A convergent synthesis of polysubstituted aromatic nitriles via palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization

A palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization reaction for the synthesis of highly substituted aromatic nitriles is reported. The modularity of the reaction is demonstrated by the broad range of aryl iodides which can be coupled with metal cyanides and alkyl halides or aryl bromides.     

Practical synthesis of 3-aryl anthranils via an electrophilic aromatic substitution strategy

We report a practical route for the synthesis of valuable 3-aryl anthranils from readily available anthranils and simple arenes by using the classical electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) strategy. This transformation goes through an electrophilic substitution and rearomatisation sequence by employing Tf₂O as an effective activator. A wide range of arenes were compatible in this transformation, delivering various structurally diversified 3-aryl anthranils in good yields and high regioselectivity. In addition, a variety of readily available feedstocks such as olefins, alkenyl triflates, silyl enolethers, carbonyl compounds, thiophenols and thiols could also participate in the reaction to achieve the C3 alkenylation, alkylation and thioetherification of anthranils. Of note, the synthesized 3-aryl anthranils proved to be a highly robust platform to access a series of biologically active compounds, drug derivatives and organic optoelectronic materials.

A practical route for the synthesis of valuable 3-aryl anthranils from readily available anthranils and simple arenes has been achieved through an electrophilic substitution and rearomatization sequence by employing Tf₂O as an effective activator.     

Practical synthesis of pinacolborane for one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls via aromatic C-H borylation-cross-coupling sequence

A method for practical preparation of pinacolborane from borane-diethylaniline and pinacol was newly developed. Aromatic C-H borylation of arenes with pinacolborane or bis(pinacolato)diboron catalyzed by 1/2[Ir(OMe)(COD)]₂-(4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) at 25 °C in hexane to give arylboronic esters was directly followed by cross-coupling with aromatic bromides at 60 °C in the presence of PdCl₂(dppf) (3.0 mol %) and K₃PO₄ in DMF. This one-pot, two-step procedure provided a variety of unsymmetrical biaryls in high yields.     

An efficient synthesis of cyanoarenes and cyanoheteroarenes via lithiation followed by electrophilic cyanation

A one-pot procedure for the conversion of mono-substituted arenes and heteroarenes into the ortho-cyano derivatives was achieved through directed lithiation followed by electrophilic cyanation with phenyl cyanate. This reaction method proved to be applicable to halogen-lithium exchanged intermediates, so especially useful for the synthesis of benzonitriles. The scope of the reaction sequence was explored using a number of substrates.     

Rearrangement of biaryl monoaminocarbenes via concerted asynchronous insertion into aromatic C-H bonds

The biphenyl and binaphthyl diisopropylaminocarbenes were found to be only transient species that spontaneously and quantitatively rearrange into the corresponding aminofluorenes. DFT calculations confirm that these insertion reactions of aminocarbenes into proximal aromatic C-H bonds require only a moderate energy barrier and support a concerted, strongly asynchronous, mechanism dominated by C arom-->C carbene proton transfer.     

Borylnitrenes: electrophilic reactive intermediates with high reactivity towards C-H bonds

Borylnitrenes (catBN 3a and pinBN 3b; cat = catecholato, pin = pinacolato) are reactive intermediates that show high tendency towards insertion into the C-H bonds of unactivated hydrocarbons. The present article summarizes the matrix isolation investigations that were aimed at identifying, characterizing and investigating the chemical behaviour of 3a by spectroscopic means, and of the experiments in solution and in the gas phase that were performed with 3b. Comparison with the reactivity reported for difluorovinylidene 1a in solid argon indicates that 3a shows by and large similar reactivity, but only after photochemical excitation. The derivative 3b inserts into the C-H bonds of hydrocarbon solvents in high yields and thus allows the formation of primary amines, secondary amines, or amides from "unreactive" hydrocarbons. It can also be used for generation of methylamine or methylamide from methane in the gas phase at room temperature. Remaining challenges in the chemistry of borylnitrenes are briefly summarized.     

Direct perfluoroalkylation of non-activated aromatic C-H bonds of phenols

A simple procedure for the perfluoroalkylation of the aromatic ring of phenols under mildly basic conditions is described. Treatment of a variety of phenols with perfluoroalkyl iodide in the presence of the radical initiator V-70L and Cs₂CO₃ provided the corresponding perfluoroalkylated products in moderate to good yields. Generally, the reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature to yield regioselectively perfluoroalkylated products.     

Pd-catalysed synthesis of isoquinolinones and analogues via C-H and N-H bonds double activation

An atom economical synthesis of isoquinolinones and analogues via ligand-free Pd-catalysed C-H and N-H double activation has been developed. A series of isoquinolinones were obtained in good to excellent yields. Good regioselectivities were also observed during the activation reactions with unsymmetrical alkynes. A practical one-pot procedure for the preparation of N-H isoquinolinones is also described.     

Modification of polymers via electrophilic aromatic substitution

Three vinyl monomers, 2,4,6-trimethoxystyrene, 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)styrene, and N-methyl-2-vinylpyrrole, were synthesized via the Wittig reaction from the corresponding aldehyes. These monomers were homopolymerized by radical polymerization using α,α′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator at 60°C. The reaction of these polymers with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (phTD) and 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MeTD) was investigated. Although polytrimethoxystyrene reacts slowly with PhTD at room temperature, the other two polymers react fast and lead to the incorporation of the triazolinedione unit into the side chain of the polymer via electrophilic aromatic substitution. The reaction of bistriazolinediones (BTD) with these polymers was performed in dimethylformamide using 10–20% molar concentration of the BTD. The resulting crosslinked polymers are insoluble in polar as well as nonpolar solvents. Some physical properties of the unmodified and modified polymers were studied.     

Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate-photosensitized alkylation of electrophilic alkenes: Convenient functionalization of aliphatic C-H bonds

Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT, 2 x 10(-3) m) is an effective photocatalyst for the alkylation of electrophilic alkenes (0.1 m, alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles, esters, ketones) by alkanes, alcohols, and ethers. The products are in most cases obtained in >70 % isolated yields, through an experimentally very simple procedure. The kinetics of the radical processes following initial hydrogen abstraction by excited TBADT in deoxygenated MeCN have been studied. In the absence of a trap, back hydrogen transfer from reduced tungstate is the main pathway for alkyl radicals, while alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals are oxidized to ketones by ground-state TBADT. With both radical types the reaction ceases at a few percent conversion. However, trapping by electrophilic alkenes is followed by reduction of the radical adduct and regeneration of the catalyst, which allows the alkylation to proceed up to complete alkene conversion with the mentioned good yields of products. With a nucleophilic (alpha-hydroxyalkyl) radical, alkylation is efficient (Phi = 0.58) and can also be carried out when degassing is omitted, the only difference being a short induction period. With a less reactive (cyclohexyl) radical, the quantum yield is lower (Phi = 0.06) and the reaction is considerably slowed in aerated solutions, but the chemical yield remains good.     

Lewis acid-promoted imine synthesis by the insertion of isocyanides into C-H bonds of electron-rich aromatic compounds

The Lewis acid-promoted insertion of isocyanides into aromatic C-H bonds is reported. An imine functionality containing an array of N-substituents can be introduced directly into electron-rich aromatics in good yields.     

Copper-mediated sequential cyanation of aryl C-B and arene C-H bonds using ammonium iodide and DMF

The cyanation of aromatic boronic acids, boronate esters, and borate salts was developed under copper-mediated oxidative conditions using ammonium iodide and DMF as the source of nitrogen and carbon atom of the cyano unit, respectively. The procedure was successfully extended to the cyanation of electron-rich benzenes, and regioselective introduction of a cyano group at the arene C-H bonds was also achieved. The observation that the reaction proceeds via a two-step process, initial iodination and then cyanation, led us to propose that ammonium iodide plays a dual role to provide iodide and nitrogen atom of the cyano moiety.     

A novel synthesis of α,β-unsaturated nitriles from aromatic ketones via cyanophosphates

Reaction of aromatic ketones with diethyl phosphorocyanidate in the presence of lithium cyanide gave cyanophosphates, which were converted into α,β-unsaturated nitriles by treatment with boron trifluoride etherate in high yields.     

Synthesis of pyridine-borane complexes via electrophilic aromatic borylation

Pyridine-borane complexes were synthesized from 2-arylpyridines through an electrophilic aromatic borylation reaction with BBr(3). The intermediate 2-(2-dibromoborylaryl)pyridines were stable enough to be handled in air and served as the synthetic platform for variously substituted pyridine-borane complexes. This facile method would be useful for the synthesis of aza-π-conjugated materials having boron-nitrogen coordination.     

RuCl3-catalyzed alkenylation of aromatic C-H bonds with terminal alkynes

RuCl3-catalyzed regio- and/or stereoselective alkenylation reactions of a variety of arylpyridines proceeded efficiently with terminal alkynes or allylic compounds in the presence of benzoyl peroxide or benzoic acid.     

Cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds in aromatic nitriles using nickel(0)

The nickel(0) fragment [(dippe)Ni] has been found to react with a variety of aromatic nitriles. Initial pi-coordination to the C=C and Ctbd1;N bonds of 2-cyanoquinoline is found to lead ultimately to C-CN oxidative addition. 3-Cyanoquinoline reacts similarly, although no eta(2)-CN complex is observed. 2-, 3-, And 4-cyanopyridines react initially to give eta(2)-nitrile complexes that then lead to quantitative formation of C-CN oxidative addition products. Benzonitrile reacts similarly but undergoes reversible insertion into the Ph-CN bond to give an equilibrium mixture of Ni(II) and Ni(0) adducts. A series of para-substituted benzonitriles has been studied in terms of both the position of the equilibrium between (dippe)Ni(eta(2)-arylnitrile) right harpoon over left harpoon (dippe)Ni(CN)(aryl) and the rate of approach to equilibrium, and the Hammett plots indicate a buildup of negative charge at the ipso carbon both in the transition state and the Ni(II) product. Terephthalonitrile gives both eta(2)-nitrile and oxidative addition adducts, as well as dimetalated products. No C-C or C-N cleavage of the aromatic ring is seen with quinoline or acridine; only eta(2)-arene complexes are formed. The structures of many of these compounds are supported by X-ray data.     

Uncatalyzed polymerization of bistriazolinediones with electron-rich aromatic compounds via electrophilic aromatic substitution

The reaction of 4-substituted-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-diones(4R-TD's), i.e., MeTD(4-methyl substituted) and PhTD(4-Phenyl substituted) with electron rich aromatic compounds were investigated. N,N-Dimethylaniline undergoes reaction instantaneously with MeTD and PhTD. Electrophilic aromatic substitution occurred at room temperature at the para position without use of any catalyst. N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-m-phenylenediamine (TMPDA) undergoes reaction with 2 mol of PhTD and MeTD which lead to the formation of 2:1 adducts in high yields. These compounds were fully characterized by IR, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR and elemental analysis and were used as model compounds. The reaction of bistriazolinediones with TMPDA was performed in dimethylformamid at room temperature. The reactions are exothermic, fast, and gave novel polymer structures via electrophilic aromatic substitution. Some physical properties and structural characterization of these new polymers have been studied, and will be reported.