Benzylic Electrophiles Research Articles

Phase transfer catalysts shift the pathway to transmetalation in biphasic Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings

The Suzuki-Miyaura coupling is a widely used C-C bond forming reaction. Numerous mechanistic studies have enabled the use of low catalyst loadings and broad functional group tolerance. However, the dominant mode of transmetalation remains controversial and likely depends on the conditions employed. Herein we detail a mechanistic study of the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling under biphasic conditions. The use of phase transfer catalysts results in a remarkable 12-fold rate enhancement in the targeted system. A shift from an oxo-palladium based transmetalation to a boronate-based pathway lies at the root of this activity. Furthermore, a study of the impact of different water loadings reveals reducing the proportion of the aqueous phase increases the reaction rate, contrary to reaction conditions typically employed in the literature. The importance of these findings is highlighted by achieving an exceptionally broad substrate scope with benzylic electrophiles using a 10-fold reduction in catalyst loading relative to literature precedent.

Mechanistic Investigation of Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkenyl and Benzyl Electrophiles.

Mechanistic investigations of the Ni-catalyzed asymmetric reductive alkenylation of N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) esters and benzylic chlorides are reported. Investigations of the redox properties of the Ni-bis(oxazoline) catalyst, the reaction kinetics, and mode of electrophile activation show divergent mechanisms for these two related transformations. Notably, the mechanism of C(sp3) activation changes from a Ni-mediated process when benzyl chlorides and Mn0 are used to a reductant-mediated process that is gated by a Lewis acid when NHP esters and tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene is used. Kinetic experiments show that changing the identity of the Lewis acid can be used to tune the rate of NHP ester reduction. Spectroscopic studies support a NiII-alkenyl oxidative addition complex as the catalyst resting state. DFT calculations suggest an enantiodetermining radical capture step and elucidate the origin of enantioinduction for this Ni-BOX catalyst.

Azolation of Benzylic C-H Bonds via Photoredox-Catalyzed Carbocation Generation.

A visible-light photoredox-catalyzed method is reported that enables the coupling between benzylic C-H substrates and N-H azoles. Classically, medicinally relevant N-benzyl azoles are produced via harsh substitution conditions between the azole and a benzyl electrophile in the presence of strong bases at high temperatures. Use of C-H bonds as the alkylating partner streamlines the preparation of these important motifs. In this work, we report the use of N-alkoxypyridinium salts as a critically enabling reagent for the development of a general C(sp3)-H azolation. The platform enables the alkylation of electron-deficient, -neutral, and -rich azoles with a range of C-H bonds, most notably secondary and tertiary partners. Moreover, the protocol is mild enough to tolerate benzyl electrophiles, thus offering an orthogonal approach to existing SN2 and cross-coupling methods.

Palladium-catalyzed indium-mediated reductive aromatic C-H allylation of N-benzylsulfonimides with allyl esters.

An unprecedented reductive aromatic C-H allylation reaction of benzyl electrophiles with allyl electrophiles has been established. A range of N-benzylsulfonimides smoothly participated in the palladium-catalyzed indium-mediated reductive aromatic C-H allylation with various allyl acetates, delivering structurally diverse allyl(hetero)arenes in moderate to excellent yields with good to excellent site selectivity. The use of inexpensive allyl esters for the reductive aromatic C-H allylation of N-benzylsulfonimides avoids the preparation of allyl organometallic reagents in advance and complements traditional functionalization of aromatic rings.

Catalytic Asymmetric Benzylation of Azomethine Ylides Enabled by Synergistic Lewis Acid/Palladium Catalysis.

The synergistic chiral Lewis acid/achiral Pd catalyst system was successfully applied in the enantioselective benzylation of various imine esters, giving a range of α-benzyl-substituted α-amino acid derivatives in satisfactory yield with excellent enantioselectivity. It is worth noting that this strategy exhibits good tolerance for bicyclic and monocyclic benzylic electrophiles. Furthermore, the utility of this synthetic protocol was demonstrated by the expedient preparation of enantioenriched antihypertensive drug α-methyl-l-dopa.

Alkali metal salts-assisted coupling reaction between fluorinated benzyl electrophiles and alkenylboronic acids

Transition metal-free ion pair assisted nucleophilic substitution reactions.

Nickel‐Catalyzed Stereo‐ and Enantioselective Cross‐Coupling of gem‐Difluoroalkenes with Carbon Electrophiles by C−F Bond Activation

AbstractStereo‐ and enantioselective cross‐electrophile coupling involving C−F bond activation is reported. Treatment of gem‐difluoroalkenes with racemic benzyl electrophiles in the presence of a chiral nickel complex using B2pin2 as a stoichiometric reductant allows the construction of a C(sp2)−C(sp3) bond under mild conditions, affording a broad range of monofluoroalkenes bearing stereogenic allylic centers. Initial mechanistic studies indicate that a radical chain pathway may be operating, wherein the ester group in the gem‐difluoroalkene promotes C−F bond activation through oxidative addition to a Ni species.

Nickel‐Catalyzed Stereo‐ and Enantioselective Cross‐Coupling of gem‐Difluoroalkenes with Carbon Electrophiles by C−F Bond Activation

AbstractStereo‐ and enantioselective cross‐electrophile coupling involving C−F bond activation is reported. Treatment of gem‐difluoroalkenes with racemic benzyl electrophiles in the presence of a chiral nickel complex using B2pin2 as a stoichiometric reductant allows the construction of a C(sp2)−C(sp3) bond under mild conditions, affording a broad range of monofluoroalkenes bearing stereogenic allylic centers. Initial mechanistic studies indicate that a radical chain pathway may be operating, wherein the ester group in the gem‐difluoroalkene promotes C−F bond activation through oxidative addition to a Ni species.

Highly Regioselective Aromatic C-H Allylation of N-(Arylmethyl)sulfonimides with Allyl Grignard Reagents Involving Benzylic C-N Cleavage.

A new pair of reaction partners has been established for the aromatic C-H functionalization of benzyl electrophiles with nucleophiles via palladium-catalyzed benzylic C-N cleavage. A range of N-(1-naphthylmethyl)sulfonimides, N-(2-thienylmethyl)sulfonimides, and N-(2-furanylmethyl)sulfonimides smoothly underwent palladium-catalyzed aromatic C-H allylation with allyl Grignard reagents at room temperature, delivering structurally diverse substituted 1-allylnaphthalenes and 2-allylheteroarenes in moderate to excellent yields with extremely high regioselectivities. Replacing the N-(arylmethyl)sulfonimide with an (arylmethyl)ammonium salt, an arylmethyl chloride, or an arylmethyl phosphate as the benzyl electrophile leads to a dramatic erosion of the regioselectivity.

Enantioselective Desymmetrization of 2-Aryl-1,3-propanediols by Direct O-Alkylation with a Rationally Designed Chiral Hemiboronic Acid Catalyst That Mitigates Substrate Conformational Poisoning.

Enantioselective desymmetrization by direct monofunctionalization of prochiral diols is a powerful strategy to prepare valuable synthetic intermediates in high optical purity. Boron acids can activate diols toward nucleophilic additions; however, the design of stable chiral catalysts remains a challenge and highlights the need to identify new chemotypes for this purpose. Herein, the discovery and optimization of a bench-stable chiral 9-hydroxy-9,10-boroxarophenanthrene catalyst is described and applied in the highly enantioselective desymmetrization of 2-aryl-1,3-diols using benzylic electrophiles under operationally simple, ambient conditions. Nucleophilic activation and discrimination of the enantiotopic hydroxy groups on the diol substrate occurs via a defined chairlike six-membered anionic complex with the hemiboronic heterocycle. The optimal binaphthyl-based catalyst 1g features a large aryloxytrityl group to effectively shield one of the two prochiral hydroxy groups on the diol complex, whereas a strategically placed "methyl blocker" on the boroxarophenanthrene unit mitigates the deleterious effect of a competing conformation of the complexed diol that compromised the overall efficiency of the desymmetrization process. This methodology affords monoalkylated products in enantiomeric ratios equal or over 95:5 for a wide range of 1,3-propanediols with various 2-aryl/heteroaryl groups.

Modular Synthesis of Diarylalkanes by Nickel-Catalyzed 1,1-Diarylation of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

A nickel-catalyzed 1,1-diarylation of electronically unbiased alkenes has been developed, providing straightforward access to diarylalkanes from readily available materials. Importantly, both the e...

Connecting remote C-H bond functionalization and decarboxylative coupling using simple amines.

Transition metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization and decarboxylative coupling are two of the most notable synthetic strategies developed in the last 30 years. Herein, we connect these two reaction pathways using bases and a simple Pd-based catalyst system to promote a para-selective C–H functionalization reaction from benzylic electrophiles. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies suggest a pathway involving an uncommon Pd-catalyzed dearomatization of the benzyl moiety followed by a base-enabled rearomatization through a formal 1,5-hydrogen migration. This reaction complements “C–H activation” strategies that convert inert C–H bonds into C–metal bonds prior to C–C bond formation. Instead, this reaction exploits an inverted sequence and promotes C–C bond formation prior to deprotonation. These studies provide an opportunity to develop general para-selective C–H functionalization reactions from benzylic electrophiles and show how new reactive modalities may be accessed with careful control of reaction conditions.

Ionic Liquids as Solvents for SN2 Processes. Demonstration of the Complex Interplay of Interactions Resulting in the Observed Solvent Effects

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions between triphenylphosphine and benzylic electrophiles have been examined in an ionic liquid to probe interactions with species along the reaction coordinate. Trends in the rate constant were found on both varying the leaving group and the electronic nature of the aromatic ring. In all the cases considered, interactions between the components of the ionic liquid and the transition state were shown to be more significant in determining reaction outcome than previously observed for this class of reaction. This demonstrates the importance of considering interactions of the ionic liquid components with all species along the reaction coordinate when investigating the origin of ionic liquid solvent effects, along with how such effects might be exploited.

Nickel-Catalyzed Benzylation of Aryl Alkenes with Benzylamines via C-N Bond Activation.

We have developed the first example of nickel-catalyzed Heck-type benzylation of aryl olefins with various benzylamines as benzyl electrophiles, and the benzylic C-N bond cleavage was efficiently promoted by the amine-I2 charge transfer complex (CT complex). The combination of low-cost NiCl2 and I2 has been found to facilitate Heck reaction of tertiary benzylamines and alkenes into various benzyl-substituted alkenes in good to excellent yields. This unconventional Heck reaction is proposed to go through initially the formation of a benzylic radical via oxidative addition of the C-N bond with Ni(0), then capturing by aryl alkene via radical addition, followed by single-electron transfer redox and proton abstraction without oxidant and external base.

Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Benzylation of Acetylides and Enolates

Benzylic alkylation of enolates and acetylides has been achieved through the use of a decarboxylative benzylation strategy. Previous research in this area is often limited by the need for extended conjugation in the electrophiles that are coupled. Herein, we report that the use of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) ligand allows the coupling of simple benzyl electrophiles with enolates, while the use of XPhos ligand promotes the decarboxylative couplings of propiolates.

In situ generation and reactions of p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl electrophiles: an efficient access to p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl compounds.

A new three-component reaction, namely condensation-anti-Michael addition-aromatization, enabling the construction of benzylic compounds is disclosed. This reaction can not only act as an alternative approach to regioselective Csp2-H trifluoromethylation of arenes through an "aromatic to be" strategy, but also provides a simple, convenient, step-economic, and practical strategy for the in situ generation of electrophilic p-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl species under extremely mild conditions.

Transmetal-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cross-Coupling Reaction of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Bromides with Organoaluminum Reagents.

The transmetal-catalyzed enantioselective cross-coupling reaction of secondary benzylic electrophiles with organoaluminum reagents has been developed. The reaction of secondary benzylic electrophiles with alkynylaluminum reagents provides a mild way for the chiral propargyl compounds bearing aromatic group in high yields with good enantioselectivities using NiBr2·diglyme and (R)-iPr-Pybox as the catalytic system. The reaction of secondary benzylic electrophiles with alkenylaluminum reagents affords the corresponding chiral aryl alkenes in moderate yields with excellent stereoselectivities using commercially available PdCl2 and (R)-BINAP as the catalytic system.

Nickel-Catalyzed Carboxylation of Benzylic C-N Bonds with CO2.

A user-friendly Ni-catalyzed reductive carboxylation of benzylic C-N bonds with CO2 is described. This procedure outperforms state-of-the-art techniques for the carboxylation of benzyl electrophiles by avoiding commonly observed parasitic pathways, such as homodimerization or β-hydride elimination, thus leading to new knowledge in cross-electrophile reactions.

Nickel‐Catalyzed Carboxylation of Benzylic C−N Bonds with CO2

AbstractA user‐friendly Ni‐catalyzed reductive carboxylation of benzylic C−N bonds with CO2 is described. This procedure outperforms state‐of‐the‐art techniques for the carboxylation of benzyl electrophiles by avoiding commonly observed parasitic pathways, such as homodimerization or β‐hydride elimination, thus leading to new knowledge in cross‐electrophile reactions.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Trifluoroethylarenes from Benzylic Bromodifluoroacetates.

Trifluoroethylarenes are found in a variety of biologically active molecules, and strategies for accessing this substructure are important for developing therapeutic candidates and biological probes. Trifluoroethylarenes can be directly accessed via nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of benzylic electrophiles; however, current catalytic methods do not effectively transform electron-deficient substrates and heterocycles. To address this gap, we report a Cu-catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of benzylic bromodifluoroacetates. To account for the tolerance of sensitive functional groups, we propose an inner-sphere mechanism of decarboxylation.