Jiadi Zhang

Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp3)–H Arylation of Diarylmethanes at Room Temperature: Synthesis of Triarylmethanes via Deprotonative-Cross-Coupling Processes

Although metal-catalyzed direct arylation reactions of non- or weakly acidic C-H bonds have recently received much attention, chemists have relied heavily on substrates with appropriately placed directing groups to steer reactivity. To date, examples of intermolecular arylation of unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds in the absence of a directing group remain scarce. We report herein the first general, high-yielding, and scalable method for palladium-catalyzed C(sp(3))-H arylation of simple diarylmethane derivatives with aryl bromides at room temperature. This method facilitates access to a variety of sterically and electronically diverse hetero- and nonheteroaryl-containing triarylmethanes, a class of compounds with various applications and interesting biological activity. Key to the success of this approach is an in situ metalation of the substrate via C-H deprotonation under catalytic cross-coupling conditions, which is referred to as a deprotonative-cross-coupling process (DCCP). Base and catalyst identification were performed by high-throughput experimentation (HTE) and led to a unique base/catalyst combination [KN(SiMe(3))(2)/Pd-NiXantphos] that proved to efficiently promote the room-temperature DCCP of diarylmethanes. Additionally, the DCCP exhibits remarkable chemoselectivity in the presence of substrates that are known to undergo O-, N-, enolate-, and C(sp(2))-H arylation.

NiXantphos: A Deprotonatable Ligand for Room-Temperature Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Aryl Chlorides

Although the past 15 years have witnessed the development of sterically bulky and electron-rich alkylphosphine ligands for palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings with aryl chlorides, examples of palladium catalysts based on either triarylphosphine or bidentate phosphine ligands for efficient room temperature cross-coupling reactions with unactivated aryl chlorides are rare. Herein we report a palladium catalyst based on NiXantphos, a deprotonatable chelating aryldiphosphine ligand, to oxidatively add unactivated aryl chlorides at room temperature. Surprisingly, comparison of an extensive array of ligands revealed that under the basic reaction conditions the resultant heterobimetallic Pd–NiXantphos catalyst system outperformed all the other mono- and bidentate ligands in a deprotonative cross-coupling process (DCCP) with aryl chlorides. The DCCP with aryl chlorides affords a variety of triarylmethane products, a class of compounds with various applications and interesting biological activity. Additionally, the DCCP exhibits remarkable chemoselectivity in the presence of aryl chloride substrates bearing heteroaryl groups and sensitive functional groups that are known to undergo 1,2-addition, aldol reaction, and O-, N-, enolate-α-, and C(sp2)–H arylations. The advantages and importance of the Pd–NiXantphos catalyst system outlined herein make it a valuable contribution for applications in Pd-catalyzed arylation reactions with aryl chlorides.

Additive effects on palladium-catalyzed deprotonative-cross-coupling processes (DCCP) of sp3 C–H bonds in diarylmethanes

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have become one of the most useful tools in modern organic chemistry. Current methods to achieve direct functionalization of sp3 C–H bonds of arenes and heteroarenes often employ substrates with appropriately placed directing groups to enable reactivity. Examples of intermolecular arylation methods of weakly acidic sp3 C–H bonds in the absence of directing groups, however, are still limited. We describe herein a study on the use of additives in Pd-catalyzed deprotonative-cross-coupling processes (DCCP) of sp3 C–H bonds of diarylmethanes with aryl bromides at room temperature. These studies resulted in development of four new efficient Pd-catalyzed DCCP using additives that enabled the generation of a range of sterically and electronically diverse aryl- and heteroaryl containing triarylmethanes in good to excellent yields. Additive identification and optimization of all reaction conditions (additive loading, solvent and temperature) were performed using high-throughput experimentation (HTE). The approach outlined herein is expected to be generalizable to other C–H functionalization reactions involving the deprotonation of weakly acidic C–H bonds.

Asymmetric Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Triflates to the Benzylic Position of Benzylamines

The development of new transition-metal-catalyzed crosscoupling methods has been a focus of intense research. More recently, direct arylations are emerging as a more efficient method to C C bond formations. Certain types of C H bonds, however, have proven difficult to arylate, and represent a particular challenge for asymmetric processes. We envisioned a novel and potentially very powerful dual catalyst cycle for the enantioselective functionalization of very weakly acidic benzylic C H groups (Scheme 1). The left-hand cycle

Chemo‐ and Regioselective C(sp3)H Arylation of Unactivated Allylarenes by Deprotonative Cross‐Coupling

The combination of aryl bromides, allylbenzene, base and a palladium catalyst usually results in a Heck reaction. Herein we combine these same reagents, but override the Heck pathway by employing a strong base. In the presence of LiN(SiMe3)2, allylbenzene derivatives undergo reversible deprotonation. Transmetalation of the resulting allyllithium intermediate to LPdAr(Br) and reductive elimination provide the 1,1-diarylprop-2-enes, which are not accessible by the Heck reaction. The regioselectivity in this deprotonative cross-coupling process is catalyst-controlled and very high.

Positional Selectivity in C–H Functionalizations of 2-Benzylfurans with Bimetallic Catalysts

Metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions are a mainstay in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents. A long-standing problem plaguing the field of transition metal catalyzed C-H functionalization chemistry is control of selectivity among inequivalent C-H bonds in organic reactants. Herein we advance an approach to direct site selectivity in the arylation of 2-benzylfurans founded on the idea that modulation of cooperativity in bimetallic catalysts can enable navigation of selectivity. The bimetallic catalysts introduced herein exert a high degree of control, leading to divergent site-selective arylation reactions of both sp(2) and sp(3) C-H bonds of 2-benzylfurans. It is proposed that the selectivity is governed by cation-π interactions, which can be modulated by choice of base and accompanying additives [MN(SiMe3)2, M = K or Li·12-crown-4].

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of aryl acetic acid derivatives via dienolate intermediates with aryl chlorides and bromides.

To date, examples of α-arylation of carboxylic acids remain scarce. Using a deprotonative cross-coupling process (DCCP), a method for palladium-catalyzed γ-arylation of aryl acetic acids with aryl halides has been developed. This protocol is applicable to a wide range of aryl bromides and chlorides. A procedure for the palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of styryl acetic acids is also described.

Synthesis of triarylmethanols via tandem arylation/oxidation of diarylmethanes.

A tandem arylation/oxidation of diarylmethanes for the convenient synthesis of unsymmetrical triarylmethanols bearing different aryl and heteroaryl groups is described. A Pd(OAc)2–NiXantphos catalyst system efficiently catalyzed arylation of weakly acidic sp3-hybridized C–H bonds of diarylmethanes with aryl bromides, and the arylation products were then oxidized in situ to carbinols by simply opening the reaction flasks to air. The triarylmethanol products were obtained in 35–98% yield.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylations with Toluene Derivatives as Pronucleophiles

The first two highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations with benzylic nucleophiles, activated with Cr(CO)3 , have been developed. These methods enable the enantioselective synthesis of α-2-propenyl benzyl motifs, which are important scaffolds in natural products and pharmaceuticals. A variety of cyclic and acyclic allylic carbonates are competent electrophilic partners furnishing the products in excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee and 92 % yield). This approach was employed to prepare a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug analogue.