Zhiyuan Huang

Recent Advances in Radical C–H Activation/Radical Cross-Coupling

Research and industrial interest in radical C-H activation/radical cross-coupling chemistry has continuously grown over the past few decades. These reactions offer fascinating and unconventional approaches toward connecting molecular fragments with high atom- and step-economy that are often complementary to traditional methods. Success in this area of research was made possible through the development of photocatalysis and first-row transition metal catalysis along with the use of peroxides as radical initiators. This Review provides a brief and concise overview of the current status and latest methodologies using radicals or radical cations as key intermediates produced via radical C-H activation. This Review includes radical addition, radical cascade cyclization, radical/radical cross-coupling, coupling of radicals with M-R groups, and coupling of radical cations with nucleophiles (Nu).

Copper-/Cobalt-Catalyzed Highly Selective Radical Dioxygenation of Alkenes

A highly selective radical dioxygenation of alkenes using hydroxamic acid and O2 was developed, and copper/cobalt was used as the catalyst without assistance of any additional ligands or bases. Mechanistic investigation disclosed that copper salt and O2 work in concert to activate hydroxamic acid, with Cu(I) and Cu(II) concurrently existing in this reaction.

NMP and O2 as Radical Initiator: Trifluoromethylation of Alkenes to Tertiary β-Trifluoromethyl Alcohols at Room Temperature.

A novel strategy was developed to trigger ·CF3 by using in situ generated peroxide in NMP under O2 or air as the radical initiator. Radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes was achieved toward tertiary β-trifluoromethyl alcohols. Various tertiary β-trifluoromethyl alcohols can be synthesized in good yields without extra oxidants or transition metal catalysts. Preliminary mechanistic investigation revealed that O2 diffusion can influence the reaction rate.

Regio- and Stereoselective Oxysulfonylation of Allenes

A highly regio- and stereoselective oxysulfonylation of allenes was developed that provided direct access to 2-sulfonyl allylic alcohols in good yields. By means of dioxygen activation, selective difunctionlization of allenes could be successfully achieved under mild metal-free conditions. Preliminary mechanistic investigation disclosed that this transformation probably goes through a radical process.

O2-mediated C(sp2)–X bond oxygenation: autoxidative carbon–heteroatom bond formation using activated alkenes as a linkage

Autoxidative carbon–heteroatom bond formation using activated alkenes as a linkage is described. Heteroatom (O, S) nucleophiles could be transformed into different kinds of valuable β-keto compounds via an O2-mediated C(sp2)–X bond oxygenation process, without using any external organic oxidants or metal catalysts.

Autoinductive thiolation/oxygenation of alkenes at room temperature

A new reaction for O2 fixation is rationally demonstrated, in which radical thiolation/oxygenation of activated alkenes proceeds spontaneously at room temperature with no need for any additives. EPR and operando IR experiments revealed that O2 serves as the initiator to trigger this radical reaction and that autoinductive processes are the critical factor to drive the reaction.

X-ray Absorption and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Guided Discovery of the Cu-Catalyzed Synthesis of Multiaryl-Substituted Furans from Aryl Styrene and Ketones Using DMSO as the Oxidant

The first example of DMSO serving not only as a solvent but also as an oxidant to promote the oxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II) has been demonstrated. X-ray absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance evidence revealed a single-electron redox process where DMSO could oxidize Cu(I) to Cu(II). The novel discovery guided the rational design of copper-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of aryl ketones with styrenes to furans, providing a new method for the synthesis of multiaryl-substituted furans from cheap and readily available starting materials.

Catalytic chemoselective functionalization of methane in a metal−organic framework

Methane constitutes the largest fraction of natural gas reserves and is a low-cost abundant starting material for the synthesis of value-added chemicals and fuel. Selective catalytic functionalization of methane remains a vital goal in the chemical sciences due to its low intrinsic reactivity. Borylation has recently emerged as a promising route for the catalytic functionalization of methane. A major challenge in this regard is selective borylation towards the monoborylated product that is more active than methane and can easily lead to over-functionalization. Herein, we report a highly selective microporous metal−organic-framework-supported iridium(iii) catalyst for methane borylation that exhibits a chemoselectivity of >99% (mono versus bis at 19.5% yield; turnover number = 67) for monoborylated methane, with bis(pinacolborane) as the borylation reagent in dodecane, at 150 °C and 34 atm of methane. The preference for the monoborylated product is ascribed to the shape-selective effect of the metal−organic framework pore structures.Methane borylation allows for the functionalization of an otherwise unreactive compound, enabling its use as a one-carbon building block; however, competing diborylation presents a selectivity issue. Now, a metal–organic-framework-based catalyst highly selective for monoborylation is reported. The selectivity is due to the reaction taking place within the catalyst pores, which excludes the formation of the larger diborlyated product.

Effect of Redox “Non-Innocent” Linker on the Catalytic Activity of Copper-Catecholate-Decorated Metal–Organic Frameworks

Two new UiO-68 type of Zr-MOFs featuring redox non-innocent catechol-based linkers of different redox activities have been synthesized through a de novo mixed-linker strategy. Metalation of the MOFs with Cu(II) precursors triggers the reduction of Cu(II) by the phenyl-catechol groups to Cu(I) with the concomitant formation of semiquinone radicals as evidenced by EPR and XPS characterization. The MOF-supported catalysts are selective toward the allylic oxidation of cyclohexene and it is found that the presence of in situ-generated Cu(I) species exhibits enhanced catalytic activity as compared to a similar MOF with Cu(II) metalated naphthalenyl-dihydroxy groups. This work unveils the importance of metal-support redox interactions in the catalytic activity of MOF-supported catalysts which are not easily accessible in traditional metal oxide supports.

Low Pressure Flow Chemistry of CuAAC Click Reaction Catalyzed by Nanoporous AuCu Membrane

Click chemistry has been widely used in bioconjugation, polymer synthesis, and the development of new anticancer drugs. Here, we report a nanoporous membrane made of AuCu alloy nanowires, which can effectively catalyze copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azide and terminal alkyne (CuAAC) in flow condition with pressure less than one bar. Comparison studies of the nanowires before and after the reaction using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal Cu(0) and Cu(I) are main species that promote the reaction. This simple strategy can be used to synthesize a variety of compounds with triazole linkage and extended to gram level chemical production.