Nickel‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C?C Bond Formation through C?O Cleavage in Aryl Esters

We report the first enantioselective C C bond formation through C O bond cleavage using aryl ester counterparts. This method is characterized by its wide substrate scope and results in the formation of quaternary stereogenic centers with high yields and asymmetric induction.     

Functionalization of Organic Molecules by Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H Activation

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed C? H activation has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the functionalization of organic molecules. While many efforts have focused on the functionalization of arenes and heteroarenes by this strategy in the past two decades, much less research has been devoted to the activation of non‐acidic C? H bonds of alkyl groups. This Minireview highlights recent work in this area, with a particular emphasis on synthetically useful methods.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C?C Bond Activation

Relieving the strain : The rhodium(I)‐catalyzed activation of C C bonds in functionalized cyclobutanes opens a novel route to highly substituted carbo‐ and heterocycles. Particularly intriguing is the differentiation of enantiotopic C C bonds, which leads to the formation of highly enantiomerically enriched lactones, cyclopentanones, and cyclohexenones (see scheme).

     

Redox‐Neutral Rhodium‐Catalyzed C?H Functionalization of Arylamine N‐Oxides with Diazo Compounds: Primary C(sp3)?H/C(sp2)?H Activation and Oxygen‐Atom Transfer

An unprecedented rhodium(III)‐catalyzed regioselective redox‐neutral annulation reaction of 1‐naphthylamine N‐oxides with diazo compounds was developed to afford various biologically important 1H‐benzo[g]indolines. This coupling reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions and does not require external oxidants. The only by‐products are dinitrogen and water. More significantly, this reaction represents the first example of dual functiaonalization of unactivated a primary C(sp³) H bond and C(sp²) H bond with diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that an intermediate iminium is most likely involved in the catalytic cycle. Moreover, a rhodium(III)‐catalyzed coupling of readily available tertiary aniline N‐oxides with α‐diazomalonates was also developed under external oxidant‐free conditions to access various aminomandelic acid derivatives by an O‐atom‐transfer reaction.     

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.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)?H and C(sp2)?H Amidation by Oxidative Cyclization

The first copper‐catalyzed intramolecular C(sp³) H and C(sp²) H oxidative amidation has been developed. Using a Cu(OAc)₂ catalyst and an Ag₂CO₃ oxidant in dichloroethane solvent, C(sp³) H amidation proceeded at a terminal methyl group, as well as at the internal benzylic position of an alkyl chain. This reaction has a broad substrate scope, and various β‐lactams were obtained in excellent yield, even on gram scale. Use of CuCl₂ and Ag₂CO₃ under an O₂ atmosphere in dimethyl sulfoxide, however, leads to 2‐indolinone selectively by C(sp²) H amidation. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies indicated that C H bond activation is the rate‐determining step. The 5‐methoxyquinolyl directing group could be removed by oxidation.     

Highly Enantioselective Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Activation of Enantiotopic Cyclobutanone C?C Bonds

The selective functionalization of carbon–carbon σ bonds is a synthetic strategy that offers uncommon retrosynthetic disconnections. Despite progress in C C activation and its great importance, the development of asymmetric reactions lags behind. Rhodium(I)‐catalyzed selective oxidative additions into enantiotopic C C bonds in cyclobutanones are reported. Even operating at a reaction temperature of 130 °C, the process is characterized by outstanding enantioselectivity with the e.r. generally greater than 99.5:0.5. The intermediate rhodacycle is shown to react with a wide variety of tethered olefins to deliver complex bicyclic ketones in high yields.     

Platinum(II)‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization of o‐Substituted Aryl Alkynes through sp3 C?H Activation

Ring leader : PtCl₂ catalyzes intramolecular cyclization of o‐isopropyl or o‐benzyl aryl alkynes to give substituted indene derivatives with good yields and high selectivity. This reaction appears to proceed through an sp³ C? H activation and 1,4‐hydrogen migration pathway (see scheme).

     

Iron‐Catalyzed Chemoselective ortho Arylation of Aryl Imines by Directed C?H Bond Activation

Naheliegende Alternative : Eine eisenkatalysierte Imin‐gesteuerte C‐H‐Aktivierung mit einem Diarylzinkreagens führt eine Arylgruppe in ortho‐Stellung an einem von Acetophenon abgeleiteten Imin ein (siehe Schema); mit einem Palladiumkatalysator tritt dagegen eine gewöhnliche Substitution auf. Die Titelreaktion ist eine milde C‐H‐Aktivierung, die in Gegenwart von 1,2‐Dichlorisobutan mit Arylbromiden, ‐chloriden oder ‐sulfonaten selektiv verläuft.

     

Iron‐Catalyzed Chemoselective ortho Arylation of Aryl Imines by Directed C?H Bond Activation

No Fe‐ar : Iron catalyzes an imine‐directed C? H bond activation to introduce an ortho‐aryl group to an acetophenone‐derived imine using a diarylzinc reagent (see scheme), whereas palladium catalyzes the conventional substitution reaction . The title reaction features mild and selective C? H bond activation in the presence of aryl bromide, chloride, or sulfonate groups, and 1,2‐dichloroisobutane is essential to achieve such selectivity.

     

Asymmetric C(sp2)?H Activation

A “niche” topic in the past decade, the asymmetric C? H bond activation has been attracting growing interest over the last few years. Particularly significant advances have been achieved in the field of direct, stereoselective transformations of C(sp²)? H bonds. This Concept article intends to showcase different types of asymmetric C(sp²)? H bond activation reactions, emphasising both the nature of the stereo‐discriminating step and the variability of valuable scaffolds that could be rapidly constructed by means of such strategies.     

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.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective Intramolecular Amidation of Unactivated C(sp3)?H Bonds

The intramolecular dehydrogenative amidation of aliphatic amides, directed by a bidentate ligand, was developed using a copper‐catalyzed sp³ C H bond functionalization process. The reaction favors predominantly the C H bonds of β‐methyl groups over the unactivated methylene C H bonds. Moreover, a preference for activating sp³ C H bonds of β‐methyl groups, via a five‐membered ring intermediate, over the aromatic sp² C H bonds was also observed in the cyclometalation step. Additionally, sp³ C H bonds of unactivated secondary sp³ C H bonds could be functionalized by favoring the ring carbon atoms over the linear carbon atoms.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed C(sp2)?H Alkoxylation of Aromatic and Olefinic Carboxamides

The cobalt‐catalyzed alkoxylation of C(sp²) H bonds in aromatic and olefinic carboxamides has been developed. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions in the presence of Co(OAc)₂⋅4H₂O as the catalyst and tolerates a wide range of both alcohols and benzamide substrates, including even olefinic carboxamides. In addition, this reaction is the first example of the direct alkoxylation of alkenes through C H bond activation.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Zinc Halides for the Formation of C(sp2)?C(sp3) Bonds: Scope and Mechanism

Optimal conditions for a general Ni‐catalysed Negishi cross‐coupling of alkyl zinc halides with aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl halides have been determined. These conditions allow the reaction to take place smoothly, with low catalyst loading, and in the presence of a wide variety of functional groups to afford products in good yields at room temperature. DFT studies on the mechanism support the occurrence of a catalytic cycle involving transmetalation of the alkyl zinc halide to Ni^I followed by oxidative addition of the haloarene and C? C reductive elimination.     

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 Amidation of Unactivated C(sp3)?H Bonds

Nitrogenation by direct functionalization of C H bonds represents an important strategy for constructing C N bonds. Rhodium(III)‐catalyzed direct amidation of unactivated C(sp³) H bonds is rare, especially under mild reaction conditions. Herein, a broad scope of C(sp³) H bonds are amidated under rhodium catalysis in high efficiency using 3‐substituted 1,4,2‐dioxazol‐5‐ones as the amide source. The protocol broadens the scope of rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C(sp³) H activation chemistry, and is applicable to the late‐stage functionalization of natural products.