Aryl Radical Enabled, Copper-Catalyzed Sonogashira-Type Cross-Coupling of Alkynes with Alkyl Iodides.

Despite the success of Sonogashira coupling for the synthesis of arylalkynes and conjugated enynes, the engagement of unactivated alkyl halides in such reactions remains historically challenging. We report herein a strategy that merges Cu-catalyzed alkyne transfer with the aryl radical activation of carbon-halide bonds to enable a general approach for the coupling of alkyl iodides with terminal alkynes. This unprecedented Sonogashira-type cross-coupling reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups and has been applied to the late-stage cross-coupling of densely functionalized pharmaceutical agents as well as the synthesis of positron emission tomography tracers.

Copper-Catalyzed Difluoromethylation of Alkyl Iodides Enabled by Aryl Radical Activation of Carbon-Iodine Bonds.

The engagement of unactivated alkyl halides in copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions has been historically challenging, due to their low reduction potential and the slow oxidative addition of copper(I) catalysts. In this work, we report a novel strategy that leverages the halogen abstraction ability of aryl radicals, thereby engaging a diverse range of alkyl iodides in copper-catalyzed Negishi-type cross-coupling reactions at room temperature. Specifically, aryl radicals generated via copper catalysis efficiently initiate the cleavage of the carbon-iodide bonds of alkyl iodides. The alkyl radicals thus generated enter the copper catalytic cycles to couple with a difluoromethyl zinc reagent, thus furnishing the alkyl difluoromethane products. This unprecedented Negishi-type difluoromethylation approach has been applied to the late-stage modification of densely functionalized pharmaceutical agents and natural products.

Copper-catalyzed carbo-difluoromethylation of alkenes via radical relay.

Organic molecules that contain alkyl-difluoromethyl moieties have received increased attention in medicinal chemistry, but their synthesis in a modular and late-stage fashion remains challenging. We report herein an efficient copper-catalyzed radical relay approach for the carbo-difluoromethylation of alkenes. This approach simultaneously introduces CF2H groups along with complex alkyl or aryl groups into alkenes with regioselectivity opposite to traditional CF2H radical addition. We demonstrate a broad substrate scope and a wide functional group compatibility. This scalable protocol is applied to the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules and the synthesis of CF2H analogues of bioactive molecules. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory calculations suggest a unique ligand effect on the reactivity of the Cu-CF2H species.

Aryl Radical Activation of C-O Bonds: Copper-Catalyzed Deoxygenative Difluoromethylation of Alcohols.

Given their ubiquity in natural products and pharmaceuticals, alcohols represent one of the most attractive starting materials for the construction of C-C bonds. We report herein the first catalytic strategy to harness the reactivity of aryl radicals for the activation of C-O bonds in alcohol-derived xanthate esters, allowing for the discovery of the first catalytic deoxygenative difluoromethylation reaction. Under copper-catalyzed conditions, a wide variety of alkyl xanthate esters, readily synthesized from alcohol feedstocks, were activated by catalytically generated aryl radicals and were converted to the alkyl-difluoromethane products via alkyl radical intermediates. This scalable protocol exhibits a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, enabling late-stage modification of complex pharmaceutical agents. A one-pot protocol has been developed that allows for the direct use of free alcohols without purification of the xanthate esters. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the hypothesis of aryl radicals being formed and initiating the cleavage of the C-O bonds of xanthate esters, to generate alkyl radicals as the key intermediates. This aryl radical activation approach represents a new strategy for the activation of alcohols as cross-coupling partners.

Copper-Catalyzed Deaminative Difluoromethylation.

The difluoromethyl group (CF2 H) is considered to be a lipophilic and metabolically stable bioisostere of an amino (NH2 ) group. Therefore, methods that can rapidly convert an NH2 group into a CF2 H group would be of great value to medicinal chemistry. We report herein an efficient Cu-catalyzed approach for the conversion of alkyl pyridinium salts, which can be readily synthesized from the corresponding alkyl amines, to their alkyl difluoromethane analogues. This method tolerates a broad range of functional groups and can be applied to the late-stage modification of complex amino-containing pharmaceuticals.

A Mechanistic Analysis of the Palladium-Catalyzed Formation of Branched Allylic Amines Reveals the Origin of the Regio- and Enantioselectivity through a Unique Inner-Sphere Pathway.

A recently reported palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution of vinyl-substituted cyclic carbonates (VCCs) with aryl amines represents a rare example of a regio- and enantioselective synthesis of α,α-disubstituted allylic N-aryl amines. However, the underlying reasons for this unusual selectivity profile remain elusive. In the present work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations in combination with mechanistic control experiments were performed to elucidate in detail this allylic amination manifold and the origin of the regio- and enantioselectivity. The combined data show that after oxidative addition of the VCC to Pd0 , the nucleophilic attack via an originally proposed outer-sphere pathway gives, however, the opposite regioisomer compared to the experimental results. Instead, nucleophilic attack of the amine reagent via a unique type of chelation-assisted, inner-sphere pathway accounts for the experimentally observed "branched" regioselectivity and high enantio-control.

Regio- and Enantioselective Preparation of Chiral Allylic Sulfones Featuring Elusive Quaternary Stereocenters.

We describe here the first general asymmetric synthesis of sterically encumbered α,α-disubstituted allylic sulfones via Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution. The design and application of a new and highly efficient phosphoramidite ligand (L10) proved to be crucial, and a wide variety of challenging allylic sulfones featuring quaternary stereocenters could be obtained in good yields and with good to excellent levels of regio- and enantioselectivities under attractive process conditions. The developed methodology employs easily accessible chemical feedstock including racemic allylic precursors and sodium sulfinates. The utility of the method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of the sesquiterpene (-)-Agelasidine A.

Pd-Catalyzed Enantio- and Regioselective Formation of Allylic Aryl Ethers.

A general methodology for the synthesis of enantioenriched tertiary allylic aryl ethers through Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions of vinyl cyclic carbonates and phenols is presented. Switching of the regioselectivity toward the formation of linear products by a judicious choice of the ligand is also reported.

Asymmetric Synthesis of α,α-Disubstituted Allylic Amines through Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution.

The first asymmetric synthesis of important α,α-disubstituted N-alkyl allyl amine scaffolds through allylic substitution is reported. This approach is based on palladium catalysis and features ample scope with respect to both the allylic precursor and amine reagent, and high asymmetric induction with enantiomeric ratios (e.r.) up to 98.5:1.5. The use of less-reactive anilines is also feasible, providing enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted N-aryl allylic amines.

Palladium-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Allylic Amines Featuring Tetrasubstituted Tertiary Carbons.

The first asymmetric synthesis of α,α-disubstituted allylic N-arylamines based on a palladium-catalyzed allylic amination has been developed. The protocol uses highly modular vinyl cyclic carbonates and unactivated aromatic amine nucleophiles as substrates. The catalytic process features minimal waste production, ample scope in reaction partners, high asymmetric induction up to 97% ee, and operational simplicity.

Copper-triggered three-component reaction of CF3CHN2, nitriles, and aldehydes: highly diastereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted oxazolines and vicinal amino alcohols.

A novel, three-component C-C, C-N and C-O bond forming reaction is described. In the presence of 20 mol% CuO, this condensation reaction of CF3CHN2, nitriles, and aldehydes proceeds to afford CF3-substituted oxazolines in moderate to high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. Subsequent ring-opening of oxazolines gives rise to the corresponding vicinal amino alcohols.