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).

     

Palladium‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H Activation: A Facile Method for the Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydroquinolinone Derivatives

3,4‐Dihydroquinolinones were synthesized by the palladium‐catalyzed, oxidative‐addition‐initiated activation and arylation of inert C(sp³) H bonds. Pd(OAc)₂ and P(o‐tol)₃ were used as the catalyst and ligand, respectively, to improve the efficiency of the reaction. A further advantage of this reaction is that it could be performed in air. A relatively rare seven‐membered palladacycle was proposed as a key intermediate of the catalytic cycle.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Dearomative Cyclocarbonylation by C?N Bond Activation

A fundamentally novel approach to bioactive quinolizinones is based on the palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclocarbonylation of allylamines. [Pd(Xantphos)I₂], which features a very large bite angle, has been found to facilitate the rapid carbonylation of azaarene‐substituted allylamines into bioactive quinolizinones in good to excellent yields. This transformation represents the first dearomative carbonylation and is proposed to proceed by palladium‐catalyzed C N bond activation, dearomatization, CO insertion, and a Heck reaction.     

Oxygen‐Promoted C?H Bond Activation at Palladium

[Pd(P(Ar)(tBu)₂)₂] ( 1 , Ar=naphthyl) reacts with molecular oxygen to form Pd^II hydroxide dimers in which the naphthyl ring is cyclometalated and one equivalent of phosphine per palladium atom is released. This reaction involves the cleavage of both C H and O O bonds, two transformations central to catalytic aerobic oxidizations of hydrocarbons. Observations at low temperature suggest the initial formation of a superoxo complex, which then generates a peroxo complex prior to the C H activation step. A transition state for energetically viable C H activation across a Pd peroxo bond was located computationally.     

Access to β‐Lactams by Enantioselective Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H Alkylation

β‐Lactams are very important structural motifs because of their broad biological activities as well as their propensity to engage in ring‐opening reactions. Transition‐metal‐catalyzed C H functionalizations have emerged as strategy enabling yet uncommon highly efficient disconnections. In contrast to the significant progress of Pd⁰‐catalyzed C H functionalization for aryl–aryl couplings, related reactions involving the formation of saturated C(sp³) C(sp³) bonds are elusive. Reported here is an asymmetric C H functionalization approach to β‐lactams using readily accessible chloroacetamide substrates. Important aspects of this transformation are challenging C(sp³) C(sp³) and strain‐building reductive eliminations to for the four‐membered ring. In general, the β‐lactams are formed in excellent yields and enantioselectivities using a bulky taddol phosphoramidite ligand in combination with adamantyl carboxylic acid as cocatalyst.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Easily Accessible Auxiliary for Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Amination of C(sp2)?H and C(sp3)?H Bonds at δ‐ and ε‐Positions

An easily synthesized and accessible N,O‐bidentate auxiliary has been developed for selective C H activation under palladium catalysis. The novel auxiliary showed its first powerful application in C H functionalization of remote positions. Both C(sp²) H and C(sp³) H bonds at δ‐ and ε‐positions were effectively activated, thus giving tetrahydroquinolines, benzomorpholines, pyrrolidines, and indolines in moderate to excellent yields by palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular C H amination.