Merging Photochemistry with Electrochemistry: Functional‐Group Tolerant Electrochemical Amination of C(sp3)−H Bonds

Direct amination of C(sp³)?H bonds is of broad interest in the realm of C?H functionalization because of the prevalence of nitrogen heterocycles and amines in pharmaceuticals and natural products. Reported here is a combined electrochemical/photochemical method for dehydrogenative C(sp³)?H/N?H coupling that exhibits good reactivity with both sp² and sp³ N?H bonds. The results show how use of iodide as an electrochemical mediator, in combination with light‐induced cleavage of intermediate N?I bonds, enables the electrochemical process to proceed at low electrode potentials. This approach significantly improves the functional‐group compatibility of electrochemical C?H amination, for example, tolerating electron‐rich aromatic groups that undergo deleterious side reactions in the presence of high electrode potentials.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(III) Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)–H Amination of Alkyl Azides

Metal‐catalyzed intramolecular C?H amination of alkyl azides constitutes an appealing approach to alicyclic amines; challenges remain in broadening substrate scope, enhancing regioselectivity, and applying the method to natural product synthesis. Herein we report an iron(III) porphyrin bearing axial N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands which catalyzes the intramolecular C(sp³)–H amination of a wide variety of alkyl azides under microwave‐assisted and thermal conditions, resulting in selective amination of tertiary, benzylic, allylic, secondary, and primary C?H bonds with up to 95 % yield. 14 out of 17 substrates were cyclized selectively at C4 to give pyrrolidines. The regioselectivity at C4 or C5 could be tuned by modifying the reactivity of the C5–H bond. Mechanistic studies revealed a concerted or a fast re‐bound mechanism for the amination reaction. The reaction has been applied to the syntheses of tropane, nicotine, cis‐octahydroindole, and leelamine derivatives.     

Chemoselective Amination of Propargylic C(sp3)H Bonds by Cobalt(II)‐Based Metalloradical Catalysis

Highly chemoselective intramolecular amination of propargylic C(sp³)? H bonds has been demonstrated for N‐bishomopropargylic sulfamoyl azides through cobalt(II)‐based metalloradical catalysis. Supported by D_2h‐symmetric amidoporphyrin ligand 3,5‐Di^tBu‐IbuPhyrin, the cobalt(II)‐catalyzed C? H amination proceeds effectively under neutral and nonoxidative conditions without the need of any additives, and generates N₂ as the only byproduct. The metalloradical amination is suitable for both secondary and tertiary propargylic C? H substrates with an unusually high degree of functional‐group tolerance, thus providing a direct method for high‐yielding synthesis of functionalized propargylamine derivatives.     

C−H Bond Activation by an Imido Cobalt(III) and the Resulting Amido Cobalt(II) Complex

The 3d‐metal mediated nitrene transfer is under intense scrutiny due to its potential as an atom economic and ecologically benign way for the directed amination of (un)functionalised C?H bonds. Here we present the isolation and characterisation of a rare, trigonal imido cobalt(III) complex, which bears a rather long cobalt–imido bond. It can cleanly cleave strong C?H bonds with a bond dissociation energy of up to 92 kcal mol^?1 in an intermolecular fashion, unprecedented for imido cobalt complexes. This resulted in the amido cobalt(II) complex [Co(hmds)₂(NH^tBu)]^?. Kinetic studies on this reaction revealed an H atom transfer mechanism. Remarkably, the cobalt(II) amide itself is capable of mediating H atom abstraction or stepwise proton/electron transfer depending on the substrate. A cobalt‐mediated catalytic application for substrate dehydrogenation using an organo azide is presented.     

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.     

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.     

Direct sp3 C?H Amination of Nitrogen‐Containing Benzoheterocycles Mediated by Visible‐Light‐Photoredox Catalysts

Visible‐light‐mediated direct sp³ C? H amination of benzocyclic amines via α‐aminoalkyl radicals by using photoredox catalysts is described here. The obtained N,N‐acetals were also successfully applied for carbon–carbon bond forming reactions with carbon nucleophiles. The procedure is suitable for a late‐stage modification of C? H bonds to C? C bonds.     

[FeIII(F20‐tpp)Cl] Is an Effective Catalyst for Nitrene Transfer Reactions and Amination of Saturated Hydrocarbons with Sulfonyl and Aryl Azides as Nitrogen Source under Thermal and Microwave‐Assisted Conditions

[Fe^III(F₂₀‐tpp)Cl] (F₂₀‐tpp=meso‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato dianion) is an effective catalyst for imido/nitrene insertion reactions using sulfonyl and aryl azides as nitrogen source. Under thermal conditions, aziridination of aryl and alkyl alkenes (16 examples, 60–95 % yields), sulfimidation of sulfides (11 examples, 76–96 % yields), allylic amidation/amination of α‐methylstyrenes (15 examples, 68–83 % yields), and amination of saturated C? H bonds including that of cycloalkanes and adamantane (eight examples, 64–80 % yields) can be accomplished by using 2 mol % [Fe^III(F₂₀‐tpp)Cl] as catalyst. Under microwave irradiation conditions, the reaction time of aziridination (four examples), allylic amination (five examples), sulfimidation (two examples), and amination of saturated C? H bonds (three examples) can be reduced by up to 16‐fold (24–48 versus 1.5–6 h) without significantly affecting the product yield and substrate conversion.     

Iron(II)‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective Functionalization of Unactivated C(sp3)−H Bonds Guided by Alkoxyl Radicals

An alkoxyl radical guided strategy for site‐selective functionalization of unactivated methylene and methine C?H bonds enabled by an Fe^II‐catalyzed redox process is described. The mild, expeditious, and modular protocol allows efficient remote aliphatic fluorination, chlorination, amination, and alkynylation of structurally and electronically varied primary, secondary, and tertiary hydroperoxides with excellent functional‐group tolerance. The application for one‐pot 1,4‐hydroxyl functionalization of non‐oxygenated alkane substrates initiated by aerobic C?H oxygenation is also demonstrated.     

Triiodide‐Mediated δ‐Amination of Secondary C−H Bonds

The C_δ?H amination of unactivated, secondary C?H bonds to form a broad range of functionalized pyrrolidines has been developed by a triiodide (I₃^?)‐mediated strategy. By in situ 1) oxidation of sodium iodide and 2) sequestration of the transiently generated iodine (I₂) as I₃^?, this approach precludes undesired I₂‐mediated decomposition which can otherwise limit synthetic utility to only weak C(sp³)?H bonds. The mechanism of this triiodide‐mediated cyclization of unbiased, secondary C(sp³)?H bonds, by either thermal or photolytic initiation, is supported by NMR and UV/Vis data, as well as intercepted intermediates.     

Copper‐Catalyzed C(sp3)−H Amidation: Sterically Driven Primary and Secondary C−H Site‐Selectivity

Undirected C(sp³)?H functionalization reactions often follow site‐selectivity patterns that mirror the corresponding C?H bond dissociation energies (BDEs). This often results in the functionalization of weaker tertiary C?H bonds in the presence of stronger secondary and primary bonds. An important, contemporary challenge is the development of catalyst systems capable of selectively functionalizing stronger primary and secondary C?H bonds over tertiary and benzylic C?H sites. Herein, we report a Cu catalyst that exhibits a high degree of primary and secondary over tertiary C?H bond selectivity in the amidation of linear and cyclic hydrocarbons with aroyl azides ArC(O)N₃. Mechanistic and DFT studies indicate that C?H amidation involves H‐atom abstraction from R‐H substrates by nitrene intermediates [Cu](κ²‐N,O‐NC(O)Ar) to provide carbon‐based radicals R^. and copper(II)amide intermediates [Cu^II]‐NHC(O)Ar that subsequently capture radicals R^. to form products R‐NHC(O)Ar. These studies reveal important catalyst features required to achieve primary and secondary C?H amidation selectivity in the absence of directing groups.     

Bis(sulfonylimide)ruthenium(VI) Porphyrins: X‐ray Crystal Structure and Mechanism of C?H Bond Amination by Density Functional Theory Calculations

The X‐ray crystal structure of [Ru^VI(NMs)₂(tmp)] (Ms=SO₂‐ p‐MeOC₆H₄; tmp=5,10,15,20‐tetramesitylporphyrinato(2?)), a metal sulfonylimide complex that can undergo alkene aziridination and C? H bond amination reactions, shows a Ru?N distance of 1.79(3) Å and Ru‐N‐S angle of 162.5(3)°. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the electronic structures of [Ru^VI(NMs)₂(tmp)] and model complex [Ru^VI(NMs)₂(por⁰)] (por⁰=unsubstituted porphyrinato(2?)) using the M06L functional gave results in agreement with experimental observations. For the amination of ethylbenzene by the singlet ground state of [Ru^VI(NMs)₂(por⁰)], DFT calculations using the M06L functional revealed an effectively concerted pathway involving rate‐limiting hydrogen atom abstraction without a distinct radical rebound step. The substituent effect on the amination reactivity of ethylbenzene by [Ru^VI(NX)₂(por⁰)] (X=SO₂‐p‐YC₆H₄ with Y=MeO, Me, H, Cl, NO₂) was examined. Electron‐withdrawing Y groups lower the energy of the LUMOs of [Ru^VI(NX)₂(por⁰)], thus facilitating their interaction with the low‐lying HOMO of the ethylbenzene C? H bond and hence increasing the reactivity of [Ru^VI(NX)₂(por⁰)]. DFT calculations on the amination/aziridination reactions of [Ru^VI(NSO₂C₆H₅)₂(por⁰)] with pent‐4‐enal, an aldehyde substrate bearing acyl, homoallylic, and allylic C? H bonds and a C?C bond, revealed a lower reaction barrier for the amination of the acyl C? H bond than for both the amination of the other C? H bonds and aziridination of the C?C bond in this substrate.     

Anthranil: An Aminating Reagent Leading to Bifunctionality for Both C(sp3)−H and C(sp2)−H under Rhodium(III) Catalysis

Previous direct C?H nitrogenation suffered from simple amidation/amination with limited atom‐economy and is mostly limited to C(sp²)?H substrates. In this work, anthranil was designed as a novel bifunctional aminating reagent for both C(sp²)?H and C(sp³)?H bonds under rhodium(III) catalysis, thus affording a nucleophilic aniline tethered to an electrophilic carbonyl. A tridendate rhodium(III) complex has been isolated as the resting state of the catalyst, and DFT studies established the intermediacy of a nitrene species.     

Intermolecular Radical C(sp3)−H Amination under Iodine Catalysis

The direct amination of aliphatic C?H bonds has remained one of the most tantalizing transformations in organic chemistry. Herein, we report on a unique catalyst system, which enables the elusive intermolecular C(sp³)?H amination. This practical synthetic strategy provides access to aminated building blocks and fosters innovative multiple C?H amination within a new approach to aminated heterocycles. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by the synthesis of four relevant pharmaceuticals.     

Intermolecular Amination of Unactivated C(sp3)−H Bonds with Cyclic Alkylamines: Formation of C(sp3)−N Bonds through Copper/Oxygen‐Mediated C(sp3)−H/N−H Activation

The first example of intermolecular amination of unactivated C(sp³)?H bonds by cyclic alkylamines mediated by Cu(OAc)₂/O₂ is reported. This method avoids the use of benzoyloxyamines as the aminating reagent, which are normally prepared from alkylamines in extra steps. A variety of unnatural β^{2, 2}‐amino acid analogues are synthesized by this simple and efficient procedure. This approach offers a solution to the previous unmet challenge of C(sp³)?H/N?H activation for the formation of C(sp³)?N bonds.     

The Effect of C4H and C5H on the Microstructure of Aqueous Solutions of 1‐Alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate Ionic Liquids

As is well‐known, the C2?H proton of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Emim]BF₄) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄) has a strong ability to form hydrogen bonds. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effect of the interactions of the C4?H and C5?H protons on the microstructure of [Emim]BF₄ and [Bmim]BF₄ with water by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The differences between the relative ¹H NMR chemical shifts of C2?H, C4?H, and C5?H and between the interaction‐energy parameters obtained from these chemical shifts are minor, thus suggesting that the interactions of C4?H and C5?H may have a considerable effect on the microstructure. To confirm this, the viscosities of the systems are estimated by using the interaction‐energy parameters obtained from the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the three studied aromatic protons and water, showing that the interactions of C4?H and C5?H also play an important role in the microstructure.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Direct Amination of Arenes with Nitrosobenzenes: A New Route to Diarylamines

A Rh^III‐catalyzed addition of aryl C?H bonds to nitrosobenzenes, followed by cleavage of the resulting hydroxylamines in situ, has been reported. Different directing groups, such as N‐based heterocycles and ketoximes, can be used in this C?H amination process, providing valuable diarylamines in excellent yields. Most importantly, this process provides a new method for attaching arylamine groups to aromatic rings.     

Palladium(0)/PAr3‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Amination of C(sp3)H Bonds: Synthesis of β‐Amino Acids

An intermolecular C(sp³)? H amination using a Pd⁰/PAr₃ catalyst was developed. The reaction begins with oxidative addition of R₂N? OBz to a Pd⁰/PAr₃ catalyst and subsequent cleavage of a C(sp³)? H bond by the generated Pd? NR₂ intermediate. The catalytic cycle proceeds without the need for external oxidants in a similar manner to the extensively studied palladium(0)‐catalyzed C? H arylation reactions. The electron‐deficient triarylphosphine ligand is crucial for this C(sp³)? H amination reaction to occur.     

Cooperative Effect of Two Metals: CoPd(OAc)4‐Catalyzed CH Amination and Aziridination

The first Co/Pd‐cocatalyzed intramolecular C?H amination and aziridination reactions were developed. Sulfamate esters were converted to oxathiazinanes by using CoPd(OAc)₄ as catalyst and PhI(OAc)₂ as oxidant. The mutual presence of both Co and Pd is crucial for the catalytic activity. This combination of two metals with simple acetate ligands provides an economical alternative to the Rh‐catalyzed insertion of nitrenoids into C?H bonds.     

Two‐component molecular crystals composed of chloronitrobenzoic acids and 4‐aminopyridine

The crystal structures of the four isomeric organic salts 4‐amino­pyridinium 2‐chloro‐4‐nitro­benzoate, (I), 4‐amino­pyridinium 2‐chloro‐5‐nitro­benzoate, (II), 4‐amino­pyridinium 5‐chloro‐2‐nitro­benzoate, (III), and 4‐amino­pyridinium 4‐chloro‐2‐nitro­benzoate, (IV), all C₅H₇N₂⁺·C₇H₃ClNO₄^?, are presented. Compound (I) has one intramolecular hydrogen bond, one intermolecular C—H?O hydrogen bond and π–π‐stacking interactions. Compound (II) has N—H?O, C—H?O and C—H?Cl hydrogen bonds, and Cl?O—C electrostatic interactions. Compound (III) has N—H?O and C—H?O hydrogen bonds. Compound (IV) has a π–π‐stacking interaction, but no C—H?O hydrogen bonds.