Silyl Radical as an Isocyanide Transfer Agent for Giese-Type Reactions Involving Aliphatic Amines.

Herein we report silyl radicals serve as isocyanide transfer agents for Giese-type reaction from aliphatic amines and electron-deficient olefins. α-Primary, α-secondary, and sterically encumbered α-tertiary primary amines could be easily converted into isocyanides for coupling with electron-deficient olefins by employing latent silyl radicals under visible light irradiation. Notably, the abstraction of silane-mediated isocyanide not only enables voltage-independent activation of strong C-N bonds but also represents a mechanistic alternative Giese-type reaction in which single electron reduction and protonation processes are replaced by direct hydrogen atom transfer. This transformation occurs under photoinduced catalyst-free conditions and exhibits excellent functional group compatibility and mild reaction conditions.

Catalyst-free visible light-promoted defunctionalization of alkyl isocyanides with a hydrosilane through C-N bond cleavage.

A radical initiator-free defunctionalization reaction of alkyl isocyanides with a hydrosilane has been established through C-N bond cleavage under catalyst-free visible light irradiation. Various alkyl isocyanides participated in the defunctionalization with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane under blue light irradiation at room temperature, delivering the reduced products in good yields with high chemoselectivity.

Access to 2-Alkyltropones via Organic Base-Catalyzed Tandem Deamination and Aldol Condensation of Tropinone-Derived Quaternary Ammonium Salts.

The tropone skeleton exists in a number of natural products and bioactive substances, and currently, the applications of substituted tropones are significantly limited by their preparative methods. Herein, we report a very convenient method to access 2-alkyltropones via organic base-catalyzed tandem reaction of tropinone-derived quaternary ammonium salts. Tropinone methiodide reacted with a wide variety of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane to afford structurally diverse 2-alkyltropones in moderate to excellent yields with extremely high site selectivity. The reaction employs readily available feedstocks and reagents, is free of transition metals and compatible with water and air, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and can be easily scaled up. Moreover, the products are amenable to various synthetic transformations. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeded via tandem deamination, aldol condensation, and isomerization.

Convenient synthesis of thiolated 2,7-disubstituted tropones via double C-N bond cleavage of tropinone derivatives.

A range of 2,4-dialkylidenetropinone-derived quaternary ammonium salts smoothly reacted with thiols in the presence of tributylamine, delivering structurally diverse thiolated 2,7-disubstituted tropones in moderate to excellent yields with high site selectivity. The reaction employs readily available feedstocks and reagents, is free of transition metals, tolerates various functional groups, and can be easily scaled up.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Allylammonium Salts with Alkyl Iodides.

An unprecedented reductive cross-coupling reaction of allylammonium salts with alkyl electrophiles has been established through C-N bond cleavage. A range of allylammonium bromides smoothly participated in the nickel-catalyzed zinc-mediated allyl-alkyl cross-electrophile coupling reaction with alkyl iodides, delivering structurally diverse alkene products in moderate to good yields with high linear selectivity. Preliminary mechanistic experiments are consistent with the formation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl iodide.

Palladium-catalyzed indium-mediated reductive aromatic C-H allylation of N-benzylsulfonimides with allyl esters.

An unprecedented reductive aromatic C-H allylation reaction of benzyl electrophiles with allyl electrophiles has been established. A range of N-benzylsulfonimides smoothly participated in the palladium-catalyzed indium-mediated reductive aromatic C-H allylation with various allyl acetates, delivering structurally diverse allyl(hetero)arenes in moderate to excellent yields with good to excellent site selectivity. The use of inexpensive allyl esters for the reductive aromatic C-H allylation of N-benzylsulfonimides avoids the preparation of allyl organometallic reagents in advance and complements traditional functionalization of aromatic rings.

Copper-catalyzed C-3 benzylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with benzylsulfonyl hydrazides.

An unprecedented use of benzylsulfonyl hydrazides as benzylating agents has been demonstrated in the direct C-3 benzylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones. A range of benzylsulfonyl hydrazides participated in the C-3 benzylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with CuCN as the catalyst and DTBP as the oxidant, delivering structurally diverse 3-benzylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones in moderate to good yields.

Strain-release C-C bond cleavage enables the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of tertiary allylamines.

A new strategy has been established for the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of quaternary allylammonium ylides, generated in situ from tertiary allylamines and a bicyclo[1.1.0]butane via strain-release C-C bond cleavage. A range of tertiary allylamines with an acidic α-C-H bond participated in the 1-sulfonylbicyclo[1.1.0]butane-mediated [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, delivering structurally diverse N-cyclobutyl homoallylamines in moderate to excellent yields.

Highly Regioselective Aromatic C-H Allylation of N-(Arylmethyl)sulfonimides with Allyl Grignard Reagents Involving Benzylic C-N Cleavage.

A new pair of reaction partners has been established for the aromatic C-H functionalization of benzyl electrophiles with nucleophiles via palladium-catalyzed benzylic C-N cleavage. A range of N-(1-naphthylmethyl)sulfonimides, N-(2-thienylmethyl)sulfonimides, and N-(2-furanylmethyl)sulfonimides smoothly underwent palladium-catalyzed aromatic C-H allylation with allyl Grignard reagents at room temperature, delivering structurally diverse substituted 1-allylnaphthalenes and 2-allylheteroarenes in moderate to excellent yields with extremely high regioselectivities. Replacing the N-(arylmethyl)sulfonimide with an (arylmethyl)ammonium salt, an arylmethyl chloride, or an arylmethyl phosphate as the benzyl electrophile leads to a dramatic erosion of the regioselectivity.

Aryne-mediated [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of tertiary 2,3-allenylamines bearing an electron-withdrawing group at the α-position.

An unprecedented [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction of quaternary 2,3-allenylammonium ylides, generated in situ from tertiary 2,3-allenylamines and arynes, has been established. With 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates as aryne precursors, a range of tertiary 2,3-allenylamines bearing an electron-withdrawing group at the α-position smoothly participated in the aryne-mediated [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement at room temperature, delivering structurally diverse 2-vinylallyamines or 1-amino-1,3-dienes in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction proceeds in the absence of strong bases and transition metals, is compatible with moisture and air, and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups.

Asymmetric Aza-Claisen Rearrangement between Enantioenriched α-Chiral Allylamines and Allenones.

An unprecedented asymmetric aza-Claisen rearrangement between enantioenriched α-chiral allylamines and allenones was found to proceed in the absence of catalysts and additives at room temperature. The rearrangement, followed by hydrolysis, provides convenient access to structurally diverse δ-chiral ß-diketones in good to excellent yields with excellent retention of enantiopurity. This protocol proved powerful for the construction of an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with high enantiopurity.

Aromatic Aza-Claisen Rearrangement of Arylpropargylammonium Salts Generated in situ from Arynes and Tertiary Propargylamines.

The charge-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement of ammonium salts serves as a key step in the construction of complex nitrogen-containing molecules. However, much less attention has been paid to the aromatic aza-Claisen rearrangement than to the aliphatic one. Herein, we report an unprecedented aromatic aza-Claisen rearrangement of arylpropargylammonium salts, generated in situ from arynes and tertiary propargylamines, delivering structurally diverse 2-propargylanilines in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. This rearrangement proceeds in the absence of strong bases or transition metals, is compatible with moisture and air, tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, and is amenable to forming 11- to 13-membered heterocycles with a triple bond. The 2-propargylaniline products were treated with aluminum chloride in ethanol to afford multisubstituted indoles in moderate to excellent yields. Finally, a series of deuterium-labeling experiments was performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Chiral α-Amino Acid/Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylation of α-Branched ß-Ketoesters with Allylic Amines: Highly Enantioselective Construction of All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters.

A new protocol has been developed for the use of allylic amines as allylating agents in the chiral α-amino acid/palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of α-branched ß-ketoesters, providing highly enantioselective access to all-carbon quaternary stereocenters. Notably, the formation of a primary amine, a secondary amine, or ammonia as a byproduct has little influence on the enantioselectivity for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of structurally diverse α,α-disubstituted ß-ketoesters.

1,2-Aminohalogenation of arynes with amines and organohalides.

An unprecedented use of inexpensive organohalides as halogen electrophiles to trap the zwitterion intermediates generated from amines and arynes has been developed to access structurally diverse tertiary 2-haloanilines. Effective organohalides include carbon tetrachloride, hexachloroethane, N-chlorosuccinimide, carbon tetrabromide, fluorotribromomethane, N-bromosuccinimide, carbon tetraiodide, and N-iodosuccinimide.

Palladium-Catalyzed Highly Regioselective Aromatic Substitution of Benzylic Ammonium Salts with Amines.

An unprecedented aromatic substitution reaction of benzylic ammonium salts has been developed through palladium-catalyzed C-N bond cleavage. A range of primary and secondary amines participated in a palladium-catalyzed aromatic substitution reaction of benzylic ammonium salts, delivering sterically hindered aromatic amines in moderate to excellent yields with extremely high regioselectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies permitted successful identification of π-benzylpalladium complexes and γ-vinyl allylic amines as key intermediates. This study paves the way for the use of benzylic ammonium salts in the aromatic substitution reactions.

Carbon Tetrachloride-Mediated Cyclization of (2-Alkynyl)arylaldimines for the Synthesis of Polychlorinated Nitrogen Heterocycles.

An unprecedented use of carbon tetrachloride to mediate the 6-endo-dig cyclization of (2-alkynyl)arylaldimines, generated in situ from (2-alkynyl)arylaldehydes and primary amines, has been developed via formal insertion of C═N and C≡C bonds into a C-Cl bond under catalyst-free conditions, providing convenient access to a range of structurally diverse polychlorinated 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines and heteroarene-fused nitrogen heterocycles.

Epoxide-Mediated Stevens Rearrangements of α-Amino-Acid-Derived Tertiary Allylic, Propargylic, and Benzylic Amines: Convenient Access to Polysubstituted Morpholin-2-ones.

A new strategy has been established for the synthesis of polysubstituted morpholin-2-ones through Stevens rearrangements of tertiary amines via in situ activation with epoxides. A range of α-amino acid-derived tertiary allylic, propargylic, and benzylic amines reacted with epoxides in the presence of zinc halide catalysts to afford structurally diverse allyl-, allenyl-, and benzyl-substituted morpholin-2-ones, respectively, in moderate-to-good yields with high regioselectivity. The process involves [2,3]- and [1,2]-Stevens rearrangements of quaternary ammonium ylide intermediates and constitutes a very convenient method to prepare polysubstituted morpholin-2-ones through tandem formation of C-N, C-O, and C-C bonds. Moreover, replacing epoxides with aziridines permitted the synthesis of polysubstituted piperazin-2-ones.

Formal Insertion of Imines (or Nitrogen Heteroarenes) and Arynes into the C-Cl Bond of Carbon Tetrachloride.

The formal insertion of double and triple bonds into the C-Cl bond of carbon tetrachloride has enabled the full utilization of carbon tetrachloride in chemical synthesis. A range of unactivated imines and electron-deficient nitrogen heteroarenes served as effective sources of C=N bonds to react with arynes and carbon tetrachloride to afford functionalized anilines whose core structures are present in some valuable arthropodicides. Control experiments and DFT calculations suggest the involvement of a trichloromethyl anion intermediate.

TfNHNHBoc as a SCF3 source for the sulfenylation of indoles.

An unprecedented use of trifluoromethanesulfonyl hydrazides as effective SCF3 sources has been established in the sulfenylation of indoles. A range of substituted indoles participated in CuCl-catalyzed oxidative sulfenylation reaction with TfNHNHBoc in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide to furnish structurally diverse 3-indolyl trifluoromethyl thioethers in moderate to good yields with very high regioselectivity.

Nucleophilic addition of tertiary propargylic amines to arynes followed by a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.

In the presence of 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates as aryne precursors under mild conditions, a range of tertiary propargylic amines bearing electron-withdrawing groups were converted to quaternary propargylic ammonium ylides followed by a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to afford structurally diverse amino-substituted allenes or conjugated dienes, depending on their structure, in moderate to good yields.