Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Polymerization via C-H Activation for the Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers.

Owing to their versatile (opto)electronic properties, conjugated polymers have found application in several organic electronic devices. Cross-coupling reactions such as Stille, Suzuki, Kumada couplings, and direct arylation reactions have proved to be effective for their synthesis. More atom-efficient oxidative direct arylation polymerization has also been reported for making homopolymers. However, growing interest toward donor-acceptor polymers has led to the recent emergence of cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) polymerization to synthesize alternating copolymers without any prefunctionalization of monomers. Metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of two simple arenes via double C-H activation, or of an arene with an alkene via oxidative Heck-type reaction have been used so far for CDC polymerization. In this article, we discuss the development of CDC polymerization protocols along with the relevant small molecule CDC reactions for an improved understanding of these reactions.

Iron-catalyzed alkyne-carbonyl metathesis for the synthesis of 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azonines.

The synthesis of nine-membered rings via alkyne-carbonyl metathesis is reported. The alkyne and acetal units contained in a biaryl substrate undergo the intramolecular alkyne-carbonyl metathesis reaction under FeCl3-catalysis to furnish the unexplored 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azonines. The method provides an alternative to existing routes to nine-membered rings with cheap, non-toxic iron catalysts and milder conditions.

Iron-catalyzed carboarylation of alkynes via activation of π-activated alcohols: rapid synthesis of substituted benzofused six-membered heterocycles.

An Fe(OTf)3-catalysed carboarylation of alkynes is reported for the straightforward synthesis of densely substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines from N-propargyl anilides and π-activated alcohols. The reaction provides a new method for the synthesis of highly substituted benzofused six-membered heterocycles by the formation of two carbon-carbon bonds and one ring in a single step. The power of the methodology was further extended to the synthesis of substituted chromene and thiochromene derivatives in high yields. In addition, substituted quinoline derivatives were also achieved in a single step in the presence of FeCl3 through detosylation/aromatisation. A number of control experiments have been performed and a plausible mechanism has also been proposed to explain the formation of the products.

DDQ/FeCl3-mediated tandem oxidative carbon-carbon bond formation for the Synthesis of indole-fluorene hybrid molecules.

A series of diverse and complex hybrid structures of indole bearing fluorene were obtained in the presence of DDQ with high regioselectivity under mild conditions from biaryl tethered 3-(methylene)indoline in good to excellent yields. The strategy involves tandem allylic Csp3-H oxidation and subsequent intramolecular carbon-carbon bond formation. The yield of the product was dramatically improved in the presence of additives such as FeCl3 and molecular sieves (4 Å). A possible mechanism is proposed for this tandem process.

Application of the Povarov Reaction in Biaryls under Iron Catalysis for the General Synthesis of Dibenzo[a,c]Acridines.

A modified Povarov reaction involving 2'-alkynylbiaryl-2-carbaldehydes and aryl amines with tandem oxidation was performed using catalytic FeCl3. The outcome was an efficient general synthesis of dibenzo[a,c]acridines with moderate to high yields. This method offers simplicity in the preparation of substrates, diverse substrate scope, and high atom economy. The generality of the protocol was verified by synthesizing a tribenzo[a,c,h]acridine derivative. Photophysical properties of the synthesized compounds were also studied. The compounds absorb UV light typically in the range 230-330 nm and emit in the visible range of 400-420 nm.

Efficient two-step synthesis of structurally diverse indolo[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives.

A general and efficient synthesis of diverse tetracyclic indolo[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives was achieved through palladium-catalyzed domino carboannulation/cross-coupling and DDQ-mediated double cross-dehydrogenative C-N bond formation. This approach provides a straightforward, atom-economical and concise route to easily access a diverse range of tetracyclic indolo[2,3-b]quinolines and their analogues in excellent yields with good tolerance of functional groups.

Metal-Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of Benzophenanthridines and 6 H-Naphtho[2,3- c]-chromenes.

A new and efficient synthesis of tetracyclic phenanthridines and benzo[ c]chromenes has been described involving a metal-mediated two-step domino strategy. The first step involved efficient palladium-catalyzed domino carbopalladation/cross coupling, and the second step involved iron-catalyzed domino isomerization/cyclodehydration. The important features of this strategy include high yields, generality, wide substrate scope, and broad functional group tolerance. A plausible mechanism has been proposed to explain the formation of the product.