Metal Carbene Intermediates Research Articles

Unlocking carbene reactivity by metallaphotoredox α-elimination.

The ability to tame high-energy intermediates is important for synthetic chemistry, enabling the construction of complex molecules and propelling advances in the field of synthesis. Along these lines, carbenes and carbenoid intermediates are particularly attractive, but often unknown, high-energy intermediates1,2. Classical methods to access metal carbene intermediates exploit two-electron chemistry to form the carbon-metal bond. However, these methods are usually prohibitive because of reagent safety concerns, limiting their broad implementation in synthesis3-6. Mechanistically, an alternative approach to carbene intermediates that could circumvent these pitfalls would involve two single-electron steps: radical addition to metal to forge the initial carbon-metal bond followed by redox-promoted α-elimination to yield the desired metal carbene intermediate. Here we realize this strategy through a metallaphotoredox platform that exploits iron carbene reactivity using readily available chemical feedstocks as radical sources and α-elimination from six classes of previously underexploited leaving groups. These discoveries permit cyclopropanation and σ-bond insertion into N-H, S-H and P-H bonds from abundant and bench-stable carboxylic acids, amino acids and alcohols, thereby providing a general solution to the challenge of carbene-mediated chemical diversification.

Heterogeneous Rhodium Single-Atom-Site Catalyst Enables Chemoselective Carbene N-H Bond Insertion.

Transition-metal-catalyzed carbene insertion reactions of a nitrogen-hydrogen bond have emerged as robust and versatile methods for the construction of C-N bonds. While significant progress of homogeneous catalytic metal carbene N-H insertions has been achieved, the control of chemoselectivity in the field remains challenging due to the high electrophilicity of the metal carbene intermediates. Herein, we present an efficient strategy for the synthesis of a rhodium single-atom-site catalyst (Rh-SA) that incorporates a Rh atom surrounded by three nitrogen atoms and one phosphorus atom doped in a carbon support. This Rh-SA catalyst, with a catalyst loading of only 0.15 mol %, exhibited exceptional catalytic performance for heterogeneous carbene insertion with various anilines and heteroaryl amines in combination with diazo esters. Importantly, the heterogeneous catalyst selectively transformed aniline derivatives bearing multiple nucleophilic moieties into single N-H insertion isomers, while the popular homogeneous Rh2(OAc)4 catalyst produced a mixture of overfunctionalized side products. Additionally, similar selectivities for N-H bond insertion with a set of stereoelectronically diverse diazo esters were obtained, highlighting the general applicability of this heterogeneous catalysis approach. On the basis of density functional theory calculations, the observed selectivity of the Rh-SA catalyst was attributed to the insertion barriers and the accelerated proton transfer assisted by the phosphorus atom in the support. Overall, this investigation of heterogeneous metal-catalyzed carbene insertion underscores the potential of single-atom-site catalysis as a powerful and complementary tool in organic synthesis.

Catalytic Intermolecular Deoxygenative Coupling of Carbonyl Compounds with Alkynes by a Cp*Mo(II)-Catalyst.

Carbonyl is highly accessible and acts as an essential functional group in chemical synthesis. However, the direct catalytic deoxygenative functionalization of carbonyl compounds via a putative metal carbene intermediate is a formidable challenge due to the requirement of a high activation energy for the cleavage of strong C═O double bonds. Here, we report a class of bench stable and readily available Cp*Mo(II)-complexes as efficient deoxygenation catalysts that could catalyze the direct intermolecular deoxygenative coupling of carbonyl compounds with alkynes. Enabled by this powerful Cp*Mo(II)-catalyst, various valuable heteroarenes (10 different classes) were obtained in generally good yields and remarkable chemo- and regioselectivities. Mechanistic studies suggested that this reaction might proceed via a sequence of C═O double bonds cleavage, carbene-alkyne metathesis, cyclization, and aromatization processes. This strategy not only provided a general catalytic platform for the rapid preparation of heteroarenes but also opened a new window for the applications of Cp*Mo(II)-catalysts in organic synthesis.

Cu/SaBox-Catalyzed Photoinduced Coupling of Acylsilanes with Alkynes.

The transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with Fischer metal carbene intermediates bearing an electron-rich alkoxyl or siloxyl group remains a big challenge due to the lack of readily available corresponding carbene precursors. Herein, we report the coupling of alkynes with the Fischer-type copper carbene species bearing a α-siloxyl group, which could be in situ generated from acylsilanes catalytically under photoirradiation and redox-neutral conditions. The side-arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands prove to be crucial for this coupling reaction, which provides the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.

Cu/SaBox‐Catalyzed Photoinduced Coupling of Acylsilanes with Alkynes

AbstractThe transition metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction with Fischer metal carbene intermediates bearing an electron‐rich alkoxyl or siloxyl group remains a big challenge due to the lack of readily available corresponding carbene precursors. Herein, we report the coupling of alkynes with the Fischer‐type copper carbene species bearing aα‐siloxyl group, which could be in situ generated from acylsilanes catalytically under photoirradiation and redox‐neutral conditions. The side‐arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands prove to be crucial for this coupling reaction, which provides the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.

Dichotomy of platinum(II) and gold(III) carbene intermediates switching from N- to O-selectivity

Pt(II) and Au(III)-mediated intermolecular divergent annulations of benzofurazans and ynamides highlighted the N- to O-selectivity of tunable metal carbene intermediates. PtCl2 with a bulky phosphite ligand resulted in the specific synthesis of six-membered quinoxaline N-oxides and successfully suppressed the in-situ deoxygenation of N-oxides. On the other hand, an unique gold(III) catalyst (2,6-di-MeO-PyrAuCl3) led to the five-membered ring products, benzimidazoles. A broad scope of functional groups was well compatible, delivering better yields and selectivities in contrast to conventional gold(I) catalysts. The different behavior of presumed platinum(II) and gold(III) carbenes with respect to chemoselectivity was intensively examined by experiments and DFT calculations. A detailed mechanistic study, based on DFT calculations, revealed that the highly electrophilic carbocation-like gold(III) carbene triggers an oxophilic cyclization, followed by a cascade ring contraction and acyl migration. On the contrary, the Pt carbene species is less cationic, favoring the formation of the six-membered ring via N-attack.

Modular construction of α-furanyl ketones via semi-pinacol rearrangement-mediated ring expansion

An efficient semi-pinacol rearrangement strategy of enynals involving a metal carbene intermediate has been developed, which allows the practical synthesis of various functionalized α-furanyl ketones in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions.

Enantioselective Oxidative Multi-Functionalization of Terminal Alkynes with Nitrones and Alcohols for Expeditious Assembly of Chiral α-Alkoxy-β-amino-ketones.

Catalytic oxidative functionalization of alkynes has emerged as an effective method in synthetic chemistry in recent decades. However, enantioselective transformations via metal carbene intermediates are quite rare due to the lack of robust chiral catalysts, especially in the intermolecular versions. Herein, we report the first asymmetric three-component reaction of commercially available alkynes with nitrones and alcohols, which affords α-alkoxy-β-amino-ketones in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivity using combined catalysis by an achiral gold complex and a chiral spiro phosphoric acid (CPA). Mechanistically, this atom-economic reaction involves a catalytic alkyne oxidation/ylide formation/Mannich-type addition sequence that uses nitrone as the oxidant and the leaving fragment imine as the electrophile, providing a novel method for multi-functionalization of commercially available terminal alkynes.

Assembling Complex Structures through Cascade and Cycloaddition Processes via Non-Acceptor Gold or Rhodium Carbenes

AbstractThe ability of highly energetic metal–carbene intermediates to engage in complex cascade or formal cycloaddition processes is one of the most powerful tools for building intricate molecular architectures in a straightforward manner. Among this type of organometallic intermediates, non-acceptor metal carbenes are particularly challenging to access and, therefore, have experienced slower development. In this regard, our group has exploited the use of electrophilic gold(I) complexes to selectively activate certain classes of substrates for the generation of this type of intermediate. Thus, very different types of molecules, such as enynes or 7-substituted cycloheptatrienes, lead to the formation of carbenes under gold(I) catalysis. Related rhodium(II) carbenes can also be generated from cycloheptatrienes. In this account, we aim to summarize our efforts towards the in situ generation of such highly versatile organometallic species as well as studies on their reactivity through formal cycloadditions or complex cascade reactions.1 Introduction2 Generation of Au(I)-Vinylcarbenes via a Cycloisomerization/1,5-Alkoxy Migration Cascade2.1 Intramolecular Trapping of Au(I) Vinylcarbenes2.1.1 Applications in Total Synthesis2.2 Intermolecular Trapping of Au(I) Vinylcarbenes2.2.1 Total Synthesis of Schisanwilsonene A2.2.2 Trapping with Furans, 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Cyclic Alkenes2.2.3 Mechanism of the Cycloisomerization/1,5-Migration Sequence and the Role of the OR Migrating Group2.2.4 (4+3) Cycloadditions from Enynes3 Formal Cycloadditions of Simple Donor Metal Carbenes3.1 The Metal-Catalyzed Retro-Buchner Reaction3.2 Formal Cycloadditions with Non-Acceptor Carbenes via Metal-Catalyzed Aromative Decarbenations3.2.1 (4+1) Cycloadditions of Au(I) Carbenes3.2.2 (3+2) Cycloadditions of Au(I) Carbenes3.2.3 (4+3) Cycloadditions of Rh(II) Carbenes4 Concluding Remarks

Photochemical Carbene Transfer Reactions of Aryl/Aryl Diazoalkanes-Experiment and Theory*.

Controlling the reactivity of carbene intermediates is a key parameter in the development of selective carbene transfer reactions and is usually achieved by metal complexes via singlet metal‐carbene intermediates. In this combined experimental and computational studies, we show that the reactivity of free diaryl carbenes can be controlled by the electronic properties of the substituents without the need of external additives. The introduction of electron‐donating and ‐withdrawing groups results in a significant perturbation of singlet triplet energy splitting of the diaryl carbene intermediate and of activation energies of consecutive carbene transfer reactions. This strategy now overcomes a long‐standing paradigm in the reactivity of diaryl carbenes and allows the realization of highly chemoselective carbene transfer reactions with alkynes. We could show that free diaryl carbenes can be readily accessed via photolysis of the corresponding diazo compounds and that these carbenes can undergo highly chemoselective cyclopropenation, cascade, or C−H functionalization reactions. Experimental and theoretical mechanistic analyses confirm the participation of different carbene spin states and rationalize for the observed reactivity.

External Photocatalyst-Free Visible Light-Promoted 1,3-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Vinyldiazoacetates

External Photocatalyst-Free Visible Light-Promoted 1,3-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Vinyldiazoacetates

Ir-Porphyrin-Based Metal-Organic Framework as a Dual Metallo- and Photocatalyst for Inert Alkyl C(sp3)-H Bond Activation and Direct Functionalization.

The activation and transformation of inert alkyl C(sp3)-H bonds to obtain high-value fine chemicals by sustainable solar energy are of great significance. Herein, by incorporating IrIII-porphyrin into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to stabilize the highly active carbene, we reported a new approach to combining metallo- and photocatalysis to efficiently accelerate carbene migratory insertion and C-H bond activation via the radical coupling pathway for inert alkane functionalization. The in situ-formed carbene was restricted into the pores of MOFs to produce IrIII-carbene, allowing the first-time isolation and structural characterization of the IrIII-carbene intermediate which are not stabilized by a heteroatom. The product of the reaction, especially the cyclic ethers as substrates, suggested that the functionalization of the α position of the alkoxy group was favored. Additionally, the new approach could be extended to stabilize the metal carbene intermediates to realize C(sp3)-H bond alkylation and arylation.

Gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization/intermolecular cycloaddition cascade as a fast track to polycarbocycles and mechanistic insights

Metal carbene is an active synthetic intermediate, which has shown versatile applications in synthetic chemistry. Although a variety of catalytic methods have been disclosed for the generation of carbene species from different precursors, there is an increasing demand for the development of efficient and practical approaches for the in-situ formation of metal carbene intermediates with structural diversity and unrevealed reactivity. Herein we report a gold-catalyzed cascade protocol for the assembly of polycarbocyclic frameworks in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies indicate that the unique β-aryl gold-carbene species, generated via gold-promoted 6-endo-dig diazo-yne cyclization, is the key intermediate in this reaction, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with external alkenes. In comparison to the well-documented metal carbene cycloadditions, this carbene intermediate serves as a 4-C synthon in a cycloaddition reaction. A variety of elusive π-conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbons (CPHs) with multiple substituents are readily accessible from the initially generated products by a mild oxidation procedure.

A Dinickel Catalyzed Cyclopropanation without the Formation of a Metal Carbene Intermediate

Abstract(NDI)Ni2 catalysts (NDI=naphthyridine‐diimine) promote cyclopropanation reactions of 1,3‐dienes using (Me3Si)CHN2. Mechanistic studies reveal that a metal carbene intermediate is not part of the catalytic cycle. The (NDI)Ni2(CHSiMe3) complex was independently synthesized and found to be unreactive toward dienes. Based on DFT models, we propose an alternative mechanism that begins with a Ni2‐mediated coupling of (Me3Si)CHN2 and the diene. N2 extrusion followed by radical C−C bond formation generates the cyclopropane product. This model reproduces the experimentally observed regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity of the reaction.

A Dinickel Catalyzed Cyclopropanation without the Formation of a Metal Carbene Intermediate.

(NDI)Ni2 catalysts (NDI=naphthyridine-diimine) promote cyclopropanation reactions of 1,3-dienes using (Me3 Si)CHN2 . Mechanistic studies reveal that a metal carbene intermediate is not part of the catalytic cycle. The (NDI)Ni2 (CHSiMe3 ) complex was independently synthesized and found to be unreactive toward dienes. Based on DFT models, we propose an alternative mechanism that begins with a Ni2 -mediated coupling of (Me3 Si)CHN2 and the diene. N2 extrusion followed by radical C-C bond formation generates the cyclopropane product. This model reproduces the experimentally observed regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity of the reaction.

When Indoles Meet Allene and its Derivatives

The allene functional group and the indole ring have emerged as recurring building blocks in organic chemistry due to their diverse reactivity and straightforward preparation. In addition, the biological properties and natural occurrence of indole give a remarkable added‐value to newly‐prepared indole‐based structures. In the last decade, the combination of allenes and indoles as co‐reactants has revealed a fruitful reactivity allowing the synthesis of complex structures and the investigation of new mechanistic pathways, such as the challenging asymmetric nucleophilic addition using optically pure allenes as chirality transfer agents, the double nucleophilic addition through metal carbene intermediates, or novel hybrid catalysis in a bimetallic system. Herein we report a critical review into the wide and fascinating ways allenes and indoles can interact, and the structural diversity that can be therefore achieved.

Radical-Mediated Strategies for the Functionalization of Alkenes with Diazo Compounds.

One of the most common reactions of diazo compounds with alkenes is cyclopropanation, which occurs through metal carbene or free carbene intermediates. Alternative functionalization of alkenes with diazo compounds is limited, and a methodology for the addition of the elements of Z-CHR2 (with Z = H or heteroatom, and CHR2 originates from N2═CR2) across a carbon-carbon double bond has not been reported. Here we report a novel reaction of diazo compounds utilizing a radical-mediated addition strategy to achieve difunctionalization of diverse alkenes. Diazo compounds are transformed to carbon radicals with a photocatalyst or an iron catalyst through PCET processes. The carbon radical selectively adds to diverse alkenes, delivering new carbon radical species, and then forms products through hydroalkylation by thiol-assisted hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), or forms azidoalkylation products through an iron catalytic cycle. These two processes are highly complementary, proceed under mild reaction conditions, and show high functional group tolerance. Furthermore, both transformations are successfully performed on a gram-scale, and diverse γ-amino esters, γ-amino alcohols, and complex spirolactams are easily prepared with commercially available reagents. Mechanistic studies reveal the plausible pathways that link the two processes and explain the unique advantages of each.

α-Imino Iridium Carbenes from Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides: Application in the One-Step Synthesis of Indoles.

Imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides are presented for the first time as potential precursors to generate α-imino metal-carbene intermediates and applied in direct C-H functionalization reactions catalyzed by [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (4 mol %) to provide 2-substituted indoles (up to 70% yield) in just one step. This class of sulfur ylide is successfully obtained from imidoyl chloride and dimethylsulfoxonium methylide (23 new examples in 45-85% yield) or by imino group formation from the corresponding β-keto sulfoxonium ylides and anilines in the presence of TiCl4 as a Lewis acid (9 examples in 33-94% yield).

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of thioureas or thioamides

Cross-coupling reactions involving metal carbene intermediates play an increasingly important role in C–C bond formation. Expanding the carbene precursors to a broader range of starting materials and more diverse products is an ongoing challenge in synthetic organic chemistry. Herein, we report a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of in situ-generated Pd–carbene complexes via desulfurization of thioureas or thioamides. This strategy enables the preparation of a broad array of substituted amidinium salts and unsymmetrical diaryl ketones. The reaction is readily scalable, compatible with bromo groups on aromatic rings, tolerant to moisture and air and has a broad substrate scope. Furthermore, a single crystal structure of Pd-diaminocarbene complex is obtained and proven to be the key intermediate in both catalytic and stoichiometric reactions. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrate the dual role of the silver salt as a desulfurating reagent assisting the elimination of sulfur and as oxidant facilitating the PdII/Pd0/PdII catalytic cycle.

Divergent Construction of Macrocyclic Alkynes via Catalytic Metal Carbene C(sp2)–H Insertion and the Buchner Reaction

A catalytic macrocyclization reaction of alkyne embodied diazoacetates through metal carbene intermediates is described. This method provides a variety of functionalized 13- to 20-membered cycloalk...