Ortho-C–H Benzylation of Aryl Imines with Benzyl Phosphates under Cobalt–Pyphos Catalysis

A new protocol for synthesizing diarylmethanes using a benzyltitanium reagent as a nucleophile

The first palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of various substituted benzyltitaniums with aryl triflates is presented for the synthesis of diarylmethanes in yields of up to 94% through highly selective C–O bond functionalization. The benzyltitaniums act as nucleophiles to realize the C(sp2)–C(sp3) cross-coupling with high efficiency in short reaction times. The reactions proceed at 60°C and show excellent functional groups tolerance.

Pd-Catalyzed Coupling of N-Tosylhydrazones with Benzylic Phosphates: Toward the Synthesis of Di- or Tri-Substituted Alkenes

This study shows that various di- and tri-substituted alkenes with high chemoselectivity were obtained in good to high yields by coupling N-tosylhydrazones (NTHs) with benzylic phosphates as electrophilic partners. The obtained new catalytic system consisted of PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂/dppp, LiOtBu as a base, and cyclopentyl methyl ether as a green solvent. In addition, we performed a gram-scale transformation using NTH derivatives and benzylic phosphates having a C sp²-Cl bond. The latter was used as a starting point for further postfunctionalization of the key intermediates.

Synthesis of difluoromethylated diarylmethanes via Fe(OTf)3-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,2-difluoro-1-arylethyl phosphates

The Fe(OTf)₃-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,2-difluoro-1-arylethyl phosphates with electron-rich (hetero)arenes afforded difluoromethylated diarylmethanes. Control experiments showed that Fe(OTf)₃ behaves as the Lewis acid, and that the phosphate leaving group and o- or p-alkoxy substituents on the substrates are necessary for the Fe(OTf)₃-catalyzed reaction to proceed under mild conditions.

Chelation-directed remote meta-C-H functionalization of aromatic aldehydes and ketones

We disclose herein the development of a versatile 1,2-diol directing template for palladium-catalyzed remote meta-C-H functionalization of aromatic aldehydes and ketones. In situ-generation of acetals and ketals, as well as removal afterwards, makes the C-H bond functionalization process more straightforward and efficient. This also represents the first example of chelation-directed meta-C-H functionalization of aromatic aldehydes and ketones.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.

Chromium-catalyzed para-selective formation of quaternary carbon centers by alkylation of benzamide derivatives

Selective creation of quaternary carbon centers has been a long-standing challenge in synthetic chemistry. We report here the chromium-catalyzed, para-selective formation of arylated quaternary carbon centers by alkylative reactions of benzamide derivatives with tertiary alkylmagnesium bromides at room temperature. The reaction, which was enabled by a low-cost chromium(III) salt combined with trimethylsilyl bromide, introduces a sterically bulky tertiary alkyl scaffold on the para-position of benzamide derivatives in a highly selective fashion without either isomerization of the tertiary alkyl group or formation of ortho-alkylated byproducts. Forming low-valent Cr species in situ by reaction of CrCl3 with t-BuMgBr accompanied by evolution of hydrogen can be considered, which serves as reactive species to promote the reaction. The para-alkylation likely occurs via a radical-type nucleophilic substitution of imino-coordination benzimidate intermediate.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Biarylmethanes from Aryl Iodides and Benzylic Ketones

An original metal-free procedure for the synthesis of biarylmethanes is disclosed herein. The reactions occur with high selectivity starting from aryl iodides and benzylic ketones in the presence of superbasic media (CsOH/DMSO). This procedure allows a straightforward access to a wide range of biarylmethane derivatives substituted with electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents.

N-Heterocyclic carbene–chromium-catalyzed alkylative cross-coupling of benzamide derivatives with aliphatic bromides

Described here is a chromium-catalyzed alkylative cross-coupling of benzamide derivatives with aliphatic electrophiles under mild conditions.

Cobalt-catalyzed C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H coupling via directed C–H activation and 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer

A cobalt catalyst promotes C(sp²)–H/C(sp³)–H coupling through a merger of directed C(sp²)–H activation and 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer.

Construction of Nitrated Benzo[3.3.1]bicyclic Acetal/Ketal Core via Nitration of o-Carbonyl Allylbenzenes

Intramolecular annulation of o-carbonyl allylbenzenes was achieved to construct novel nitrated [6,6,6]tricycles having an acetal or ketal motif in good yields. The expeditious one-step nitration route provides 4 or 5 new bond formations, including 2 or 3 C-N bonds and 2 C-O bonds. The structural framework of benzobicycle [3.3.1] is confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. A plausible mechanism is proposed.

Ultrasound assisted Bradsher reaction in aqueous and non-aqueous media: First use of ultrasounds in electrophilic aromatic cyclisation leading to polyacenes

The present work describes the first use of ultrasounds in the Bradsher cyclisation of activated and non-activated ortho-formyl diarylmethanes. This reaction is also the first example of electrophilic, aromatic cyclisation assisted by ultrasounds which leads to pure polycyclic, fused aromatic hydrocarbons containing 3 and 4 fused rings in excellent yields. The reaction proceeds not only in aqueous but also in non-aqueous media at milder conditions (room temperature) and in much shorter reaction times than in conventional protocols.