Substrate Substituents Research Articles

A Mechanistic Study on Iron-Based Styrene Aziridination: Understanding Epoxidation via Nitrene Hydrolysis.

Transition-metal-catalyzed nitrene transfer reactions are typically performed in organic solvents under inert and anhydrous conditions due to the involved air and water-sensitive nature of reactive intermediates. Overall, this study provides insights into the iron-based ([FeII(PBI)3](CF3SO3)2 (1), where PBI = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole), catalytic and stoichiometric aziridination of styrenes using PhINTs ([(N-tosylimino)iodo]benzene), highlighting the importance of reaction conditions including the effects of the solvent, co-ligands (para-substituted pyridines), and substrate substituents on the product yields, selectivity, and reaction kinetics. The aziridination reactions with 1/PhINTs showed higher conversion than epoxidation with 1/PhIO (iodosobenzene). However, the reaction with PhINTs was less selective and yielded more products, including styrene oxide, benzaldehyde, and 2-phenyl-1-tosylaziridine. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of water in the formation of oxygen-containing by-products during radical-type nitrene transfer catalysis. During the catalytic tests, a lower yield was obtained in a protic solvent (trifluoroethanol) than in acetonitrile. In the case of the catalytic oxidation of para-substituted styrenes containing electron-donating groups, higher yield, TON, and TOF were achieved than those with electron-withdrawing groups. Pseudo-first-order kinetics were observed for the stoichiometric oxidation, and the second-order rate constants (k2 = 7.16 × 10-3 M-1 s-1 in MeCN, 2.58 × 10-3 M-1 s-1 in CF3CH2OH) of the reaction were determined. The linear free energy relationships between the relative reaction rates (logkrel) and the total substituent effect (TE, 4R-PhCHCH2) parameters with slopes of 1.48 (MeCN) and 1.89 (CF3CH2OH) suggest that the stoichiometric aziridination of styrenes can be described through the formation of a radical intermediate in the rate-determining step. Styrene oxide formation during aqueous styrene aziridination most likely results from oxygen atom transfer via in situ iron oxo/oxyl radical complexes, which are formed through the hydrolysis of [FeIII(N•Ts)] under experimental conditions.

Computational Mechanistic Investigations of Biocatalytic Nitrenoid C-H Functionalizations via Engineered Heme Proteins.

Engineered heme proteins were developed to possess numerous excellent biocatalytic nitrenoid C-H functionalizations. Computational approaches such as density functional theory (DFT), hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), and molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were employed to help understand some important mechanistic aspects of these heme nitrene transfer reactions. This review summarizes advances of computational reaction pathway results of these biocatalytic intramolecular and intermolecular C-H aminations/amidations, focusing on mechanistic origins of reactivity, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, diastereoselectivity as well as effects of substrate substituent, axial ligand, metal center, and protein environment. Some important common and distinctive mechanistic features of these reactions were also described with brief outlook of future development.

Chemodivergent Organolanthanide-Catalyzed C-H α-Mono-Borylation of Pyridines.

Chemodivergent synthetic methodologies enable the efficient introduction of structural diversity into high-value organic products via simple chemical alterations. In this regard, C-H activation and functionalization of pyridinoid azines are important transformations in the synthesis of many natural products, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials. Reflecting on azinyl nitrogen lone-pair steric repulsion, its tendency to irreversibly coordinate metal ion catalysts, and the electron deficiency of pyridine, C-H functionalization at the important α-position remains challenging. Thus, developing earth-abundant catalysts for α-selective azine mono-functionalization is an attractive target for chemical synthesis. Here, the selective organolanthanide-catalyzed α-mono-borylation of a diverse series of 18 pyridines is reported using Cp*2LuCH(TMS)2 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) (TMS = SiMe3) and affording valuable precursors for subsequent functionalization. Experimental and theoretical mechanistic data reported here support the intermediacy of a C-H-activated η2-lanthanide-azine complex, followed by intermolecular α-mono-borylation via σ-bond metathesis. Notably, varying the lanthanide identity and substrate substituent electronic character promotes marked chemodivergence of the catalytic selectivity: smaller/more electrophilic lanthanide3+ ions and electron-rich substrates favor selective α-C-H functionalization, whereas larger/less electrophilic lanthanide3+ ions and electron-poor substrates favor selective B-N bond-forming 1,2-dearomatization. Such lanthanide series catalytic chemodivergence is, to our knowledge, unprecedented.

The selective regulation of borylation site based on one-shot electrophilic C–H borylation reaction, achieving highly efficient narrowband organic light-emitting diodes

The electrophilic borylation site of borylation reaction can be selectively controlled by varying the steric hindrance and electron-donating ability of the substrate substituent. The device based on the synthesized compound exhibits EQE of 21.6% with FWHM of 28 nm and CIE coordinates of (0.135, 0.094). The work provides an effective way for the development of high-performance MR-TADF emitter. • The electrophilic borylation site of one-shot electrophilic C–H borylation reaction can be selectively controlled. • New compounds tDPAC-BN and tDMAC-BN exhibited high PLQYs, narrow FWHMs, and satisfactory TADF properties. • The device based on tDPAC-BN achieved EQE of 21.6% with FWHM of 28 nm and CIE coordinates of (0.135, 0.094). Developing novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with a small full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) is very important for the fabrication of wide gamut and high-resolution displays of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this work, we report two blue TADF emitters (tDPAC-BN and tDMAC-BN) with narrow FWHM based on a one-shot electrophilic C–H borylation reaction by selecting acridan-containing arylamine derivatives as the starting materials of borylation. The rigid skeleton structure significantly reduces vibrational motion, endowing tDPAC-BN and tDMAC-BN with high PLQYs (94.4% and 89.7%) and narrow FWHMs (19 nm and 26 nm in toluene). The electroluminescent devices employing tDPAC-BN and tDMAC-BN as emitters exhibit external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.6% and 22.3%, and CIE coordinates of (0.135, 0.094) and (0.116, 0.186), respectively. More importantly, we found the electrophilic borylation site of borylation reaction can be controlled by varying the steric hindrance effect and electron-donating ability of the substrate substituent. The different HOMO distribution originated from the differences in the substrate substituent accounts for different cyclization mode for tDPAC-BN and tDMAC-BN. Therefore, the work provides a useful strategy for broadening the range of high-performance TADF materials with narrow FWHM.

Br\xf8nsted acid-enhanced copper-catalyzed atroposelective cycloisomerization to axially chiral arylquinolizones via dearomatization of pyridine

The construction of axially chiral N-heterobiaryls is of great interest as a result of their occurrence in organocatalysts, chiral ligands, natural products, and biologically active molecules. Despite remarkable achievements in this area, strategies for the preparation of new classes of axially chiral N-heterobiaryls remain to be further explored. Herein, we report the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral arylquinolizones through an intramolecular atroposelective cycloisomerization. The reaction proceeds via the Brønsted acid-enhanced dearomatization of pyridine by a copper catalyst that allows for the formation of the desired products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The utility of this methodology is illustrated by a synthesis on gram scale production and transformation of the products into chiral thiourea catalysts. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that Brønsted acid plays a significant role in promoting the reactivity of the reaction, while both the steric and electronic effects of aryl substituents in substrate play a role in controlling the stereoselectivity.

Diastereoselective Generation of C2-Azlactonized 2H-Chromenes via Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Oxo-Cyclization of Propargyl Alcohols.

A new Brønsted acid-catalyzed oxo-cyclization of propargyl alcohols with azlactones to synthesize C2-azlactonized 2H-chromenes has been established that uses 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate (BiNPO4H) as the catalyst and gives excellent diastereoselectivities (≥19:1 dr) in most cases. This protocol has a high compatibility with various substituents of substrates, offering a catalytic and useful entry to the fabrication of the synthetically important C2-functionalized 2H-chromene scaffold.

Can the isonitrile biosynthesis enzyme ScoE assist with the biosynthesis of isonitrile groups in drug molecules? A computational study.

Many drug molecules contain isonitrile substituents; however, synthesizing these compounds remains challenging in organic chemistry. The isonitrile synthesizing enzyme ScoE utilizes a substrate with the γ-Gly substituent, and using two molecules of dioxygen and α-ketoglutarate converts it to an isonitrile group through an oxidative decarboxylation reaction. To explore its substrate scope and whether this process could be used for the biosynthesis of isonitrile-containing drug molecules, we performed a predictive computational study. We started with the recent crystal structure coordinates of ScoE, removed the substrate and inserted two potential precursor molecules of the drug molecules axisonitrile-1 and xanthocillin into the structure, whereby both molecules have their isonitrile groups replaced by γ-Gly. Both substrates fit into the substrate binding pocket of the enzyme well and position them in the correct orientation for catalysis on the iron center. Based on a molecular dynamics simulation, we created a quantum chemical cluster model of the enzyme active site with γ-Gly-substituted axisonitrile-1 and studied the oxidative decarboxylation reaction to form axisonitrile-1 products. The calculations give similar barriers to wildtype substrate for either the initial C-H or N-H hydrogen atom abstraction, which leads to a radical intermediate and form desaturated reactants. We then took the desaturated substrate and created another iron(IV)-oxo model complex to study the subsequent hydrogen atom abstraction and decarboxylation and found this to be feasible as well although we predict to see by-products for hydroxylation in the second cycle. Nevertheless, we believe that the ScoE enzyme can be utilized for the biosynthesis of isonitrile substituents in substrates with γ-Gly components as an environmentally benign alternative to organic chemistry approaches for the synthesis of isonitrile groups. We hope that experimental studies will be able to confirm our hypothesis.

Using Bases as Initiators to Isomerize Allylic Alcohols: Insights from Density Functional Theory Studies.

Allylic alcohols, as common and readily available building blocks, could be converted into many widely used carbonyl compounds through isomerization reactions. However, these processes often involve expensive transition metal (TM) complexes as the catalyst. What is the bottleneck in the mechanism when no TM is used? In this study, density functional theory (DFT) was employed to explore the mechanistic patterns of allylic alcohols catalyzed using bases, such as KOH, NaOH, LiOH, tBuOK, tBuONa, tBuOLi, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-1-methyl-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. Our results show that bases containing metal cations follow the metal cation-assisted (MCA) mechanism, whereas organic bases without metal cations follow the ion pair-assisted (IPA) mechanism. The catalytic efficiency of bases containing metal cations is higher than that of bases without metal cations, indicating that metal cations play an important role in the reaction. Additionally, the modulation of substituents R1 and R2 in the substrate reveals that electron-withdrawing groups are favorable for C-H bond cleavage, and electron-donating groups are favorable for hydrogen transfer. To better understand these patterns, we applied the DFT and information-theoretic approach (ITA) to examine the impact of bases and substrate substituents on the reactivity of allylic alcohol isomerization. This work should provide a much-needed theoretical guidance to design better non-TM catalysts for the isomerization of allylic alcohols and their derivatives.

Synthesis of 2-(methoxymethyl)isoindolin-1-imine derivatives via an unusual Delépine reaction

The synthesis of 2-(methoxymethyl)isoindolin-1-imine derivatives via an unusual Delépine reaction is reported. The substrate substituents’ influence on the reaction course was studied, and a possible reaction mechanism proposed. The structure of 2-(methoxymethyl)isoindolin-1-imine was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Role of Substrate Substituents in Alkene Metathesis Mediated by a Ru Alkylidene Catalyst

Quantum mechanical calculations on the mechanism of olefin metathesis with a variety of substituents mediated by a Ru alkylidene catalyst reveal multistep processes along the general reactants → ad...

A Vanadium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Fully Substituted Pyrroles.

We present a straightforward, fast, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted derivatives of pyrrole, which were produced in one-pot reactions of 3-oxoanilides with hydrazides of carboxylic acids, catalyzed by 10 mol % VOSO4·H2O. The reactions were carried out in ethanol in contact with air as the oxidant. The 19 pyrroles obtained were usually crystalline and did not require purification. The reaction tolerates various substituents in both substrates. All products were characterized by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of the products and the intermediates were unambiguously determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis.

Oxidative Addition of a Mechanically Entrapped C(sp)-C(sp) Bond to a Rhodium(I) Pincer Complex.

By use of a macrocyclic phosphinite pincer ligand and bulky substrate substituents, we demonstrate how the mechanical bond can be leveraged to promote the oxidative addition of an interlocked 1,3‐diyne to a rhodium(I) center. The resulting rhodium(III) bis(alkynyl) product can be trapped out by reaction with carbon monoxide or intercepted through irreversible reaction with dihydrogen, resulting in selective hydrogenolysis of the C−C σ‐bond.

Oxidative Addition of a Mechanically Entrapped C(sp)–C(sp) Bond to a Rhodium(I) Pincer Complex

AbstractBy use of a macrocyclic phosphinite pincer ligand and bulky substrate substituents, we demonstrate how the mechanical bond can be leveraged to promote the oxidative addition of an interlocked 1,3‐diyne to a rhodium(I) center. The resulting rhodium(III) bis(alkynyl) product can be trapped out by reaction with carbon monoxide or intercepted through irreversible reaction with dihydrogen, resulting in selective hydrogenolysis of the C−C σ‐bond.

Organotellurium-catalyzed oxidative deoximation reactions using visible-light as the precise driving energy

Irradiated by visible light, the recyclable (PhTe)2-catalyzed oxidative deoximation reaction could occur under mild conditions. In comparison with the thermo reaction, the method employed reduced catalyst loading (1 mol% vs. 2.5 mol%), but afforded elevated product yields with expanded substrate scope. This work demonstrated that for the organotellurium-catalyzed reactions, visible light might be an even more precise driving energy than heating because it could break the TeTe bond accurately to generate the active free radical catalytic intermediates without damaging the fragile substituents (e.g., heterocycles) of substrates. The use of O2 instead of explosive H2O2 as oxidant affords safer reaction conditions from the large-scale application viewpoint.

Control of Chemoselectivity of SET-Promoted Photoaddition Reactions of Fullerene C60 with α-Trimethylsilyl Group-Containing N-Alkylglycinates Yielding Aminomethyl-1,2-dihydrofullerenes or Fulleropyrrolidines.

Knowledge about factors that govern chemoselectivity is pivotal to the design of reactions that are utilized to produce complex organic substances. In the current study, single-electron transfer (SET)-promoted photoaddition reactions of fullerene C60 with both trimethylsilyl and various alkyl group-containing glycinates and ethyl N-alkyl-N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)glycinates were explored to evaluate how the nature of N-alkyl substituents of glycinate substrates and reaction conditions govern the chemoselectivity of reaction pathways followed. The results showed that photoreactions of C60 with glycinates, performed in deoxygenated conditions, produced aminomethyl-1,2-dihydrofullerenes efficiently through a pathway involving the addition of α-amino radical intermediates that are generated by sequential SET-solvent-assisted desilylation of glycinate substrates to C60. Under oxygenated conditions, photoreactions of glycinate substrates, except N-benzyl-substituted analogues, did not take place efficiently owing to quenching of 3C60* by oxygen. Interestingly, N-benzyl-substituted glycinates did react under these conditions to form fulleropyrrolidines through a pathway involving 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ formed azomethine ylides to C60. The ylide intermediates were formed by regioselective H-atom transfer from glycinates by singlet oxygen. Furthermore, methylene blue (MB)-photosensitized reactions of C60 with glycinates under oxygenated conditions took place efficiently to produce fulleropyrrolidines independent of the nature of N-alkyl substituents of glycinates.

Synthesis of Polycyclic Fused Indoline Scaffolds through a Substrate-Guided Reactivity Switch.

Zn(II)-catalyzed divergent synthesis of functionalized polycyclic indolines through formal [3 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions of indoles with 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) is reported. The nature and type of substituents of substrates are found to act as a chemical switch to trigger two distinct reaction pathways and to obtain two different types of products upon the influence of the same catalyst. The mechanism of both [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] cycloadditions was investigated and fully rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Reversible control of enantioselectivity by the length of ketone substituent in biocatalytic reduction.

Enzyme engineering has been widely employed to tailor the substrate specificity and enantioselectivity of enzymes. In this study, we mutated Trp288, an unconserved residue in the small binding pocket of an acetophenone reductase from Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597 (GcAPRD). Trp288 mutants showed substrate specificity expansion towards bulky-bulky ketones and enantioselectivity alteration which was highly dependent on the substrate substituent length. In aliphatic ketone reduction, enantioselectivity inverted from (S) to (R) when one of the substituents to the carbonyl carbon was elongated from propyl to butyl or pentyl. The best (R)-selective mutant, Trp288Val, achieved the reduction of 3-heptanone to its corresponding (R)-alcohol with 97% ee. Our docking simulation suggested that when enantioselectivity inverted to (R), only pro-R binding poses were productive. Gly94 played an important role to stabilize the butyl or pentyl group for their productive pro-R poses. Interestingly, when the substituent was further elongated, the enantioselectivity inverted back to the (S) form.

Higher-order epistasis shapes the fitness landscape of a xenobiotic-degrading enzyme.

Characterizing the adaptive landscapes that encompass the emergence of novel enzyme functions can provide molecular insights into both enzymatic and evolutionary mechanisms. Here, we combine ancestral protein reconstruction with biochemical, structural and mutational analyses to characterize the functional evolution of methyl-parathion hydrolase (MPH), an organophosphate-degrading enzyme. We identify five mutations that are necessary and sufficient for the evolution of MPH from an ancestral dihydrocoumarin hydrolase. In-depth analyses of the adaptive landscapes encompassing this evolutionary transition revealed that the mutations form a complex interaction network, defined in part by higher-order epistasis, that constrained the adaptive pathways available. By also characterizing the adaptive landscapes in terms of their functional activities towards three additional organophosphate substrates, we reveal that subtle differences in the polarity of the substrate substituents drastically alter the network of epistatic interactions. Our work suggests that the mutations function collectively to enable substrate recognition via subtle structural repositioning.

Quaternary Carbon Center Forming [3 + 2] Cyclization Reaction by Adjusting the Substituents of Substrates.

Herein, we describe a variety of chiral hybrid pyrroidine-indole polycyclic derivatives with quaternary and continuous chiral centers were synthesized in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities through an asymmetric, intermolecular, and formal [3 + 2] cyclization reaction catalyzed by a bifunctional catalyst. In addition, the selection of substituents of substrates is the key to success, and both the hydroxyl group and the trifluoromethyl group play essential roles in the reaction.

Recent Synthetic and Catalytic Applications of Group 4 Metallocene Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene Complexes

With the 30 years old first example of a stable group 4 metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene (btmsa) complex Cp2Ti(η2‐btmsa) a series of similar complexes like Cp′2M(η2‐btmsa) (M = Ti, Zr; Cp′ = Cp, Cp* as η5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and Cp′2 = rac‐(ebthi) as rac‐1,2‐ethylene‐1,1′‐bis(η5‐tetrahydroindenyl) ) represent excellent sources for the generation of the very reactive coordinatively and electronically unsaturated complex fragments [Cp'2M], which were used in many synthetic and catalytic reactions. Examples for this were oresented in several papers and summarized in some reviews. In this update new reactions of group 4 metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes towards symmetrically and unsymmetrically α‐dihetero‐substituted alkynes, reactions with other alkynes, di‐ and polyynes to metallacyclopentadienes as well as the conversions of the formed products are summarized. Additionally, novel synthetic applications of the formed metallacyclopentadienes on the basis of the zirconocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complex Cp2Zr(py)(η2‐btmsa) are highlighted. Reactions with imines, neutral N‐donor ligands, E‐H compounds (E = N, O, P), molecular hydrogen, water, phosphino‐ and aminoboranes, E‐Cl compounds (E = C, P), disilylated germylenes and aryloxy ketones were described. Different self‐assembly reactions to multinuclear complexes by using group 4 metallocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes in C‐C coupling reactions with or without C‐H bond activation to tri‐ or tetranuclear complexes are considered, too. These examples are discussed following the general L‐M‐S principle for stoichiometric and catalytic reactions, whereby different ligands L (L = Cp′ = Cp, Cp*, rac‐ebthi), metals M (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and substrate substituents S influence the reactivity and the obtained products.