Carbocationic Species Research Articles

Confinement Effects in Catalysis: Steering the Product Selectivity in Cannabidiol Isomerization by the Resorcinarene Supramolecular Capsule

AbstractThe supramolecular hydrogen‐bonded self‐assembled resorcinarene hexameric capsule promotes the ring closing isomerization of cannabidiol through encapsulation of the intermediate carbocation species formed by protonation with HCl. The confinement effect imparted by the capsule steers product selectivity towards the uncommon products Δ8‐iso‐THC, Δ4(8)‐iso‐THC, together with the hydrated 8‐Hydroxy‐iso‐THC.

Co-Catalyzed Hydrofluorination of Alkenes: Photocatalytic Method Development and Electroanalytical Mechanistic Investigation.

The hydrofluorination of alkenes represents an attractive strategy for the synthesis of aliphatic fluorides. This approach provides a direct means to form C(sp3)-F bonds selectively from readily available alkenes. Nonetheless, conducting hydrofluorination using nucleophilic fluorine sources poses significant challenges due to the low acidity and high toxicity associated with HF and the poor nucleophilicity of fluoride. In this study, we present a new Co(salen)-catalyzed hydrofluorination of simple alkenes utilizing Et3N·3HF as the sole source of both hydrogen and fluorine. This process operates via a photoredox-mediated polar-radical-polar crossover mechanism. We also demonstrated the versatility of this method by effectively converting a diverse array of simple and activated alkenes with varying degrees of substitution into hydrofluorinated products. Furthermore, we successfully applied this methodology to 18F-hydrofluorination reactions, enabling the introduction of 18F into potential radiopharmaceuticals. Our mechanistic investigations, conducted using rotating disk electrode voltammetry and DFT calculations, unveiled the involvement of both carbocation and CoIV-alkyl species as viable intermediates during the fluorination step, and the contribution of each pathway depends on the structure of the starting alkene.

Mechanistic Studies of Aziridine Formation Catalyzed by Mononuclear Non-Heme Iron Enzymes.

Aziridines are compounds with a nitrogen-containing three-membered ring. When it is incorporated into natural products, the reactivity of the strained ring often drives the biological activities of aziridines. Despite its importance, the enzymes and biosynthetic strategies deployed to install this reactive moiety remain understudied. Herein, we report the use of in silico methods to identify enzymes with potential aziridine-installing (aziridinase) functionality. To validate candidates, we reconstitute enzymatic activity in vitro and demonstrate that an iron(IV)-oxo species initiates aziridine ring closure by the C-H bond cleavage. Furthermore, we divert the reaction pathway from aziridination to hydroxylation using mechanistic probes. This observation, isotope tracing experiments using H218O and 18O2, and quantitative product analysis, provide evidence for the polar capture of a carbocation species by the amine in the pathway to aziridine installation.

On the stability of carbocation in water microdroplets

Air-water system represents a ubiquitous interface that appears with a unique polar environment. Performing and studying chemistry at this interface is of growing importance for a sustainable future. Current advances in microdroplet chemistry hinted at the mysterious nature of water microdroplets, which is strikingly different from the corresponding bulk phase. Recently, we have revealed that reactive carbocation species can be captured and stabilized in water microdroplets by enhancing their lifetime up to 109 times at or nearer to the air-water interface. This result is in contrast to the expectation as carbocations are conventionally known to be rapidly annihilated by the nucleophilic attack of water. This article aims to offer some critical insights on the possible surface/interface factors, based on experiments and literature precedence, that could primarily contribute to stabilizing carbocations. How the superacidic microdroplet surface with low water density and high electric field might allow carbocation dangling at the air-water interface is discussed.

Elucidation of divergent desaturation pathways in the formation of vinyl isonitrile and isocyanoacrylate

Two different types of desaturations are employed by iron- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (Fe/2OG) enzymes to construct vinyl isonitrile and isocyanoacrylate moieties found in isonitrile-containing natural products. A substrate-bound protein structure reveals a plausible strategy to affect desaturation and hints at substrate promiscuity of these enzymes. Analogs are synthesized and used as mechanistic probes to validate structural observations. Instead of proceeding through hydroxylated intermediate as previously proposed, a plausible carbocation species is utilized to trigger C=C bond installation. These Fe/2OG enzymes can also accommodate analogs with opposite chirality and different functional groups including isonitrile-(D)-tyrosine, N-formyl tyrosine, and phloretic acid, while maintaining the reaction selectivity.

Cationic Polymerization of β‐Pinene Using B(C6F5)3 as a Lewis Acid for the Synthesis of Tackifiers in Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Abstractβ‐pinene is a well‐known bio‐based monomer that can be polymerized via cationic polymerization to give low molecular weight resins that find use commercially as tackifiers. However, the controlled synthesis of these polymers by cationic polymerization is challenging due to the reactivity of commonly used Lewis acid catalysts and the propagating carbocationic species with water. Here, the cationic polymerization of β‐pinene under mild conditions using the water stable Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane is demonstrated. It is shown that when combined with a suitable alcohol initiator the molecular weight of the polymer can be tuned while the kinetics are largely controlled by the concentration of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane. The final poly(β‐pinene) is shown to perform well as a tackifier in the formation of pressure sensitive adhesives based on polystyrene‐b‐polyisoprene‐b‐polystyrene triblock copolymers.

FeCl3-Catalyzed Highly Efficient Nazarov Type Cyclization of Arylvinyl Carbinols: Total Syntheses of Naturally Occurring Taiwaniaquinoids

FeCl3-catalyzed cyclization of arylvinylcarbinols for the synthesis of [6,5,6]-carbotricyclic core sharing an all-carbon quaternary center has been described in this full article. A careful mechanistic details suggest that the reaction follows a stepwise mechanism via the intermediacy of arylallyl carbocationic species. The carbocation subsequently reacts with an adjacent aromatic ring to form [6,5,6]-carbotricyclic scaffold of abeo-abietane diterpenoids. The methodology works under mild conditions to afford a variety of carbotricyclic core in good to excellent yields (up to 99% yield). Our strategy has been applied to a concise synthesis of a number of structurally intriguing naturally occurring taiwaniaquinoids, (±)-taiwaniaquinol F (1a), (±)-taiwaniaquinol B (1b), (±)-dichronanone (1c), (±)-taiwaniaquinone H (1d) and unnatural (±)-5-epi-taiwaniaquinone G (epi-1e).

Photoinduced 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes with organotrifluoroborate nucleophiles via radical/polar crossover.

Alkene 1,2-dicarbofunctionalizations are highly sought-after transformations as they enable a rapid increase of molecular complexity in one synthetic step. Traditionally, these conjunctive couplings proceed through the intermediacy of alkylmetal species susceptible to deleterious pathways including β-hydride elimination and protodemetalation. Herein, an intermolecular 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization using alkyl N-(acyloxy)phthalimide redox-active esters as radical progenitors and organotrifluoroborates as carbon-centered nucleophiles is reported. This redox-neutral, multicomponent reaction is postulated to proceed through photochemical radical/polar crossover to afford a key carbocation species that undergoes subsequent trapping with organoboron nucleophiles to accomplish the carboallylation, carboalkenylation, carboalkynylation, and carboarylation of alkenes with regio- and chemoselective control. The mechanistic intricacies of this difunctionalization were elucidated through Stern–Volmer quenching studies, photochemical quantum yield measurements, and trapping experiments of radical and ionic intermediates.

Intermolecular Oxidative Friedel-Crafts Reaction Triggered Ring Expansion Affording 9,10-Diarylphenanthrenes.

A novel intermolecular tandem oxidative aromatic coupling between arylidene fluorenes and unfunctionalized aromatics mediated by a DDQ/TFA oxidation system has been developed for the construction of 9,10-diarylphenanthrenes (DAPs). The formation of a benzylic carbocation species possessing a quaternary sp3-carbon center on the fluorene moiety by an intermolecular oxidative Friedel-Crafts reaction of two different arenes successfully triggered the subsequent ring expansion to afford DAPs.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts‐Type Coupling and Dedinitrogenation Reactions of Vinyldiazo Compounds

AbstractThe direct Friedel–Crafts‐type coupling and dedinitrogenation reactions of vinyldiazo compounds with aromatic compounds using a metal‐free strategy are described. This Brønsted acid catalyzed method is efficient for the formation of α‐diazo β‐carbocations (vinyldiazonium ions), vinyl carbocations, and allylic or homoallylic carbocation species via vinyldiazo compounds. By choosing suitable nucleophilic reagents to selectively capture these intermediates, both trisubstituted α,β‐unsaturated esters, β‐indole‐substituted diazo esters, and dienes are obtained with good to high yields and selectivity. Experimental insights implicate a reaction mechanism involving the selective protonation of vinyldiazo compounds and the subsequent release of dinitrogen to form vinyl cations that undergo intramolecular 1,3‐ and 1,4‐ hydride transfer processes as well as fragmentation.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts-Type Coupling and Dedinitrogenation Reactions of Vinyldiazo Compounds.

The direct Friedel-Crafts-type coupling and dedinitrogenation reactions of vinyldiazo compounds with aromatic compounds using a metal-free strategy are described. This Brønsted acid catalyzed method is efficient for the formation of α-diazo β-carbocations (vinyldiazonium ions), vinyl carbocations, and allylic or homoallylic carbocation species via vinyldiazo compounds. By choosing suitable nucleophilic reagents to selectively capture these intermediates, both trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters, β-indole-substituted diazo esters, and dienes are obtained with good to high yields and selectivity. Experimental insights implicate a reaction mechanism involving the selective protonation of vinyldiazo compounds and the subsequent release of dinitrogen to form vinyl cations that undergo intramolecular 1,3- and 1,4- hydride transfer processes as well as fragmentation.

Asymmetric Dearomatization of Indole Derivatives with N‐Hydroxycarbamates Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

AbstractDearomatization of indoles provides efficient synthetic routes for substituted indolines. In most cases, indoles serve as nucleophiles. Reported here is an asymmetric dearomatization reaction of indole derivatives that function as electrophiles. The combination of a photocatalyst and chiral phosphoric acid open to air unlocks the umpolung reactivity of indoles, enabling their dearomatization with N‐hydroxycarbamates as nucleophiles. A variety of fused indolines bearing intriguing oxy‐amines were constructed in excellent yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities. Mechanistic studies show that the realization of two sequential single‐electron transfer oxidations of the indole derivatives is key, generating the configurationally biased carbocation species while providing the source of stereochemical induction. These results not only provide an efficient synthesis of enantioenriched indoline derivatives, but also offer a novel strategy for further designing asymmetric dearomatization reactions.

Asymmetric Dearomatization of Indole Derivatives with N-Hydroxycarbamates Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis.

Dearomatization of indoles provides efficient synthetic routes for substituted indolines. In most cases, indoles serve as nucleophiles. Reported here is an asymmetric dearomatization reaction of indole derivatives that function as electrophiles. The combination of a photocatalyst and chiral phosphoric acid open to air unlocks the umpolung reactivity of indoles, enabling their dearomatization with N-hydroxycarbamates as nucleophiles. A variety of fused indolines bearing intriguing oxy-amines were constructed in excellent yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities. Mechanistic studies show that the realization of two sequential single-electron transfer oxidations of the indole derivatives is key, generating the configurationally biased carbocation species while providing the source of stereochemical induction. These results not only provide an efficient synthesis of enantioenriched indoline derivatives, but also offer a novel strategy for further designing asymmetric dearomatization reactions.

UV-induced catalyst-free intramolecular formal Heck reaction

A catalyst-free intramolecular formal Heck reaction has been developed, affording 9-benzylidene-9H-fluorene derivatives under UV irradiation. This reaction probably proceeds via UV-induced homolytic cleavage of CI bond, addition of the aryl radical to the alkene moiety, single electron oxidation of alkyl radical intermediate into carbocation species, and deprotonation.

Elucidating the Reaction Pathway of Decarboxylation-Assisted Olefination Catalyzed by a Mononuclear Non-Heme Iron Enzyme.

Installation of olefins into molecules is a key transformation in organic synthesis. The recently discovered decarboxylation-assisted olefination in the biosynthesis of rhabduscin by a mononuclear non-heme iron enzyme ( P.IsnB) represents a novel approach in olefin construction. This method is commonly employed in natural product biosynthesis. Herein, we demonstrate that a ferryl intermediate is used for C-H activation at the benzylic position of the substrate. We further establish that P.IsnB reactivity can be switched from olefination to hydroxylation using electron-withdrawing groups appended on the phenyl moiety of the analogues. These experimental observations imply that a pathway involving an initial C-H activation followed by a benzylic carbocation species or by electron transfer coupled β-scission is likely utilized to complete C═C bond formation.

Reversible and Site-Dependent Proton-Transfer in Zeolites Uncovered at the Single-Molecule Level.

Zeolite activity and selectivity is often determined by the underlying proton and hydrogen-transfer reaction pathways. For the first time, we use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to directly follow the real-time behavior of individual styrene-derived carbocationic species formed within zeolite ZSM-5. We find that intermittent fluorescence and remarkable photostability of carbocationic intermediates strongly depend on the local chemical environment imposed by zeolite framework and guest solvent molecules. The carbocationic stability can be additionally altered by changing para-substituent on the styrene moiety, as suggested by DFT calculations. Thermodynamically unstable carbocations are more likely to switch between fluorescent (carbocationic) and dark (neutral) states. However, the rate constants of this reversible change can significantly differ among individual carbocations, depending on their exact location in the zeolite framework. The lifetimes of fluorescent states and reversibility of the process can be additionally altered by changing the interaction between dimeric carbocations and solvated Brønsted acid sites in the MFI framework. Advanced multidimensional magic angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been employed for the accurate structural elucidation of the reaction products during the zeolite-catalyzed dimerization of styrene in order to corroborate the single-molecule fluorescence microscopy data. This complementary approach of single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, NMR, and DFT collectively indicates that the relative stability of the carbocationic and the neutral states largely depends on the substituent and the local position of the Brønsted acid site within the zeolite framework. As a consequence, new insights into the host–guest chemistry between the zeolite and aromatics, in terms of their surface mobility and reactivity, have been obtained.

Nitration and Cyclization of Arene-Alkynes: An Access to 9-Nitrophenathrenes.

A nitration and cyclization of arene-alkynes has been developed, affording 9-nitrophenathrenes efficiently. This reaction probably proceeds via addition of the nitrogen dioxide to the alkyne moiety, intramolecular radical addition of vinyl radical to one aryl ring, oxidation of radical intermediate into carbocation species, and elimination of a proton. In this transformation, Fe(NO3)3 was used as both nitro source and oxidant.

Access to Functionalized Imidazolidin-2-one Derivatives by Iron-Catalyzed Oxyamination of Alkenes.

Functionalized imidazolidin-2-one were prepared by using an iron-catalyzed alkene oxyamination reaction. Hydroxylamine derivatives were used in this atom-economical process, and the addition of an external oxidant was not required. The conditions developed were shown to be efficient for mono-, di-, and trisubstituted double bonds, and a large scope of diamino alcohol precursors were delivered in good yields with good diastereoselectivities. The mechanistic pathway was studied and appears to involve both a fused aziridine and a carbocationic species.

Phosphomolybdic acid as a bifunctional catalyst for Friedel–Crafts type dehydrative coupling reaction

Phosphomolybdic acid (H3PMo12O40) was found to be a bifunctional catalyst for C─C bond formation via the dehydrative reaction of diarylmethanols with various nucleophiles, including 2‐naphthols, indoles, benzofuran and benzothiophene. The protons in the catalyst might play a critical role in the activation of alcohol, while the polyanion was advantageous for stabilizing the carbocation species. The cooperative catalytic system showed its own merits, such as high reaction rate, low catalyst loading, mild conditions, excellent yields (up to 99%) and good functional group compatibility.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Azidotrifluoromethylation of Olefins and N-Heterocycles for Expedient Vicinal Trifluoromethyl Amine Synthesis.

We report herein an iron-catalyzed azidotrifluoromethylation method for expedient vicinal trifluoromethyl primary-amine synthesis. This method is effective for a broad range of olefins and N-heterocycles, and it facilitates efficient synthesis of a wide variety of vicinal trifluoromethyl primary amines, including those that prove difficult to synthesize with existing approaches. Our preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the catalyst-promoted azido-group transfer proceeds through a carbo-radical instead of a carbocation species. Characterization of an active iron catalyst through X-ray crystallographic studies suggests that in situ generated, structurally novel iron-azide complexes promote the oxidant activation and selective azido-group transfer.