Cross-Coupling Polymerization of Organosodium for Polythiophene Synthesis

Borylative Desymmetrization of Multifunctional Haloarenes assisted by Sodium Dispersion

Multiply halogenated aromatic compounds were selectively borylated by a boron alkoxide in the presence of sodium dispersion when the reaction was carried out at a low temperature, while multi-functionalization took place at an elevated temperature. The reaction of 1,4-dichlorobenzene with sodium dispersion (200-1200 mol%) in the presence of isopropyloxyboron pinacolate (120-240 mol%) afforded (4-chlorophenyl)boron pinacolate in up to 84 % yield. Formation of diborylated product hardly accompanied under the reaction conditions at -78 °C for 1 h.

New Frontiers in Organosodium Chemistry as Sustainable Alternatives to Organolithium Reagents

With their highly reactive respective C-Na and N-Na bonds, organosodium and sodium amide reagents could be viewed as obvious replacements or even superior reagents to the popular, widely utilised organolithiums. However, they have seen very limited applications in synthesis due mainly to poor solubility in common solvents and their limited stability. That notwithstanding in recent years there has been a surge of interest in bringing these sustainable metal reagents into the forefront of organometallics in synthesis. Showcasing the growth in utilisation of organosodium complexes within several areas of synthetic chemistry, this Minireview discusses promising new methods that have been recently reported with the goal of taming these powerful reagents. Special emphasis is placed on coordination and aggregation effects in these reagents which can impart profound changes in their solubility and reactivity. Differences in observed reactivity between more nucleophilic aryl and alkyl sodium reagents and the less nucleophilic but highly basic sodium amides are discussed along with current mechanistic understanding of their reactivities. Overall, this review aims to inspire growth in this exciting field of research to allow for the integration of organosodium complexes within common important synthetic transformations.

Li vs Na: Divergent Reaction Patterns between Organolithium and Organosodium Complexes and Ligand-Catalyzed Ketone/Aldehyde Methylenation

Organosodium chemistry is underdeveloped compared with organolithium chemistry, and all the reported organosodium complexes exhibit similar, if not identical, reactivity patterns to their lithium counterparts. Herein, we report a rare organosodium monomeric complex, namely, [Na(CH2SiMe3)(Me6Tren)] (1-Na) (Me6Tren: tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine) stabilized by a tetra-dentate neutral amine ligand Me6Tren. Employing organo-carbonyl substrates (ketones, aldehydes, amides, ester), we demonstrated that 1-Na features distinct reactivity patterns compared with its lithium counterpart, [Li(CH2SiMe3)(Me6Tren)] (1-Li). Based on this knowledge, we further developed a ligand-catalysis strategy to conduct ketone/aldehyde methylenations, using [NaCH2SiMe3]∞ as the CH2 feedstock, replacing the widely used but hazardous/expensive C═O methylenation methods, such as Wittig, Tebbe, Julia/Julia-Kocieński, Peterson, and so on.

Enhancing Metalating Efficiency of the Sodium Amide NaTMP in Arene Borylation Applications

Though LiTMP (TMP=2,2',6,6'-tetramethylpiperidide) is a commonly used amide, surprisingly the heavier NaTMP has hardly been utilised. Here, by mixing NaTMP with tridentate donor PMDETA (N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine), we provide structural, and mechanistic insights into the sodiation of non-activated arenes (e.g. anisole and benzene). While these reactions are low yielding, adding B(OiPr)3 has a profound effect, not only by intercepting the CAr -Na bond, but also by driving the metalation reaction towards quantitative formation of more stabilized sodium aryl boronates. Demonstrating its metalating power, regioselective C2-metalation/borylation of naphthalene has been accomplished contrasting with single-metal based protocols which are unselective and low yielding. Extension to other arenes allows for in situ generation of aryl boronates which can then directly engage in Suzuki-Miyaura couplings, furnishing a range of biaryls in a selective and efficient manner.