meta-Nitration of Arenes Bearing ortho/para Directing Group(s) Using C−H Borylation

Herein, we report the meta-nitration of arenes bearing ortho/para directing group(s) using the iridium-catalyzed C−H borylation reaction followed by a newly developed copper(II)-catalyzed transformation of the crude aryl pinacol boronate esters into the corresponding nitroarenes in a one-pot fashion. This protocol allows the synthesis of meta-nitrated arenes that are tedious to prepare or require multistep synthesis using the existing methods. The reaction tolerates a wide array of ortho/para-directing groups, such as −F, −Cl, −Br, −CH₃, −Et, −iPr −OCH₃, and −OCF₃. It also provides regioselective access to the nitro derivatives of π-electron-deficient heterocycles, such as pyridine and quinoline derivatives. The application of this method is demonstrated in the late-stage modification of complex molecules and also in the gram-scale preparation of an intermediate en route to the FDA-approved drug Nilotinib. Finally, we have shown that the nitro product obtained by this strategy can also be directly converted to the aniline or hindered amine through Baran's amination protocol.     

Catalytic C−H/C−F Coupling of Azoles and Acyl Fluorides

A method for the palladium/copper-catalyzed direct acylation of azoles with acyl fluorides is described. This study reports the first examples of acyl fluorides being used as acylation reagents in transition-metal-catalyzed aromatic C−H bond functionalization reactions. Depending on the reaction temperature, decarbonylative coupling may also occur. Mechanistic studies suggest that the cleavage of the aromatic C−H bond, promoted by a copper-phosphine species, is not the rate-limiting step of this acylation.     

PtII-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Terminal Aliphatic C(sp3)−H Bonds with Molecular Oxygen

The practical application of Shilov-type Pt catalysis to the selective hydroxylation of terminal aliphatic C−H bonds remains a formidable challenge, due to difficulties in replacing Pt^IV with a more economically viable oxidant, particularly O₂. We report the potential of employing FeCl₂ as a suitable redox mediator to overcome the kinetic hurdles related to the direct use of O₂ in the Pt reoxidation. For the selective conversion of butyric acid to γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a significantly enhanced catalyst activity and stability (turnover numbers (TON)>30) were achieved under 20 bar O₂ in comparison to current state-of-the-art systems (TON<10). In this regard, essential reaction parameters affecting the overall activity were identified, along with specific additives to attain catalyst stability at longer reaction times. Notably, deactivation by reduction to Pt⁰ was prevented by the addition of monodentate pyridine derivatives, such as 2-fluoropyridine, but also by introducing varying partial pressures of N₂ in the gaseous atmosphere. Finally, stability tests revealed the involvement of Pt^II and FeCl₂ in catalyzing the non-selective overoxidation of GHB. Accordingly, in situ esterification with boric acid proved to be a suitable strategy to maintain enhanced selectivities at much higher conversions (TON>60). Altogether, a useful catalytic system for the selective hydroxylation of primary aliphatic C−H bonds with O₂ is presented.     

Glycopeptides by Linch-Pin C−H Activations for Peptide-Carbohydrate Conjugation by Manganese(I)-Catalysis

Late-stage C−H glycosylations of structurally complex amino acids and peptides were accomplished by means of racemization-free manganese(I)-catalyzed C−H activation. Thus, glycosylative modifications proved to be viable by a linch-pin approach, featuring chemo- and site-selective C−H transformations. The peptide–saccharide conjugation provided modular access to structurally complex glycopeptides, likewise enabling the assembly of fluorescent-labelled glycopeptides.     

Direct meta-C−H Perfluoroalkenylation of Arenes Enabled by a Cleavable Pyrimidine-Based Template

The development of efficient and mild methods for the synthesis of organofluorine compounds is of foremost interest in various fields of chemistry. A direct pyrimidine-based selective meta-C−H perfluoroalkenylation of arenes involving several commercially available perfluoroolefins is described. The synthetic versatility of the protocol is demonstrated by an extensive substrate scope including different benzylsulfonyl, alkylarene and phenylacetic acid scaffolds. The generality of this methodology including the meta-C−H perfluoroalkenylation of Ibuprofen, the facile cleavage of the directing group and gram-scale reactions are presented.     

Multiple C−H Bond Activations in Corannulene by a Dirhenium Complex

The reaction of Re₂(CO)₈(μ-C₆H₅)(μ-H), 1 with corannulene (C₂₀H₁₀) yielded the product Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-C₂₀H₉), 2 (65 % yield) containing a Re₂ metalated corannulene ligand formed by loss of benzene from 1 and the activation of one of the CH bonds of the nonplanar corannulene molecule by an oxidative-addition to 1 . The corannulenyl ligand has adopted a bridging η²-σ+π coordination to the Re₂(CO)₈ grouping. Compound 2 reacts with a second equivalent of 1 to yield three isomeric doubly metalated corannulene products: Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-μ-η²-10,11-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 3 (35 % yield), Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-2,1-μ-η²-10,11-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 4 (12 % yield), and Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H)(μ-η²-1,2-μ-η²-11,10-C₂₀H₈)Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H), 5 (12 % yield), by a second CH activation on a second rim double bond on the corannulene molecule. The isomers differ by the relative orientations of the coordinated Re₂(CO)₈(μ-H) groupings. All new products were characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Reversible C=C Bond Activation by an Intramolecularly Coordinated Antimony(I) Compound

The reaction of N,C,N-chelated stibinidene ArSb ( 1 ) (Ar=C₆H₃-2,6-(CH=NtBu)₂) with selected N-alkyl/aryl-maleimides RN(C(O)CH)₂ (R=Me, tBu, Ph) gave the addition products with bridged bicyclic [2.2.1] structure containing an antimony atom at the bridgehead position, fused with a 6-membered benzene and a 5-membered N-alkyl/aryl-pyrrolidine ring. These compounds were completely characterized. More importantly, additional studies showed that these reactions are reversible in solution, thereby representing an unprecedented reversible activation of a C=C bond by an antimony(I) compound.     

Intramolecular Nitrene Insertion into Saturated C−H-Bond-Mediated C−N Bond Cleavage of a Coordinated NHC Ligand

Ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a tridentate bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand reacted with iminoiodanes (PhI=NR) resulting in the formation of isolable ruthenium(III)–amido intermediates, which underwent cleavage of a C−N bond of the tridentate ligand and formation of an N-substituted imine group. The Ru^III–amido intermediates have been characterized by ¹H NMR, UV/Vis, ESI-MS, and X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations were performed to provide insight into the reaction mechanism.     

Direct C−H Carbamoylation of Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles

Nucleophilic radical additions at innately electrophilic C(sp²) centers are perfectly suited for the direct functionalization of heterocycles. Using bench stable and commercially available alkyl oxamate and oxamic acid derivatives in combination with photoredox catalysis, a direct carbamoylation of heterocycles yielding amide functionalized pharmacophores in a single step is reported. The reaction conditions reported are compatible with structurally complex heterocyclic substrates of pharmaceutical interest. Notably, derivatives containing functional groups incompatible with standard amidation reactions, such as carboxylic acids and unprotected amines, were found to be amenable to this reaction paradigm.     

Synthesis of Seven-Membered Benzolactones by Nickel-Catalyzed C−H Coupling of Benzamides with Oxetanes

A NiCl₂(PEt₃)₂-catalyzed regioselective C−H coupling of 8-aminoquinoline-derived benzamides with oxetanes has been developed. The reaction proceeds with concomitant removal of the 8-aminoquinoline auxiliary to directly form the corresponding seven-membered benzolactones, which frequently occur in natural products and bioactive molecules. Additionally, no stereochemical erosion is observed during the course of the reaction, and the use of enantioenriched and substituted oxetane thus provides a new avenue to the optically active benzolactone.