Olefin‐Directed Palladium‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Stereoselective Oxidative Arylation of Allenes

An olefin‐directed palladium‐catalyzed oxidative regio‐ and stereoselective arylation of allenes to afford 1,3,6‐trienes has been established. A number of functionalized allenes, including 2,3‐ and 3,4‐dienoates and 3,4‐dienol derivatives, have been investigated and found to undergo the olefin‐directed allene arylation. The olefin moiety has been proven to be a crucial element for the arylating transformation.     

Chelation versus Non‐Chelation Control in the Stereoselective Alkenyl sp2 C−H Bond Functionalization Reaction

A hydroxy group chelation‐assisted stereospecific oxidative cross‐coupling reaction between alkenes was developed under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of palladium catalyst, the alkenes tethered with hydroxy functionality can couple efficiently with electron‐deficient alkenes to form the corresponding multi‐substituted olefin products. The hydroxy group on the substrate could play dual roles in reaction, acting as the directing group for alkenyl C−H bond activation and controlling the stereoselectivity of the products.     

Olefin‐Directed Palladium‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Stereoselective Hydroboration of Allenes

An olefin‐directed palladium‐catalyzed regio‐ and stereoselective hydroboration of allenes has been developed to afford fully substituted alkenylboron compounds. The reaction showed a broad substrate scope: a number of functionalized allenes, including 2,3‐dienoate, 3,4‐dienoate, 3,4‐dienol, 1,2‐allenylphosphonate, and alkyl‐substituted allenes, could be used in this olefin‐directed allene hydroboration. The olefin unit was proven to be an indispensable element for this transformation.     

2‐Iminopyridylpalladium dichloride as highly active catalyst for the Heck reaction

Heck reactions of bromoarenes with various olefins catalyzed by 2‐iminopyridylpalladium (II) have been investigated. The scope of a coupling reaction has been tested in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone at 140 °C using K₂CO₃ as base. Using 0.1% molar ratio of palladium catalysts, aryl bromides were converted into 1,2‐substitutedethene products in good to high yields through coupling with both vinylarenes and alkylolefins. With butyl vinyl ether, an electron‐rich olefin, however, the effective coupling reaction produced a mixture of two regio‐isomers, 1,2‐ and 1,1‐substitutedethenes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CO/C‐H as an Acylating Reagent: A Palladium‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Carbonylative Esterification of Alcohols

A palladium‐catalyzed oxidative carbonylative esterification of a variety of functionalized alcohols under base‐ and ligand‐free conditions has been demonstrated. A CO/olefin combination was utilized as the acylating reagent with O₂ as a benign oxidant. Notably, the scope of the substrate alcohols has been greatly broadened.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Construction of Amidines from Arylboronic Acids under Oxidative Conditions

A valuable palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling reaction for the synthesis of amidines has been developed. Using arylboronic acids, isocyanides, and anilines as the reactants under oxidative conditions, various amidines were isolated in good yields with good functional group tolerances.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Construction of Heteroatom‐Containing π‐Conjugated Systems by Intramolecular Oxidative CH/CH Coupling Reaction

Synthesis of heteroatom‐containing ladder‐type π‐conjugated molecules was successfully achieved via a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular oxidative C?H/C?H cross‐coupling reaction. This reaction provides a variety of π‐conjugated molecules bearing heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms, and a carbonyl group. The π‐conjugated molecules were synthesized efficiently, even in gram scale, and larger π‐conjugated molecules were also obtained by a double C?H/C?H cross‐coupling reaction and successive oxidative cycloaromatization.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxygenative Cross‐Coupling of Ynamides and Benzyl Bromides by Carbene Migratory Insertion

A palladium‐catalyzed oxygenative cross‐coupling of ynamides and benzyl bromides has been developed. After subsequent hydrogenation, α,α‐disubstituted amide derivatives were obtained in good yields. Migratory insertion of α‐oxo palladium carbene species, generated by intermolecular oxidation, is proposed as the key step in this reaction. The study demonstrates the potential of ynamides to serve as carbene precursors in palladium‐catalyzed C?C bond‐forming cross‐coupling reactions.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Annulation of Diarylamines with Olefins through CH Activation: Direct Access to N‐Arylindoles

A palladium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling between diarylamines and olefins has been discovered for the synthesis of substituted indoles. This intermolecular annulation approach incorporates readily available olefins for the first time and obviates the need of any additional directing group. An ortho palladation, olefin coordination, and β‐migratory insertion sequence has been proposed for the generation of olefinated intermediate, which is found to produce the expected indole moiety.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Dehydrogenative Functionalization of C(sp2)H Bonds

The catalytic cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction has received intense attention in recent years. The attractive feature of this coupling process is the formation of a C? C bond from two C? H moieties under oxidative conditions. In this Focus Review, recent advances in the palladium‐catalyzed CDC reactions of C(sp²)? H bond are summarized, with a focus on the period from 2011 to early 2013.     

Synthesis of 3,4‐Fused Tricyclic Indoles Using 3‐Alkylidene Indolines as Versatile Precursors

In this personal account, our recent studies of novel synthetic methods of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole derivatives using 3‐alkylidene indoline derivatives as versatile precursors are discussed. Two types of cascade reactions producing 3,4‐fused tricyclic 3‐alkylidene indolines were developed based on a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Heck insertion to an allene‐allylic amination cascade and a platinum‐catalyzed intramolecular Friedel‐Crafts type C?H coupling‐allylic amination cascade. Furthermore, three types of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indoles were accessible from a single 3‐alkylidene indoline precursor via acid‐promoted olefin isomerization or oxidative treatments. The application of the developed methods to the synthesis of natural products bearing a 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole skeleton, (?)‐aurantioclavine, fargesine, and synthetic studies of dragmacidin E are also highlighted.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Annulation of Diarylamines with Olefins through C?H Activation: Direct Access to N‐Arylindoles

A palladium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling between diarylamines and olefins has been discovered for the synthesis of substituted indoles. This intermolecular annulation approach incorporates readily available olefins for the first time and obviates the need of any additional directing group. An ortho palladation, olefin coordination, and β‐migratory insertion sequence has been proposed for the generation of olefinated intermediate, which is found to produce the expected indole moiety.     

Addressing Challenges in Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions Through Ligand Design

The development of palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions has revolutionized the synthesis of organic molecules on both bench‐top and industrial scales. While significant research effort has been directed toward evaluating how modifying various reaction parameters can influence the outcome of a given cross‐coupling reaction, the design and implementation of novel ancillary ligand frameworks has played a particularly important role in advancing the state‐of‐the‐art. This Review seeks to highlight notable examples from the recent chemical literature, in which newly developed ancillary ligands have enabled more challenging substrate transformations to be addressed with greater selectivity and/or under increasingly mild conditions. Throughout, the importance and subtlety of ligand effects in palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions are described, in an effort to inspire further development and understanding within the field of ancillary ligand design.     

Water as an Activator for Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Olefin Polymerization

By a reasonable combination of the Wacker reaction and olefin polymerization processes, water proves to be an excellent activator for the palladium(II)‐catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and it provides a safe, environmental‐friendly and handy initiator for olefin polymerization. The activity of the olefin polymerization is comparable to reactions catalyzed by the corresponding alkylated cationic palladium complexes.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cycloisomerization of 2‐Cinnamyl‐1,3‐Dicarbonyls: Synthesis of Functionalized 2‐Benzyl Furans

A new palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cycloisomerization of readily available starting materials, 2‐cinnamyl‐1,3‐dicarbonyls, has been demonstrated for the creation of structurally diverse 2‐benzyl furans. The cycloisomerization occurs by a regioselective 5‐exo‐trig pathway. The reaction shows a broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields. Furthermore, a one‐pot procedure has been executed by using readily available cinnamyl alcohols and 1,3‐diketones.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Domino Heterocyclization/Cross‐Coupling of α‐Allenols and α‐Allenic Esters: Efficient Preparation of Functionalized Buta‐1,3‐dienyl Dihydrofurans

A mild, palladium(II)‐catalyzed reaction of α‐allenols with α‐allenic esters in a heterocyclization/cross‐coupling sequence, applicable to a wide range of substitution patterns, has been developed for the preparation of 2,3,4‐trifunctionalized 2,5‐dihydrofurans. Our studies indicate high levels of chemo‐ and regiocontrol. The possibility of using optically active substrates as well as substrates of increased steric demand, such as tertiary α‐allenols, makes this novel sequence of heterocyclization/cross‐coupling an attractive method in organic synthesis. The current mechanistic hypothesis invokes a regiocontrolled palladium(II)‐mediated intramolecular oxypalladation of the free allenol component, that then undergoes a cross‐coupling reaction with the allenic ester partner, followed by a trans‐β‐deacyloxypalladation with concomitant regeneration of the Pd^II species.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed anti‐Markovnikov Oxidation of Terminal Alkenes

The palladium‐catalyzed oxidation of alkenes, the Wacker–Tsuji reaction, is undoubtedly a classic in organic synthesis and provides reliable access to methyl ketones from terminal alkenes under mild reaction conditions. Methods that switch the selectivity of the reaction to provide the aldehyde product are desirable because of the access they provide to a valuable functional group, however such methods are elusive. Herein we survey both the methods which have been developed recently in achieving such selectivity and discuss common features and mechanistic insight which offers promise in achieving the goal of a general method for anti‐Markovnikov‐selective olefin oxidations.     

Organo‐Iodine(III)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Phenol–Arene and Phenol–Phenol Cross‐Coupling Reaction

The direct oxidative coupling reaction has been an attractive tool for environmentally benign chemistry. Reported herein is that the hypervalent iodine catalyzed oxidative metal‐free cross‐coupling reaction of phenols can be achieved using Oxone as a terminal oxidant in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP). This method features a high efficiency and regioselectivity, as well as functional‐group tolerance under very mild reaction conditions without using metal catalysts.     

Intermolecular Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Fluorocarbonylation of Unactivated Alkenes: Efficient Access to β‐Fluorocarboxylic Esters

A novel palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular oxidative fluorocarbonylation of alkenes has been developed, in which employment of a cooperative process with electrophilic ArIF₂‐meidated alkenes activation and palladium‐catalyzed carbonylation is crucial for the successful catalytic transformation. The current transformation presents the first convenient method to generate β‐fluorinated carboxylic acid derivatives under mild reaction conditions from simple alkenes with excellent regioselectivity.     

Well‐Defined N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Palladium Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for Domino Sonogashira Coupling/Cyclization Reaction and C‐H bond Arylation of Benzothiazole

Well‐defined and air‐stable PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) themed palladium bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes have been developed for the domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with a variety of terminal alkynes and C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides. The PEPPSI themed palladium complexes, 2a and 2b were synthesized in good yields from the reaction of corresponding imidazolium salts with PdCl₂ and K₂CO₃ in pyridine. The new air‐stable palladium‐NHC complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy studies. The PEPPSI themed palladium(II) bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a and 2b exhibited excellent catalytic activities for domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with terminal alkynes yielding benzofuran derivatives. In addition, the palladium complexes, 2a and 2b successfully catalyzed the direct C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides as coupling partners in presence of CuI as co‐catalyst.