Patrick J. Walsh

Transition-metal-free chemo- and regioselective vinylation of azaallyls

Direct C(sp3)–C(sp2) bond formation under transition-metal-free conditions offers an atom-economical, inexpensive and environmentally benign alternative to traditional transition-metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. A new chemo- and regioselective coupling protocol between 3-aryl-substituted-1,1-diphenyl-2-azaallyl derivatives and vinyl bromides has been developed. This is the first transition-metal-free cross-coupling of azaallyls with vinyl bromide electrophiles and delivers allylic amines in excellent yields (up to 99%). This relatively simple and mild protocol offers a direct and practical strategy for the synthesis of high-value allylic amine building blocks that does not require the use of transition metals, special initiators or photoredox catalysts. Radical clock experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance studies and density functional theory calculations point to an unprecedented substrate-dependent coupling mechanism. Furthermore, an electron paramagnetic resonance signal was observed when the N-benzyl benzophenone ketimine was subjected to silylamide base, supporting the formation of radical species upon deprotonation. The unique mechanisms outlined herein could pave the way for new approaches to transition-metal-free C–C bond formations. Cross coupling under transition-metal-free conditions is an attractive and economic alternative to traditional transition-metal-catalysed methods. Metal-free coupling of azaallyls has now been demonstrated with vinyl bromide electrophiles, delivering allylic amines in excellent yields. Moreover, mechanistic evidence supports dual reaction pathways triggered by azaallyl anions and radicals.

Umpolung Synthesis of Diarylmethylamines via Palladium‐ Catalyzed Arylation of N‐Benzyl Aldimines

An umpolung synthesis of diarylmethylamine derivatives is presented. This reaction entails a Pd catalyzed arylation of 1,3-diaryl-2-azaallyl anions, in situ generated from N-benzyl aldimines. A Pd(NIXANTPHOS)-based catalyst together with hindered silylamide bases enabled the coupling of aldimines with aryl bromides in good to excellent yields without product isomerization. Moreover, regioselectivity in the arylation of unsymmetrical 1,3-diaryl-2-azaallyl anions was studied. This method is suitable for a gram scale synthesis of diarylmethylamine derivatives at room temperature without use of a glovebox.

Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Methyl Sulfonamides with Aryl Chlorides

A Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of sulfonamides with aryl chlorides is presented. A Buchwald type precatalyst formed with Kwongs indole-based ligand enabled this transformation to be compatible with a large variety of methyl sulfonamides and aryl chlorides in good to excellent yields. Importantly, under the optimized reaction conditions, only mono-arylated products were observed. This method has been applied to the efficient synthesis of sumatriptan, which is used to treat migraines.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Arylation of Aryl Sulfenate Anions: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

A novel approach to produce chiral diaryl sulfoxides from aryl benzyl sulfoxides and aryl bromides via an enantioselective arylation of aryl sulfenate anions is reported. A (JosiPhos)Pd-based catalyst successfully promotes the asymmetric arylation reaction with good functional group compatibility. A wide range of enantioenriched diaryl, aryl heteroaryl, and even diheteroaryl sulfoxides were generated. Many of the sulfoxides prepared herein would be difficult to prepare via classic enantioselective oxidation of sulfides, including Ph(Ph-d5)SO (90% ee, 95% yield). A DFT-based computational study suggested that chiral induction originates from two primary factors: (i) both a kinetic and a thermodynamic preference for oxidative addition that places the bromide trans to the JosiPhos-diarylphosphine moiety and (ii) Curtin-Hammett-type control over the interconversion between O- and S-bound isomers of palladium sulfenate species following rapid interconversion between re- and si-bound transmetalation products, re/si-Pd-OSPh (re/si-PdO-trans).

Transition-Metal-Free Radical C(sp3)–C(sp2) and C(sp3)–C(sp3) Coupling Enabled by 2-Azaallyls as Super-Electron-Donors and Coupling-Partners

The past decade has witnessed the rapid development of radical generation strategies and their applications in C-C bond-forming reactions. Most of these processes require initiators, transition metal catalysts, or organometallic reagents. Herein, we report the discovery of a simple organic system (2-azaallyl anions) that enables radical coupling reactions under transition-metal-free conditions. Deprotonation of N-benzyl ketimines generates semistabilized 2-azaallyl anions that behave as super-electron-donors (SEDs) and reduce aryl iodides and alkyl halides to aryl and alkyl radicals. The SET process converts the 2-azaallyl anions into persistent 2-azaallyl radicals, which capture the aryl and alkyl radicals to form C-C bonds. The radical coupling of aryl and alkyl radicals with 2-azaallyl radicals makes possible the synthesis of functionalized amine derivatives without the use of exogenous radical initiators or transition metal catalysts. Radical clock studies and 2-azaallyl anion coupling studies provide mechanistic insight for this unique reactivity.

Arylation of Azaarylmethylamines with Aryl Chlorides and a NiBr2/NIXANTPHOS-based Catalyst

A nickel-catalyzed coupling of azaarylmethylamines with aryl chlorides has been achieved. NIXANTPHOS together with low cost NiBr2 was successfully developed and optimized to exhibit high reactivity at 2.5 mol % loading. Under optimized reaction conditions, aryl(azaaryl)methylamine products were afforded in good to excellent yields (22 examples, up to 98% yield).

Birefringent Stable Glass with Predominantly Isotropic Molecular Orientation

Birefringence in stable glasses produced by physical vapor deposition often implies molecular alignment similar to liquid crystals. As such, it remains unclear whether these glasses share the same energy landscape as liquid-quenched glasses that have been aged for millions of years. Here, we produce stable glasses of 9-(3,5-di(naphthalen-1-yl)phenyl)anthracene molecules that retain three-dimensional shapes and do not preferentially align in a specific direction. Using a combination of angle- and polarization-dependent photoluminescence and ellipsometry experiments, we show that these stable glasses possess a predominantly isotropic molecular orientation while being optically birefringent. The intrinsic birefringence strongly correlates with increased density, showing that molecular ordering is not required to produce stable glasses or optical birefringence, and provides important insights into the process of stable glass formation via surface-mediated equilibration. To our knowledge, such novel amorphous packing has never been reported in the past.

Palladium-catalysed synthesis of triaryl(heteroaryl)methanes

Tetraarylmethane derivatives are desirable for a variety of applications, but difficult to access with modern C–C bond-forming reactions. Here we report a straightforward method for palladium-catalysed arylation of aryl(heteroaryl)methanes and diaryl(heteroaryl)methanes with aryl chlorides. This reaction enables introduction of various aryl groups to construct triaryl(heteroaryl)methanes via a C–H functionalization in good to excellent yield, and represents the first step towards a general transition metal catalysed synthesis of tetraarylmethanes.

Synthesis of Diarylated 4-Pyridylmethyl Ethers via Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

The direct arylation of weakly acidic sp3-hybridized C-H bonds via deprotonated cross-coupling processes (DCCP) is a challenge. Herein, a Pd(NIXANTPHOS)-based catalyst for the mono arylation of 4-pyridylmethyl 2-aryl ethers to generate diarylated 4-pyridyl methyl ethers is introduced. Furthermore, under similar conditions, the diarylation of 4-pyridylmethyl ethers with aryl bromides has been developed. These methods enable the synthesis of new pyridine derivatives, which are common in medicinally active compounds and in application in materials science.

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Negishi Cross‐Coupling of Racemic α‐Bromo Esters with Arylzincs

The first cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective Negishi cross-coupling reaction, and the first arylation of α-halo esters with arylzinc halides, are disclosed. Employing a cobalt-bisoxazoline catalyst, various α-arylalkanoic esters were synthesized in excellent enantioselectivities and yields (up to 97u2009%u2009ee and 98u2009% yield). A diverse range of functional groups, including ether, halide, thioether, silyl, amine, ester, acetal, amide, olefin and heteroaromatics is tolerated by this method. This method was suitable for gram-scale reactions, enabling the synthesis of (R)-xanthorrhizol with high enantiopurity. Radical clock experiments support the intermediacy of radicals.