Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Methylenecyclopropanes through CH Bond Cleavage: Scope and Mechanism

Intermolecular hydroarylation reactions of highly strained methylenecyclopropanes 2-phenylmethylenecyclopropane (1), 2,2-diphenylmethylenecyclopropane (2), methylenespiropentane (3), bicyclopropylidene (4), (dicyclopropylmethylene)cyclopropane (5), and benzhydrylidenecyclopropane (6) through C?H bond functionalization of 2-phenylpyridine (7?a) and other arenes with directing groups were studied. The reaction was very sensitive to the substitution on the methylenecyclopropanes. Although these transformations involved (cyclopropylcarbinyl)-metal intermediates, substrates 1 and 4 furnished anti-Markovnikov hydroarylation products with complete conservation of all cyclopropane rings in 11-93?% yield, whereas starting materials 3 and 5 were inert toward hydroarylation. Methylenecyclopropane 6 formed the products of formal hydroarylation reactions of the longest distal C?C bond in the methylenecyclopropane moiety in high yield, and hydrocarbon 2 afforded mixtures of hydroarylated products in low yields with a predominance of compounds that retained the cyclopropane unit. As byproducts, Diels-Alder cycloadducts and self-reorganization products were obtained in several cases from substrates 1-3 and 5. The structures of the most important new products have been unambiguously determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. On the basis of the results of hydroarylation experiments with isotopically labeled 7?a-[D(5) ], a plausible mechanistic rationale and a catalytic cycle for these unusual ruthenium-catalyzed hydroarylation reactions have been proposed. Arene-tethered ruthenium-phosphane complex 53, either isolated from the reaction mixture or independently prepared, did not show any catalytic activity.     

Intramolecular CH Bond Activation through a Flexible Ester Linkage

Replacing the director: A bipyridinyl ligand with an aliphatic side chain determines the regioselectivity of copper-catalyzed C?H oxidation by intramolecular effects. Because the aliphatic chain is attached through an ester linkage, the catalytic cycle can in principle be closed by transesterification. Ion-mobility mass spectrometry and isotopic labeling provide mechanistic insight not available from direct mass spectrometry experiments.     

Chemical Upcycling of Polyolefins through C−H Functionalization

Polyolefins consist of abundant hydrophobic C−C and C−H bonds, and are considered as immensely potential untapped resources. Chemical upcycling offers a convenient and promising recycling strategy of polyolefins to produce newly-functionalized polymeric materials, and high-value added chemicals. The significant progress made in C−H functionalization reactions of alkane molecules provides new opportunities for improving polyolefin treatments. This review focuses on recent advancements in post-modification routes, specifically the introduction of C−C and C−X (X=O, N, S, halogens and etc.) bonds onto polyolefin chain backbones, as well as degradation models involving homogeneous C−H functionalization. By emphasizing these developments, we aim to highlight the potential of chemical upcycling for enhancing the treatment of polyolefins.     

Evidence for CH Hydrogen Bonding in Salts of tert-Butyl Cation

Environmentally sensitive: A combination of C?H????anion hydrogen bonding and hyperconjugative charge delocalization explains the sensitivity of the IR spectrum of the tert-butyl cation to its anion (see high-resolution X-ray structure with a CHB(11) Cl(11) (-) counterion). The νCH vibration of the cation scales linearly with the basicity of carborane anions on the νNH scale. The same also holds for the C(6) H(7) (+) benzenium ion.     

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroarylation of Alkenes through C−H bond Activation: Experiment and Computation

A new catalytic enantioselective hydroarylation of unactivated olefins is developed that provides rapid access to functionalized chiral dihydrobenzofurans with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Simple aromatic ketones or amides act as a directing group allowing the regioselective reaction at the more hindered ortho position. Tertiary benzylic stereocenters are obtained directly under mild reaction conditions and with complete atom economy from readily available starting materials.     

An Iron(III)-Monoamidate Complex Catalyst for Selective Hydroxylation of Alkane CH Bonds with Hydrogen Peroxide

Selective oxidation: The success of the title reaction is caused by the strong electron donation from the amidate moiety of the dpaq ligand to the iron center (dpaq=2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate). This process facilitates the O?O bond heterolysis of the intermediate Fe(III) OOH species to generate a selective oxidant without forming highly reactive hydroxyl radicals.     

Steering Site-Selectivity in Transition Metal-Catalyzed C−H Bond Functionalization: the Challenge of Benzanilides

Selective C−H bond functionalization catalyzed by metal complexes have completely revolutionized the way in which chemical synthesis is conceived nowadays. Typically, the reactivity of a transition metal catalyst is the key to control the site-, regio- and/or stereo-selectivity of a C−H bond functionalization. Of particular interests are molecules that contain multiple C−H bonds prone to undergo C−H bond activations with very similar bond dissociation energies at different positions. This is the case of benzanilides, relevant chemical motifs that are found in many useful fine chemicals, in which two C−H sites are present in chemically different aromatic fragments. In the last years, it has been found that depending on the metal catalyst and the reaction conditions, the amide motif might behave as a directing group towards the metal-catalyzed C−H bond activation in the benzamide site or in the anilide site. The impact and the consequences of such subtle control of site-selectivity are herein reviewed with important applications in carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming processes. The mechanisms unraveling these unique transformations are discussed in order to provide a better understanding for future developments in the field of site-selective C−H bond functionalization with transition metal catalysts.     

Reactivity Control of CH Bond Activation over Vanadium-Silver Bimetallic Oxide Cluster Cations

Vanadium-silver bimetallic oxide cluster ions (V(x) Ag(y) O(z) (+) ; x=1-4, y=1-4, z=3-11) are produced by laser ablation and reacted with ethane in a fast-flow reactor. A reflectron time of flight (Re-TOF) mass spectrometer is used to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) reactions are identified over VAgO(3) (+) , V(2) Ag(2) O(6) (+) , V(2) Ag(4) O(7) (+) , V(3) AgO(8) (+) , V(3) Ag(3) O(9) (+) , and V(4) Ag(2) O(11) (+) ions, in which the oxygen-centered radicals terminally bonded on V atoms are active sites for the facile HAA reactions. DFT calculations are performed to study the structures, bonding, and reactivity. The reaction mechanisms of V(2) Ag(2) O(6) (+) +C(2) H(6) are also given. The doped Ag atoms with a valence state of +1 are highly dispersed at the periphery of the V(x) Ag(y) O(z) (+) cluster ions. The reactivity can be well-tuned gradually by controlling the number of Ag atoms. The steric protection due to the peripherally bonded Ag atoms greatly enhances the selectivity of the V-Ag bimetallic oxide clusters with respect to the corresponding pure vanadium oxide systems.     

Synthetic Advantages of Defluorinative C−F Bond Functionalization

Much progress has been made in the development of methods to both create compounds that contain C−F bonds and to functionalize C−F bonds. As such, C−F bonds are becoming common and versatile synthetic functional handles. This review summarizes the advantages of defluorinative functionalization reactions for small molecule synthesis. The coverage is organized by the type of carbon framework the fluorine is attached to for mono- and polyfluorinated motifs. The main challenges, opportunities and advances of defluorinative functionalization are discussed for each class of organofluorine. Most of the text focuses on case studies that illustrate how defluorofunctionalization can improve routes to synthetic targets or how the properties of C−F bonds enable unique mechanisms and reactions. The broader goal is to showcase the opportunities for incorporating and exploiting C−F bonds in the design of synthetic routes, improvement of specific reactions and advent of new methods.     

Dehydrogenative Double C−H Bond Activation in a Germylene-Rhodium Complex**

Transition metal tetrylene complexes offer great opportunities for molecular cooperation due to the ambiphilic character of the group 14 element. Here we focus on the coordination of germylene [(Ar^Mes2)₂Ge :] (Ar^Mes=C₆H₃-2,6-(C₆H₂-2,4,6-Me₃)₂) to [RhCl(COD)]₂ (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene), which yields a neutral germyl complex in which the rhodium center exhibits both η⁶- and η²-coordination to two mesityl rings in an unusual pincer-type structure. Chloride abstraction from this species triggers a singular dehydrogenative double C−H bond activation across the Ge/Rh motif. We have isolated and fully characterized three rhodium-germyl species associated to three C−H cleavage events along this process. The reaction mechanism has been further investigated by computational means, supporting the key cooperative action of rhodium and germanium centers.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Direct C sp 3H Functionalization of Ethers: A Highly Efficient Approach to Chiral Spiroethers

Spiro compounds: An organocatalytic asymmetric method for the C?sp?3?H functionalization of the α?position of racemic cyclic ethers has been developed. The transformation, mediated by catalytic amounts of an imidazolidinone and strong acid, involves a tandem 1,5-hydride transfer/cyclization and provides access to a structurally diverse series of chiral spiroethers with high levels of enantioselectivity.     

Selective Alkenylation and Hydroalkenylation of Enol Phosphates through Direct C?H Functionalization

An efficient and selective Rh‐catalyzed direct C H functionalization reaction of enol phosphates was developed. The method is applicable to a variety of coupling partners, including activated alkenes, alkynes, and allenes, and leads to the formation of various valuable alkenylated and hydroalkenylated enol phosphates through the action of the phosphate directing group. The versatility and utility of the coupling products were demonstrated through further transformations into synthetically useful building blocks.     

Site-Selective C−H Functionalization of Carbazoles

Carbazole alkaloids hold great potential in pharmaceutical and material sciences. However, the current approaches for C1 functionalization of carbazoles rely on the use of a pre-installed directing group, severely limiting their applicability and hindering their overall efficiency. Herein, we report for the first time the development of direct Pd-catalyzed C−H alkylation and acylation of carbazoles assisted by norbornene (NBE) as a transient directing mediator. Notably, the involvement of a six-membered palladacycle intermediate was suggested in this case, representing the first example of such intermediacy within the extensively studied Pd/norbornene reactions realm.     

Predicting Regioselectivity in Radical C−H Functionalization of Heterocycles through Machine Learning

Radical C−H bond functionalization provides a versatile approach for elaborating heterocyclic compounds. The synthetic design of this transformation relies heavily on the knowledge of regioselectivity, while a quantified and efficient regioselectivity prediction approach is still elusive. Herein, we report the feasibility of using a machine learning model to predict the transition state barrier from the computed properties of isolated reactants. This enables rapid and reliable regioselectivity prediction for radical C−H bond functionalization of heterocycles. The Random Forest model with physical organic features achieved 94.2 % site accuracy and 89.9 % selectivity accuracy in the out-of-sample test set. The prediction performance was further validated by comparing the machine learning results with additional substituents, heteroarene scaffolds and experimental observations. This work revealed that the combination of mechanism-based computational statistics and machine learning model can serve as a useful strategy for selectivity prediction of organic transformations.     

Precise Functionalization of Remote C―H Bonds

Remote C-H bond functionalization of arenes with precise control is a recognized extraordinary challenge in organic synthesis. Recently, Yu and Houk et al. developed an elegant strategy to distinguish and functionalize remote C_sp²-H bonds of (hetero)arenes within one-bond distance by the interplay of a remote directing template and a transient norbornene-type mediator. A wide range of medicinally important benzoazines are well compatible with this method. The chemistry significantly expands the toolbox for site-selective functionalization of remote C_sp²-H bond of (hetero)arenes. This work has been published in Nature Chemistry in March, 2020.     

Photocatalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer Degradation of Vinyl Polymers: Cleavage of a Backbone C−C Bond Triggered by Radical Activation of a C−H Bond in a Pendant

In this work, we achieved a triggering degradation of polymers composed of carbon-carbon (C−C) bonded backbone without relying on introduction of labile heteroatom-based bond. The crucial point for the achievement is using vinyl ether (VE) as a comonomer in radical copolymerization of (meth)acrylate for introduction of the carbon-hydrogen (C−H) bonds active for photocatalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) as triggers in the pendant. Interestingly, methyl methacrylate (MMA)-n-butyl vinyl ether (NBVE) copolymer underwent degradation in acetonitrile in the presence of benzophenone (Ph₂CO) under UV irradiation at 80 °C. The degradation did not take place, when any one of UV, Ph₂CO, heat, and NBVE unit was removed or HAT-active solvent such as toluene and 1,4-dioxane was used. These control experiments strongly supported the HAT-triggering degradation. Furthermore, the degradation behaviors of the copolymers with other vinyl ethers such as tert-butyl vinyl ether and methyl isopropenyl ether indicated that the C−H bond neighboring to oxygen on the pendant is mainly responsible for the trigger leading to degradation. The HAT-triggering degradation was also demonstrated even with the acrylate-based copolymer.     

Organocatalytic C−H Functionalization of Simple Alkanes

The direct functionalization of inert C(sp³)-H bonds to form carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds offers vast potential for chemical synthesis and therefore receives increasing attention. At present, most successes come from strategies using metal catalysts/reagents or photo/electrochemical processes. The use of organocatalysis for this purpose remains scarce, especially when dealing with challenging C−H bonds such as those from simple alkanes. Here we disclose the first organocatalytic direct functionalization/acylation of inert C(sp³)-H bonds of completely unfunctionalized alkanes. Our approach involves N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst-mediated carbonyl radical intermediate generation and coupling with simple alkanes (through the corresponding alkyl radical intermediates generated via a hydrogen atom transfer process). Unreactive C−H bonds are widely present in fossil fuel feedstocks, commercially important organic polymers, and complex molecules such as natural products. Our present study shall inspire a new avenue for quick functionalization of these molecules under the light- and metal-free catalytic conditions.     

Catalytic Gold Chemistry: From Simple Salts to Complexes for Regioselective C−H Bond Functionalization

Gold coordinated to neutral phosphines (R₃P), N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) or anionic ligands is catalytically active in functionalizing various C−H bonds with high selectivity. The sterics/electronic nature of the studied C−H bond, oxidation state of gold and stereoelectronic capacity of the coordinated auxiliary ligand are some of the associated selectivity factors in gold-catalyzed C−H bond functionalization reactions. Hence, in this review a comprehensive update about the action of different types of gold catalysts, from simple to sophisticated ones, on C−H bond reactions and their regiochemical outcome is disclosed. This review also highlights the catalytic applications of Au(I)- and Au(III)-species in creating new opportunities for the regio- and site-selective activation of challenging C−H bonds. Finally, it also intends to stress the potential applications in selective C−H bond activation associated with a variety of heterocycles recently described in the literature.     

CN Bond Cleavage and Ring Expansion of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes using Hydrosilanes

Ring expansion of NHCs! The reaction of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with hydrosilanes Ph(4-n) SiH(n) (n=1, 2, 3) results in complete rupture of the heterocycle and silylene insertion into one of the C?N bonds of the carbene (see scheme; R=alkyl, aryl).