Synthesis of Tribenzo[b,d,f]azepines via Cascade π-Extended Decarboxylative Annulation Involving Cyclic Diaryliodonium Salts

Organohypervalent heterocycles

This review summarizes the structural and synthetic aspects of heterocyclic molecules incorporating an atom of a hypervalent main-group element. The term "hypervalent" has been suggested for derivatives of main-group elements with more than eight valence electrons, and the concept of hypervalency is commonly used despite some criticism from theoretical chemists. The significantly higher thermal stability of hypervalent heterocycles compared to their acyclic analogs adds special features to their chemistry, particularly for bromine and iodine. Heterocyclic compounds of elements with double bonds are not categorized as hypervalent molecules owing to the zwitterionic nature of these bonds, resulting in the conventional 8-electron species. This review is focused on hypervalent heterocyclic derivatives of nonmetal main-group elements, such as boron, silicon, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, bromine, chlorine, iodine(III) and iodine(V).

Diaryliodonium Salts Enabled Arylation, Arylocyclization, and Aryl-Migration

Our research interest focusing on synthetic methodology with diaryliodonium salts, is summarized in this account. Besides employing a dual activation strategy of C-I and ortho C-H bonds, we have introduced vicinal functional groups at ortho-positions of diaryliodonium salts, in which their unique reactivities have been explored in various processes, including arylation, diarylation, cascade annulation, benzocyclization, arylocyclization, and intramolecular aryl migration. The variety of mechanisms of these reactions that involves either transition metals, especially palladium in organometallic catalysis, or transition-metal free conditions, were discussed in the context.

One-Pot Synthesis of Helical Azaheptalene and Chiroptical Switching of an Isolable Radical Cation

A nitrogen-centered heptalene, azaheptalene, was designed as a representative of a new class of redox-responsive molecules with a large steric strain that originates from the adjacent seven-membered rings. The pentabenzo derivative of azaheptalene was efficiently synthesized by a palladium-catalyzed one-pot reaction of commercially available reagents. Bromination led to mono- and dibrominated derivatives, the latter of which is interconvertible with isolable radical cation species exhibiting near-infrared absorption. Since the azaheptalene skeleton shows configurationally stable helicity with a large torsion angle, enantiomers could be successfully separated. Thus, optically pure azaheptalenes with P- or M-helicity showed strong chiroptical properties (|gabs |≥0.01), which could be changed by an electric potential.

Cyclic diaryliodonium salts: applications and overview

Owing to the recent renewed interest and groundbreaking advances in hypervalent chemistry, cyclic diaryliodonium salts have had a myriad of unique applications in the past decade. Their numerous properties, such as an efficient dual arylation mechanism, straightforward one-pot synthesis compatibility, wide substrate scope, and functionalization tolerance, have made them appropriate starting materials for many bioactive compounds. Fluorenes, thiophenes, carbazoles, phenanthrenes, and many other useful cyclic bioactive molecules that are essential for pharmaceutical synthesis can be readily accessed from cyclic diaryliodonium salts. Particular focus has been given to the high optical activity and good enantiomeric excess of the products that facilitate the easy formation of many difficult-to-obtain optical isomers, such as atropisomers. This review aims to compile and summarize all the recent advances in synthesizing methodologies to prepare the important compounds where cyclic diaryliodonium salt is an integral part of the methodologies and would hopefully provide a good foundation for further research on this topic.

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.

Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Biarylation of 8-Methyl Quinolines with Cyclic Diaryliodonium Salts to Access Functionalized Biaryls and Fluorene Derivatives

Herein, we have developed the cyclic diaryliodonium salts as biarylating agents in the C(sp³)-H functionalization using 8-methyl quinoline as the intrinsic directing group. The oxidant-free reaction produces a vast array of the biarylated products with iodo functionality that can be further functionalized. Additionally, intramolecular C(sp³)-H functionalization in a stepwise manner under palladium-catalyzed conditions produced the fluorene derivatives in excellent yields.

Tandem cyclization/arylation of diaryliodoniums via in situ constructed benzoxazole as a directing group for atom-economical transformation

Linear diaryliodoniums often undergo only single arylation and leave equivalent aryl iodide as waste.

ortho-Nitro-substituted diaryliodonium salts enabled regioselective cyclization of arylcarboxylic acids toward 3,4-naphthocoumarins

We herein report an efficient regioselective cascade of arylation and cyclization of arylcarboxylic acids via Pd(ii)-activation of both C–I and vicinal C–NO2 bonds of ortho-nitro-substituted diaryliodonium salts.

Transition-metal free synthesis of N-aryl carbazoles and their extended analogs

Herein, we describe a facile synthesis of N-arylated carbazoles via ladderization of fluorinated oligophenylenes. The reaction consists of two subsequent nucleophilic substitutions triggered by an electronic transfer from dimsyl anions. The reaction allows the effective one-pot formation of at least six C-N bonds with pronounced selectivity to the C-F bond placement.

Synthesis of Tribenzo[b,d,f]azepines via Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation Reaction of 2-Iodobiphenyls with 2-Halogenoanilines

A palladium-catalyzed annulation reaction of 2-iodobiphenyls with 2-halogenoanilines has been developed. A variety of 2-iodobiphenyls and 2-halogenoanilines can undergo this transformation. Diversified tribenzo[b,d,f]azepine derivatives can be synthesized in moderate to excellent yields according to this method.

Bifunctional reagents in organic synthesis

Developments in synthetic chemistry are increasingly driven by improvements in the selectivity and sustainability of transformations. Bifunctional reagents, either as dual coupling partners or as a coupling partner in combination with an activating species, offer an atom-economic approach to chemical complexity, while suppressing the formation of waste. These reagents are employed in organic synthesis thanks to their ability to form complex organic architectures and empower novel reaction pathways. This Review describes several key bifunctional reagents by showcasing selected cornerstone research areas and examples, including radical reactions, C-H functionalization, cross-coupling, organocatalysis and cyclization reactions.

Dibenzopleiadiene-embeded polyaromatics via [4 + 3] annulative decarbonylation/decarboxylation

A novel and efficient sequential cross-coupling/annulation strategy is developed to construct structurally and optoelectronically diverse class of dibezopleiadiene-embeded polyaromatics.

Palladium-Catalyzed Site-Selective Benzocyclization of Naphthoic Acids with Diaryliodonium Salts: Efficient Access to Benzanthrones

Dual activation of both C-I and vicinal C-H bonds of diaryliodonium salts allowing for diarylation is a subject of rapid construction of π-extended frameworks. Here, we report palladium-catalyzed cascade of C₈-arylation/intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of α-naphthoic acids in the synthesis of benzanthrone derivatives. The step-economical protocol tolerates various substrates, which resulted in a potential molecular library for developing functional polycyclic scaffolds. The approach relies on the synergistic action of strong acid with palladium catalysts to form two bonds in a one-pot procedure.

Pd-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Biarylation via Transient Directing Group Strategy

Here, we describe a highly selective Pd-catalyzed C(sp³)-H biarylation of 2-methylbenzaldehydes using cyclic diaryliodonium salts as arylation reagents. The key strategy is the employment of tert-leucine as a bidentate transient directing group for the proximity-driven metalation to achieve reactivity and selectivity in C-H activation. Various functionalized biaryls bearing both aldehyde and iodine functional groups were prepared successfully, which could be further transformed into a wide range of compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical chemistry and materials science.

Copper-Catalyzed Selective Arylation of Nitriles with Cyclic Diaryl Iodonium Salts: Direct Access to Structurally Diversified Diarylmethane Amides with Potential Neuroprotective and Anticancer Activities

A novel, simple, and high-yielding approach for the preparation of diarylmethane amide derivatives has been developed by reacting cyclic diaryl iodonium salts with nitriles using CuCl as a catalyst. The procedure is efficient with high atom economy and a wide substrate range. Importantly, selective arylation of nitriles was obtained without affecting the phenyl amino/hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, two of the diarylmethane amides (3k, 3s) displayed excellent neuroprotective and anticancer activities.

Copper(i)-catalyzed intermolecular cyanoarylation of alkenes: convenient access to α-alkylated arylacetonitriles

A novel Cu(i)-catalyzed intermolecular cyanoarylation of alkenes with diaryliodonium salts as a radical arylating reagent and tetra-butylammonium cyanide as an electrophilic cyanating reagent was established. A broad range of α-alkylated arylacetonitriles were efficiently constructed in good to excellent yields under base- and oxidant-free and mild conditions.

Diaryliodoniums Salts as Coupling Partners for Transition-Metal Catalyzed C- and N-Arylation of Heteroarenes

Owing to the pioneering works performed on the metal-catalyzed sp2 C–H arylation of indole and pyrrole by Sanford and Gaunt, N– and C-arylation involving diaryliodonium salts offers an attractive complementary strategy for the late-stage diversification of heteroarenes. The main feature of this expanding methodology is the selective incorporation of structural diversity into complex molecules which usually have several C–H bonds and/or N–H bonds with high tolerance to functional groups and under mild conditions. This review summarizes the main recent achievements reported in transition-metal-catalyzed N– and/or C–H arylation of heteroarenes using acyclic diaryliodonium salts as coupling partners.