Diverse Reactivity of Diazatitanacyclohexenes: Coupling Reactions of 2H-Azirines Mediated by Titanium(II)

Titanium-Catalyzed Reaction of Silacyclobutanes with Alkenes: Mimicking the Reactivity and Reversing the Selectivity Towards Late Transition Metals

Transition metal-catalyzed ring opening and expansion reactions of silacyclobutanes (SCBs) constitute an atom- and step-economical strategy to construct value-added silicon-containing chemicals. Despite extensive studies, the reaction of SCBs with simple alkenes has only one precedent. Moreover, most reported reactions of SCBs use late transition metals (Pd, Ni, Rh) as catalysts. By contrast, there are no reports of using early transition metals. Herein, we report the first example, to our knowledge, of early-transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of SCBs using earth's second abundant titanium as a catalyst. Notably, orthogonal selectivity was observed. Selective activation of the relatively inert C(sp3)-Si bond was achieved in the case of benzosilacyclobutenes, a selectivity that has rarely been achieved using other metals. Even for silacyclobutanes with C(sp3)-Si bonds only, our titanium system also shows complementary selectivity towards late transition metals to give distinct products. Thus, structurally varied SCBs and alkenes were reacted in our system to afford structurally diverse silicon-containing products that are otherwise difficult to obtain using other transition metals.

Cp2Ti(II) Mediated Rearrangement of Cyclopropyl Imines

Ti-catalyzed oxidative alkyne carboamination with alkenes and azo compounds can yield either α,β-unsaturated imines or cyclopropyl imines through a common azatitanacyclohexene intermediate. Herein, we report the synthesis of a model azatitanacyclohexene complex (3) through the ring-opening of a cyclopropyl imine with Cp2Ti(BTMSA) (BTMSA = bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene). 3 readily undergoes thermal or reductant-catalyzed ring contraction to an azatitanacyclopentene (4), analogous to the proposed mechanism for forming α,β-unsaturated imines in the catalytic reaction. A cyclopropyl imine or an α,β-unsaturated imine could be liberated via the oxidation of 3 or 4 with azobenzene, respectively, further implicating the role of these metallacycles in the Ti-catalyzed carboamination reaction.

α-Diimine synthesis via titanium-mediated multicomponent diimination of alkynes with C-nitrosos

α-Diimines are commonly used as supporting ligands for a variety of transition metal-catalyzed processes, most notably in α-olefin polymerization. They are also precursors to valuable synthetic targets, such as chiral 1,2-diamines. Their synthesis is usually performed through acid-catalyzed condensation of amines with α-diketones. Despite the simplicity of this approach, accessing unsymmetrical α-diimines is challenging. Herein, we report the Ti-mediated intermolecular diimination of alkynes to afford a variety of symmetrical and unsymmetrical α-diimines through the reaction of diazatitanacyclohexadiene intermediates with C-nitrosos. These diazatitanacycles can be readily accessed in situ via the multicomponent coupling of Ti[triple bond, length as m-dash]NR imidos with alkynes and nitriles. The formation of α-diimines is achieved through formal [4 + 2]-cycloaddition of the C-nitroso to the Ti and γ-carbon of the diazatitanacyclohexadiene followed by two subsequent cycloreversion steps to eliminate nitrile and afford the α-diimine and a Ti oxo.

Ti-Catalyzed and -Mediated Oxidative Amination Reactions

Titanium is an attractive metal for catalytic reaction development: it is earth-abundant, inexpensive, and generally nontoxic. However-like most early transition metals-catalytic redox reactions with Ti are difficult because of the stability of the high-valent Ti^IV state. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind Ti redox processes is key for making progress toward potential catalytic applications. This Account details recent progress in Ti-catalyzed (and -mediated) oxidative amination reactions that proceed through formally Ti^II/Ti^IV catalytic cycles.This class of reactions is built on our initial discovery of Ti-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] pyrrole synthesis from alkynes and azobenzene, where detailed mechanistic studies have revealed important factors that allow for catalytic turnover despite the inherent difficulty of Ti redox. Two important conclusions from mechanistic studies are that (1) low-valent Ti intermediates in catalysis can be stabilized through coordination of π-acceptor substrates or products, where they can act as "redox-noninnocent" ligands through metal-to-ligand π back-donation, and (2) reductive elimination processes with Ti proceed through π-type electrocyclic (or pericyclic) reaction mechanisms rather than direct σ-bond coupling.The key reactive species in Ti-catalyzed oxidative amination reactions are Ti imidos (Ti≡NR), which can be generated from either aryl diazenes (RN═NR) or organic azides (RN₃). These Ti imidos can then undergo [2 + 2] cycloadditions with alkynes, resulting in intermediates that can be coupled to an array of other unsaturated functional groups, including alkynes, alkenes, nitriles, and nitrosos. This basic reactivity pattern has been extended into a broad range of catalytic and stoichiometric oxidative multicomponent coupling reactions of alkynes and other reactive small molecules, leading to multicomponent syntheses of various heterocycles and aminated building blocks.For example, catalytic oxidative coupling of Ti imidos with two different alkynes leads to pyrroles, while stoichiometric oxidative coupling with alkynes and nitriles leads to pyrazoles. These heterocycle syntheses often yield substitution patterns that are complementary to those of classical condensation routes and provide access to new electron-rich, highly substituted heteroaromatic scaffolds. Furthermore, catalytic oxidative alkyne carboamination reactions can be accomplished via reaction of Ti imidos with alkynes and alkenes, yielding α,β-unsaturated imine or cyclopropylimine building blocks. New catalytic and stoichiometric oxidative amination methods such as alkyne α-diimination, isocyanide imination, and ring-opening oxidative amination of strained alkenes are continuously emerging as a result of better mechanistic understanding of Ti redox catalysis.Ultimately, these Ti-catalyzed and -mediated oxidative amination methods demonstrate the importance of examining often-overlooked elements like the early transition metals through the lens of modern catalysis: rather than a lack of utility, these elements frequently have undiscovered potential for new transformations with orthogonal or complementary selectivity to their late transition metal counterparts.

Harnessing In Situ Radical Oxygenation: Copper-Catalyzed Interrupted Azirine-Alkyne Ring-Expansion Reaction for the Synthesis of Pyrrolones

Here we report a novel interrupted azirine-alkyne ring-expansion reaction with molecular oxygen for the direct synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolones enabled by copper catalysis. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the present three-component reaction proceeds via two copper-catalyzed sequential reactions, an azirine-ring-opening alkynylation and an amine-directed radical oxygenation, leading to the formation of interesting pyrrolone structures under mild conditions.

Iron-Catalyzed Vinylsilane Dimerization and Cross-Cycloadditions with 1,3-Dienes: Probing the Origins of Chemo- and Regioselectivity

The selective, intermolecular, homodimerization and cross-cycloaddition of vinylsilanes with unbiased 1,3-dienes, catalyzed by a pyridine-2,6-diimine (PDI) iron complex is described. In the absence of a diene coupling partner, vinylsilane hydroalkenylation products were obtained chemoselectively with unusual head-to-head regioselectivity (up to >98% purity, 98:2 E/Z). In the presence of a 4- or 2-substituted diene coupling partner, under otherwise identical reaction conditions, formation of value-added [2+2]- and [4+2]-cycloadducts, respectively, was observed. The chemoselectivity profile was distinct from that observed for analogous α-olefin dimerization and cross-reactions with 1,3-dienes. Mechanistic studies conducted with well-defined, single-component precatalysts (MePDI)Fe(L2) (where MePDI = 2,6-(2,6-Me2-C6H3N═CMe)2C5H3N; L2 = butadiene or 2(N2)) provided insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic factors contributing to the substrate-controlled regioselectivity for both the homodimerization and cross cycloadditions. Diamagnetic iron diene and paramagnetic iron olefin complexes were identified as catalyst resting states, were characterized by in situ NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies, and were corroborated with DFT calculations. Stoichiometric reactions and computational models provided evidence for a common mechanistic regime where competing steric and orbital-symmetry requirements dictate the regioselectivity of oxidative cyclization. Although distinct chemoselectivity profiles were observed in cross-cycloadditions with the vinylsilane congeners of α-olefins, these products arose from metallacycles with the same connectivity. The silyl substituents ultimately governed the relative rates of β-H elimination and C-C reductive elimination to dictate final product formation.

Multicomponent Pyrazole Synthesis from Alkynes, Nitriles, and Titanium Imido Complexes via Oxidatively Induced N-N Bond Coupling

Pyrazoles are an important class of heterocycles found in a wide range of bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. Pyrazole synthesis often requires hydrazine or related reagents where an intact N-N bond is conservatively installed into a pyrazole precursor fragment. Herein, we report the multicomponent oxidative coupling of alkynes, nitriles, and Ti imido complexes for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyrazoles. This modular method avoids potentially hazardous reagents like hydrazine, instead forming the N-N bond in the final step via oxidation-induced coupling on Ti. The mechanism of this transformation has been studied in-depth through stoichiometric reactions of the key diazatitanacyclohexadiene intermediate, which can be accessed via multicomponent coupling of Ti imidos with nitriles and alkynes, ring opening of 2-imino-2H-azirines, or direct metalation of 4-azadiene-1-amine derivatives. The critical transformation in this reaction is the 2-electron oxidation-induced N-N coupling on Ti. This is a rare example of formal N-N coupling on a metal center, which likely occurs through an electrocyclic mechanism analogous to a Nazarov cyclization. Conveniently, these 2-electron-oxidized diazatitanacyclohexadiene intermediates can be accessed via disproportionation of the 1-electron-oxidized species, which allows utilization of weak oxidants such as TEMPO.

Group 4 Diarylmetallocenes as Bespoke Aryne Precursors for Titanium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Arynes and Alkynes

Despite the ubiquity of reports describing titanium (Ti)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization of alkynes, the incorporation of arynes into this potent manifold has never been reported. The in situ generation of arynes often requires fluoride, which instead will react with the highly fluorophilic Ti center, suppressing productive catalysis. Herein, we describe the use of group 4 diarylmetallocenes, Cp^R₂MAr₂ (Cp^R = C₅H₅, C₅Me₅; M = Ti, Zr), as aryne precursors for the Ti-catalyzed synthesis of substituted naphthalenes via coupling with 2 equiv of an alkyne. Fair-to-good yields of the desired naphthalene products could be obtained with 1% catalyst loadings, which is roughly an order of magnitude lower than similar reactions catalyzed by palladium or nickel. Additionally, naphthalenes find broad applications in the electronics, photovoltaics, and pharmaceutical industries, urging the discovery of more economic syntheses. These results indicate that aryne transfer from a Cp^R₂M(η²-aryne) complex to another metal is a viable route for the introduction of aryne fragments into organometallic catalytic processes.

A silica-supported titanium catalyst for heterogeneous hydroamination and multicomponent coupling reactions

Highly dehydrated silica gel, SiO₂⁷⁰⁰, gave a material with a total surface hydroxyl density of 0.31 ± 0.05 mmol g^-1, 0.9 ± 0.1 Si-OH sites per nm². Treatment of this material with Ti(NMe₂)₄ gave Ti(NMe₂)₃/SiO₂⁷⁰⁰, which is 1.50% ± 0.07 Ti, where the titanium is bound to the surface, on average, through a single O-Si-Ti linkage. This material was tested for its properties as a catalyst for C-N bond forming reactions and was found to be a competent alkyne hydroamination and iminoamination catalyst. For iminoamination, which is the 3-component coupling of an alkyne, primary amine, and isonitrile, this heterogeneous catalyst was able to carry out some catalyses faster than previously reported homogeneous catalysts with lower catalyst loadings. The material is also a catalyst for the addition of aniline to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to form a substituted guanidine. In addition, a known quinoline with biological activity was prepared using the heterogeneous catalyst in a one-pot procedure using half the catalyst loading of the previously reported synthesis.