Generation and detection of the radical cation and the dication derived from 4,9‐diethyl[1,4]dihydrodithiino[5,6‐f]benzotrithiole and its 5‐oxide

4,9‐Diethyl[1,4]dihydrodithiino[5,6‐f]benzotrithiole (DTBT) gave a radical cation, DTBT(•+), and a dication, DTBT(2+), on treatment with a single‐electron oxidizing reagent. Both compounds showed an ESR signal, whereas the dication, generated by this procedure, was silent for ¹H NMR. Hydrolysis of DTBT(2+) gave DTBT 1‐oxide (DTBT 1‐O) and 2‐oxide (DTBT 2‐O) together with DTBT and a mixture of several dioxides. A singlet‐state dication, DTBT(2+)‐S, which was generated upon treatment of DTBT 5‐oxide (DTBT 5‐O) with concentrated D₂SO₄, was detected by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. After 20 h, the NMR signals disappeared while the solution was active for ESR. The results suggest that (i) a species generated from DTBT by oxidation with the single‐electron oxidizing reagent is a triplet‐state dication, DTBT(2+)‐T, and (ii) DTBT(2+)‐S, initially generated, gradually isomerizes to DTBT(2+)‐T in the solution, and DTBT(2+)‐T forms a partial spin pair. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:394–401, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20445     

Catalytic Asymmetric C −H Functionalization under Photoredox Conditions by Radical Translocation and Stereocontrolled Alkene Addition

This work demonstrates how photoredox‐mediated C(sp³)?H activation through radical translocation can be combined with asymmetric catalysis. Upon irradiation with visible light, α,β‐unsaturated N‐acylpyrazoles react with N‐alkoxyphthalimides in the presence of a rhodium‐based chiral Lewis acid catalyst and the photosensitizer fac‐[Ir(ppy)₃] to provide a C?C bond‐formation product with high enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee) and, where applicable, with some diastereoselectivity (3.0:1 d.r.). Mechanistically, the synthetic strategy exploits a radical translocation (1,5‐hydrogen transfer) from an oxygen‐centered to a carbon‐centered radical with a subsequent stereocontrolled radical alkene addition.     

Piperazine‐1,4‐diium–2,4‐dinitrophenolate–water (1/2/2)

In the title 1/2/2 adduct, C₄H₁₂N₂²⁺·2C₆H₃N₂O₅^?·2H₂O, the dication lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and the asymmetric unit also has one anion and one water mol­ecule in general positions. The 2,4‐di­nitro­phenolate anions and the water mol­ecules are linked by two O—H?O and two C—H?O hydrogen bonds to form molecular ribbons, which extend along the b direction. The piperazine dication acts as a donor for bifurcated N—H?O hydrogen bonds with the phenolate O atom and with the O atom of the o‐nitro group. Six symmetry‐related molecular ribbons are linked to a piperazine dication by N—H?O and C—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Radical/Radical CH/PH Cross‐Coupling: α‐Phosphorylation of Aryl Ketone O‐Acetyloximes

The selective radical/radical cross‐coupling of two different organic radicals is a great challenge due to the inherent activity of radicals. In this paper, a copper‐catalyzed radical/radical C? H/P? H cross‐coupling has been developed. It provides a radical/radical cross‐coupling in a selective manner. This work offers a simple way toward β‐ketophosphonates by oxidative coupling of aryl ketone o‐acetyloximes with phosphine oxides using CuCl as catalyst and PCy₃ as ligand in dioxane under N₂ atmosphere at 130 °C for 5 h, and yields ranging from 47 % to 86 %. The preliminary mechanistic studies by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) showed that, 1) the reduction of ketone o‐acetyloximes generates iminium radicals, which could isomerize to α‐sp³‐carbon radical species; 2) phosphorus radicals were generated from the oxidation of phosphine oxides. Various aryl ketone o‐acetyloximes and phosphine oxides were suitable for this transformation.     

Selective C−H Halogenation with a Highly Fluorinated Manganese Porphyrin

The selective C?H functionalization of aliphatic molecules remains a challenge in organic synthesis. While radical chain halogenation reactions provide efficient access to many halogenated molecules, the use of typical protocols for the selective halogenation of electron‐deficient and strained aliphatic molecules is rare. Herein, we report selective C?H chlorination and fluorination reactions promoted by an electron‐deficient manganese pentafluorophenyl porphyrin catalyst, Mn(TPFPP)Cl. This catalyst displays superior properties for the aliphatic halogenation of recalcitrant, electron‐deficient, and strained substrates with unique regio‐ and stereoselectivity. UV/Vis analysis during the course of the reaction indicated that an oxo‐Mn^V species is responsible for hydrogen‐atom abstraction. The observed stereoselectivity results from steric interactions between the bulky porphyrin ligand and the intermediate substrate radical in the halogen rebound step.     

Microtubing‐Reactor‐Assisted Aliphatic C−H Functionalization with HCl as a Hydrogen‐Atom‐Transfer Catalyst Precursor in Conjunction with an Organic Photoredox Catalyst

Chlorine radical, which is classically generated by the homolysis of Cl₂ under UV irradiation, can abstract a hydrogen atom from an unactivated C(sp³)?H bond. We herein demonstrate the use of HCl as an effective hydrogen‐atom‐transfer catalyst precursor activated by an organic acridinium photoredox catalyst under visible‐light irradiation for C?H alkylation and allylation. The key to success relied on the utilization of microtubing reactors to maintain the volatile HCl catalyst. This photomediated chlorine‐based C?H activation protocol is effective for a variety of unactivated C(sp³)?H bond patterns, even with primary C(sp³)?H bonds, as in ethane. The merit of this strategy is illustrated by rapid access to several pharmaceutical drugs from abundant unfunctionalized alkane feedstocks.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed para‐Selective C−H Alkylation of Aniline Derivatives

The para ‐selective C−H alkylation of aniline derivatives furnished with a pyrimidine auxiliary is herein reported. This reaction is proposed to take place via an N−H‐activated cyclometalate formed in situ. Experimental and DFT mechanistic studies elucidate a dual role of the ruthenium catalyst. Here the ruthenium catalyst can undergo cyclometalation by N−H metalation (as opposed to C−H metalation in meta ‐selective processes) and form a redox active ruthenium species, to enable site‐selective radical addition at the para position.     

2,8‐Di­hydroxy‐1,3,7,9‐tetra­methyl‐6,12‐di­hydro­dipyrido­[1,2‐a:1′,2′‐d]pyrazine­diyl­ium dichloride dihydrate

The 2,8‐di­hydroxy‐1,3,7,9‐tetra­methyl‐6,12‐di­hydro­di­pyrido[1,2‐a:1′,2′‐d]pyrazine­diyl­ium dication possesses 2/m symmetry and lies in the mirror plane together with a chloride anion and the water O atom. The dication also lies on an inversion centre, i.e. C₁₆H₂₀N₂O₂²⁺·2Cl^?·2H₂O. Due to these symmetry constrictions the dication adopts an unexpected planar conformation. Molecules are linked by O—H?O and O—H?Cl hydrogen bonds to form chains, which are cross‐connected by C—H?Cl attractive interactions forming a complex three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network.     

Catalytic Synthesis of 8‐Membered Ring Compounds via Cobalt(III)‐Carbene Radicals

The metalloradical activation of o‐aryl aldehydes with tosylhydrazide and a cobalt(II) porphyrin catalyst produces cobalt(III)‐carbene radical intermediates, providing a new and powerful strategy for the synthesis of medium‐sized ring structures. Herein we make use of the intrinsic radical‐type reactivity of cobalt(III)‐carbene radical intermediates in the [Co^II(TPP)]‐catalyzed (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin) synthesis of two types of 8‐membered ring compounds; novel dibenzocyclooctenes and unprecedented monobenzocyclooctadienes. The method was successfully applied to afford a variety of 8‐membered ring compounds in good yields and with excellent substituent tolerance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results suggest that the reactions proceed via hydrogen atom transfer from the bis‐allylic/benzallylic C?H bond to the carbene radical, followed by two divergent processes for ring‐closure to the two different types of 8‐membered ring products. While the dibenzocyclooctenes are most likely formed by dissociation of o‐quinodimethanes (o‐QDMs) which undergo a non‐catalyzed 8π‐cyclization, DFT calculations suggest that ring‐closure to the monobenzocyclooctadienes involves a radical‐rebound step in the coordination sphere of cobalt. The latter mechanism implies that unprecedented enantioselective ring‐closure reactions to chiral monobenzocyclooctadienes should be possible, as was confirmed for reactions mediated by a chiral cobalt‐porphyrin catalyst.     

Photocatalytic Generation of N‐Centered Hydrazonyl Radicals: A Strategy for Hydroamination of β,γ‐Unsaturated Hydrazones

A visible‐light photocatalytic generation of N‐centered hydrazonyl radicals has been accomplished for the first time. This approach allows efficient intramolecular addition of hydrazonyl radical to terminal alkenes, thus providing hydroamination and oxyamination products in good yields. Importantly, the protocol involves deprotonation of an N? H bond and photocatalytic oxidation to an N‐centered radical, thus obviating the need to prepare photolabile amine precursors or the stoichiometric use of oxidizing reagents.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CC and CO Coupling of Quinoline N‐Oxides with Alkynes: Combination of CH Activation with O‐Atom Transfer

[Cp*Rh^III]‐catalyzed C? H activation of arenes assisted by an oxidizing N? O or N? N directing group has allowed the construction of a number of hetercycles. In contrast, a polar N? O bond is well‐known to undergo O‐atom transfer (OAT) to alkynes. Despite the liability of N? O bonds in both C? H activation and OAT, these two important areas evolved separately. In this report, [Cp*Rh^III] catalysts integrate both areas in an efficient redox‐neutral coupling of quinoline N‐oxides with alkynes to afford α‐(8‐quinolyl)acetophenones. In this process the N? O bond acts as both a directing group for C? H activation and as an O‐atom donor.     

Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Reactivity of Compounds I and II in Horseradish Peroxidase Biomimetics

For the exploration of the intrinsic reactivity of two key active species in the catalytic cycle of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Compound I (HRP‐I) and Compound II (HRP‐II), we generated in situ [Fe^IV?O(TMP^+.)(2‐MeIm)]⁺ and [Fe^IV?O(TMP)(2‐MeIm)]⁰ (TMP=5,10,15,20‐tetramesitylporphyrin; 2‐MeIm=2‐methylimidazole) as biomimetics for HRP‐I and HRP‐II, respectively. Their catalytic activities in epoxidation, hydrogen abstraction, and heteroatom oxidation reactions were studied in acetonitrile at ?15 °C by utilizing rapid‐scan UV/Vis spectroscopy. Comparison of the second‐order rate constants measured for the direct reactions of the HRP‐I and HRP‐II mimics with the selected substrates clearly confirmed the outstanding oxidizing capability of the HRP‐I mimic, which is significantly higher than that of HRP‐II. The experimental study was supported by computational modeling (DFT calculations) of the oxidation mechanism of the selected substrates with the involvement of quartet and doublet HRP‐I mimics (^2,4Cpd I) and the closed‐shell triplet spin HRP‐II model (³Cpd II) as oxidizing species. The significantly lower activation barriers calculated for the oxidation systems involving ^2,4Cpd I than those found for ³Cpd II are in line with the much higher oxidizing efficiency of the HRP‐I mimic proven in the experimental part of the study. In addition, the DFT calculations show that all three reaction types catalyzed by HRP‐I occur on the doublet spin surface in an effectively concerted manner, whereas these reactions may proceed in a stepwise mechanism with the HRP‐II mimic as oxidant. However, the high desaturation or oxygen rebound barriers during C?H bond activation processes by the HRP‐II mimic predict a sufficient lifetime for the substrate radical formed through hydrogen abstraction. Thus, the theoretical calculations suggest that the dissociation of the substrate radical may be a more favorable pathway than desaturation or oxygen rebound processes. Importantly, depending on the electronic nature of the oxidizing species, that is, ^2,4Cpd I or ³Cpd II, an interesting region‐selective conversion phenomenon between sulfoxidation and H‐atom abstraction was revealed in the course of the oxidation reaction of dimethylsulfide. The combined experimental and theoretical study on the elucidation of the intrinsic reactivity patterns of the HRP‐I and HRP‐II mimics provides a valuable tool for evaluating the particular role of the HRP active species in biological systems.     

One‐Pot Tandem Photoredox and Cross‐Coupling Catalysis with a Single Palladium Carbodicarbene Complex

The combination of conventional transition‐metal‐catalyzed coupling (2 e^? process) and photoredox catalysis (1 e^? process) has emerged as a powerful approach to catalyze difficult cross‐coupling reactions under mild reaction conditions. Reported is a palladium carbodicarbene (CDC) complex that mediates both a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and photoredox catalysis for C?N bond formation upon visible‐light irradiation. These two catalytic pathways can be combined to promote both conventional transition‐metal‐catalyzed coupling and photoredox catalysis to mediate C?H arylation under ambient conditions with a single catalyst in an efficient one‐pot process.     

A Rhodium Catalyst Superior to Iridium Congeners for Enantioselective Radical Amination Activated by Visible Light

A bis‐cyclometalated rhodium(III) complex catalyzes a visible‐light‐activated enantioselective α‐amination of 2‐acyl imidazoles with up to 99 % yield and 98 % ee. The rhodium catalyst is ascribed a dual function as a chiral Lewis acid and, simultaneously, as a light‐activated smart initiator of a radical‐chain process through intermediate aminyl radicals. Notably, related iridium‐based photoredox catalysts reported before were unsuccessful in this enantioselective radical C?N bond formation. The surprising preference for rhodium over iridium is attributed to much faster ligand‐exchange kinetics of the rhodium complexes involved in the catalytic cycle, which is crucial to keep pace with the highly reactive and thus short‐lived nitrogen‐centered radical intermediate.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Aminative Cyclization/Intermolecular Homolytic Aromatic Substitution Using Oxime Esters and Simple Arenes

Intermolecular C?H alkylation of simple arenes in the presence of an iron catalyst has been achieved in a cascade manner with an aminative cyclization triggered by N?O bond cleavage of an alkene‐tethered oxime ester. Various arenes, including electron‐rich and electron‐poor arenes, and heteroarenes can be employed in the reaction system. Regioselectivity and radical trapping experiments support the involvement of alkyl radical species, which undergo a homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) to afford the arylation products.     

Generation and structure determination of 5,6‐bis(methylthio)‐4,7‐diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trithiole dication MBT(2+)

5,6‐Bis(methylthio)‐4,7‐diethylbenzo‐[1,2,3]‐trithiole [MBT] was oxidized with two equivalents of SbCl₅ to produce a dication, MBT(2+)ċ2SbCl, as a stable, dark‐brown solid. MBT(2+) was unexpectedly silent for ¹H‐NMR in CD₃CN, whereas it was active for ESR, suggesting that MBT(2+) is a triplet‐state dication MBT(2+)‐T. Meanwhile, treatment of 5‐ methylsulfinyl‐6‐methylthio‐4,7‐diethylbenzo[1,2,3]‐ trithiole [MBTMO] with D₂SO₄ produced MBT(2+), whose ¹H‐NMR gave no signals, whereas the solution is active for ESR. These results imply that MBT(2+) prepared from MBTMO is a triplet‐state dication, and a singlet‐state dication, MBT(2+)‐S, initially generated by acidification of MBTMO, isomerized to the triplet‐state dication, MBT(2+)‐T. Since MBT(2+)‐T is active for ESR at room temperature, two molecules of MBT(2+)‐T should form a spin pair in the solution with a sufficient distance between the two radical centers. The structures of MBT(2+)‐S and MBT(2+)‐T were optimized with the DFT method at the B3LYP6‐31G** level. The total energy difference between them was calculated to be 7.90 kcal/mol; MBT(2+)‐T was shown to be more stable than MBT(2+)‐S. A treatment of MBTMO with SbCl₅ gave a 1:1 complex. The structure of the complex was determined with X‐ray crystallography, which showed that the complex is the corresponding sulfonium salt, MBTMOċSbCl₅. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:111–222, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20078     

A Reversible Electron Relay to Exclude Sacrificial Electron Donors in the Photocatalytic Oxygen Atom Transfer Reaction with O2 in Water

Using light energy and O₂ for the direct chemical oxidation of organic substrates is a major challenge. A limitation is the use of sacrificial electron donors to activate O₂ by reductive quenching of the photosensitizer, generating undesirable side products. A reversible electron acceptor, methyl viologen, can act as electron shuttle to oxidatively quench the photosensitizer, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, generating the highly oxidized chromophore and the powerful reductant methyl‐viologen radical MV^+.. MV^+. can then reduce an iron(III) catalyst to the iron(II) form and concomitantly O₂ to O₂^.? in an aqueous medium to generate an active iron(III)‐(hydro)peroxo species. The oxidized photosensitizer is reset to its ground state by oxidizing an alkene substrate to an alkenyl radical cation. Closing the loop, the reaction of the iron reactive intermediate with the substrate or its radical cation leads to the formation of two oxygenated compounds, the diol and the aldehyde following two different pathways.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Oxyboration of Unactivated Alkenes

The first regiodivergent oxyboration of unactivated terminal alkenes is reported, using copper alkoxide as a catalyst, bis(pinacolato)diboron [(Bpin)₂] as a boron source, and (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) as an oxygen source. The reaction is compatible with various functional groups. Two regioisomers are selectively produced by selecting the appropriate ligands on copper. The products may be used as a linchpin precursor for various other functionalizations, and net processes such as carbooxygenation, aminooxygenation, and dioxygenation of alkenes can be achieved after C?B bond transformations. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction involves the following steps: 1) Transmetalation between CuOtBu and (Bpin)₂ to generate a borylcopper species; 2) regiodivergent borylcupration of alkenes; 3) oxidation of the thus‐generated C?Cu bond to give an alkyl radical; 4) trapping of the resulting alkyl radical by TEMPO.     

Amide‐Substituted Titanocenes in Hydrogen‐Atom Transfer Catalysis

Two new catalytic systems for hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT) catalysis involving the N?H bonds of titanocene(III) complexes with pendant amide ligands are reported. In a monometallic system, a bifunctional catalyst for radical generation and reduction through HAT catalysis depending on the coordination of the amide ligand is employed. The pendant amide ligand is used to activate Crabtree's catalyst to yield an efficient bimetallic system for radical generation and HAT catalysis.     

Electrocatalytic Generation of Amidyl Radicals for Olefin Hydroamidation: Use of Solvent Effects to Enable Anilide Oxidation

Oxidative generation of synthetically important amidyl radicals from N?H amides is an appealing and yet challenging task. Previous methods require a stoichiometric amount of a strong oxidant and/or a costly noble‐metal catalyst. We report herein the first electrocatalytic method that employs ferrocene (Fc), a cheap organometallic reagent, as the redox catalyst to produce amidyl radicals from N‐aryl amides. Based on this radical‐generating method, an efficient intramolecular olefin hydroamidation reaction has been developed.