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.     

Synthesis of amides via palladium-catalyzed amidation of aryl halides

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of amides via palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling of aryl halides with isocyanides is reported, by which a series of amides were formed from readily available starting materials under mild conditions. This transformation could extend its use to the synthesis of natural products and significant pharmaceuticals.     

Electrochemical Radical Borylation of Aryl Iodides

Herein, we report the first electrochemical strategy for the borylation of aryl iodides via a radical pathway using current as a driving force. A mild reaction condition allows an assorted range of readily available aryl iodides to be proficiently converted into synthetically valuable arylboronic esters under transition metal catalyst‐free conditions. Moreover, this method also shows good functional group tolerance. Initial control mechanistic experiments reveal the formation of aryl radical as a key intermediate and the current plays an important role in the generation of radical intermediate.     

Photo‐induced Carboiodination: A Simple Way to Synthesize Functionalized Dihydrobenzofurans and Indolines

Herein, we report a simple, redox‐neutral and pH‐neutral photo‐induced carboiodination reaction under very mild conditions. This protocol employs readily available and cheap aryl bromides and sodium iodide as the starting materials to synthesize valuable functionalized dihydrobenzofurans and indolines in good to excellent yields with broad functional‐group compatibility. As examples to demonstrate the utility of this protocol, gram‐scale reactions and further transformations of the products were accomplished towards the synthesis of bioactive drug candidates. Most significantly, to the best of our knowledge, this reaction represents the first example of a cascade atom‐radical‐transfer addition involving the cleavage of aromatic C?Br bond.     

Copper-mediated difluoromethylation of aryl and vinyl iodides

Selectively fluorinated molecules are important as materials, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals, but their synthesis by simple, mild, laboratory methods is challenging. We report a straightforward method for the cross-coupling of aryl and vinyl iodides with a difluoromethyl group generated from readily available reagents to form difluoromethylarenes and difluoromethyl-substituted alkenes. The reaction of electron-neutral, electron-rich, and sterically hindered aryl and vinyl iodides with the combination of CuI, CsF and TMSCF(2)H leads to the formation of difluoromethyl-substituted products in high yield with good functional group compatibility. This transformation is surprising, in part, because of the prior observation of the instability of CuCF(2)H.     

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.     

PIFA-promoted intramolecular oxidative C(aryl)-H amidation reaction: Synthesis of quinolino[3,4-b]quinoxalin-6(5H)-ones

A facile and direct intramolecular oxidative C(aryl)-H amidation reaction was developed for the synthesis of quinolino[3,4-b]quinoxalin-6(5H)-ones in moderate to excellent yields starting from readily available materials by tethering the adjacent N-methoxyamide and aryl portions in the presence of phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) at room temperature. This metal-free approach is a valuable addition to the traditional methods already available for the preparation of these molecules.     

Stereoconvergent,Redox‐Neutral Access to Tetrahydroquinoxalines through Relay Epoxide Opening/Amination of Alcohols

We present an economical catalytic procedure to convert readily available 1,2‐diaminobenzenes and terminal epoxides into valuable 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxalines in a highly enantioselective fashion. This procedure operates through relay zinc and iridium catalysis, and achieves redox‐neutral and stereoconvergent production of valuable chiral heterocycles from racemic starting materials with water as the only side product. The use of commercially available reagents and catalysts and a convenient procedure also make this catalytic method attractive for practical application.     

Stereoconvergent,Redox‐Neutral Access to Tetrahydroquinoxalines through Relay Epoxide Opening/Amination of Alcohols

We present an economical catalytic procedure to convert readily available 1,2‐diaminobenzenes and terminal epoxides into valuable 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxalines in a highly enantioselective fashion. This procedure operates through relay zinc and iridium catalysis, and achieves redox‐neutral and stereoconvergent production of valuable chiral heterocycles from racemic starting materials with water as the only side product. The use of commercially available reagents and catalysts and a convenient procedure also make this catalytic method attractive for practical application.     

Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Redox‐Active Esters with Benzophenone Imines: Tandem Photoredox and Copper Catalysis

Alkyl amines are an important class of organic compounds in medicinal and materials chemistry. Until now very have been very few methods for the synthesis of alkyl amines by metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of alkyl electrophiles with nitrogen nucleophiles. Described here is an approach to employ tandem photoredox and copper catalysis to enable the cross‐coupling of alkyl N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters, readily derived from alkyl carboxylic acids, with benzophenone‐derived imines. Hydrolysis of the coupling products furnish alkylated primary amines. Primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl groups can be transferred, and the coupling tolerates a diverse set of functional groups. The method allows rapid functionalization of natural products and drugs, and can be used to expedite syntheses of pharmaceuticals from readily available chemical feedstocks.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Cross‐Coupling of Carboranyllithium with (Hetero)Aryl Halides

A palladium‐catalyzed direct C‐arylation reaction of readily available cage carboranyllithium reagents with aryl halides has been developed for the first time. This method is applicable to a wide range of aryl halide substrates including aryl iodides, aryl bromides, and heteroaromatic halides.     

Divergent Late‐Stage (Hetero)aryl C−H Amination by the Pyridinium Radical Cation

(Hetero)arylamines constitute some of the most prevalent functional molecules, especially as pharmaceuticals. However, structurally complex aromatics currently cannot be converted into arylamines, so instead, each product isomer must be assembled through a multistep synthesis from simpler building blocks. Herein, we describe a late‐stage aryl C?H amination reaction for the synthesis of complex primary arylamines that other reactions cannot access directly. We show and rationalize through a mechanistic analysis the reasons for the wide substrate scope and the constitutional diversity of the reaction, which gives access to molecules that would not have been readily available otherwise.     

An Environmentally Benign Multicomponent Synthesis of Some Novel 2‐Methylthio Pyrimidine Derivatives Using MCM‐41‐NH2 as Nanoreactor and Nanocatalyst

Some novel 4‐amino‐6‐aryl‐2‐methylthio pyrimidine‐5‐carbonitrile derivatives were synthesized through a one‐pot three‐component reaction of an aldehyde, malononitrile, and S‐methylisothiouronium iodide, using MCM‐41‐NH₂ as nanoreactor and nanocatalyst. This protocol has some advantages including application of readily available and nonhazardous materials, benign reaction conditions (ambient temperature, solvent‐free, and one‐pot approach), easy work‐up, and high overall yields of the products.     

Tandem Coupling of Azide with Isonitrile and Boronic Acid: Facile Access to Functionalized Amidines

Amidine is a notable nitrogen‐containing structural motif found in bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Herein, a novel rhodium(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction of readily accessible azides with isonitriles and boronic acids via a carbodiimide intermediate is achieved. This protocol offers an alternative approach toward N‐sulfonyl‐, N‐acyl‐, and N‐ phosphoryl‐functionalized, as well as general N‐aryl and N‐alkyl amidines with broad substrate scope. In addition, functionalized guanidines can also been synthesized when amines are used instead. The accomplishment of estrone‐derived amidine and glibenclamide bioisosteres further reveals the practical utility of this strategy.     

Recent Developments on the Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes

Aryl‐CF₃ as an extremely important family of fluorinated organic compounds holds wide applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Traditionally, such trifluoromethylated compounds have been synthesized from the corresponding aryl trichlorides via Cl exchange reactions (Scheme 1 ). This Focus review gives an overview over the recent development of trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes.     

Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoquinolines via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-(1-alkynyl)benzaldimines and organic halides

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of readily available N-tert-butyl-2-(1-alkynyl)benzaldimines and aryl, allylic, benzylic, alkynyl halides, as well as a vinylic halide, provides a valuable new route to 3,4-disubstituted isoquinolines with aryl, allylic, benzylic, 1-alkynyl, and vinylic substituents, respectively, in the 4-position. The reaction appears to require an aryl group on the end of the acetylene furthest from the imine functionality. The reaction conditions have been optimized, and reasonably good yields have been obtained.     

Design and Synthesis of TY-Phos and Application in Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Fluoroarylation of gem-Difluoroalkenes

The first example of highly enantioselective fluoroarylation of gem-difluoroalkenes with aryl halides is presented by using a new chiral sulfinamide phosphine ( Sadphos ) type ligand TY-Phos . N-Me- TY-Phos can be easily synthesized on a gram scale from readily available starting materials in three steps. Salient features of this work including readily available starting materials, good yields, high enantioselectivities as well as broad substrate scope make this approach very practical and attractive. Notably, the asymmetric synthesis of an analogue of a biologically active molecule is also reported.     

Room‐Temperature Decarboxylative Alkynylation of Carboxylic Acids Using Photoredox Catalysis and EBX Reagents

Alkynes are used as building blocks in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and materials science. Therefore, efficient methods for their synthesis are the subject of intensive research. Herein, we report the direct synthesis of alkynes from readily available carboxylic acids at room temperature under visible‐light irradiation. The combination of an iridium photocatalyst with ethynylbenziodoxolone (EBX) reagents allowed the decarboxylative alkynylation of carboxylic acids in good yields under mild conditions. The method could be applied to silyl‐, aryl‐, and alkyl‐ substituted alkynes. It was particularly successful in the case of α‐amino and α‐oxo acids derived from biomass.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 3‐Cyano‐2‐pyridones

A versatile synthesis of 3‐cyano‐2‐pyridones via a one‐pot, four‐component condensation of ethyl cyanoacetate, ketones, aldehydes, and ammonium acetate under very mild conditions has been developed. This method provides rapid access to this type of valuable heterocyclic compounds from readily available materials in a single operation.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Reductive Cross‐Coupling of Nonactivated Alkyl Tosylates and Mesylates with Alkyl and Aryl Bromides

A copper‐catalyzed reductive cross‐coupling reaction of nonactivated alkyl tosylates and mesylates with alkyl and aryl bromides was developed. It provides a practical method for efficient and cost‐effective construction of aryl–alkyl and alkyl–alkyl C?C bonds with stereocontrol from readily available substrates. When used in an intramolecular fashion, the reaction enables convenient access to various substituted carbo‐ or heterocycles, such as 2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran and benzochromene derivatives.