirable features as electrophiles for catalytic cross-coupling: they are easy to access, robust during multistep synthesis, and mass-efficient in coupling reactions. Alkenyl carboxylates, a class of readily prepared non-aromatic electrophiles, remain difficult to functionalize through cross-coupling. We demonstrate that Pd catalysis is effective for coupling electron-deficient alkenyl carboxylates with arylboronic acids in the absence of base or oxidants. Furthermore, these reactions can proceed by two distinct mechanisms for C−O bond activation. A Pd^0/II catalytic cycle is viable when using a Pd⁰ precatalyst, with turnover-limiting C−O oxidative addition; however, an alternative pathway that involves alkene carbopalladation and β-carboxyl elimination is proposed for Pd^II precatalysts. This work provides a clear path toward engaging myriad oxygen-based electrophiles in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling.     

Enantioselective Dearomative Difunctionalization of Indoles by Palladium-Catalyzed Heck/Sonogashira Sequence

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective dearomative arylalkynylation of N-substituted indoles, through a Heck/Sonogashira sequence, was established using a new BINOL-based phosphoramidite as the chiral ligand. A wide range of 2,3-disubstituted indolines, bearing vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereocenters, were efficiently constructed in one step with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee) and diastereoselectivities (>20:1).     

Cu‐Catalyzed Alkylative Carboxylation of Ynamides with Dialkylzinc Reagents and Carbon Dioxide

Alkylative carboxylation of ynamides with CO₂ and dialkylzinc reagents using a N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–copper catalyst has been developed. A variety of ynamides, both cyclic and acyclic, undergo this transformation under mild conditions to afford the corresponding α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids, which contain the α,β‐dehydroamino acid skeleton. The present alkylative carboxylation formally consists of Cu‐catalyzed carbozincation of ynamides with dialkylzinc reagents with the subsequent nucleophilic carboxylation of the resulting alkenylzinc species with CO₂. Dialkylzinc reagents bearing a β‐hydrogen atom such as Et₂Zn and Bu₂Zn still afford the alkylated products despite the potential for β‐hydride elimination. This protocol would be a desirable method for the synthesis of highly substituted α,β‐ dehydroamino acid derivatives due to its high regio‐ and stereoselectivity, simple one‐pot procedure, and its use of CO₂ as a starting material.     

Stereospecific Palladium-Catalyzed Acylation of Enantioenriched Alkylcarbastannatranes: A General Alternative to Asymmetric Enolate Reactions

We report the development of a Pd-catalyzed process for the cross coupling of unactivated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylcarbastannatrane nucleophiles with acyl electrophiles. Reactions involving optically active alkylcarbastannatranes occur with exceptional stereofidelity and with net retention of absolute configuration. Because the stereochemistry of the resulting products is entirely reagent-controlled, this process may be viewed as a general, alternative approach to the preparation of products typically accessed via asymmetric enolate methodologies. Additionally, we report a new method for the preparation of optically active alkylcarbastannatranes, which should facilitate their future use in stereospecific reactions.     

Utilization of CO2 Feedstock for Organic Synthesis by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

CO₂ is a highly abundant, green, and sustainable carbon feedstock. Despite its kinetic inertness and thermodynamic stability, the development of various catalytic techniques has enabled the conversion of CO₂ to value-added products such as carboxylic acids, amino acids, and heterocyclic compounds, where visible-light photocatalysis has emerged to be an efficient promoter of these processes. This Minireview covers the progress in the areas of CO₂ incorporation onto organic matters based on the combined venture of renewable resources of CO₂ and light energy with significant emphasis on the last three years’ developments.     

二氧化碳与不饱和烃的还原羧化反应

过渡金属催化CO₂参与的不饱和烃还原羧化反应是合成羧酸及丙烯酸类化合物的重要途径, 具有重要的研究价值和工业应用潜力．过渡金属试剂与不饱和烃、CO₂生成稳定的金属杂环内酯或金属羧酸盐．还原剂能够与金属杂环内酯或金属羧酸盐发生转金属作用, 重新生成活泼催化剂, 从而实现催化剂的循环利用．本文总结了还原剂, 包括有机金属试剂、硅烷、硼烷、金属粉末、甲醇和氢气等在不饱和烃与CO₂的还原羧化反应中的应用, 并着重描述其反应特点和反应机理.     

Alkylative Carboxylation of Ynamides and Allenamides with Functionalized Alkylzinc Halides and Carbon Dioxide by a Copper Catalyst

The alkylative carboxylation of ynamides and allenamides with CO₂ and alkylzinc halides catalyzed by a copper catalyst was developed. A variety of alkylzinc halides bearing functional groups were used for this transformation to afford α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, which contain the α,β-dehydroamino acid skeleton, introducing the corresponding alkyl group and CO₂ across the carbon–carbon triple or double bond. This alkylative carboxylation formally consists of Cu-catalyzed carbozincation of ynamides or allenamides with alkylzinc halides and the subsequent nucleophilic carboxylation of the resulting alkenylzinc species with CO₂. This protocol would be a useful method for the synthesis of α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives possessing a functionalized alkyl group due to the high regio- and stereoselectivity, simple one-pot procedure as well as the use of CO₂ as a starting material.     

Highly Regioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Carboxylation of Allylic Alcohols with CO2

Various allylic alcohols were carboxylated in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂ and PPh₃ using ZnEt₂ as a stoichiometric transmetalation agent under a CO₂ atmosphere (1 atm). This carboxylation proceeded in a highly regioselective manner to afford branched carboxylic acids predominantly. The β,γ‐unsaturated carboxylic acid thus obtained was successfully converted into an optically active γ‐butyrolactone, a known intermediate of (R)‐baclofen.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cyclization Reaction of o‐Haloanilines,CO2 and Isocyanides: Access to Quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones

Quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones are core structural subunits frequently found in many biologically important compounds. The reaction of 2‐​aminobenzonitrile and CO₂, which was frequently studied, only provided N3‐unsubstituted quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione compounds. Herein we report palladium‐catalyzed cyclization reactions of o‐haloanilines, CO₂ and isocyanides to prepare N3‐substituted quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones. Electron‐rich o‐bromoanilines participated in the cyclization reaction using Cs₂CO₃ at high temperature, and electron‐deficient o‐bromoaniline or o‐iodoaniline substrates conducted the reaction using CsF as base to deliver corresponding quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione products in good yields.     

Synthesis of Symmetrical and Nonsymmetrical Polyenes by Iterative and Bidirectional Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Bifunctional unsaturated reagents designed to undergo palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with complementary polyenyl connective fragments are highly useful for the undoubtedly challenging synthesis of polyenes. The current toolkit of building blocks for the bidirectional formation of Csp²−Csp² single bonds of polyenes includes homo-bisfunctionalized reagents with equal or unequal reactivity (due to steric and/or electronic factors), and hetero-bisfunctionalized counterparts containing either two different nucleophiles, two electrophiles or one of these functionalities and a latent nucleophile that can be unmasked when desired. The combination of these bifunctional linchpin reagents using tactics that modulate the reactivity of each terminus in order to achieve the required connection have streamlined the synthesis of polyenes of great complexity using (iterative) cross-coupling methods for Csp²−Csp² bond formation. Reaction conditions for the Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are mild and functional-group-tolerant, and therefore these protocols allow to construct the polyene structures using shorter unsaturated reactants with the desired geometries, since in general the products preserve the stereochemical information of the connected cross-coupling partners.     

Regioselective Alkylative Carboxylation of Allenamides with Carbon Dioxide and Dialkylzinc Reagents Catalyzed by an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Copper Complex

The alkylative carboxylation of allenamide catalyzed by an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–copper(I) complex [(IPr)CuCl] with CO₂ and dialkylzinc reagents was investigated. The reaction of allenamides with dialkylzinc reagents (1.5 equiv) and CO₂ (1 atm.) proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic quantity of [(IPr)CuCl] to afford (Z)‐α,β‐dehydro‐β‐amino acid esters in good yields. The reaction is regioselective, with the alkyl group introduced onto the less hindered γ‐carbon, and the carboxyl group introduced onto the β‐carbon atom of the allenamides. The first step of the reaction was alkylative zincation of the allenamides to give an alkenylzinc intermediate followed by nucleophilic addition to CO₂. A variety of cyclic and acyclic allenamides were found to be applicable to this transformation. Dialkylzinc reagents bearing β‐hydrogen atoms, such as Et₂Zn or Bu₂Zn, also gave the corresponding alkylative carboxylation products without β‐hydride elimination. The present methodology provides an easy route to alkyl‐substituted α,β‐dehydro‐β‐amino acid ester derivatives under mild reaction conditions with high regio‐ and stereoselectivtiy.     

Development of Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Alkene Carboalkoxylation Reactions for the Synthesis of Tetrahydrofurans

The Pd‐catalyzed coupling of γ‐hydroxyalkenes with aryl bromides affords enantiomerically enriched 2‐(arylmethyl)tetrahydrofuran derivatives in good yield and up to 96:4 e.r. This transformation was achieved through the development of a new TADDOL/2‐arylcyclohexanol‐derived chiral phosphite ligand. The transformations are effective with an array of different aryl bromides, and can be used for the preparation of products bearing quaternary stereocenters.