Oxidative Coupling between Two Hydrocarbons: An Update of Recent C–H Functionalizations

Driven by the inherent synthetic potential of CO2 as an abundant, inexpensive and renewable C1 chemical feedstock, the recent years have witnessed renewed interest in devising catalytic CO2 fixations into organic matter. Although the formation of C-C bonds via catalytic CO2 fixation remained rather limited for a long period of time, a close look into the recent literature data indicates that catalytic carboxylation reactions have entered a new era of exponential growth, evolving into a mature discipline that allows for streamlining the synthesis of carboxylic acids, building blocks of utmost relevance in industrial endeavors. These strategies have generally proven broadly applicability and convenient to perform. However, substantial challenges still need to be addressed reinforcing the need to cover metal-catalyzed carboxylation area in a conceptual and concise manner, delineating the underlying new principles that are slowly emerging in this vibrant area of expertise.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carboxylation Reactions with Carbon Dioxide.

ConspectusDifluoroalkylated compounds play a remarkably important role in life and materials sciences because of the unique characteristics of the difluoromethylene (CF2) group. In particular, precise introduction of a CF2 group at the benzylic position can dramatically improve the biological properties of the corresponding molecules. As a consequence, difluoroalkylation of aromatic compounds has become a powerful strategy in modulating the bioactivities of organic molecules. However, efficient strategies to selectively synthesize difluoroalkylated arenes had been very limited before 2012. Traditional synthetic methods in this regard suffer from either harsh reaction conditions or narrow substrate scope, significantly restricting their widespread applications, particularly for late-stage difluoroalkylation of bioactive molecules. To overcome these limitations, a straightforward route to access these valuable difluoroalkylated skeletons is the direct introduction of the difluoroalkylated group (CF2R) onto ...

Transition-Metal (Cu, Pd, Ni)-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation via Cross-Coupling with Difluoroalkyl Halides.

Radical-radical couplings are mostly nearly diffusion-controlled processes. Therefore, the selective cross-coupling of two different radicals is challenging and not a synthetically valuable transformation. However, if the radicals have different lifetimes and if they are generated at equal rates, cross-coupling will become the dominant process. This high cross-selectivity is based on a kinetic phenomenon called the persistent radical effect (PRE). In this Review, an explanation of the PRE supported by simulations of simple model systems is provided. Radical stabilities are discussed within the context of their lifetimes, and various examples of PRE-mediated radical-radical couplings in synthesis are summarized. It is shown that the PRE is not restricted to the coupling of a persistent with a transient radical. If one coupling partner is longer-lived than the other transient radical, the PRE operates and high cross-selectivity is achieved. This important point expands the scope of PRE-mediated radical chemistry. The Review is divided into two parts, namely 1) the coupling of persistent or longer-lived organic radicals and 2) "radical-metal crossover reactions"; here, metal-centered radical species and more generally longer-lived transition-metal complexes that are able to react with radicals are discussed-a field that has flourished recently.

The Persistent Radical Effect in Organic Synthesis

The formation of C–C bonds directly by catalytic reductive cross-coupling of two different electrophiles represents one of the practical synthetic protocols that differs from the conventional nucleophile/electrophile coupling methods. Particularly the reductive coupling of alkyl electrophiles with other electrophiles is still a challenge. This report summarizes the advances in the formation of C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds between two alkyl electrophiles, with emphasis on the control of chemoselectivity that is exceedingly challenging to achieve due to similar structures and reactivities of two unactivated alkyl halides. The coupling of alkyl halides with aryl or acyl electrophiles was also discussed based on the chemical approach developed by our group, followed by a brief overview of the reactions of tertiary alkyl halides. In the end, a brief overview of the challenges in this exciting field was illustrated. Whereas the reaction mechanisms generating alkyl–alkyl products are proposed to involve reactions of Ni(I) species with alkyl halides to generate Ralkyl–Ni(III)–Ralkyl intermediates through a radical/Ni cage-rebound process, the obtained evidence seemingly supports that the radical chain mechanism governs the acylation and arylation of alkyl halides. The latter features a cage-escaped alkyl radical.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2015/qo/c5qo90045j

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkyl halides with other electrophiles: concept and mechanistic considerations

A mild Ni-catalyzed reductive arylation of tertiary alkyl halides with aryl bromides has been developed that delivers products bearing all-carbon quaternary centers in moderate to excellent yields with excellent functional group tolerance. Electron-deficient arenes are generally more effective in inhibiting alkyl isomerization. The reactions proceed successfully with pyridine or 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, while imidazolium salts slightly enhance the coupling efficiency.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Aryl Bromides with Tertiary Alkyl Halides

A decarboxylative silylation of aliphatic N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) esters using Si-B reagents as silicon pronucleophiles is reported. This C(sp3 )-Si cross-coupling is catalyzed by copper(I) and follows a radical mechanism, even with exclusion of light. Both primary and secondary alkyl groups couple effectively, whereas tertiary alkyl groups are probably too sterically hindered. The functional-group tolerance is generally excellent, and α-heteroatom-substituted substrates also participate well. This enables, for example, the synthesis of α-silylated amines starting from NHPI esters derived from α-amino acids. The new method extends the still limited number of C(sp3 )-Si cross-couplings of unactivated alkyl electrophiles.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Radical Silylation of Redox-Active Aliphatic Carboxylic Acid Derivatives.

A copper-catalyzed C(sp3)–Si cross-coupling of aliphatic C(sp3)–I electrophiles using a Si–B reagent as the silicon pronucleophile is reported. The reaction involves an alkyl radical intermediate that also engages in 5-exo-trig ring closures onto pendant alkenes prior to the terminating C(sp3)–Si bond formation. Several Ueno–Stork-type precursors cyclized with excellent diastereocontrol in good yields. The base-mediated release of the silicon nucleophile and the copper-catalyzed radical process are analyzed by quantum-chemical calculations, leading to a full mechanistic picture.

Copper-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Silicon Pronucleophiles with Unactivated Alkyl Electrophiles Coupled with Radical Cyclization

Transformation of sterically hindered tertiary alkyl electrophiles under nickel-catalyzed conditions to forge C(sp3)-C bonds and simultaneously create challenging all-carbon quaternary centers has received growing attention in the recent years. The unique nature of nickel featuring flexible oxidation states ranging from Ni0 to NiIV, allows the effective activation of tertiary alkyl electrophiles through ionic (2e) or radical pathways. In nickel-catalyzed coupling of tertiary alkyl electrophiles, the competitive β-H elimination upon the resulting alkyl-Ni intermediate is relatively slow, thus benefiting the C-C bond forming process. Meanwhile, nickel-catalyzed radical addition of tertiary alkyl electrophiles to unsaturated C-C bonds has also advanced rapidly due to the successful incorporation of carboxylic acid and alcohol derivatives as radical precursors, and more importantly due to further interception of the intermediate radical adducts with nucleophiles and electrophiles to accomplish three-component cascade reactions. This review highlights these state-of-the-art nickel-catalyzed transformations of tertiary electrophiles, organized by reaction types with emphasis on the reaction mechanisms.

Weichao Xue

Papers

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkyl halides with other electrophiles: concept and mechanistic considerations

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Aryl Bromides with Tertiary Alkyl Halides

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Radical Silylation of Redox-Active Aliphatic Carboxylic Acid Derivatives.

Copper-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Silicon Pronucleophiles with Unactivated Alkyl Electrophiles Coupled with Radical Cyclization

Nickel-catalyzed formation of quaternary carbon centers using tertiary alkyl electrophiles.