Site-Selective Thiolation of (Multi)halogenated Heteroarenes.

A general and simple strategy for the site-selective thiolation of various pharmaceutically relevant electron-rich heteroarenes with thiols is reported. This mild and reliable photocatalytic protocol enables C-S coupling at the most electron-rich position of the (multi)halogenated substrates, complementing established methodologies. Experimental and computational studies suggest a radical chain mechanism with the key step being a homolytic aromatic substitution of the heteroaryl halide by an electrophilic thiyl radical, highlighting an underdeveloped reactivity mode.

Intermolecular, Branch-Selective, and Redox-Neutral Cp*IrIII -Catalyzed Allylic C-H Amidation.

Herein, we report the redox-neutral, intermolecular, and highly branch-selective amidation of allylic C-H bonds enabled by Cp*IrIII catalysis. A variety of readily available carboxylic acids were converted into the corresponding dioxazolones and efficiently coupled with terminal and internal olefins in high yields and selectivities. Mechanistic investigations support the formation of a nucleophilic IrIII -allyl intermediate rather than the direct insertion of an Ir-nitrenoid species into the allylic C-H bond.

Silylarene Hydrogenation: A Strategic Approach that Enables Direct Access to Versatile Silylated Saturated Carbo- and Heterocycles.

We report a method to convert readily available silylated arenes into silylated saturated carbo- and heterocycles by arene hydrogenation. The scope includes alkoxy- and halosilyl substituents. Silyl groups can be derivatized into a plethora of functionalities and find application in organic synthesis, materials science, and pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fragrance research. However, silylated saturated (hetero- ) cycles are difficult to access with current technologies. The yield of the hydrogenation depends on the amount of the silica gel additive. This silica effect also enables a significant improvement of a previously disclosed method for the hydrogenation of highly fluorinated arenes (e.g., to all-cis-C6 H6 F6 ).

Unprecedented Dearomatized Spirocyclopropane in a Sequential Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation and Rearrangement Reaction.

An unprecedented dearomatized spirocyclopropane intermediate was discovered in a sequential Cp*RhIII -catalyzed C-H activation and Wagner-Meerwein-type rearrangement reaction. How the oxidative O-N bond is cleaved and the role of HOAc were uncovered in this study. Furthermore, a Cp*RhIII -catalyzed dearomatization reaction of N-(naphthalen-1-yloxy)acetamide with strained olefins was developed, affording a variety of spirocyclopropanes.

Non-Directed Cross-Dehydrogenative (Hetero)arylation of Allylic C(sp3 )-H bonds enabled by C-H Activation.

Herein, we report the selective, non-directed and cross-dehydrogenative coupling of allylic C(sp3 )-H bonds with C(sp2 )-H bonds of (hetero)arenes. The methodology employs olefins and (hetero)arenes which are abundantly available chemical feedstocks, and could be applied in late-stage functionalization reactions of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the system exclusively delivers the allylic C-C coupling products highlighting the preservation of the olefin substitution pattern for further derivatization.

A General Cp*CoIII -Catalyzed Intramolecular C-H Activation Approach for the Efficient Total Syntheses of Aromathecin, Protoberberine, and Tylophora Alkaloids.

Herein, we report a Cp*CoIII -catalyzed C-H activation approach as the key step to create highly valuable isoquinolones and pyridones as building blocks that can readily be applied in the total syntheses of a variety of aromathecin, protoberberine, and tylophora alkaloids. This particular C-H activation/annulation reaction was achieved with several terminal as well as internal alkyne coupling partners delivering a broad scope with excellent functional group tolerance. The synthetic applicability of this protocol reported herein was demonstrated in the total syntheses of two Topo-I-Inhibitors and two 8-oxyprotoberberine cores that can be further elaborated into the tetrahydroprotoberberine and the protoberberine alkaloid core. Moreover these building blocks were also transformed to six different tylophora alkaloids in expedient fashion.

Combination of Cp*RhIII -Catalyzed C-H Activation and a Wagner-Meerwein-Type Rearrangement.

A combination of Cp*RhIII -catalyzed C-H activation and Wagner-Meerwein-type rearrangement was successfully achieved for the first time. Thus, bridged polycyclic molecules that are not readily accessible by other means were accessed under mild conditions with high efficiency (as low as 0.5 mol % Rh catalyst) in the coupling of N-phenoxyacetamide with 7-azabenzonorbornadiene.

New Regio- and Stereoselective Cascades via Unstabilized Azomethine Ylide Cycloadditions for the Synthesis of Highly Substituted Tropane and Indolizidine Frameworks.

Multisubstituted tropanes and indolizidines have been prepared with high regio- and stereoselectivity by the [3+2] cycloaddition of unstabilized azomethine ylides generated from readily prepared trimethylsilyl-substituted 1,2-dihydropyridines via protonation or alkylation followed by desilylation. Starting from 1,2-dihydropyridines bearing a ring trimethylsilyl substituent at the 6-position, an intermolecular alkylation/desilylation provides endocyclic unstabilized ylides that successfully undergo cycloaddition with a range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkyne and alkene dipolarophiles to afford densely substituted tropanes incorporating quaternary carbons in good yields and with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Additionally, an intramolecular alkylation/desilylation/cycloaddition sequence provides convenient and rapid entry to bridged tricyclic tropane skeletons, allowing for five contiguous carbon stereocenters to be set in a single experimental operation and under mild conditions. Starting from 1,2-dihydropyridines with trimethylsilylmethyl groups on nitrogen, protonation followed by desilylation generates exocyclic unstabilized ylides that undergo cycloaddition with unsymmetrical alkynes to give indolizidines with good regio- and stereoselectivity. N-Trimethylsilylmethyl-1,2-dihydropyridines can also be alkylated and subsequently desilylated to give endocyclic unstabilized ylides that undergo intermolecular cycloadditions with carbonyl compounds to give bicyclic oxazolidine products in good overall yields. Moreover, an intramolecular alkylation/desilylation/cycloaddition sequence with the N-trimethylsilylmethyl-1,2-dihydropyridines affords tricyclic indolizidines that incorporate quaternary carbons and up to five stereocenters with good to excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity.

Unnatural Amino Acid Synthesis Enabled by the Regioselective Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Carboamination of Alkenes.

Herein, we report an unprecedented regioselective and entirely atom-economic cobalt(III)-catalyzed method for the non-annulative, intermolecular carboamination of alkenes. The methodology enables the direct synthesis of unnatural amino acid derivatives and proceeds under redox-neutral conditions with a completely regioselective C-C bond and C-N bond formation. Furthermore, this reaction exemplifies the inherently different mechanistic behavior of the Cp*CoIII catalyst and its Cp*RhIII counterpart, especially towards ß-H-elimination.

Intermolecular coupling and intramolecular cyclization of aryl nitriles on Au(111).

The on-surface dimerization reaction of an organic nitrile on Au(111) is reported. The formation of the product, which contains five newly formed σ-bonds and a diazapyrene core structure, was investigated and characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy. Experimental and computational studies of reference compounds support our findings.