Gold‐Catalyzed Formal C−C Bond Insertion Reaction of 2‐Aryl‐2‐diazoesters with 1,3‐Diketones

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed formal C−C bond insertion reaction of diazo compounds with monocarbonyl compounds is well established, but the related reaction of 1,3‐diketones instead gives C−H bond insertion products. Herein, we report a protocol for a gold‐catalyzed formal C−C bond insertion reaction of 2‐aryl‐2‐diazoesters with 1,3‐diketones, which provides efficient access to polycarbonyl compounds with an all‐carbon quaternary center. The aryl ester moiety plays a crucial role in the unusual chemoselectivity, and the addition of a Brønsted acid to the reaction mixture improves the yield of the C−C bond insertion product. A reaction mechanism involving cyclopropanation of a gold carbenoid with an enolate and ring‐opening of the resulting donor–acceptor‐type cyclopropane intermediate is proposed. This mechanism differs from that of the traditional Lewis‐acid‐catalyzed C−C bond insertion reaction of diazo compounds with monocarbonyl compounds, which involves a rearrangement of a zwitterion intermediate as a key step.     

Reductive Coupling of Acrylates with Ketones and Ketimines by a Nickel‐Catalyzed Transfer‐Hydrogenative Strategy

Nickel‐catalyzed coupling of benzyl acrylates with activated ketones and imines provides γ‐butyrolactones and lactams, respectively. The benzyl alcohol byproduct released during the lactonization/lactamization event is relayed to the next cycle where it serves as the reductant for C−C bond formation. This strategy represents a conceptually unique approach to transfer‐hydrogenative C−C bond formation, thus providing examples of reductive heterocyclizations where hydrogen embedded within an alcohol leaving group facilitates turnover.     

Carbon–Fluorine Reductive Elimination from Nickel(III) Complexes

We report a C−F reductive elimination from a characterized first‐row aryl metal fluoride complex. Reductive elimination from the presented nickel(III) complexes is faster than C−F bond formation from any other characterized aryl metal fluoride complex.     

Gold‐Catalyzed [3+2]/Retro‐[3+2]/[3+2] Cycloaddition Cascade Reaction of N‐Alkoxyazomethine Ylides

A novel cascade reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,6‐methanopyrrolo[1,2‐b]isoxazoles based on the gold‐catalyzed generation of an N‐allyloxyazomethine ylide. This reaction involves sequential [3+2]/retro‐[3+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition reactions, thus providing facile access to fused and bridged heterocycles which would be otherwise difficult to prepare using existing synthetic methods. Notably, this reaction allows the efficient construction of three C−C bonds, one C−O bond, one C−N bond and one C−H bond, as well as the cleavage of one C−C bond, one C−O bond and one C−H bond in a single operation. The intermolecular cycloaddition of an N‐allyloxyazomethine ylide and the subsequent application of the product to the synthesis of tropenol is also described.     

Ligand‐Promoted Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho‐C−H Amination with Free Amines

Ligand development for rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C−H activation reactions has largely been limited to cyclopentadienyl (Cp) based scaffolds. 2‐Methylquinoline has now been identified as a feasible ligand that can coordinate to the metal center of Cp*RhCl to accelerate the cleavage of the C−H bond of N ‐pentafluorophenylbenzamides, providing a new structural lead for ligand design. The compatibility of this reaction with secondary free amines and anilines also overcomes the limitations of palladium(II)‐catalyzed C−H amination reactions.     

Bifurcated Nickel‐Catalyzed Functionalizations: Heteroarene C−H Activation with Allenes

A unified strategy for nickel(0)‐catalyzed C−H allylations, alkenylations, and dienylations has been realized through versatile hydroarylations of allenes with ample scope. Thus, an inexpensive nickel catalyst modified with a N ‐heterocyclic carbene ligand enabled the direct transformation of C−H bonds of biologically relevant imidazole and purine derivatives with full control of regio‐ and chemoselectivity.     

Electrochemically Enabled,Nickel‐Catalyzed Amination

Along with amide bond formation, Suzuki cross‐coupling, and reductive amination, the Buchwald–Hartwig–Ullmann‐type amination of aryl halides stands as one of the most employed reactions in modern medicinal chemistry. The work herein demonstrates the potential of utilizing electrochemistry to provide a complementary avenue to access such critical bonds using an inexpensive nickel catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Of note is the scalability, functional‐group tolerance, rapid rate, and the ability to employ a variety of aryl donors (Ar−Cl, Ar−Br, Ar−I, Ar−OTf), amine types (primary and secondary), and even alternative X−H donors (alcohols and amides).     

Electrochemically Enabled,Nickel‐Catalyzed Amination

Along with amide bond formation, Suzuki cross‐coupling, and reductive amination, the Buchwald–Hartwig–Ullmann‐type amination of aryl halides stands as one of the most employed reactions in modern medicinal chemistry. The work herein demonstrates the potential of utilizing electrochemistry to provide a complementary avenue to access such critical bonds using an inexpensive nickel catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Of note is the scalability, functional‐group tolerance, rapid rate, and the ability to employ a variety of aryl donors (Ar−Cl, Ar−Br, Ar−I, Ar−OTf), amine types (primary and secondary), and even alternative X−H donors (alcohols and amides).     

Nitroarenes as the Nitrogen Source in Intermolecular Palladium‐Catalyzed Aryl C–H Bond Aminocarbonylation Reactions

A three‐component palladium‐catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl and heteroaryl sp² C−H bonds using nitroarenes as the nitrogen source was achieved using Mo(CO)₆ as the reductant and origin of the CO. This intermolecular C−H bond functionalization does not requires any exogenous ligand to be added, and our mechanism experiments indicate that the palladacycle catalyst serves two roles in the aminocarbonylation reaction: reduce the nitroarene to a nitrosoarene and activate the sp² C−H bond.     

Manganese(I)‐Catalyzed C−H Activation: The Key Role of a 7‐Membered Manganacycle in H‐Transfer and Reductive Elimination

Manganese‐catalyzed C?H bond activation chemistry is emerging as a powerful and complementary method for molecular functionalization. A highly reactive seven‐membered Mn^I intermediate is detected and characterized that is effective for H‐transfer or reductive elimination to deliver alkenylated or pyridinium products, respectively. The two pathways are determined at Mn^I by judicious choice of an electron‐deficient 2‐pyrone substrate containing a 2‐pyridyl directing group, which undergoes regioselective C?H bond activation, serving as a valuable system for probing the mechanistic features of Mn C?H bond activation chemistry.     

Selective Hydrogen Atom Abstraction through Induced Bond Polarization: Direct α‐Arylation of Alcohols through Photoredox,HAT, and Nickel Catalysis

The combination of nickel metallaphotoredox catalysis, hydrogen atom transfer catalysis, and a Lewis acid activation mode, has led to the development of an arylation method for the selective functionalization of alcohol α‐hydroxy C−H bonds. This approach employs zinc‐mediated alcohol deprotonation to activate α‐hydroxy C−H bonds while simultaneously suppressing C−O bond formation by inhibiting the formation of nickel alkoxide species. The use of Zn‐based Lewis acids also deactivates other hydridic bonds such as α‐amino and α‐oxy C−H bonds. This approach facilitates rapid access to benzylic alcohols, an important motif in drug discovery. A 3‐step synthesis of the drug Prozac exemplifies the utility of this new method.     

Highly para‐Selective C−H Alkylation of Benzene Derivatives with 2,2,2‐Trifluoroethyl α‐Aryl‐α‐Diazoesters

Compared to the most popular directing‐group‐assisted strategy, the “undirected” strategy for C−H bond functionalization represents a more flexible but more challenging approach. Reported herein is a gold‐catalyzed highly site‐selective C(sp²)−H alkylation of unactivated arenes with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl α‐aryl‐α‐diazoesters. This protocol demonstrates that high site‐selective C−H bond functionalization can be achieved without the assistance of a directing group. In this transformation, both the gold catalyst and trifluoroethyl group on the ester of the diazo compound play vital roles for achieving the chemo‐ and regioselectivity.     

Decarbonylative Phosphorylation of Amides by Palladium and Nickel Catalysis: The Hirao Cross‐Coupling of Amide Derivatives

Considering the ubiquity of organophosphorus compounds in organic synthesis, pharmaceutical discovery agrochemical crop protection and materials chemistry, new methods for their construction hold particular significance. A conventional method for the synthesis of C−P bonds involves cross‐coupling of aryl halides and dialkyl phosphites (the Hirao reaction). We report a catalytic deamidative phosphorylation of a wide range of amides using a palladium or nickel catalyst giving aryl phosphonates in good to excellent yields. The present method tolerates a wide range of functional groups. The reaction constitutes the first example of a transition‐metal‐catalyzed generation of C−P bonds from amides. This redox‐neutral protocol can be combined with site‐selective conventional cross‐coupling for the regioselective synthesis of potential pharmacophores. Mechanistic studies suggest an oxidative addition/transmetallation pathway. In light of the importance of amides and phosphonates as synthetic intermediates, we envision that this Pd and Ni‐catalyzed C−P bond forming method will find broad application.     

Computational Insight into Nickel‐Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon versus Carbon–Boron Coupling Reactions of Primary,Secondary, and Tertiary Alkyl Bromides

The nickel‐catalyzed alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling (C?C bond formation) and borylation (C?B bond formation) of unactivated alkyl halides reported in the literature show completely opposite reactivity orders in the reactions of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl bromides. The proposed Ni^I/Ni^III catalytic cycles for these two types of bond‐formation reactions were studied computationally by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP level. These calculations indicate that the rate‐determining step for alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling is the reductive elimination step, whereas for borylation the rate is determined mainly by the atom‐transfer step. In borylation reactions, the boryl ligand involved has an empty p orbital, which strongly facilitates the reductive elimination step. The inability of unactivated tertiary alkyl halides to undergo alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling is mainly due to the moderately high reductive elimination barrier.     

Consecutive Transformations of Tetrafluoropropenes: Hydrogermylation and Catalytic C−F Activation Steps at a Lewis Acidic Aluminum Fluoride

Functionalization reactions of the refrigerants HFO‐1234yf (2,3,3,3‐tetrafluoropropene) and HFO‐1234ze (1,3,3,3‐tetrafluoropropene) were developed. The selectivity and reactivity towards CF₃ groups of C−F activation reactions can be controlled by employing either a germane or a silane as the hydrogen source. Unique transformations were designed to accomplish consecutive hydrogermylation and C−F activation steps. This allowed for an unprecedented transformation of an olefinic C−F bond into a C−H bond by heterogeneous catalysis. These reactions are catalyzed by nanoscopic aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF) under very mild conditions.     

Sulfonamidation of Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides through Photosensitized Nickel Catalysis

Herein we report a highly efficient method for nickel‐catalyzed C?N bond formation between sulfonamides and aryl electrophiles. This technology provides generic access to a broad range of N‐aryl and N‐heteroaryl sulfonamide motifs, which are widely represented in drug discovery. Initial mechanistic studies suggest an energy‐transfer mechanism wherein C?N bond reductive elimination occurs from a triplet excited Ni^II complex. Late‐stage sulfonamidation in the synthesis of a pharmacologically relevant structure is also demonstrated.     

Mechanistic Study on Ligand‐Controlled Cobalt‐Catalyzed Regioselectivity‐Switchable Hydroarylation of Styrenes

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to study the mechanism of the recently reported Co‐catalyzed ligand‐controlled hydroarylation of styrenes as a means of preparing 1,1‐ or 1,2‐diarylalkanes. The present study corroborates the previously proposed three‐step mechanism, comprising C? H activation (C? H oxidative addition), styrene insertion, and reductive elimination. In the C? H activation and reductive elimination steps, our calculations suggest that styrene does not coordinate to the Co center. In the insertion step, styrene is inserted into the Co? H bond rather than the Co? C bond. Furthermore, the rate‐ and regiodetermining step is found to be C? C reductive elimination. It is significant that the regioselectivity observed experimentally has been successfully reproduced by our calculations. More importantly, in analyzing the origin of the ligand‐controlled regioselectivity, we have found that the steric effects of different ligands mainly determine the observed regioselectivity. Both the shape (i.e., “umbrella‐up” or “umbrella‐down”) and bulkiness of the ligand contribute to the steric effect.     

Carbon–Fluorine Reductive Elimination from Nickel(III) Complexes

We report a C−F reductive elimination from a characterized first-row aryl metal fluoride complex. Reductive elimination from the presented nickel(III) complexes is faster than C−F bond formation from any other characterized aryl metal fluoride complex.     

Scalable Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Aryl C−H Phosphorylation Enabled by Anodic Oxidation Induced Reductive Elimination

Transition metal catalyzed C?H phosphorylation remains an unsolved challenge. Reported methods are generally limited in scope and require stoichiometric silver salts as oxidants. Reported here is an electrochemically driven Rh^III‐catalyzed aryl C?H phosphorylation reaction that proceeds through H₂ evolution, obviating the need for stoichiometric metal oxidants. The method is compatible with a variety of aryl C?H and P?H coupling partners and particularly useful for synthesizing triarylphosphine oxides from diarylphosphine oxides, which are often difficult coupling partners for transition metal catalyzed C?H phosphorylation reactions. Experimental results suggest that the mechanism responsible for the C?P bond formation involves an oxidation‐induced reductive elimination process.     

A Preliminary Study of Diastereoselectivity in the PdII‐Catalyzed C(sp3)‐H Alkoxylation of Cyclic Systems

Primary mechanism of a Pd^II‐catalyzed 8‐aminoquinoline‐directed C?H alkoxylation was investigated. It was understood that the Pd^II‐catalyzed C(sp³)?O bond formation proceeded through a concerted reductive elimination from the Pd^IV intermediate in the cyclic system. Deuteration experiments and related computational studies elucidate that intrinsic conformation determined the diastereoselectivity of the Pd^II‐catalyzed C?H alkoxylation of cyclic carboxylic acids.