Jiwu Ruan

From α-Arylation of Olefins to Acylation with Aldehydes: A Journey in Regiocontrol of the Heck Reaction

The Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck reaction of olefins with aryl halides, more often simply called the Heck reaction, was recently recognized with the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Although highly selective with electron-deficient olefins, which generally yield the linear β-arylated product exclusively, the Heck reaction is less satisfactory with electron-rich olefins. This substrate typically generates a mixture of both α- and β-arylated regioisomeric products, hampering wider application of the reaction in chemical synthesis. Pioneering studies by a number of researchers revealed that high α-regioselectivity could be obtained under Pd-diphosphine catalysis either through (i) the substitution of aryl triflates for halides or (ii) the addition of stoichiometric silver or thallium salts when aryl halides are used. Under these conditions, the arylation is believed to proceed via an ionic pathway. However, silver introduces added cost, thallium salts are toxic, and triflates are generally commercially unavailable, base sensitive, and thermally labile. Believing that the ionic pathway would be promoted in an ionic medium, in the early 2000s, we attempted the Pd-catalyzed arylation of the benchmark electron-rich olefin butyl vinyl ether with aryl bromides in an imidazolium ionic liquid. We were delighted to observe that highly regioselective α-arylation could readily be accomplished, with no need for silver additives, thallium additives, or aryl triflates. A range of other electron-rich olefins has since been shown to be viable as well. The high α-selectivity probably results from the high ionic strength of the medium, which facilitates the dissociation of halide anions from the [L(2)Pd(Ar)X] intermediate, channeling the arylation into the ionic pathway. Hydrogen bonding interactions may also play a role, however. We subsequently discovered that the α-arylation can indeed be significantly accelerated by a hydrogen bond donor salt, in both ionic liquids and common solvents. Evidence shows that the concentration of the cationic Pd(II)-olefin species along the ionic pathway is increased as a result of hydrogen bonding between the hydrogen bond donor and the halide anion. More recently, we reported that cheaper and greener alcohols allow the Heck arylation of electron-rich olefins to proceed in a much faster, productive, and totally α-regioselective manner, circumventing the need for an ionic medium or hydrogen bond donor salt. In particular, aryl chlorides with diverse properties have been demonstrated to be viable substrates for the first time. Significantly, it appears that ethylene glycol facilitates both the oxidative addition of ArCl to Pd(0) and the subsequent dissociation of chloride from Pd(II). A closely related reaction, acylation of aryl halides with aldehydes, was also developed. Proceeding via the intermediacy of an electron-rich enamine, this Pd-pyrrolidine cooperative catalysis affords alkyl aryl ketones in a straightforward manner, extending the Heck reaction from olefins to aldehydes.

Oxygen and Base-Free Oxidative Heck Reactions of Arylboronic Acids with Olefins

A mild and efficient protocol for palladium-catalyzed oxidative Heck reactions of arylboronic acids with both electron-rich and -deficient olefins is described. In contrast to the normal oxidative Heck coupling, this new method works in the absence of a base, oxygen, or other external oxidants. With a wide variety of substrates tolerated, the method broadens the scope of palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Direct Acylation of Aryl Bromides with Aldehydes by Palladium Catalysis

A new protocol for the direct acylation of aryl bromides with aldehydes is established. It appears to involve palladium-amine cooperative catalysis, affording synthetically important alkyl aryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields in a straightforward manner, and broadening the scope of metal-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Hydrogen-Bonding-Promoted Oxidative Addition and Regioselective Arylation of Olefins with Aryl Chlorides

The first, general, and highly efficient catalytic system that allows a wide range of activated and unactivated aryl chlorides to couple regioselectively with olefins has been developed. The Heck arylation reaction is likely to be controlled by the oxidative addition of ArCl to Pd(0). Hence, an electron-rich diphosphine, 4-MeO-dppp, was introduced to facilitate the catalysis. Solvent choice is critical, however; only sluggish arylation is observed in DMF or DMSO, whereas the reaction proceeds well in ethylene glycol at 0.1-1 mol % catalyst loadings, displaying excellent regioselectivity. Mechanistic evidence supports that the arylation is turnover-limited by the oxidative addition step and, most importantly, that the oxidative addition is accelerated by ethylene glycol, most likely via hydrogen bonding to the chloride at the transition state as shown by DFT calculations. Ethylene glycol thus plays a double role in the arylation, facilitating oxidative addition and promoting the subsequent dissociation of chloride from Pd(II) to give a cationic Pd(II)-olefin species, which is key to the regioselectivity observed.

Hydrogen-Bond-Directed Catalysis: Faster, Regioselective and Cleaner Heck Arylation of Electron-Rich Olefins in Alcohols

A general method for the regioselective Heck reaction of electron-rich olefins is presented. Fast, highly regioselective Pd-catalysed alpha-arylation of electron-rich olefins, vinyl ethers (1 a-d), hydroxyl vinyl ethers (1 e, f), enamides (1 g, h) and a substituted vinyl ether (1i) has been accomplished with a diverse range of aryl bromides (2 a-r), for the first time, in cheap, green and easily available alcohols with no need for any halide scavengers or salt additives. The reaction proceeds with high efficiency, leading exclusively to the alpha-products, in 2-propanol and particularly in ethylene glycol. In the latter, the arylation can be catalysed at a palladium loading of 0.1 mol% and finish in as short a time as 0.5 h. The remarkable performance of the alcohol solvents in promoting alpha regiocontrol is attributed to their hydrogen-bond-donating capability, which is believed to facilitate the dissociation of halide anions from PdII, and hence, the generation of a key ionic PdII-olefin intermediate responsible for the alpha product. This belief is further strengthened by the study of a benchmark arylation reaction in 21 different solvents. The study revealed that exclusive alpha-regioselective arylation takes place in almost all of the protic solvents, and there is a rough correlation between the alpha-arylation rates and the solvent parameter E(T)N. The method is simpler, cleaner and more general than those established thus far.

Direct acylation of aryl chlorides with aldehydes by palladium-pyrrolidine Co-catalysis.

A palladium catalyst system has been developed that allows for the direct acylation of aryl chlorides with aldehydes. The choice of ligand, as well as the presence of pyrrolidine and molecular sieves is shown to be critical to the catalysis, which appears to proceed via an enamine intermediate. The reaction was successful for a wide range of aryl chlorides and tolerant of functionality on the aldehyde component, giving easy access to alkyl aryl ketones in modest to good yields.

Double Arylation of Allyl Alcohol via a One-Pot Heck Arylation–Isomerization–Acylation Cascade

A one-pot, two-step catalytic protocol has been developed. A regioselective Heck coupling between aryl bromides and allyl alcohol leads to the generation of arylated allyl alcohols that in situ isomerize to give aldehydes, which then undergo an acylation reaction with a second aryl bromide. A variety of aryl bromides can be employed in both the initial Heck reaction and the acylation, providing easy access to a wide variety of substituted dihydrochalcones.

Direct synthesis of 1-indanones via Pd-catalyzed olefination and ethylene glycol-promoted aldol-type annulation cascade.

A wide range of multisubstituted 1-indanones of potential pharmaceutical use were synthesized in a one-pot fashion in moderate to excellent yields via palladium catalysis in ethylene glycol. The Heck reaction first installs an enol functionality on the aromatic ring; this is followed by an ethylene glycol promoted aldol-type annulation with a neighboring carbonyl group, resulting in the formation of various 1-indanones.

Electron-Deficient Phosphines Accelerate the Heck Reaction of Electronrich Olefins in Ionic Liquid

Using various substrates and ligands, we show that electron-deficient, bidentate phosphines are the ligands of choice for palladium-catalyzed arylation of electron-rich olefins. This is in contrast to the reaction of electron-deficient olefins, which benefit from electron-rich monodentate phosphines. A tentative explanation is offered based on DFT calculations.

Regioselective Heck arylation of unsaturated alcohols by palladium catalysis in ionic liquid.

In contrast to almost all of the known examples of Heck arylation of unsaturated alcohols, which yield predominately beta-arylated products, arylation under the Pd-DPPP catalysis in ionic liquid leads preferentially to aryl substitution at the alpha carbon, providing an easy pathway to this valuable class of olefins.