Songjie Yu

Rhodium-Catalyzed C–H Activation of Phenacyl Ammonium Salts Assisted by an Oxidizing C–N Bond: A Combination of Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation assisted by an oxidizing directing group has evolved to a mild and redox-economic strategy for the construction of heterocycles. Despite the success, these coupling systems are currently limited to cleavage of an oxidizing N-O or N-N bond. Cleavage of an oxidizing C-N bond, which allows for complementary carbocycle synthesis, is unprecedented. In this article, α-ammonium acetophenones with an oxidizing C-N bond have been designed as substrates for Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation under redox-neutral conditions. The coupling with α-diazo esters afforded benzocyclopentanones, and the coupling with unactivated alkenes such as styrenes and aliphatic olefins gave ortho-olefinated acetophenoes. In both systems the reactions proceeded with a broad scope, high efficiency, and functional group tolerance. Moreover, efficient one-pot coupling of diazo esters has been realized starting from α-bromoacetophenones and triethylamine. The reaction mechanism for the coupling with diazo esters has been studied by a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. In particular, three distinct mechanistic pathways have been scrutinized by DFT studies, which revealed that the C-H activation occurs via a C-bound enolate-assisted concerted metalation-deprotonation mechanism and is rate-limiting. In subsequent C-C formation steps, the lowest energy pathway involves two rhodium carbene species as key intermediates.

Redox-Neutral Couplings between Amides and Alkynes via Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed C–H Activation

C-H activation assisted by a bifunctional directing group has allowed the construction of heterocycles. This is ideally catalyzed by earth-abundant and eco-friendly transition metals. We report Co(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral coupling between arenes and alkynes using an NH amide as an electrophilic directing group. The redox-neutral C-H activation/coupling afforded quinolines with water as the sole byproduct.

Co(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Quinazolines via C–H Activation of N-Sulfinylimines and Benzimidates

C-H activation of arenes has been established as an important strategy for heterocycle synthesis via annulations between arenes and unsaturated coupling partners. However, nitriles failed to act as such a coupling partner. Dioxazolones have been employed as a synthon of nitriles, and subsequent coupling with arenes such as N-sulfinylimines and benzimidates bearing a functionalizable directing group provided facile access to two classes of quinazolines under Co(III)-catalysis.

Anthranil: An Aminating Reagent Leading to Bifunctionality for Both C(sp3)−H and C(sp2)−H under Rhodium(III) Catalysis

Previous direct C-H nitrogenation suffered from simple amidation/amination with limited atom-economy and is mostly limited to C(sp(2) )-H substrates. In this work, anthranil was designed as a novel bifunctional aminating reagent for both C(sp(2) )-H and C(sp(3) )-H bonds under rhodium(III) catalysis, thus affording a nucleophilic aniline tethered to an electrophilic carbonyl. A tridendate rhodium(III) complex has been isolated as the resting state of the catalyst, and DFT studies established the intermediacy of a nitrene species.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Unprotected Indoles from Imidamides and Diazo Ketoesters via C–H Activation and C–C/C–N Bond Cleavage

The synthesis of N-unprotected indoles has been realized via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation of imidamides with α-diazo β-ketoesters. The reaction occurs with the release of an amide coproduct, which originates from both the imidamide and the diazo as a result of C═N cleavage of the imidamide and C-C(acyl) cleavage of the diazo. A rhodacyclic intermediate has been isolated and a plausible mechanism has been proposed.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Selenylation of Arenes with Selenenyl Chlorides/Diselenides via C–H Activation

Rh(III)-catalyzed, chelation-assisted C-H activation and selenylation of arenes has been achieved. Arenes bearing oxime, azo, pyridyl, and N-oxide chelating groups are viable substrates, and electrophilic selenyl chlorides and diselenides are used as selenylating reagents. The catalytic system is highly efficient under mild conditions over a broad range of substrates with excellent functional group tolerance.

Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed C–C Coupling of Arenes with 7-Oxabenzonorbornadiene and 2-Vinyloxirane via C–H Activation

Co(III)-catalyzed mild C-C couplings of arenes with strained rings such as 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes and 2-vinyloxirane have been realized. The transformation is proposed to undergo ortho C-H activation, olefin insertion, and subsequent β-oxygen elimination. A broad range of synthetically useful functional groups are compatible, thus providing a new entry to access diversely 2-functionalized indoles.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkylation of Arenes Using Alkylboron Reagents.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed direct alkylation of arenes using commercially available alkyltrifluoroborates is disclosed. Oximes, heteroarenes, azomethines, N-nitrosoamines, and amides are viable directing groups to entail this transformation. The alkyl group in the boron reagent can be extended to primary alkyls, benzyl, and cycloalkyls, and the reaction proceeded with controllable mono- and dialkylation selectivity when both ortho C-H sites are accessible.

Cooperative Co(III)/Cu(II)-Catalyzed C-N/N-N Coupling of Imidates with Anthranils: Access to 1H-Indazoles via C-H Activation.

Cooperative cobalt- and copper-catalyzed C-H activation of imidate esters and oxidative coupling with anthranils allowed efficient synthesis of 1H-indazoles in the absence of metal oxidants. The anthranil acts as a convenient aminating reagent as well as an organic oxidant in this transformation. The copper catalyst likely functions at the stage of N-N formation.

Access to Structurally Diverse Quinoline-Fused Heterocycles via Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C–C/C–N Coupling of Bifunctional Substrates

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of heteroarenes and functionalization with bifunctional substrates such as anthranils allows facile construction of quinoline-fused heterocycles under redox-neutral conditions. The couplings feature broad substrate scope and provide step-economical access to two classes of quinoline-fused condensed heterocycles.