Cu(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cross‐Coupling of N‐Tosylhydrazones and Trialkylsilylethynes: Enantioselective Construction of C(sp)—C(sp3) Bonds

The first catalytic enantioselective C(sp)―C(sp³) cross‐coupling reaction between N‐tosylhydrazones and trialkylsilylethynes in the presence of Cu(I) salts and chiral phosphoramidite ligands was developed. A series of synthetically interesting, functionalized alkynes were obtained with moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 83% ee). Cu(II) carbene migratory insertion is proposed to be the enantio‐determining step.     

Palladium‐Catalysed C(sp3)−H Glycosylation for the Synthesis of C‐Alkyl Glycoamino Acids

We have developed a highly efficient and practical approach for palladium‐catalyzed trifluoroacetate‐promoted N‐quinolylcarboxamide‐directed glycosylation of inert β‐C(sp³)?H bonds of N‐phthaloyl α‐amino acids with glycals under mild conditions. For the first time, C(sp³)?H activation for glycosylation was achieved to build C‐alkyl glycosides. This method facilitates the synthesis of various β‐substituted C‐alkyl glycoamino acids and offers a tool for glycopeptide synthesis.     

Palladium‐catalyzed selective alkoxycarbonylation of N‐vinylphthalimide

The palladium‐catalyzed selective alkoxycarbonylation of enamide was studied using N‐vinylphthalimide as the model substrate. Both palladium (0) and palladium (II) compounds can be used as the catalyst precursors. It was found that the efficiency and the regioselectivity of the reaction depended remarkably on phosphine ligands and other reaction parameters such as solvent, substrate concentration, temperature and promoters. Good yields and high regioselectivities of either the branched or linear products were obtained under optimum reaction conditions. The primary optical yield (12.3%) of N‐Phthaloyl‐L ‐alanine methyl ester (2) was obtained using (S)‐(+)‐BNPPA as the chiral ligand. A possible reaction mechanism for the alkoxycarbonylation of N‐vinylphthalimide was also proposed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Construction of C(sp2)−C(sp3) Bond between Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones and N‐Hydroxyphthalimide Esters via Photocatalytic Decarboxylative Coupling

A novel visible‐light‐driven decarboxylative coupling of alkyl N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters (NHP esters) with quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones has been developed. This C(sp²)?C(sp³) bond‐forming transformation exhibits excellent substrate generality with respect to both the coupling partners. Of note, a series of 3‐primary alkyl‐substituted quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones that were difficult to synthesize by previous methods could be obtained in moderate to excellent yields. Additionally, the mild conditions, easy availability of substrates, wide functional group tolerance and operational simplicity make this protocol practical in the synthesis of 3‐alkylated quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones.     

Distal γ‐C(sp3)−H Olefination of Ketone Derivatives and Free Carboxylic Acids

Reported herein is the distal γ‐C(sp³)?H olefination of ketone derivatives and free carboxylic acids. Fine tuning of a previously reported imino‐acid directing group and using the ligand combination of a mono‐N‐protected amino acid (MPAA) and an electron‐deficient 2‐pyridone were critical for the γ‐C(sp³)?H olefination of ketone substrates. In addition, MPAAs enabled the γ‐C(sp³)?H olefination of free carboxylic acids to form diverse six‐membered lactones. Besides alkyl carboxylic acids, benzylic C(sp³)?H bonds also could be functionalized to form 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarin structures in a single step from 2‐methyl benzoic acid derivatives. The utility of these protocols was demonstrated in large scale reactions and diversification of the γ‐C(sp³)?H olefinated products.     

A New Route to N‐Aryl 2‐Alkenamides,N‐Allyl N‐Aryl 2‐Alkenamides,and N‐Aryl α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactams from N‐Aryl 3‐(Phenylsulfonyl)propanamides

A series of N‐aryl 2‐alkenamides were produced efficiently by treating N‐aryl 3‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐propanamides with potassium tert‐butoxide in THF at 0°C. With out isolation, it was further treated with an additional equivalent of potassium tert‐butoxide and allyl bromide to give N‐allyl N‐aryl 2‐alkenamides in one pot in good yields. Followed by a ring‐closing metathesis reaction, these N‐allyl N‐aryl 2‐alkenamides were respectively converted into corresponding N‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams in moderate yields.     

BODIPY Peptide Labeling by Late‐Stage C(sp3)−H Activation

Late‐stage BODIPY diversification of structurally complex amino acids and peptides was accomplished by racemization‐free palladium‐catalyzed C(sp³)?H activation. Transformative fluorescence modification proved viable by triazole‐assisted C(sp³)?H arylation in a chemo‐ and site‐selective fashion, providing modular access to novel BODIPY peptide sensors.     

Synthesis of N,N′,X‐tridentate 2‐iminomethylpyrrole‐coordinated palladium(II) complexes via N─H bond activation of pyrrole moiety

The reaction of [Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂] with N ‐functional group‐substituted 2‐iminomethylpyrrole‐based ligands, namely N ¹‐((1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)methylene)‐N ³,N ³‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine (L_A), N ¹‐((1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)methylene)‐N ³‐methyl‐N ³‐phenylpropane‐1,3‐diamine (L_B), N ‐((1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)methylene)‐3‐(methylthio)propan‐1‐amine (L_C) and N ‐((1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)methylene)‐3‐methoxypropan‐1‐amine (L_D), resulted in [L_n PdCl] (L_n  = L_A–L_D) complexes in high yield via N─H bond activation of pyrrole moiety without use of base. [L_n PdCl] existed as monomeric four‐coordinated complexes with slightly distorted square planar geometries around the palladium metal center. The ligands show N ,N ′,X ‐tridentate binding mode to the palladium metal center to give two fused ring metallacycles. [L_BPdCl] gave the highest activity (3.29 × 10⁵ g PMMA (mol Pd)⁻¹ h⁻¹) for a methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane at 60 °C compared to the other Pd(II) analogues, and resulted in PMMA with higher molecular weight (M _w = 7.16 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹) and narrower polydispersity index. Syndiotactic‐enriched PMMA resulted in all cases.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric C(sp3)−H Allylation of 2‐Alkylpyridines

The palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric side‐chain C(α)‐allylation of 2‐alkylpyridines, without using an external base, was developed. The high linear selectivities and enantioselectivities were achieved using new chiral diamidophosphite monodentate ligands. Given that the reaction conditions do not require an external base, this catalyst system enabled chemoselective C(α)‐allylation of 2‐alkylpyridines containing α‐carbonyl C?H bonds, which are more acidic than α‐pyridyl C?H bonds.     

NHC‐Pd complex‐catalyzed double carbonylation of aryl iodides with secondary amines to α‐keto amides

A series of palladium–NHC compounds were prepared and their catalytic activity in the double carbonylation of aryl iodides to synthesize α‐keto amides were examined. Palladium complexes bearing mixed NHC–phosphine exhibited high efficiency for the double carbonylation reaction. The effects of different solvents, base, temperature, carbon monoxide (CO), pressure, various amine and aryl iodides were investigated. Both electron‐rich and electron‐deficient aryl iodides afforded the corresponding substituted α‐keto amides in moderate to good yields. A possible mechanism was also proposed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative α‐Arylation to β‐Ketonitriles

A carbonylative α‐arylation process employing unactivated nitriles for the first time is described. The reaction tolerates a range of (hetero)aryl iodides and several nitrile coupling partners. No prefunctionalization of the nitriles is necessary and the resulting β‐ketonitriles are obtained in good to excellent yields. The methodology also allows for a convenient ¹³C‐labelling of the generated carbonyl moiety.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Amination of Unactivated C(sp3)H Bonds

Pd^II‐catalyzed intermolecular amination of unactivated C(sp³)?H bonds has been successfully developed for the first time. This method provides a new way to achieve the challenging intermolecular amination of unactivated C(sp³)?H bonds, producing a variety of unnatural β²‐amino carboxylic acid analogues. This C(sp³)?H amination protocol is demonstrated with a broad substrate scope, good functional‐group tolerance, and chemoselectivity. It is operated without use of phosphine ligand or external oxidant.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with primary amines leading to N‐alkylmaleimides

Cyclic β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids are carbonylatively cyclized with primary amines under carbon monoxide pressure in MeCN in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ to give N‐alkylmaleimides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alkenylation of C(sp3)−H Bonds by Zincation/Copper‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling with Iodonium Salts

α‐Vinylation of phosphonates, phosphine oxides, sulfones, sulfonamides, and sulfoxides has been achieved by selective C?H zincation and copper‐catalyzed C(sp³)?C(sp²) cross‐coupling reaction using vinylphenyliodonium salts. The vinylation transformation proceeds in high efficiency and stereospecificity under mild reaction conditions. This zincative cross‐coupling reaction represents a general alkenylation strategy, which is also applicable for α‐alkenylation of esters, amides, and nitriles in the synthesis of β,γ‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds.     

Catalytic Aerobic Oxidation of C(sp3)−H Bonds

Oxidation reactions are a key technology to transform hydrocarbons from petroleum feedstock into chemicals of a higher oxidation state, allowing further chemical transformations. These bulk‐scale oxidation processes usually employ molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant as at this scale it is typically the only economically viable oxidant. The produced commodity chemicals possess limited functionality and usually show a high degree of symmetry thereby avoiding selectivity issues. In sharp contrast, in the production of fine chemicals preference is still given to classical oxidants. Considering the strive for greener production processes, the use of O₂, the most abundant and greenest oxidant, is a logical choice. Given the rich functionality and complexity of fine chemicals, achieving regio/chemoselectivity is a major challenge. This review presents an overview of the most important catalytic systems recently described for aerobic oxidation, and the current insight in their reaction mechanism.