Mechanistic Insights for Iodane Mediated Aromatic Halogenation Reactions

Alkali halides as nucleophilic reagent sources for N-directed palladium-catalysed ortho-C-H halogenation of s-tetrazines and other heteroaromatics

A general palladium-catalysed selective C-H halogenation reaction is reported, which was successfully achieved for a large variety of functionalized aromatic rings incorporating diverse N-directing groups. By using simple alkali halides of MX type as the nucleophilic reagent source (M = Li, Na, K, Cs and X = I, Br and Cl), and phenyliodanediacetate oxidant, clean C-H-iodination, bromination and chlorination reactions were performed. This general protocol of selective ortho-monohalogenation, which complements but contrasts with the classical methods using electrophilic reagents, is achievable in a short time (30 min) with microwave irradiation assistance. The reaction was extended to substrates bearing N-directing pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, oxazoline, naphtho[1,2-d]thiazole, and azobenzene groups. Notably, the topical and selectivity-challenging s-tetrazine, as a nitrogen-rich heteroaromatic, was successfully halogenated by this protocol.

Catalyst-free CO2 Hydrogenation with BH3NH3 in Water: DFT Mechanistic Insights

Extensive DFT calculations show that BH3NH3 may transfer dihydrogen to CO2 rather than HCO3- in water over a barrier of 25.9 kcal/mol, followed by faster hydride transfer from borate anions...