Ortho-lithiation reaction of aryl triflones

The ortho-lithiation of substituted arenes is a powerful methodology to synthesize ortho-substituted arenes. While a wide variety of directed metalation groups (DMGs) have been reported, trifluoromethyl sulfone has never been used. We disclose the first example of ortho-lithiation of aryl triflones. We found that the trifluoromethyl sulfonyl group is not only an important structural motif in biologically active molecules and specialty materials, but also an excellent DMG moiety for ortho-metalation reactions. The use of a base that causes steric hindrance, LTMP, is the key for successful transformation to furnish a variety of ortho-substituted aryl triflones in good yields. Further functionalization of resulting ortho-substituted aryl triflones was demonstrated by metal-catalyzed coupling reactions.     

Rhodium-catalysed ortho-alkynylation of nitroarenes

The ortho-alkynylation of nitro-(hetero)arenes takes place in the presence of a Rh(iii) catalyst to deliver a wide variety of alkynylated nitroarenes regioselectively. These interesting products could be further derivatized by selective reduction of the nitro group or palladium-catalysed couplings. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies demonstrate that the reaction proceeds via a turnover-limiting electrophilic C–H metalation ortho to the strongly electron-withdrawing nitro group.

Rh(iii)-catalyzed ortho-alkynylation of nitro-(hetero)arenes leads to a wide variety of alkynylated nitroarenes via a turnover-limiting electrophilic C–H ortho-metalation.     

Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of sodium pyrimidinecarboxylates with (hetero)aryl bromides

A straightforward method for the synthesis of functionalized 4- or 5-(hetero)arylpyrimidines via decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction from readily available pyrimidine-4- and pyrimidine-5-carboxylates was described. In the presence of dual-catalyst system of Pd(PPh₃)₄/Cu₂O, the reaction proceeds smoothly, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and provides easy access to the synthesis of different (hetero)arylpyrimidines compounds.     

Application of directed metalation in synthesis. Part 8: Interesting example of chemoselectivity in the synthesis of thioaurones and hydroxy ketones and a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement used as a tool in the synthesis of thienopyranones and thiafluorenones

Chemoselective synthesis of thioaurones or 3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones, 1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones and chalcones from N,N-diethyl-ortho-methyl sulfanyl aryl amides were described. (Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates and (naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates undergo a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement leading to (3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) and (1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkyl ketones. The hydroxy ketones were used as intermediates in the synthesis of wide range of benzothienopyranones and thiafluorenones.     

An efficient synthesis of sterically hindered arylboronic acids

Boronic acids are important intermediates and molecular recognition moieties in a wide variety of applications. In our research, we have found that the synthesis of ortho-substituted arylboronic acids is problematic with the commonly used bis(pinacolato)diboron in palladium-mediated borylation reactions. As a substitute, we have found that bis(neopentyl glycolato)diboron is a much more efficient borylation agent for the synthesis of sterically hindered ortho-substituted arylboronic acids.     

A solid-phase iridium-based ortho-exchange catalyst for the one-step labelling of aromatic substrates with deuterium

A wide range of aromatic compounds containing suitable directing groups can be labelled efficiently with deuterium using isotopic exchange catalysed by an easily prepared polystyrene based ortho-exchange catalyst. The labelling reactions can be carried out efficiently at ambient temperature by simple stirring of the substrate and catalyst under a deuterium atmosphere for a few hours. Isolation consists of a simple filtration and evaporation of the solvent. Deuterium is incorporated with ortho-regiospecificity.     

Ortho-selectivity in the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reactions of 3-substituted, 2,6-dichloropyridines with alkali metal alkoxides

3-Substituted, 2,6-dichloropyridines have featured in the syntheses of small molecule inhibitors of a wide variety of biological targets. Hence, the regioselective displacement of the chlorines is of significant interest. Through conducting an extensive solvent study, we have found that non-polar, aprotic solvents of low hydrogen bond basicities favour substitution of the chlorine ortho to the 3-substituent by alkali metal alkoxides. We present convincing evidence that coordination of the alkali metal counter-ion to the 3-substituent (nitro, ester, amide) is the origin of the ortho-selectivity to give a cyclic, six-membered transition state. Excellent ortho-selectivities (?98:2) for secondary and tertiary alkoxides were realized with the sodium counter-ion, whereas the more reactive primary alkoxides required the harder, more Lewis acidic lithium counter-ion.     

A practical ortho-rearrangement of silyl group of ortho-bromophenyl silyl ethers using magnesium(0)

A practical synthesis of ortho-silyl-substituted phenol from ortho-bromophenyl silyl ethers without using RLi is described. Various ortho-bromophenyl silyl ethers are treated with commercially available Mg turnings, which are easy to handle in air, and transfer of the silyl group to the ortho-position occurs in good to high yields. Selective mono-magnesiation of 2,6-dibromophenyl silyl ether is observed even in the presence of excess Mg, and ortho-bromo-6-silylphenol is obtained as the predominant product. The obtained ortho-silyl-substituted phenol is formylated with (CH₂O)_n/MgCl₂/Et₃N, and then condensation with a diamine leads to a silyl-substituted salen-type ligand in a good yield. This scheme is suitable for the large scale synthesis of silyl-substituted salen-type ligands bearing imine groups.     

Ortho selectivity in SNAr substitutions of 2,4-dihaloaromatic compounds. Reactions with piperidine

A broad survey of aromatic compounds with halogens positioned both ortho and para to activating groups was studied in S_NAr reactions with piperidine. Regioselectivities varied with the substituent group and the polarity of the solvent. Many activating groups exhibited an overall bias toward ortho-substitution, and this led in nonpolar solvents to very high ortho selectivity. More polar solvents uniformly shifted the product ratio toward para substitution. Evidence is presented that argues for coordination via hydrogen bonding as a driver of much of the ortho selectivity observed. The data presented show ample evidence of the generality and synthetic utility of the ortho-directing ability of several common activating groups for this reaction type.     

An unexpected one-pot synthesis of multi-substituted quinolines via a cascade reaction of Michael/Staudinger/aza-Wittig/aromatization of ortho-azido-β-nitro-styrenes with various carbonyl compounds

Multi-substituted quinolines 3 were unexpectedly prepared from a cascade reaction of ortho-azido-β-nitro-styrenes with various carbonyl compounds. This method takes advantages of mild condition, simple work-up, high yield as well as wide substrate scope, which makes this method powerful for one-pot synthesis of multi-substituted quinolines.     

Thermodynamic analysis of the ionization of ortho and para toluic acids : influence of the medium on the hyperconjugative and steric effects

The hyperconjugative effect of the methyl group in the para and ortho position of the benzene ring is studied as a function of the medium. The ionization and solution enthalpies of ortho and para toluic acids have been measured in H₂O/DMSO mixtures. A study of the ortho effects by means of the linear combination of the ordinary polar, proximity polar and steric effects has also been performed.The methyl group both in ortho and para position seems to be forced out by the benzene ring at X_dmso= 0.5 mole fraction with a consequent decrease of hyperconjugation effect. A study of enthalpic and entropic contributions to substituent and reaction constants and the proton transfer process from ortho and para derivatives to benzoic acid, compared with the same process in the gaseous phase are also presented.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed arylation of fluorinated aromatic ketones via ortho-selective carbon-fluorine bond cleavage

We report here ruthenium-catalyzed arylation of fluorinated aromatic ketones via ortho-selective carbon-fluorine bond cleavage. In the presence of trimethylvinylsilane and cesium fluoride, ortho carbon-fluoride bonds of aromatic ketones were phenylated by 5,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane using RuH₂(CO)(PPh₃)₃ as a catalyst. Tandem C-F phenylation/C-H alkylation was observed for substrates bearing both one ortho hydrogen and one ortho fluorine atoms.     

A novel class of bidentate ligands with a conformationally flexible biphenyl unit built into a planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane backbone

We report the synthesis of a novel class of planar chiral bidentate aryl[2.2]paracyclophane ligands. For the first time in the [2.2]paracyclophanyl series the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling was employed for the formation of the arylparacyclophanyl skeleton. From the two possible approaches: (a) cross-coupling of [2.2]paracyalophanylboronic acids with aryl halides; (b) cross-coupling of [2.2]paracyclophanyl halides with arylboronic acids, the latter was found to be more efficient. This approach was successfully used for the synthesis of a wide range of aryl[2.2]paracyclophanes with different types of substitution patterns (ortho-, pseudo-ortho- or pseudo-gem-arrangement of the functionally-substituted aryl fragment with respect to the substituent in the paracyclophane ring).     

Twice as Nice: The Duff Formylation of Umbelliferone Revised

More efficient and preferably more convenient and greener synthetic solutions in coumarin scaffold functionalization are in steady demand. The Duff ortho-formylation of unsubstituted umbelliferone was revised in this study. The reaction conditions were optimized based upon data from the literature analysis and resulted in unexpectedly rapid ortho-formylation of umbelliferone, yielding a mixture of ortho-formyl position isomers. Thorough studies on the separation of ortho-formylated umbelliferones using chromatographic and recrystallization methods as well as the evaluation of their solubility in common organic solvents led to complete resolution of 8-formyl- and 6-formylumbelliferones. The precise protocol for simultaneous preparation, extraction, and purification of 8-formyl- and 6-formylumbelliferones is provided, and the prospective studies of biological and pharmacological activities of these compounds are synopsized.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation/cyclization/desulfonation cascades toward 4-aryl quinolin-2(1H)-ones with diaryliodonium salts

Palladium-catalyzed cascades of arylation/cyclization/desulfonation of ortho-aminocinnamate esters by using diaryliodonium salts afforded a wide range of 4-aryl quinolin-2(1H)-ones. As such, the desired 4-aryl quinolin-2(1H)-ones with potential biological activity has been synthesized in the yields of 34–96%.     

Synthesis of chiral ortho-thio-substituted phenyl phosphonodiamidates via a P-S to P-C rearrangement

The ortho-lithiation of a phenyl phosphorodiamidothioate derived from an enantiopure C₂-symmetric diamine is studied. It is shown that the migration of the diaminophosphoryl group from sulfur to carbon, leading to an ortho-sulfanylated phenyl phosphonodiamidate, only occurs in the presence of an alkylating agent or a Lewis acid as BF₃·Et₂O. The influence of the chiral diaminophosphoryl group on the stereoselectivity of the oxidation of the ortho-sulfanyl or alkylsulfanyl group is also examined.     

Chlorine-isotopic exchange between lithium chloride and substituted 2-chloropyridine in homogeneous solution

The kinetics of chlorine-isotopic exchange between lithium chloride-36 and cyano- and nitro- substituted 2-chloropyridines were measured in sulpholane, acetone or methanol solution. Activating effects of ortho-nitro and ortho-azu substitution are compared: a nitro-group is 50 × as activating as the aza-group in the p-nitrochlorobenzene system, where as it is the aza-function which is 3 times as activating as the nitro group in the o-nitrochlorobenzene system. The effect of Me substituents placed ortho to an activating nitro-group was studied by comparing 2-chloro-3-cyano-5-nitropyridine and its 6-methyl- and 4,6-dimethyl-derivatives.     

Direct ortho-mercuration reactions of azobenzene and ortho-substituted azobenzenes

The mercuration of azobenzene occurred exclusively in the ortho-position to yield 2-chloromercuriazobenzene and a mixture which on iodination gave 2,2'and 2,6-diiodoazobenzene. Ten other ortho-substituted azobenzenes were mercurated and mercuration was found to occur predominately in an ortho-position. The regiospecificity of these reactions suggests that the mercury is directed into an ortho-position by coordination of the mercury to an azo nitrogen and then subsequent electrophilic substitution.     

Hydroxylated terphenylphosphine ligands for palladium-catalyzed ortho-selective cross-coupling of dibromophenols, dibromoanilines, and their congeners with Grignard reagents

p-Terphenylphosphines bearing one or two hydroxy groups were used as ligands to palladium in the cross-coupling of dibromophenols, dibromoanilines, and their congeners with Grignard reagents. High ortho-selectivity that cannot be achieved using other phosphine ligands was observed. ortho-Preference was also observed in competitive cross-coupling reactions of two substrates. A significant effect of the concentration of the Grignard reagent on the ortho-selectivity was observed, when the hydroxylated terphenylphosphines were used. Kinetic studies on this effect showed that high concentrations of the Grignard reagent retard the cross-coupling reaction only at the para-position, but not at the ortho-position.     

Reactions of ortho-substituted α,α-dibromoacetophenones with nucleophiles: first examples of combined carbophilic and bromophilic attack on C-Br bonds

An efficient method for the formation of α-carbonyl-monosubstituted acetophenones from ortho-methoxy- and ortho-hydroxy-α,α-dibromoacetophenones and a range of selected nucleophiles, occurring via a carbophilic substitution/bromophilic substitution/protonation cascade process, is described. In turn, the preparation of α,α-dibromoacetophenones, isolated in high yields, relies on the neighboring group participation of the ortho-substituents in the starting ortho-substituted acetophenones.