Pd-Catalyzed Domino Imidoylation/Heck/C(sp2)–H Cyclization: Isocyanide Relay Strategy toward Tricyclic-Fused Heterocycles Containing an All-Carbon Quaternary Center

Regiospecific 2,3-Dialkylindole Synthesis Enabled by Alkylpalladium 1,2-Migration to In Situ Formed Aldimine

2,3-Dialkylindoles play crucial roles in natural products and pharmaceuticals, but the step-efficient and regioselective construction of such privileged structures remains a long-standing challenge. Here, we report a regiospecific non-Fischer indole synthesis through chemoselective 1,2-migratory addition of alkylpalladium to an aldimine intermediate, formed in situ through a palladium hydride-triggered sequential isocyanide and intramolecular olefin insertion. This unprecedented 1,2-migratory addition leads to formal C═C bond cleavage and isocyano carbon insertion between the two sp2 carbons, offering a novel approach to specific 2,3-dialkyl substituted N─H free indoles from readily available alkyl substituted 1-isocyano-2-vinylbenzenes.

Synthesis of continuously substituted quinolines from o-alkenyl aromatic isocyanides by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular imidoylative 6-endo cyclization

An efficient synthesis of continuously substituted quinoline derivatives via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular 6-endo imidoylative cyclization of o-alkenyl aryl isocyanides with (hetero)aryl halides or vinylic triflates has been developed. The reaction proceeds through the concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) mechanism by activation of a vinyl C-H bond with imidoylpalladium assisted by the carboxylate.

Three-Component Domino Reaction of Thioamide, Isonitriles, and Water: Selective Synthesis of 1,2,4-Thiadiazolidin-3-ones and (E)-N-(1,2-Diamino-2-thioxoethylidene)benzamides

The three-component domino reaction of thioamides, benzyl isocyanide, and water in the presence of a catalytic amount of both Pd(dppf)Cl2 and Cu(OAc)2 afforded novel 1,2,4-thiadiazolidin-3-one cyclic compounds, whereas the same reaction with tertiary alkylisonitriles in the presence of rare earth metal salt [La(OTf)3] resulted in (E)-N-(1,2-diamino-2-thioxoethylidene)benzamide open-chain products. This divergent reaction enabled the one-pot construction of five (N-S, C-S, C-O, and two C-N) or four (C-S, C-N, C-O, and C-C) new chemical bonds. Mechanism studies indicate that the oxygen atom of the product was derived from H2O.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Variations on α-Iminonitriles: Harnessing Chiral Cyclopropenimine-Thiourea Organocatalysts

Chiral 1-pyrrolines containing a nitrile motif serve as crucial structural scaffolds in biologically active molecules and exhibit diversity as building blocks owing to their valuable functional groups; however, the asymmetric synthesis of such compounds remains largely unexplored. Herein, we present an enantio- and diastereoselective method for the synthesis of α-chiral nitrile-containing 1-pyrroline derivatives bearing vicinal stereocenters through the design and introduction of chiral cyclopropenimine-based bifunctional catalysts featuring a thiourea moiety. This synthesis entails a highly stereoselective conjugate addition of α-iminonitriles to a wide array of enones, followed by cyclocondensation, thereby affording a series of cyanopyrroline derivatives, some of which contain all-carbon quaternary centers. Moreover, we demonstrate the synthetic utility of this strategy by performing a gram-scale reaction with 1% catalyst loading, along with a variety of chemoselective transformations of the product, including the synthesis of a vildagliptin analogue. Finally, we showcase the selective synthesis of all four stereoisomers of the cyanopyrroline products through trans-to-cis isomerization, highlighting the versatility of our approach.

One-Pot Synthesis of Multifunctionalized 1-Pyrrolines from 2-Alkyl-2H-azirines and Diazocarbonyl Compounds

A novel strategy for the synthesis of 1-pyrrolines based on formal [4 + 1] annulation of 2-alkyl-2H-azirines with diazocarbonyl compounds has been developed. This one-pot approach includes the Rh(II)-catalyzed formation of 4-alkyl-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes, followed by the DBU-promoted cyclization, and features a good substrate tolerance. The 1-pyrrolines containing an ester group at the C3 were prepared in a three-step one-pot procedure starting from 5-alkoxyisoxazoles. The cyclization of 2-azabutadienes to 1-pyrrolines most likely proceeds via the 6π electrocyclization of a conjugated NH-azomethine ylide.

Synthesis of 7-Arylthiomethyl Dibenzo[b,d]azepines through Imidoylative Heck Cyclization and CPA-Catalyzed Thio-Michael Addition/Enantioselective Protonation

A chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed thio-Michael addition/enantioselective protonation has been developed for the first time. The reaction applies 7-methylene-6-aryl-7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepines, products of Pd-catalyzed imidoylative Heck cyclization, as Michael acceptors in reactions with a wide range of aryl thiols. Diversified 7-[(arylthio)methyl]-7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepines bearing a benzylic stereocenter and a thermodynamically regulated biaryl axis were produced with good to excellent enantioselectivity and 14-25:1 diastereoisomeric ratios.

[4 + 1 + 1] Tandem Cyclization Reaction Involving Isocyanides: Access to 2-(Trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-imines

A palladium-catalyzed three-component reaction of isocyanides, 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(2-iodophenyl)acetimidoyl chlorides, and amines for the one-pot synthesis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-imines was described. The protocol features a wide substrate scope, high efficiency, and readily available raw materials.

Advances in palladium-catalysed imidoylative cyclization of functionalized isocyanides for the construction of N-heterocycles

Palladium-catalysed isocyanide insertion reactions have witnessed great progress in recent years. In particular, imidoylative cyclization of functionalized isocyanides was successfully developed by taking advantage of the adjustable substituents on the isocyano group, opening a new avenue to access a variety of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. In this review article, we summarize the advances of functionalized isocyanide insertion reactions and highlight the breakthroughs of enantioselective palladium catalysed imidoylation reactions by using this strategy. Additionally, copper-catalysed cyclization reactions of functionalized isocyanides are briefly discussed.