Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Redox-Relay Heck Alkynylation of Alkenols To Access Propargylic Stereocenters

Alcohols as Substrates in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Arylation, Alkylation, and Related Reactions

Alcohols are abundant and attractive feedstock molecules for organic synthesis. Many methods for their functionalization require them to first be converted into a more activated derivative, while recent years have seen a vast increase in the number of complexity-building transformations that directly harness unprotected alcohols. This Review discusses how transition metal catalysis can be used toward this goal. These transformations are broadly classified into three categories. Deoxygenative functionalizations, representing derivatization of the C-O bond, enable the alcohol to act as a leaving group toward the formation of new C-C bonds. Etherifications, characterized by derivatization of the O-H bond, represent classical reactivity that has been modernized to include mild reaction conditions, diverse reaction partners, and high selectivities. Lastly, chain functionalization reactions are described, wherein the alcohol group acts as a mediator in formal C-H functionalization reactions of the alkyl backbone. Each of these three classes of transformation will be discussed in context of intermolecular arylation, alkylation, and related reactions, illustrating how catalysis can enable alcohols to be directly harnessed for organic synthesis.

Immobilization of Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Pyridine-Oxazoline Ligand and Its Application in Asymmetric Continuous Flow Synthesis of Benzosultams

This study presents an improved synthetic route to ligand (S)-4-(tert-butyl)-2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole and its application as a highly active and enantioselective catalyst in the addition of arylboronic acids to cyclic N-sulfonylketimines. Immobilization of such a ligand was achieved using a commercially available starting material and a PS-PEG TentaGel S NH2 support, resulting in a stable heterogeneous catalyst. Although the anchored catalyst exhibited a slight reduction in enantioselectivity and a 4-fold decrease in reaction rate, it displayed remarkable stability, enabling 10 consecutive reaction cycles. Furthermore, the successful transition to a continuous flow system demonstrated even higher turnover numbers compared to batch arrangements. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of efficient flow reactors for continuous synthesis of benzosultams, further advancing the field of asymmetric catalysis.

Enantioselective Hydroalkenylation and Hydroalkynylation of Alkenes Enabled by a Transient Directing Group: Catalyst Generality through Rigidification

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of α-chiral alkenes and alkynes represents a powerful strategy for rapid generation of molecular complexity. Herein, we report a transient directing group (TDG) strategy to facilitate site-selective palladium-catalyzed reductive Heck-type hydroalkenylation and hydroalkynylation of alkenylaldehyes using alkenyl and alkynyl bromides, respectively, allowing for construction of a stereocenter at the δ-position with respect to the aldehyde. Computational studies reveal the dual beneficial roles of rigid TDGs, such as L-tert-leucine, in promoting TDG binding and inducing high levels of enantioselectivity in alkene insertion with a variety of migrating groups.

Palladium-Catalyzed Three-Component Cross-Coupling of Conjugated Dienes with Indoles Using Ethynylbenziodazolones as Electrophilic Alkynylating Reagents

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective 1,2-alkynyl-carbonalization of conjugated dienes with ethynylbenziodazolone (EBZ) and indoles has been developed for the first time. Various molecules containing alkenyl, alkynyl, and indole groups were readily obtained. Moreover, the resulting products can be applied to various derivatizations. This protocol uses EBZ as an electrophilic alkynylating reagent, avoiding the byproduct of dimerization of alkynes.

Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Enantioselective Functionalization of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters occur frequently in natural products, bioactive molecules, and pharmaceutical compounds. Construction of a carbon stereogenic center attached to four different carbons with defined spatial arrangement is a daunting challenge in asymmetric catalysis. Significant efforts have been directed towards the stereoselective construction of such acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters. In particular, catalytic generation of acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters through functionalization of unsaturated hydrocarbons is an extremely attractive approach because unsaturated hydrocarbons are easily accessible both in industry and in organic synthesis. In this short review, we summarize the recent advances achieved in this research area, with the aim to inspire future development.

1 Introduction

2 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Allenes

3 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Dienes

4 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Mono-alkenes

5 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Alkynes

6 Summary and Outlook

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular alkynylcarbonylation of unactivated alkenes: easy access to β-alkynylcarboxylic esters

A palladium-catalyzed intermolecular alkynylcarbonylation of unactivated alkenes has been established with ethynyl benziodoxolones (EBXs) as alkynylation reagents, providing β-alkynylcarboxylic esters efficiently from simple alkenes. The reaction features moderate to excellent regioselectivity and excellent functional group compatibility under mild reaction conditions.

Synthesis, Characterization of Spirocyclic λ3 -Iodanes and Their Application to Prepare 4,1-Benzoxazepine-2,5-diones and 1,3-Diynes

Herein, a [3+2] cycloaddition of aza-oxyallylic cations with ethynylbenziodoxolones for synthesis of new λ³ -iodanes containing spirocyclic 4-oxazolidinone has been developed. This cyclic λ³ -iodanes display stability in air and excellent solubility in organic solvent. Using them as substrate, both the 4,1-benzoxazepine-2,5-diones and symmetrical 1,3-diynes derivatives were afforded in high yield under copper(I)-catalyzed conditions.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Alkyl Allyl Ethers via Palladium-Catalyzed Redox-Relay Heck Alkenylation of O-Alkyl Enol Ethers

Herein we report a transformation that generates an array of enantiomerically enriched, alkyl allyl ethers. Cyclic, acyclic, and heteroatom-bearing alkenyl triflates undergo an enantioselective, palladium-catalyzed C-C bond formation with diverse acyclic O-alkyl enol ethers in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

Stereoselective Remote Functionalization via Palladium-Catalyzed Redox-Relay Heck Methodologies

Exploration of novel, three-dimensional chemical space is of growing interest in the drug discovery community and with this comes the challenge for synthetic chemists to devise new stereoselective methods to introduce chirality in a rapid and efficient manner. This Minireview provides a timely summary of the development of palladium-catalyzed asymmetric redox-relay Heck-type processes. These reactions represent an important class of transformation for the selective introduction of remote stereocenters, and have risen to prominence over the past decade. Within this Minireview, the vast scope of these transformations will be showcased, alongside applications to pharmaceutically relevant chiral building blocks and drug substances. To complement this overview, a mechanistic summary and discussion of the current limitations of the transformation are presented, followed by an outlook on future areas of investigation.

Ligand-accelerated site-selective Csp2–H and Csp3–H alkynylations of alcohols via Pd(ii) catalysis

A ligand accelerated site-selective C–H alkynylation, including secondary and tertiary Csp3–H alkynylation of weakly coordinated yet synthetically promising alcohols, via putative 6, 7 and 8-membered palladacycle intermediates, was developed. 

Development and Mechanistic Interrogation of Interrupted Chain-Walking in the Enantioselective Relay Heck Reaction

The formation of alkyl-palladium complexes via the nucleopalladation of alkenes is the entry point for a wide range of diverse reactions. One possibility is that the intermediate alkyl-Pd complexes can undergo a "chain-walking" event, to allow for remote functionalization through various termination processes. However, there are few methods to selectively interrupt the chain-walking process at a prescribed location. Herein, we demonstrate that a variety of homoallylic protected amines undergo an interrupted enantioselective relay Heck reaction to give enantioenriched allylic amine products. The selectivity of this process can be diverted to exclusively yield the ene-amide products by virtue of changing the nature of the amine protecting group. To rationalize this observation, we combine experiment and computation to investigate the mechanism of the chain-walking process and termination events. Isotopic labeling experiments and the computed reaction pathways suggest that the system is likely under thermodynamic control, with the selectivity being driven by the relative stability of intermediates encountered during chain-walking. These results illustrate that the chain-walking of alkyl-palladium complexes can be controlled through the alteration of thermodynamic processes and provides a roadmap for exploiting these processes in future reaction development.

Asymmetric Three-Component Heck Arylation/Amination of Nonconjugated Cyclodienes

Substituted cyclohexylamines are becoming increasingly important in drug discovery. Asymmetric Heck insertion/amination of nonconjugated cyclodienes proceeds to give 5-aryl cyclohexenylamines with good enantioselectivity and exclusive trans configurations. Primary and secondary anilines, indoline, and benzylamines are suitable amines. The weakly donating diphosphite Kelliphite forms a deep unsymmetrical pocket, which is essential for stereoselective anti attack of amines.

Organocatalytic site- and stereoselective 1,6-additions of N-aryl-3-oxobutanamides to propargylic aza-p-quinone methides

A chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed site-selective 1,6-conjugate addition of N-aryl-3-oxobutanamides to in situ formed propargylic aza-p-quinone methides from propargylic alcohols has been established for the first time.

Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Functionalized Cyclopentenones and δ-Functionalized Cycloheptenones Utilizing a Redox-Relay Heck Strategy

In this report, the desymmetrization of cyclic enones under relay Heck conditions with an array of aryl boronic acids, alkenyl triflates and indole derivatives is described. This method grants facile access to diverse γ-functionalized cyclopentenones and δ-functionalized cycloheptenones. Using this approach, a formal synthesis of (S)-baclofen was completed in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective alkenylation of alkenylbenzene derivatives

A regioselective and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed relay Heck alkenylation of alkenylbenzene derivatives to construct remote stereocenters is disclosed. Various β-substituted styrenes were readily obtained in moderate yields with good to excellent levels of enantioselectivity. This strategy provides rapid access to enantioenriched δ, ε, ζ, and η-alkenyl aryl compounds from simple starting materials. Mechanistic studies suggest that termination of the relay reaction is controlled by affinity of the arene for the Pd complex during migration.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Alkenylation of Enelactams Using a Relay Heck Strategy

In this report, a palladium-catalyzed redox-relay Heck process to access optically active alkenylated α,β-unsaturated lactams is described. Under mild reaction conditions, electron-deficient alkenyl triflates and electron-rich alkenyl iodonium salts undergo enantioselective and site-selective coupling with enelactams to deliver the products in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the products allow facile access to natural products such as (+)-calvine and (+)-2-epicalvine in addition to the bioactive molecule aza-goniothalamin.

Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters by Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkynylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Quaternary carbon stereocenters are common structural motifs in organic synthesis. The construction of these stereocenters in a catalytic and enantioselective manner remains a prominent synthetic challenge. In particular, methods for the synthesis of alkyne-substituted quaternary carbon stereocenters are very rare. Previous catalytic systems for hydroalkynylation of alkenes create tertiary stereocenters. We describe here an iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydroalkynylation of nonactivated trisubstituted alkene. The hydroalkynylation of β,γ-unsaturated amides occurs with high regio- and enantioselectivities to afford alkyne-substituted acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters. Computational and experimental data suggest that the enantioselectivity is not only determined by the facial selectivity of the alkene but also by an alkene isomerization process. This strategy provides an efficient method to access alkyne-substituted acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters with minimally functionalized starting materials.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Halovinylbenziodoxoles by Hydro- and Iodochlorination of Ethynylbenziodoxoles

We report herein the synthesis of highly substituted and stereochemically well-defined vinylbenziodoxole (VBX) derivatives through hydrochlorination and iodochlorination of ethynylbenziodoxoles. The hydrochlorination is achieved using pyridine hydrochloride as an HCl source in an anti-fashion under mild, open-air conditions to afford a 2-chlorinated VBX product, which serves as a useful building block for the stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes. Meanwhile, iodochlorination with iodine monochloride proceeds in an unusual syn-pathway, stereoselectively affording a tetrasubstituted VBX derivative.

Cross-dehydrogenative alkynylation of sulfonamides and amides with terminal alkynes via Ir(iii) catalysis

Primary sulfonamides are widely used structural skeletons in bioactive molecules, however their direct modification via C–H functionalization remains to be developed.

Enantioselective C2-Alkylation of Indoles through a Redox-Relay Heck Reaction of 2-Indole Triflates

A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective redox-relay Heck reaction of 2-indole triflates and disubstituted alkenes is reported. This process combines readily available indole triflates with a variety of alkenes to afford a range of indole derivatives bearing a stereocenter adjacent to C2. Enantioselectivity is achieved through use of a simple pyridine-oxazoline ligand. Tuning the electronics of the indole, through judicious choice of N-protecting group, is required to ensure selective β-hydride elimination away from the indole core. Utility of this method is highlighted in a modular formal synthesis of an S1P₁ agonist precursor developed by Merck.

Sequential Michael Addition/Electrophilic Alkynylation: Synthesis of α-Alkynyl-β-Substituted Ketones and Chromanones

We describe the synthesis of α-alkynyl-β-substituted cyclic ketones and analogue chromanones via one-pot Michael addition/hypervalent iodine-based α-alkynylation. Cu(I)-catalyzed Michael addition using either alkyl-aluminum or Grignard reagents, followed by diastereoselective electrophilic alkynylation of the resulting enolate by 1-ethynyl-1λ³,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (EBX) resulted in the α-alkynyl-β-substituted cyclic ketones or chromanones within 34-89% yield (16 examples). The reaction was successfully upscaled to the 5 mmol scale, and further functionalization of a model alkynylated ketone was demonstrated.

Direct Substitution of Secondary and Tertiary Alcohols To Generate Sulfones under Catalyst- and Additive-Free Conditions

An environmentally benign protocol that affords propargylic sulfones containing highly congested carbon centers from easily accessible alcohols and sulfinic acids with water as the only byproduct is reported. The reaction proceeded via an in situ dehydrative cross-coupling process by taking advantage of the synergetic actions of multiple hydrogen bonds rather than relying on an external catalyst and/or additives to achieve high product distribution.

Pd-Catalyzed Selective Remote Ring Opening of Polysubstituted Cyclopropanols

The distant functionalization of ω-ene cyclopropanols is induced by a Pd-catalyzed Heck reaction triggering a "metal-walk" and selective ring-opening of the three-membered ring. This approach provides a new class of acyclic aldehydes possessing concomitantly a stereodefined double bond and a quaternary carbon stereocenter α to the carbonyl group.

Asymmetric Aza-Wacker-Type Cyclization of N-Ts Hydrazine-Tethered Tetrasubstituted Olefins: Synthesis of Pyrazolines Bearing One Quaternary or Two Vicinal Stereocenters

We have developed an asymmetric aza-Wacker-type cyclization of N-Ts hydrazine-tethered tetrasubstituted olefins, affording optically active pyrazolines bearing chiral tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters. This reaction is tolerant to a broad range of substrates under mild reaction conditions, giving the desired chiral products with high enantioselectivities. Generation of two vicinal stereocenters on the C═C double bonds was also achieved with high selectivities, a process which has been rarely studied for Wacker-type reactions. A mechanistic study revealed that this aza-Wacker-type cyclization undergoes a syn-aminopalladation process. It was also found that for substrates bearing two linear alkyl substituents on the outer carbon atom of the olefin, both of which are larger than a methyl group, the alkyl substituent that is cis to the intranucleophilic group participates more readily in β-hydride elimination. When one of the two alkyl substituents on the outer carbon atom of the olefin is a methyl group, β-hydride elimination proceeds selectively at the methylene side, thus both diastereomers can be prepared via switching the configuration of the olefin. Furthermore, the product can be converted to a pharmaceutical compound in high yields over three steps.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Relay Heck Arylation of Enelactams: Accessing α,β-Unsaturated δ-Lactams

In this Communication, we describe the construction of chiral α,β-unsaturated δ-lactams, widely used as pharmacophores, in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities using an oxidative relay Heck arylation reaction. This strategy also allows facile access to 7-substituted α,β-unsaturated ε-lactam products and δ-lactams containing a tetrasubstituted nitrogen-bearing stereocenter.

Formation of Chiral Allylic Ethers via an Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Alkenylation of Acyclic Enol Ethers

This report details a palladium-catalyzed process to access highly functionalized, optically active allylic aryl ethers. A number of electron-deficient alkenyl triflates underwent enantioselective and site-selective coupling with acyclic aryl enol ethers in the presence of a chiral palladium catalyst. This transform provides chiral allylic ether products in high yields and excellent enantiomeric ratios, furnishing a unique disconnection to incorporate heteroatoms at a stereocenter. Finally, the applicability of the products to target synthesis was demonstrated through the formation of a chiral allylic alcohol and the generation of a flavone-inspired product.

Renaissance of pyridine-oxazolines as chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Oxazoline-containing ligands have been widely employed in numerous asymmetric catalytic reactions. Pyridine-oxazoline-type ligands, a class of hybrid ligands, were designed earlier than bisoxazoline and phosphine-oxazoline ligands; however, their unique properties have only been discovered recently. Pyridine-oxazoline-type chiral ligands are rapidly becoming popular for use in asymmetric catalysis, especially for several new and efficient asymmetric methodologies. Several types of challenging asymmetric reactions have been discovered recently using pyridine-oxazoline-type ligands showing their special properties and potential for future application in a wide range of new catalytic methodologies. This review provides an overview of this field, with the aim of highlighting both ligand design and synthetic methodology development.

Walking Metals for Remote Functionalization

The distant and selective activation of unreactive C-H and C-C bonds remains one of the biggest challenges in organic chemistry. In recent years, the development of remote functionalization has received growing interest as it allows for the activation of rather challenging C-H and C-C bonds distant from the initiation point by means of a "metal-walk". A "metal-walk" or "chain-walk" is defined by an iterative series of consecutive 1,2- or 1,3-hydride shifts of a metal complex along a single hydrocarbon chain. With this approach, simple building blocks or mixtures thereof can be transformed into complex scaffolds in a convergent and unified strategy. A variety of catalytic systems have been developed and refined over the past decade ranging from late-transition-metal complexes to more sustainable iron- and cobalt-based systems. As the possibilities of this field are slowly unfolding, this area of research will contribute considerably to provide solutions to yet unmet synthetic challenges.