Synthesis of Quinolines via the Metal-free Visible-Light-Mediated Radical Azidation of Cyclopropenes

Fe-Catalyzed Radical Trifluoromethylation and Cyclization of Ortho-Vinyl Enaminones with 1-(Trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzo-[d][1,2]iodaoxol-3(1H)-one to Construct Functionalized Quinolines

Herein, we present a protocol for the construction of functionalized quinolines, i.e., 3-acyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethyl)quinolines (ATFQLs) 4, from ortho-vinyl enaminones and 1-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzo-[d][1,2]-iodaoxol-3(1H)-one, which was catalyzed by FeCp2 and promoted by FeCl3 (Lewis acid) additives in solvents (i.e., acetonitrile and toluene). This strategy first utilized the FeCp2-catalyzed functionalization of alkenes with trifluoromethyl radicals. The intermediate formed was captured by the ortho-iodobenzoate substrate, yielding intermediate 3, which then underwent the FeCl3-catalyzed elimination of ortho-iodobenzoate at a higher temperature to form an α,β-unsaturated intermediate. The subsequent intramolecular Michael reaction of the intermediate yielded the final target compound 4. In summary, a series of ATFQLs 4 were synthesized through the formation of two bonds (C═C and C-C).

Photocatalyzed Azidofunctionalization of Alkenes via Radical-Polar Crossover

The azidofunctionalization of alkenes under mild conditions using commercially available starting materials and easily accessible reagents is reported based on a radical-polar crossover strategy. A broad range of alkenes, including vinyl arenes, enamides, enol ethers, vinyl sulfides, and dehydroamino esters, were regioselectively functionalized with an azide and nucleophiles such as azoles, carboxylic acids, alcohols, phosphoric acids, oximes, and phenols. The method led to a more efficient synthesis of 1,2-azidofunctionalized pharmaceutical intermediates when compared to previous approaches, resulting in both reduction of step count and increase in overall yield. The scope and limitations of these transformations were further investigated through a standard unbiased selection of 15 substrate combinations out of 1,175,658 possible using a clustering technique.

A Visible Light Photoredox Approach for Synthesizing Sulfone-Functionalized Cyclopropenes

We have developed a tandem method essential for synthesizing sulfone-containing organic molecules, which has wide-ranging applications in agrochemicals, medicinal chemistry, and polymer science. This method involves a two-step process: an iodo-sulfonylated intermediate is formed initially, followed by elimination to regenerate the double bond, ultimately yielding sulfone-containing cyclopropenes. Control studies have confirmed the intermediacy of iodo-sulfonylated cyclopropane within the reaction sequence. Additionally, this protocol demonstrated an excellent tolerance for various functional groups. Moreover, the resulting sulfonylated-cyclopropenes are promising synthons for late-stage modification and molecular diversification.

SOMOphilic alkyne vs radical-polar crossover approaches: The full story of the azido-alkynylation of alkenes

We report the detailed background for the discovery and development of the synthesis of homopropargylic azides by the azido-alkynylation of alkenes. Initially, a strategy involving SOMOphilic alkynes was adopted, but only resulted in a 29% yield of the desired product. By switching to a radical-polar crossover approach and after optimization, a high yield (72%) of the homopropargylic azide was reached. Full insights are given about the factors that were essential for the success of the optimization process.

Diastereoselective Hydroacylation of Cyclopropenes by Visible-Light Photocatalysis

An efficient and general strategy for the hydroacylation of cyclopropene is disclosed for synthesizing various 2-acylcyclopropane derivatives under mild reaction conditions. High functional group tolerance of this protocol features a novel route to access a divergent synthesis of acylated cyclopropane in a diastereoselective manner by photoinduced decarboxylation of α-ketoacid followed by acyl radical addition to cyclopropene. Additionally, the regioselective addition of acyl radical at the least substituted olefinic carbon center with trans-selective fashion makes this protocol more appealing toward natural product development.

Azido-alkynylation of alkenes through radical-polar crossover

We report an azido-alkynylation of alkenes allowing a straightforward access to homopropargylic azides by combining hypervalent iodine reagents and alkynyl-trifluoroborate salts. The design of a photocatalytic redox-neutral radical polar crossover process was key to develop this transformation. A variety of homopropargylic azides possessing electron-rich and -poor aryls, heterocycles or ether substituents could be accessed in 34-84% yield. The products are synthetically useful building blocks that could be easily transformed into pyrroles or bioactive amines.

Recent Progress in Cyclic Aryliodonium Chemistry: Syntheses and Applications

Hypervalent aryliodoumiums are intensively investigated as arylating agents. They are excellent surrogates to aryl halides, and moreover they exhibit better reactivity, which allows the corresponding arylation reactions to be performed under mild conditions. In the past decades, acyclic aryliodoniums are widely explored as arylation agents. However, the unmet need for acyclic aryliodoniums is the improvement of their notoriously low reaction economy because the coproduced aryl iodides during the arylation are often wasted. Cyclic aryliodoniums have their intrinsic advantage in terms of reaction economy, and they have started to receive considerable attention due to their valuable synthetic applications to initiate cascade reactions, which can enable the construction of complex structures, including polycycles with potential pharmaceutical and functional properties. Here, we are summarizing the recent advances made in the research field of cyclic aryliodoniums, including the nascent design of aryliodonium species and their synthetic applications. First, the general preparation of typical diphenyl iodoniums is described, followed by the construction of heterocyclic iodoniums and monoaryl iodoniums. Then, the initiated arylations coupled with subsequent domino reactions are summarized to construct polycycles. Meanwhile, the advances in cyclic aryliodoniums for building biaryls including axial atropisomers are discussed in a systematic manner. Finally, a very recent advance of cyclic aryliodoniums employed as halogen-bonding organocatalysts is described.

Updates on hypervalent-iodine reagents in metal-free organic synthesis

Hypervalent iodine (HVI) chemistry is a rapidly growing subdomain of contemporary organic chemistry because of its enormous synthetic applications. The high nucleofugality of the phenyliodonio group (I+Ph) and their radical...