1.1 Introduction to Pd-catalyzed directed C–H functionalization
The development of methods for the direct conversion of carbon–hydrogen bonds into carbon-oxygen, carbon-halogen, carbon-nitrogen, carbon-sulfur, and carbon-carbon bonds remains a critical challenge in organic chemistry. Mild and selective transformations of this type will undoubtedly find widespread application across the chemical field, including in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, agrochemicals, polymers, and feedstock commodity chemicals. Traditional approaches for the formation of such functional groups rely on pre-functionalized starting materials for both reactivity and selectivity. However, the requirement for installing a functional group prior to the desired C–O, C–X, C–N, C–S, or C–C bond adds costly chemical steps to the overall construction of a molecule. As such, circumventing this issue will not only improve atom economy but also increase the overall efficiency of multi-step synthetic sequences.

Direct C–H bond functionalization reactions are limited by two fundamental challenges: (i) the inert nature of most carbon-hydrogen bonds and (ii) the requirement to control site selectivity in molecules that contain diverse C–H groups. A multitude of studies have addressed the first challenge by demonstrating that transition metals can react with C–H bonds to produce C–M bonds in a process known as “C–H activation”.1 The resulting C–M bonds are far more reactive than their C–H counterparts, and in many cases they can be converted to new functional groups under mild conditions.

The second major challenge is achieving selective functionalization of a single C–H bond within a complex molecule. While several different strategies have been employed to address this issue, the most common (and the subject of the current review) involves the use of substrates that contain coordinating ligands. These ligands (often termed “directing groups”) bind to the metal center and selectively deliver the catalyst to a proximal C–H bond. Many different transition metals, including Ru, Rh, Pt, and Pd, undergo stoichiometric ligand-directed C–H activation reactions (also known as cyclometalation).2,3 Furthermore, over the past 15 years, a variety of catalytic carbon-carbon bond-forming processes have been developed that involve cyclometalation as a key step.1b–d,4

The current review will focus specifically on ligand-directed C–H functionalization reactions catalyzed by palladium. Palladium complexes are particularly attractive catalysts for such transformations for several reasons. First, ligand-directed C–H functionalization at Pd centers can be used to install many different types of bonds, including carbon-oxygen, carbon-halogen, carbon-nitrogen, carbon-sulfur, and carbon-carbon linkages. Few other catalysts allow such diverse bond constructions,5,6,7 and this versatility is predominantly the result of two key features: (i) the compatibility of many PdII catalysts with oxidants and (ii) the ability to selectively functionalize cyclopalladated intermediates. Second, palladium participates in cyclometalation with a wide variety of directing groups, and, unlike many other transition metals, promotes C–H activation at both sp2 and sp3 C–H sites. Finally, the vast majority of Pd-catalyzed directed C–H functionalization reactions can be performed in the presence of ambient air and moisture, making them exceptionally practical for applications in organic synthesis.

While several accounts have described recent advances, this is the first comprehensive review encompassing the large body of work in this field over the past 5 years (2004–2009). Both synthetic applications and mechanistic aspects of these transformations are discussed where appropriate, and the review is organized on the basis of the type of bond being formed.

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Palladium-Catalyzed Ligand-Directed C−H Functionalization Reactions

Pick your Pd partners: A number of catalytic systems have been developed for palladium-catalyzed CH activation/CC bond formation. Recent studies concerning the palladium(II)-catalyzed coupling of CH bonds with organometallic reagents through a PdII/Pd0 catalytic cycle are discussed (see scheme), and the versatility and practicality of this new mode of catalysis are presented. Unaddressed questions and the potential for development in the field are also addressed.

In the past decade, palladium-catalyzed CH activation/CC bond-forming reactions have emerged as promising new catalytic transformations; however, development in this field is still at an early stage compared to the state of the art in cross-coupling reactions using aryl and alkyl halides. This Review begins with a brief introduction of four extensively investigated modes of catalysis for forming CC bonds from CH bonds: PdII/Pd0, PdII/PdIV, Pd0/PdII/PdIV, and Pd0/PdII catalysis. A more detailed discussion is then directed towards the recent development of palladium(II)-catalyzed coupling of CH bonds with organometallic reagents through a PdII/Pd0 catalytic cycle. Despite the progress made to date, improving the versatility and practicality of this new reaction remains a tremendous challenge.

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Palladium(II)-catalyzed C-H activation/C-C cross-coupling reactions: versatility and practicality.

Reactions that convert carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds into carbon–carbon (C–C) or carbon–heteroatom (C–Y) bonds are attractive tools for organic chemists, potentially expediting the synthesis of target molecules through new disconnections in retrosynthetic analysis. Despite extensive inorganic and organometallic study of the insertion of homogeneous metal species into unactivated C–H bonds, practical applications of this technology in organic chemistry are still rare. Only in the past decade have metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions become more widely utilized in organic synthesis.Research in the area of homogeneous transition metal–catalyzed C–H functionalization can be broadly grouped into two subfields. They reflect different approaches and goals and thus have different challenges and opportunities. One approach involves reactions of completely unfunctionalized aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which we refer to as “first functionalization”. Here the substrates are nonpolar and hydrophobic a...

Weak coordination as a powerful means for developing broadly useful C-H functionalization reactions.

This Review summarizes the advancements in Pd-catalyzed C(sp3)–H activation via various redox manifolds, including Pd(0)/Pd(II), Pd(II)/Pd(IV), and Pd(II)/Pd(0). While few examples have been reported in the activation of alkane C–H bonds, many C(sp3)–H activation/C–C and C–heteroatom bond forming reactions have been developed by the use of directing group strategies to control regioselectivity and build structural patterns for synthetic chemistry. A number of mono- and bidentate ligands have also proven to be effective for accelerating C(sp3)–H activation directed by weakly coordinating auxiliaries, which provides great opportunities to control reactivity and selectivity (including enantioselectivity) in Pd-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions.

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Palladium-Catalyzed Transformations of Alkyl C-H Bonds.

Fluorine has received great attention in all fields of science. “Small atom with a big ego” was the title of the Symposium at the ACS meeting in San Francisco in 2000, where a number of the current scientific and industrial aspects of fluorine chemistry made possible by the small size and high electronegativity of the atom were discussed. This small atom has provided mankind with significant benefits in special products such as poly(tetrafluroethylene) (PTFE), freon, fluoro-liquid crystals, optical fiber, pharmaceutical and agrochemical compounds, and so on, all of which have their own unique properties that are otherwise difficult to obtain.1 For instance, at present, up to 30% of agrochemicals and 10% of pharmaceuticals currently used contain fluorine atoms. Therefore, organic fluorine compounds have received a great deal of interest and attention from the scientists involved in diverse fields of science and technology. Now, not only C-F bond formation but also selective C-F bond activation have become current subjects of active investigation from the viewpoint of effective synthesis of fluoroorganic compounds. The former is highlighted by designing a sophisticated fluorinating reagent for regioand stereocontrolled fluorination and developing versatile multifunctional and easily prepared building blocks. C-F bond formation has been treated extensively in several reviews2 and books.3 The latter is a subject that has been less explored but would be promising for selective defluorination of aliphatic fluorides, cross-coupling with aryl fluorides, and * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone: 81-78-803-5799. Fax: 81-78-803-5799. E-mail: amii@kobe-u.ac.jp and uneyamak@cc.okayamau.ac.jp. † Kobe University. ‡ Okayama University. Chem. Rev. 2009, 109, 2119–2183 2119

C-F bond activation in organic synthesis.

A method is provided for forming a supported cyclopentadiene-type compound comprising contacting a cyclopentadiene-type compound containing an active halogen with an inorganic support having surface hydroxyl group. Also there is provided a method of preparing a supported metallocene comprising reacting the supported cyclopentadiene-type compound with a transition metal compound under suitable conditions. There is also provided a process for producing bridged cyclopentadiene-type ligands having a bridge having branch that has a terminal vinyl group. Also metallocenes of these ligands are provided. Still further there is provided a process for producing bridged cyclopentadiene-type ligands having a bridge having a branch that has a terminal active halogen. The resulting new ligands and supported metallocenes produced therefrom are also provided. There is further provided supported metallocene catalysts wherein at least two metallocenes of differing effectiveness are both bonded to an inorganic support having surface hydroxy groups. Olefin polymerization employing the inventive bridged supported metallocenes is also provided, as well the resulting polymer products.

Metallocenes and processes therefor and therewith

Oxidative additions of aryl, vinyl, and acyl halides to triethylphosphinenickel(0) complexes

Rational mechanism for homogeneous hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to alcohols, polyols, and esters

The coordination-catalyzed ortho-halogenation of azobenzene

Methods are disclosed for preparing a highly active solid metallocene-containing catalyst system and its use in the polymerization of olefins The catalyst system is prepared by creating a catalyst system solution by combining an aluminoxane with a metallocene having a substituent which has olefinic unsaturation in a suitable liquid to form a liquid catalyst system, conducting prepolymerization of an olefin in the liquid catalyst system, and separating the resulting solid metallocene-containing catalyst system from the reaction mixture Also polymerization of olefins using the inventive solid catalyst system is disclosed

Darryl R. Fahey

Papers

Metallocenes and processes therefor and therewith

Oxidative additions of aryl, vinyl, and acyl halides to triethylphosphinenickel(0) complexes

Rational mechanism for homogeneous hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to alcohols, polyols, and esters

The coordination-catalyzed ortho-halogenation of azobenzene

Method for making and using a supported metallocene catalyst system