Transition‐Metal‐Free Formal Sonogashira Coupling and α‐Carbonyl Arylation Reactions

Transition‐metal‐free formal Sonogashira coupling and α‐carbonyl arylation reactions have been developed. These transformations are based on the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) of β‐carbonyl sulfones to electron‐deficient aryl fluorides, producing a key intermediate that, depending on the reaction conditions, gives the aromatic alkynes or α‐aryl carbonyl compounds. The development of these reactions is presented and, based on investigations under basic and acidic conditions, mechanisms have been proposed. To develop the formal Sonogashira coupling further, a milder, two‐step protocol is also disclosed that expands the reaction concept. The scope of these reactions is demonstrated for the synthesis of Sonogashira and α‐carbonyl arylated products from a range of electron‐deficient aryl fluorides with a variety of functional groups and aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, alkyl‐, and alkoxy‐substituted sulfone nucleophiles. These transition‐metal‐free reactions complement the metal‐catalyzed versions in terms of substitution patterns, simplicity, and reaction conditions.     

Pyracene‐Linked Bis‐Imidazolylidene Complexes of Palladium and Some Catalytic Benefits Produced by Bimetallic Catalysts

Two new palladium complexes with a pyracene‐linked bis‐imidazolylidene (pyrabim) group have been obtained and fully characterized. The related monometallic analogues were obtained from the coordination of an acetanaphthene‐supported N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC). The catalytic properties of all complexes were studied in the acylation of aryl halides with hydrocinnamaldehyde, and in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of aryl halides and aryl boronic acids. The results show that the presence of a second metal in the dimetallic complexes induces some benefits in the catalytic behavior of the complexes. This effect is more pronounced in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, for which the dimetallic complexes exhibit significantly higher activity than their monometallic counterparts.     

A Metal‐free Approach to 3‐Aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles by Treatment of 3‐Acyloxy‐2‐oxindoles with Diaryliodonium Salts

A mild, metal‐free approach has been realized for the facile construction of highly valuable 3‐(hetero)aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles. Direct arylations of 3‐acyloxy‐2‐oxindoles with diaryliodonium salts as arylation reagents are implemented in the presence of K₂CO₃ at room temperature without using an organometallic promoter to deliver an array of 3‐(hetero)aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles in good yields.     

Single‐Electron‐Transfer‐Induced Coupling of Arylzinc Reagents with Aryl and Alkenyl Halides

Arylzinc reagents, prepared from aryl halides/zinc powder or aryl Grignard reagents/zinc chloride, were found to undergo coupling with aryl and alkenyl halides without the aid of transition‐metal catalysis to give biaryls and styrene derivatives, respectively. In this context, we have already reported the corresponding reaction using aryl Grignard reagents instead of arylzinc reagents. Compared with the Grignard cross‐coupling, the present reaction features high functional‐group tolerance, whereby electrophilic groups such as alkoxycarbonyl and cyano groups are compatible as substituents on both the arylzinc reagents and the aryl halides. Aryl halides receive a single electron and thereby become activated as the corresponding anion radicals, which react with arylzinc reagents, thus leading to the cross‐coupling products.     

Intramolecular Metal‐Free Oxidative Aryl–Aryl Coupling: An Unusual Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Mediated Rearrangement of 2‐Substituted N‐Phenylbenzamides

Hypervalent‐iodine‐mediated oxidative coupling of the two aryl groups in either 2‐acylamino‐N‐phenyl‐benzamides or 2‐hydroxy‐N‐phenylbenzamides, with concomitant insertion of the ortho‐substituted N or O atom into the tether, has been described for the first time. This unusual metal‐free rearrangement reaction involves an oxidative C(sp²)? C(sp²) aryl–aryl bond formation, cleavage of a C(sp²)? C(O) bond, and a lactamization/lactonization. Furthermore, unsymmetrical diaryl compounds can be easily obtained by removing the tether within the cyclized product.     

Autocatalytic Carbonyl Arylation through In Situ Release of Aryl Nucleophiles from N‐Aryl‐N′‐Silyldiazenes

A method for the catalytic generation of functionalized aryl alkali metals is reported. These highly reactive intermediates are liberated from silyl‐protected aryl‐substituted diazenes by the action of Lewis basic alkali metal silanolates, resulting in desilylation and loss of N₂. Catalytic quantities of these Lewis bases initiate the transfer of the aryl nucleophile from the diazene to carbonyl and carboxyl compounds with superb functional‐group tolerance. The aryl alkali metal can be decorated with electrophilic substituents such as methoxycarbonyl or cyano as well as halogen groups. The synthesis of a previously unknown cyclophane‐like [4]arene macrocycle from a 1,3‐bisdiazene combined with a 1,4‐dialdehyde underlines the potential of the approach.     

Room‐Temperature Arylation of Thiols: Breakthrough with Aryl Chlorides

The formation of aryl C−S bonds is an important chemical transformation because aryl sulfides are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically active molecules and organic materials. Aryl sulfides have traditionally been synthesized through the transition‐metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl halides with thiols. However, the aryl halides used are usually bromides and iodides; readily available, low‐cost aryl chlorides often not reactive enough. Furthermore, the deactivation of transition‐metal catalysts by thiols has forced chemists to use high catalyst loadings, specially designed ligands, high temperatures, and/or strong bases, thus leading to high costs and the incompatibility of some functional groups. Herein, we describe a simple and efficient visible‐light photoredox arylation of thiols with aryl halides at room temperature. More importantly, various aryl chlorides are also effective arylation reagents under the present conditions.     

Silylium‐Ion‐Promoted (5+1) Cycloaddition of Aryl‐Substituted Vinylcyclopropanes and Hydrosilanes Involving Aryl Migration

A transition‐metal‐free (5+1) cycloaddition of aryl‐substituted vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) and hydrosilanes to afford silacyclohexanes is reported. Catalytic amounts of the trityl cation initiate the reaction by hydride abstraction from the hydrosilane, and further progress of the reaction is maintained by self‐regeneration of the silylium ions. The new reaction involves a [1,2] migration of an aryl group, eventually furnishing 4‐ rather than 3‐aryl‐substituted silacyclohexane derivatives as major products. Various control experiments and quantum‐chemical calculations support a mechanistic picture where a silylium ion intramolecularly stabilized by a cyclopropane ring can either undergo a kinetically favored concerted [1,2] aryl migration/ring expansion or engage in a cyclopropane‐to‐cyclopropane rearrangement.     

Reversible Dehalogenation in On‐Surface Aryl–Aryl Coupling

In the emerging field of on‐surface synthesis, dehalogenative aryl–aryl coupling is unarguably the most prominent tool for the fabrication of covalently bonded carbon‐based nanomaterials. Despite its importance, the reaction kinetics are still poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive temperature‐programmed x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation of reaction kinetics and energetics in the prototypical on‐surface dehalogenative polymerization of 4,4′′‐dibromo‐p‐terphenyl into poly(para‐phenylene) on two coinage metal surfaces, Cu(111) and Au(111). We find clear evidence for reversible dehalogenation on Au(111), which is inhibited on Cu(111) owing to the formation of organometallic intermediates. The incorporation of reversible dehalogenation in the reaction rate equations leads to excellent agreement with experimental data and allows extracting the relevant energy barriers. Our findings deepen the mechanistic understanding and call for its reassessment for surface‐confined aryl–aryl coupling on the most frequently used metal substrates.     

PhPAd‐DalPhos: Ligand‐Enabled,Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of (Hetero)aryl Electrophiles with Bulky Primary Alkylamines

The base metal‐catalyzed C?N cross‐coupling of bulky α,α,α‐trisubstituted primary alkylamines with (hetero)aryl electrophiles represents a challenging and under‐developed class of transformations that is of significant potential utility, including in the synthesis of lipophilic active pharmaceutical ingredients. Herein, we report that a new, air‐stable Ni(II) pre‐catalyst incorporating the optimized ancillary ligand PhPAd‐DalPhos enables such transformations of (hetero)aryl chloride, bromide, and tosylate electrophiles to be carried out for the first time with substrate scope rivalling that achieved using state‐of‐the‐art Pd catalysts, including room temperature cross‐couplings of (hetero)aryl chlorides that are unprecedented for any catalyst (Pd, Ni, or other).     

PhPAd‐DalPhos: Ligand‐Enabled,Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of (Hetero)aryl Electrophiles with Bulky Primary Alkylamines

The base metal‐catalyzed C?N cross‐coupling of bulky α,α,α‐trisubstituted primary alkylamines with (hetero)aryl electrophiles represents a challenging and under‐developed class of transformations that is of significant potential utility, including in the synthesis of lipophilic active pharmaceutical ingredients. Herein, we report that a new, air‐stable Ni(II) pre‐catalyst incorporating the optimized ancillary ligand PhPAd‐DalPhos enables such transformations of (hetero)aryl chloride, bromide, and tosylate electrophiles to be carried out for the first time with substrate scope rivalling that achieved using state‐of‐the‐art Pd catalysts, including room temperature cross‐couplings of (hetero)aryl chlorides that are unprecedented for any catalyst (Pd, Ni, or other).     

Metallacyclopentadienes and related heterocycles via 1,1‐organoboration of alkyn‐1‐ylmetal compounds

Metallacyclopentadienes (metalloles) containing M = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Ti, Pt can be prepared by 1,1‐organoboration of alkyn‐1‐ylmetal compounds L_nM CC R¹(R¹ = H, alkyl, aryl, silyl, etc; L depends on M, and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, Cl, Br, amino groups, a chelating diphosphane, and one or more L can be again alkynyl groups). These reactions proceed via activation of the M C bond(s) by an electron‐deficient triorganoborane BR₃ (R = alkyl, aryl; non‐cyclic, monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic boranes), at first intermolecular and then intramolecular. In the course of these reactions, the M C bonds are cleaved, zwitterionic alkynylborate‐like intermediates are formed, in which the metal‐containing fragments are coordinated side‐on to the CC bonds. In most cases, the 1,1‐organoboration reactions tolerate various functional groups at the alkyne as well as at the metal. The characterization of intermediates and final products by X‐ray structural analysis and by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is documented and described. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:188–208, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20222     

Regioselective synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted triazoles using bis[(L)prolinato‐N,O]Zn complex as an efficient catalyst in water as a sole solvent

A concise, convenient and mild route for one‐pot regioselective synthesis of N‐aryl‐ and N‐alkyltriazoles in water as a sole solvent is reported. The methodology involves a three‐component reaction comprising aryl/alkyl‐alkyne, sodium azide and aryl/alkyl/allyl halide catalyzed by zinc(II) L ‐prolinate. Prominent features of our protocol are incorporation of transition metal catalyst other than copper, water as the reaction medium, recyclability of catalyst and avoidance of hazardous aryl azide as a reactant. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Facile Synthesis of Some New 1‐Benzothiazolyl‐3‐aryl/Hetaryl‐5‐(3‐aryl‐1‐phenyl‐4‐pyrazolyl) Pyrazoles and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Some new derivatives of 1‐benzothiazolyl‐3‐aryl/hetaryl‐5‐(3‐aryl‐1‐phenyl‐4‐pyrazolyl) pyrazoles were synthesized by the cyclocondensation of 1‐aryl/hetaryl‐3‐(3‐aryl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐ones (pyrazolyl chalcones) and 6‐substituted‐2‐hydrazinobenzothiazoles.     

Imidazolin‐2‐ylidenaminophosphines as Highly Electron‐Rich Ligands for Transition‐Metal Catalysts

A variety of chemical transformations benefit from the use of strong electron‐donating ancillary ligands, such as alkylphosphines or N‐heterocyclic carbenes when electron‐rich metal centers are required. Herein, we describe a facile and highly modular access to monodentate and bidentate imidazolin‐2‐ylidenamino‐substituted phosphines. Evaluation of the phosphine’s electronic properties substantiate that the formal replacement of alkyl or aryl groups by imidazolin‐2‐ylidenamino groups dramatically enhance their donor ability beyond that of alkylphosphines and even N‐heterocyclic carbenes. The new phosphines have been coordinated onto palladium(II) centers, and the beneficial effect of the novel substitution patterns has been explored by using the corresponding complexes in the palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of non‐activated aryl chloride substrates.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of o‐Carboranyl with Aryl Iodides: Facile Synthesis of 1‐Aryl‐o‐Carboranes and 1,2‐Diaryl‐o‐Carboranes

A nickel‐catalyzed arylation at the carbon center of o‐carborane cages has been developed, thus leading to the preparation of a series of 1‐aryl‐o‐carboranes and 1,2‐diaryl‐o‐carboranes in high yields upon isolation. This method represents the first example of transition metal catalyzed C,C′‐diarylation by cross‐coupling reactions of o‐carboranyl with aryl iodides.     

Synthesis of Aromatic Nitriles Using Nonmetallic Cyano‐Group Sources

Aromatic nitriles are prepared efficiently through transition‐metal‐mediated cyanation of aryl (pseudo)halides with metallic cyano‐group sources, such as CuCN, KCN, NaCN, Zn(CN)₂, TMSCN, or K₄[Fe(CN)₆]. However, this approach often suffers from drawbacks, such as the formation of stoichiometric amounts of metal waste, the poisoning of the metal catalysts, or the generation of toxic HCN gas. As a result, a range of “nonmetallic” organic cyano‐group sources have been explored for the cyanation of aryl halides and arene C? H bonds. This Minireview summarizes types of nonmetallic cyano‐group sources and their applications in the preparation of aryl nitriles.     

Torands Revisited: Metal Sequestration and Self‐Assembly of Cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline Hexaaza Macrocycles

A series of novel toroidal cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline macrocycles with an unusual hexaaza cavity are reported. Nickel‐mediated Yamamoto aryl–aryl coupling was found to be a versatile tool for the cyclotrimerization of functionalized 1,10‐phenathroline precursors. Due to the now improved processability, both liquid‐crystalline behavior in the bulk phase and two‐dimensional self‐assembly at the molecular level could be studied, for the first time, for a torand system. The macrocycles exhibited a strong affinity for the complexation of different metal cations, as evidenced by MALDI‐TOF analysis and spectroscopic methods. Experimental results were correlated to an extensive computational study of the cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline cavity and its binding mode for metal cations. Due to the combination of several interesting features, toroidal macrocycles may find future applications in the field of ion and charge transport through molecular channels, as well as for chemical sensing and molecular writing in surface‐confined monolayers under STM conditions.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Thiolation of Aryl Halides and Heteroaryl Halides through Electrochemistry

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed coupling reactions are useful tools for synthesizing aryl sulfur compounds. However, conventional transition‐metal‐catalyzed thiolation of aryl bromides and chlorides typically requires the use of strong base under elevated reaction temperature. Herein, we report the first examples of nickel‐catalyzed electrochemical thiolation of aryl bromides and chlorides in the absence of an external base at room temperature using undivided electrochemical cells.     

Highly efficient,catalyst‐free,one‐pot,pseudo five‐component synthesis of novel pyrazoline‐containing Schiff bases,metal complexes formation and computational studies via DFT method

In this study, a green and high yielding synthesis of novel pyrazoline‐containing Schiff bases via a one‐pot pseudo five‐component condensation reaction under catalyst‐free conditions in EtOH at room temperature is described. Initially, the reaction of 1,1‐bis(methylthio)‐2‐nitroethylene (BMTNE), with NH₂NH₂.H₂O is used for situ preparation of 1,1‐dihydrazino‐2‐nitroethylene (DHNE). Then, wide varieties of aldehydes are added to the mixture to afford the desired products good to excellent yields. This synthetic route is presented with several unique merits such as simplicity in operation and workup, readily presented starting materials, and high functional group tolerance. Additionally, the stoichiometric complex formation of these Schiff bases as ligand (L) with various metal ions [Mn(OAc)₂, Cu(OAc)₂ and Zn(OAc)₂] in general molecular formula [ML] is examined via Job's method. Subsequently, theoretical analysis of the product is accomplished using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. According to the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, it is found that the aryl group linked to the imine bond contributes as an electron donor in the ligand–metal complex.