Ligand-enabled site-selectivity in a versatile rhodium(ii)-catalysed aryl C–H carboxylation with CO2

CO2 Fixation into Useful Aromatic Carboxylic Acids via C (sp2)-X Bonds Functionalization

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an abundant and readily available carbon source. Its transformation into high-added-value chemicals is a beneficial strategy, which mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and provides new raw material sources for the chemical industry. Among these chemicals, the aromatic carboxylic acids and derivatives have broad applications in medicine, pesticides, and materials science. Therefore, the carboxylation of C(sp2)-X (X = metal, halide, H, O, or S) bonds with CO2 to efficiently construct aromatic carboxylic acids and their derivatives is a synthetic strategy of significance. This review highlights the recent progress in constructing carboxylic acids and derivatives through the carboxylation of C(sp2)-X bonds with CO2 including literature published from 2000 to December 2024.

Substrate-Controlled Divergent Reductive Cyclization of 2-Arylanilines Using CO2 as a Switching Reagent

Capturing CO2 is highly valued in the field of organic synthesis, especially underdeveloped dual-CO2 conversion. In this study, we detail a novel reductive cyclization of 2-indolylanilines with dual CO2 as a difunctional reagent in the presence of PMHS [poly(methylhydrosiloxane)], delivering methyl-substituted quinoxalines. Furthermore, another chemoselective cyclization with 2-pyrrolylanilines is also realized by converting mono-CO2. Mechanistic investigations shed light upon the fact that this substrate-controlled divergence mainly depends on the formation of N-diacylative intermediates.

Construction of Six-Membered Lactam and Lactone Structures via Ligand-Free Pd-Catalyzed C-H Activation/[5 + 1] Cyclization Carbonylation

An approach for the ligand-free Pd-catalyzed C-H activation/[5 + 1] cyclization carbonylation by employing readily available ClCF2COONa as a carbonyl source via difluorocarbene transfer and hydrolysis has been developed. The current protocol enables us to obtain a series of carbonylation cyclization product benzopyranone and phenanthridinone derivatives in up to 91% yield with excellent functional group compatibility. This protocol has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, wide applicable substrates, and simple and safe operation and provides a new method for the synthesis of complex lactam and lactone compounds.

Axial Ligand Enables Synthesis of Allenylsilane through Dirhodium(II) Catalysis

Described herein is a dirhodium(II)-catalyzed silylation of propargyl esters with hydrosilanes, using tertiary amines as axial ligands. By adopting this strategy, a range of versatile and useful allenylsilanes can be achieved with good yields. This reaction not only represents a SN2'-type silylation of the propargyl derivatives bearing a terminal alkyne moiety to synthesize allenylsilanes from simple hydrosilanes, but also represents a new application of dirhodium(II) complexes in catalytic transformation of carbon-carbon triple bond. The highly functionalized allenylsilanes that are produced can be transformed into a series of synthetically useful organic molecules. In this reaction, an intriguing ON-OFF effect of the amine ligand was observed. The reaction almost did not occur (OFF) without addition of Lewis base amine ligand. However, the reaction took place smoothly (ON) after addition of only catalytic amount of amine ligand. Detailed mechanistic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the reactivity can be delicately improved by the use of tertiary amine. The fine-tuning effect of the tertiary amine is crucial in the formation of the Rh-Si species via a concerted metalation deprotonation (CMD) mechanism and facilitating β-oxygen elimination.

Dehydrogenative cyclization of 2-arylbenzoic acid and 2-arylbenzamide with hydrogen evolution in a photoelectrochemical cell

This paper describes photoelectrochemical dehydrogenative cyclization of 2-arylbenzoic acid and 2-arylbenzamide in a PEC cell consisting of a mesoporous WO3 photoanode and Pt cathode. The cyclization reaction is effectively driven by this PEC system at room temperature with blue LED irradiation under external oxidant- and metal-free conditions, delivering a series of benzolactones and benzolactams in up to 95% isolated yields. Meanwhile, hydrogen is released as the only byproduct of this process.

The Versatile and Strategic O-Carbamate Directed Metalation Group in the Synthesis of Aromatic Molecules: An Update

The aryl O-carbamate (ArOAm) group is among the strongest of the directed metalation groups (DMGs) in directed ortho metalation (DoM) chemistry, especially in the form Ar-OCONEt2. Since the last comprehensive review of metalation chemistry involving ArOAms (published more than 30 years ago), the field has expanded significantly. For example, it now encompasses new substrates, solvent systems, and metalating agents, while conditions have been developed enabling metalation of ArOAm to be conducted in a green and sustainable manner. The ArOAm group has also proven to be effective in the anionic ortho-Fries (AoF) rearrangement, Directed remote metalation (DreM), iterative DoM sequences, and DoM-halogen dance (HalD) synthetic strategies and has been transformed into a diverse range of functionalities and coupled with various groups through a range of cross-coupling (CC) strategies. Of ultimate value, the ArOAm group has demonstrated utility in the synthesis of a diverse range of bioactive and polycyclic aromatic compounds for various applications.

Nickel-Catalyzed Lactamization Reaction of 2-Arylanilines with CO2

Transition-metal-catalyzed lactamization and lactonization of C-H bonds with CO2 assisted by the chelation of amino or hydroxyl groups have been developed but limited to the use of precious metal catalysts such as palladium and rhodium. In this work, we report the nonprecious metal nickel-catalyzed lactamization reaction of 2-arylanilines with CO2 under redox-neutral conditions via C-H bond activation. The reaction displayed excellent functional group tolerance, providing various phenanthridinones with moderate to high yields.

Dirhodium(II)/DPPM Catalyzed 1,2-Hydrosilylation of Conjugated Dienes with Tertiary Silanes

A simple and efficient Rh2(OAc)4/DPPM (bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane) catalyzed regioselective 1,2-anti-Markovnikov hydrosilylation of conjugated dienes with various tertiary silanes gave homoallylic silanes in acetonitrile, which tolerate broad functional groups. Control experiments proved that no π-allyl transition metal intermediates were involved in this 1,2-anti-Markovnikov hydrosilylation. Dirhodium hydride species was observed in hydrosilylation, suggesting that a direct insertion of the terminal double bond into a Rh-H bond is involved in this reaction.

Photoelectrocatalytic Utilization of CO2 : A Big Show of Si-based Photoelectrodes

CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to environmental deterioration; however, it can also be utilized as an abundant C1 resource for the production of valuable chemicals. Solar-driven photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) CO2 utilization represents an advanced technology for the resourcing of CO2 . The key to achieving PEC CO2 utilization lies in high-performance semiconductor photoelectrodes. Si-based photoelectrodes have attracted increasing attention in the field of PEC CO2 utilization due to their suitable band gap (1.1 eV), high carrier mobility, low cost, and abundance on Earth. There are two pathways to PEC CO2 utilization using Si-based photoelectrodes: direct reduction of CO2 into small molecule fuels and chemicals, and fixation of CO2 with organic substrates to generate high-value chemicals. The efficiency and product selectivity of PEC CO2 utilization depends on the structures of the photoelectrodes as well as the composition, morphology, and size of the catalysts. In recent years, significant and influential progress has been made in utilizing Si-based photoelectrodes for PEC CO2 utilization. This review summarizes the latest research achievements in Si-based PEC CO2 utilization, with a particular emphasis on the mechanistic understanding of CO2 reduction and fixation, which will inspire future developments in this field.

Deconstructive Carboxylation of Activated Alkenes with Carbon Dioxide

Carboxylation with carbon dioxide (CO2 ) represents one notable methodology to produce carboxylic acids. In contrast to carbon-heteroatom bonds, carbon-carbon bond cleavage for carboxylation with CO2 is far more challenging due to their inherent and less favorable orbital directionality for interacting with transition metals. Here we report a photocatalytic protocol for the deconstructive carboxylation of alkenes with CO2 to generate carboxylic acids in the absence of transition metals. It is emphasized that our protocol provides carboxylic acids with obviously unchanged carbon numbers when terminal alkenes were used. To show the power of this strategy, a variety of pharmaceutically relevant applications including the modular synthesis of propionate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the late-stage carboxylation of bioactive molecule derivatives are demonstrated.

Dirhodium(II)/Phosphine Catalyst with Chiral Environment at Bridging Site and Its Application in Enantioselective Atropisomer Synthesis

A dirhodium(II)/phosphine catalyst with a chiral environment at the bridging site was developed for the asymmetric arylation of phenanthrene-9,10-diones with arylboronic acids. In contrast to the classic chiral bridging carboxylic acid (or derivatives) ligand strategy of bimetallic dirhodium(II) catalysis, in this reaction, tuning both axial and bridging ligands realized the first Rh₂(OAc)₄/phosphine-catalyzed highly enantioselective carbonyl addition reaction. The kinetic analysis reveals that dirhodium(II) and arylboronic acid follow the first-order kinetics, while phenanthrene-9,10-dione is zeroth-order. These data supported the proposed catalytic cycle, where the key intermediate in the rate-determining step involved the dirhodium(II) complex and arylboronic acid. Finally, axially chiral biaryls were prepared based on a newly developed oxidative ring-opening reaction of α-hydroxyl ketones with a base and molecular oxygen, which featured a central-to-axial chirality transfer radical β-scission step.

Electrochemical reactor dictates site selectivity in N-heteroarene carboxylations

Pyridines and related N-heteroarenes are commonly found in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and other biologically active compounds1,2. Site-selective C-H functionalization would provide a direct way of making these medicinally active products3-5. For example, nicotinic acid derivatives could be made by C-H carboxylation, but this remains an elusive transformation6-8. Here we describe the development of an electrochemical strategy for the direct carboxylation of pyridines using CO2. The choice of the electrolysis setup gives rise to divergent site selectivity: a divided electrochemical cell leads to C5 carboxylation, whereas an undivided cell promotes C4 carboxylation. The undivided-cell reaction is proposed to operate through a paired-electrolysis mechanism9,10, in which both cathodic and anodic events play critical roles in altering the site selectivity. Specifically, anodically generated iodine preferentially reacts with a key radical anion intermediate in the C4-carboxylation pathway through hydrogen-atom transfer, thus diverting the reaction selectivity by means of the Curtin-Hammett principle11. The scope of the transformation was expanded to a wide range of N-heteroarenes, including bipyridines and terpyridines, pyrimidines, pyrazines and quinolines.

Pd(II)-catalyzed carboxylation of aromatic C─H bonds with CO2

The carboxylation of nonactivated C─H bonds provides an attractive yet hitherto largely elusive chemical process to synthesize carboxylic acids by incorporation of CO₂ into the chemical value chain. Here, we report on the realization of such a reaction using simple and nonactivated arenes as starting materials. A computationally designed Pd(II) complex acts as organometallic single-component catalyst, and apart from a base, necessary for thermodynamic stabilization of the intermediates, no other additives or coreagents are required. Turnover numbers up to 10² and high regioselectivities are achieved. The potential of this catalytic reaction for "green chemistry" is demonstrated by the synthesis of veratric acid, an intermediate for pharmaceutical production, from CO₂ and veratrol.

Site-Selective Electrochemical C-H Carboxylation of Arenes with CO2

Herein, a direct, metal-free, and site-selective electrochemical C-H carboxylation of arenes by reductive activation using CO₂ as the economic and abundant carboxylic source was reported. The electrocarboxylation was carried out in an operationally simple manner with high chemo- and regioselectivity, setting the stage for the challenging site-selective C-H carboxylation of unactivated (hetero)arenes. The robust nature of the electrochemical strategy was reflected by a broad scope of substrates with excellent atom economy and unique selectivity. Notably, the direct and selective C-H carboxylation of various challenging arenes worked well in this approach, including electron-deficient naphthalenes, pyridines, simple phenyl derivatives, and substituted quinolines. The method benefits from being externally catalyst-free, metal-free and base-free, which makes it extremely attractive for potential applications.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond annulation of enaminones with iodonium ylides to form isocoumarins

A straightforward approach to synthesise isocoumarins via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond activation/annulation cascade of enaminones and iodonium ylides has been explored. The established protocol is characterized by an exceedingly simple reaction system, high regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance. Moreover, this strategy may provide a new route to cleavage of the C(sp²)-C(O) bond of unstrained ketones.

Combined Brønsted Base-Promoted CO2 Fixation into Benzylic C-H Bonds of Alkylarenes

Interest in developing methods for direct CO₂ fixation into readily available unfunctionalized C-H bonds in organic substances has recently surged. In contrast to the well-studied carboxylations of alkynyl C(sp)-H and aromatic C(sp²)-H bonds, carboxylation of benzylic C(sp³)-H bonds to produce 2-arylacetic acids is limited to photoirradiation reactions and continues to be a challenging issue because of the low chemical reactivity. We herein describe that a combined Brønsted base (i.e., LiO-t-Bu/CsF and LiOCEt₃/CsF) achieves benzylic carboxylation of electron-deficient, -neutral, and -rich alkylarenes and enables various functionalities, including fragile ones such as bromide, alkene, alkyne, and carbonyl moieties. Dicarboxylation at the benzylic position is also established. Cs-alkoxide generated in situ acts as a reactive base, as demonstrated in experiments with independently prepared CsO-t-Bu and by ¹³³Cs nuclear magnetic resonance studies.

Overcoming O-H Insertion to Para-Selective C-H Functionalization of Free Phenols: Rh(II)/Xantphos Catalyzed Geminal Difunctionalization of Diazo Compounds

Para-selective C-H functionalization of free phenols by metal carbenoids is rather challenging due to the generally more favorable competing O-H insertion. Herein, with the use of the combination of Rh(II) and a Xantphos ligand as the catalyst, a novel multicomponent reaction of free phenols, diazoesters, and allylic carbonates was successfully developed, affording a wide variety of phenol derivatives, bearing an all-carbon quaternary center and a synthetically useful allylic unit. This reaction is likely to occur through a tandem process of carbene-induced para-selective C-H functionalization, followed by Rh(II)/Xantphos-catalyzed allylation. The distinctive reactivity of para-selective C-H rather than O-H insertion for the carbenoid intermediate, combined with features of excellent functional group compatibility, high atom and step economy, and ease in further diversification of the products, might render this protocol highly attractive in facile functionalization of unprotected phenols.

Mechanistic insights into the rhodium-catalyzed aryl C–H carboxylation

We have conducted an in-depth theoretical exploration of the details for direct C–H bond activation and lactonization of 2-arylphenols.

Rhodium-Catalyzed meta-Selective C-H Carboxylation Reaction of 1,1-Diarylethylenes via Hydrorhodation-Rhodium Migration

A meta-selective C-H carboxylation reaction of 1,1-diarylethylene derivatives with CO₂ by using a rhodium catalyst with NaOⁱ Pr as a stoichiometric reductant has been achieved. Together with hydrogenation of the ethylene moiety, a carboxyl group was introduced to the meta-position of the aryl ring with high selectivity over the ortho-positions. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicate that this carboxylation reaction proceeds via hydrorhodation on the ethylene moiety, followed by 1,4-rhodium migration and successive 1,2-rhodium migration on the aryl ring. The use of a bulky phosphine ligand seems to be the key to this unusual aryl-to-aryl 1,2-rhodium shift.

Dirhodium(II)/Xantphos-Catalyzed Relay Carbene Insertion and Allylic Alkylation Process: Reaction Development and Mechanistic Insights

Although dirhodium-catalyzed multicomponent reactions of diazo compounds, nucleophiles and electrophiles have achieved great advance in organic synthesis, the introduction of allylic moiety as the third component via allylic metal intermediate remains a formidable challenge in this area. Herein, an attractive three-component reaction of readily accessible amines, diazo compounds, and allylic compounds enabled by a novel dirhodium(II)/Xantphos catalysis is disclosed, affording various architecturally complex and functionally diverse α-quaternary α-amino acid derivatives in good yields with high atom and step economy. Mechanistic studies indicate that the transformation is achieved through a relay dirhodium(II)-catalyzed carbene insertion and allylic alkylation process, in which the catalytic properties of dirhodium are effectively modified by the coordination with Xantphos, leading to good activity in the catalytic allylic alkylation process.

Selective hydroxylation of aryl iodides to produce phenols under mild conditions using a supported copper catalyst

Owing to the high activity and low-cost, copper-based catalysts are promising candidates for transforming aromatic halides to yield phenols. In this work, we report the selective hydroxylation of aromatic iodides to produce phenols using an atomically dispersed copper catalyst (Cu-ZnO-ZrO2) under mild reaction conditions. The reactions were conducted without the use of additional organic ligands, and the protection of an inert atmosphere environment is not required. The catalyst can be easily prepared, scalable, and is very efficient for a wide range of substrates. The catalytic reactions can be carried out with only 1.24 mol% Cu loading, which shows great potential in mass production.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative O-H/C-H isocyanide insertion: facile access to pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine derivatives

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclizations of substituted 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenols with isocyanides via an O-H/C-H insertion cascade have been developed. This strategy provides facile access to pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine derivatives in good to excellent yields under an O2 atmosphere. The notable features of this protocol include its mild reaction conditions, atom-economy, and broad functional group tolerance.

Synthetic Routes to Coumarin(Benzopyrone)-Fused Five-Membered Aromatic Heterocycles Built on the α-Pyrone Moiety. Part 1: Five-Membered Aromatic Rings with One Heteroatom

This review gives an up-to-date overview of the different ways (routes) to the synthesis of coumarin (benzopyrone)-fused, five-membered aromatic heterocycles with one heteroatom, built on the pyrone moiety. Covering 1966 to 2020.

CO2 -Folded Single-Chain Nanoparticles as Recyclable, Improved Carboxylase Mimics

Emulating the function of natural carboxylases to convert CO₂ under atmospheric condition is a great challenge. Herein we report a class of CO₂ -folded single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) that can function as recyclable, function-intensified carboxylase mimics. Lewis pair polymers containing bulky Lewis acidic and basic groups as the precursor, can bind CO₂ to drive an intramolecular folding into SCNPs, in which CO₂ as the folded nodes can form gas-bridged bonds. Such bridging linkages highly activate CO₂ , which endows the SCNPs with extraordinary catalytic ability that can not only catalyze CO₂ -insertion of C(sp³ )-H for imitating the natural enzyme's function, it can also act on non-natural carboxylation pathways for C(sp² and sp)-H substrates. The nanocatalysts are of highly catalytic efficiency and recyclability, and can work at room temperature and near ambient CO₂ condition, inspiring a new approach to sustainable C₁ utilization.

Carbonate-promoted C-H carboxylation of electron-rich heteroarenes

C-H carboxylation is an attractive transformation for both streamlining synthesis and valorizing CO₂. The high bond strength and very low acidity of most C-H bonds, as well as the low reactivity of CO₂, present fundamental challenges for this chemistry. Conventional methods for carboxylation of electron-rich heteroarenes require very strong organic bases to effect C-H deprotonation. Here we show that alkali carbonates (M₂CO₃) dispersed in mesoporous TiO₂ supports (M₂CO₃/TiO₂) effect CO₃ ^2--promoted C-H carboxylation of thiophene- and indole-based heteroarenes in gas-solid reactions at 200-320 °C. M₂CO₃/TiO₂ materials are strong bases in this temperature regime, which enables deprotonation of very weakly acidic bonds in these substrates to generate reactive carbanions. In addition, we show that M₂CO₃/TiO₂ enables C3 carboxylation of indole substrates via an apparent electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism. No carboxylations take place when M₂CO₃/TiO₂ is replaced with un-supported M₂CO₃, demonstrating the critical role of carbonate dispersion and disruption of the M₂CO₃ lattice. After carboxylation, treatment of the support-bound carboxylate products with dimethyl carbonate affords isolable esters and the M₂CO₃/TiO₂ material can be regenerated upon heating under vacuum. Our results provide the basis for a closed cycle for the esterification of heteroarenes with CO₂ and dimethyl carbonate.

Synthesis of 7-hydroxy-6H-naphtho[2,3-c]coumarin via a TsOH-mediated tandem reaction

A concise and efficient method for the synthesis of 7-hydroxy-6H-naphtho[2,3-c]coumarin using available 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanone and Meldrum's acid has been developed. This transformation involved a tandem aldol reaction/lactonization/Friedel-Crafts reaction to form a lactone ring and a benzene ring. It showed high atom economy with water and acetone as the byproducts. Mechanism studies demonstrated two roles of Meldrum's acid: (i) as the reagent for the tandem reaction, and (ii) as the catalyst for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Moreover, the hydroxyl group of 7-hydroxy-6H-naphtho[2,3-c]coumarin was further functionalized efficiently by arylethynyl, aryl, and cyano groups to furnish D-π-A compounds with excellent fluorescence emissions (Φ_F = 0.14-0.78).

Ni-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of an Unactivated C-H Bond with CO2

The transition-metal-catalyzed direct carboxylation of an unactivated C-H bond is rarely reported, and no example of catalysis using abundant and cheap nickel has been reported. In this work, the first Ni-catalyzed direct carboxylation of an unactivated C-H bond under an atmospheric pressure of CO₂ is reported. This method affords moderate to high carboxylation yields of various methyl carboxylates under mild conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that a Ni(0)-Ni(II)-Ni(I) catalytic cycle may be involved in this reaction.

Applying a Nanoparticle@MOF Interface To Activate an Unconventional Regioselectivity of an Inert Reaction at Ambient Conditions

Here we design an interface between a metal nanoparticle (NP) and a metal-organic framework (MOF) to activate an inert CO₂ carboxylation reaction and in situ monitor its unconventional regioselectivity at the molecular level. Using a Kolbe-Schmitt reaction as model, our strategy exploits the NP@MOF interface to create a pseudo high-pressure CO₂ microenvironment over the phenolic substrate to drive its direct C-H carboxylation at ambient conditions. Conversely, Kolbe-Schmitt reactions usually demand high reaction temperature (>125 °C) and pressure (>80 atm). Notably, we observe an unprecedented CO₂ meta-carboxylation of an arene that was previously deemed impossible in traditional Kolbe-Schmitt reactions. While the phenolic substrate in this study is fixed at the NP@MOF interface to facilitate spectroscopic investigations, free reactants could be activated the same way by the local pressurized CO₂ microenvironment. These valuable insights create enormous opportunities in diverse applications including synthetic chemistry, gas valorization, and greenhouse gas remediation.