Synergistic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene/Palladium‐Catalyzed Umpolung 1,4‐Addition of Aryl Iodides to Enals

An umpolung 1,4‐addition of aryl iodides to enals promoted by cooperative (terpy)Pd/NHC catalysis was developed that generates various bioactive β,β‐diaryl propanoate derivatives. This system is not only the first reported palladium‐catalyzed arylation of NHC‐bound homoenolates but also expands the scope of NHC‐induced umpolung transformations. A diverse array of functional groups such as esters, nitriles, alcohols, and heterocycles are tolerated under the mild conditions. This method also circumvents the use of moisture‐sensitive organometallic reagents.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization/Alkynylation Reactions

Palladium‐catalyzed cascade cyclization reactions have witnessed significant improvements in recent years. Among them, palladium‐catalyzed cascade cyclization/alkynylation are especially attractive, which can assemble structurally diverse monocyclic, bicyclic, fused polycyclic, and spirocyclic skeletons with excellent chemoselectivities. In this Minireview, palladium‐catalyzed cascade cyclization/alkynylation have been summarized and discussed in detail with focus on oxypalladation and aminopalladation‐initiated cascade cyclization, intramolecular Heck‐type cascade cyclization, carbocyclizations, cascade cyclizations, and other types of cascade cyclization reactions. Some significant and representative synthetic methodologies and their synthetic applications and reaction mechanisms have also been described.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Radical Coupling of Aldehydes with Redox‐Active Esters

N‐Heterocyclic carbene catalyzed radical reactions are challenging and underdeveloped. In a recent study, Ohmiya, Nagao and co‐workers found that aldehyde carbonyl carbon centers can be coupled with alkyl radicals under NHC catalysis. An elegant aspect of this study is the use of a redox‐active carboxylic ester that behaves as an single‐electron oxidant to convert the Breslow intermediate into a radical adduct and concurrently release an alkyl radical intermediate as a reaction partner.     

Radical trans‐Hydroboration of Alkynes with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes

Hydroboration of internal alkynes with N‐heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC‐boranes) occurs to provide stable NHC (E)‐alkenylboranes upon thermolysis in the presence of di‐tert‐butyl peroxide. The E isomer results from an unusual trans‐hydroboration, and the E/Z selectivity is typically high (90:10 or greater). Evidence suggests that this hydroboration occurs by a radical‐chain reaction involving addition of an NHC‐boryl radical to an alkyne to give a β‐NHC‐borylalkenyl radical. Ensuing hydrogen abstraction from the starting NHC‐borane provides the product and returns the starting NHC‐boryl radical. Experiments suggest that the observed trans‐selectivity results from kinetic control in the hydrogen‐transfer reaction.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Alkenes/ α‐Bromoacetophenones with Aldehydes: A Facile Entry to α,β‐Epoxy Ketones

A novel, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of styrenes with aldehydes has been described for the synthesis of α,β‐epoxy ketones in good yields. This unprecedented regioselective oxidative coupling employs NBS/DBU/DMSO (DBU=1,8‐diazabicyclo [5.4. 0] undec‐7‐ene, DMSO=dimethylsulfoxide, NBS=N‐bromosuccinimide) as an oxidative system at ambient conditions. Additionally, first NHC‐catalyzed Darzens reaction of α‐bromoketones and aldehydes under mild reaction conditions has also been described. Interestingly, mechanistic studies have revealed the preferred reactivity of NHC with alkene/α‐bromoketone rather than aldehydes, thus proceeding via the ketodeoxy Breslow intermediate.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C2‐Arylation of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: An Atom‐Economic Route to Mesoionic Carbene Ligands

Blocking the C2 position of an imidazole‐derived classical N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with an aryl group is an essential strategy to establish a route to mesoionic carbenes (MICs), which coordinate to the metal via the C4 (or C5) carbon atom. An efficient catalytic route to MIC precursors by direct arylation of an NHC is reported. Treatment of 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IPr) with an aryl iodide (RC₆H₄I) in the presence of 0.5 mol % of [Pd₂(dba)₃] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) precatalyst affords the C2‐arylated imidazolium salts {IPr(C₆H₄R)}I (R=H, 4‐Me, 2‐Me, 4‐OMe, 4‐COOMe) in excellent (up to 92 %) yields. Treatment of {IPr(C₆H₅)}I with CuI and KN(SiMe₃)₂ exclusively affords the MIC–copper complex [(IPrPh)CuI].     

Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Allyl–Allyl Coupling between Allylic Boronates and Phosphates with a Phenol/N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Chiral Ligand

Copper‐catalyzed enantioselective allyl–allyl coupling between allylboronates and either Z‐acyclic or cyclic allylic phosphates using a new chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand, bearing a phenolic hydroxy, is reported. This reaction occurs with exceptional S_N2′‐type regioselectivities and high enantioselectivities to deliver chiral 1,5‐diene derivatives with a tertiary stereogenic center at the allylic/homoallylic position.     

An Iridium(I) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complex Catalyzes Asymmetric Intramolecular Allylic Amination Reactions

A chiral iridium(I) N‐heterocyclic carbene complex was reported for the first time as the catalyst in the highly enantioselective intramolecular allylic amination reaction. The current method provides facile access to biologically important enantioenriched indolopiperazinones and piperazinones in good yields (74–91 %) and excellent enantioselectivities (92–99 % ee). Preliminary mechanistic investigations reveal that the C?H activation occurs at the position ortho to the N‐aryl group of the ligand.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Pyranones

The dynamic kinetic resolution of 6‐hydroxypyranones with enals or alkynals through an asymmetric redox esterification is catalyzed by a chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene. The resulting esters are obtained in good to high yields and with high levels of enantio‐ and diastereocontrol. The reaction products are further derivatized to obtain functionalized sugar derivatives and natural products.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cycloaddition of Vinylethylene Carbonates with Formaldehyde: Enantioselective Construction of Tertiary Vinylglycols

An efficient method for the enantioselective construction of tertiary vinylglycols through a palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative cycloaddition of vinylethylene carbonates with formaldehyde was developed. By using a palladium complex generated in situ from [Pd₂(dba)₃]?CHCl₃ and a phosphoramidite ligand as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions, the process allows conversion of racemic 4‐substituted 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐ones into the corresponding 1,3‐dioxolanes, as methylene acetal protected tertiary vinylglycols, in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities.