Synthesis of Multisubstituted Aromatics via 3-Triazenylarynes

An efficient method for generating 3-triazenylarynes from ortho-iodoaryl triflate-type precursors was developed. The generated arynes reacted with various arynophiles with high regioselectivity because of the triazenyl group. The 3-triazenylaryne precursors functioned as useful intermediates of diverse multisubstituted aromatic compounds through the transformation of the remaining triazenyl group of aryne adducts and triazenyl group-directed ortho-C-H functionalization.

Parameterization of Arynophiles: Experimental Investigations towards a Quantitative Understanding of Aryne Trapping Reactions

Arynes are highly reactive intermediates that may be used strategically in synthesis by trapping with arynophilic reagents. However, ‘arynophilicity’ of such reagents is almost completely anecdotal and predicting which ones will be efficient traps is often challenging. Here, we describe a systematic study to parameterize the arynophilicity of a wide range of reagents known to trap arynes. A relative reactivity scale, based on one-pot competition experiments, is presented by using furan as a reference arynophile and 3-chlorobenzyne as a the aryne. More than 15 arynophiles that react in pericyclic reactions, nucleophilic addition, and σ-bond insertion reactions are parameterized with arynophilicity (A) values, and multiple aryne precursors are applicable.

Diverse diaryl sulfide synthesis through consecutive aryne reactions

An efficient method to synthesize diaryl sulfides with structural diversity is disclosed. Demethylative hydrothiolation of aryne intermediates generated from o-iodoaryl triflates with methylthio-substituted o-silylaryl triflates and further aryne reactions afford diverse diaryl sulfides.

Acylalkylation of Arynes Generated from o-Iodoaryl Triflates with Hydrosilanes and Cesium Fluoride

An efficient method to generate aryne intermediates from o-iodoaryl triflates triggered by triethylsilane and cesium fluoride is disclosed. This method realized the acylalkylation of arynes using easily available o-iodoaryl triflate-type precursors, which was difficult when using conventional nucleophilic activators. A wide range of (hetero)arenes including various fused benzothiazoles were successfully synthesized from o-iodoaryl triflates by virtue of their good accessibility and divergent transformations of aryne intermediates.

Aryne Precursors for Selective Generation of 3-Haloarynes: Preparation and Application to Synthetic Reactions

The synthesis and reaction of new 3-haloaryne precursors 2a-2h were studied. The ortho-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflate precursors 2a-2h were prepared by a simple procedure involving O-trimethylsilylation and migration of a trimethylsilyl group followed by triflation. The remarkable feature of new precursors is the selective generation of 3-haloarynes by suppressing the competitive thia-Fries rearrangement, which is the problem in the reaction using the well-known 3-haloaryne precursors. The advantage of new precursor 2a over a typical precursor 1 was confirmed by the direct comparisons in several reactions. The application of precursors 2a-2h to the syntheses of heterocycles was also reported.

Recent advances in the synthesis of fluorinated compounds via an aryne intermediate

In this review, the usefulness of aryne intermediates for the synthesis of various fluorinated organic compounds during the last decade has been demonstrated.

1,2-Aminohalogenation of arynes with amines and organohalides

An unprecedented use of inexpensive organohalides as halogen electrophiles to trap the zwitterion intermediates generated from amines and arynes has been developed to access structurally diverse tertiary 2-haloanilines. Effective organohalides include carbon tetrachloride, hexachloroethane, N-chlorosuccinimide, carbon tetrabromide, fluorotribromomethane, N-bromosuccinimide, carbon tetraiodide, and N-iodosuccinimide.

Iodine(III)-Mediated, Controlled Di- or Monoiodination of Phenols

An oxidative procedure for the electrophilic iodination of phenols was developed by using iodosylbenzene as a nontoxic iodine(III)-based oxidant and ammonium iodide as a cheap iodine atom source. A totally controlled monoiodination was achieved by buffering the reaction medium with K₃PO₄. This protocol proceeds with short reaction times, at mild temperatures, in an open flask, and generally with high yields. Gram-scale reactions, as well as the scope of this protocol, were explored with electron-rich and electron-poor phenols as well as heterocycles. Quantum chemistry calculations revealed PhII(OH)·NH₃ to be the most plausible iodinating active species as a reactive "I⁺" synthon. In light of the relevance of the iodoarene moiety, we present herein a practical, efficient, and simple procedure with a broad functional group scope that allows access to the iodoarene core unit.

Domino Aryne Annulation via a Nucleophilic-Ene Process

1,2-Benzdiyne equivalents possess the unique property that they can react with two arynophiles through iteratively generated 1,2- and 2,3-aryne intermediates. Upon rational modification on the second leaving group of these aryne precursors, a domino aryne annulation approach was developed through a nucleophilic-ene reaction sequence. Various benzo-fused N-heterocyclic frameworks were achievable under transition metal-free conditions with a broad substrate scope.

Expanding the synthesizable multisubstituted benzo[b]thiophenes via 6,7-thienobenzynes generated from o-silylaryl triflate-type precursors

Various 2,3-disubstituted 6,7-thienobenzynes have been efficiently generated from the corresponding o-silylaryl triflate-type precursors by activation with fluoride ions. The method has expanded the scope of synthesizable multisubstituted benzothiophenes, including those with various heteroatom substituents, and can be applied to the synthesis of EP4 antagonist analogs.

Various multisubstituted benzothiophenes, including those with various heteroatom substituents and EP4 antagonist analogs, have been prepared easily via 6,7-thienobenzynes generated from o-silylaryl triflate-type precursors.

A study on an unusual SN2 mechanism in the methylation of benzyne through nickel-complexation

In this study, three reaction mechanisms of a benzyne-nickel (Ni) complex ([Ni(C₆H₄)(dcpe)]) with iodomethane during the methylation process were investigated, namely (a) S_N2 reaction of the benzyne-Ni complex with iodomethane, (b) concerted σ-bond metathesis during the bond breaking/forming processes, and (c) oxidative addition of iodomethane to the Ni-center and the subsequent reductive elimination process. DFT calculations revealed that the reaction barrier of the S_N2 reaction is slightly lower than those of the other mechanisms. The results of orbital analyses suggest that [Ni(C₆H₄)(dcpe)] forms a metallacycle structure between benzyne and the Ni^II (3d⁸) center instead of the η²-structure with the Ni⁰ (3d¹⁰) center. The metallacycle structures became inappropriate as the intermediates of oxidative addition in the formation of the Ni^II-Me bond, avoiding further oxidation to the high-valent Ni^IV. The high free energy along σ-bond metathesis was generated from the steric hindrance, thus invoking methylation and Ni-I bond formation concertedly.

Construction of Condensed Polycyclic Aromatic Frameworks through Intramolecular Cycloaddition Reactions Involving Arynes Bearing an Internal Alkyne Moiety

Facile synthetic methods for condensed polycyclic aromatic compounds via aryne intermediates are reported. The generation of arynes bearing a (3-arylpropargyl)oxy group from the corresponding o-iodoaryl triflate-type precursors efficiently afforded arene-fused oxaacenaphthene derivatives, which were formed through intramolecular [2+4] cycloaddition. Extending the method to the generation of arynes bearing a 1,3-diyne moiety led to a continuous generation of naphthalyne intermediate through the hexadehydro Diels-Alder reaction involving the aryne triple bond. This novel type of aryne-relay chemistry enabled the synthesis of a unique aminoarylated oxaacenaphthene derivative and highly ring-fused anthracene derivatives.

Synthesis of Diverse o-Arylthio-Substituted Diaryl Ethers by Direct Oxythiolation of Arynes with Diaryl Sulfoxides Involving Migratory O-Arylation

A diverse range of o-arylthio-substituted diaryl ethers has been synthesized by direct oxythiolation of arynes with diaryl sulfoxides that involves the formation of the C-O and C-S bonds followed by migratory O-arylation.