Tremendous advances have been made in nickel catalysis over the past decade Several key properties of nickel, such as facile oxidative addition and ready access to multiple oxidation states, have allowed the development of a broad range of innovative reactions In recent years, these properties have been increasingly understood and used to perform transformations long considered exceptionally challenging Here we discuss some of the most recent and significant developments in homogeneous nickel catalysis, with an emphasis on both synthetic outcome and mechanism

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Recent advances in homogeneous nickel catalysis

Suzuki–Miyaura (SM) cross-coupling is arguably the most widely-applied transition metal catalysed carbon–carbon bond forming reaction to date. Its success originates from a combination of exceptionally mild and functional group tolerant reaction conditions, with a relatively stable, readily prepared and generally environmentally benign organoboron reagent. A variety of such reagents have been developed for the process, with properties that have been tailored for application under specific SM coupling conditions. This review analyses the seven main classes of boron reagent that have been developed. The general physical and chemical properties of each class of reagent are evaluated with special emphasis on the currently understood mechanisms of transmetalation. The methods to prepare each reagent are outlined, followed by example applications in SM coupling.

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Selection of boron reagents for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

The development of new methods for the direct functionalization of unactivated C–H bonds is ushering in a paradigm shift in the field of retrosynthetic analysis. In particular, the catalytic enantioselective functionalization of C–H bonds represents a highly atom- and step-economic approach toward the generation of structural complexity. However, as a result of their ubiquity and low reactivity, controlling both the chemo- and stereoselectivity of such processes constitutes a significant challenge. Herein we comprehensively review all asymmetric transition-metal-catalyzed methodologies that are believed to proceed via an inner-sphere-type mechanism, with an emphasis on the nature of stereochemistry generation. Our analysis serves to document the considerable and rapid progress within in the field, while also highlighting limitations of current methods.

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Catalytic Enantioselective Transformations Involving C-H Bond Cleavage by Transition-Metal Complexes.

ConspectusCross-electrophile coupling, the cross-coupling of two different electrophiles, avoids the need for preformed carbon nucleophiles, but development of general methods has lagged behind cross-coupling and C–H functionalization. A central reason for this slow development is the challenge of selectively coupling two substrates that are alike in reactivity. This Account describes the discovery of generally cross-selective reactions of aryl halides and acyl halides with alkyl halides, the mechanistic studies that illuminated the underlying principles of these reactions, and the use of these fundamental principles in the rational design of new cross-electrophile coupling reactions.Although the coupling of two different electrophiles under reducing conditions often leads primarily to symmetric dimers, the subtle differences in reactivity of aryl halides and alkyl halides with nickel catalysts allowed for generally cross-selective coupling reactions. These conditions could also be extended to the couplin...

Methods and Mechanisms for Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Csp2 Halides with Alkyl Electrophiles

Visible-light photocatalysis is a rapidly developing and powerful strategy to initiate organic transformations, as it closely adheres to the tenants of green and sustainable chemistry. Generally, most visible-light-induced photochemical reactions occur through single-electron transfer (SET) pathways. Recently, visible-light-induced energy-transfer (EnT) reactions have received considerable attentions from the synthetic community as this strategy provides a distinct reaction pathway, and remarkable achievements have been made in this field. In this Review, we highlight the most recent advances in visible-light-induced EnT reactions.

Visible-Light-Induced Organic Photochemical Reactions through Energy-Transfer Pathways.

The stereocontrolled construction of C−C bonds remains one of the foremost challenges in organic synthesis. At the heart of any chemical synthesis of a natural product or designed small molecule is the need to orchestrate a series of chemical reactions to prepare and functionalize a carbon framework. The advent of transition-metal catalysis has provided chemists with a broad range of new tools to forge C−C bonds and has resulted in a paradigm shift in synthetic strategy planning. The impact of these methods was recognized with the awarding of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Richard Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Akira Suzuki for their seminal contributions to the development of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling.

Enantioselective and Enantiospecific Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Organometallic Reagents To Construct C–C Bonds

The first enantioselective Ni-catalyzed reductive acyl cross-coupling has been developed. Treatment of acid chlorides and racemic secondary benzyl chlorides with a Ni^(II)/bis(oxazoline) catalyst in the presence of Mn^0 as a stoichiometric reductant generates acyclic α,α-disubstituted ketones in good yields and high enantioselectivity without requiring stoichiometric chiral auxiliaries or pregeneration of organometallic reagents. The mild, base-free reaction conditions are tolerant of a variety of functional groups on both coupling partners.

Catalytic asymmetric reductive acyl cross-coupling: synthesis of enantioenriched acyclic α,α-disubstituted ketones.

A Ni-catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross-coupling between vinyl bromides and benzyl chlorides has been developed. This method provides direct access to enantioenriched products bearing aryl-substituted tertiary allylic stereogenic centers from simple, stable starting materials. A broad substrate scope is achieved under mild reaction conditions that preclude the pregeneration of organometallic reagents and the regioselectivity issues commonly associated with asymmetric allylic arylation.

Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross-coupling between vinyl and benzyl electrophiles.

An asymmetric Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl iodides and benzylic chlorides has been developed to prepare enantioenriched 1,1-diarylalkanes. As part of these studies, a new chiral bioxazoline ligand, 4-heptyl-BiOX (L1), was developed in order to obtain products in synthetically useful yield and enantioselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of heterocyclic coupling partners, including pyridines, pyrimidines, indoles, and piperidines.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling To Access 1,1-Diarylalkanes

An asymmetric Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling has been developed to prepare enantioenriched allylic silanes. This enantioselective reductive alkenylation proceeds under mild conditions and exhibits good functional group tolerance. The chiral allylic silanes prepared here undergo a variety of stereospecific transformations, including intramolecular Hosomi-Sakurai reactions, to set vicinal stereogenic centers with excellent transfer of chirality.

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Alan H. Cherney

Papers

Enantioselective and Enantiospecific Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Organometallic Reagents To Construct C–C Bonds

Catalytic asymmetric reductive acyl cross-coupling: synthesis of enantioenriched acyclic α,α-disubstituted ketones.

Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross-coupling between vinyl and benzyl electrophiles.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling To Access 1,1-Diarylalkanes

Synthesis of Enantioenriched Allylic Silanes via Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling