Facile intramolecular C(sp3)-H bond activation with PdII

The treatment of bis(4-tert-butylthiazolyl)isoindoline (4-tBuBTI) with palladium acetate results in the exclusive formation of an organometallic PdII compound with C-H activated t-butyl group and a hemilabile S-coordinated thiazole donor in cis-position.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of benzylic C-H bonds via nondirected C(sp3)-H activation

A new strategy for generating benzylpalladium reactive species from toluenes via nondirected C(sp(3))-H activation has been developed. This led to construction of an efficient Pd-catalyzed reaction protocol for the oxidative carboxylation of benzylic C-H bonds to form substituted 2-phenylacetic acid esters and derivatives from inexpensive, commercially available starting materials.     

Original palladium pincer complexes deriving from 1,3-bis(thiophosphinoyl)indene proligands: C(sp3)-H versus C(sp2)-H bond activation

A series of original 2-indenylidene palladium pincer complexes {PdL[Ind(Ph(2)P==S)(2)]} (L = HNCy(2), PPh(3), Cl(-)) have been prepared by double C-H activation of a 1,3-bis(thiophosphinoyl)indene proligand. Crystallographic analyses and DFT calculations indicate that the bonding situation of the {Pd[Ind(Ph(2)P==S)(2)]} fragment is essentially governed by the conjugated and rigid nature of the dianionic pincer ligand, the nature of the coligand having little influence. The formation of the 2-indenylidene complexes involves either a 2-indenyl pincer or a four-membered cyclometalated complex as an intermediate, suggesting that C(sp(2))-H or C(sp(3))-H bond activation takes place. However, deuterium labelling experiences show that in all cases, C(sp(3))-H bond activation occurs followed eventually by a Pd/H exchange. Nevertheless, evidence for direct C(sp(2))-H bond activation under mild conditions is obtained when a methyl group is introduced at the indene proligand to prevent C(sp(3))-H bond activation. The ensuing dissymmetrical 2-indenyl palladium pincer complex has been fully characterized.     

Palladium-catalyzed direct ethynylation of C(sp3)-H bonds in aliphatic carboxylic acid derivatives

The first catalytic alkynylation of unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds has been accomplished. The method allows for the straightforward introduction of an ethynyl group into aliphatic acid derivatives under palladium catalysis. This new reaction can be applied to the rapid elaboration of complex aliphatic acids, for example, via azide/alkyne cycloaddition.     

Palladium-catalyzed amidation by chemoselective C(sp3)-H activation: concise route to oxindoles using a carbamoyl chloride precursor

Quite select: a new strategy was developed for the synthesis of various oxindoles from carbamoyl chlorides. Under the optimum reaction conditions, with Ad(2)PBu as a ligand, tBuCONHOH as an additive, and a CO atmosphere, selective C(sp(3))-H activation proceeded in the presence of a C(sp(2))-H bond. Ad=adamantyl.     

Palladium-catalyzed multi-acetoxylation of 1,3-disubstituted 1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylates via direct C(sp2)-H or C(sp3)-H bond activation

A palladium-catalyzed multi-acetoxylation of 1,3-disubstituted 1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate derivatives containing multiple potential reactive sites is described. Therein, the sequence of this process has been appropriately investigated. The protocol mainly provides the di- and tri-acetoxylated products for 1,3-diarylpyrazoles. Besides, it is found that the acetoxylation of C(sp³)-H bond is prior to that of C(sp²)-H bond under structurally competitive conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed ortho-arylation of benzamides via direct sp(2) C-H bond activation

The palladium-catalyzed ortho-arylation of benzamides by aryl iodides has been demonstrated with the simplest amide CONH(2) as a directing group for the first time. This protocol can be applied to various benzamides and aryl iodides with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. In addition, the synthesized biphenyl-2-carboxamides can be further transformed to other biphenyl derivatives such as nitriles, carboxylic acids, carbamates, and amines.     

Aza-oxindole synthesis by oxidative coupling of C(sp2)-H and C(sp3)-H centers

A Cu(II) mediated oxidative C(sp(2))-H and C(sp(3))-H coupling protocol gives access to aza-oxindoles in good to excellent yield in the presence of NaOtBu as base and toluene as solvent.     

Iridium complexes bearing a PNP ligand, favoring facile C(sp3)-H bond cleavage

Hydrogen iodide is lost upon reaction of PNP with IrI(3), where PNP = 2,6-bis-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine to give crystallographically characterized Ir(PNP)*(I)(2), which reacts with H(2) to give Ir(PNP)(H)(I)(2). Ir(PNP)(Cl)(3) is relatively inert towards the intramolecular C-H activation of the tert-butyl's of the PNP ligand.     

Photochemically induced radical transformation of C(sp3)-H bonds to C(sp3)-CN bonds

A general protocol for direct transformation of unreactive C(sp(3))-H bonds to C(sp(3))-CN bonds has been developed. The C-H activation was effected by photoexcited benzophenone, and the generated carbon radical was subsequently trapped with tosyl cyanide to afford the corresponding nitrile in a highly efficient manner. The present methodology is widely applicable to versatile starting materials and, thus, serves as a powerful tool for selective one-carbon elongation for construction of architecturally complex molecules.     

Unactivated C(sp3)–H functionalization via vinyl cations

Direct functionalization of inert C(sp³)–H bonds is a topic of immense contemporary interest and exceptional value in organic synthesis.The recent research has established a novel and practical protocol which features the engagement of vinyl cation species to functionalize C(sp³)–H bonds.The discussion of the topic is arranged by the strategies to generate the reactive intermediates,including ionization of vinyl triflates,addition of electrophiles to alkynes,tandem cyclization of enynes or diynes,and decomposition ofβ-hydroxy-α-diazo ketones.This review closes with a personal perspective on the dynamic research area of unactivated C(sp³)–H functionalization via vinyl cations.Hopefully,it will provide timely illumination and beneficial guidance for organic chemists who are interested in this area.Meanwhile continued development of the field is strongly anticipated in the future.     

sp3 C-H bond activation with ruthenium(II) catalysts and C(3)-alkylation of cyclic amines

A selective C(3)-alkylation via activation/functionalization of sp(3) C-H bond of saturated cyclic amines was promoted by (arene)ruthenium(II) complexes featuring a bidentate phosphino-sulfonate ligand upon reaction with aldehydes. This highly regioselective sustainable transformation takes place via initial dehydrogenation of cyclic amines and hydrogen autotransfer processes.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of benzosilolo[2,3-b]indoles via cleavage of a C(sp3)-Si bond and consequent intramolecular C(sp2)-Si coupling

An efficient process involving Pd-catalyzed selective cleavage of a C(sp(3))-Si bond and consequent intramolecular C(sp(2))-Si coupling has been developed, affording benzosilolo[2,3-b]indoles as a new type of silicon-bridged polyheteroarene in excellent yields. Aldehyde was found for the first time to be able to promote the efficiency of the catalytic process remarkably.     

Synthesis of polycyclic molecules by double C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H arylations with a single palladium catalyst

Polycyclic molecules were obtained in good yields by double C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H arylations mediated by a single palladium/phosphine catalyst. Both double intermolecular/intramolecular and intramolecular/intramolecular C-C couplings were performed successfully, which indicates that this concept has a broad applicability for the rapid construction of molecular complexity.     

Smooth C(alkyl)-H bond activation in rhodium complexes comprising abnormal carbene ligands

Rhodation of trimethylene-bridged diimidazolium salts induces the intramolecular activation of an alkane-type C-H bond and yields mono- and dimetallic complexes containing a formally monoanionic C,C,C-tridentate dicarbene ligand bound to each rhodium centre. Mechanistic investigation of the C(alkyl)-H bond activation revealed a significant rate enhancement when the carbene ligands are bound to the rhodium centre via C4 (instantaneous activation) as compared to C2-bound carbene homologues (activation incomplete after 2 days). The slow C-H activation in normal C2-bound carbene complexes allowed intermediates to be isolated and suggests a critical role of acetate in mediating the bond activation process. Computational modelling supported by spectroscopic analyses indicate that halide dissociation as well as formation of the agostic intermediate is substantially favoured with C4-bound carbenes. It is these processes that discriminate the C4- and C2-bound systems rather than the subsequent C-H bond activation, where the computed barriers are very similar in each case. The tridentate dicarbene ligand undergoes selective H/D exchange at the C5 position of the C4-bound carbene exclusively. A mechanism has been proposed for this process, which is based on the electronic separation of the abnormal carbene ligand into a cationic N-C-N amidinium unit and a metalla-allyl type M-C-C fragment.     

Metal catalyzed C(sp(3))-H bond amination of 2-alkyl azaarenes with diethyl azodicarboxylate

Metal-catalyzed direct C(sp(3))-H bond amination of 2-alkyl azaarenes with N[double bond, length as m-dash]N double bonds has been developed, which expands the scope of C(sp(3))-H bond activation reactions and provides a new access to medicinally important azaarene derivatives.