C–H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C–H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C–H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C–H activation until summer 2018.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation.

The present review is devoted to summarizing the recent advances (2015-2017) in the field of metal-catalysed group-directed C-H functionalisation In order to clearly showcase the molecular diversity that can now be accessed by means of directed C-H functionalisation, the whole is organized following the directing groups installed on a substrate Its aim is to be a comprehensive reference work, where a specific directing group can be easily found, together with the transformations which have been carried out with it Hence, the primary format of this review is schemes accompanied with a concise explanatory text, in which the directing groups are ordered in sections according to their chemical structure The schemes feature typical substrates used, the products obtained as well as the required reaction conditions Importantly, each example is commented on with respect to the most important positive features and drawbacks, on aspects such as selectivity, substrate scope, reaction conditions, directing group removal, and greenness The targeted readership are both experts in the field of C-H functionalisation chemistry (to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the last years) and, even more so, all organic chemists who want to introduce the C-H functionalisation way of thinking for a design of straightforward, efficient and step-economic synthetic routes towards molecules of interest to them Accordingly, this review should be of particular interest also for scientists from industrial R&D sector Hence, the overall goal of this review is to promote the application of C-H functionalisation reactions outside the research groups dedicated to method development and establishing it as a valuable reaction archetype in contemporary R&D, comparable to the role cross-coupling reactions play to date

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A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C-H functionalisation chemistry.

Atropisomerism is a stereochemical behavior portrayed by three-dimensional molecules that bear rotationally restricted σ bond. Akin to the well-represented point-chiral molecules, atropisomerically chiral compounds are finding increasing utilities in many disciplines where molecular asymmetry is influential. This provides steady demand on atroposelective synthesis, where numerous synthetic pursuits have been rewarded with conceptually novel and streamlined methods while expanding the structural diversity of atropisomers. This review summarizes key achievements in stereoselective preparation of biaryl, heterobiaryl, and nonbiaryl atropisomers documented between 2015 and 2020. Emphasis is placed on the synthetic strategies for each structural class, while examples are cited to illustrate the potential applications of the accessed atropochiral targets.

Recent Advances in Catalytic Asymmetric Construction of Atropisomers.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2019/CC/C9CC03967H

Recent advances in the synthesis of axially chiral biaryls via transition metal-catalysed asymmetric C–H functionalization

Transition-metal-catalyzed, coordination-assisted C(sp3)-H functionalization has revolutionized synthetic planning over the past few decades as the use of these directing groups has allowed for increased access to many strategic positions in organic molecules. Nonetheless, several challenges remain preeminent, such as the requirement for high temperatures, the difficulty in removing or converting directing groups, and, although many metals provide some reactivity, the difficulty in employing metals outside of palladium. This review aims to give a comprehensive overview of coordination-assisted, transition-metal-catalyzed, direct functionalization of nonactivated C(sp3)-H bonds by covering the literature since 2004 in order to demonstrate the current state-of-the-art methods as well as the current limitations. For clarity, this review has been divided into nine sections by the transition metal catalyst with subdivisions by the type of bond formation. Synthetic applications and reaction mechanism are discussed where appropriate.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed, Coordination-Assisted Functionalization of Nonactivated C(sp3)-H Bonds.

Enantiomeric access to pentatomic biaryls is challenging due to their relatively low rotational barrier. Reported herein is the mild and highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,3′-biindolyls via und...

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biindolyls by Merging C–H Activation and Nucleophilic Cyclization

Bridged cycles are an important class of structural motif in various biologically active molecules. Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of nitrones and azomethine imines in the context of dipolar addition with alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) have been realized. By taking advantage of the ring strain in ACPs, the reaction with aryl nitrones delivered bridged [3.2.1] bicyclic isoxazolidines, and reaction with azomethine imines afforded bridged tricyclic pyrazolones under the same conditions, where both the nitrone and azomethine imine act as a dipolar directing group. All the reactions occurred under mild conditions with broad substrates scope, high efficiency, and >20:1 diastereoselectivity. The synthetic applications of this protocol have also been demonstrated.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Mild Coupling of Nitrones and Azomethine Imines with Alkylidenecyclopropanes via C–H Activation: Facile Access to Bridged Cycles

Cu-catalyzed redox-divergent [3+3] coupling of oxime esters with β-CF3 enones and acrylates is described. This redox-neutral coupling with enones and acrylates affords trifluoromethylated pyridines and pyridones, respectively. Under reductive conditions, difluoromethylated pyridines, difluoromethlated pyridones, and trifluoromethylated dihydropyridones are obtained. The reactions occur under mild conditions with broad substrate scope and regio/redox selectivity.

Dachang Bai

Papers

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biindolyls by Merging C–H Activation and Nucleophilic Cyclization

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Mild Coupling of Nitrones and Azomethine Imines with Alkylidenecyclopropanes via C–H Activation: Facile Access to Bridged Cycles

Redox-Divergent Synthesis of Fluoroalkylated Pyridines and 2-Pyridones through Cu-Catalyzed N-O Cleavage of Oxime Acetates.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Diastereodivergent Spiroannulation of Cyclic Imines with Activated Alkenes

Cp*Rh(III)-Catalyzed Mild Addition of C(sp3)–H Bonds to α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones