Highly efficient and diastereoselective gold(I)-catalyzed synthesis of tertiary amines from secondary amines and alkynes: substrate scope and mechanistic insights

An efficient method for the synthesis of tertiary amines through a gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction of alkynes with secondary amines has been developed. In the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester and [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %), a variety of secondary amines bearing electron‐deficient and electron‐rich substituents and a wide range of alkynes, including terminal and internal aryl alkynes, aliphatic alkynes, and electron‐deficient alkynes, underwent a tandem reaction to afford the corresponding tertiary amines in up to 99 % yield. For indolines bearing a preexisting chiral center, their reactions with alkynes in the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester catalyzed by [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %) afforded tertiary amines in excellent yields and with good to excellent diastereoselectivity. All of these organic transformations can be conducted as a one‐pot reaction from simple and readily available starting materials without the need of isolation of air/moisture‐sensitive enamine intermediates, and under mild reaction conditions (mostly room temperature and mild reducing agents). Mechanistic studies by NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, isotope labeling studies, and DFT calculations on this gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction reveal that the first step involving a monomeric cationic gold(I)–alkyne intermediate is more likely than a gold(I)–amine intermediate, a three‐coordinate gold(I) intermediate, or a dinuclear gold(I)–alkyne intermediate. These studies also support the proposed reaction pathway, which involves a gold(I)‐coordinated enamine complex as a key intermediate for the subsequent transfer hydrogenation with a hydride source, and reveal the intrinsic stereospecific nature of these transformations observed in the experiments.     

Selective Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydrochlorination of Alkynes: One‐Step Synthesis of Vinylchlorides

An unprecedented ruthenium‐catalyzed direct and selective alkyne hydrochlorination is reported and leads to vinylchlorides in excellent yields with atom economy. The reaction proceeds at room temperature from terminal alkynes and provides a variety of chloroalkenes. Only the regioisomer resulting from the formal Markovnikov addition is selectively formed. Mechanistic studies show the stereoselective syn addition of HCl to alkynes at room temperature and suggest a chloro hydrido Ru^IV species as a key intermediate of the reaction.     

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cycloisomerization of Arylalkynes

The first example of an enantioselective carbocyclization of an alkyne-containing substrate catalyzed by chiral Brønsted acids was achieved. The use of the 2-hydroxynaphthyl substituent on the alkyne as a directing group constituted the key parameter enabling both efficient regioselective protonation of the carbon–carbon triple bond and chiral induction. The key cationic intermediate could be depicted either as a cationic vinylidene ortho-quinone methide or a stabilized vinyl cation. Atropoisomeric phenanthrenes derivatives were produced in high yields and good enantioselectivities under mild, metal-free reaction conditions in the presence of chiral N-triflylphosphoramide catalysts. The carbenic nature of the cationic intermediate was also exploited to describe an example of alkyne/alkane cycloisomerization.     

Photosensitizer‐Free Visible‐Light‐Mediated Gold‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Difunctionalization of Alkynes

Under visible‐light irradiation, the gold‐catalyzed intermolecular difunctionalization of alkynes with aryl diazonium salts in methanol affords a variety of α‐aryl ketones in moderate to good yields. In contrast to previous reports on gold‐catalyzed reactions that involve redox cycles, no external oxidants or photosensitizers are required. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild reaction conditions and shows broad functional‐group tolerance. Further applications of this method demonstrate the general applicability of the arylation of a vinyl gold intermediate instead of the commonly used protodemetalation step. This step provides facile access to functionalized products in one‐pot processes. With a P,N‐bidentate ligand, a stable aryl gold(III) species was obtained, which constitutes the first direct experimental evidence for the commonly postulated direct oxidative addition of an aryl diazonium salt to a pyridine phosphine gold(I) complex.     

In‐situ Generated and Premade 1‐Copper(I) Alkynes in Cycloadditions

The copper(I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was discovered in 2002, which has become the most remarkable example for “click chemistry” to date. In CuAAC reaction, 1‐copper(I) alkyne has been recognized to be a key intermediate. However, many contradictory experimental results for this intermediate were reported in literature. For example, only the in‐situ generated 1‐copper(I) alkyne was used, while the premade 1‐copper(I) alkyne proved to be inefficient under the standard conditions. The kinetic studies indicated that CuAAC reaction had a strict second‐order dependence on Cu(I) and the DFT studies demonstrated that 1‐copper(I) alkyne intermediate should be a dinuclear copper(I) complex. But these results were inconsistent with the structure of the premade 1‐copper(I) alkyne. Although hundreds of structurally different ligands were reported to significantly enhance the efficiency of CuAAC reaction, their functions were assigned to prevent the oxidation and the disproportionation of Cu(I) ion. Based on the investigation of the references and our works, we proposed that the in‐situ generated 1‐copper(I) alkyne in CuAAC reaction is not identical with the premade 1‐copper(I) alkyne. The ligands may play dual roles to activate the 1‐copper(I) alkyne by blocking the polymerization of the in‐situ formed 1‐copper(I) alkynes and dissociating the polymeric structures of the premade 1‐copper(I) alkynes. As a result, we first disclosed that carboxylic acids can function as such activators and a novel carboxylic acid‐catalyzed CuAAC strategy was developed, which has been proven to be the most convenient and highly efficient CuAAC method to date. Furthermore, highly efficient and regioselective methods for the syntheses of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles were developed by using the premade 1‐copper(I) alkynes as substrates, in which the novel function of the premade 1‐copper(I) alkynes as excellent dipolarophiles was first disclosed and applied. In this article, a series of works reported by our group for the in‐situ generated and the premade 1‐copper(I) alkynes in cycloadditions are reviewed.     

A Mechanistic Study of the Utilization of arachno‐Diruthenaborane [(Cp*RuCO)2B2H6] as an Active Alkyne‐Cyclotrimerization Catalyst

The reaction of nido‐[1,2‐(Cp*RuH)₂B₃H₇] ( 1 a , Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) with [Mo(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃] under mild conditions yields the new metallaborane arachno‐[(Cp*RuCO)₂B₂H₆] ( 2 ). Compound 2 catalyzes the cyclotrimerization of a variety of internal‐ and terminal alkynes to yield mixtures of 1,3,5‐ and 1,2,4‐substituted benzenes. The reactivities of nido‐ 1 a and arachno‐ 2 with alkynes demonstrates that a change in geometry from nido to arachno drives a change in the reaction from alkyne‐insertion to catalytic cyclotrimerization, respectively. Density functional calculations have been used to evaluate the reaction pathways of the cyclotrimerization of alkynes catalyzed by compound 2 . The reaction involves the formation of a ruthenacyclic intermediate and the subsequent alkyne‐insertion step is initiated by a [2+2] cycloaddition between this intermediate and an alkyne. The experimental and quantum‐chemical results also show that the stability of the metallacyclic intermediate is strongly dependent on the nature of the substituents that are present on the alkyne.     

Synthesis of α‐Fluoroketones by Insertion of HF into a Gold Carbene

Reported is an efficient synthesis of α‐fluoroketones by insertion of hydrogen fluoride (HF) into the gold carbene intermediate, generated from a cationic gold catalyzed addition of N‐oxides to alkynes. This method results in excellent chemical yields for a wide range of alkyne substrates and demonstrates good functional‐group tolerance.     

Cyclization of Gold Acetylides: Synthesis of Vinyl Sulfonates via Gold Vinylidene Complexes

Differently substituted terminal alkynes that bear sulfonate leaving groups at an appropriate distance were converted in the presence of a propynyl gold(I) precatalyst. After initial formation of a gold acetylide, a cyclization takes place at the β‐carbon atom of this species. Mechanistic studies support a mechanism that is related to that of dual gold‐catalyzed reactions, but for the new substrates, only one gold atom is needed for substrate activation. After formation of a gold vinylidene complex, which forms a tight contact ion pair with the sulfonate leaving group, recombination of the two parts delivers vinyl sulfonates, which are valuable targets that can serve as precursors for cross‐coupling reactions, for example.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Haloalkynylation of Aryl Alkynes: Two Pathways,One Goal

Haloalkynylation reactions provide an efficient method for the simultaneous introduction of a halogen atom and an acetylenic unit. For the first time, we report a gold(I)‐catalyzed haloalkynylation of aryl alkynes that delivers exclusively the cis addition product. This method enables the simple synthesis of conjugated and halogenated enynes in yields of up to 90 %. Notably, quantum chemical calculations reveal an exceptional interplay between the place of the attack at the chloroacetylene: No matter which C?C bond is formed, the same enyne product is always formed. This is only possible through rearrangement of the corresponding skeleton. Hereby, one reaction pathway proceeds via a chloronium ion with a subsequent aryl shift; in the second case the corresponding vinyl cation is stabilized by a 1,3‐chlorine shift. ¹³C‐labeling experiments confirmed that the reaction proceeds through both reaction pathways.     

Intramolecular CH Activation through Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Reaction of Iodoalkynes

The cycloisomerization reaction of 1‐(iodoethynyl)‐2‐(1‐methoxyalkyl)arenes and related 2‐alkyl‐substituted derivatives gives the corresponding 3‐iodo‐1‐substituted‐1H‐indene under the catalytic influence of IPrAuNTf₂ [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropyl)phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; NTf₂=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate]. The reaction takes place in 1,2‐dichloroethane at 80 °C, and the addition of ttbp (2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylpyrimidine) is beneficial to accomplish this new transformation in high yield. The overall reaction implies initial assembly of an intermediate gold vinylidene upon alkyne activation by gold(I) and a 1,2‐iodine‐shift. Deuterium labeling and crossover experiments, the magnitude of the recorded kinetic primary isotopic effect, and the results obtained from the reaction of selected stereochemical probes strongly provide support for concerted insertion of the benzylic C? H bond into gold vinylidene as the step responsible for the formation of the new carbon–carbon bond.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization Reactions of Allenynes for the Synthesis of Fused Cyclopropanes and Acenaphthenes

A gold‐catalyzed reaction of phenylene‐tethered allenynes with benzofurans gave 1‐(naphth‐1‐yl)cyclopropa[b]benzofuran derivatives, whereas the reaction of 1‐allenyl‐2‐ethynyl‐3‐methylbenzene derivatives in the absence of benzofurans gave acenaphthenes in good yields. These results can be rationalized by nucleophilic attack of the alkyne moiety on an activated allene to form a vinyl cation intermediate.     

Intramolecular C?H Activation through Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Reaction of Iodoalkynes

The cycloisomerization reaction of 1‐(iodoethynyl)‐2‐(1‐methoxyalkyl)arenes and related 2‐alkyl‐substituted derivatives gives the corresponding 3‐iodo‐1‐substituted‐1H‐indene under the catalytic influence of IPrAuNTf₂ [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropyl)phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; NTf₂=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate]. The reaction takes place in 1,2‐dichloroethane at 80 °C, and the addition of ttbp (2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylpyrimidine) is beneficial to accomplish this new transformation in high yield. The overall reaction implies initial assembly of an intermediate gold vinylidene upon alkyne activation by gold(I) and a 1,2‐iodine‐shift. Deuterium labeling and crossover experiments, the magnitude of the recorded kinetic primary isotopic effect, and the results obtained from the reaction of selected stereochemical probes strongly provide support for concerted insertion of the benzylic C H bond into gold vinylidene as the step responsible for the formation of the new carbon–carbon bond.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Diboration and Carboboration of Alkynes

An iron‐catalyzed diboration reaction of alkynes with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) and external borating agents (MeOB(OR)₂) affords diverse symmetrical or unsymmetrical cis‐1,2‐diborylalkenes. The simple protocol for the diboration reaction can be extended to the iron‐catalyzed carboboration of alkynes with primary and, unprecedentedly, secondary alkyl halides, affording various tetrasubstituted monoborylalkenes in a highly stereoselective manner. DFT calculations indicate that a boryliron intermediate adds across the triple bond of an alkyne to afford an alkenyliron intermediate, which can react with the external trapping agents, borates and alkyl halides. In situ trapping experiments support the intermediacy of the alkenyl iron species using radical probe stubstrates.     

Gold‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H/C(sp)?H Coupling/Cyclization/Oxidative Alkynylation Sequence: A Powerful Strategy for the Synthesis of 3‐Alkynyl Polysubstituted Furans

In sharp contrast to the gold‐catalyzed reactions of alkynes/allenes with nucleophiles, gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐couplings and especially C H/C H cross‐coupling have been under represented. By taking advantage of the unique redox property and carbophilic π acidity of gold, this work realizes the first gold‐catalyzed direct C(sp³) H alkynylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes under mild reaction conditions, with subsequent cyclization and in situ oxidative alkynylation. A variety of terminal alkynes including aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl, and cyclopropyl alkynes all successfully participate in the domino reaction. The protocol offers a simple and region‐defined approach to 3‐alkynyl polysubstituted furans.     

Gold‐Catalyzed C(sp3)H/C(sp)H Coupling/Cyclization/Oxidative Alkynylation Sequence: A Powerful Strategy for the Synthesis of 3‐Alkynyl Polysubstituted Furans

In sharp contrast to the gold‐catalyzed reactions of alkynes/allenes with nucleophiles, gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐couplings and especially C? H/C? H cross‐coupling have been under represented. By taking advantage of the unique redox property and carbophilic π acidity of gold, this work realizes the first gold‐catalyzed direct C(sp³)? H alkynylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes under mild reaction conditions, with subsequent cyclization and in situ oxidative alkynylation. A variety of terminal alkynes including aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl, and cyclopropyl alkynes all successfully participate in the domino reaction. The protocol offers a simple and region‐defined approach to 3‐alkynyl polysubstituted furans.     

Competitive Gold‐Activation Modes in Terminal Alkynes: An Experimental and Mechanistic Study

The competition between π‐ and dual σ,π‐gold‐activation modes is revealed in the gold(I)‐catalyzed heterocyclization of 1‐(o‐ethynylaryl)urea. A noticeable effect of various ligands in gold complexes on the choice of these activation modes is described. The cationic [Au(IPr)]⁺ (IPr=2,6‐bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) complex cleanly promotes the π activation of terminal alkynes, whereas [Au(PtBu₃)]⁺ favors intermediate σ,π species. In this experimental and mechanistic study, which includes kinetic and cross‐over experiments, several σ‐gold, σ,π‐gold, and other gold polynuclear reaction intermediates have been isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, or MALDI spectrometry. The ligand control in the simultaneous or alternative π‐ and σ,π‐activation modes is also supported by deuterium‐labeling experiments.     

Recent Mechanistic and Synthetic Developments in the Chemistry of Transition‐Metal Vinylidene Complexes

Transition‐metal vinylidene complexes are intermediates in a number of synthetically important transformations of alkynes. Underpinning these applications is the ability of various electron‐rich transition‐metal complexes to effectively facilitate the conversion of alkynes into their vinylidene tautomers. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have provided considerable insight into the mechanisms by which this process occurs and they are detailed herein. In particular, it has been demonstrated that different substituents on both the metal and the alkyne may have profound effects on both the kinetic and thermodynamic profiles of the alkyne/vinylidene tautomerisation. An important finding is that internal alkynes may be employed to prepare disubstituted vinylidene complexes under easily accessible conditions. This discovery brings to light a new facet of the potential synthetic applications of transition metal vinylidene complexes.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Silacyclobutanes with Alkynes to Silicon‐Stereogenic Silanes: A Density Functional Theory Study

The palladium‐catalyzed desymmetrization of silacyclobutanes using electron‐deficient alkynes proceeds with high enantioselectivity in the presence of a chiral P ligand; this provides a facile approach for the synthesis of novel silicon‐stereogenic silanes. In this work, we used hybrid density functional theory (DFT) to elucidate the mechanism of the palladium‐catalyzed desymmetrization of silacyclobutanes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Full catalytic cycle including two different initiation modes that were proposed to be a possible initial step to the formation of the 1‐pallada‐2‐silacyclopentane/alkyne intermediate—the oxidative addition of the palladium complex to the silacyclobutane Si?C bond (cycle MA) or coordination of the Pd⁰ complex with the alkyne C≡C bond (cycle MB)—have been studied. It was found that the ring‐expansion reaction began with cycle MB is energetically more favorable. The formation of a seven‐membered metallocyclic Pd^II intermediate was found to be the rate‐determining step, whereas the enantioselectivity‐determining step, oxidative addition of silacyclobutane to the three‐membered metallocyclic Pd^II intermediate, was found to be quite sensitive to the steric repulsion between the chiral ligand and silacyclobutane.     

Reactions of Alkynes with [RuCl(cyclopentadienyl)] Complexes: The Important First Steps

Cyclopentadienyl–ruthenium half‐sandwich complexes with η²‐bound alkyne ligands have been suggested as catalytic intermediates in the early stages of Ru‐catalyzed reactions with alkynes. We show that electronically unsaturated complexes of the formula [RuCl(Cp^)(η²‐RC≡CR′)] can be stabilized and crystallized by using the sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl ligand Cp^ (Cp^=η⁵‐1‐methoxy‐2,4‐tert‐butyl‐3‐neopentyl‐cyclopentadienyl). Furthermore we demonstrate that [RuCl₂(Cp^)]₂ is an active and regioselective catalyst for the [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of alkynes. The first elementary steps of the reaction of mono(η²‐alkyne) complexes containing {RuCl(Cp*)} (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) and {RuCl(Cp^)} fragments with alkynes were investigated by DFT calculations at the M06/6‐31G* level in combination with a continuum solvent model. Theoretical results are able to rationalize and complement the experimental findings. The presence of the sterically demanding Cp^ ligand increases the activation energy required for the formation of the corresponding di(η²‐alkyne) complexes, enhancing the initial regioselectivity, but avoiding the evolution of the system towards the expected cyclotrimerization product when bulky substituents are present. Theoretical results also show that the electronic structure and stability of a metallacyclic intermediate is strongly dependent on the nature of the substituents present in the alkyne.     

Two Distinct Mechanisms of Alkyne Insertion into the Metal–Sulfur Bond: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study and Application in Catalysis

The present study reports the evidence for the multiple carbon–carbon bond insertion into the metal–heteroatom bond via a five‐coordinate metal complex. Detailed analysis of the model catalytic reaction of the carbon–sulfur (C? S) bond formation unveiled the mechanism of metal‐mediated alkyne insertion: a new pathway of C? S bond formation without preliminary ligand dissociation was revealed based on experimental and theoretical investigations. According to this pathway alkyne insertion into the metal–sulfur bond led to the formation of intermediate metal complex capable of direct C? S reductive elimination. In contrast, an intermediate metal complex formed through alkyne insertion through the traditional pathway involving preliminary ligand dissociation suffered from “improper” geometry configuration, which may block the whole catalytic cycle. A new catalytic system was developed to solve the problem of stereoselective S? S bond addition to internal alkynes and a cost‐efficient Ni‐catalyzed synthetic procedure is reported to furnish formation of target vinyl sulfides with high yields (up to 99 %) and excellent Z/E selectivity (>99:1).