Keteniminium-Driven Umpolung Difunctionalization of Ynamides

A three-component Pd-catalyzed coupling of ynamides, aryl diazonium salts, and aryl boronic acids for the synthesis of novel triaryl-substituted enamides is described. This transformation represents the first example of an umpolung regioselective unsymmetrical syn-1,2-diarylation/aryl-olefination of ynamides. The aryl moieties of the diazonium salt (electrophile) and boronic acid (nucleophile) are explicitly incorporated in the electrophilic α- and nucleophilic β-position, respectively, of the ynamide, resulting in a single isomer of the N-bearing tetrasubstituted olefin. The scope is broad (68 examples), showing excellent functional-group tolerance. DFT calculations substantiate the rationale of the mechanistic cycle and the regioselectivity. The chemoselectivity and synthetic potential of the enamide products were also studied.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization with Nitrenes

The Rh^II‐catalyzed oxyamination and diamination of alkenes generate 1,2‐amino alcohols and 1,2‐diamines, respectively, in good to excellent yields and with complete regiocontrol. In the case of diamination, the intramolecular reaction provides an efficient method for the preparation of pyrrolidines, and the intermolecular reaction produces vicinal amines with orthogonal protecting groups. These alkene difunctionalizations proceed by aziridination followed by nucleophilic ring opening induced by an Rh‐bound nitrene generated in situ, details of which were uncovered by both experimental and theoretical studies. In particular, DFT calculations show that the nitrogen atom of the putative [Rh]₂=NR metallanitrene intermediate is electrophilic and support an aziridine activation pathway by N ??? N=[Rh]₂ bond formation, in addition to the N ??? [Rh]₂=NR coordination mode.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Three‐ or Four‐Component Coupling of Aryl Iodides,Alkynes, and Amines through CN Bond Cleavage: Efficient Synthesis of Indole Derivatives

An efficient synthesis of N‐substituted indole derivatives was realized by combining the Pd‐catalyzed one‐pot multicomponent coupling approach with cleavage of the C(sp³)?N bonds. Three or four components of aryl iodides, alkynes, and amines were involved in this coupling process. The cyclopentadiene–phosphine ligand showed high efficiency. A variety of aryl iodides, including cyclic and acyclic tertiary amino aryl iodides, and substituted 1‐bromo‐2‐iodobenzene derivatives could be used. Both symmetric and unsymmetric alkynes substituted with alkyl, aryl, or trimethylsilyl groups could be applied. Cyclic secondary amines such as piperidine, morpholine, 4‐methylpiperidine, 1‐methylpiperazine, 2‐methylpiperidine, and acyclic amines including secondary and primary amines all showed good reactivity. Further application of the resulting indole derivatives was demonstrated by the synthesis of benzosilolo[2,3‐b]indole.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Highly Efficient Four‐Component Synthesis of 4(3H)‐Quinazolinones: Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Coupling Reactions

Given the importance of quinazolinones and carbonylative transformations, a palladium‐catalyzed four‐component carbonylative coupling system for the synthesis of diverse 4(3H)‐quinazolinone in a concise and convergent fashion has been developed. Starting from 2‐bromoanilines (1 mmol), trimethyl orthoformate (2 mmol), and amines (1.1 mmol), under 10 bar of CO, the desired products were isolated in good yields in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ (2 mol %), BuPAd₂ (6 mol %) in 1,4‐dioxane (2 mL) at 100 °C, using N,N‐diisopropylethylamine (2 mmol) as the base. Notably, the process tolerates the presence of various reactive functional groups and is very selective for quinazolinones, and was used in the synthesis of the precursor to the bioactive dihydrorutaempine.     

Synergistic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene/Palladium‐Catalyzed Umpolung 1,4‐Addition of Aryl Iodides to Enals

An umpolung 1,4‐addition of aryl iodides to enals promoted by cooperative (terpy)Pd/NHC catalysis was developed that generates various bioactive β,β‐diaryl propanoate derivatives. This system is not only the first reported palladium‐catalyzed arylation of NHC‐bound homoenolates but also expands the scope of NHC‐induced umpolung transformations. A diverse array of functional groups such as esters, nitriles, alcohols, and heterocycles are tolerated under the mild conditions. This method also circumvents the use of moisture‐sensitive organometallic reagents.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Tunable Chemoselective N Functionalization of Indoles with Ynamides

Two unprecedented N functionalizations of indoles with ynamides are described. By varying the electron‐withdrawing group on the ynamide nitrogen atom, either Z‐indolo‐etheneamides or indolo‐amidines can be selectively obtained under the same metal‐free reaction conditions. The scope and synthetic potential of these reactions, as well as some mechanistic insights provided by DFT calculations, are reported.     

Single‐Flask Multicomponent Palladium‐Catalyzed α,γ‐Coupling of Ketone Enolates: Facile Preparation of Complex Carbon Scaffolds

A three‐component palladium‐catalyzed reaction sequence has been developed in which γ‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated products are obtained in a single flask by an α‐alkenylation with either a subsequent γ‐alkenylation or γ‐arylation of a ketone enolate. Coupling of a variety of electronically and structurally different components was achieved in the presence of a Pd/Q‐Phos catalyst (2 mol %), usually at 22 °C with yields of up to 85 %. Most importantly, access to these products is obtained in one simple operation in place of employing multiple reactions.     

Synthesis of Diversely Functionalized Oxindoles Enabled by Migratory Insertion of Isocyanide to a Transient σ‐Alkylpalladium(II) Complex

Palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular carbopalladation of N‐aryl acrylamides followed by migratory insertion of an isocyanide‐coordinated C(sp³)?Pd intermediate afforded an alkylimidoyl?Pd^II complex, which can be intercepted by a nucleophile, including heteroarenes. In addition to amides, the alkylimidoyl?Pd^II complex was successfully converted into esters, ketones, and bis‐heterocyclic compounds. An unprecedented palladium‐catalyzed enantioselective domino process involving isocyanide was also documented.     

Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative β,β‐Fluoroarylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives

The site‐selective palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling of deactivated alkenes, arylboronic acids, and N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide is disclosed herein. The developed methodology establishes a general, modular, and step‐economical approach to the stereoselective β‐fluorination of α,β‐unsaturated systems.     

Cross‐Coupling between Hydrazine and Aryl Halides with Hydroxide Base at Low Loadings of Palladium by Rate‐Determining Deprotonation of Bound Hydrazine

Reported here is the Pd‐catalyzed C–N coupling of hydrazine with (hetero)aryl chlorides and bromides to form aryl hydrazines with catalyst loadings as low as 100 ppm of Pd and KOH as base. Mechanistic studies revealed two catalyst resting states: an arylpalladium(II) hydroxide and arylpalladium(II) chloride. These compounds are present in two interconnected catalytic cycles and react with hydrazine and base or hydrazine alone to give the product. The selectivity of the hydroxide complex with hydrazine to form aryl over diaryl hydrazine was lower than that of the chloride complex, as well as the catalytic reaction. In contrast, the selectivity of the chloride complex closely matched that of the catalytic reaction, indicating that the aryl hydrazine is derived from this complex. Kinetic studies showed that the coupling process occurs by rate‐limiting deprotonation of a hydrazine‐bound arylpalladium(II) chloride complex to give an arylpalladium(II) hydrazido complex.     

Difunctionalization of Alkenes Involving Metal Migration

The direct difunctionalization of alkenes, a cheap and abundant feedstock, represents one of the most attractive strategies for increasing molecular complexity in synthetic organic chemistry. In contrast with the 1,2‐difunctionalization of alkenes, recent advances showcase alkene 1,n‐difunctionalizations (n≠2) involving metal migration is an emerging and rapidly growing area of research. This promising strategy not only opens a novel avenue for future development of alkene transformations, but also significantly expands upon the bond disconnections available in modern organic synthesis. This Minireview summarizes recent progress in the migratory difunctionalization of alkenes, with an emphasis on the driving force for metal migration.     

Divergent Synthesis of Vinyl‐, Benzyl‐, and Borylsilanes: Aryl to Alkyl 1,5‐Palladium Migration/Coupling Sequences

Organosilicon compounds have been extensively utilized both in industry and academia. Studies on the syntheses of diverse organosilanes is highly appealing. Through‐space metal/hydrogen shifts allow functionalization of C?H bonds at a remote site, which are otherwise difficult to achieve. However, until now, an aryl to alkyl 1,5‐palladium migration process seems to have not been presented. Reported herein is the remote olefination, arylation, and borylation of a methyl group on silicon to access diverse vinyl‐, benzyl‐, and borylsilanes, constituting a unique C(sp³)?H transformation based on a 1,5‐palladium migration process.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Multicomponent Approach to Stereoenriched Cyclopentyl‐isoxazoles through C−C Bond Cleavage

An efficient multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of stereoenriched cyclopentyl‐isoxazoles from camphor‐derived α‐oximes, alkynes, and MeOH is reported. Our method involved a series of cascade transformations, including the in situ generation of an I^III catalyst, which catalyzed the addition of MeOH to a sterically hindered ketone. Oxidation of the oxime, and rearrangement of the α‐hydroxyiminium ion generated a nitrile oxide in situ, which, upon [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with an alkyne, delivered the regioselective product. This reaction was very selective for the syn‐oxime. This multicomponent approach was also extended to the synthesis of a new glycoconjugate, camphoric ester‐isoxazole C‐galactoside.     

Palladium Catalysis Enables Benzylation of α,α‐Difluoroketone Enolates

A palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative benzylation reaction of α,α‐difluoroketone enolates is reported, in which the key C(α)?C(sp³) bond is generated by reductive elimination from a palladium intermediate. The transformation provides convergent access to α‐benzyl‐α,α‐difluoroketone‐based products, and should be useful for accessing biological probes.