Reactivity control in palladium-catalyzed reactions: a personal account

Several classes of palladium-catalyzed reactions are summarized as the author's personal account. These include allylic oxidation, diastereo- and enantio-controlled allylic substitution, transmetalation of organomercurials, stereoselective rearrangements, and development of new ligands for amination of aryl halides and for asymmetric Heck addition.     

Direct palladium/carboxylic acid-catalyzed allylation of anilines with allylic alcohols in water

The direct activation of C-O bonds in allylic alcohols in water as a suspension medium by palladium complexes has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of a carboxylic acid. The palladium-catalyzed allylation of anilines using allylic alcohols directly gave allylic anilines in good yields.     

Microwave-promoted synthesis of amino-substituted 2-pyridone derivatives via palladium-catalyzed amination reaction

A rapid and efficient synthesis of amino-substituted 2-pyridones was demonstrated by palladium-catalyzed amination reaction under microwave irradiation. This high-speed synthesis provided a number of amino-substituted 2-pyridones from the corresponding bromo-2-benzyloxypyridines via palladium-catalyzed amination followed by hydrogenolysis of benzyl ether.     

A convenient, large-scale synthesis of 4′-carboxamido N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-phenylalanines

A large-scale synthesis of a series of 4′-carboxamido N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-phenylalanines is described. This method features mild reaction conditions and high chemical yields from commercially available N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester.     

First Kumada reaction of alkyl chlorides using N-heterocyclic carbene/palladium catalyst systems

For the first time it is shown that N-heterocyclic carbenes are suitable ligands for the palladium-catalyzed coupling of alkyl chlorides with aryl Grignard reagents. A variety of simple as well as functionalized primary alkyl chlorides provide the corresponding alkyl benzenes in general in good to very good yield. By comparing the 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) palladium(0) naphthoquinone complex with the previously known palladium phosphine catalyst for the model coupling reaction of 1-chlorohexane with phenylmagnesium bromide it is demonstrated that the new catalyst system is superior.     

Orientation effects on C2(5)-C2'(5')linked bioxazole isomers synthesized via regioselective and sequential C—H arylation

Bis(4-fluorophenyl) substituted oxazole(2,5-Oxz) and C2(5)-C2'(5') linked bioxazole isomers(C2-C2'_BOxz,C2-C5'_BOxz and C5-C5'_BOxz) were concisely synthesized via palladium-catalyzed regioselective and sequential C-H arylation in 1-3 reaction steps along with 20%-83% of total yields from oxazole and4-bromofluorobenzene.The linking orientation plays a key role in the packing geometry and photophysical properties of C2-C2'_BOxz,C2-C5'_BOxz and C5-C5'_BOxz.These bioxazole isomers in solid state showed significant differences in photoluminescence quantum yields(PLQY)(0.33,0.25 and 0.04,respectively),delayed fluorescence properties and powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD) patterns,suggesting the divergence in intermolecular interactions.The theoretically calculated gradient isosurfaces and complexation energies indicate the existence of intense π-π interactions between molecular layers,which are in good agreement with the variation trend of optical properties.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling of 2-arylquinazolinones

Pd-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling of 2-arylquinazolinones was successfully developed for the direct construction of biaryls via C-H bond activation. New well-defined structure that possessed two quinazolinone units was obtained with high efficiency and atomic economy. The protocols offer an efficient approach to the synthetically useful and functionalized biaryls in good yields using quinazolinone as a directing group.     

An exceptional palladium-catalyzed alkenylation of silyl enol ether in the absence of a fluoride additive

An exceptional intramolecular palladium-catalyzed alkenylation of silyl enol ether in the absence of a fluoride additive was developed, and this reaction led to the construction of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system in reasonable yield. In this type of reactions, trialkylamines were employed as additives instead of previously indispensable fluoride additives.     

Synthesis of Pyrrolidine Derivatives by the Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization of N-(2-Cyclohexenyl)bromoacetamide Derivatives

N-(2-Cyclohexenyl)bromoacetamide derivatives underwent intramolecular cyclization to give pyrrolidine derivatives in the presence of a base and a catalytic amount of palladium catalyst.     

Palladium-catalyzed mono-γ-arylation of 7-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin

Herein, we report the selective mono-γ-arylation of 7-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin under palladium-catalyzed conditions. The Buchwald G3 pre-catalyst in conjunction with either the Xantphos or N-Xantphos ligand proves to be highly reactive, engaging aryl iodides, bromides, chlorides, and triflates to effect the desired transformation. A wide range of functionality is tolerated, including the ability to activate heteroaryl halides in the transformation. The initial scope of aryl halides and limitations of this methodology are presented.