The Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling of CH Bonds: A Versatile Strategy for CC Bond Formations

Over the last decade, substantial research has led to the introduction of an impressive number of efficient procedures which allow the selective construction of C? C bonds by directly connecting two different C? H bonds under oxidative conditions. Common to these methodologies is the generation of the reactive intermediates in situ by activation of both C? H bonds. This strategy was introduced by the group of Li as cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) and discloses waste‐minimized synthetic alternatives to classic coupling procedures which rely on the use of prefunctionalized starting materials. This Review highlights the recent progress in the field of cross‐dehydrogenative C? C formations and provides a comprehensive overview on existing procedures and employed methodologies.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed CH Alkynylation of Arenes at Room Temperature

The rhodium(III)‐catalyzed ortho C? H alkynylation of non‐electronically activated arenes is disclosed. This process features a straightforward and highly effective protocol for the synthesis of functionalized alkynes and represents the first example of merging a hypervalent iodine reagent with rhodium(III) catalysis. Notably, this reaction proceeds at room temperature, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and more importantly, exhibits high selectivity for monoalkynylation.     

Metal‐Free Oxidative CC Bond Formation through CH Bond Functionalization

The formation of C?C bonds embodies the core of organic chemistry because of its fundamental application in generation of molecular diversity and complexity. C?C bond‐forming reactions are well‐known challenges. To achieve this goal through direct functionalization of C?H bonds in both of the coupling partners represents the state‐of‐the‐art in organic synthesis. Oxidative C?C bond formation obviates the need for prefunctionalization of both substrates. This Minireview is dedicated to the field of C?C bond‐forming reactions through direct C?H bond functionalization under completely metal‐free oxidative conditions. Selected important developments in this area have been summarized with representative examples and discussions on their reaction mechanisms.     

Light‐Induced CH Arylation of (Hetero)arenes by In Situ Generated Diazo Anhydrides

Diazo anhydrides (Ar?N?N?O?N?N?Ar) have been known since 1896 but have rarely been used in synthesis. This communication describes the development of a photochemical catalyst‐free C?H arylation methodology for the preparation of bi(hetero)aryls by the one‐pot reaction of anilines with tert‐butyl nitrite and (hetero)arenes under neutral conditions. The key step in this procedure is the in situ formation and subsequent photochemical (>300 nm) homolytic cleavage of a transient diazo anhydride intermediate. The generated aryl radical then efficiently reacts with a (hetero)arene to form the desired bi(hetero)aryls producing only nitrogen, water, and tert‐butanol as byproducts. The scope of the reaction for several substituted anilines and (hetero)arenes was investigated. A continuous‐flow protocol increasing selectivity and safety has been developed enabling the experimentally straightforward preparation of a variety of substituted bi(hetero)aryls within 45 min of reaction time.     

AgONO‐Assisted Direct CH Arylation of Heteroarenes with Anilines

A novel copper‐catalyzed C?H arylation of heteroarenes with anilines by an in situ diazonium reaction is established by using silver nitrite (AgONO) as an unconventional nitrosating reagent under acid‐free conditions. It provides a complementary approach for the C?H arylation of electron‐rich heteroarenes with aromatic amines affording a variety of heterobiaryls in moderate to good yields.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Zinc‐Amide‐Mediated CH Arylation of Fluoroarenes and Heteroarenes with Aryl Sulfides

C?H arylation of polyfluoroarenes and heteroarenes with aryl sulfides proceeds smoothly with the aid of a palladium–N‐heterocyclic carbene catalyst. A bulky zinc amide, TMPZnCl ? LiCl, plays a key role as an effective base to generate the corresponding arylzinc species in situ. This arylation protocol is practically much easier to perform than our previous method, which necessitates preparation of the arylzinc reagents in advance from the corresponding aryl halides. Aryl sulfides that are prepared through sulfur‐specific reactions, such as S_NAr sulfanylation and extended Pummerer reactions, undergo this direct arylation, offering interesting transformations that are otherwise difficult to achieve with conventional halogen‐based organic synthesis.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed meta‐Selective CH Bromination

The first example of a transition‐metal‐catalyzed, meta‐selective C? H bromination procedure is reported. In the presence of catalytic [{Ru(p‐cymene)Cl₂}₂], tetrabutylammonium tribromide can be used to functionalize the meta C? H bond of 2‐phenylpyridine derivatives, thus affording difficult to access products which are highly predisposed to further derivatization. We demonstrate this utility with one‐pot bromination/arylation and bromination/alkenylation procedures to deliver meta‐arylated and meta‐alkenylated products, respectively, in a single step.     

Late‐Stage Diversification of Peptides by Metal‐Free CH Arylation

The bioorthogonal late‐stage diversification of functionalized oligopeptides was accomplished through a metal‐free, site‐selective C?H arylation of engineered indole derivatives under mild reaction conditions.     

Aniline Carbamates: A Versatile and Removable Motif for Palladium‐Catalyzed Directed CH Activation

The aniline carbamate is introduced as a new removable directing group for C?H activation. Its versatility and ability as a directing group are demonstrated by its use in the ortho‐arylation of a wide variety of aniline derivatives under palladium(II) catalysis, with symmetric diaryliodonium salts as aryl donors. The reaction differs from previously reported arylations in its selectivity and its mechanism, as elucidated by kinetic and isotopic experiments. The directing group can also be easily removed under a variety of conditions.     

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.     

A Regioselective Synthesis of Benzopinacolones through Aerobic Dehydrogenative α‐Arylation of the Tertiary sp3 CH Bond of 1,1‐Diphenylketones with Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Compounds

A regioselective synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical benzopinacolones through aerobic dehydrogenative α‐arylation at the tertiary sp³ C?H bond of substituted 1,1‐diphenylketones with aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, in the presence of K₂S₂O₈ in CF₃COOH at room temperature, is described. The reaction is proposed to go via a carbocation intermediate, which could be generated directly from cleavage of the sp³ C?H bond of 1,1‐diphenylketone. Subsequent α‐arylation was achieved at the methene sp³ carbon atom of the substituted ketone. A variety of substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds were compatible with this reaction. In addition, benzopinacolones were converted into sterically hindered, tetrasubstituted alkenes and polycyclic aromatic compounds.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Mild CH ortho Arylation and Intramolecular Amination Oriented by a Phosphinamide Group

A novel protocol for the Pd‐catalyzed ortho‐arylation of aryl phosphinamide with boronic acid is reported. By using phosphinamide as a new directing group, the reaction proceeds efficiently under mild conditions at 40 °C. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds via a Pd^II to Pd⁰ cycle. The phosphinamide group is also shown to be an effective orienting group for direct C?H amination.     

Dioxygen‐Mediated Decarbonylative CH Alkylation of Heteroaromatic Bases with Aldehydes

An operationally simple and economical method for the direct alkylation of heteroaromatic bases employing readily available aldehydes as alkyl radical precursors and molecular oxygen as a reagent is presented. This simple transformation demonstrates a broad substrate scope with respect to aldehydes and nitrogen heterocycles, enabling the introduction of several medicinally important yet challenging alkyl moieties, such as ethyl, isopropyl, tert‐butyl, and cyclohexyl to the different classes of heterocyclic bases in good to excellent yields.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed ortho‐Arylation of Benzoic Acids with Arenediazonium Salts

In the presence of catalytic [{IrCp*Cl₂}₂] and Ag₂CO₃, Li₂CO₃ as the base, and acetone as the solvent, benzoic acids react with arenediazonium salts to give the corresponding diaryl‐2‐carboxylates under mild conditions. This C? H arylation process is generally applicable to diversely substituted substrates, ranging from extremely electron‐rich to electron‐poor derivatives. The carboxylate directing group is widely available and can be removed tracelessly or employed for further derivatization. Orthogonality to halide‐based cross‐couplings is achieved by the use of diazonium salts, which can be coupled even in the presence of iodo substituents.     

Mechanistic Study on Rh‐Catalyzed Stereoselective CC/CH Activation of tert‐Cyclobutanols

A mechanistic study was performed on the Rh‐catalyzed stereoselective C?C/C?H activation of tert‐cyclobutanols. The present study corroborated the previous proposal that the reaction occurs by metalation, β‐C elimination, 1,4‐Rh transfer, C?O insertion, and a final catalyst‐regeneration step. The rate‐determining step was found to be the 1,4‐Rh transfer step, whereas the stereoselectivity‐determining step did not correspond to any of the aforementioned steps. It was found that both the thermodynamic stability of the product of the β‐C elimination and the kinetic feasibility of the 1,4‐Rh transfer and C?O insertion steps made important contributions. In other words, three steps (i.e., β‐C elimination, 1,4‐Rh transfer, and C?O insertion) were found to be important in determining the configurations of the two quaternary stereocenters.     

Modular Synthesis of Phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophenes by a Sequence of CH Activation,Suzuki Cross‐Coupling and Photocyclization Reactions

A total number of 15 different 3,4‐diarylthiophenes were synthesized, which bear a chlorine atom in ortho‐position of one of the aryl substituents. One aryl group was introduced by an oxidative cross‐coupling reaction, involving a C?H activation at C4(3) of the thiophene core. The other aryl group was in most cases introduced by a Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction, which succeeded the oxidative cross‐coupling step. Photocyclization reactions of the 3,4‐diarylthiophenes were performed in a solvent mixture of benzene and acetonitrile (50:50 v/v) at λ=254 nm and proceeded to the title compounds in yields of 60–82 %. The selectivity of the photocyclization was determined at the ortho‐chloro‐substituted aryl ring by the position of the chlorine substituent. At the other ring, a single regioisomer was observed for phenyl and para‐substituted phenyl groups. For 2‐naphthyl and ortho‐substituted phenyl rings a clear preference was observed in favor of a major regioisomer, while meta‐substitution in the phenyl ring led to a about 1:1 mixture of 5‐ and 7‐substituted phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophenes. Mechanistically, the photocyclization is likely to occur as a photochemically allowed, conrotatory [(4n+2)π] process accompanied by elimination of HCl. It was shown for two phenanthro[9,10‐c]thiophene products that they can be readily brominated in positions C1 and C3 (74–77 %), which in turn allows for further functionalization at these positions, for example, in the course of halogen–metal exchange and polymerization reactions.     

Enantioselective ortho‐CH Cross‐Coupling of Diarylmethylamines with Organoborons

The commonly used para‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl (nosyl) protecting group is employed to direct the C? H activation of amines for the first time. An enantioselective ortho‐C? H cross‐coupling between nosyl‐protected diarylmethylamines and arylboronic acid pinacol esters has been achieved utilizing chiral mono‐N‐protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands as a promoter.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Phenanthridine/Benzoxazine‐Fused Quinazolinones by Intramolecular CH Bond Activation

A highly efficient synthesis of phenanthridine/benzoxazine‐fused quinazolinones by ligand‐free palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular C?H bond activation under mild conditions has been developed. The C?C coupling provides the corresponding N‐fused polycyclic heterocycles in good to excellent yields and with wide functional group tolerance.