Pd/PR3-catalyzed cross-coupling of aromatic carboxylic acids with electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes via combination of decarboxylation with sp2 C-H cleavage

By using Pd(TFA)(2)/PCy(3) as a catalyst, a broad range of aromatic carboxylic acids, including heteroaromatic carboxylic acids, efficiently underwent decarboxylative coupling with an array of polyfluoroarenes in the presence of stoichiometric amount of silver salts to generate biaryls. Silver salts were adjusted to the reactivity of aromatic carboxylic acids to efficiently suppress the protodecarboxylation and therefore improve decarboxylative cross-couplings. It was established that the palladium complex containing the PCy(3) ligand was capable of catalyzing the decarboxylation of electron-rich aromatic carboxylic acids, and silver salts promoted the decarboxylation of both electron-rich and -deficient ones. To explain the two different decarboxylation processes, two possible reaction pathways are proposed, which were further supported by the facts that the stoichiometric arylpalladium complex can directly arylate pentafluorobenzene in the presence of PCy(3) and the arylpalladium complex can catalyze the decarboxylative coupling of 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid with pentafluorobenzene. The kinetic isotope effect of 4.0 clearly showed that the C-H bond cleavage of polyfluoroarenes is involved in the rate-determining step.     

Cu(II)-catalyzed functionalizations of aryl C-H bonds using O2 as an oxidant

Cu(II)-catalyzed acetoxylation and halogenation of aryl C-H bonds are developed. ortho-Selectivity was observed with a wide range of 2-arylpyridine substrates. Both mono- and difunctionalizations are achieved by tuning the reaction conditions. Excellent functional group tolerance and use of O2 as a stoichiometric oxidant are significant advantages over our recently developed Pd-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions. These newly discovered reaction conditions are also applicable for cyanation, amination, etherification, and thioetherification of aryl C-H bonds. Mechanistic investigations are carried out to gain insights into the Cu(II)-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions.     

Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes with simple arenes

Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed intermolecular C-H/C-H cross-coupling reactions between electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes and simple arenes for the synthesis of fluorinated biaryls have been developed. Deuterium-labeling experiments suggested that C-H bond cleavage of the simple arenes rather than the polyfluoroarenes is involved in the rate-limiting step.     

Pd(0)-catalyzed diarylation of sp3 C-H bond in (2-azaaryl)methanes

A highly efficient and selective palladium-catalyzed diarylation of (2-azaaryl)methanes at the methyl group is described. Aryl chlorides proved reactive enough. A palladium η(3)-azaallyl intermediate has been identified on the basis of DFT studies.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of oxamic acids with potassium phenyltrifluoroborates under mild conditions

A novel Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of oxamic acids with potassium phenyltrifluoroborates has been realized under mild reaction conditions. This method provides an efficient access to N-mono- or N,N-disubstituted benzamides and benzoates.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation of cyclopropanes

Systematic ligand development has led to the identification of novel mono-N-protected amino acid ligands for Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation of cyclopropanes. A diverse range of organoboron reagents can be used as coupling partners, and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions. These results provide a new retrosynthetic disconnection for the construction of enantioenriched cis-substituted cyclopropanecarboxylic acids.     

Copper-catalyzed oxidative sp3 C-H bond arylation with aryl boronic acids

An efficient method was developed for arylation of sp(3) C-H bonds using copper bromide as catalyst in absence of directing group with arylboronic acids. The oxidative arylation provides easy access to biologically active tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives and can either use peroxide or molecular oxygen as oxidant.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular amidoarylation of alkenes with molecular oxygen as sole oxidant

Stereoselective palladium-catalyzed synthesis of structurally versatile indoline derivatives, using molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant, is described. New C-N and C-C bonds form across an alkene in an intramolecular manner. The C-N bond-forming step proceeds via a syn-amidopalladation pathway. The moderate kinetic isotope effects (intramolecular KIE = 3.56) suggest that electrophilic aromatic substitution occurs in the arylation step.     

Amide-directed arylation of sp C-H bonds using Pd(II) and Pd(0) catalysts

Protocols to effect β-arylation of sp³ C-H bonds via Pd(II)/(IV) and Pd(0)/(II) catalytic cycles have been achieved using a newly developed monodentate CONHC₆F₅ directing group. These reactions provide an unprecedented means to functionalize sp³ C-H bonds in aliphatic carboxylic acid-derived substrates.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed para-selective C-H arylation of monosubstituted arenes

Pd-catalyzed highly para-selective C-H arylation of monosubstituted arenes (including toluene) is developed for the first time using an F(+) reagent as a bystanding oxidant. This finding provides a new retrosynthetic disconnection for para-substituted biaryl synthesis via C-H/C-H cross-coupling.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling between two structurally similar azoles

Power of two: A widely functional-group tolerant, selective and rapid oxidative cross-coupling between two structurally similar azoles has been carried out by using a palladium/copper co-catalytic twofold C-H activation method (see scheme).     

Pyridine ligands as promoters in Pd(II/0)-catalyzed C-H olefination reactions

Commercially available pyridine ligands can significantly enhance the rate, yield, substrate scope, and site selectivity of arene C-H olefination (Fujiwara-Moritani) reactions. The use of a 1:1 ratio of Pd/pyridine proved critical to maximize reaction rates and yields.     

Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed N-arylations of sulfoximines with aryl boronic acids

[reaction: see text] A simple and mild copper salt-catalyzed N-arylation of sulfoximines in high yields is reported. Cu(OAc)(2) activates aryl boronic acids for the reaction with NH-sulfoximines without additional base or heating. Furthermore, this new method allows the preparation of N-arylated sulfoximines, which have previously been more difficult to access.     

Ruthenium(0)-catalyzed sp3 C-H bond arylation of benzylic amines using arylboronates

A Ru-catalyzed direct arylation of benzylic sp(3) carbons of acyclic amines with arylboronates is reported. This highly regioselective and efficient transformation can be performed with various combinations of N-(2-pyridyl) substituted benzylamines and arylboronates. Substitution of the pyridine directing group in the 3-position proved to be crucial in order to achieve high arylation yields. Furthermore, the pyridine directing group can be removed in high yields via a two-step protocol.     

Synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-dicarboxylic acids via Pd(II)-catalyzed carboxylation of aryl and vinyl C-H bonds

A Pd(II)-catalyzed reaction protocol for the direct carboxylation of benzoic and phenylacetic acid derivatives to form dicarboxylic acids has been developed. The reaction conditions are also applicable for the carboxylation of vinyl C-H bonds. The first C-H insertion Pd-aryl complex from carboxylic acids has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Mizoroki-Heck type reaction of organoboron reagents with alkenes and alkynes. A Pd(II)-catalyzed pathway with Cu(OAc)2 as an oxidant

[reaction: see text]. In contrast to the Pd(0)-catalyzed mechanism by Uemura, Mizoroki-Heck type reaction of boronic acids is found to proceed under a Pd(II)-mediated pathway using a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 as an oxidant. Treatment of a variety of alkenes with boronic acids, boronates, and sodium tetraphenylborate furnishes beta-arylated and alkenylated products in good to excellent yields. The reactions with norbornene, norbornadiene, and diphenylacetylene are also performed to give 1:2 or 2:1 coupling products.     

Oxidative Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H bond amination to carbazole at ambient temperature

We report a new Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H bond amination reaction to form carbazoles, an important motif that is prevalent in a range of systems. The catalytic amination process operates under extremely mild conditions and produces carbazole products in good to excellent yields. Carbazoles possessing complex molecular architecture can also be formed using this reaction, highlighting its potential in natural product synthesis applications. Preliminary mechanistic investigations reveal the reaction proceeds through a Pd(II)/Pd(IV) manifold and that reductive elimination from a high oxidation state Pd(IV) complex facilitates the mild conditions of this transformation.