Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization Through Electrocatalysis

Electrochemically promoted transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization has emerged as a promising area of research over the last few decades. However, development in this field is still at an early stage compared to traditional functionalization reactions using chemical-based oxidizing agents. Recent reports have shown increased attention on electrochemically promoted metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization. From the standpoint of sustainability, environmental friendliness, and cost effectiveness, electrochemically promoted oxidation of a metal catalyst offers a mild, efficient, and atom-economical alternative to traditional chemical oxidants. This Review discusses advances in the field of transition metal-electrocatalyzed C-H functionalization over the past decade and describes how the unique features of electricity enable metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization in an economic and sustainable way.

Silver-Free C-H Activation: Strategic Approaches towards Realizing the Full Potential of C-H Activation in Sustainable Organic Synthesis

The activation of carbon-hydrogen bonds is considered as one of the most attractive techniques in synthetic organic chemistry because it bears the potential to shorten synthetic routes as well as to produce complementary product scopes compared to traditional synthetic strategies. However, many current methods employ silver salts as additives, leading to stoichiometric metal waste and thereby preventing the full potential of C-H activation to be exploited. Therefore, the development of silver-free protocols has recently received increasing attention. Mechanistically, silver can serve various roles in C-H activation and thus, avoiding the use of silver requires different approaches based on the role it serves in a given process. In this Review, we present the comparison of silver-based and silver-free methods. Focusing on the strategic approaches to develop silver-free C-H activation, we provide the reader with the means to develop sustainable methods for C-H activation.

Direct Synthesis of 3-Aryl Substituted Isocoumarins and Phthalides through Palladium Acetate Catalyzed C(sp2 )-H Activation in Ionic Liquids

A novel Pd-catalysed oxidative coupling between benzoic acids and vinylarenes or acrylates to furnish isocoumarins and phthalides is reported. The reaction proceeds smoothly in molten tetrabutylammonium acetate via a selective C-H bond activation, with very low percentage of ligand-free palladium acetate as the catalyst, under atmospheric pressure of oxygen. Sub-stoichiometric amount of copper acetate is also required as a reoxidant for the palladium.

Electrochemical Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation‐Cyclization of Enallenols

Herein, we report an electrochemical oxidative palladium-catalyzed carbonylation-carbocyclization of enallenols to afford γ-lactones and spirolactones, which proceeds with excellent chemoselectivity. Interestingly, electrocatalysis was found to have an accelerating effect on the rate of the tandem process, leading to a more efficient reaction than that under chemical redox conditions.

Distal Ruthenaelectro-Catalyzed meta-C-H Bromination with Aqueous HBr

While electrochemical ortho-selective C-H activations are well established, distal C-H activations continue to be underdeveloped. In contrast, we herein describe the electrochemical meta-C-H functionalization. The remote C-H bromination was accomplished in an undivided cell by RuCl3 ⋅3 H2 O with aqueous HBr. The electrohalogenation proceeded under exogenous ligand- and electrolyte-free conditions. Notably, pyrazolylarenes were meta-selectively brominated at the benzenoid moiety, rather than on the electron-rich pyrazole ring for the first time. Mechanistic studies were suggestive of an initial ruthenacycle formation, and a subsequent ligand-to-ligand hydrogen transfer (LLHT) process to liberate the brominated product.

A Strategy for Site- and Chemoselective C-H Alkenylation through Osmaelectrooxidative Catalysis

Herein, we disclose osmaelectrocatalyzed C-H activations that set the stage for electrooxidative alkyne annulations by benzoic acids. The osmium electrocatalysis enables site- and chemoselective electrooxidative C-H activations with unique levels of selectivity. The isolation of unprecedented osmium(0) and osmium(II) intermediates, along with crystallographic characterization and analyses by spectrometric and spectroscopic in operando techniques delineate a synergistic osmium redox catalyst regime. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed a facile C-H cleavage, which allows for an ample substrate scope, providing provide robust and user-friendly access to annulated heterocycles.

Electrochemical Desaturative β-Acylation of Cyclic N-Aryl Amines

Herein, we disclose a straightforward, robust, and simple route to access β-substituted desaturated cyclic amines via an electrochemically driven desaturative β-functionalization of cyclic amines. This transformation is based on multiple single-electron oxidation processes using catalytic amounts of ferrocene. The reaction proceeds in the absence of stoichiometric amounts of electrolyte under mild conditions, affording the desired products with high chemo- and regioselectivity. The reaction was tolerant of a broad range of substrates and also enables late-stage β-C(sp³ )-H acylation of potentially valuable products. Preliminary mechanistic studies using cyclic voltammetry reveal the key role of ferrocene as a redox mediator in the reaction.

Evolution of Earth-Abundant 3 d-Metallaelectro-Catalyzed C-H Activation: From Chelation-Assistance to C-H Functionalization without Directing Groups

Catalyzed C-H functionalizations have emerged as a transformative platform for molecular syntheses. Despite of indisputable advances, oxidative C-H activations have been largely restricted to precious transition metals and stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants. In contrast, we herein discuss the potential of earth-abundant, environmentally-benign 3d transition metals for C-H activation, which has recently gained major momentum. Thus, a strategy for full resource economy has been established in our group, with green electricity as a renewable redox agent, giving valuable hydrogen as the sole byproduct under redox mediator-free conditions. In this account, we detail our accomplishments in 3d metallaelectrocatalysis towards green syntheses until March 2021.

Electrooxidative Rhodium-Catalyzed [5+2] Annulations via C-H/O-H Activations

Electrooxidative annulations involving mild transition metal-catalyzed C-H activation have emerged as a transformative strategy for the rapid construction of five- and six-membered heterocycles. In contrast, we herein describe the first electrochemical metal-catalyzed [5+2] cycloadditions to assemble valuable seven-membered benzoxepine skeletons by C-H/O-H activation. The efficient alkyne annulation featured ample substrate scope, using electricity as the only oxidant. Mechanistic studies provided strong support for a rhodium(III/I) regime, involving a benzoxepine-coordinated rhodium(I) sandwich complex as the catalyst resting state, which was re-oxidized to rhodium(III) by anodic oxidation.

Ruthenaelectro-Catalyzed Domino Three-Component Alkyne Annulation for Expedient Isoquinoline Assembly

The electrochemical three-component assembly of isoquinolines has been accomplished by ruthenaelectro-catalyzed C-H/N-H functionalization. The robustness of the electrocatalysis was reflected by an ample substrate scope, an efficient electrooxidation, and an operationally friendly procedure. The isolation of key intermediates and detailed mechanistic studies, including unprecedented cyclovoltammetric analysis of a seven-membered ruthenacycle, provided support for an unusual ruthenium(II/III/I) regime.

Evolution of High-Valent Nickela-Electrocatalyzed C-H Activation: From Cross(-Electrophile)-Couplings to Electrooxidative C-H Transformations

C-H activation has emerged as one of the most efficient tools for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds, avoiding the use of prefunctionalized materials. In spite of tremendous progress in the field, stoichiometric quantities of toxic and/or costly chemical redox reagents, such as silver(I) or copper(II) salts, are largely required for oxidative C-H activations. Recently, electrosynthesis has experienced a remarkable renaissance that enables the use of storable, safe and waste-free electric current as a redox equivalent. While major recent momentum was gained in electrocatalyzed C-H activations by 4d and 5d metals, user-friendly and inexpensive nickela-electrocatalysis has until recently proven elusive for oxidative C-H activations. Herein, the early developments of nickela-electrocatalyzed reductive cross-electrophile couplings as well as net-redox-neutral cross-couplings are first introduced. The focus of this Minireview is, however, the recent emergence of nickel-catalyzed electrooxidative C-H activations until April 2020.

Nickela-electrocatalyzed Mild C-H Alkylations at Room Temperature

Direct alkylations of carboxylic acid derivatives are challenging and particularly nickel catalysis commonly requires high reaction temperatures and strong bases, translating into limited substrate scope. Herein, nickel-catalyzed C-H alkylations of unactivated 8-aminoquinoline amides have been realized under exceedingly mild conditions, namely at room temperature, with a mild base and a user-friendly electrochemical setup. This electrocatalyzed C-H alkylation displays high functional group tolerance and is applicable to both the primary and secondary alkylation. Based on detailed mechanistic studies, a nickel(II/III/I) catalytic manifold has been proposed.

Enantioselective Pallada-Electrocatalyzed C-H Activation by Transient Directing Groups: Expedient Access to Helicenes

Asymmetric pallada-electrocatalyzed C-H olefinations were achieved through the synergistic cooperation with transient directing groups. The electrochemical, atroposelective C-H activations were realized with high position-, diastereo-, and enantio-control under mild reaction conditions to obtain highly enantiomerically-enriched biaryls and fluorinated N-C axially chiral scaffolds. Our strategy provided expedient access to, among others, novel chiral BINOLs, dicarboxylic acids and helicenes of value to asymmetric catalysis. Mechanistic studies by experiments and computation provided key insights into the catalyst's mode of action.

Chemical-Reductant-Free Electrochemical Deuteration Reaction using Deuterium Oxide

We report a method for the electrochemical deuteration of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under catalyst- and external-reductant-free conditions, with deuteration rates as high as 99 % and yields up to 91 % in 2 h. The use of graphite felt for both the cathode and the anode was key to ensuring chemoselectivity and high deuterium incorporation under neutral conditions without the need for an external reductant. This method has a number of advantages over previously reported deuteration reactions that use stoichiometric metallic reductants. Mechanistic experiments showed that O₂ evolution at the anode not only eliminates the need for an external reductant but also regulates the pH of the reaction mixture, keeping it approximately neutral.

Azaruthena(II)-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadiene: Key Intermediate for Ruthenaelectro(II/III/I)-catalyzed Alkyne Annulations

A ruthenium-catalyzed electrochemical dehydrogenative annulation reaction of imidazoles with alkynes has been established, enabling the preparation of various bridgehead N-fused [5,6]-bicyclic heteroarenes through regioselective electrochemical C-H/N-H annulation without chemical metal oxidants. Novel azaruthenabicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienes were fully characterized and identified as key intermediates. Mechanistic studies are suggestive of an oxidatively induced reductive elimination pathway within a ruthenium(II/III) regime.

Electrophotocatalytic Undirected C-H Trifluoromethylations of (Het)Arenes

Electrophotochemistry has enabled arene C-H trifluoromethylation with the Langlois reagent CF3 SO2 Na under mild reaction conditions. The merger of electrosynthesis and photoredox catalysis provided a chemical oxidant-free approach for the generation of the CF3 radical. The electrophotochemistry was carried out in an operationally simple manner, setting the stage for challenging C-H trifluoromethylations of unactivated arenes and heteroarenes. The robust nature of the electrophotochemical manifold was reflected by a wide scope, including electron-rich and electron-deficient benzenes, as well as naturally occurring heteroarenes. Electrophotochemical C-H trifluoromethylation was further achieved in flow with a modular electro-flow-cell equipped with an in-operando monitoring unit for on-line flow-NMR spectroscopy, providing support for the single electron transfer processes.

Nickela-electrocatalyzed C-H Alkoxylation with Secondary Alcohols: Oxidation-Induced Reductive Elimination at Nickel(III)

Nickela-electrooxidative C-H alkoxylations with challenging secondary alcohols were accomplished in a fully dehydrogenative fashion, thereby avoiding stoichiometric chemical oxidants, with H2 as the only stoichiometric byproduct. The nickela-electrocatalyzed oxygenation proved viable with various (hetero)arenes, including naturally occurring secondary alcohols, without racemization. Detailed mechanistic investigation, including DFT calculations and cyclovoltammetric studies of a well-defined C-H activated nickel(III) intermediate, suggest an oxidation-induced reductive elimination at nickel(III).

Electrochemical Access to Aza-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Rhoda-Electrocatalyzed Domino Alkyne Annulations

Nitrogen-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aza-PAHs) have found broad applications in material sciences. Herein, a modular electrochemical synthesis of aza-PAHs was developed via a rhodium-catalyzed cascade C-H activation and alkyne annulation. A multifunctional O-methylamidoxime enabled the high chemo- and regioselectivity. The isolation of two key rhodacyclic intermediates made it possible to delineate the exact order of three C-H activation steps. In addition, the metalla-electrocatalyzed multiple C-H transformation is characterized by unique functional group tolerance, including highly reactive iodo and azido groups.

Redox-Active Guanidines in Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer Reactions: Real Alternatives to Benzoquinones?

Guanidino-functionalized aromatics (GFAs) are readily available, stable organic redox-active compounds. In this work we apply one particular GFA compound, 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(tetramethylguanidino)benzene, in its oxidized form in a variety of oxidation/oxidative coupling reactions to demonstrate the scope of its proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactivity. Addition of an excess of acid boosts its oxidation power, enabling the oxidative coupling of substrates with redox potentials of at least +0.77 V vs. Fc⁺ /Fc. The green recyclability by catalytic re-oxidation with dioxygen is also shown. Finally, a direct comparison indicates that GFAs are real alternatives to toxic halo- or cyano-substituted benzoquinones.

Cobaltaelectro-Catalyzed C-H Activation with Carbon Monoxide or Isocyanides

Electrochemical oxidative C-H/N-H activations with isocyanides have been realized with a versatile cobalt catalyst. The widely applicable cobalt catalysis manifold further enabled electrooxidative C-H/N-H carbonylations with carbon monoxide under ambient conditions. The C-H functionalizations were efficiently realized with ample scope and outstanding functional group tolerance in a user-friendly undivided cell setup.

Rhodaelectrocatalysis for Annulative C-H Activation: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons through Versatile Double Electrocatalysis

Rapid access to structurally diversified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a controlled manner is of key significance in materials sciences. Herein, we describe a strategy featuring two distinct electrocatalytic C-H transformations for the synthesis of novel nonplanar PAHs. The combination of rhodaelectrooxidative C-H activation/[2+2+2] alkyne annulation of easily accessible boronic acids with electrocatalytic cyclodehydrogenation provided modular access to diversely substituted PAHs with electricity as a sustainable oxidant. The unique molecular topology as well as the photophysical and electronic properties of the thus obtained PAHs were fully analyzed. The unique power of this metallaelectrocatalysis method was demonstrated by the chemoselective assembly of synthetically useful iodo-substituted PAHs.

Electrochemical Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization: Electricity as Clean Surrogates of Chemical Oxidants

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation has attracted much attention from the organic synthetic community because it obviates the need to prefunctionalize substrates. However, superstoichiometric chemical oxidants, such as copper- or silver-based metal oxidants, benzoquinones, organic peroxides, K₂ S₂ O₈ , hypervalent iodine, and O₂ , are required for most of the reactions. Thus, the development of environmentally benign and user-friendly C-H bond activation protocols, in the absence of chemical oxidants, are urgently desired. The inherent advantages and unique characteristics of organic electrosynthesis make fill this gap. Herein, recent progress in this area (until the end of September 2018) is summarized for different transition metals to highlight the potential sustainability of electro-organic chemistry.

Nickel-Catalyzed Electrooxidative C-H Amination: Support for Nickel(IV)

Nickel-catalyzed electrochemical C-H aminations were accomplished by chemo- and position-selective C-H activation with ample scope. Detailed mechanistic studies highlighted a facile C-H cleavage with unique chemo-selectivity, while cyclovoltammetric analysis provided support for a nickel(II/III/IV) manifold.