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.     

Thermal Methane Activation by La6O10− Cluster Anions

The first example of a metal oxide cluster anion, La₆O₁₀^? that can activate methane under ambient conditions is reported. This reaction is facilitated by the oxygen‐centered radical (O^??) and follows the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism. The La₆O₁₀^? has a high vertical electron detachment energy (VDE=4.06 eV) and a high symmetry (C_4v).     

First Principles (DFT) Characterization of RhI/dppp‐Catalyzed CH Activation by Tandem 1,2‐Addition/1,4‐Rh Shift Reactions of Norbornene to Phenylboronic Acid

The C?H activation in the tandem, “merry‐go‐round”, [(dppp)Rh]‐catalyzed (dppp=1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), four‐fold addition of norborene to PhB(OH)₂ has been postulated to occur by a C(alkyl)?H oxidative addition to square‐pyramidal Rh^III?H species, which in turn undergoes a C(aryl)?H reductive elimination. Our DFT calculations confirm the Rh^I/Rh^III mechanism. At the IEFPCM(toluene, 373.15 K)/PBE0/DGDZVP level of theory, the oxidative addition barrier was calculated to be 12.9 kcal mol^?1, and that of reductive elimination was 5.0 kcal mol^?1. The observed selectivity of the reaction correlates well with the relative energy barriers of the cycle steps. The higher barrier (20.9 kcal mol^?1) for norbornyl–Rh protonation ensures that the reaction is steered towards the 1,4‐shift (total barrier of 16.3 kcal mol^?1), acting as an equilibration shuttle. The carborhodation (13.2 kcal mol^?1) proceeds through a lower barrier than the protonation (16.7 kcal mol^?1) of the rearranged aryl–Rh species in the absence of o‐ or m‐substituents, ensuring multiple carborhodations take place. However, for 2,5‐dimethylphenyl, which was used as a model substrate, the barrier for carborhodation is increased to 19.4 kcal mol^?1, explaining the observed termination of the reaction at 1,2,3,4‐tetra(exo‐norborn‐2‐yl)benzene. Finally, calculations with (Z)‐2‐butene gave a carborhodation barrier of 20.2 kcal mol^?1, suggesting that carborhodation of non‐strained, open‐chain substrates would be disfavored relative to protonation.     

RhV‐Nitrenoid as a Key Intermediate in RhIII‐Catalyzed Heterocyclization by CH Activation: A Computational Perspective on the Cycloaddition of Benzamide and Diazo Compounds

A mechanistic study of the substituent‐dependent ring formations in Rh^III‐catalyzed C?H activation/cycloaddition of benzamide and diazo compounds was carried out by using DFT calculations. The results indicated that the decomposition of the diazo is facilitated upon the formation of the five‐membered rhodacycle, in which the Rh^III center is more electrophilic. The insertion of carbenoid into Rh?C(phenyl) bond occurs readily and forms a 6‐membered rhodacycle, however, the following C?N bond formation is difficult both kinetically and thermodynamically by reductive elimination from the Rh^III species. Instead, the Rh^V‐nitrenoid intermediate could be formed by migration of the pivalate from N to Rh, which undergoes the heterocyclization much more easily and complementary ring‐formations could be modulated by the nature of the substituent at the α‐carbon. When a vinyl is attached, the stepwise 1,3‐allylic migration occurs prior to the pivalate migration and the 8‐membered ring product will be formed. On the other hand, the pivalate migration becomes more favorable for the phenyl‐contained intermediate because of the difficult 1,3‐allylic migration accompanied by dearomatization, thus the 5‐membered ring product was formed selectively.     

Redox‐Neutral Rhodium‐Catalyzed CH Functionalization of Arylamine N‐Oxides with Diazo Compounds: Primary C(sp3)H/C(sp2)H Activation and Oxygen‐Atom Transfer

An unprecedented rhodium(III)‐catalyzed regioselective redox‐neutral annulation reaction of 1‐naphthylamine N‐oxides with diazo compounds was developed to afford various biologically important 1H‐benzo[g]indolines. This coupling reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions and does not require external oxidants. The only by‐products are dinitrogen and water. More significantly, this reaction represents the first example of dual functiaonalization of unactivated a primary C(sp³)? H bond and C(sp²)? H bond with diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that an intermediate iminium is most likely involved in the catalytic cycle. Moreover, a rhodium(III)‐catalyzed coupling of readily available tertiary aniline N‐oxides with α‐diazomalonates was also developed under external oxidant‐free conditions to access various aminomandelic acid derivatives by an O‐atom‐transfer reaction.     

Palladium–N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Indolines through Regiodivergent C(sp3)H Activation: Scope and DFT Study

Two bulky, chiral, monodentate N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were applied to palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric C?H arylation to incorporate C(sp³)?H bond activation. Racemic mixtures of the carbamate starting materials underwent regiodivergent reactions to afford different trans‐2,3‐substituted indolines. Although this C_Ar?C_alkyl coupling requires high temperatures (140–160 °C), chiral induction is high. This regiodivergent reaction, when carried out with enantiopure starting materials, can lead to single structurally different enantiopure products, depending on the catalyst chirality. The C?H activation at a tertiary center was realized only in the case of a cyclopropyl group. No C?H activation takes place alpha to a tertiary center. A detailed DFT study is included and analyses of methyl versus methylene versus methine C?H activation is used to rationalize experimentally observed regio‐ and enantioselectivities.     

Methane Activation by Diatomic Molybdenum Carbide Cations

Metal carbide species have been proposed as a new type of chemical entity to activate methane in both gas‐phase and condensed‐phase studies. Herein, methane activation by the diatomic cation MoC⁺ is presented. MoC⁺ ions have been prepared and mass‐selected by a quadrupole mass filter and then allowed to interact with methane in a hexapole reaction cell. The reactant and product ions have been detected by a reflectron time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Bare metal Mo⁺ and MoC₂H₂⁺ ions have been observed as products, suggesting the occurrence of ethylene elimination and dehydrogenation reactions. The branching ratio of the C₂H₄ elimination channel is much larger than that of the dehydrogenation channel. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to explore in detail the mechanism of the reaction of MoC⁺ with CH₄. The computed results indicate that the ethylene elimination process involves the occurrence of spin conversions in the C?C coupling (doublet→quartet) and hydrogen atom transfer (quartet→sextet) steps. The carbon atom in MoC⁺ plays a key role in methane activation because it becomes sp³ hybridized in the initial stages of the ethylene elimination reaction, which leads to much lower energy barriers and more stable intermediates. This study provides insights into the C?H bond activation and C?C coupling involved in methane transformation over molybdenum carbide‐based catalysts.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Primary Amines with Internal Alkynes through CH Bond Activation: Scope and Mechanistic Studies

The oxidative coupling of primary amines with internal alkynes catalyzed by Ru complexes is presented as a general atom‐economy methodology with a broad scope of applications in the synthesis of N‐heterocycles. Reactions proceed through regioselective C?H bond activation in 15 minutes under microwave irradiation or in 24 hours with conventional heating. The synthesis of 2,3,5‐substituted pyridines, benzo[h]isoquinolines, benzo[g]isoquinolines, 8,9‐dihydro‐benzo[de]quinoline, 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroisoquinolines, pyrido[3,4g]isoquinolines, and pyrido[4,3g]isoquinolines is achievable depending on the starting primary amine used. DFT calculations on a benzylamine substrate support a reaction mechanism that consists of acetate‐assisted C?H bond activation, migratory‐insertion, and C?N bond formation steps that involve 28–30 kcal mol^?1. The computational study is extended to additional substrates, namely, 1‐naphthylmethyl‐, 2‐methylallyl‐, and 2‐thiophenemethylamines.     

Regio‐ and Diastereoselective and Enantiospecific Metal‐Free C(sp3)H Arylation: Facile Access to Optically Active 5‐Aryl 2,5‐Disubstituted Pyrrolidines

Optically active 5‐aryl 2,5‐disubstituted pyrrolidines are the principal structural moiety of many bioactive compounds including natural products and catalysts for asymmetric synthesis. A highly regio‐ and diastereoselective and enantiospecific method for direct C?H arylation of aliphatic amine has been developed. Structurally diverse enantiopure arylated pyrrolidines were synthesized from commercially available starting materials, through a single‐step three‐component reaction under metal‐ and oxidant‐free conditions. Furthermore, the complex analogous structure of CCK antagonist RP 66803 and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors was easily constructed using the synthesized arylated pyrrolidine derivative. Detailed theoretical calculations (M06‐2X/TZVPP/SMD//M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d,p) level) were also carried to investigate the mechanism and high level of stereocontrol involved in this direct sp³ C?H arylation reaction. Preference for a given regio‐ and stereoselectivity in the arylated product can be explained through elucidation of the mechanism for dehydration, generating azomethine ylide, and for the final re‐aromatization step. The calculated energies reveals that the re‐aromatization step is essentially rate determining, accompanying an activation barrier of Δ^≠${G{{{\rm S}\hfill \atop {\rm L}\hfill}}}$ =25.6 kcal mol^?1.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Diynes: Controlling the Mode of 5‐endo versus 6‐endo Cyclization—An Experimental and Theoretical Study by Utilizing Diethynylthiophenes

Herein, a dual‐gold catalyzed cyclization of 3,4‐diethynylthiophenes generating pentaleno[c]thiophenes through gold–vinylidenes and C?H bond activation is disclosed. Various new heteroaromatic compounds—substrate classes unexplored to date—exhibiting three five‐membered annulated ring systems could be synthesized in moderate to high yields. By comparison of the solid‐state structures of the corresponding gold–acetylides, it could be demonstrated that the cyclization mode (5‐endo versus 6‐endo) is controlled by the electronic and not steric nature of the diyne backbone. Depending on different backbones, we calculated thermodynamic stabilities and full potential‐energy surfaces giving insight into the crucial dual‐activation cyclization step. In the case of the 3,4‐thiophene backbone, in which the initial cyclization is rate and selectivity determining, two energetically distinct transition states could be localized explaining the observed 5‐endo cyclization mode by classical transition‐state theory. In the case of vinyl and 2,3‐thiophene backbones, the theoretical analysis of the cyclization mode in the bifurcated cyclization area demonstrated that classical transition‐state theory is no longer valid to explain the high experimentally observed selectivity. Herein, for the first time, the influence of the backbone and the aromatic stabilization effect of the 6‐endo product in the crucial cyclization step could be visualized and quantified by calculating and comparing the full potential‐energy surfaces.     

Efficient Access to Substituted Silafluorenes by Nickel‐Catalyzed Reactions of Biphenylenes with Et2SiH2

The reaction of biphenylene ( 1 ) with Et₂SiH₂ in the presence of [Ni(PPhMe₂)₄] results in the formation of a mixture of 2‐diethylhydrosilylbiphenyl [ 2 (Et₂HSi)] and 9,9,‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 3 ). Silafluorene 3 was isolated in 37.5 % and 2 (Et₂HSi) in 36.9 % yield. The underlying reaction mechanism was elucidated by DFT calculations. 4‐Methyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 7 ) was obtained selectively from the [Ni(PPhMe₂)₄]‐catalyzed reaction of Et₂SiH₂ and 1‐methylbiphenylene. By contrast, no selectivity could be found in the Ni‐catalyzed reaction between Et₂SiH₂ and the biphenylene derivative that bears tBu substituents in the 2‐ and 7‐positions. Therefore, two pairs of isomers of tBu‐substituted silafluorenes and of the related diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls were formed in this reaction. However, a subsequent dehydrogenation of the diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls with Wilkinson’s catalyst yielded a mixture of 2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 8 ) and 3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 9 ). Silafluorenes 8 and 9 were separated by column chromatography.     

CH Bond Activation by Early Transition Metal Carbide Cluster Anion MoC3−

Although early transition metal (ETM) carbides can activate C?H bonds in condensed‐phase systems, the electronic‐level mechanism is unclear. Atomic clusters are ideal model systems for understanding the mechanisms of bond activation. For the first time, C?H activation of a simple alkane (ethane) by an ETM carbide cluster anion (MoC₃^?) under thermal‐collision conditions has been identified by using high‐resolution mass spectrometry, photoelectron imaging spectroscopy, and high‐level quantum chemical calculations. Dehydrogenation and ethene elimination were observed in the reaction of MoC₃^? with C₂H₆. The C?H activation follows a mechanism of oxidative addition that is much more favorable in the carbon‐stabilized low‐spin ground electronic state than in the high‐spin excited state. The reaction efficiency between the MoC₃^? anion and C₂H₆ is low (0.23±0.05) %. A comparison between the anionic and a highly efficient cationic reaction system (Pt⁺+C₂H₆) was made. It turned out that the potential‐energy surfaces for the entrance channels of the anionic and cationic reaction systems can be very different.     

Rhodium Bis(quinolinyl)benzene Complexes for Methane Activation and Functionalization

A series of rhodium(III) bis(quinolinyl)benzene (bisq^x) complexes was studied as candidates for the homogeneous partial oxidation of methane. Density functional theory (DFT) (M06 with Poisson continuum solvation) was used to investigate a variety of (bisq^x) ligand candidates involving different functional groups to determine the impact on Rh^III(bisq^x)‐catalyzed methane functionalization. The free energy activation barriers for methane C?H activation and Rh–methyl functionalization at 298 K and 498 K were determined. DFT studies predict that the best candidate for catalytic methane functionalization is Rh^III coordinated to unsubstituted bis(quinolinyl)benzene (bisq). Support is also found for the prediction that the η²‐benzene coordination mode of (bisq^x) ligands on Rh encourages methyl group functionalization by serving as an effective leaving group for S_N2 and S_R2 attack.     

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.     

A Combined IM‐MS/DFT Study on [Pd(MPAA)]‐Catalyzed Enantioselective CH Activation: Relay of Chirality through a Rigid Framework

A combined ion‐mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) and DFT study has been employed to investigate the mechanism and the origin of selectivity of palladium/mono‐N‐protected amino acid (MPAA)‐catalyzed enantioselective C?H activation reactions of several prochiral substrates. We captured the [Pd(MPAA)(substrate)] complex at different stages, and demonstrated that the C?H bond can be activated in the absence of an external base. DFT studies lead to the establishment of a significantly modified relay mechanism invoking a key conformational effect to account for the origin of enantioselectivity. This relay mechanism successfully accounts for the enantioselectivity for all the relevant reactions reported. The enantioselectivity originates from the rigid square‐planar Pd coordination in the C?H activation transition state: Bidentate MPAA and substrate coordination.     

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.     

Homometallic Rare‐Earth Metal Phosphinidene Clusters: Synthesis and Reactivity

Two new trinuclear μ₃‐bridged rare‐earth metal phosphinidene complexes, [{L(Ln)(μ‐Me)}₃(μ₃‐Me)(μ₃‐PPh)] (L=[PhC(NC₆H₄iPr₂‐2,6)₂]^?, Ln=Y ( 2 a ), Lu ( 2 b )), were synthesized through methane elimination of the corresponding carbene precursors with phenylphosphine. Heating a toluene solution of 2 at 120 °C leads to an unprecedented ortho C? H bond activation of the PhP ligand to form the bridged phosphinidene/phenyl complexes. Reactions of 2 with ketones, thione, or isothiocyanate show clear phospha‐Wittig chemistry, giving the corresponding organic phosphinidenation products and oxide (sulfide) complexes. Reaction of 2 with CS₂ leads to the formation of novel trinuclear rare‐earth metal thione dianion clusters, for which a possible pathway was determined by DFT calculation.     

Thermal Non‐Oxidative Aromatization of Light Alkanes Catalyzed by Gallium Nitride

The thermal catalytic activity of GaN in non‐oxidative alkane dehydroaromatization has been discovered for the first time. The origin of the catalytic activity was studied experimentally and theoretically. Commercially available GaN powders with a wurtzite crystal structure showed superior stability and reactivity for converting light alkanes, including methane, propane, n‐butane, n‐hexane and cyclohexane into benzene at an elevated temperature with high selectivity. The catalyst is highly robust and can be used repeatedly without noticeable deactivation.     

Mechanistic Study of Silver‐Mediated Furan Formation by Oxidative Coupling

Density functional calculations and experiments have been carried out to unravel the mechanism of a silver‐mediated furan formation by oxidative coupling. Various possible reaction paths were considered and the most favorable channel has been identified on the basis of the calculated solvent‐corrected Gibbs free‐energy profiles. The mechanism represented by this route consists of a radical and a subsequent ionic route. The silver cation has a double role in the mechanism: it is the oxidant in the radical steps and the catalyst for the ionic steps, which is in accordance with the experimental observations. The two most important aspects of the optimal route are the formation of a silver–acetylide, reacting subsequently with the enolate radical, and the aromatic furan‐ring formation in a single step at the latter, ionic segment of the reaction path. Our findings could explain several experimental observations, including the “key‐promoter role” of silver, the preference for ionic cyclization, and the reduced reactivity of internal acetylides.