A Formal γ-C-H Functionalization of Carboxylic Acids Guided by Metal-Nitrenoids as an Unprecedented Mechanistic Motif.

Harnessing the key intermediates in metal-catalyzed reactions is one of the most essential strategies in the development of selective organic transformations. The nitrogen group transfer reactivity of metal-nitrenoids to ubiquitous C-H bonds allows for diverse C-N bond formation to furnish synthetically valuable aminated products. In this study, we present an unprecedented reactivity of iridium and ruthenium nitrenoids to generate remote carbocation intermediates, which subsequently undergo nucleophile incorporation, thus developing a formal γ-C-H functionalization of carboxylic acids. Mechanistic investigations elucidated a unique singlet metal-nitrenoid reactivity to initiate an abstraction of γ-hydride to form the carbocation intermediate that eventually reacts with a broad range of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen nucleophiles, as well as biorelevant molecules. Alternatively, the same intermediate can lead to deprotonation to afford ß,γ-unsaturated amides in a less nucleophilic solvent.

Access to ß-Lactams via Iron-Catalyzed Olefin Oxyamidation Enabled by the π-Accepting Phthalocyanine Ligand.

Herein, we report the development of an iron-catalyzed olefin oxyamidation by utilizing tethered dioxazolones as the nitrenoid precursor to produce valuable ß-lactam scaffolds. Mechanistic studies revealed that a relatively strong π-accepting ability of the phthalocyanine ligand is critical in generating the key triplet iron-imidyl radical intermediate to enable the 4-exo-trig-lactamization with the incorporation of oxygen nucleophiles in high diastereoselectivity. This cyclization approach was readily extended to the highly efficient γ-lactam synthesis (TON > 300).

Photoinduced Transition-Metal-Free Chan-Evans-Lam-Type Coupling: Dual Photoexcitation Mode with Halide Anion Effect.

Herein, we report a photoinduced transition-metal-free C(aryl)-N bond formation between 2,4,6-tri(aryl)boroxines or arylboronic acids as an aryl source and 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones (dioxazolones) as an amide coupling partner. Chloride anion, either generated in situ by photodissociation of chlorinated solvent molecules or added separately as an additive, was found to play a critical cooperative role, thereby giving convenient access to a wide range of synthetically versatile N-arylamides under mild photo conditions. The synthetic virtue of this transition-metal-free Chan-Evans-Lam-type coupling was demonstrated by large-scale reactions, synthesis of 15N-labeled arylamides, and applicability toward biologically relevant compounds. On the basis of mechanistic investigations, two distinctive photoexcitations are proposed to function in the current process, in which the first excitation involving chloro-boron adduct facilitates the transition-metal-free activation of dioxazolones by single electron transfer (SET), and the second one enables the otherwise-inoperative 1,2-aryl migration of the thus-formed N-chloroamido-borate adduct.

Highly Robust Iron Catalyst System for Intramolecular C(sp3 )-H Amidation Leading to γ-Lactams.

Disclosed here is the use of an iron catalyst system for an intramolecular C-H amidation toward γ-lactam synthesis from dioxazolone precursors. (Phthalocyanine)FeIII Cl was found to catalyze this cyclization with extremely high turnover numbers of up to 47 000 under mild and aerobic conditions. On the basis of experimental and computational mechanistic studies, the reaction is suggested to proceed by a stepwise radical pathway involving fast hydrogen atom abstraction followed by radical rebound. A plausible origin for the high turnover numbers along with air-compatibility is also rationalized.

Tuning Triplet Energy Transfer of Hydroxamates as the Nitrene Precursor for Intramolecular C(sp3)-H Amidation.

Reported herein is the design of a photosensitization strategy to generate triplet nitrenes and its applicability for the intramolecular C-H amidation reactions. Substrate optimization by tuning physical organic parameters according to the proposed energy transfer pathway led us to identify hydroxamates as a convenient nitrene precursor. While more classical nitrene sources, representatively organic azides, were ineffective under the current photosensitization conditions, hydroxamates, which are readily available from alcohols or carboxylic acids, are highly efficient in accessing synthetically valuable 2-oxazolidinones and γ-lactams by visible light. Mechanism studies supported our working hypothesis that the energy transfer path is mainly operative.

Decarboxylative stereoretentive C-N coupling by harnessing aminating reagent.

In recent decades, strategies involving transition-metal catalyzed carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bond coupling have emerged as potent synthetic tools for constructing intricate molecular architectures. Among these, decarboxylative carbon-nitrogen bond formation using abundant carboxylic acids or their derivatives has garnered notable attention for accessing alkyl- or arylamines, one of key pharmacophores. While several decarboxylative amination methods have been developed, the involvement of a common carboradical intermediate currently poses challenges in achieving stereospecific transformation toward chiral alkylamines. Herein, we present a base-mediated, stereoretentive decarboxylative amidation by harnessing 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-one as a reactive and robust amidating reagent under transition-metal-free ambient conditions, encompassing all types of primary, secondary and tertiary carboxylic acids, thereby providing access to the important pharmacophore, α-chiral amines. This method exhibits high functional group tolerance, convenient scalability, and ease of applicability for 15N-isotope labeling, thus accentuating its synthetic utilities. Experimental and computational mechanistic investigations reveal a sequence of elementary steps: i) nucleophilic addition of carboxylate to dioxazolone, ii) rearrangement to form a dicarbonyl N-hydroxy intermediate, iii) conversion to hydroxamate, followed by a Lossen-type rearrangement, and finally, iv) reaction of the in situ generated isocyanate with carboxylate leading to C-N bond formation in a stereoretentive manner.

Mechanistic snapshots of rhodium-catalyzed acylnitrene transfer reactions.

Rhodium (Rh) acylnitrene complexes are widely implicated in catalytic C-H amidation reactions but have eluded isolation and structural characterization. To overcome this challenge, we designed a chromophoric octahedral Rh complex with a bidentate dioxazolone ligand, in which photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge transfer initiates catalytic C-H amidation. X-ray photocrystallographic analysis of the Rh-dioxazolone complex allowed structural elucidation of the targeted Rh-acylnitrenoid and provided firm evidence that the singlet nitrenoid species is primarily responsible for acylamino transfer reactions. We also monitored in crystallo reaction of a nucleophile with the in situ-generated Rh-acylnitrenoid, which provided a crystallographically traceable reaction system to capture mechanistic snapshots of nitrenoid transfer.