Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Quinoline N‐Oxides with Vinylarenes

An asymmetric copper‐catalyzed alkylation of quinoline N ‐oxides with chiral Cu–alkyl species, generated by migratory insertion of a vinylarene into a chiral Cu−H complex, is reported. A variety of quinoline N ‐oxides and vinylarenes underwent this Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective alkylation reaction, affording the corresponding chiral alkylated N‐heteroarenes in high yield with high‐to‐excellent enantioselectivity. This enantioselective protocol represents the first general and practical approach to access a wide range of chiral alkylated quinolines.     

Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Methoxy Methoxycarbonylation of Alkenes with Methyl Formate

Reported here is a copper‐catalyzed 1,2‐methoxy methoxycarbonylation of alkenes by an unprecedented use of methyl formate as a source of both the methoxy and the methoxycarbonyl groups. This reaction transforms styrene and its derivatives into value‐added β‐methoxy alkanoates and cinnamates, as well as medicinally important five‐membered heterocycles, such as functionalized tetrahydrofurans, γ‐lactones, and pyrrolidines. A ternary β‐diketiminato‐Cu^I‐styrene complex, fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallographic analysis, is capable of catalyzing the same transformation. These findings suggest that pre‐coordination of electron‐rich alkenes to copper might play an important role in accelerating the addition of nucleophilic radicals to electron‐rich alkenes, and could have general implications in the design of novel radical‐based transformations.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of (Hetero)Aryl Alkyl Sulfones from (Hetero)Aryl Boronic Acids,Unactivated Alkyl Halides,and Potassium Metabisulfite

A palladium‐catalyzed one‐step synthesis of (hetero)aryl alkyl sulfones from (hetero)arylboronic acids, potassium metabisulfite, and unactivated or activated alkylhalides is described. This transformation is of broad scope, occurs under mild conditions, and employs readily available reactants. A stoichiometric experiment has led to the isolation of a catalytically active dimeric palladium sulfinate complex, which was characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Borylacylation of Activated Alkenes with Acid Chlorides

A method for the copper‐catalyzed borylacylation of activated alkenes is presented. The reaction involves borylcupration of the alkene, followed by capture of the generated alkyl–copper intermediate with an acid chloride. The reactions operated with low catalyst loading and generally occurre within 15 min at room temperature for a range of activated alkenes. In the case of vinyl arenes, enantioselective borylacylation was possible.     

Photoinduced Copper‐Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Indoles: Three‐Component Coupling of Arylamines,Terminal Alkynes,and Quinones

The first successful example of a visible‐light‐induced copper‐catalyzed process for C H annulation of arylamines with terminal alkynes and benzoquinone is described. This three‐component reaction allows use of a variety of commercial terminal alkynes as coupling partners for the one‐step regioselective synthesis of functionalized indoles. Moreover, the current process represents a sustainable and atom‐economical approach for the preparation of complex indoles from easily accessible starting materials under visible‐light irradiation, without the need for expensive metals and harsh reaction conditions.     

Enantioselective Generation of Adjacent Stereocenters in a Copper‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Coupling of Imines,Allenes, and Diboranes

A highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective copper‐catalyzed three‐component coupling affords the first general synthesis of homoallylic amines bearing adjacent stereocenters from achiral starting materials. The method utilizes a commercially available NHC ligand and copper source, operates at ambient temperature, couples readily available simple imines, allenes, and diboranes, and yields high‐value homoallylic amines that exhibit versatile amino, alkenyl, and boryl units.