Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Selective ortho‐Olefinations of N‐Acyl and N‐Aroyl Sulfoximines by CH Bond Activation

Two new rhodium‐catalyzed oxidative couplings between sulfoximine derivatives and alkenes by regioselective C?H activation, affording ortho‐olefinated (Heck‐type) products, are reported. A synthetic application of the ortho‐alkenylated products into the corresponding cyclic derivatives has been demonstrated, and a mechanistic rational for the rhodium catalysis is presented.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho Alkenylation of N‐Phenoxyacetamides with N‐Tosylhydrazones or Diazoesters through CH Activation

A coupling reaction of N‐phenoxyacetamides with N‐tosylhydrazones or diazoesters through Rh^III‐catalyzed C? H activation is reported. In this reaction, ortho‐alkenyl phenols were obtained in good yields and with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Rh–carbene migratory insertion is proposed as the key step in the reaction mechanism.     

Amidines for Versatile Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative CH Activations with Internal Alkynes and Acrylates

Cationic ruthenium complexes derived from KPF₆ or AgOAc enabled efficient oxidative C?H functionalizations on aryl and heteroaryl amidines. Thus, oxidative annulations of diversely decorated internal alkynes provided expedient access to 1‐aminoisoquinolines, while catalyzed C?H activations with substituted acrylates gave rise to structurally novel 1‐iminoisoindolines. The powerful ruthenium(II) catalysts displayed a remarkably high site‐, regio‐ and, chemoselectivity. Therefore, the catalytic system proved tolerant of a variety of important electrophilic functional groups. Detailed mechanistic studies provided strong support for the cationic ruthenium(II) catalysts to operate by a facile, reversible C?H activation.     

Rhodium(III)‐ and Iridium(III)‐Catalyzed C7 Alkylation of Indolines with Diazo Compounds

A Rh^III‐catalyzed procedure for the C7‐selective C?H alkylation of various indolines with α‐diazo compounds at room temperature is reported. The advantages of this process are: 1) simple, mild, and pH‐neutral reaction conditions, 2) broad substrate scope, 3) complete regioselectivity, 4) no need for an external oxidant, and 5) N₂ as the sole byproduct. Furthermore, alkylation and bis‐alkylation of carbazoles at the C1 and C8 positions have also been developed. More significantly, for the first time, a successful Ir^III‐catalyzed intermolecular insertion of arene C?H bonds into α‐diazo compounds is reported.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of Benzylallene‐Alkynes through CH Activation

The efficient Rh^I‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of benzylallene‐alkynes produced the tricyclo[9.4.0.0^3,8]pentadecapentaene skeleton through a C? H bond activation in good yields. A plausible reaction mechanism proceeds via oxidative addition of the acetylenic C? H bond to Rh^I, an ene‐type cyclization to the vinylidenecarbene–Rh^I intermediate, and an electrophilic aromatic substitution with the vinylidenecarbene species. It was proposed based on deuteration and competition experiments.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Spiroindenes by Enol‐Directed Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Functionalization and Spiroannulation

Chiral cyclopentadienyl rhodium complexes promote highly enantioselective enol‐directed C(sp²)‐H functionalization and oxidative annulation with alkynes to give spiroindenes containing all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters. High selectivity between two possible directing groups, as well as control of the direction of rotation in the isomerization of an O‐bound rhodium enolate into the C‐bound isomer, appear to be critical for high enantiomeric excesses.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective CH Alkylation of Ferrocenes with Alkenes Using Chiral Diene Ligands

The first catalytic and enantioselective C? H alkylation of ferrocene derivatives with various alkenes was achieved. A cationic iridium complex, having a chiral diene ligand, and an isoquinolyl moiety as a directing group are essential for regioselective and enantioselective C? H bond activation.     

Regioselective C3 Alkenylation of 4 H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐ones via Palladium‐Catalyzed CH Activation

A general and efficient palladium‐catalyzed direct C3 alkenylation of 4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐ones using AgOAc/O₂ as the oxidant has been developed. A variety of 4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐ones were successfully coupled with acrylate esters, styrenes, methylvinylketone, and acrylamide in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction exhibited complete regio‐ and stereoselectivity. This transformation provides an attractive new approach to functionalize 4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐ones.     

Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative CH Alkenylations of Sulfonic Acids,Sulfonyl Chlorides and Sulfonamides

Twofold C?H functionalization of aromatic sulfonic acids was achieved with an in situ generated ruthenium(II) catalyst. The optimized cross‐dehydrogenative alkenylation protocol proved applicable to differently substituted arenes and a variety of alkenes, including vinyl arenes, sulfones, nitriles and ketones. The robustness of the ruthenium(II) catalyst was demonstrated by the chemoselective oxidative olefination of sulfonamides as well as sulfonyl chlorides. Mechanistic studies provided support for a reversible, acetate‐assisted C?H ruthenation, along with a subsequent olefin insertion.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed,Aminoquinoline‐Directed C(sp2)H Bond Alkenylation by Alkynes

A method for cobalt‐catalyzed, aminoquinoline‐ and picolinamide‐directed C(sp²)? H bond alkenylation by alkynes was developed. The method shows excellent functional‐group tolerance and both internal and terminal alkynes are competent substrates for the coupling. The reaction employs a Co(OAc)₂?4 H₂O catalyst, Mn(OAc)₂ co‐catalyst, and oxygen (from air) as a terminal oxidant.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Cascade CH Functionalization of Phenylacetophenones

Three orthogonal cascade C? H functionalization processes are described, based on ruthenium‐catalyzed C? H alkenylation. 1‐Indanones, indeno indenes, and indeno furanones were accessed through cascade pathways by using arylacetophenones as substrates under conditions of catalytic [{Ru(p‐cymene)Cl₂}₂] and stoichiometric Cu(OAc)₂. Each transformation uses C? H functionalization methods to form C? C bonds sequentially, with the indeno furanone synthesis featuring a C? O bond formation as the terminating step. This work demonstrates the power of ruthenium‐catalyzed alkenylation as a platform reaction to develop more complex transformations, with multiple C? H functionalization steps taking place in a single operation to access novel carbocyclic structures.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Alkenylation Reactions of 8‐Methylquinolines with Alkynes by C(sp3)H Activation

The alkenylation reactions of 8‐methylquinolines with alkynes, catalyzed by [{Cp*RhCl₂}₂], proceeds efficiently to give 8‐allylquinolines in good yields by C(sp³)? H bond activation. These reactions are highly regio‐ and stereoselective. A catalytically competent five‐membered rhodacycle has been structurally characterized, thus revealing a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle.     

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.     

Cu‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Amidation of Unactivated C(sp3)−H Bonds To Synthesize N‐Substituted Indolines

A copper‐catalyzed intramolecular amidation of unactivated C(sp³)?H bonds to construct indoline derivatives has been developed. Such an amidation proceeded well at primary C?H bonds preferred to secondary C?H bonds. The transformation owned a broad substrate scope. The corresponding indolines were obtained in good to excellent yields. N‐Formal and other carbonyl groups were suitable and were easily deprotected and transformed into methyl or long‐chained alkyl groups. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested a radical pathway.     

Hydroarylations of Heterobicyclic Alkenes through Rhodium‐Catalyzed Directed CH Functionalizations of S‐Aryl Sulfoximines

Rhodium‐catalyzed directed CH‐functionalizations have been used in hydroarylations of heterobicyclic alkenes with NH‐sulfoximines. Unexpectedly, the bicyclic framework is retained, resulting in the formation of addition products being attractive intermediates for functionalized molecules that are difficult to prepare by other means.     

Acylsilanes in Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Directed Aromatic C–H Alkenylations and Siloxycarbene Reactions with CC Double Bonds

Acylsilanes are known to undergo a 1,2‐silicon‐to‐oxygen migration under thermal or photochemical conditions to form siloxycarbenes. However, there are few reports regarding the application of siloxycarbenes in organic synthesis and surprisingly, their reaction with C? C double or triple bonds remains virtually unexplored. To facilitate such a study, previously inaccessible aromatic acylsilanes containing an ortho‐tethered C? C double bond were identified as suitable substrates. To access these key intermediates, we developed a new synthetic method utilizing a rhodium‐catalyzed oxidative Heck‐type olefination involving the application of an acylsilane moiety as a directing group. When exposed to visible‐light irradiation, the ortho‐olefinated acylsilanes underwent a smooth intramolecular cyclization process to afford valuable indanone derivatives in quantitative yields. This result paves the way for the development of new transformations involving siloxycarbene intermediates.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed meta‐Selective CH Bromination

The first example of a transition‐metal‐catalyzed, meta‐selective C? H bromination procedure is reported. In the presence of catalytic [{Ru(p‐cymene)Cl₂}₂], tetrabutylammonium tribromide can be used to functionalize the meta C? H bond of 2‐phenylpyridine derivatives, thus affording difficult to access products which are highly predisposed to further derivatization. We demonstrate this utility with one‐pot bromination/arylation and bromination/alkenylation procedures to deliver meta‐arylated and meta‐alkenylated products, respectively, in a single step.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Construction of Heteroatom‐Containing π‐Conjugated Systems by Intramolecular Oxidative CH/CH Coupling Reaction

Synthesis of heteroatom‐containing ladder‐type π‐conjugated molecules was successfully achieved via a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular oxidative C?H/C?H cross‐coupling reaction. This reaction provides a variety of π‐conjugated molecules bearing heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms, and a carbonyl group. The π‐conjugated molecules were synthesized efficiently, even in gram scale, and larger π‐conjugated molecules were also obtained by a double C?H/C?H cross‐coupling reaction and successive oxidative cycloaromatization.     

Aldehyde‐Assisted Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed CH Oxygenations

Versatile ruthenium(II) complexes allow for site‐selective C? H oxygenations with weakly‐coordinating aldehydes. The challenging C? H functionalizations proceed with high chemoselectivity by rate‐determining C? H metalation. The new method features an ample substrate scope, which sets the stage for the step‐economical preparation of various bioactive heterocycles.