Ru-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Fluoroarenes with Aryl Halides.

Although the ruthenium-catalyzed C-H arylation of arenes bearing directing groups with haloarenes is well-known, this process has never been achieved in the absence of directing groups. We report the first example of such a process and show that unexpectedly the reaction only takes place in the presence of catalytic amounts of a benzoic acid. Furthermore, contrary to other transition metals, the arylation site selectivity is governed by both electronic and steric factors. Stoichiometric and NMR mechanistic studies support a catalytic cycle that involves a well-defined η(6)-arene-ligand-free Ru(II) catalyst. Indeed, upon initial pivalate-assisted C-H activation, the aryl-Ru(II) intermediate generated is able to react with an aryl bromide coupling partner only in the presence of a benzoate additive. In contrast, directing-group-containing substrates (such as 2-phenylpyridine) do not require a benzoate additive. Deuterium labeling and kinetic isotope effect experiments indicate that C-H activation is both reversible and kinetically significant. Computational studies support a concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD)-type ruthenation mode and shed light on the unusual arylation regioselectivity.

Au-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Arenes via Double C-H Activation.

The first methodology for Au(I/III)-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of arenes via double C-H activation has been developed. The reaction is fully selective for the cross-coupling between electron-rich hetero-/carbocyclic arenes and electron-poor arenes bearing relatively acidic C-H bonds. The inherently high cross-selectivity of the system obviates the need for directing groups or a large excess of one of the coupling partners.

Reaction of alkynes and azides: not triazoles through copper-acetylides but oxazoles through copper-nitrene intermediates.

Well-defined copper(I) complexes of composition [Tpm*(,Br) Cu(NCMe)]BF4 (Tpm*(,Br) =tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-bromo-pyrazolyl)methane) or [Tpa(*) Cu]PF6 (Tpa(*) =tris(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazolylmethyl)amine) catalyze the formation of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles from carbonyl azides and terminal alkynes in a direct manner. This process represents a novel procedure for the synthesis of this valuable heterocycle from readily available starting materials, leading exclusively to the 2,5-isomer, attesting to a completely regioselective transformation. Experimental evidence and computational studies have allowed the proposal of a reaction mechanism based on the initial formation of a copper-acyl nitrene species, in contrast to the well-known mechanism for the copper-catalyzed alkyne and azide cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC) that is triggered by the formation of a copper-acetylide complex.

Synthesis of CHF2-Containing Heterocycles through Oxy-difluoromethylation Using Low-Cost 3D Printed PhotoFlow Reactors.

We report here a highly straightforward access to a variety of CHF2-containing heterocycles, including lactones, tetrahydrofurans, tetrahydropyrans, benzolactones, phthalanes, and pyrrolidines, through a visible light-mediated intramolecular oxy-difluoromethylation under continuous flow. The method, which relies on the use of readily available starting materials, low-cost 3D printed photoflow reactors, and difluoromethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide used here as a CHF2 radical precursor, is practical and scalable and provides the desired products in moderate to excellent yields and excellent regio- and stereoselectivities.

Arene-metal π-complexation as a traceless reactivity enhancer for C-H arylation.

Current approaches to facilitate C-H arylation of arenes involve the use of either strongly electron-withdrawing substituents or directing groups. Both approaches require structural modification of the arene, limiting their generality. We present a new approach where C-H arylation is made possible without altering the connectivity of the arene via π-complexation of a Cr(CO)3 unit, greatly enhancing the reactivity of the aromatic C-H bonds. We apply this approach to monofluorobenzenes, highly unreactive arenes, which upon complexation become nearly as reactive as pentafluorobenzene itself in their couplings with iodoarenes. DFT calculations indicate that C-H activation via a concerted metalation-deprotonation transition state is facilitated by the predisposition of C-H bonds in (Ar-H)Cr(CO)3 to bend out of the aromatic plane.

Continuous-flow enantioselective α-aminoxylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a polystyrene-immobilized hydroxyproline.

The application of polystyrene-immobilized proline-based catalysts in packed-bed reactors for the continuous-flow, direct, enantioselective α-aminoxylation of aldehydes is described. The system allows the easy preparation of a series of ß-aminoxy alcohols (after a reductive workup) with excellent optical purity and with an effective catalyst loading of ca. 2.5% (four-fold reduction compared to the batch process) working at residence times of ca. 5 min.

Synthesis of α-Difluoromethyl Aryl Ketones through a Photoredox Difluoromethylation of Enol Silanes.

We report here an efficient and highly straightforward access to α-difluoromethylated ketones through a visible light-mediated difluoromethylation of readily available enol silanes. The method, which takes advantage of the polyvalence of Hu's reagent, N-tosyl-S-difluoromethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine, used here as a CHF2 radical precursor under catalytic photoredox conditions, is practical, scalable, and provides the corresponding α-CHF2 ketones in good to excellent yields.

A Photocatalytic Regioselective Direct Hydroaminoalkylation of Aryl-Substituted Alkenes with Amines.

A photocatalytic method for the α-selective hydroaminoalkylation of cinnamate esters has been developed. The reaction involves the regioselective addition of α-aminoalkyl radicals generated from aniline derivatives or aliphatic amines to the α-position of unsaturated esters. The scope of aromatic alkenes was extended to styrenes undergoing hydroaminoalkylation with anti-Markovnikov selectivity, which confirms the importance of the aromatic group at the ß-position. Simple scale-up is demonstrated under continuous flow conditions, highlighting the practicality of the method.

Continuous flow enantioselective arylation of aldehydes with ArZnEt using triarylboroxins as the ultimate source of aryl groups.

A continuous flow system for the synthesis of enantioenriched diarylmethanols from aldehydes is described. The system uses an amino alcohol-functionalized polystyrene resin as the catalyst, and the arylating agent is conveniently prepared by transmetallation of triarylboroxins with diethylzinc.

Highly enantioselective Michael additions in water catalyzed by a PS-supported pyrrolidine.

The development of a highly efficient, polymer-supported organocatalyst for the Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins is described. A 1,2,3-triazole ring, constructed through a click 1,3-cycloaddition, plays the double role of grafting the chiral pyrrolidine monomer onto the polystyrene backbone and of providing a structural element, complementary to pyrrolidine, key to high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. Optimal operation in water and full recyclability make the triazole linker attractive for the immobilization of organocatalysts.

A multipurpose gold(I) precatalyst.

[Au(tmbn)(2)](SbF(6)) is the first gold(I) complex supported by two nitrile ligands that is indefinitely stable at room temperature. This is a highly versatile precatalyst that can be used for the preparation of active and robust solid-supported gold(I) catalysts.