Hui-Xiong Dai

Divergent C–H Functionalizations Directed by Sulfonamide Pharmacophores: Late-Stage Diversification as a Tool for Drug Discovery

Modern drug discovery is contingent on identifying lead compounds and rapidly synthesizing analogues. The use of a common pharmacophore to direct multiple and divergent C-H functionalizations of lead compounds is a particularly attractive approach. Herein, we demonstrate the viability of late-stage diversification through the divergent C-H functionalization of sulfonamides, an important class of pharmacophores found in nearly 200 drugs currently on the market, including the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory blockbuster drug celecoxib. We developed a set of six categorically different sulfonamide C-H functionalization reactions (olefination, arylation, alkylation, halogenation, carboxylation, and carbonylation), each representing a distinct handle for further diversification to reach a large number of analogues. We then performed late-stage, site-selective diversification of a sulfonamide drug candidate containing multiple potentially reactive C-H bonds to synthesize directly novel celecoxib analogues as potential cyclooxygenase-II (COX-2)-specific inhibitors. Together with other recently developed practical directing groups, such as CONHOMe and CONHC(6)F(5), sulfonamide directing groups demonstrate that the auxiliary approach established in asymmetric catalysis can be equally effective in developing broadly useful C-H activation reactions.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Hydroxyl-Directed C−H Activation/C−O Cyclization: Expedient Construction of Dihydrobenzofurans

A Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H activation/C-O cyclization reaction directed by a proximate hydroxyl group has been developed. This reaction provides a new method for constructing dihydrobenzofurans, including spirocyclic analogues, a process that is potentially applicable to natural product synthesis.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Ortho Trifluoromethylation of Arenes and Insights into the Coordination Mode of Acidic Amide Directing Groups

A Pd(II)-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of ortho C-H bonds with an array of N-arylbenzamides derived from benzoic acids is reported. N-Methylformamide has been identified as a crucial promoter of C-CF(3) bond formation from the Pd center. X-ray characterization of the C-H insertion intermediate has revealed a rare coordination mode of acidic amides as directing groups and the origin of their capacity in directing C-H activation.

Cu(II)-Mediated C–H Amidation and Amination of Arenes: Exceptional Compatibility with Heterocycles

A Cu(OAc)2-mediated C-H amidation and amination of arenes and heteroarenes has been developed using a readily removable directing group. A wide range of sulfonamides, amides, and anilines function as amine donors in this reaction. Heterocycles present in both reactants are tolerated, making this a broadly applicable method for the synthesis of a family of inhibitors including 2-benzamidobenzoic acids and N-phenylaminobenzoates.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Ortho- or Meta-C–H Olefination of Phenol Derivatives

A combination of weakly coordinating auxiliaries and ligand acceleration allows for the development of both ortho- and meta-selective C-H olefination of phenol derivatives. These reactions demonstrate the feasibility of directing C-H functionalizations when functional groups are distal to target C-H bonds. The meta-C-H functionalization of electron-rich phenol derivatives is unprecedented and orthogonal to previous electrophilic substitution of phenols in terms of regioselectivity. These methods are also applied to functionalize α-phenoxyacetic acids, a fibrate class of drug scaffolds.

Overcoming the limitations of directed C–H functionalizations of heterocycles

In directed C–H activation reactions, any nitrogen or sulphur atoms present in heterocyclic substrates will coordinate strongly with metal catalysts. This coordination, which can lead to catalyst poisoning or C–H functionalization at an undesired position, limits the application of C–H activation reactions in heterocycle-based drug discovery, in which regard they have attracted much interest from pharmaceutical companies. Here we report a robust and synthetically useful method that overcomes the complications associated with performing C–H functionalization reactions on heterocycles. Our approach employs a simple N-methoxy amide group, which serves as both a directing group and an anionic ligand that promotes the in situ generation of the reactive PdX2 (X = ArCONOMe) species from a Pd(0) source using air as the sole oxidant. In this way, the PdX2 species is localized near the target C–H bond, avoiding interference from any nitrogen or sulphur atoms present in the heterocyclic substrates. This reaction overrides the conventional positional selectivity patterns observed with substrates containing strongly coordinating heteroatoms, including nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus. Thus, this operationally simple aerobic reaction demonstrates that it is possible to bypass a fundamental limitation that has long plagued applications of directed C–H activation in medicinal chemistry.

Pd-catalyzed oxidative ortho-C-H borylation of arenes.

The development of a Pd-catalyzed oxidative ortho-C-H borylation with N-arylbenzamides is reported. A modified dibenzylideneacetone (dba) ligand, a weak base, and a strong oxidant are critical for obtaining good yields. The reaction is tolerant of electron-deficient and electron-rich benzamides derived from readily available benzoic acids. The borylated products can be converted to various synthons via diverse transformations.

Ru(II)-catalyzed ortho-C-H amination of arenes and heteroarenes at room temperature.

The Ru(II)-catalyzed ortho-C-H amination directed by a weakly coordinating amide auxiliary with O-benzoyl hydroxylamines at room temperature has been achieved. This reaction is compatible with heterocycles including pyrazole, thiophene, benzothiophene, furan, benzofuran, and indole.

Exceedingly Fast Copper(II)‐Promoted ortho CH Trifluoromethylation of Arenes using TMSCF3

The direct ortho-trifluoromethylation of arenes, including heteroarenes, with TMSCF3 has been accomplished by a copper(II)-promoted C-H activation reaction which completes within 30 minutes. Mechanistic investigations are consistent with the involvement of C-H activation, rather than a simple electrophilic aromatic substitution (SE Ar), as the key step.

Cu(OAc)2-Catalyzed Coupling of Aromatic C–H Bonds with Arylboron Reagents

Cu-catalyzed coupling of aryl C-H bonds with arylboron reagents was accomplished using a readily removable directing group, which provides a useful method for the synthesis of biaryl compounds. The distinct transmetalation step in this Cu-catalyzed C-H coupling with aryl borons provides unique evidence for the formation of an aryl cupperate intermediate.