Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of aryl bromides at atmospheric pressure: a general system based on Xantphos.

A method for the Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl bromides has been developed using Xantphos as the ligand. This method is effective for the direct synthesis of Weinreb amides, primary and secondary benzamides, and methyl esters from the corresponding aryl bromides at atmospheric pressure. In addition, a putative catalytic intermediate, (Xanphos)Pd(Br)benzoyl, was prepared and an X-ray crystal structure was obtained revealing an unusual cis-coordination mode of Xantphos in this palladium-acyl complex.

Benchtop monitoring of reaction progress via visual recognition with a handheld UV lamp: in situ monitoring of boronic acids in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

[reaction: see text] Although boronic acids are widely used in metal-catalyzed reactions, it is difficult to assay their consumption. As such, we developed a reversible fluorescent sensor that is activated upon binding a boronic acid. The sensor can be used to monitor consumption of a boronic acid in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions. Importantly, only a standard handheld long-wave UV lamp (365 nm) is required and fluorescence is easily detectable with the naked eye without disturbing the reaction mixture.

Palladium-catalyzed silylation of aryl chlorides with hexamethyldisilane.

A method for the palladium-catalyzed silylation of aryl chlorides has been developed. The method affords desired product in good yield, is tolerant of a variety of functional groups, and provides access to a wide variety of aryltrimethylsilanes from commercially available aryl chlorides. Additionally, a one-pot procedure that converts aryl chlorides into aryl iodides has been developed.

Efficient catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of potassium aryl trifluoroborates with aryl chlorides.

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl- and heteroaryl chlorides with potassium aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates have been accomplished with the supporting ligand S-Phos in good to excellent yield. Hindered biaryls and substrates containing a variety of functional groups can be prepared. Suzuki-Miyaura couplings of a 3-pyridyl boron-based nucleophile with aryl- and heteroaryl chlorides proceed in good to very good yield. [reaction: see text]

Insights into amine binding to biaryl phosphine palladium oxidative addition complexes and reductive elimination from biaryl phosphine arylpalladium amido complexes via density functional theory.

We present results on the binding of a variety amines to monoligated oxidative addition complexes of the type L1Pd(Ar)Cl, where L is 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos, 1) or 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-tri-ispropylbiphenyl (XPhos, 2). The binding of an amine to oxidative addition complexes composed of 1 and 2 is more complex than with smaller ligands as intermediate Pd(II) complexes with bulky biaryl phosphine ligands disfavor amine binding to favorable conformations of oxidative addition complexes. Additionally, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for reductive elimination from complexes of the type L1Pd(amido)Ph (where amido = EtNH, Me2N, PhNH) are discussed. From this data, we suggest a possible mechanism for (biaryl phosphine) Pd-catalyzed amination reactions that is more intricate than previously thought.

Rationale behind the resistance of dialkylbiaryl phosphines toward oxidation by molecular oxygen.

Electron-rich dialkylbiaryl phosphines, which comprise a common class of supporting ligands for Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, are highly resistant toward oxidation by molecular oxygen. Presented herein are possible reasons why this class of phosphine ligands manifests this property. Experimental and theoretical data suggest that the two alkyl substituents on the phosphorus center and the 2' and 6' positions of the biaryl backbone play an important role in inhibiting oxidation of this class of ligands.

Pd-catalyzed amidation of aryl chlorides using monodentate biaryl phosphine ligands: a kinetic, computational, and synthetic investigation.

We present results on the amidation of aryl halides and sulfonates utilizing a monodentate biaryl phosphine-Pd catalyst. Our results are in accord with a previous report that suggests that the formation of kappa(2)-amidate complexes is deleterious to the effectiveness of a catalyst for this transformation and that their formation can be prevented by the use of appropriate bidentate ligands. We now provide data that suggest that the use of certain monodentate ligands can also prevent the formation of the kappa(2)-amidate complexes and thereby generate more stable catalysts for the amination of aryl chlorides. Furthermore, computational studies shed light on the importance of the key feature(s) of the biaryl phosphines (a methyl group ortho to the phosphorus center) that enable the coupling to occur. The use of ligands that possess a methyl group ortho to the phosphorus center allows a variety of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides with various amides to be coupled in high yield.

N5-CAIR mutase: role of a CO2 binding site and substrate movement in catalysis.

N5-Carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide mutase (N5-CAIR mutase or PurE) from Escherichia coli catalyzes the reversible interconversion of N5-CAIR to carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR) with direct CO2 transfer. Site-directed mutagenesis, a pH-rate profile, DFT calculations, and X-ray crystallography together provide new insight into the mechanism of this unusual transformation. These studies suggest that a conserved, protonated histidine (His45) plays an essential role in catalysis. The importance of proton transfers is supported by DFT calculations on CAIR and N5-CAIR analogues in which the ribose 5'-phosphate is replaced with a methyl group. The calculations suggest that the nonaromatic tautomer of CAIR (isoCAIR) is only 3.1 kcal/mol higher in energy than its aromatic counterpart, implicating this species as a potential intermediate in the PurE-catalyzed reaction. A structure of wild-type PurE cocrystallized with 4-nitroaminoimidazole ribonucleotide (NO2-AIR, a CAIR analogue) and structures of H45N and H45Q PurEs soaked with CAIR have been determined and provide the first insight into the binding of an intact PurE substrate. A comparison of 19 available structures of PurE and PurE mutants in apo and nucleotide-bound forms reveals a common, buried carboxylate or CO2 binding site for CAIR and N5-CAIR in a hydrophobic pocket in which the carboxylate or CO2 interacts with backbone amides. This work has led to a mechanistic proposal in which the carboxylate orients the substrate for proton transfer from His45 to N5-CAIR to form an enzyme-bound aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) and CO2 intermediate. Subsequent movement of the aminoimidazole moiety of AIR reorients it for addition of CO2 at C4 to generate isoCAIR. His45 is now in a position to remove a C4 proton to produce CAIR.

Synthesis, structural, and electron topographical analyses of a dialkylbiaryl phosphine/arene-ligated palladium(I) dimer: enhanced reactivity in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions.

The treatment of bis(2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl)PdCl2 with AgBF4 produces an air-stable phosphine/arene-ligated Pd(I) dimer with two seemingly identical Pd-arene interactions by X-ray crystallography. However, NMR and theoretical electron topographical analyses of this complex distinguish between these two interactions. One interaction is classified as an arenium-like complex, while the other is classified as a pi-interaction. Additionally, this complex is a suitable precatalyst for high yielding Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions in short reaction times.

Catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling processes: scope and studies of the effect of ligand structure.

Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl and heteroaryl halides with aryl-, heteroaryl- and vinylboronic acids proceed in very good to excellent yield with the use of 2-(2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine, SPhos (1). This ligand confers unprecedented activity for these processes, allowing reactions to be performed at low catalyst levels, to prepare extremely hindered biaryls and to be carried out, in general, for reactions of aryl chlorides at room temperature. Additionally, structural studies of various 1.Pd complexes are presented along with computational data that help elucidate the efficacy that 1 imparts on Suzuki-Miyaura coupling processes. Moreover, a comparison of the reactions with 1 and with 2-(2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl)diphenylphosphine (2) is presented that is informative in determining the relative importance of ligand bulk and electron-donating ability in the high activity of catalysts derived from ligands of this type. Further, when the aryl bromide becomes too hindered, an interesting C-H bond functionalization-cross-coupling sequence intervenes to provide product in high yield.

Copper-diamine-catalyzed N-arylation of pyrroles, pyrazoles, indazoles, imidazoles, and triazoles.

This paper details the copper-catalyzed N-arylation of pi-excessive nitrogen heterocycles. The coupling of either aryl iodides or aryl bromides with common nitrogen heterocycles (pyrroles, pyrazoles, indazoles, imidazoles, and triazoles) was successfully performed in good yield with catalysts derived from diamine ligands and CuI. General conditions were found that tolerate functional groups such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, primary amines, and nitriles on the aryl halide or heterocycle. Hindered aryl halides or heterocycles were also found to be suitable substrates using the conditions reported herein.