eFluorination of Activated Alcohols Using Collidinium Tetrafluoroborate.

Tertiary C-F bonds are important structural designs; however, they suffer from challenging synthesis. Current methodologies use corrosive amine-HF salts or expensive and hazardous catalysts and reagents. Our group recently introduced collidinium tetrafluoroborate as an efficient fluorinating agent for anodic decarboxyfluorination reactions. Nevertheless, tertiary carboxylic acids are less readily available and more challenging to prepare than their alcohol analogues. Herein we report a practical, mild, and cheap electrochemical method to achieve deoxyfluorination of hindered carbon centers.

eHydrogenation: Hydrogen-free Electrochemical Hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation reactions are staple transformations commonly used across scientific fields to synthesise pharmaceuticals, natural products, and various functional materials. However, the vast majority of these reactions require the use of a toxic and costly catalyst leading to unpractical, hazardous and often functionally limited conditions. Herein, we report a new, general, practical, efficient, mild and high-yielding hydrogen-free electrochemical method for the reduction of alkene, alkyne, nitro and azido groups. Finally, this method has been applied to deuterium labelling.

eFluorination Using Cheap and Readily Available Tetrafluoroborate Salts.

A practical electrochemical method for the rapid, safer, and mild synthesis of tertiary hindered alkyl fluorides from carboxylic acids has been developed without the need for hydrofluoric acid salts or non-glass reactors. In this anodic fluorination, collidinium tetrafluoroborate acts as both the supporting electrolyte and fluoride donor. A wide range of functional groups has been shown to be compatible, and the possibility of scale-up using flow electrochemistry has also been demonstrated.

Electrochemical Isothiocyanation of Primary Amines.

Isothiocyanates are ubiquitous building blocks used across the fields. Nevertheless, their classical syntheses very often rely on the use of toxic and expensive reagents. Herein, we report a new practical, mild, high-yielding, and supporting-electrolyte-free electrochemical method for the preparation of aliphatic and aromatic isothiocyanates from amine and carbon disulfide.

Electrosynthesis of Stabilized Diazo Compounds from Hydrazones.

An electrochemical synthesis of diazo compounds from hydrazones in yields as high as 99% was performed. This method was elaborated as a useful synthetic method and demonstrated on various diazo compounds (24 examples). Apart from exhibiting an efficiency that matched that of commonly used harsh and toxic chemical oxidants, this reaction is practically simple to set up, requires mild conditions, and is highly electron efficient (3 F/mol).

Reactions of N-heterocyclic carbene-based chalcogenoureas with halogens: a diverse range of outcomes.

We have investigated the reactions of chalcogenoureas derived from N-heterocyclic carbenes, referred to here as [E(NHC)], with halogens. Depending on the structure of the chalcogenourea and the identity of the halogen, a diverse range of reactivity was observed and a corresponding range of structures was obtained. Cyclic voltammetry was carried out to characterise the oxidation and reduction potentials of these [E(NHC)] species; selenoureas were found to be easier to oxidise than the corresponding thioureas. In some cases, a correlation was found between the oxidation potential of these compounds and the electronic properties of the corresponding NHC. The reactivity of these chalcogenoureas with different halogenating reagents (Br2, SO2Cl2, I2) was then investigated, and products were characterised using NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. X-ray analyses elucidated the solid-state coordination types of the obtained products, showing that a variety of possible adducts can be obtained. In some cases, we were able to extrapolate a structure/activity correlation to explain the observed trends in reactivity and oxidation potentials.

A practical guide to electrosynthesis.

Organic electrosynthesis is an old and rich discipline. By exploiting the cheapest and greenest source of electrons, electricity itself, electrolysis has been shown to be a powerful method to perform redox reactions under mild, safe and green conditions. The field is in the midst of a renaissance and there is little doubt that it will become one of the classic methods to activate small organic molecules in the very near future. Nevertheless, electrosynthesis can be rather daunting for a beginner. In this Review, we will guide synthetic chemists through their first organic and organometallic electrosyntheses by reviewing the essential aspects of the field and by sharing practical tips. We will also cover the fundamentals of electroanalytical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, since they are powerful methods to investigate mechanisms. Finally, these concepts will be examined in practice through three case studies.

Room-Temperature Cu(II) Radical-Triggered Alkyne C-H Activation.

A dimeric Cu(II) complex [Cu(II)2L2(µ2-Cl)Cl] (1) built from an asymmetric tridentate ligand (2-(((2-aminocyclohexyl)imino)methyl)-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) and weakly coordinating anions has been synthesized and structurally characterized. In dichloromethane solution, 1 exists in a monomeric [Cu(II)LCl] (1') (85%)-dimeric (1) (15%) equilibrium, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies indicate structural stability and redox retention. Addition of phenylacetylene to the CH2Cl2 solution populates 1' and leads to the formation of a transient radical species. Theoretical studies support this notion and show that the radical initiates an alkyne C-H bond activation process via a four-membered ring (Cu(II)-O···H-Calkyne) intermediate. This unusual C-H activation method is applicable for the efficient synthesis of propargylamines, without additives, within 16 h, at low loadings and in noncoordinating solvents including late-stage functionalization of important bioactive molecules. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, postcatalysis, confirmed the framework's stability and showed that the metal center preserves its oxidation state. The scope and limitations of this unconventional protocol are discussed.

Anodic Oxidation of Aminotetrazoles: A Mild and Safe Route to Isocyanides.

A new electrochemical method for the preparation of isocyanides from easily accessible aminotetrazole derivatives has been developed, which tolerates an unprecedented range of functional groups. The use of chemical, rather than electrochemical, oxidation to afford isocyanides was also demonstrated, which provides access to these compounds for those without electrosynthesis equipment. The practicality of scale-up using flow electrochemistry has been demonstrated, in addition to the possibility of using electrochemically generated isocyanides in further reactions.

Structural and Electronic Control of the Bidentate 1-(2-pyridyl)benzotriazole Ligand in Copper Chemistry with Application to Catalysis in the A3 Coupling Reaction.

The hybrid bidentate 1-(2-pyridyl)benzotriazole (pyb) ligand was introduced into 3d transition metal catalysis. Specifically, [CuII (OTf)2 (pyb)2 ]⋅2 CH3 CN (1) enables the synthesis of a wide range of propargylamines by the A3 coupling reaction at room temperature in the absence of additives. Experimental and high-level theoretical calculations suggest that the bridging N atom of the ligand imposes exclusive trans coordination at Cu and allows ligand rotation, while the N atom of the pyridine group modulates charge distribution and flux, and thus orchestrates structural and electronic precatalyst control permitting alkyne binding with simultaneous activation of the C-H bond via a transient CuI species.

Anodic Oxidation of Dithiane Carboxylic Acids: A Rapid and Mild Way to Access Functionalized Orthoesters.

A new electrochemical methodology has been developed for the preparation of a wide variety of functionalized orthoesters under mild and green conditions from easily accessible dithiane derivatives. The new methodology also offers an unprecedented way to access tri(fluorinated) orthoesters, a class of compound that has never been studied before. This provides the community with a rapid and general method to prepare libraries of functionalized orthoesters from simple and readily available starting materials.

Electrosynthesis Using Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: New Tricks for Old Reactions.

Electrosynthetic organic chemistry is an old discipline that takes its root in Faraday's seminal works. The field has a rich history and is in the midst of a renaissance, due to the growing impetus of the chemical community to develop greener, more economical, and more efficient synthetic methodologies. Indeed, electrosynthesis relies on one of the greenest and cheapest reagents in the world: the electron itself. In this Account, the recent developments in the use of carboxylic acid derivatives in electrosynthesis are summarized. Until lately, the fate of the monoelectronic reduction of aromatic esters in nonprotic solvents remained unclear. Recent investigations have shown that aromatic esters are reduced and form surprisingly long-lived radical anions. Under the right conditions, these radical anions decompose into the corresponding carboxylates and alkyl radicals. These principles have been used to develop a novel electrochemical alcohol deoxygenation reaction using aromatic esters as stable and versatile radical precursors. In contrast to esters, the electrochemistry of carboxylic acids has been intensively studied. Pioneering works by Faraday and Kolbe in the late 1800s have revealed that the anodic oxidation of carboxylic acids leads to a radical decarboxylation. Interestingly, radical recombination is observed due to the very high concentration of radicals in the vicinity of the electrode. Such radical recombination is rarely observed during classical homogeneous radical reactions. The "Kolbe" reaction and its carbocationic variation have been intensively used across the fields due to their versatility. As we will develop in this Account, almost two hundred years after its discovery, the anodic decarboxylation of carboxylic acids is still relevant to modern organic chemists. For instance, we will examine how the non-decarboxylate Kolbe reaction of aromatic acids forms aroyloxy radicals and how oxycarbonyl radicals could be generated from hemioxalates. Finally, the carbocationic variant of the Kolbe reaction, known as the Hofer-Moest reaction, will be examined in the context of two newly developed reactions: a green MOM-type ether formation and the use of malonic acid derivatives as carbonyl synthons. Electrosynthesis is a powerful synthetic tool. Even if it might still be underutilized at the moment, there is little doubt that it will become one of the "classic" methods to activate small organic molecules in a very near future.

Shedding light on the use of Cu(ii)-salen complexes in the A3 coupling reaction.

One Cu(ii) complex, {Cu(ii)L} (1S), has been synthesised, in two high yielding steps under ambient conditions, and characterised by single-crystal X-Ray diffraction (SXRD), IR, UV-Vis, circular dichroism (CD), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). This air-stable compound enables the generation, at room temperature and in open-air, of twenty propargylamines, nine new, from secondary amines, aliphatic aldehydes and alkynes with a broad scope with yields up to 99%. Catalyst loadings can be as low as 1 mol%, while the recovered material retains its structural integrity and can be used up to 5 times without loss of its activity. Control experiments, SXRD, cyclic voltammetry and theoretical studies shed light on the mechanism revealing that the key to success is the use of phenoxido salen based ligands. These ligands orchestrate topological control permitting alkyne binding with concomitant activation of the C-H bond and simultaneously acting as a template temporarily accommodating the abstracted acetylenic proton, and continuously generating, via in situ formed radicals and a Single Electron Transfer (SET) mechanism, a transient Cu(i) active site to facilitate this transformation. The scope and limitations of this protocol are discussed and presented.

Economical, Green, and Safe Route Towards Substituted Lactones by Anodic Generation of Oxycarbonyl Radicals.

A new electrochemical methodology has been developed for the generation of oxycarbonyl radicals under mild and green conditions from readily available hemioxalate salts. Mono- and multi-functionalised γ-butyrolactones were synthesised through exo-cyclisation of these oxycarbonyl radicals with an alkene, followed by the sp3 -sp3 capture of the newly formed carbon-centred radical. The synthesis of functionalised valerolactone derivatives was also achieved, demonstrating the versatility of the newly developed methodology. This represents a viable synthetic route towards pharmaceutically important fragments and further demonstrates the practicality of electrosynthesis as a green and economical method to activate small organic molecules.

Correction: Cyaphide-alkynyl complexes: metal-ligand conjugation and the influence of remote substituents.

Correction for 'Cyaphide-alkynyl complexes: metal-ligand conjugation and the influence of remote substituents' by Samantha K. Furfari, et al., Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 8131-8143.

Cyaphide-alkynyl complexes: metal-ligand conjugation and the influence of remote substituents.

A homologous series of novel trans-cyaphide-alkynyl complexes, viz. trans-[Ru(dppe)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4R-p)] (R = Me, H, F, CO2Me, NO2) is prepared and comprehensively characterised, alongside their parent phosphaalkyne-complex cations trans-[Ru(dppe)2(η1-P[triple bond, length as m-dash]CSiMe3)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4R-p)]+. Structural data for trans-[Ru(dppe)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4R-p)] (R = Me, F) and trans-[Ru(dppe)2(η1-P[triple bond, length as m-dash]CSiMe3)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4R-p)]+ (R = F, CO2Me) are described, along with that for the previously reported trans-[Ru(dppe)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CCO2Me)]. NMR spectroscopic data indicate significant influence of the remote aromatic substituent over the properties of the cyaphide ligand, in line with the Hammett parameter (σp), suggesting appreciable 'communication' along the through-conjugate chain. Cyclic voltammety shows irreversible oxidative behaviour, at more anodic Epa than in the respective alkynyl-chloride complexes, though apparently moderated by the remote substituent.

Through-conjugation of two phosphaalkyne ('C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P') moieties mediated by a bimetallic scaffold.

Through-conjugation of two phosphaalkyne moieties within an isolable molecule is demonstrated for the first time with the synthesis of [{Ru(dppe)2}2{µ-(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2C6H4-p}(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P)2], via base-induced desilylation of [{Ru(dppe)2}2{µ-(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2C6H4-p}(η1-P[triple bond, length as m-dash]CSiMe3)2]2+. The nature of the cyaphide ligands and their influence upon the bimetallic core are studied electrochemically.

Synthesis and electronic structure of the first cyaphide-alkynyl complexes.

The novel complexes trans-[Ru(dppe)2(C≡CR)(C≡P)] (R = CO2Me, C6H4OMe), the first to incorporate cyaphide as part of a conjugated system, are obtained in facile manner. The electronic structure of these compounds is probed by X-ray, DFT and UV/Vis studies.