Electrochemical C−H Amination by Cobalt Catalysis in a Renewable Solvent

Syntheses of substituted anilines primarily rely on palladium‐catalyzed coupling chemistry with prefunctionalized aryl electrophiles. While oxidative aminations have emerged as powerful alternatives, they largely produce undesired metal‐containing by‐products in stoichiometric quantities. In contrast, described herein is the unprecedented electrochemical C?H amination by cobalt‐catalyzed C?H activation. The environmentally benign electrocatalysis avoids stoichiometric metal oxidants, can be conducted under ambient air, and employs a biomass‐derived, renewable solvent for sustainable aminations in an atom‐ and step‐economical manner with H₂ as the sole byproduct.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes with CF3Br

The CF₃ group is an omnipresent motif found in many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, catalysts, materials, and industrial chemicals. Despite well‐established trifluoromethylation methodologies, the straightforward and selective introduction of such groups into (hetero)arenes using available and less expensive sources is still a major challenge. In this regard, the selective synthesis of various trifluoromethyl‐substituted (hetero)arenes by palladium‐catalyzed C?H functionalization is herein reported. This novel methodology proceeds under comparably mild reaction conditions with good regio‐ and chemoselectivity. As examples, trifluoromethylations of biologically important molecules, such as melatonin, theophylline, caffeine, and pentoxifylline, are showcased.     

Iodine Catalysis for C(sp3)–H Fluorination with a Nucleophilic Fluorine Source

Iodine catalysis was developed for aliphatic fluorination through light‐promoted homolytic C?H bond cleavage. The intermediary formation of amidyl radicals enables selective C?H functionalization via carbon‐centered radicals. For the subsequent C?F bond formation, previous methods have typically been limited by a requirement for electrophilic fluorine reagents. We here demonstrate that the intermediary instalment of a carbon–iodine bond sets the stage for an umpolung, thereby establishing an unprecedented nucleophilic fluorination pathway.     

Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral Synthesis of Unprotected Indoles Featuring an N−N Bond Cleavage

A redox‐neutral cobalt(III)‐catalyzed synthetic approach for the direct synthesis of unprotected indoles showcasing an N?N bond cleavage is reported. The herein newly introduced Boc‐protected hydrazines establish a beneficial addition to the limited portfolio of oxidizing directing groups for cobalt(III) catalysis. Moreover, the developed catalytic methodology tolerates a good variety of functional groups.     

Highly Stereoselective Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component C−H Bond Addition Cascade

A highly stereoselective three‐component C(sp²)?H bond addition across alkene and polarized π‐bonds is reported for which Co^III catalysis was shown to be much more effective than Rh^III. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature with both aryl and alkyl enones employed as efficient coupling partners. Moreover, the reaction exhibits extremely broad scope with respect to the aldehyde input; electron rich and poor aromatic, alkenyl, and branched and unbranched alkyl aldehydes all couple in good yield and with high diastereoselectivity. Multiple directing groups participate in this transformation, including pyrazole, pyridine, and imine functional groups. Both aromatic and alkenyl C(sp²)?H bonds undergo the three‐component addition cascade, and the alkenyl addition product can readily be converted into diastereomerically pure five‐membered lactones. Additionally, the first asymmetric reactions with Co^III‐catalyzed C?H functionalization are demonstrated with three‐component C?H bond addition cascades employing N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines. These examples represent the first transition metal catalyzed C?H bond additions to N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines, which are versatile and extensively used intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines.     

Cationic Cobalt(III) Catalyzed Indole Synthesis: The Regioselective Intermolecular Cyclization of N‐Nitrosoanilines and Alkynes

The unique regioselectivity and reactivity of cobalt(III) in the direct cyclization of N‐nitrosoanilines with alkynes for the expedient synthesis of N‐substituted indoles is demonstrated. In the presence of a cobalt(III) catalyst, high regioselectivity was observed when using unsymmetrical meta‐substituted N‐nitrosoanilines. Moreover, internal alkynes bearing electron‐deficient groups, which are almost unreactive in the [Cp*Rh^III]‐catalyzed system, display good reactivity in this transformation.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Iodination of Arenes by Means of Sulfinyl Directing Groups

C?H iodination of aromatic compounds has been accomplished with the aid of sulfinyl directing groups under palladium catalysis. The reaction proceeds selectively at the peri‐position of polycyclic aryl sulfoxides or at the ortho‐position of phenyl sulfoxides. The iodination products can be further converted via iterative catalytic cross‐coupling at the expense of the C?I and C?S bonds. Computational studies suggest that peri‐C?H palladation would proceed via a non‐directed pathway, wherein neither of the sulfur nor oxygen atom of the sulfinyl group coordinates to the palladium before and at the transition state.     

Ru‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C−O Bond Formation with Anilines and Phenols

The Ru catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative C?O bond formation between anilines and phenols is described and discussed. The exclusive C?O versus C?N bond‐formation selectivity, moreover in the absence of chelating–assisting directing groups and while leaving the N?H position untouched, is a remarkable feature of this metal‐catalyzed radical cross‐dehydrogenative coupling.     

Carboxylate‐Assisted Iridium‐Catalyzed C−H Amination of Arenes with Biologically Relevant Alkyl Azides

An iridium‐catalyzed C?H amination of arenes with a wide substrate scope is reported. Benzamides with electron‐donating and ‐withdrawing groups and linear, branched, and cyclic alkyl azides are all applicable. Cesium carboxylate is crucial for both reactivity and regioselectivity of the reactions. Many biologically relevant molecules, such as amino acid, peptide, steroid, sugar, and thymidine derivatives can be introduced to arenes with high yields and 100 % chiral retention.     

Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Spirobenzofuranones by a Decarbonylative Annulation Reaction

The first decarbonylative insertion of an alkyne through C?H/C?C activation of six‐membered compounds is reported. The Ru‐catalyzed reaction of 3‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐chromones with alkynes works most efficiently in the presence of the ligand PPh₃ to provide spiro‐indenebenzofuranones. Unlike previously reported metal‐catalyzed decarbonylative annulation reactions, in the present decarbonylative annulation reaction, the annulation occurs before extrusion of carbon monoxide.     

Biologically Inspired C−H and C=C Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Iron Coordination Complexes

The development of catalysts for the selective oxidation of readily available hydrocarbons or organic precursors into oxygenated products is a long‐standing goal in organic synthesis. In the last decade, some iron coordination complexes have shown the potential to fit this role. These catalysts can mimic the O?O activation mode of far more sophisticated iron oxygenase enzymes, generating powerful yet selective oxidants. In this review, we report state‐of‐the‐art C?H and C=C oxidations catalyzed by non‐heme iron complexes and H₂O₂ as the oxidant. Finally, we briefly describe some novel oxidative reactivity and the perspectives of this chemistry.     

Electrooxidative Ruthenium‐Catalyzed C−H/O−H Annulation by Weak O‐Coordination

Electrocatalysis has been identified as a powerful strategy for organometallic catalysis, and yet electrocatalytic C?H activation is restricted to strongly N‐coordinating directing groups. The first example of electrocatalytic C?H activation by weak O‐coordination is presented, in which a versatile ruthenium(II) carboxylate catalyst enables electrooxidative C?H/O?H functionalization for alkyne annulations in the absence of metal oxidants; thereby exploiting sustainable electricity as the sole oxidant. Mechanistic insights provide strong support for a facile organometallic C?H ruthenation and an effective electrochemical reoxidation of the key ruthenium(0) intermediate.     

C−H Bond Activation by an Imido Cobalt(III) and the Resulting Amido Cobalt(II) Complex

The 3d‐metal mediated nitrene transfer is under intense scrutiny due to its potential as an atom economic and ecologically benign way for the directed amination of (un)functionalised C?H bonds. Here we present the isolation and characterisation of a rare, trigonal imido cobalt(III) complex, which bears a rather long cobalt–imido bond. It can cleanly cleave strong C?H bonds with a bond dissociation energy of up to 92 kcal mol^?1 in an intermolecular fashion, unprecedented for imido cobalt complexes. This resulted in the amido cobalt(II) complex [Co(hmds)₂(NH^tBu)]^?. Kinetic studies on this reaction revealed an H atom transfer mechanism. Remarkably, the cobalt(II) amide itself is capable of mediating H atom abstraction or stepwise proton/electron transfer depending on the substrate. A cobalt‐mediated catalytic application for substrate dehydrogenation using an organo azide is presented.     

Recent Advancements in Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Twofold Unsymmetrical Difunctionalization of Arenes

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed direct C?H bond activation reactions have been embraced as a powerful synthetic tool to access diverse functionalized arenes. However, site‐selective incorporation of multiple distinct functionalities in an arene has always been a formidable challenge. Recent efforts from the synthetic community have disclosed a few dynamic synthetic approaches to fabricate multifunctionalized arenes in one‐pot using a single catalytic system. These reports manifested the immense potential of such approaches to expedite contemporary organic synthesis towards building molecular complexity. In this minireview, we have illustrated the recent progress in this area, highlighting the contribution from several synthetic chemists including our group.     

Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed C−H Amidation of Dehydroalanine for the Site‐Selective Structural Diversification of Thiostrepton

Thiostrepton is a potent antibiotic against a broad range of Gram‐positive bacteria, but its medical applications have been limited by its poor aqueous solubility. In this work, the first C(sp²)?H amidation of dehydroalanine (Dha) residues was applied to the site selective modification of thiostrepton to prepare a variety of derivatives. Unlike all prior methods for the modification of thiostrepton, the alkene framework of the Dha residue is preserved and with complete selectivity for the Z‐stereoisomer. Additionally, an aldehyde group was introduced by C?H amidation, enabling oxime ligation for the installation of an even greater range of functionality. The thiostrepton derivatives generally maintain antimicrobial activity, and importantly, eight of the derivatives displayed improved aqueous solubility (up to 28‐fold), thereby addressing a key shortcoming of this antibiotic. The exceptional functional group compatibility and site selectivity of Co^III‐catalyzed C(sp²)?H Dha amidation suggests that this approach could be generalized to other natural products and biopolymers containing Dha residues.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Oxidative Annulation of Nitrogen‐Containing Arenes with Alkynes: An Atom‐Economical Route to Heterocyclic Quaternary Ammonium Salts

Four cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative annulation reactions of nitrogen‐containing arenes with alkynes proceeds by C?H activation, thus leading to biologically useful quaternary ammonium salts, including pyridoisoquinolinium, cinnolinium, isoquinolinium, and quinolizinium salts, in high yields. The results are comparable to those reactions catalyzed by rhodium and ruthenium complexes. The transformation of the salts into various N‐heterocycles has also been demonstrated.     

Stereoretentive Copper‐Catalyzed Directed Thioglycosylation of C(sp2)−H Bonds of Benzamides

An efficient thioglycosylation of C(sp²)?H bonds with thiosugars has been established for the first time. Using only Cu(OAc)₂?H₂O as a catalyst and Ag₂CO₃ as an additive in DMSO, the protocol proved to have broad scope, and a variety of complex thioglycosides have been prepared in good yields with exclusive β‐selectivity.