Design and Synthesis of C4-Symmetric Axially Chiral ß-Aryl Porphyrins and Application for Supporting Ir(III)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Alkylation.

A hitherto unknown class of C4-symmetric Caryl-Cß (C3, C8, C13, C18) axially chiral porphyrins has been synthesized and the application of their iridium (Ir) complexes in catalytic asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization is documented. Cyclotetramerization of enantioenriched axially chiral 2-hydroxymethyl-3-naphthyl pyrroles under mild acidic conditions affords, after oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), the C4-symmetric α,α,α,α-atropenantiomer as an only isolable diastereomer. Both regioisomeric Ir(Por*)(CO)(Cl) complexes catalyze the carbene C-H insertion reaction affording the same enantiomer, albeit with slight difference in enantioselectivity. With the optimum Ir-complex 3 e, the 2-substituted arylacetic acid derivatives were generated from diazo compounds and cyclohexadiene in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.

Straightforward Synthesis of Halopyridine Aldehydes via Diaminomethylation.

A novel two-step method for formylation of fluoropyridines with silylformamidine Me3 SiC(=NMe)NMe2 (1) under catalyst-free conditions was developed. A series of all possible 18 fluoropyridines featuring one to four fluorine atoms were subjected to the reaction with 1 existing in equilibrium with its carbenic form Me2 NC(:)N(Me)SiMe3 (1'). Among them, 12 fluoropyridines were shown to react via C-H insertion. The reaction proceeded either at ß- or γ-positions affording the corresponding aminals. The more fluorine atoms in pyridines, the easier the reaction proceeded. We also hypothesized that the pyridines in which the fluorine was substituted by other halogens would react in a similar manner. To test the hypothesis, a set of 3,5-disubstituted pyridines with various combination of halogen atoms was prepared. 3,5-Difluoropyridine was taken as a compound for comparison. All the pyridines in the series also reacted likewise. In most cases, hydrolysis of the aminals afforded the corresponding aldehydes. As DFT calculations indicate, the reaction mechanism includes deprotonation of pyridine by 1' as a strong base and the following rearrangement of the formed tight ionic pair to the final product. An alternative reaction pathway involving addition of 1' to the pyridine carbon with the following hydrogen transfer via a three-membered transition state structure required much higher activation energy.

One Carbon Ring Expansion of Bipyrrole to Bipyridine Enables Access to a π-Extended, Non-innocent, Corrole-like Ligand.

A π-extended, diaza-triphenylene embedded, mono-anionic corrole analogue and its NiII complex were synthesized from a diaza-triphenylene precursor, which was obtained from a double one-carbon insertion into a naphthobipyrrole diester. Following conversion to the corresponding activated diol and acid-catalyzed condensation with pyrrole, subsequent reaction with pentafluorobenzaldehyde afforded mono-anionic, π-extended bipyricorrole-like macrocycle. Attempted NiII insertion with Ni(OAc)2 ⋅ 4H2 O resulted an ESR active, NiII bipyricorrole radical complex, which was converted to a stable cationic NiII complex upon treatment with [(Et3 O)+ (SbCl6 )- ]. Both complexes were characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The NiII bipyricorrole radical complex is converted to a cationic NiII complex by single-electron reduction using cobaltocene. Both the cationic NiII complex and the radical NiII complex exhibited ligand-centered redox behavior, whereas the NiII remains in the +2 oxidation state.

Is Enol Always the Culprit? The Curious Case of High Enantioselectivity in a Chiral Rh(II) Complex Catalyzed Carbene Insertion Reaction.

The mechanism of Rh2 (S-NTTL)4 catalyzed carbene insertion into C(3)-H of indole is investigated using DFT methods. Since the commonly accepted enol mechanism cannot account for enantioinduction, a concerted oxocarbenium pathway was proposed in an earlier work using a model catalyst. However, after considering the full catalytic system, this study finds that akin to other reactions, here, too, the enol pathway is of lower energy, which now naturally raises a conundrum regarding the mode of chiral induction. Herein, a new water promoted mechanistic pathway involving a metal-associated enol intermediate hydrogen bonding and stereochemical model are proposed to solve this puzzle. It is shown how the catalyst bowl-shaped structure along with substrate-catalyst binding is crucial for achieving high levels of enantioselectivity. A stereodetermining water-assisted proton transfer is proposed and confirmed through deuterium-labeling experiments. The water molecules are held together by H-bonding interactions with the carboxylate ligands that is reminiscent of enzyme catalysis. Although several previous studies have aimed at understanding the mechanism of metal catalyzed carbene insertion reactions, the origin of high stereoinduction especially with chiral metal complexes remains unclear, and till date there is no transition state model that can explain the high enantioselectivity with such chiral Rh complexes. The metal-associated enol pathway is currently underrepresented in catalytic cycles and may play a crucial role in catalyst design. Since the enol pathway is commonly adopted in other metal-catalyzed X-H insertion reactions involving a diazoester, the presented results are not specific to the current reaction. Therefore, this study could provide the direction for achieving high levels of enantioselectivity which is otherwise difficult to achieve with a single metal catalyst.

Ligand-Controlled Site- and Enantioselective Carbene Insertion into Carbon-Silicon Bonds of Benzosilacyclobutanes.

We report herein a highly efficient palladium-catalyzed carbene insertion into strained Si-C bonds of benzosilacyclobutanes, which provides an efficient method to access α-chiral silanes. With a sterically hindered ligand, carbene insertion into the C(sp3 )-Si bond of benzosilacyclobutanes occurred in excellent site- and enantioselectivity, while C(sp2 )-Si bond insertion occurred selectively with less sterically hindered ligands. Reaction mechanism, in particular the roles of the chiral ligands in controlling the site-selectivity of the insertion reactions, are elucidated by using hybrid density functional theory.

Rhodium(I) Carbene-Promoted Enantioselective C-H Functionalization of Simple Unprotected Indoles, Pyrroles and Heteroanalogues: New Mechanistic Insights.

A rhodium(I)-diene catalyzed highly enantioselective C(sp2 )-H functionalization of simple unprotected indoles, pyrroles, and their common analogues such as furans, thiophenes, and benzofurans with arylvinyldiazoesters has been developed for the first time. This transformation features unusual site-selectivity exclusively at the vinyl terminus of arylvinylcarbene and enables a reliable and rapid synthetic protocol to access a distinctive class of diarylmethine-bearing α,ß-unsaturated esters containing a one or two heteroarene-attached tertiary carbon stereocenter in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations suggest that, compared to the aniline substrate, the more electron-rich indole substrate lowers the C-C addition barrier and alters the rate-determining step to the reductive elimination, leading to different isotope effect.

Stereoelectronic Features of a Complex Ketene Dimerization Reaction.

The amidation reaction of a tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one-4-carboxylic acid is a key step in the multi-kilogram-scale preparation of the antimalarial drug SJ733, now in phase 2 clinical trials. In the course of investigating THIQ carboxamidations, we found that propanephosphonic acid anhydride (T3P) is an effective reagent, although the yield and byproducts vary with the nature and quantity of the base. As a control, the T3P reaction of a 3-(2-thienyl) THIQ was performed in the absence of the amine, and the products were characterized: among them are three dimeric allenes and two dimeric lactones. A nucleophile-promoted ketene dimerization process subject to subtle steric and stereoelectronic effects accounts for their formation. Two novel monomeric products, a decarboxylated isoquinolone and a purple, fused aryl ketone, were also isolated, and mechanisms for their formation from the ketene intermediate are proposed.

Synthesis of Rhodium Complexes with Chiral Diene Ligands via Diastereoselective Coordination and Their Application in the Asymmetric Insertion of Diazo Compounds into E-H Bonds.

A new method for the synthesis of chiral diene rhodium catalysts is introduced. The readily available racemic tetrafluorobenzobarrelene complexes [(R2 -TFB)RhCl]2 were separated into two enantiomers via selective coordination of one of them with the auxiliary S-salicyl-oxazoline ligand. One of the resulting chiral complexes with an exceptionally bulky diene ligand [(R,R-iPr2 -TFB)RhCl]2 was an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric insertion of diazoesters into B-H and Si-H bonds giving the functionalized organoboranes and silanes with high yields (79-97 %) and enantiomeric purity (87-98 % ee). The stereoselectivity of separation via auxiliary ligand and that of the catalytic reaction was predicted by DFT calculations.

Intramolecular Carbene C-H Insertion Reactions of 2-Diazo-2-sulfamoylacetamides.

The intramolecular C-H insertions of carbenes derived from 2-diazo-2-sulfamoylacetamides were studied. 2-Diazo-2-sulfamoylacetamides were first prepared from chloroacetyl chloride and secondary amines through acylation followed by sequential treatments with sodium sulfite, phosphorus oxychloride, secondary amines, and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl azide. The results indicate that: (1) 2-diazo-N,N-dimethyl-2-(N,N-diphenylsulfamoyl)acetamide can take the formal aromatic 1,5-C-H insertion in its N-phenylsulfonamide moiety to afford the corresponding 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]isothiazole-3-carboxamide 2,2-dioxide derivative; (2) no aliphatic C-H insertions occur for 2-diazo-2-(N,N-dialkylsulfamoyl)acetamides; and (3) for 2-diazo-N-phenyl-2-(N-phenylsulfamoyl)acetamides, the formal aromatic 1,5-C-H insertion in the N-phenylacetamide moiety is favorable to afford the corresponding 3-sulfamoylindolin-2-one derivatives as sole or major products. The intramolecular competitive aromatic 1,5-C-H insertion reactions of 2-diazo-2-sulfamoylacetamides with aryl groups on both amide and sulfonamide groups reveal that the N-aryl substituents on acetamide are more active than those on sulfonamide. The chemoselectivity is controlled by electronic effect of the aryl group.

Synthesis of Highly Substituted 1,2-Diazetidin-3-ones, Small-Ring Scaffolds for Drug Discovery.

1,2-Diazetidin-3-ones are readily accessible, small ring scaffolds that upon functionalization have the potential to produce diverse 3-dimensional structures for drug discovery. Thus, treatment of diazo hydrazides, obtained from simple hydrazides and malonyl half ester derivatives, followed by diazo transfer, with catalytic amounts of rhodium(II) acetate dimer results in intramolecular carbenoid N-H insertion to give 1,2-diazetidin-3-ones. Although subsequent functionalization reactions could be hampered by the lability of the 4-membered ring, a wide range of new derivatives was available by deprotection at N-1, and subsequent amide or urea formation. The structures of four four-membered rings was confirmed by X-ray crystallography; the compounds showed modest growth inhibitory activity in mammary carcinoma cells.

First Insertions of Carbene Ligands into Ge-N and Si-N Bonds.

The insertion of carbene ligands into Ge-N (three examples) and Si-N (one example) bonds has been achieved for the first time by treating Fischer carbene complexes (M=W, Cr) with bulky amidinatotetrylenes (E=Ge, Si). These reactions, which start with a nucleophilic attack of the amidinatotetrylene heavier group 14 atom to the carbene C atom, proceed through a stereoselective insertion of the carbene fragment into an E-N bond of the amidinatotetrylene ENCN four-membered ring, leading to [M(CO)5 L] derivatives in which L belongs to a novel family of tetrylene ligands comprising an ECNCN five-membered ring.

Metal Substitution Modulates the Reactivity and Extends the Reaction Scope of Myoglobin Carbene Transfer Catalysts.

Engineered myoglobins have recently emerged as promising scaffolds for catalyzing carbene-mediated transformations. In this work, we investigated the effect of altering the metal center and its first-sphere coordination environment on the carbene transfer reactivity of myoglobin. To this end, we first established an efficient protocol for the recombinant expression of myoglobin variants incorporating metalloporphyrins with non-native metals, including second- and third-row transition metals (ruthenium, rhodium, iridium). Characterization of the cofactor-substituted myoglobin variants across three different carbene transfer reactions (cyclopropanation, N-H insertion, S-H insertion) revealed a major influence of the nature of metal center, its oxidation state and first-sphere coordination environment on the catalytic activity, stereoselectivity, and/or oxygen tolerance of these artificial metalloenzymes. In addition, myoglobin variants incorporating manganese- or cobalt-porphyrins were found capable of catalyzing an intermolecular carbene C-H insertion reaction involving phthalan and ethyl α-diazoacetate, a reaction not supported by iron-based myoglobins and previously accessed only using iridium-based (bio)catalysts. These studies demonstrate how modification of the metalloporphyrin cofactor environment provides a viable and promising strategy to enhance the catalytic properties and extend the reaction scope of myoglobin-based carbene transfer catalysts.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Carbene Insertion into C(sp(3) )-H Bonds.

A palladium-catalyzed carbene insertion into C(sp(3) )-H bonds leading to pyrrolidines was developed. The coupling reaction can be catalyzed by both Pd(0) and Pd(II) , is regioselective, and shows a broad functional group tolerance. This reaction is the first example of palladium-catalyzed C(sp(3) )-C(sp(3) ) bond assembly starting from diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that this direct C(sp(3) )-H bond functionalization reaction involves an unprecedented concerted metalation-deprotonation step.

Catalytic functionalization of methane and light alkanes in supercritical carbon dioxide.

The development of catalytic methods for the effective functionalization of methane yet remains a challenge. The best system known to date is the so-called Catalytica Process based on the use of platinum catalysts to convert methane into methyl bisulfate with a TOF rate of 10(-3) s. In this contribution, we report a series of silver complexes containing perfluorinated tris(indazolyl)borate ligands that catalyze the functionalization of methane into ethyl propionate upon reaction with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) by using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as the reaction medium. The employment of this reaction medium has also allowed the functionalization of ethane, propane, butane, and isobutane.

Carbene-mediated gelatin and hyaluronic acid hydrogel paints with ultra adhesive ability for arthroscopic cartilage repair.

In articular cartilage defect, particularly in arthroscopy, regenerative hydrogels are urgently needed. It should be able to firmly adhere to the cartilage tissue and maintain sufficient mechanical strength to withstand approximately 10 kPa of arthroscopic hydraulic flushing. In this study, we report a carbene-mediated ultra adhesive hybrid hydrogel paints for arthroscopic cartilage repair, which combined the photo initiation of double crosslinking system with the addition of diatomite, as a further reinforcing agent and biological inorganic substances. The double network consisting of ultraviolet initiated polymerization of hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) and carbene insertion chemistry of diazirine-grafted gelatin (GelDA) formed an ultra-strong adhesive hydrogel paint (H2G5DE). Diatomite helped the H2G5DE hydrogel paint firmly adhere to the cartilage defect, withstanding nearly 100 kPa of hydraulic pressure, almost 10 times that in clinical arthroscopy. Furthermore, the H2G5DE hydrogel supported cell growth, proliferation, and migration, thus successfully repairing cartilage defects. Overall, this study demonstrates a proof-of-concept of ultra-adhesive polysaccharide hydrogel paints, which can firmly adhere to the articular cartilage defects, can resist continuous hydraulic pressure, can promote effective cartilage regeneration, and is very suitable for minimally invasive arthroscopy.

Gold-catalyzed naphthalene functionalization.

The complexes IPrMCl (IPr = 1,3-bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, M = Cu, 1a; M = Au, 1b), in the presence of one equiv of NaBAr'(4) (Ar' = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl), catalyze the transfer of carbene groups: C(R)CO(2)Et (R = H, Me) from N(2)C(R)CO(2)Et to afford products that depend on the nature of the metal center. The copper-based catalyst yields exclusively a cycloheptatriene derivative from the Buchner reaction, whereas the gold analog affords a mixture of products derived either from the formal insertion of the carbene unit into the aromatic C-H bond or from its addition to a double bond. In addition, no byproducts derived from carbene coupling were observed.

Preparation, Post-Modification, and Antibacterial Application of Gelatin Electrospun Membranes.

Two bis(diaryldiazomethane)s substituted with amino groups are synthesized and used for the surface modification of membranes electrospun from gelatin. These membranes are then reacted with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate to give urea-functionalized materials, so that hydrogen peroxide can be reversibly bound onto their surface. These membranes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, XPS, differential scanning calorimeter, and tensile test to show their surface properties and bulk properties. The surface modification with amino-substituted diazomethanes and the subsequent cross-linking reaction with diisocyanates contribute to high loadings of hydrogen peroxide, and greatly increase the antibacterial activity of gelatin-derived membranes, which open a new horizon in the preparation of high loading antiseptic/antibacterial biomacromolecular surfaces and interfaces.