Efficient and highly regioselective direct C-2 arylation of azoles, including free (NH)-imidazole, -benzimidazole and -indole, with aryl halides

Design and development of POCN-pincer palladium catalysts for C-H bond arylation of azoles with aryl iodides

Well-defined and efficient POCN-ligated palladium complexes have been developed for the direct C-H bond arylation of azoles with aryl iodides. The phosphinite-amine pincer ligands 1-(R2PO)-C6H4-3-(CH2N(i)Pr2) [(R2)POCN(iPr2)-H; R = (i)Pr (), R = (t)Bu ()] and corresponding palladium complexes {2-(R2PO)-C6H3-6-(CH2N(i)Pr2)}PdCl [((R2)POCN(iPr2))PdCl; R = (i)Pr (), R = (t)Bu ()] were synthesized in good yields. Treatment of palladium complex with KI and AgOAc afforded the complexes ((iPr2)POCN(iPr2))PdI () and ((iPr2)POCN(iPr2))Pd(OAc) (), respectively. Similarly, the reaction of with benzothiazolyl-lithium produces the ((iPr2)POCN(iPr2))Pd(benzothiazolyl) () complex in a quantitative yield. The pincer palladium complex efficiently catalyzes the C-H bond arylation of benzothiazole, substituted-benzoxazoles and 5-aryl oxazoles with diverse aryl iodides in the presence of CuI as a co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions. This represents the first example of a pincer palladium complex being applied for the direct C-H bond arylation of any heterocycle with low catalyst loading. A preliminary mechanistic investigation reveals that palladium nanoparticles are presumably not the catalytically active form of and supports the direct involvement of the catalyst , with complex being a probable key intermediate in the catalytic reaction.

Advances in direct C–H arylation of 5,5- 6,5- and 6,6-fused-heterocycles containing heteroatoms (N, O, S)

This report aims to review the advances made in C–H arylation of 5,6, 6,6 and 5,5 fused-heterocyclic systems.

Pd-Catalyzed direct C–H functionalization of imidazolones with aryl- and alkenyl halides

Direct C–H arylation and alkenylation of 4,4′-dialkylimidazolones with a broad range of halides under palladium and copper catalysis have been developed.

Regiocontrolled palladium-catalyzed and copper-mediated C–H bond functionalization of protectedl-histidine

Regiocontrolled transition-metal-catalyzed C–H bond arylation of protectedl-histidine with aryl halides as the coupling partner is reported.

A highly efficient and recyclable Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle immobilized palladium catalyst for the direct C-2 arylation of indoles with arylboronic acids

An efficient and reusable Fe₃O₄-nanoparticle-immobilized-palladium catalyst was prepared and applied to the direct C-2 arylation of indoles with arylboronic acids.

Regioselective C2-arylation of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines

We show that N3-MEM-protected imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines undergo efficient C2-functionalisation via direct C-H arylation. Twenty-two substituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines are prepared and iterative, selective elaboration of functionalised imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines gives 2,7- and 2,6-disubstituted derivatives in good yields from common intermediates. Mechanistic observations are consistent with a concerted-metallation-deprotonation mechanism facilitated by coordination of copper(I)iodide to the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine.

Self-templating synthesis of hollow mesoporous silica and their applications in catalysis and drug delivery

Hollow mesoporous silica materials have been intensively pursued because of their unique properties for various applications. Yolk/shell structured hollow mesoporous silica with functional cores inside their hollow interior can further broaden the applications of hollow mesoporous silica. The self-templating strategy has been developed as one of the most important strategies to effectively fabricate hollow mesoporous silicas and their yolk/shell counterparts. In this feature article, we provide an overview of advances in the self-templating synthesis of hollow mesoporous silica based on the following three strategies: surface-protected etching, structural difference-based selective etching, and cationic surfactant assisted self-templating. We then discuss some important applications of these self-templating strategy-derived hollow mesoporous silicas, such as nanoreactors for confined catalysis and multifunctional platforms for combined therapy. Finally, some perspectives for the future development of this active research field are provided.

Solvent-free palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics with aryl bromides

Solvent is one of the major sources of waste in the course of catalyzed direct arylations. Some palladium-catalyzed direct arylations of heteroaromatics can be advantageously performed without any solvent. In the presence of palladium catalysts (1 mol %) and potassium acetate as the base, the direct 5-arylation of some thiazoles, thiophenes, furans, or pyrroles with aryl bromides as coupling partners proceeds highly regioselectively and in moderate to high yields. However, the use of these solvent-free conditions is limited to electron-deficient aryl bromides.

Hollow mesoporous aluminosilica spheres with perpendicular pore channels as catalytic nanoreactors

The design and synthesis of hollow/yolk-shell mesoporous structures with catalytically active ordered mesoporous shells can infuse new vitality into the applications of these attractive structures. In this study, we report that hollow/yolk-shell structures with catalytically active ordered mesoporous aluminosilica shells can be easily prepared by using silica spheres as the silica precursors. By simply treating with a hot alkaline solution in the presence of sodium aluminate (NaAlO(2)) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), solid silica spheres can be directly converted into high-quality hollow mesoporous aluminosilica spheres with perpendicular pore channels. On the basis of the proposed formation mechanism of etching followed by co-assembly, the synthesis strategy developed in this work can be extended as a general strategy to prepare ordered mesoporous yolk-shell structures with diverse compositions and morphologies simply by replacing solid silica spheres with silica-coated nanocomposites. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol with yolk-shell structured Au@ordered mesoporous aluminosilica as the catalyst has clearly demonstrated that the highly permeable perpendicular pore channels of mesoporous aluminosilica can effectively prevent the catalytically active yolk from aggregating. Furthermore, with accessible acidity, the yolk-shell structured ordered mesoporous aluminosilica spheres containing Pd yolk exhibit high catalytic activity and recyclability in a one-pot two-step synthesis involving an acid catalysis and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation for desired benzimidazole derivative, which makes the proposed hollow ordered aluminosilica spheres a versatile and practicable scaffold for advanced catalytic nanoreactor systems.

Recent advances in direct C-H arylation: Methodology, selectivity and mechanism in oxazole series

Catalytic direct (hetero)arylation of (hetero)arenes is an attractive alternative to traditional Kumada, Stille, Negishi and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions, notably as it avoids the prior preparation and isolation of (hetero)arylmetals. Developments of this methodology in the oxazole series are reviewed in this article. Methodologies, selectivity, mechanism and future aspects are presented.

Nickel-catalyzed C-H arylation of azoles with haloarenes: scope, mechanism, and applications to the synthesis of bioactive molecules

Novel nickel-based catalytic systems for the C-H arylation of azoles with haloarenes and aryl triflates have been developed. We have established that Ni(OAc)(2)/bipy/LiOtBu serves as a general catalytic system for the coupling with aryl bromides and iodides as aryl electrophiles. For couplings with more challenging electrophiles, such as aryl chlorides and triflates, the Ni(OAc)(2)/dppf (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) system was found to be effective. Thiazoles, benzothiazoles, oxazoles, benzoxazoles, and benzimidazoles can be used as the heteroarene coupling partner. Upon further investigation, we discovered a new protocol for the present coupling using Mg(OtBu)(2) as a milder and less expensive alternative to LiOtBu. Attempts to reveal the mechanism of this nickel-catalyzed heterobiaryl coupling are also described. This newly developed methodology has been successfully applied to the syntheses of febuxostat (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that is effective for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia), tafamidis (effective for the treatment of TTR amyloid polyneuropathy), and texaline (a natural product having antitubercular activity).

Cyclopentyl methyl ether: an alternative solvent for palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics

Some ethers, such as cyclopentyl methyl ether and di-n-butyl ether, which can be considered as "greener" solvents than N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) or DMF, can be advantageously employed for the palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics. In the presence of such ethers and only 0.5-1 mol % of palladium catalysts at 125-150 °C, the direct 5-arylation of thiazoles, thiophenes, or furans by using aryl bromides as coupling partners proceeds in moderate to high yields.