Domino N-H/C-H bond activation: copper-catalyzed synthesis of nitrogen-bridgehead heterocycles using azoles and 1,4-dihalo-1,3-dienes

Copper-catalyzed tandem coupling of 1,4-dihalo-1,3-dienes with azoles via an N-H bond and its adjacent C-H bond activation has been described. The reaction exhibits good regioselectivity when unsymmetrical 1,4-dihalo-1,3-diene is employed. This method provided a novel route to the synthesis of nitrogen-bridgehead azolopyridine derivatives.     

Cationic ruthenium(II) catalysts for oxidative C-H/N-H bond functionalizations of anilines with removable directing group: synthesis of indoles in water

Cationic ruthenium(II) complexes enabled oxidative C-H bond functionalizations with anilines bearing removable directing groups. The C-H/N-H bond cleavages occurred most efficiently in water as a sustainable solvent and provided general access to various bioactive indoles. Mechanistic studies provided strong support for a novel reaction manifold.     

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H activation/C-C bond formation: a straightforward synthesis of phenanthridines

The palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H activation/C-C cross-coupling has been developed for a straightforward and efficient synthesis of phenanthridines. With Pd(OAc)(2) (4 mol %) as the catalyst, PCy(3) (8 mol %) as the ligand, and Cs(2)CO(3) as the base, this protocol was applied to synthesize a small library of phenanthridine derivatives in good yields in THF.     

Mechanistic aspects and elementary steps of N-H bond activation of ammonia and C-N coupling induced by gas-phase ions: a combined experimental/computational exercise

In the last decades, N-H bond activation of ammonia and C-N coupling processes have formed the focus of broad research activities. More recently, gas-phase experiments combined with computational studies have provided rather detailed insights into the mechanisms and the elementary steps of these two reaction types. Some of the multifarious observations made and results obtained for these two processes mediated by gaseous "bare" or ligated ions are outlined in this review article.     

Multiple C-H bond activation in group 3 chemistry: synthesis and structural characterization of an yttrium-aluminum-methine cluster

Complete donor-induced alkylaluminate cleavage of halfmetallocene complex Cp*Y(AlMe4)2, that is, treatment of Cp*Y(AlMe4)2 with 2 equiv of diethyl ether, produces [Cp*Y(mu2-Me)2]3 in high yield (95%). In contrast, the equimolar reaction of Cp*Y(AlMe4)2 with diethyl ether reproducibly formed complex [Cp*4Y4(mu2-CH3)2{(CH3)Al(mu2-CH3)2}4(mu4-CH)2] in low yield (10-30%) via a multiple C-H bond activation. The synthesis of the heterooctametallic yttrium-aluminum-methine cluster was also accomplished in moderate yield (47%) by the equimolar reaction of discrete Cp*Y(AlMe4)2 and [Cp*Y(mu2-Me)2]3 in the absence of any donor solvent and "free" AlMe3. This gives strong evidence that preformed heterometal-bridged Y-CH3-Al moieties are prone to multiple hydrogen abstraction in the presence of a highly basic reagent such as [Cp*Y(mu2-Me)2]3. The monocylopentadienyl complexes [Cp*Y(mu2-Me)2]3 and [Cp*4Y4(mu2-CH3)2{(CH3)Al(mu2-CH3)2}4(mu4-CH)2] were structurally characterized.     

Cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition versus C-H and N-H activation of pyridones and pyrazinones with alkynes: an experimental study

The reactivity of a range of pyridone and pyrazinone derivatives towards alkynes in the presence of cyclopentadienylcobaltbis(ethene) has been investigated. Depending on the nature of the substrates, [2+2+2]- or [2+2] cycloaddition, C-H, or N-H activation may occur. In the case of pyridones, the first three predominated with N-protected derivatives, whereas substrates containing N-H bonds followed an N-H activation pathway. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition of an N-butynylisoquinolone was applied successfully to the total synthesis of anhydrolycorinone. Pyrazinone substrates showed similar patterns of reactivity.     

C-H bond activation of methane in aqueous solution: a hybrid quantum mechanical/effective fragment potential study

In this study, we investigated the C? H bond activation of methane catalyzed by the complex [PtCl₄]^2?, using the hybrid quantum mechanical/effective fragment potential (EFP) approach. We analyzed the structures, energetic properties, and reaction mechanism involved in the elementary steps that compose the catalytic cycle of the Shilov reaction. Our B3LYP/SBKJC/cc‐pVDZ/EFP results show that the methane activation may proceed through two pathways: (i) electrophilic addition or (ii) direct oxidative addition of the C? H bond of the alkane. The electrophilic addition pathway proceeds in two steps with formation of a σ‐methane complex, with a Gibbs free energy barrier of 24.6 kcal mol^?1, followed by the cleavage of the C? H bond, with an energy barrier of 4.3 kcal mol^?1. The activation Gibbs free energy, calculated for the methane uptake step was 24.6 kcal mol^?1, which is in good agreement with experimental value of 23.1 kcal mol^?1 obtained for a related system. The results shows that the activation of the C? H bond promoted by the [PtCl₄]^2? catalyst in aqueous solution occurs through a direct oxidative addition of the C? H bond, in a single step, with an activation free energy of 25.2 kcal mol^?1, as the electrophilic addition pathway leads to the formation of a σ‐methane intermediate that rapidly undergoes decomposition. The inclusion of long‐range solvent effects with polarizable continuum model does not change the activation energies computed at the B3LYP/SBKJC/cc‐pVDZ/EFP level of theory significantly, indicating that the large EFP water cluster used, obtained from Monte Carlo simulations and analysis of the center‐of‐mass radial pair distribution function, captures the most important solvent effects. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed direct alkenylation and arylation of arenes: removable 2-pyridylsulfinyl group assisted C-H bond activation

Palladium-catalyzed C-H activation reactions directed by a removable 2-pyridylsulfinyl group were developed. Aromatic olefination products were formed in good yields on treatment of 2-(phenylsulfinyl)pyridines with alkenes in the presence of a Pd catalyst. The reaction tolerates a wide range of substituted alkenes, including various acrylates and styrenes. The controlled experiments indicated that the 2-pyridyl moiety, rather than the sulfinyl, played the role of ligand. The final reductive desulfonylation affords the stilbenes, sulfides, and disulfides with different reductive conditions, respectively. More importantly, this transformation could also be applied in arylation through dual C-H activation.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide and sodium cyanide: sp3 C-H bond activation and carbon-carbon bond formation

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with molecular oxygen in the presence of sodium cyanide and acetic acid gives the corresponding alpha-aminonitriles, which are highly useful intermediates for organic synthesis. The reaction is the first demonstration of direct sp(3) C-H bond activation alpha to nitrogen followed by carbon-carbon bond formation under aerobic oxidation conditions. The catalytic oxidation seems to proceed by (i) alpha-C-H activation of tertiary amines by the ruthenium catalyst to give an iminium ion/ruthenium hydride intermediate, (ii) reaction with molecular oxygen to give an iminium ion/ruthenium hydroperoxide, (iii) reaction with HCN to give the alpha-aminonitrile product, H2O2, and Ru species, (iv) generation of oxoruthenium species from the reaction of Ru species with H2O2, and (v) reaction of oxoruthenium species with tertiary amines to give alpha-aminonitriles. On the basis of the last two pathways, a new type of ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with H2O2 to give alpha-aminonitriles was established. The alpha-aminonitriles thus obtained can be readily converted to alpha-amino acids, diamines, and various nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds.     

Copper-catalyzed oxidative amination of benzoxazoles via C-H and C-N bond activation: a new strategy for using tertiary amines as nitrogen group sources

An efficient and conceptually new method for oxidative amination of azoles with tertiary amines via copper-catalyzed C-H and C-N bond activation has been developed. This protocol can be performed in the absence of external base and only requires atmospheric oxygen as oxidant. The catalyst system is very simple and efficient, which opens a new way for using tertiary amines as nitrogen group sources for C-N bond formation reactions.     

A highly efficient catalyst-free protocol for C-H bond activation: sulfamidation of alkyl aromatics and aldehydes

A catalyst-free protocol has been developed for amidation of alkyl aromatics and aldehydes using TsNBr(2)via a nitrene transfer process in the presence of a base in excellent yield within a short time. The reaction was found to be selective for secondary and tertiary benzylic C-H bonds and C-H bonds of aldehydic groups.     

A comparison of C-F and C-H bond activation by zerovalent ni and pt: a density functional study

Density functional theory indicates that oxidative addition of the C-F and C-H bonds in C6F6 and C6H6 at zerovalent nickel and platinum fragments, M(H2PCH2CH2PH2), proceeds via initial exothermic formation of an eta2-coordinated arene complex. Two distinct transition states have been located on the potential energy surface between the eta2-coordinated arene and the oxidative addition product. The first, at relatively low energy, features an eta3-coordinated arene and connects two identical eta2-arene minima, while the second leads to cleavage of the C-X bond. The absence of intermediate C-F or C-H sigma complexes observed in other systems is traced to the ability of the 14-electron metal fragment to accommodate the eta3-coordination mode in the first transition state. Oxidative addition of the C-F bond is exothermic at both nickel and platinum, but the barrier is significantly higher for the heavier element as a result of strong 5dpi-ppi repulsions in the transition state. Similar repulsive interactions lead to a relatively long Pt-F bond with a lower stretching frequency in the oxidative addition product. Activation of the C-H bond is, in contrast, exothermic only for the platinum complex. We conclude that the nickel system is better suited to selective C-F bond activation than its platinum analogue for two reasons: the strong thermodynamic preference for C-F over C-H bond activation and the relatively low kinetic barrier.     

Selective and catalytic arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine: sp3 C-H bond functionalization in the absence of a directing group

We herein describe our studies on arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine, which led to the development of a new transformation for the direct and selective arylation of sp3 C-H bonds in the absence of a directing group. In this method, Ru(H)2(CO)(PCy3)3 4 was used as the catalyst, and preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that Ru(Ph)(I)(CO)(PCy3)2 5 is the key intermediate of the catalytic cycle. A large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 5.4) was observed, which supports the proposal that C-H bond metalation is the slow step. Preliminary examination of the substrate scope showed that in addition to N-phenylpyrrolidine, N-methyl- and N-benzylpyrrolidine, as well as N-benzoylpyrrolidine, were arylated under the reaction conditions.     

Cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition versus C-H and N-H activation of 2-pyridones and pyrazinones with alkynes: a theoretical study

DFT computations have been executed aimed at illuminating the variety of pathways by which pyridones react with alkynes in the presence of [CpCoL(2)]: NH-2-pyridones furnish N-dienylated ligands (N-H activation pathway), N-methyl-2-pyridones are converted into ligated cyclohexadienes ([2+2+2] cocycloaddition pathway), and N-alkynyl-2-pyridones may undergo either [2+2+2] cocycloaddition or C-dienylation (C-H activation), depending on the length of the tether. The calculations predict the formation of the experimentally observed products, including their regio- and stereochemical make up. In addition, the unusual regiochemical outcome of the all-intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of N,N'-dipentynylpyrazinedione was rationalized by computation, which led to the discovery of a new mechanism.     

Collision-activated cleavage of a peptide/antibiotic disulfide linkage: possible evidence for intramolecular disulfide bond rearrangement upon collisional activation

Ceftiofur is an important veterinary beta-lactam antibiotic whose bioactive metabolite, desfuroylceftiofur, has a free thiol group. Desfuroylceftiofur (DFC) was reacted with two peptides, [Arg8]-vasopressin and reduced glutathione, both of which have cysteine residues to form disulfide-linked peptide/antibiotic complexes. The products of the reaction, [vasopressin + (DFC-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+, [(vasopressin+H) + (DFC-H) + H]+ and [(glutathione-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+, were analyzed using collision-activated dissociation (CAD) with a quadrupole ion trap tandem mass spectrometer. MS/MS of [vasopressin + (DFC-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+ resulted in facile dissociative loss of one and two covalently bound DFC moieties. Loss of one DFC resulted from either homolytic or heterolytic dissociation of the peptide/antibiotic disulfide bond with equal or unequal partitioning of the two sulfur atoms between the fragment ion and neutral loss. Hydrogen migration preceded heterolytic dissociation. Loss of two DFC moieties from [vasopressin + (DFC-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+ appears to result from collision-activated intramolecular disulfide bond rearrangement (IDBR) to produce cyclic [vasopressin + H]+ (at m/z 1084) as well as other cyclic fragment ions at m/z 1084 +/- 32 and +64. The cyclic structure of these ions could only be inferred as MS/MS may result in rearrangement to non-cyclic structures prior to dissociative loss. IDBR was also detected from MS(3) experiments of [vasopressin + (DFC-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+ fragment ions. MS/MS of [(glutathione-H) + (DFC-H) + H]+ resulted in cleavage of the peptide backbone with retention of the DFC moiety as well as heterolytic cleavage of the peptide/antibiotic disulfide bond to produce the fragment ion: [(DFC-2H) + H]+. These results demonstrate the facile dissociative loss by CAD of DFC moieties covalently attached to peptides through disulfide bonds. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydro-amination/-amidation of 1,3-diynes with indoles/azoles/amides under modified Ullmann conditions: stereo- and regio-selective synthesis of N-alkenynes via N-H bond activation

An efficient strategy for the stereo- and regio-selective synthesis of N-alkenynes has been described. The salient feature of the reaction involves hydro-amination/amidation of 1,3-diynes with indoles/azoles/amides via transition-metal catalyzed activation of N-H bond. The resulting N-alkenynes derived from N-heterocycles and cyclic amides were obtained as a mixture of Z/E isomers with Z-stereoselectivity ranging from 60% to 95%. In contrast, acyclic amides afforded N-alkenynes with exclusive E-stereoselectivity, albeit in reduced yield ranging from ∼10% to 41%.     

Normal and inverse primary kinetic deuterium isotope effects for C-H bond reductive elimination and oxidative addition reactions of molybdenocene and tungstenocene complexes: evidence for benzene sigma-complex intermediates

The overall reductive elimination of RH from the ansa-molybdenocene and -tungstenocene complexes [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]Mo(Ph)H and [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(R)H (R = Me, Ph) is characterized by an inverse primary kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the tungsten system but a normal KIE for the molybdenum system. Oxidative addition of PhH to [[Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M] also differs for the two systems, with the molybdenum system exhibiting a substantial intermolecular KIE, while no effect is observed for the tungsten system. These differences in KIEs indicate a significant difference in the reactivity of the hydrocarbon adducts [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M(RH) for the molybdenum and tungsten systems. Specifically, oxidative cleavage of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]M(RH) is favored over RH dissociation for the tungsten system, whereas RH dissociation is favored for the molybdenum system. A kinetics analysis of the interconversion of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(CH(3))D and [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(CH(2)D)H, accompanied by elimination of methane, provides evidence that the reductive coupling step in this system is characterized by a normal KIE. This observation demonstrates that the inverse KIE for overall reductive elimination is a result of an inverse equilibrium isotope effect (EIE) and is not a result of an inverse KIE for a single step. A previous report of an inverse kinetic isotope effect of 0.76 for C-H reductive coupling in the [Tp]Pt(CH(3))H(2) system is shown to be erroneous. Finally, a computational study provides evidence that the reductive coupling of [Me(2)Si(C(5)Me(4))(2)]W(Ph)H proceeds via the initial formation of a benzene sigma-complex, rather than an eta(2)-pi-benzene complex.     

Highly diastereoselective and enantioselective C-H functionalization of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes: a combined C-H activation/Cope rearrangement followed by a retro-Cope rearrangement

The Rh2(S-DOSP)4-catalyzed reaction of vinyldiazoacetates with dihydronaphthalenes results in a highly enantioselective (91-99.6% ee) and diastereoselective (>98% de) C-H functionalization. The apparent intermolecular C-H insertion was demonstrated to be a combined C-H activation/Cope rearrangement followed by a retro-Cope rearrangement.