Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Arylation/Arene Dearomatization Domino Reaction: Expeditious Access to Spiro[4,5]fluorenes

Atom-efficient chlorinative dearomatization of naphthol, quinolinol, and isoquinolinol derivatives using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)

A variety of dearomatized compounds have been prepared in moderate to excellent yields from planar scaffolds using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) as an atom-economical chlorinating agent. The method tolerates a broad range of functionalities and can take place in several green and/or sustainable solvents. Twenty-one examples of 1,1-dichlorinated products of dearomatized 2-naphthols and analogous heteroarenes (quinolinols, isoquinolinols, and quinazolinol) are reported along with five examples of monochlorinated dearomatized products. The utility of the 1,1-dichloronaphthalenone product as a reactive intermediate species is demonstrated in a two-step, one-pot reaction carried out in a green solvent. In a mechanistic investigation, the coordination of the chlorinating agent to the hydroxy substituent of the planar scaffold prior to chlorine transfer is implicated.

Synthesis of Spirocyclohexadienones via Palladium-Catalyzed Dearomatization of Dibenzoxaborins

The development of Pd(II)-catalyzed dearomatization transformation of dibenzoxaborins with alkynes triggered by transmetalation from boron to palladium has been achieved, leading to the synthesis of spirocyclohexadienones, an important skeleton demonstrating potential biomedical utility. The [3 + 2] spiroannulation exhibits remarkable regioselectivity and broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. This methodology employs dibenzoxaborin as a substrate to establish the formal dearomatization of 2-phenylphenol, which poses a formidable energy barrier to the destruction of aromaticity.

Axially Chiral 2-Hydroxybiaryls by Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Activation

This article describes the discovery and development of a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric C-H olefination of 2-hydroxybiaryls. The strategy allows a direct assembly of optically active, axially chiral 2-substituted-2'-hydroxybiaryls from readily available precursors and demonstrates that the native hydroxy unit of the substrates can work as an efficient directing group for the C-H activation. This represents a substantial advantage over other approaches that require the preinstallation of metal coordinating units. The simplicity of the approach and versatility of the products allow a practical and efficient synthesis of a broad variety of optically active binaphthyl derivatives.