Ethynyl benziodoxolones for the direct alkynylation of heterocycles: structural requirement, improved procedure for pyrroles, and insights into the mechanism

This report describes a full study of the gold-catalyzed direct alkynylation of indoles, pyrroles, and thiophenes using alkynyl hypervalent iodine reagents, especially the study of the structural requirements of alkynyl benziodoxolones for an efficient acetylene transfer to heterocycles. An improved procedure for the alkynylation of pyrroles using pyridine as additive is also reported. Nineteen alkynyl benziodoxol(on)es were synthesized and evaluated in the direct alkynylation of indoles and/or thiophenes. Bulky silyl groups as acetylene substituents were optimal. Nevertheless, transfer of aromatic acetylenes to thiophene was achieved for the first time. An accelerating effect of a methyl substituent in both the 3- and 6-position of triisopropylsilylethynyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (TIPS-EBX) on the reaction rate was observed. Competitive experiments between substrates of different nucleophilicity, deuterium labeling experiments, as well as the regioselectivity observed are all in agreement with electrophilic aromatic substitution. Gold(III) 2-pyridinecarboxylate dichloride was also an efficient catalyst for the reaction. Investigations indicated that gold(III) could be eventually reduced to gold(I) during the process. As a result of these investigations, a π activation or an oxidative mechanism are most probable for the alkynylation reaction.     

噁唑硼烷催化芳醛不对称炔基化反应的量化研究

对手性噁唑硼烷催化芳醛不对称炔基化还原反应的机理进行了量子化学半经验方法研究.研究表明,该反应是放热的，炔基转移是反应的控制步骤，炔基转移的过渡态具有扭曲的椅式结构，还原的主要产物是R-手性醇.     

Highly enantioselective alkynylation of trifluoropyruvate with alkynylsilanes catalyzed by the BINAP-Pd complex: access to α-trifluoromethyl-substituted tertiary alcohols

A highly enantioselective alkynylation catalyzed by the dicationic (S)-BINAP-Pd complex with a variety of alkynylsilanes and trifluoropyruvate is described. The catalytic reaction is applicable to highly enantioselective addition of polyyne to trifluoropyruvate to construct α-trifluoromethyl-substituted tertiary alcohols as enantiomerically enriched forms. The alkynyl products can be converted into a chiral allene bearing a trifluoromethyl group.     

Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation of Cyclic α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with a Chiral Diene Rhodium Catalyst

Asymmetric conjugate alkynylation of cyclic α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds (ketones, esters, and amides) was realized by use of diphenyl[(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]methanol as an alkynylating reagent in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with a new chiral diene ligand (Fc‐bod; bod=bicyclo[2.2.2]octa‐2,5‐diene, Fc=ferrocenyl) to give high yields of the corresponding β‐alkynyl‐substituted carbonyl compounds with 95–98 % ee.     

Cascade Reaction to Selectively Synthesize Multifunctional Indole Derivatives by IrIII-Catalyzed C−H Activation

An effective and condition-controlled way to synthesize with high selectivity a variety of functionalized indoles with potent biological properties has been developed. Notably, 2,4-dialkynyl indole products were obtained by direct double C−H bond alkynylation, whereas alkynyl at the C4 position could convert to carbonyl to generate 2-alkynyl-3,4-diacetyl indoles fast and effectively. Additionally, a one-pot relay catalytic reaction led to 2,5-di-alkynyl-3,4-diacetyl indoles when using a carbonyl group as the directing group and by controlling the type and quantity of additives. A possible mechanism was proposed based on many studies including deuterium-exchange experiments, the necessary conditions of product conversion, and the effect of water on the reaction.     

Proteome‐Wide Profiling of Targets of Cysteine reactive Small Molecules by Using Ethynyl Benziodoxolone Reagents

In this study, we present a highly efficient method for proteomic profiling of cysteine residues in complex proteomes and in living cells. Our method is based on alkynylation of cysteines in complex proteomes using a “clickable” alkynyl benziodoxolone bearing an azide group. This reaction proceeds fast, under mild physiological conditions, and with a very high degree of chemoselectivity. The formed azide‐capped alkynyl–cysteine adducts are readily detectable by LC‐MS/MS, and can be further functionalized with TAMRA or biotin alkyne via CuAAC. We demonstrate the utility of alkynyl benziodoxolones for chemical proteomics applications by identifying the proteomic targets of curcumin, a diarylheptanoid natural product that was and still is part of multiple human clinical trials as anticancer agent. Our results demonstrate that curcumin covalently modifies several key players of cellular signaling and metabolism, most notably the enzyme casein kinase I gamma. We anticipate that this new method for cysteine profiling will find broad application in chemical proteomics and drug discovery.     

Autotandem Catalysis: Inexpensive and Green Access to Functionalized Ketones by Intermolecular Iron-Catalyzed Amidoalkynylation/Hydration Cascade Reaction via N-Acyliminium Ion Chemistry

Iron-based catalysts were applied in cascade-type reactions for the synthesis of different carbonyl compounds. The reactions proceeded by a new iron-catalyzed cascade of alkynylation/hydration by using both the σ- and π-Lewis acid properties of iron salts. The alkynylation reactions of several endo and exocyclic acetoxylactams were achieved with three different catalysts including FeCl₃ ⋅ 6H₂O, FeCl₃, and Fe(OTf)₃ showing the efficiency of σ-Lewis acidity of iron (III) salts in catalyzing the alkynylation reaction. We also demonstrated that the reaction sequence could be shortened by the direct use of hydroxylactams, leading to an environmentally friendly protocol, avoiding the need to perform unnecessary lengthy steps. A combination of the hard/soft iron Lewis acid properties was then used to implement an unprecedented tandem intermolecular alkynylation/intramolecular hydration sequence allowing expedient access to a new carbonyl structures from trivial materials.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative C≡C Triple Bond Cleavage of 2‐Alkynyl Carbonyl Compounds Toward 1,2‐Dicarbonyl Compounds†

A new, general palladium‐catalyzed oxidative strategy for the cleavage of the C≡C triple bond is presented. By employing PdCl₂, CuBr₂, TEMPO and air as the catalytic system and H₂O as the carbonyl oxygen atom source, a wide range of 2‐alkynyl carbonyl compounds, including 1,3‐disubstituted prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ones, propiolamides and propiolates, lost an alkynyl carbon to access various 1,2‐dicarbonyl compounds, e.g., 1,2‐diones, 2‐keto amides and 2‐keto esters, through Wacker oxidation, intramolecular cyclization and C—C bond cleavage cascades.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of heterocycles with terminal alkynes under air conditions

Pd-Catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of azoles with terminal alkynes was developed via simultaneous activation of both heterocyclic sp(2) C-H and alkynyl sp C-H bonds. The choice of palladium catalyst source and external base resulted in being important factors for performing the reaction with high efficiency and selectivity, and air was successfully utilized as an environmental oxidant in the present alkynylation procedure.     

Potential 1,1′-binaphthyl NLO-phores with extended conjugation between positions 2 and 6, and 2′ and 6′

A synthetic approach is reported which allows independent introduction of alkynyl groups to positions 2,2′ and then to 6,6′ of binaphthyls. The approach is based on the high selectivity of the Stephens-Castro alkynylation of 6,6′-dibromo-2,2′-diiodo-1,1′-binaphthyl. The tetraalkynylated derivatives exhibit extended conjugation between groups at positions 2 and 6, and 2′ and 6′, achieved by overcoming steric hindrance at positions 2 and 2′ by using alkynyl spacers.     

A Highly Efficient Gold‐Catalyzed Photoredox α‐C(sp3)H Alkynylation of Tertiary Aliphatic Amines with Sunlight

A new α‐C(sp³)? H alkynylation of unactivated tertiary aliphatic amines with 1‐iodoalkynes as radical alkynylating reagents in the presence of [Au₂(μ‐dppm)₂]²⁺ in sunlight provides propargylic amines. Based on mechanistic studies, a C? C coupling of an α‐aminoalkyl radical and an alkynyl radical is proposed for the C(sp³)? C(sp) bond formation. The mild, convenient, efficient, and highly selective C(sp³)? H alkynylation reaction shows excellent regioselectivity and good functional‐group compatibility. A scale‐up to gram quantities is possible with sunlight used as a clean and sustainable energy source.     

A new type of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer: proton transfer from phenol OH to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring observed for 2-phenylphenol

The photochemical deuterium incorporation at the 2'- and 4'-positions of 2-phenylphenol (4) and equivalent positions of related compounds has been studied in D(2)O (CH(3)OD)-CH(3)CN solutions with varying D(2)O (CH(3)OD) content. Predominant exchange was observed at the 2'-position with an efficiency that is independent of D(2)O (MeOD) content. Exchange at the 2'-position (but not at the 4'-position) was also observed when crystalline samples of 4-OD were irradiated. Data are presented consistent with a mechanism of exchange that involves excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) from the phenol to the 2'-carbon position of the benzene ring not containing the phenol, to generate the corresponding keto tautomer (an o-quinone methide). This is the first explicit example of a new class of ESIPT in which an acidic phenolic proton is transferred to an sp(2)-hybridized carbon of an aromatic ring. The complete lack of exchange observed for related substrates 6-9 and for planar 4-hydroxyfluorene (10) is consistent with a mechanism of ESIPT that requires an initial hydrogen bonding interaction between the phenol proton and the benzene pi-system. Similar exchange was observed for 2,2'-biphenol (5), suggesting that this new type of ESIPT is a general reaction for unconstrained 2'-aryl-substituted phenols and other related hydroxyarenes.     

Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of aryl halides with alkynyl carboxylic acids performed in water

Most alkynes are volatile liquids, which are relatively difficult to use and to transport. In contrast, alkynyl carboxylic acids offer a stable and attractive alternative for the alkynylation reactions. Here, we employed alkynyl carboxylic acids as reaction partners for the alkynylation of aryl halides. Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling, including various challenging aryl bromides with phenylpropiolic acid, was performed in water without using co-solvents with good yields. Our approach provides a low-loading, low-cost, stable and environmentally friendly copper catalyst system for decarboxylative coupling.     

Gold-Catalyzed C(sp2)−C(sp) Coupling by Alkynylation through Oxidative Addition of Bromoalkynes

A gold(I)-catalyzed cascade cyclization–alkynylation of allenoates using alkynyl bromide to generate β-alkynyl-γ-butenolides was investigated. Whereas alkynyl iodides afforded significant amounts of the homo-coupling of two lactone units, alkynyl bromides led to a selective reaction, and a broad functional group tolerance was observed. Under the optimized reaction conditions, it was possible to directly synthesize a large range of β-alkynyl-γ-butenolides in moderate to good yields without the need for any external oxidant.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of some new titanium(IV) aryloxides.

The coordination chemistry of model phenolic ligands (pyrocatechol, salicylic acid, and 2,2'-biphenol) that are able to form respectively five-, six-, or seven-membered rings with titanium(IV) alkoxides is investigated. With pyrocatechol, a polynuclear complex containing 10 Ti atoms was characterized with a not very common doubly bridging mu3-(O,O,O',O') coordination mode. With salicylic acid, a monomeric tris(chelate) complex was obtained. With 2,2'-biphenol, a polynuclear complex containing six Ti atoms was obtained showing both mu2-(O,O') and mu2-(O,O,O') coordination modes for the ligands. Intermolecular interactions in the solid state for these three new compounds are also quantitatively discussed using the partial charge model.     

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.     

An Arylation Strategy to Propargylamines: Catalytic Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts‐type Arylation Reactions of C‐Alkynyl Imines

The first arylation strategy for the synthesis of enantioenriched propargylamines is disclosed. This approach, which is complementary to previous alkynylation and alkylation strategies, involves a C(sp²)?C(sp³) bond formation, and is based on the first asymmetric Friedel–Crafts‐type arylation reaction of C‐alkynyl imines. Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reactions with electron‐deficient phenols, a longstanding unsolved challenge, have thus been realized for the first time, enabled by the combination of our recently introduced C‐alkynyl N‐Boc‐protected N,O‐acetals as electrophiles and chiral phosphoric acids as catalysts. The synthetic utility of the resulting structurally diverse and polyfunctional chiral propargylamines was demonstrated by a series of selective transformations, including controlled reduction of the alkynyl group and iterative cross‐couplings.     

Transition-Metal-Free C2-Functionalization of Pyridines through Aryne Three-Component Coupling

The direct C2-functionalization of pyridines through a transition-metal-free protocol by using aryne multicomponent coupling is demonstrated. The reaction allowed a broad-scope synthesis of C2-substituted pyridine derivatives bearing the −CF₃ group in good yields with α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenones as the third component. Activated keto esters could also be employed as the third component in this formal 1,2-di(hetero)arylation of ketones. Performing the reaction under dilute conditions inhibited the competing pyridine–aryne polymerization pathway. Nucleophilic attack by the initially generated pyridylidene intermediate on the carbonyl followed by an S_NAr process resembling the Smiles rearrangement affords the desired products.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed or t-BuOK promoted tandem reaction of 2-(2-(alkynyl)benzylidene)malonate with indole

Tandem reaction of 2-(2-(alkynyl)benzylidene)malonate with indole was investigated. (Z)-1-Benzylidene-3-(1 H-indol-1-yl)-1 H-indene-2,2(3 H)-dicarboxylate was generated in the presence of t-BuOK at room temperature; whereas 3-((1 H-indol-3-yl)(2-(alkynyl)aryl)methyl)-1 H-indole was obtained when Sc(OTf)3 was utilized as catalyst at 50 degrees C.