Yaxi Yang

Rhodium(III)- and iridium(III)-catalyzed C7 alkylation of indolines with diazo compounds.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed procedure for the C7-selective C-H alkylation of various indolines with α-diazo compounds at room temperature is reported. The advantages of this process are: 1) simple, mild, and pH-neutral reaction conditions, 2) broad substrate scope, 3) complete regioselectivity, 4) no need for an external oxidant, and 5) N2 as the sole byproduct. Furthermore, alkylation and bis-alkylation of carbazoles at the C1 and C8 positions have also been developed. More significantly, for the first time, a successful Ir(III)-catalyzed intermolecular insertion of arene C-H bonds into α-diazo compounds is reported.

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Directed Sulfenylation of Arene CH Bonds

The rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular direct C-H thiolation of arenes with aryl and alkyl disulfides was developed for the first time to provide a convenient route to aryl thioethers. This strategy is compatible with many different directing groups and exhibits excellent functional group tolerance. More significantly, mono- or dithiolation can be selectively achieved, thus providing a straightforward way for selective preparation of aryl thioethers and dithioethers.

Redox-neutral rhodium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of arylamine N-oxides with diazo compounds: primary C(sp(3))-H/C(sp(2))-H activation and oxygen-atom transfer.

An unprecedented rhodium(III)-catalyzed regioselective redox-neutral annulation reaction of 1-naphthylamine N-oxides with diazo compounds was developed to afford various biologically important 1H-benzo[g]indolines. This coupling reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions and does not require external oxidants. The only by-products are dinitrogen and water. More significantly, this reaction represents the first example of dual functiaonalization of unactivated a primary C(sp(3) )H bond and C(sp(2) )H bond with diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that an intermediate iminium is most likely involved in the catalytic cycle. Moreover, a rhodium(III)-catalyzed coupling of readily available tertiary aniline N-oxides with α-diazomalonates was also developed under external oxidant-free conditions to access various aminomandelic acid derivatives by an O-atom-transfer reaction.

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Amides from Aldehydes and Azides by Chelation‐Assisted CH Bond Activation

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Amides from Aldehydes and Azides by Chelation-Assisted C H Bond Activation C H activation : A Rh-catalyzed direct aldehyde C H amidation has been achieved with sulfonyl, aryl, and alkyl azides as the amine sources, and release of N2 as the only byproduct (see scheme). More importantly, this catalytic reaction proceeds in the absence of external oxidants or additives, under mild conditions, at neutral pH under air. This reaction represents a new avenue for practical intermolecular C N bond formation by aldehyde C H bond activation. Cp*= 1,2,3,4,5Pentamethylcyclopentadiene

Rh(III)-catalyzed addition of alkenyl C-H bond to isocyanates and intramolecular cyclization: direct synthesis 5-ylidenepyrrol-2(5H)-ones.

The rhodium-catalyzed addition of an alkenyl C-H bond to isocyanates via sp(2) C-H bond activation followed by an intramolecular cyclization is described. This atom-economic and catalytic reaction affords a simple and straightforward access to biologically relevant 5-ylidene pyrrol-2(5H)-ones and can be carried out under mild and neutral conditions in the absence of any additives and environmentally hazardous waste production.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Redox-Neutral or Oxidative Cyclization of Alkynes: Short, Efficient Synthesis of 3,4-Fused Indole Skeletons

A Rh(III)-catalyzed intramolecular redox-neutral or oxidative annulation of a tethered alkyne has been developed to efficiently construct 3,4-fused indoles via a C-H activation pathway. The advantages of this process are (1) ready availability of annulation precursors; (2) broad substrate scope; (3) complete regioselectivity; (4) simple and mild reaction conditions; and (5) no need for an external oxidant or to employ molecular oxygen as the stoichiometric terminal oxidant.

A [4+1] Cyclative Capture Approach to 3H-Indole-N-oxides at Room Temperature by Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed CH Activation.

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed [3+2] CH cyclization of aniline derivatives and internal alkynes represents a useful contribution to straightforward synthesis of indoles. However, there is no report on the more challenging synthesis of pharmaceutically important N-hydroxyindoles and 3H-indole-N-oxides. Reported herein is the first rhodium(III)-catalyzed [4+1] CH oxidative cyclization of nitrones with diazo compounds to access 3H-indole-N-oxides. More significantly, this reaction proceeds at room temperature and has been extended to the synthesis of N-hydroxyindoles and N-hydroxyindolines.

Iridium(III)-catalyzed C-7 selective C-H alkynylation of indolines at room temperature.

An iridium-catalyzed direct C-7 selective C-H alkynylation of indolines at room temperature, for the first time, has been developed via C-H bond activation. Furthermore, the first example of direct C-H alkynylation of carbazoles at the C1 position is also achieved. More importantly, the resulting product can be readily transformed into C7-alkynylated indoles, further widening the C-7 derivatization of indoles and highlighting the synthetic utility of this methodology.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H amidation with N-hydroxycarbamates: a new entry to N-carbamate-protected arylamines.

An unprecedented Rh(III)-catalyzed direct intermolecular C-H amidation with N-hydroxycarbamates has been developed. Different directing groups, such as pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, and N-OMe oxime, can be employed in this C-H amidation process, providing valuable N-carbamate-protected arylamines (e.g., Cbz, Moz, Ac, Boc, and Fmoc). More importantly, this process may afford a new avenue for intermolecular C-H amidation where readily available N-hydroxycarbamates can be used as the nitrogen source.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Aryl or Vinyl Addition to Electron-Deficient Alkenes Cascaded by Cationic Cyclization

An exoselective copper-catalyzed arylation- and vinylation-carbocyclization of electron-deficient alkenes was developed to provide rapid and efficient access to a variety of functionalized 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles. With this method, a highly efficient and concise formal synthesis of (±)-physostigmine and (±)-physovenine has been completed.