Triarylbismuthanes as Threefold Aryl-Transfer Reagents in Regioselective Cross-Coupling Reactions with Bromopyridines and Quinolines

Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Catalytic Application of Ferrocenyl Based Bis(pyrazolyl) Palladium Complexes

Here we report, synthesis of ferrocenyl based bis(pyrazolyl) palladium complexes. The catalytic utility of the complexes in the cross-coupling of triarylbismuthanes and aryl bromides was evaluated. Our ferrocenyl based palladium complex showed wide substrate scope for both triarylbismuthanes and aryl bromides. Further, the current catalytic system also showed superior activity over the well-established palladium-phosphine catalytic system using triarylbismuthanes as reagents.

Meta-Selective Copper-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Pyridines and Isoquinolines through Dearomatized Intermediates

C(sp2)-H functionalization offers an efficient strategy for the synthesis of various elaborated N-containing heteroarenes. Along these lines, oxazino pyridines that can be readily prepared from pyridines, have been introduced as powerful substrates in radical- and ionic-mediated meta-C-H functionalization. However, the regioselective meta-C-H arylation of pyridines remains a great challenge. Herein, a copper-catalyzed meta-selective C-H arylation of pyridines and isoquinolines through bench-stable dearomatized intermediates is reported. Electrophilic aryl-Cu(III) species, generated from readily accessible aryl I(III) reagents, enable the efficient meta-arylation of a broad range of pyridines and isoquinolines. The method also allows the meta-selective alkenylation of these heteroarenes using the corresponding alkenyl I(III)-reagents. Late-stage arylation of drug-derived pyridines and larger-scale experiments demonstrate the potential of this synthetic methodology.

Allylation of C-, N-, and O-Nucleophiles via a Mechanochemically-Driven Tsuji-Trost Reaction Suitable for Late-Stage Modification of Bioactive Molecules

We present the first solvent-free, mechanochemical protocol for a palladium-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost allylation. This approach features exceptionally low catalyst loadings (0.5 mol %), short reaction times (<90 min), and a simple setup, eliminating the need for air or moisture precautions, making the process highly efficient and environmentally benign. We introduce solid, nontoxic, and easy-to-handle allyl trimethylammonium salts as valuable alternative to volatile or hazardous reagents. Our approach enables the allylation of various O-, N-, and C-nucleophiles in yields up to 99 % even for structurally complex bioactive compounds, owing to its mild conditions and exceptional functional group tolerance.

Allylation of C-, N-, and O-Nucleophiles via a Mechanochemically-Driven Tsuji-Trost Reaction Suitable for Late-Stage Modification of Bioactive Molecules

We present the first solvent-free, mechanochemical protocol for a palladium-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost allylation. This approach features exceptionally low catalyst loadings (0.5 mol %), short reaction times (<90 min), and a simple setup, eliminating the need for air or moisture precautions, making the process highly efficient and environmentally benign. We introduce solid, nontoxic, and easy-to-handle allyl trimethylammonium salts as valuable alternative to volatile or hazardous reagents. Our approach enables the allylation of various O-, N-, and C-nucleophiles in yields up to 99 % even for structurally complex bioactive compounds, owing to its mild conditions and exceptional functional group tolerance.

Acyclic and Heterocyclic Azadiene Diels-Alder Reactions Promoted by Perfluoroalcohol Solvent Hydrogen Bonding: Comprehensive Examination of Scope

Herein, the first use of perfluoroalcohol H-bonding in accelerating acyclic azadiene inverse electron demand cycloaddition reactions is described, and its use in the promotion of heterocyclic azadiene cycloaddition reactions is generalized through examination of a complete range of azadienes. The scope of dienophiles was comprehensively explored; relative reactivity trends and solvent compatibilities were established with respect to the dienophile as well as azadiene; H-bonding solvent effects that lead to rate enhancements, yield improvements, and their impact on regioselectivity and mode of cycloaddition are defined; new viable diene/dienophile reaction partners in the cycloaddition reactions are disclosed; and key comparison rate constants are reported. The perfluoroalcohol effectiveness at accelerating an inverse electron demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition is directly correlated with its H-bond potential (pKa). Not only are the reactions of electron-rich dienophiles accelerated but those of strained and even unactivated alkenes and alkynes are improved, including representative bioorthogonal click reactions.

Diversity-Oriented Metal-Free Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles Using Atropaldehyde Acetals as a Dual C3/C2-Synthon

A highly efficient and elegant diversity-oriented reaction paradigm employing atropaldehyde acetals as new dual C2/C3 synthons was developed under metal-free conditions using glycine esters as the counterpart reagents, which allowed rapid synthesis of two important nitrogen-containing heterocycles, pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines and 3,5-diarylpyridines. The divergent products are subtly controlled by the manipulation of the substitutional groups of glycine esters. When a N-arylglycine ester was used, pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines can be formed through cascade oxidative C-C cleavage/multiple cyclization. Instead, N-benzylglycine ester as the counter-reagent led to the synthesis of 3,5-diarylpyridines via two key C-N cleavages. Mild conditions, broad substrate scope, scalability and environmentally acceptable organic solvents rendered this method practical and attractive.

Facile Synthesis of 2-Methylnicotinonitrile through Degenerate Ring Transformation of Pyridinium Salts

Nucleophilic recyclization of pyridinium salts involving a CCN interchange ring transformation for the synthesis of 2-methylnicotinonitrile derivatives was herein developed. 3-Aminocrotononitrile (3-ACN) produced in situ from CH₃CN acted as a C-nucleophile, as well as the source of CH₃ and CN groups, which was supported by isotope-labeling and control experiments.

A Dichotomy in Cross-Coupling Site Selectivity in a Dihalogenated Heteroarene: Influence of Mononuclear Pd, Pd Clusters, and Pd Nanoparticles-the Case for Exploiting Pd Catalyst Speciation

Site-selective dihalogenated heteroarene cross-coupling with organometallic reagents usually occurs at the halogen proximal to the heteroatom, enabled by intrinsic relative electrophilicity, particularly in strongly polarized systems. An archetypical example is the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling (SMCC) of 2,4-dibromopyridine with organoboron species, which typically exhibit C2-arylation site-selectivity using mononuclear Pd (pre)catalysts. Given that Pd speciation, particularly aggregation, is known to lead to the formation of catalytically competent multinuclear Pdn species, the influence of these species on cross-coupling site-selectivity remains largely unknown. Herein, we disclose that multinuclear Pd species, in the form of Pd3-type clusters and nanoparticles, switch arylation site-selectivity from C2 to C4, in 2,4-dibromopyridine cross-couplings with both organoboronic acids (SMCC reactions) and Grignard reagents (Kumada-type reactions). The Pd/ligand ratio and the presence of suitable stabilizing salts were found to be critically important in switching the site-selectivity. More generally, this study provides experimental evidence that aggregated Pd catalyst species not only are catalytically competent but also alter reaction outcomes through changes in product selectivity.

Strategic Advances in Sequential C-Arylations of Heteroarenes

Sequence-specific C-arylation strategies have important applications in medicinal and material research. These strategies allow C-C bond formations in a regioselective manner to synthesize large molecular libraries for studying structure-activity profiles. The past decade has seen the development of single C-C bond forming reactions using various transition-metal catalysts, cryogenic metalation strategies, and metal-free methods. Sequential arylations of heterocycles allow for the formation of multiaryl derivatives and are a preferred choice over de novo synthetic routes. This perspective sheds light on recent strategic advances to develop various sequential synthetic routes for the multiarylation of heteroarenes. This perspective addresses many challenges in optimizing sequential routes with respect to catalysts, reaction parameters, and various strategies adopted to obtain diversely arylated products.

Organometal-Free Arylation and Arylation/Trifluoroacetylation of Quinolines by Their Reaction with CF3-ynones and Base-Induced Rearrangement

The reaction of quinolines with CF₃-ynones resulted in the formation of 1,3-oxazinoquinolines. Subsequent treatment of the reaction mixture with a base initiated deep structural transformation of primary products. Both steps proceed in very high yield. As a result, unusual rearrangement of 1,3-oxazinoquinolines to form either 2-arylquinolines or 2-aryl-3-trifluoroacetylquinolines was discovered. The decisive role of the base in the reaction direction was shown. Using these reactions, highly efficient pathways to 2-arylquinolines and 2-aryl-3-trifluoroacetylquinolines were elaborated to provide the corresponding compounds in high yields using a simple one-pot procedure. The possible mechanism of rearrangement is discussed.

Syntheses of Pyrroles, Pyridines, and Ketonitriles via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Dinitriles

The first example of the Pd-catalyzed addition of organoboron reagents to dinitriles, as an efficient means of preparing 2,5-diarylpyrroles and 2,6-diarylpyridines, has been discussed here. Furthermore, the highly selective carbopalladation of dinitriles with organoboron reagents to give long-chain ketonitriles has been developed as well. Based on the broad scope of substrates, excellent functional group tolerance, and use of commercially available substrates, the Pd-catalyzed addition reaction of arylboronic acid and dinitriles is expected to be significant in future synthetic procedures.

Cyclotriveratrylene-tethered trinuclear palladium(ii)-NHC complexes; reversal of site selectivity in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

The trinuclear complexes [{PdI2(pyCl)}3(L1)] C1 and [{PdI2(pyCl)}3(L2)] C2, where pyCl = 3-chloropyridine, L1 = methyl(cyclotriguaiacylenyl)methylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene and L2 = benzyl(cyclotriguaiacylenyl)methylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene, each feature three palladium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) centres tethered onto a host-type cyclotriguaiacylene scaffold. Crystal structures of different solvates of complex C1 reveal different host-guest motifs including intra-cavity binding of dioxane guests concomitant with intramolecular halogen bonding interactions of C1. Mononuclear NHC analogues of C1 and C2, namely [PdI2(pyCl)(L3)] C3 and [PdI2(pyCl)(L4)] C4, where L3 = (3-chloropyridyl)-1-(2-methoxyphenyoxy)methyl-3-methylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene and L4 = (3-chloropyridyl)-1-(2-methoxyphenyoxy)methyl-3-benzylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene, were also synthesised and their crystal structures determined. Complexes C1-C4 are competent catalysts for Suzuki Miyaura cross-coupling, and interestingly exhibit a switch in the normal regioselectivity observed for reactions of 2,4-dibromopyridine with aryl boronic acids, usually C2-selective, yielding C4-arylated product preferentially over C2-arylated product.

Synthesis and trypanocidal activity of a library of 4-substituted 2-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ols

A library of 16 4-substituted 2-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ols 17-32 has been synthesized for use in biological testing against Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease. The 4-substituted 2-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ols 17-32 were subjected to biological testing to evaluate their efficacy against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain) amastigotes infecting U2OS human cells, with benznidazole as a reference compound. The assay was performed in duplicate (two independent experiments) and submitted to High Content Analysis (HCA) for determination of trypanocidal activity. Three of the tested compounds presented relatively high trypanocidal activity (19, 22 and 29), however severe host cell toxicity was observed concomitantly. Chemical optimization of the highly active compounds and the synthesis of more compounds for biological testing against Trypanosoma cruzi will be required to improve selectivity and so that a structure-activity relationship can be generated to provide a more insightful analysis of both chemical and biological aspects.

Substrate-driven selective mono- and bis-couplings of ortho-(OTf/I/Br) substituted gem-dibromovinylarenes

A one-pot approach with the substrate-driven selective and competitive reactivity of ortho-trifloxy, iodo or bromo functionalized gem-dibromovinylarenes was studied under Pd-catalyzed conditions.

Pd-Catalyzed Ligand-Free Synthesis of Arylated Heteroaromatics by Coupling of N-Heteroaromatic Bromides with Iodobenzene Diacetate, Iodosobenzene, or Diphenyliodonium Salts

An efficient method for synthesizing arylated heteroaromatics has been reported via Pd-catalyzed ligand-free cross-coupling of N-heteroaromatic bromides with iodine(III) reagents under mild conditions. Iodobenzene diacetate, iodosobenzene, and diphenyliodonium salts act as ideal arylated sources in this reaction, producing bioactive aromatic-substituted pyridines and quinolines in moderate to high yields.

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Triarylbismuthines by Functional Group Manipulation and Use in Palladium- and Copper-Catalyzed Arylation Reactions

Organobismuthines are an attractive class of organometallic reagents that can be accessed from inexpensive and nontoxic bismuth salts. Triarylbismuthines are particularly interesting due to their air and moisture stability and high functional group tolerance. We report herein a detailed study on the preparation of highly functionalized triarylbismuth reagents by triple functional group manipulation and their use in palladium- and copper-catalyzed C-, N-, and O-arylation reactions.

Iron-Mediated One-Pot Synthesis of 3,5-Diarylpyridines from β-Nitrostyrenes

An operationally simple and mild one-pot protocol for the synthesis of a variety of 3,5-diarylpyridines from β-nitrostyrenes was achieved by using elemental iron. This reaction proceeds via reduction of the nitro group, resulting in in situ imine formation followed by trimolecular condensation with concomitant debenzylative aromatization. By employing this method, a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical 3,5-diarylpyridines were synthesized with good to excellent yields. In addition, this method was also utilized for the synthesis of Sch-21418, an anti-inflammatory agent on gram scale.

Metal free C–H functionalization of diazines and related heteroarenes with organoboron species and its application in the synthesis of a CDK inhibitor, meriolin 1

Here, we report a metal-free cross-coupling reaction of diazines and related heteroarenes with organoboron species.

Rapid threefold cross-couplings with sterically bulky triarylbismuths under Pd–Cu dual catalysis

The threefold cross-coupling reactivity of sterically highly demanding bulky triarylbismuths was addressed with task specific Pd–Cu dual catalytic conditions.

Gold-catalyzed α-furanylations of quinoline N-oxides with alkenyldiazo carbonyl species

Gold-catalyzed α-furanylations of 8-alkylquinoline N-oxides have been achieved using various alkenyldiazo carbonyl species as nucleophiles.