Gold‐Catalyzed Direct Oxidative Arylation with Boron Coupling Partners

An efficient synthesis of biaryls through a gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐coupling of arenes with strong electron‐deprived aryl boronates is presented herein. Regio‐ and chemocontrol are achieved by the selective activation of these coupling partners by gold at different oxidation states. Under reaction conditions devoid of basic additives or directing groups, the role of acetato ligand as an internal base has been revealed as a key parameter for expanding the reaction scope in these transformations.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cadiot–Chodkiewicz‐type Cross‐Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Alkynyl Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Highly Selective Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 1,3‐Diynes

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3‐butadiynes by gold‐catalyzed C(sp)–C(sp) cross‐coupling of terminal alkynes with alkynyl hypervalent iodine(III) reagents has been developed. The reaction features high selectivity and efficiency, mild reaction conditions, wide substrate scope, and functional‐group compatibility, and is a highly attractive complement to existing methods. Mechanistic studies reveal that formation of a phenanthrolinyl‐ligated gold(I) complex is crucial for the efficiency and selectivity of the target transformation.     

Engaging Aldehydes in CuH‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling Reactions: Stereoselective Allylation with Unactivated 1,3‐Diene Pronucleophiles

Recently, CuH‐catalyzed reductive coupling processes involving carbonyl compounds and imines have become attractive alternatives to traditional methods for stereoselective addition because of their ability to use readily accessible and stable olefins as surrogates for organometallic nucleophiles. However, the inability to use aldehydes, which usually reduce too rapidly in the presence of copper hydride complexes to be viable substrates, has been a major limitation. Shown here is that by exploiting relative concentration effects through kinetic control, this intrinsic reactivity can be inverted and the reductive coupling of 1,3‐dienes with aldehydes achieved. Using this method, both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes can be transformed into synthetically valuable homoallylic alcohols with high levels of diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities, and in the presence of many useful functional groups. Furthermore, using a combination of theoretical (DFT) and experimental methods, important mechanistic features of this reaction related to stereo‐ and chemoselectivities were uncovered.     

Synthesis of Lithium Boracarbonate Ion Pairs by Copper‐Catalyzed Multi‐Component Coupling of Carbon Dioxide,Diboron, and Aldehydes

The catalytic selective multi‐component coupling of CO₂, bis(pinacolato)diboron, LiOtBu, and a wide range of aldehydes has been achieved for the first time by using an NHC‐copper catalyst. This transformation has efficiently afforded a series of novel lithium cyclic boracarbonate ion pair compounds in high yields from readily available starting materials. This protocol has not only provided a new catalytic process for the utilization of CO₂, but it has also constituted a novel route for the efficient synthesis of a new class of lithium borate compounds that might be of interest as potential electrolyte candidates for lithium ion batteries.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Formyl‐Selective Deuteration of Aldehydes

We report the first direct catalytic method for formyl‐selective deuterium labeling of aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions, using an iridium‐based catalyst designed to favor formyl over aromatic C−H activation. A good range of aromatic aldehydes is selectively labeled, and a one‐pot labeling/olefination method is also described. Computational studies support kinetic product control over competing aromatic labeling and decarbonylation pathways.     

Catalytic Synthesis of N‐Unprotected Piperazines,Morpholines, and Thiomorpholines from Aldehydes and SnAP Reagents

Commercially available SnAP (stannyl amine protocol) reagents allow the transformation of aldehydes and ketones into a variety of N‐unprotected heterocycles. By identifying new ligands and reaction conditions, a robust catalytic variant that expands the substrate scope to previously inaccessible heteroaromatic substrates and new substitution patterns was realized. It also establishes the basis for a catalytic enantioselective process through the use of chiral ligands.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Direct Hydrogenative Coupling of Nitroarenes To Synthesize Aromatic Azo Compounds

The azo linkage is a prominent chemical motif which has found numerous applications in materials science, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Described herein is a sustainable heterogeneous‐gold‐catalyzed synthesis of azo arenes. Available nitroarenes are deoxygenated and linked selectively by the formation of N?N bonds using molecular H₂ without any external additives. As a result of a unique and remarkable synergy between the metal and support, a facile surface‐mediated condensation of nitroso and hydroxylamine intermediates is enabled, and the desired transformation proceeds in a highly selective manner under mild reaction conditions. The protocol tolerates a large variety of functional groups and offers a general and versatile method for the environmentally friendly synthesis of symmetric or asymmetric aromatic azo compounds.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,3‐Diaminopyrazoles from 1‐Alkynyltriazenes and Imines

A new procedure for the synthesis of highly substituted 1,3‐diaminopyrazoles is described. As substrates, we have employed 1‐alkynyltriazenes and imines. The formation of pyrazoles was achieved by two‐fold C–N coupling reactions in the presence of (JohnPhos)AuCl and AgNT f₂ as catalyst precursors. The regioselectivity of the reaction was inferred from a crystallographic analysis of one reaction product.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Remote Aryldifluoroalkylation of Alkenyl Aldehydes

A palladium‐catalyzed three‐component reaction between fluoroalkyl bromides, arylboronic acids, and alkenyl aldehydes has been developed and provides facile access to 5‐, 6‐, or 7‐difluoroalkylated ketones under very mild reaction conditions. The resultant products can be smoothly converted into CF₂‐containing tetrahydronaphthalenes by a novel silver‐catalyzed intramolecular decarboxylative cyclization of 5‐aryl‐2,2‐difluoropentanoic acids.