Jinhua J. Song

Organometallic methods for the synthesis and functionalization of azaindoles

Azaindoles (also called pyrrolopyridines) constitute essential subunits in many pharmaceutically important compounds. The synthesis of azaindoles has been a great synthetic challenge for chemists. Many classical methods for indole synthesis (such as Fischer and Madelung cyclizations) often cannot be effectively applied to the synthesis of the corresponding azaindoles. In recent years, advances in organometallic chemistry have enabled a number of novel and efficient methodologies for azaindole formation as well as for the further functionalization of azaindole templates. In this tutorial review, we have surveyed the recent development of organometallic chemistry-based methods for azaindole synthesis.

Copper Catalyzed Asymmetric Propargylation of Aldehydes

The highly enantio- and regioselective copper catalyzed asymmetric propargylation of aldehydes with a propargyl borolane reagent is reported. The methodology demonstrated broad functional group tolerance and provided high enantioselectivities for aliphatic, vinyl, and aryl aldehydes. The utility of the TMS homopropargylic alcohols was demonstrated by the facile conversion to a chiral dihydropyranone.

Room Temperature Palladium-Catalyzed Cross Coupling of Aryltrimethylammonium Triflates with Aryl Grignard Reagents

Aryltrimethylammonium triflates and tetrafluoroborates were found to be highly reactive electrophiles in the Pd-catalyzed cross coupling with aryl Grignard reagents. The coupling reactions proceed at ambient temperature with a nearly stoichiometric quantity of Grignard reagent, and diverse functionality is tolerated. Competition experiments established the reactivity of PhNMe(3)OTf relative to PhCl, PhBr, PhI, and PhOTf.

Efficient asymmetric synthesis of P-chiral phosphine oxides via properly designed and activated benzoxazaphosphinine-2-oxide agents.

A general, efficient, and highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of structurally and sterically diverse P-chiral phosphine oxides was developed. The method relies on sequential nucleophilic substitution on the versatile chiral phosphinyl transfer agent 1,3,2-benzoxazaphosphinine-2-oxide, which features enhanced and differentiated P-N and P-O bond reactivity toward nucleophiles. The reactivities of both bonds are fine-tuned to allow cleavage to occur even with sterically hindered nucleophiles under mild conditions.

Synthesis of 1-aryl-1H-indazoles via the palladium-catalyzed cyclization of N-aryl-N′-(o-bromobenzyl)hydrazines and [N-aryl-N′-(o-bromobenzyl)-hydrazinato-N′]-triphenylphosphonium bromides

1-Aryl-1H-indazoles were synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular amination [Pd(OAc)2/dppf/tBuONa (150 mol%)/toluene/90°C] of the corresponding N-aryl-N′-(o-bromobenzyl)hydrazines. It was further demonstrated that cyclization of [N-aryl-N′-(o-bromobenzyl)-hydrazinato-N′]-triphenylphosphonium bromides under the conditions of [Pd(OAc)2/dppf/tBuONa (250 mol%)/dioxane/90°C] also led to the formation of the corresponding 1-aryl-1H-indazoles. These methods were applied to a group of representative substrates to give indazole products in moderate to very good yields.

Copper-catalyzed annulation of 2-formylazoles with o-aminoiodoarenes.

In the presence of catalytic CuI and sparteine, 2-formylpyrroles can be annulated with o-aminoiodoarenes to give substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines and related heterocycles. The reaction also works for annulation of 2-formylindoles, 2-formylimidazole, 2-formylbenzimidazole, and a 3-formylpyrazole.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Silyl Enol Ether Formation†

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were found to catalyze the silyl transfer from trialkylsilyl ketene acetals to ketones. In the presence of a catalytic amount of NHC 3 (IAd, 0.1 to 5 mol %), a series of enolizable ketones as well as cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde were efficiently converted into the corresponding silyl enol ethers at 23 degrees C in THF.

Zinc catalyzed and mediated propargylations with propargyl boronates.

The utility of allenyl and propargyl boronates for the propargylation of aldehydes and ketones mediated by zinc is presented. The reaction is catalytic in zinc with allenyl or propargyl borolanes. The propargylation with crystalline and air-stable propargyl diethanolamine boronates was also achieved. A catalytic cycle is proposed, and preliminary mechanistic studies are discussed.

Zinc Catalyzed and Mediated Asymmetric Propargylation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones with a Propargyl Boronate

The development of zinc-mediated and -catalyzed asymmetric propargylations of trifluoromethyl ketones with a propargyl borolane and the N-isopropyl-l-proline ligand is presented. The methodology provided moderate to high stereoselectivity and was successfully applied on a multikilogram scale for the synthesis of the Glucocorticoid agonist BI 653048. A mechanism for the boron-zinc exchange with a propargyl borolane is proposed and supported by modeling at the density functional level of theory. A water acceleration effect on the zinc-catalyzed propargylation was discovered, which enabled a catalytic process to be achieved. Reaction progress analysis supports a predominately rate limiting exchange for the zinc-catalyzed propargylation. A catalytic amount of water is proposed to generate an intermediate that catalyzes the exchange, thereby facilitating the reaction with trifluoromethyl ketones.

Highly Diastereoselective Zinc-Catalyzed Propargylation of tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines

A zinc-catalyzed diastereoselective propargylation of t-butanesulfinyl imines is presented. The methodology provided both aliphatic and aryl homopropargylic amines in up to 98:2 and 99.8:0.2 dr, respectively. The utility of the homopropargylic amines was demonstrated by the application to the synthesis of a cis-substituted pyrido-indole through a diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler cyclization.