Synthesis of β‐Lactams by Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed C(sp3)−H Carbamoylation

A general and user‐friendly synthesis of β‐lactams is reported that makes use of Pd⁰‐catalyzed carbamoylation of C(sp³)−H bonds, and operates under stoichiometric carbon monoxide in a two‐chamber reactor. This reaction is compatible with a range of primary, secondary and activated tertiary C−H bonds, in contrast to previous methods based on C(sp³)−H activation. In addition, the feasibility of an enantioselective version using a chiral phosphonite ligand is demonstrated. Finally, this method can be employed to synthesize valuable enantiopure free β‐lactams and β‐amino acids.     

Catalytic Oxidative Trifluoromethoxylation of Allylic C−H Bonds Using a Palladium Catalyst

A catalytic intermolecular allylic C−H trifluoromethoxylation reaction of alkenes has been developed based on the use of a palladium catalyst, CsOCF₃ as the trifluoromethoxide source, and benzoquinone as the oxidant. This reaction provides an efficient route for directly accessing allylic trifluoromethoxy derivatives with excellent regioselectivities from terminal alkenes via an allylic C−H bond activation process.     

Thioamide‐Directed Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Selective Amidation of C(sp3)−H Bonds

A mild, oxidant‐free, and selective Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed amidation of thioamides with robust dioxazolone amidating agents via C(sp³)−H bond activation to generate the desired amidated products is reported. The method is efficient and allows for the C−H amidation of a wide range of functionalized thioamides with aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, and alkyl‐substituted dioxazolones under the Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed conditions. The observed regioselectivity towards primary C(sp³)−H activation is supported by computational studies and the cyclometalation is proposed to proceed by means of an external carboxylate‐assisted concerted metalation/deprotonation mechanism. The reported method is a rare example of the use of a directing group other than the commonly used pyridine and quinolone classes for Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed C(sp³)−H functionalization and the first to exploit thioamides.     

Ligand‐Enabled Alkynylation of C(sp3)−H Bonds with Palladium(II) Catalysts

The palladium(II)‐catalyzed β‐ and γ‐alkynylation of amide C(sp³)−H bonds is enabled by pyridine‐based ligands. This alkynylation reaction is compatible with substrates containing α‐tertiary or α‐quaternary carbon centers. The β‐methylene C(sp³)−H bonds of various carbocyclic rings were also successfully alkynylated.     

Cross‐Coupling of α‐Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylides with C−H Bonds

The functionalization of carbon–hydrogen bonds in non‐nucleophilic substrates using α‐carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides has not been so far investigated, despite the potential safety advantages that such reagents would provide over either diazo compounds or their in situ precursors. Described herein are the cross‐coupling reactions of sulfoxonium ylides with C(sp²)−H bonds of arenes and heteroarenes in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. The reaction proceeds by a succession of C−H activation, migratory insertion of the ylide into the carbon–metal bond, and protodemetalation, the last step being turnover‐limiting. The method is applied to the synthesis of benz[c]acridines when allied to an iridium‐catalyzed dehydrative cyclization.     

Ligand‐Promoted Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho‐C−H Amination with Free Amines

Ligand development for rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C−H activation reactions has largely been limited to cyclopentadienyl (Cp) based scaffolds. 2‐Methylquinoline has now been identified as a feasible ligand that can coordinate to the metal center of Cp*RhCl to accelerate the cleavage of the C−H bond of N ‐pentafluorophenylbenzamides, providing a new structural lead for ligand design. The compatibility of this reaction with secondary free amines and anilines also overcomes the limitations of palladium(II)‐catalyzed C−H amination reactions.     

Methylenecyclopropane Annulation by Manganese(I)‐Catalyzed Stereoselective C−H/C−C Activation

C−H/C−C functionalizations with methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) were accomplished with a versatile base‐metal catalyst. A robust manganese(I) complex enabled the expedient annulation of MCPs by synthetically meaningful ketimines to deliver, upon one‐pot hydroarylation, densely substituted polycylic anilines in a step‐economical fashion. Mechanistic studies provided strong support for a facile organometallic C−H manganation, while typical cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium catalysts were found completely ineffective.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective C(sp3)−H Alkynylation of Oligopeptides: A Linchpin Approach for Oligopeptide–Drug Conjugation

The palladium(II)‐catalyzed C(sp³)−H alkynylation of oligopeptides was developed with tetrabutylammonium acetate as a key additive. Through molecular design, the acetylene motif served as a linchpin to introduce a broad range of carbonyl‐containing pharmacophores onto oligopeptides, thus providing a chemical tool for the synthesis and modification of novel oligopeptide–pharmacophore conjugates by C−H functionalization. Dipeptide conjugates with coprostanol and estradiol were synthesized by this method for potential application in targeted drug delivery to tumor cells with overexpressed nuclear hormone receptors.     

Synthesis of Active Hexafluoroisopropyl Benzoates through a Hydrogen‐Bond‐Enabled Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C−H Alkoxycarbonylation Reaction

A Pd^II‐catalyzed ortho C−H alkoxycarbonylation reaction of aryl silanes toward active hexafluoroisopropyl (HFIP) benzoate esters has been developed. This efficient reaction features high selectivity and good functional‐group tolerance. Notably, given the general nature of the silyl‐tethered directing group, this method delivers products bearing two independently modifiable sites. NMR studies reveal the presence of hydrogen bonding between HFIP and a pyrimidine nitrogen atom of the directing group, and it is thought to be crucial for the success of this alkoxycarbonylation reaction.     

Visible Light Induced Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed C−H Borylation

An efficient visible light induced rhodium(I)‐catalyzed regioselective borylation of aromatic C?H bonds is reported. The photocatalytic system is based on a single NHC?Rh^I complex capable of both harvesting visible light and enabling the bond breaking/forming at room temperature. The chelating nature of the NHC‐carboxylate ligand was critical to ensure the stability of the Rh^I complex and to provide excellent photocatalytic activities. Experimental mechanistic studies evidenced a photooxidative ortho C?H bond addition upon irradiation with blue LEDs, leading to a cyclometalated Rh^III‐hydride intermediate.     

Direct Arylation of α‐Amino C(sp3)‐H Bonds by Convergent Paired Electrolysis

A metal‐free convergent paired electrolysis strategy to synthesize benzylic amines through direct arylation of tertiary amines and benzonitrile derivatives at room temperature has been developed. This TEMPO‐mediated electrocatalytic reaction makes full use of both anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction without metals or stoichiometric oxidants, thus showing great potential and advantages for practical synthesis. This convergent paired electrolysis method provides a straightforward and powerful means to activate C?H bonds and realize cross‐coupling with cathodically generated species.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Pyrazole‐Directed sp3 C−H Bond Arylation for the Synthesis of β‐Phenethylamines

We have developed a method for palladium‐catalyzed, pyrazole‐directed sp³ C−H bond arylation by aryl iodides. The reaction employs a Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst at 5–10 mol % loading and silver(I) oxide as a halide‐removal agent, and it proceeds in acetic acid or acetic acid/hexafluoroisopropanol solvent. Ozonolysis of the pyrazole moiety affords pharmaceutically important β‐phenethylamines.     

C−H Activation from Iron(II)‐Nitroxido Complexes

The reaction of nitroxyl radicals TEMPO (2,2′,6,6′‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl) and AZADO (2‐azaadamantane‐N‐oxyl) with an iron(I) synthon affords iron(II)‐nitroxido complexes (^ArL)Fe(κ¹‐TEMPO) and (^ArL)Fe(κ²‐N,O‐AZADO) (^ArL=1,9‐(2,4,6‐Ph₃C₆H₂)₂‐5‐mesityldipyrromethene). Both high‐spin iron(II)‐nitroxido species are stable in the absence of weak C−H bonds, but decay via N−O bond homolysis to ferrous or ferric iron hydroxides in the presence of 1,4‐cyclohexadiene. Whereas (^ArL)Fe(κ¹‐TEMPO) reacts to give a diferrous hydroxide [(^ArL)Fe]₂(μ‐OH)₂, the reaction of four‐coordinate (^ArL)Fe(κ²‐N,O‐AZADO) with hydrogen atom donors yields ferric hydroxide (^ArL)Fe(OH)(AZAD). Mechanistic experiments reveal saturation behavior in C−H substrate and are consistent with rate‐determining hydrogen atom transfer.     

Photoredox‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective α‐C(sp3)−H Alkylation of Primary Amine Derivatives

The synthetic utility of tertiary amines to oxidatively generate α‐amino radicals is well established, however, primary amines remain challenging because of competitive side reactions. This report describes the site‐selective α‐functionalization of primary amine derivatives through the generation of α‐amino radical intermediates. Employing visible‐light photoredox catalysis, primary sulfonamides are coupled with electron‐deficient alkenes to efficiently and mildly construct C?C bonds. Interestingly, a divergence between intermolecular hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT) catalysis and intramolecular [1,5] HAT was observed through precise manipulation of the protecting group. This dichotomy was leveraged to achieve excellent α/δ site‐selectivity.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed para‐Selective C−H Alkylation of Aniline Derivatives

The para ‐selective C−H alkylation of aniline derivatives furnished with a pyrimidine auxiliary is herein reported. This reaction is proposed to take place via an N−H‐activated cyclometalate formed in situ. Experimental and DFT mechanistic studies elucidate a dual role of the ruthenium catalyst. Here the ruthenium catalyst can undergo cyclometalation by N−H metalation (as opposed to C−H metalation in meta ‐selective processes) and form a redox active ruthenium species, to enable site‐selective radical addition at the para position.     

Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative C−H Activation: Versatile Routes to meta‐Alkenylated Arenes

Ruthenium(II) bis(carboxylate)s proved highly effective for two decarboxylative C−H alkenylation strategies. The decarboxylation proceeded efficiently at rather low temperatures. The unique versatility of the decarboxylative ruthenium(II) catalysis is reflected in the oxidative olefinations with alkenes as well as the redox‐neutral hydroarylations of alkynes.     

Carbonylation of C−N Bonds in Tertiary Amines Catalyzed by Low‐Valent Iron Catalysts

The first iron catalysts able to promote the formal insertion of CO into the C?N bond of amines are reported. Using low‐valent iron complexes, including K₂[Fe(CO)₄], amides are formed from aromatic and aliphatic amines, in the presence of an iodoalkane promoter. Inorganic Lewis acids, such as AlCl₃ and Nd(OTf)₃, have a positive influence on the catalytic activity of the iron salts, enabling the carbonylation at a low pressure of CO (6 to 8 bars).