Nickel‐Catalyzed Oxidative C−H/N−H Isocyanide Insertion: An Efficient Synthesis of Iminoisoindolinone Derivatives

Transition metal‐catalyzed isocyanide insertion has served as a fundamental and important chemical transformation. Classical isocyanide insertion usually occurs between organohalides and nucleophiles, which normally involves tedious and non‐atom‐economical prefunctionalization processes. However, oxidative C?H/N?H isocyanide insertion offers an efficient and green alternative. Herein, a nickel‐catayzed oxidative C?H/N?H isocyanide insertion of aminoquinoline benzamides has been developed. Different kinds of iminoisoindolinone derivatives could be synthesized in good yields by utilizing Ni(acac)₂ as the catalyst. In this transformation, isocyanide serves as an efficient C1 connector, which further inserted into two simple nucleophiles (C?H/N?H), representing an effective way to construct heterocycles.     

Design of New Ligands for the Palladium‐Catalyzed Arylation of α‐Branched Secondary Amines

In Pd‐catalyzed C? N cross‐coupling reactions, α‐branched secondary amines are difficult coupling partners and the desired products are often produced in low yields. In order to provide a robust method for accessing N‐aryl α‐branched tertiary amines, new catalysts have been designed to suppress undesired side reactions often encountered when these amine nucleophiles are used. These advances enabled the arylation of a wide array of sterically encumbered amines, highlighting the importance of rational ligand design in facilitating challenging Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Oxidative C−C and N−N Coupling of Diarylamines and Synthesis of Spiroacridines

We describe iron‐catalyzed intermolecular oxidative coupling reactions of diarylamines to form substituted 2,2′‐bis(arylamino)biaryl compounds, tetraarylhydrazines, and 5,6‐dihydrobenzo[c ]cinnolines with the same hexadecafluorinated iron–phthalocyanine catalyst. The mild formation of C−C or N−N bonds was controlled by the use of acidic or basic additives. In contrast to most iron‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling reactions, ambient air could be used as the sole oxidant. Moreover, iron(III) chloride hexahydrate promoted a one‐pot coupling and subsequent intramolecular dearomative coupling to give 10H ‐spiro[acridine‐9,1′‐cyclohexa‐2′,5′‐dien‐4′‐ones].     

Nitroxyl‐Radical‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Amides with Silylated Nucleophiles through N‐Halogenation

A nitroxyl‐radical‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction between amines with an N‐protecting electron‐withdrawing group (EWG) and silylated nucleophiles was developed to furnish coupling products in high yields, thus opening up new frontiers in organocatalyzed reactions. This reaction proceeded through the activation of N‐halogenated amides by a nitroxyl‐radical catalyst, followed by carbon–carbon coupling with silylated nucleophiles. Studies of the reaction mechanism indicated that the nitroxyl radical activates N‐halogenated amides, which are generated from N‐EWG‐protected amides and a halogenation reagent, to give the corresponding imines.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Tandem 1,3‐Acyloxy Migration/Mannich‐type Addition/Elimination of the Sulfonyl Group of N‐Sulfonylhydrazone‐propargylic Esters to 5,6‐Dihydropyridazin‐4‐one Derivatives

The addition of nucleophiles to C?N bonds offers a highly efficient synthetic strategy for accessing nitrogen‐containing molecules. 1 Among the well‐developed addition reactions, such as the highly efficient Mannich reaction, various C? H bond‐activated compounds including carboxylic acid derivatives, nitroalkanes, and terminal alkynes have been applied as nucleophiles to achieve different classes of amines. 2 However, employing new nucleophiles without activated C? H bonds, such as internal alkynes and allenic esters are limited when using metal catalysts. 3 Herein, we wish to report a new addition of allenic esters to C?N bonds initiated by a silver‐catalyzed 1,3‐migration of propargylic esters.     

Metal‐free Synthesis of Aryl Amines: Beyond Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

A mild and metal‐free approach to C?N coupling is described that employs diaryliodonium salt electrophiles and secondary aliphatic amine nucleophiles. This reaction results in direct ipso‐substitution of the iodonium moiety and unsymmetrical aryl(TMP)iodonium salts are primarily employed. Moreover, arene substituents and substitution patterns that currently pose a challenge to classical metal‐free methods are accommodated and the alicyclic amine nucleophiles used here are unprecedented in other contemporary metal‐free C?N coupling reactions.     

Applications of Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution in Total Synthesis of Natural Products: An Update

Metal‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution (AAS) reaction is one of the most synthetically useful reactions catalyzed by metal complexes for the formation of carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bonds. It comprises the substitution of allylic substrates with a wide range of nucleophiles or S_N2′‐type allylic substitution, which results in the formation of the above‐mentioned bonds with high levels of enantioselective induction. AAS reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups, thus has been successfully applied in the asymmetric synthesis of a wide range of optically pure compounds. This reaction has been extensively used in the total synthesis of several complex molecules, especially natural products. In this review, we try to highlight the applications of metal (Pd, Ir, Mo, or Cu)‐catalyzed AAS reaction in the total synthesis of the biologically active natural products, as a key step, updating the subject from 2003 till date.     

Scalable Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Aryl C−H Phosphorylation Enabled by Anodic Oxidation Induced Reductive Elimination

Transition metal catalyzed C?H phosphorylation remains an unsolved challenge. Reported methods are generally limited in scope and require stoichiometric silver salts as oxidants. Reported here is an electrochemically driven Rh^III‐catalyzed aryl C?H phosphorylation reaction that proceeds through H₂ evolution, obviating the need for stoichiometric metal oxidants. The method is compatible with a variety of aryl C?H and P?H coupling partners and particularly useful for synthesizing triarylphosphine oxides from diarylphosphine oxides, which are often difficult coupling partners for transition metal catalyzed C?H phosphorylation reactions. Experimental results suggest that the mechanism responsible for the C?P bond formation involves an oxidation‐induced reductive elimination process.     

Copper(I) Oxide Catalyzed Formation of C?S Bond Mediated by N,N′‐Type Ligand

1,10‐Phenanthroline, a simple and cheap N,N′‐type ligand, was found to work well as the ligand of C? S coupling catalyzed by Cu₂O. The corresponding coupling products were synthesized in good to excellent yields (75%–99%) in DMSO at 80°C. A variety of aryl halides and thiols were investigated and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Formal Sonogashira Coupling and α‐Carbonyl Arylation Reactions

Transition‐metal‐free formal Sonogashira coupling and α‐carbonyl arylation reactions have been developed. These transformations are based on the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) of β‐carbonyl sulfones to electron‐deficient aryl fluorides, producing a key intermediate that, depending on the reaction conditions, gives the aromatic alkynes or α‐aryl carbonyl compounds. The development of these reactions is presented and, based on investigations under basic and acidic conditions, mechanisms have been proposed. To develop the formal Sonogashira coupling further, a milder, two‐step protocol is also disclosed that expands the reaction concept. The scope of these reactions is demonstrated for the synthesis of Sonogashira and α‐carbonyl arylated products from a range of electron‐deficient aryl fluorides with a variety of functional groups and aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, alkyl‐, and alkoxy‐substituted sulfone nucleophiles. These transition‐metal‐free reactions complement the metal‐catalyzed versions in terms of substitution patterns, simplicity, and reaction conditions.     

Metal‐Free Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling (CDC): Molecular Iodine as a Versatile Catalyst/Reagent for CDC Reactions

The development of ecofriendly methods for carbon–carbon (C?C) and carbon–heteroatom (C?Het) bond formation is of great significance in modern‐day research. Metal‐free cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) has emerged as an important tool for organic and medicinal chemists as a means to form C?C and C?Het bonds, as it is atom economical and more efficient and greener than transition‐metal catalyzed CDC reactions. Molecular iodine (I₂) is recognized as an inexpensive, environmentally benign, and easy‐to‐handle catalyst or reagent to pursue CDCs under mild reaction conditions, with good regioselectivities and broad substrate compatibility. This review presents the recent developments of I₂‐catalyzed C?C, C?N, C?O, and C?S/C?Se bond‐forming reactions for the synthesis of various important organic molecules by cross‐dehydrogenative coupling.     

InI3‐ or ZnI2‐Catalyzed Reaction of Hydroxylated 1,5‐Allenynes with Thiols: A New Access to 3,5‐Disubstituted Toluene Derivatives

Transition‐metal‐activated alkynes or allenes can accept nucleophilic attack and undergo direct addition of the nucleophiles to the unsaturated bonds or trigger subsequent rearrangement reactions. This chemistry has witnessed increasing development in recent years. In this report, we have focused on the metal‐catalyzed reactions of a variety of substituted propargyl allenic alcohols and thiophenols using indium(III) and zinc(II) catalysts, which can activate both the alcohol and alkyne. In this reaction, thio groups play the role of a nucleophile and trigger subsequent rearrangements to give benzene derivatives. The products can be further transformed into various 1,3,5‐trisubstituted aromatic compounds by nickel‐catalyzed coupling reactions through the cleavage of the C? S bonds.     

Anilines as C‐Nucleophiles in Ir‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions

Anilines generally act as N‐nucleophiles in transition‐metal‐catalyzed allylic substitution reactions. In this paper, a highly enantioselective intramolecular Friedel–Crafts‐type allylic alkylation of aniline derivatives was realized by using an iridium catalyst derived from [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and (R _a)‐BHPphos. Various tetrahydroisoquinilin‐5‐amines were obtained in moderate to good yields, excellent enantioselectivity and regioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. BHPphos=N ‐benzhydryl‐N ‐phenyldinaphthophosphoramidite.     

Highly modulated bisindoles: ligands for copper‐catalyzed Sonogashira reaction

Bisindoles (BIMs) were modulated as powerful N,N′ donor ligands for the copper‐catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. Ligand screening experiments on 11 BIM compounds found that 3,3′‐(4‐chlorophenyl)methylenebis(1‐methyl‐1H‐indole) (10%) efficiently accelerated CuCl (5%)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl iodides with terminal alkynes. A wide range of substituted aryl iodides and/or alkyl‐ and aryl‐substituted terminal alkynes were examined, leading to the corresponding coupling products with yields up to 99%. An efficient and scalable protocol for the synthesis of BIM ligands on a gram scale, with extremely low catalyst loading of o‐ClC₆H₄NH₃⁺Cl^?, was also developed with a reaction time of 20 min with yields up to 93%. This novel N,N′ ligand was air‐stable, easily available and highly modulated with low copper loading. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Amidation of Aryl Iodides in the Presence of Various Chelating Ligands

N,N′‐Dibenzylethylenediamine is presented as a new, efficient, and versatile bidentate ligand suitable for the copper catalyzed formation of the C‐N bond. This bidentate ligand has been demonstrated to facilitate the copper catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions of aryl iodides with amides to afford the desired products in good to excellent yields.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of o‐Carboranyl with Aryl Iodides: Facile Synthesis of 1‐Aryl‐o‐Carboranes and 1,2‐Diaryl‐o‐Carboranes

A nickel‐catalyzed arylation at the carbon center of o‐carborane cages has been developed, thus leading to the preparation of a series of 1‐aryl‐o‐carboranes and 1,2‐diaryl‐o‐carboranes in high yields upon isolation. This method represents the first example of transition metal catalyzed C,C′‐diarylation by cross‐coupling reactions of o‐carboranyl with aryl iodides.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of N–C Axially Chiral Compounds by Cu‐Catalyzed Atroposelective Aryl Amination

N?C axially chiral compounds have emerged recently as appealing motifs for drug design. However, the enantioselective synthesis of such molecules is still poorly developed and surprisingly no metal‐catalyzed atroposelective N‐arylations have been described. Herein, we disclose an unprecedented Cu‐catalyzed atroposelective N?C coupling that proceeds at room temperature. Such mild reaction conditions, which are a crucial parameter for atropostability of the newly generated products, are operative thanks to the use of hypervalent iodine reagents as a highly reactive coupling partners. A large panel of the N?C axially chiral compounds was afforded with very high enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee) and good yields (up to 76 %). Post‐modifications of thus accessed atropisomeric compounds allows further expansion of the diversity of these appealing compounds.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Synthesis and Applications of Yndiamides

The first synthetic route to yndiamides, a novel class of double aza‐substituted alkyne, has been established by the copper(I)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of 1,1‐dibromoenamides with nitrogen nucleophiles. The utility of these compounds is demonstrated in a range of transition‐metal‐catalyzed and acid‐catalyzed transformations to afford a wide variety of 1,2‐diamide functionalized products.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Coupling of Cycloalkanes and Amides

Carbonylation reactions are a most powerful method for the synthesis of carbonyl‐containing compounds. However, most known carbonylation procedures still require noble‐metal catalysts and the use of activated compounds and good nucleophiles as substrates. Herein, we developed a copper‐catalyzed carbonylative transformation of cycloalkanes and amides. Imides were prepared in good yields by carbonylation of a C(sp³)?H bond of the cycloalkane with the amides acting as weak nucleophiles. Notably, this is the first report of copper‐catalyzed carbonylative C?H activation.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Intermolecular 1,2‐Difunctionalization of Styrenes and Conjugated Alkenes with Silanes and Nucleophiles

The first iron‐catalyzed 1,2‐difunctionalization of styrenes and conjugated alkenes with silanes and either N or C, using an oxidative radical strategy, is described. Employing FeCl₂ and di‐tert ‐butyl peroxide allows divergent alkene 1,2‐difunctionalizations, including 1,2‐aminosilylation, 1,2‐arylsilylation, and 1,2‐alkylsilylation, which rely on a wide range of nucleophiles, namely, amines, amides, indoles, pyrroles, and 1,3‐dicarbonyls, thus providing a powerful platform for producing diverse silicon‐containing alkanes.