Palladium-catalyzed heteroallylation of unactivated alkenes – synthesis of citalopram

A palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes with tethered nucleophiles is reported. The versatile reaction occurs with simple allylic halides and can be carried out under air. The methodology provides rapid access to a wide array of desirable heterocyclic targets, as illustrated by a concise synthesis of the widely prescribed antidepressant citalopram

A frustrated-Lewis-pair approach to catalytic reduction of alkynes to cis-alkenes

Frustrated Lewis pairs are compounds containing both Lewis acidic and Lewis basic moieties, where the formation of an adduct is prevented by steric hindrance. They are therefore highly reactive, and have been shown to be capable of heterolysis of molecular hydrogen, a property that has led to their use in hydrogenation reactions of polarized multiple bonds. Here, we describe a general approach to the hydrogenation of alkynes to cis-alkenes under mild conditions using the unique ansa-aminohydroborane as a catalyst. Our approach combines several reactions as the elementary steps of the catalytic cycle: hydroboration (substrate binding), heterolytic hydrogen splitting (typical frustrated-Lewis-pair reactivity) and facile intramolecular protodeborylation (product release). The mechanism is verified by experimental and computational studies

DFT-Assisted Design and Evaluation of Bifunctional Amine/Pyridine-Oxazoline Metal Catalysts for Additions of Ketones to Unactivated Alkenes and Alkynes

Bifunctional catalyst systems for the direct addition of ­ketones to unactivated alkenes/alkynes were designed and modeled by density functional theory (DFT). The designed catalysts possess bidentate ligands suitable for binding of pi-acidic group 10 metals capable of activating alkenes/alkynes, and a tethered organocatalyst amine to ­activate the ketone via formation of a nucleophilic enamine intermediate. The structures of the designed catalysts before and after C–C bond formation were optimized using DFT, and reaction steps involving group 10 metals were predicted to be significantly exergonic. A novel oxazoline precatalyst with a tethered amine separated by a meta-substituted benzene spacer was synthesized via a 10-step sequence that ­includes a key regioselective epoxide ring-opening step. It was combined with group 10 metal salts, including cationic Pd(II) and Pt(II), and screened for the direct addition of ketones to several alkenes and an ­internal alkyne. 1H NMR studies suggest that catalyst-catalyst inter­actions with this system via amine–metal coordination may preclude the desired addition reactions. The catalyst design approach disclosed here, and the promising calculations obtained with square planar group 10 metals, light a path for the discovery of novel bifunctional catalysts for C–C bond formation

Catalytic difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes with unreactive hexamethyldisilane through regeneration of silylium ions

A metal‐free, intermolecular syn‐addition of hexamethyldisilane across simple alkenes is reported. The catalytic cycle is initiated and propagated by the transfer of a methyl group from the disilane to a silylium‐ion‐like intermediate, corresponding to the (re)generation of the silylium‐ion catalyst. The key feature of the reaction sequence is the cleavage of the Si−Si bond in a 1,3‐silyl shift from silicon to carbon. A central intermediate of the catalysis was structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction, and the computed reaction mechanism is fully consistent with the experimental findings.TU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel - 201

Highly Regioselective Copper-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrodeuteration of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

Catalytic transfer hydrodeuteration of unactivated alkenes is challenging because of the requirement that similar hydrogen and deuterium undergo selective insertion across a π-bond. We now report a highly regioselective catalytic transfer hydrodeuteration of unactivated terminal alkenes across a variety of heteroatom- or heterocycle-containing substrates. The base-metal-catalyzed reaction is also demonstrated on two complex natural products. Reaction studies indicate modular conditions that can also be extended to perform either an alkene transfer hydrogenation or transfer deuteration

Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT)-Triggered Iron-Catalyzed Intra- and Intermolecular Coupling of Alkenes with Hydrazones: Access to Complex Amines

A methodology for the coupling of alkenes with aldehyde- or ketone-derived Cbz-hydrazones to form a new C−C bond through a radical process is described. The sequence comprises an initial in situ generation of a putative iron hydride followed by a hydrogen atom transfer to an alkene, a coupling with a hydrazone, and a final reduction of the nitrogen-centered radical. Hydrogenation of the obtained hydrazines renders amines, including valuable tert-alkyl amines. KEYWORDS: HAT, iron catalysis, α-tert-amines, C−C bond formation, radical processes, synthetic method

Direct and Stereospecific Synthesis of N-H and N-Alkyl Aziridines from Unactivated Olefins Using Hydroxylamine-O-Sulfonic Acids

A RhII-catalyzed direct and stereospecific N-H- and N-alkyl aziridination of olefins is reported that uses hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acids as inexpensive, readily available, and nitro group-free aminating reagents. Unactivated olefins, featuring a wide range of functional groups, are converted into the corresponding N-H or N-alkyl aziridines in good to excellent yields. This operationally simple, scalable transformation proceeds efficiently at ambient temperature and is tolerant towards oxygen and trace moisture

Synthetic Methods for Improved Scope and Efficiency of Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Alkene Boracarboxylation

The synthesis of carboxylic acids is important to the chemistry community, owing to the broad applicability of these compounds as fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Method development over the last decade has focused on the preparation of carboxylic acids through transition metal catalysis utilizing CO2 as a C1 synthon. Copper-catalyzed heteroelement(bora and sila)-carboxylation protocols provide functional group rich carboxylic acid products, yet remain underdeveloped and thus underutilized. Consequently, catalytic reductive difunctionalization methodologies in which CO2 and B(pin) (pin = pinacolate: 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediolate) are installed across the double bond of a vinyl arene were recently developed. These boracarboxylation protocols provided novel, pharmaceutically relevant, α-aryl propionic acids bearing a β-boryl functionality in good to excellent yields; however, the alkene scope was limited. Here, solutions to substrate scope limitations and methods to improve reaction efficiency will be presented. Reactivity studies of sterically challenging α-substituted vinyl arene substrates revealed a complex kinetic interplay between catalytic reduction of CO2 and alkene migratory insertion reaction pathways. These results have impacted the ways in which the catalytic boracarboxylation system is altered to allow for transformation of challenging alkene substrates. The method in which the α-substituted vinyl arenes were boracarboxylated led to a glovebox-free benchtop synthesis of borylated Ibuprofen. Moreover, the benchtop method circumvents the need to use a prefunctionalized copper(I)-precatalyst through in-situ generation of the active catalytic species from readily available and easily synthesized starting materials. Guided by previous experimental studies, a catalytic phosphine additive, Xantphos, led to expansion of the boracarboxylation scope to unactivated alkenes. Insights from these studies are expected to contribute to increased use of Xantphos as a catalytic additive in copper(I)-boryl catalysis

Iron hydride radical reductive alkylation of unactivated alkenes

Iron-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer-mediated intermolecular C−C coupling reactions between alkenes and tosylhydrazones, followed by in situ cleavage of the tosylhydrazine intermediates using Et3N, are described. The process involves a new strategic bond disconnection resulting in the reductive alkylation of nonactivated alkenes. The reaction is operationally simple, proceeds under mild conditions, and has a wide substrate scope

Recent Advances on the Halo- and Cyano-Trifluoromethylation of Alkenes and Alkynes

Incorporation of fluorine into organic molecules is a well-established strategy in the design of advanced materials, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Among numerous modern synthetic approaches, functionalization of unsaturated bonds with simultaneous addition of trifluoromethyl group along with other substituents is currently one of the most attractive methods undergoing wide-ranging development. In this review article, we discuss the most significant contributions made in this area during the last decade (2012−2021). The reactions reviewed in this work include chloro-, bromo-, iodo-, fluoro- and cyano-trifluoromethylation of alkenes and alkynes