CuI–Zn(OAc)2 catalyzed C(sp2)–H activation for the synthesis of pyridocoumarins through an uncommon CuI–CuIII switching mechanism: A fast,solvent-free,combo-catalytic,ball milling approach

CuI–Zn(OAc)₂ catalyzed, a fast, solvent-free synthetic protocol has been developed for the oxidative C–C and C–N coupling via C(sp²)–H activation. In this work, an aldehyde, terminal alkyne and 3-aminocoumarin were coupled together to form pyridocoumarin framework through a greener ball milling process under very mild condition. In contrast to the frequently used imine-alkyne cyclization reactions, this uncommon mild Cu^I–Cu^III switching combo-catalysis is expected to proceed through the formation of a flexible propargylic amine intermediate, which leads to a rapid C(sp²)–H activation for cyclization involving transient Cu^III species. The in-situ formation of transient Cu^III species was confirmed through ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of the reaction mixture.     

Cross-coupling of 2-methylquinolines and in-situ activated isoquinolines: Construction of 1,2-disubstituted isoquinolinones

In this study, a method was developed to form C(sp³)–C(sp²) bonds via copper catalyst-promoted cross coupling of 2-methylquinoline and in-situ-activated 3-haloisoquinoline under mild conditions. The multi-component tandem reaction was used to construct new C–N, C=O and C–C bonds in one pot via sequential functionalization of the N1, C3 and C1 positions of 3-haloisoquinoline. This method can be used to efficiently access 1,2-disubstituted isoquinolinones by the three-component reaction of 3-halogen isoquinoline, alkyl halide, and 2-methylquinoline.     

Visible-light-induced 1,2-alkylarylation of alkenes with a-C(sp3)–H bonds of acetonitriles involving neophyl rearrangement under transition-metal-free conditions

An efficient visible-light-induced difunctionalization of alkenes with a-C(sp³)–H bonds of nitriles is described for the constructing of diverse 5-oxo-pentanenitriles under transition-metal-free conditions. This protocol proceeds via the functionalization of C(sp³)–H bond and radical addition/intramolecular 1,2-aryl migration processes, which features a wide scope of substituted α,α-diaryl allylic alcohols. The results of kinetic isotope experiments show that the cleavage of C(sp³)–H bond of acetonitriles is a rate-limiting step.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed cascade Heck/intramolecular C(sp2)–H amidation reaction: An efficient route to 4-aryl-2-quinolinones

A Pd(II)-catalyzed cascade Heck/intramolecular C(sp²)–H amidation reaction is described for the synthesis of 4-aryl-2-quinolinone derivatives. Substituted cinnamamide containing 2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethanamine unit reacts with aryl iodide to form intermediate by Heck reaction. Then, the intermediate takes place intramolecular amidation via C(sp²)–H activated process promoted by orientation group.     

TBN as a metal-free reagent initiated sp3 C–H functionalization of glycine esters: Synthesis of quinoline-2-carboxylate esters

As a metal-free reagent, tert-butylnitrite (TBN) initiated aerobic sp³ C–H bond oxidation of glycine esters was achieved, providing a series of quinoline-2-carboxylates in good yields. The mechanistic investigation revealed that in the presence of molecular oxygen, TBN derived radicals were involved in the C–H bond oxidation and the terminal aromatization.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Carbene Insertion into C(sp3)−H Bonds

A palladium‐catalyzed carbene insertion into C(sp³)?H bonds leading to pyrrolidines was developed. The coupling reaction can be catalyzed by both Pd⁰ and Pd^II, is regioselective, and shows a broad functional group tolerance. This reaction is the first example of palladium‐catalyzed C(sp³)?C(sp³) bond assembly starting from diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that this direct C(sp³)?H bond functionalization reaction involves an unprecedented concerted metalation–deprotonation step.     

Hybrid polyoxometalate palladacycles: DFT study and application to the Heck reaction

The phosphovanadotungstate polyanion [P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]^9? is a powerful support to stabilize palladacycles conjugated to the inorganic framework via an organic ligand. The insertion can be directed toward sp² or sp³ C–H insertion upon appropriate choice of the substitution pattern on the organic ligand. DFT modeling indicates that the strong withdrawing effect of the POM transmitted through the conjugated carbonyl was responsible for this easy insertion. The palladacycles led to the formation of stilbene via a Mizoroki–Heck reaction. However it is likely that the POMs act as Pd-reservoirs for the formation of nanoparticles.     

Water and Sodium Chloride: Essential Ingredients for Robust and Fast Pd‐Catalysed Cross‐Coupling Reactions between Organolithium Reagents and (Hetero)aryl Halides

Direct palladium‐catalysed cross‐couplings between organolithium reagents and (hetero)aryl halides (Br, Cl) proceed fast, cleanly and selectively at room temperature in air, with water as the only reaction medium and in the presence of NaCl as a cheap additive. Under optimised reaction conditions, a water‐accelerated catalysis is responsible for furnishing C(sp³)–C(sp²), C(sp²)–C(sp²), and C(sp)–C(sp²) cross‐coupled products, in competition with protonolysis, within a reaction time of 20 s, in yields of up to 99 %, and in the absence of undesired dehalogenated/homocoupling side products even when challenging secondary organolithiums serve as the starting material. It is worth noting that the proposed protocol is scalable and the catalyst and water can easily and successfully be recycled up to 10 times, with an E‐factor as low as 7.35.     

Stereoselective C(sp3)-C(sp2) Negishi coupling of (2-amido-1-phenylpropyl)zinc compounds through the steric control of β-amido group

A controllable diastereoselective C(sp2)-C(sp3) Negishi coupling reaction of secondary benzylic zinc reagents with aryl bromides has been demonstrated for the first time, forming medicinally important 1-arylphenylethylamines. In the presence of Pd(OAc) 2 and S-phos, open-chain (2-amido-1-phenylethyl)zinc reagents bearing a -NHAc or NHCHO group underwent cross-coupling reaction to give syn 1-arylphenylethylamine as the major products, whereas the zinc reagents bearing a sterically hindered-NHCOC(CH3)2 OTBS group specifically yielded anti 1-arylphenylethylamines.     

Mechanochemical Activation of Zinc and Application to Negishi Cross‐Coupling

A form independent activation of zinc, concomitant generation of organozinc species and engagement in a Negishi cross‐coupling reaction via mechanochemical methods is reported. The reported method exhibits a broad substrate scope for both C(sp³)–C(sp²) and C(sp²)–C(sp²) couplings and is tolerant to many important functional groups. The method may offer broad reaching opportunities for the in situ generation organometallic compounds from base metals and their concomitant engagement in synthetic reactions via mechanochemical methods.     

Metal-free remote oxidative benzylic C−H amination of 4-methylanilides with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide

A metal-free remote oxidative benzylic C?H amination of 4-methylanilides with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide was reported. The reaction was promoted by a hypervalent iodine reagent and can be handled under mild and neutral conditions, providing the highly regioselective benzylic C?H amination products even with multi-substituted 4-methylanilides. It provided a novel and facile method for the construction of C(sp³)–N bonds.     

Photo‐promoted Skeletal Rearrangement of Phosphine–Borane Frustrated Lewis Pairs Involving Cleavage of Unstrained C−C σ‐Bonds

An unprecedented photo‐promoted skeletal rearrangement reaction of phosphine–borane frustrated Lewis pairs, o‐(borylaryl)phosphines, involving cleavage of an unstrained sp²C–sp³C σ‐bond is reported. The reaction realizes an efficient synthesis of cyclic phosphonium borate compounds. The reaction mechanism via a boranorcaradiene intermediate is proposed based on theoretical calculations. This work sheds light on the new photoreactivity of phosphine–borane FLPs.     

Amine‐Catalyzed Highly Regioselective and Stereoselective C(sp2)–C(sp2) Cross‐Coupling of Naphthols with trans‐α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

A metal‐free C(sp²)–C(sp²) cross‐coupling approach to highly congested (E)‐α‐naphtholylenals from simple naphthols and enals is described. The mild reaction conditions with pyridine hydrobromideperbromide (PHBP) as the bromination reagent in the presence of piperidine or diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether as promoters enable the process in good yields and with high chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity. The process involves an unprecedented pathway of in situ regioselective 4‐bromination of 1‐naphthols and the subsequent unusual aromatic nucleophilic substitution of the resulting 4‐bromo‐1‐naphthols with the α‐C(sp²) of enals through a Michael‐type Friedel–Crafts alkylation–dearomatization followed by a cyclopropanation ring‐opening cascade process. The noteworthy features of this strategy are highlighted by the highly efficient creation of a C(sp²)–C(sp²) bond from readily available unfunctionalized naphthols and enals catalyzed by non‐metal, readily available cyclic secondary amines under mild reaction conditions.     

Photo-promoted Skeletal Rearrangement of Phosphine–Borane Frustrated Lewis Pairs Involving Cleavage of Unstrained C−C σ-Bonds

An unprecedented photo-promoted skeletal rearrangement reaction of phosphine–borane frustrated Lewis pairs, o-(borylaryl)phosphines, involving cleavage of an unstrained sp²C–sp³C σ-bond is reported. The reaction realizes an efficient synthesis of cyclic phosphonium borate compounds. The reaction mechanism via a boranorcaradiene intermediate is proposed based on theoretical calculations. This work sheds light on the new photoreactivity of phosphine–borane FLPs.     

Site-selective coupling of remote C(sp3)–H/meta-C(sp2)–H bonds enabled by Ru/photoredox dual catalysis and mechanistic studies

Construction of C(sp²)–C(sp³) bonds via regioselective coupling of C(sp²)–H/C(sp³)–H bonds is challenging due to the low reactivity and regioselectivity of C–H bonds. Here, a novel photoinduced Ru/photocatalyst-cocatalyzed regioselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling of dual remote C–H bonds, including inert γ-C(sp³)–H bonds in amides and meta-C(sp²)–H bonds in arenes, to construct meta-alkylated arenes has been accomplished. This metallaphotoredox-enabled site-selective coupling between remote inert C(sp³)–H bonds and meta-C(sp²)–H bonds is characterized by its unique site-selectivity, redox-neutral conditions, broad substrate scope and wide use of late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules. Moreover, this reaction represents a novel case of regioselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling of unactivated alkanes and arenes via a new catalytic process and provides a new strategy for meta-functionalized arenes under mild reaction conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and control experiments explained the site-selectivity and the detailed mechanism of this reaction.

A novel photoinduced Ru/photocatalyst-cocatalyzed regioselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling of dual remote C–H bonds, including inert γ-C(sp³)–H bonds in amides and meta-C(sp²)–H bonds in arenes, to construct meta-alkylated arenes has been accomplished.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed benzylic C(sp3)–H geminal difunctionalization: Successive oxidative intramolecular amidation and hydroxylation

A selective copper(I)-catalyzed benzylic C(sp³)–H geminal difunctionalization reaction of a benzylic-type sp³ carbon was developed. This novel strategy allowed simultaneous introduction of amide and hydroxyl group in a highly selective and efficient way via successive oxidative intramolecular amidation and hydroxylation. This method was also applied to the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoxalinones from readily available 3-methyl-N-substituted quinoxaline-2-carboxamides in moderate to good yields. The five-membered cyclic hemiaminal moiety of the pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoxalinones can serve as an intermediates for subsequent transformations into other useful functional groups.     

Cobalt-catalyzed oxidative esterification of allylic/benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds

A protocol for the cobalt-catalyzed oxidative esterification of allylic/benzylic C(sp³)–H bonds with carboxylic acids was developed in this work. Mechanistic studies revealed that C(sp³)–H bond activation in the hydrocarbon was the turnover-limiting step and the in-situ formed [Co(III)]Ot-Bu did not engage in hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) of a C–H bond. This protocol was successfully incorporated into a synthetic pathway to β-damascenone that avoided the use of NBS.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbon–Fluorine and Carbon–Hydrogen Bond Alumination of Fluoroarenes and Heteroarenes

Through serendipitous discovery, a palladium bis(phosphine) complex was identified as a catalyst for the selective transformation of sp²C−F and sp²C−H bonds of fluoroarenes and heteroarenes to sp²C−Al bonds (19 examples, 1 mol % Pd loading). The carbon–fluorine bond functionalization reaction is highly selective for the formation of organoaluminium products in preference to hydrodefluorination products (selectivity=4.4:1 to 27:1). Evidence is presented for a tandem catalytic process in which hydrodefluorination is followed by sp²C−H alumination.     

Iron-catalyzed esterification of allylic sp3 C–H bonds with carboxylic acids: Facile access to allylic esters

The first general and efficient iron-catalyzed esterification of allylic sp³ C–H bonds with carboxylic acids using ionic iron(III) complexes (1–4) as a catalyst and DTBP (DTBP = di-tert-butyl peroxide) as an oxidant is achieved. A variety of allylic esters were synthesized in good to excellent yields using the ionic iron(III) complex 2 as a catalyst in a 5 mol% loading. This reaction is characterized by its high efficiency, broad substrate scope with excellent steric hindrance tolerance and good functional group compatibility.     

Elemental iodine mediated synthesis of thiadiazole-based dithiafulvalene donors via C(sp2)–S formation

A series of thiadiazole-based dithiafulvalene (DTF) derivatives has been synthesized in moderate yields via iodine-mediated oxidative vinylic C(sp²)–H sulfenylation with mercapto-thiadiazoles. The formation of C(sp²)–S bond was confirmed and characterized by NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. This new protocol is simple and effective for preparation DTF containing thiadiazole group.