[CpRu]‐Catalyzed Carbene Insertions into Epoxides: 1,4‐Dioxene Synthesis through SN1‐Like Chemistry with Retention of Configuration

Rather than lead to the usual deoxygenation pathway, metal carbenes derived from α‐diazo‐β‐ketoesters undergo three‐atom insertions into epoxides using a combination of 1,10‐phenanthroline and [CpRu(CH₃CN)₃][BAr_F] as the catalyst. Original 1,4‐dioxene motifs are obtained as single regio‐ and stereoisomers. A perfect syn stereochemistry (retention, e.r. up to 97:3) is observed for the ring opening, which behaves as an S_N1‐like transformation.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroarylation of 1‐Halo‐1‐alkynes: Regioselective Synthesis of Semihydrogenated Aromatic Heterocycles

The regioselective intramolecular hydroarylation of (3‐halo‐2‐propynyl)anilines, (3‐halo‐2‐propynyl) aryl ethers, or (4‐halo‐3‐butynyl) aryl ethers was efficiently catalyzed by Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄ to give semihydrogenated aromatic heterocycles, such as 4‐halo‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines, 4‐halo‐3‐chromenes, or 4‐(halomethylene)chromans, in good to excellent yields. Some synthetic applications taking advantage of the halo‐substituents of the products are also illustrated.     

Enantioselective N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis by the Umpolung of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

N‐Heterocyclic carbene‐catalyzed formation of β‐anionic intermediates from enones has been employed in the enantioselective synthesis of 2‐aryl propionates. The reaction was achievable using a homochiral 4‐MeOC₆H₄ morpholinone catalyst allowing the first example of enantioselective catalysis by umpolung of α,β‐unsaturated ketones. The reaction is high yielding, and shows robustness with reasonable generality. A mechanism is proposed in which the enantiodetermining protonation is achieved using either hexafluoroisopropanol or the formed naphthol product.     

Synthesis of 3,3‐Disubstituted Oxindoles by Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular α‐Arylation of Amides: Reaction Development and Mechanistic Studies

Palladium complexes incorporating chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands catalyze the asymmetric intramolecular α‐arylation of amides producing 3,3‐disubstituted oxindoles. Comprehensive DFT studies have been performed to gain insight into the mechanism of this transformation. Oxidative addition is shown to be rate‐determining and reductive elimination to be enantioselectivity‐determining. The synthesis of seven new NHC ligands is detailed and their performance is compared. One of them, L8 , containing a tBu and a 1‐naphthyl group at the stereogenic centre, proved superior and was very efficient in the asymmetric synthesis of fifteen new spiro‐oxindoles and three azaspiro‐oxindoles often in high yields (up to 99 %) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee; ee=enantiomeric excess). Three palladacycle intermediates resulting from the oxidative addition of [Pd(NHC)] into the aryl halide bond were isolated and structurally characterized (X‐ray). Using these intermediates as catalysts showed alkene additives to play an important role in increasing turnover number and frequency.     

An Ylide Transformation of Rhodium(I) Carbene: Enantioselective Three‐Component Reaction through Trapping of Rhodium(I)‐Associated Ammonium Ylides by β‐Nitroacrylates

The chiral Rh^I–diene‐catalyzed asymmetric three‐component reaction of aryldiazoacetates, aromatic amines, and β‐nitroacrylates was achieved to obtain γ‐nitro‐α‐amino‐succinates in good yields and with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. This reaction is proposed to proceed through the enantioselective trapping of Rh^I‐associated ammonium ylides by nitroacrylates. This new transformation represents the first example of Rh^I‐carbene‐induced ylide transformation.     

Intramolecular Thioether Migration in the Rhodium‐Catalyzed Ene‐Cycloisomerization of Alkenylidenecyclopropanes by a Metal‐Mediated β‐Sulfide Elimination

Reported is the first example of a rhodium‐mediated β‐sulfide elimination, which represents a new mode of reactivity for late‐transition‐metal chemistry. This serendipitous discovery facilitates an ene‐cycloisomerization of allylic‐sulfide‐containing alkenylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) to afford five‐membered carbo‐ and heterocyclic rings with concomitant intramolecular thioether migration. Interestingly, similar selectivity is obtained with both E‐ and Z‐allylic sulfides and the reaction is also feasible with an allylic selenide. Mechanistic studies are consistent with an inner‐sphere transfer of the sulfide, which is remarkable given the propensity for sulfides to poison transition‐metal catalysts. Finally, this type of atom‐economical rearrangement is envisioned to prompt the development of related processes given the utility of sulfides in target‐directed synthesis.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed γ‐Dihalomethylenation of Enals by Single‐Electron Transfer

An N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed dihalomethylenation of enals is described. It is a rare example of merging NHC catalysis with single‐electron chemistry, a challenging topic with limited previous success. The versatile carbon‐centered trihalomethyl radicals have been demonstrated, for the first time, to be compatible with an NHC‐bound intermediate, thus leading to efficient and regioselective intermolecular C?C bond formation. The mild process provides straightforward access to unsaturated δ,δ‐dihalo esters.     

Polycyclic Indoline‐Benzodiazepines through Electrophilic Additions of α‐Imino Carbenes to Tröger Bases

Polycyclic indoline‐benzodiazepines can be accessed through the intermolecular reaction of Tröger bases with N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles. Under Rh^II catalysis, α‐imino carbenes are generated and a subsequent cascade of [1,2]‐Stevens, Friedel–Crafts, Grob, and aminal formation reactions yield the polycyclic heterocycles as single isomers (d.r.>49:1, four stereocenters including two bridgehead N atoms). Further ring expansion by insertion of a second α‐imino carbene leads to elaborated polycyclic 9‐membered‐ring triazonanes.     

Reactions of Iron Carbenes with α,β‐Unsaturated Esters by Using an Umpolung Approach: Mechanism and Applications

An Umpolung approach, in which a phosphorus ylide moiety was introduced to increase the electron density of the double bond, was developed to activate electron‐deficient alkenes for reaction with electrophilic iron carbenes. In tandem with the Wittig reaction, the reactions of α,β‐unsaturated esters with in situ generated Fe? carbene complexes delivered formal C? H insertion products through cyclopropanation/ring‐opening reactions. DFT calculations and cross‐experiments indicate that, in this process, the ring opening of the cyclopropylmethyl ylide intermediate is rapid and reversible and the subsequent proton transfer is the rate‐determining step. Further studies revealed that, based on the choice of the ylide and ester groups, as well as the base, the reaction could be steered towards either the ring‐opening pathway or to the production of vinyl cyclopropanes.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of 1,6‐Enynes Involving Addition,Cyclization, and β‐Oxygen Elimination

The reaction of arylboronic acids with 1,6‐enynes that contain an allylic ether moiety is catalyzed by a rhodium(I) complex to produce cyclopentanes with a tetrasubstituted exo olefin and a pendant vinyl group. The reaction is initiated by the regioselective addition of an arylrhodium(I) species to the carbon–carbon triple bond of the 1,6‐enyne. The resulting alkenylrhodium(I) compound subsequently undergoes intramolecular carborhodation of the allylic double bond in a 5‐exo‐trig mode. β Elimination of the methoxy group affords the cyclization product and the catalytically active methoxorhodium(I) species. The use of alkyl Grignard reagents instead of arylboronic acids as organometallic nucleophiles was also examined.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Enantioselective α‐Fluorination of Aliphatic Aldehydes and α‐Chloro Aldehydes: Synthesis of α‐Fluoro Esters,Amides, and Thioesters

The asymmetric fluorination of azolium enolates that are generated from readily available simple aliphatic aldehydes or α‐chloro aldehydes and N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) is described. The process significantly expands the synthetic utility of NHC‐catalyzed fluorination and provides facile access to a wide range of α‐fluoro esters, amides, and thioesters with excellent enantioselectivity. Pyrazole was identified as an excellent acyl transfer reagent for catalytic amide formation.     

Synthesis of α‐Fluoroketones by Insertion of HF into a Gold Carbene

Reported is an efficient synthesis of α‐fluoroketones by insertion of hydrogen fluoride (HF) into the gold carbene intermediate, generated from a cationic gold catalyzed addition of N‐oxides to alkynes. This method results in excellent chemical yields for a wide range of alkyne substrates and demonstrates good functional‐group tolerance.