Since the discovery of organic azides by Peter Griess more than 140 years ago, numerous syntheses of these energy-rich molecules have been developed. In more recent times in particular, completely new perspectives have been developed for their use in peptide chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, and heterocyclic synthesis. Organic azides have assumed an important position at the interface between chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials science. In this Review, the fundamental characteristics of azide chemistry and current developments are presented. The focus will be placed on cycloadditions (Huisgen reaction), aza ylide chemistry, and the synthesis of heterocycles. Further reactions such as the aza-Wittig reaction, the Sundberg rearrangement, the Staudinger ligation, the Boyer and Boyer-Aube rearrangements, the Curtius rearrangement, the Schmidt rearrangement, and the Hemetsberger rearrangement bear witness to the versatility of modern azide chemistry.

Organic Azides: An Exploding Diversity of a Unique Class of Compounds

Research and industrial interest in radical C–H activation/radical cross-coupling chemistry has continuously grown over the past few decades. These reactions offer fascinating and unconventional approaches toward connecting molecular fragments with high atom- and step-economy that are often complementary to traditional methods. Success in this area of research was made possible through the development of photocatalysis and first-row transition metal catalysis along with the use of peroxides as radical initiators. This Review provides a brief and concise overview of the current status and latest methodologies using radicals or radical cations as key intermediates produced via radical C–H activation. This Review includes radical addition, radical cascade cyclization, radical/radical cross-coupling, coupling of radicals with M–R groups, and coupling of radical cations with nucleophiles (Nu).

Recent Advances in Radical C-H Activation/Radical Cross-Coupling.

Radicals are an important class of versatile and highly reactive species. Compared with the wide applications of various C-centred radicals, however, the N-radical species including N-centred radicals and radical ions remain largely unexplored due to the lack of convenient methods for their generation. In recent years, visible light photoredox catalysis has emerged as a powerful platform for the generation of various N-radical species and methodology development towards the synthesis of diverse N-containing compounds. In this tutorial review, we highlight recent advances in this rapidly developing area with particular emphases put on the working models and new reaction design.

Visible light photoredox-controlled reactions of N-radicals and radical ions

s a hydrogen atom from the thiol to give hydroperoxide 96 and a thiyl radical, which propagates the chain. Hydroperoxide 96 is reduced in the presence of triphenyl phosphine to give the corresponding alcohol 91. The preference for the formation of cis-3,5-disubstituted 1,2-dioxolanes is in agreement with the Beckwith−Houk transition state model for 5-exo-trig cyclizations. Similarly, the addition of thiophenol onto 5methylhepta-1,3,6-triene 97 under an atmosphere of oxygen led to 1,2-dioxolane 98, isolated in 49% as a single diastereoisomer after treatment with triphenyl phosphine, together with minor amounts of linear alcohols 99 and 100 (Scheme 49, eq b). This reaction is remarkable for a number of reasons. First, the addition of the thiyl radical occurs exclusively at the terminal position of the conjugated diene system and not at the terminal alkene, thus highlighting the higher reactivity of conjugated dienes as compared to isolated alkenes. Second, intermolecular trapping of the resulting allyl radical is reversible and regioselective under these reaction conditions. Because of the reversibility of the reaction between the allyl radical and molecular oxygen, both ratios 1,4/1,2-addition and 1,2dioxolane/linear alcohols strongly depend upon the initial concentration in thiol. Accordingly, the 1,2-dioxolanes were obtained in good yields only in highly diluted solutions. Finally, the 5-exo-trig cyclization occurs in a completely stereoselective manner, with only one of the two diastereomeric peroxyl radical intermediates (101) undergoing cyclization, while the other one (102) either leads to linear alcohol 99 or fragments back the allyl radical (Scheme 49, eq b). The reversible reaction of allyl radicals with molecular oxygen was also demonstrated for carotenoid-derived carbon-centered radical generated by Scheme 47 Scheme 48. Application to the Preparation of Functionalized 1,2,4-Trioxanes Chemical Reviews Review dx.doi.org/10.1021/cr400441m | Chem. Rev. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX X addition of a thiyl radical to the conjugated polyene carotene. This process has been extended to include the more challenging 1,5-dienes, from which six-membered ring endoperoxides can be obtained. Bachi and co-workers applied the thiol−olefin cooxidation process to the total synthesis of antimalarial agent yingzhaosu A (Scheme 50) and its C14epimer, as well as the preparation of a series of active analogues, from readily available limonene 103. The overall process is extremely challenging in this case due to the particular structure of the diene, with the 6-exo-cyclization process being in competition with intermolecular hydrogen atom abstraction from the thiol, and also potentially with intramolecular hydrogen abstraction from the activated allylic position by the reactive oxygen-centered radical. As previously observed, addition of the thiyl radical takes place at the less hindered position, and due to the lack of stereocontrol during the trapping of the resulting carbon-centered radical, peroxyl radical 105 is formed as a 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers (Scheme 50). The latter undergoes 6-exo-trig cyclization to give carbon-centered radical 106. Unlike the initial trapping with molecular oxygen, the 2,3-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system of 106 allows a highly diastereoselective reaction for the second trapping with molecular oxygen from the less hindered face to give 107. Alcohol 104 is then obtained following hydrogen abstraction from the thiol by peroxyl radical 107 and reduction of the resulting hydroperoxide with triphenylphosphine. The yields of endoperoxides remain relatively low (ca. 20−30%, calculated on the diene); however, considering the accessibility and the cost of the reactants (thiophenol, limonene, and oxygen), this approach represents a very attractive access to these structurally complex endoperoxides, some of which exhibit very promising activity for the treatment of malaria. 3.3.2. Intramolecular Trapping of the Carbon-Centered Radical. 3.3.2.a. Fragmentation Reaction: RingOpening of Vinyl Cyclopropanes. The carbon-centered radicals generated by addition of a thiyl radical onto the C C bond of vinylcypropanes have been shown to undergo cyclopropane ring-opening. The resulting radical species can then be trapped by hydrogen abstraction from the thiol. This fragmentation is a very fast process with rate constants in the range 10−10 s−1 (310 K) for most of the cyclopropylcarbinyl radicals, which allows for the fragmentation process to compete favorably with intermolecular reactions, as well as with most intramolecular processes. Alternatively, the carboncentered radical resulting from the β-fragmentation of the cyclopropylmethyl radical can engage further in carbon−carbon bond-forming processes. The allylsulfide moiety allows for the addition of radicals with concomitant release of a thiyl radical, and very elegant processes using only substoichiometric amounts of a source of thiyl radicals have been developed for the rearrangement of vinylcyclopropanes (see section 5.2.1.e). In particular, under nonreducing conditions and in the presence of an external olefin, efficient annulation reactions have been achieved, giving access to polycyclic compounds. The carboncentered radicals generated by the thiol-mediated ring-opening Scheme 49 Scheme 50 Chemical Reviews Review dx.doi.org/10.1021/cr400441m | Chem. Rev. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX Y of vinylcyclopropanes could also be trapped to form a new carbon−heteroatom bond. Here again, annulations taking advantage of the allylsulfide moiety have been developed (see section 5.2.1.e). Landais, Renaud, and co-workers used vinyl cyclopentenes such as 108, easily prepared by monocyclopropanation of silylcyclopentadienes, as radical acceptors for photogenerated thiyl radicals. The reversible addition of the thiyl radical onto the CC bond of 108 leads eventually to cyclopropylcarbinyl radical 110, which undergoes fragmentation to give carboncentered radical 111, stabilized by the neighboring ester group. Hydrogen atom abstraction from the thiol then furnishes cyclopentene 109 and regenerates a thiyl radical that propagates the chain (Scheme 51, eq a). The addition of the thiyl radical at the β-carbon center takes place in a highly stereoselective manner, opposite to the bulky silyl group. The fate of the stabilized carbon-centered radical resulting from the fragmentation process depends upon the reaction conditions. For instance, Naito and co-workers reported the use of vinylcylopropyl oxime ethers such as 112 in domino reactions promoted by a thiol or a disulfide in the presence of triethylborane. The ring-opening of the cyclopropyl moiety is initiated by addition of a thiyl radical onto the terminal position of vinylcyclopropyl oxime ether 112. The stabilized carboncentered radical resulting from the fragmentation process reacts with triethylborane to form a boryl enamine 115 (Scheme 51, eq b). Depending on the reaction conditions, the latter can engage further in a radical oxygenation process, leading eventually to α-hydroxy oxime ether 113 after reduction of peroxyl radical 116 by the thiol (Scheme 51, eq b). Alternatively, 113 can react with aldehydes in an ionic aldol process to give β-hydroxy oxime ethers in a stereoselective manner, as illustrated by the preparation of 117 from 112 (Scheme 51, eq c). In the aforementioned reactions, the allylsulfide moieties generated upon addition of a thiyl radical onto the vinylcyclopropane unit remain intact at the end of the reaction. However, radical reactions taking advantage of the fragmentation of allyl sulfides upon addition of radical species are also well documented. Some examples of intermolecular additions, as well as cyclization and annulation processes, will be described in section 5.2.1.e. 3.3.2.b. Rearrangement and Cyclization of Nonconjugated Dienes. In the addition of thiyl radicals onto nonconjugated dienes, the CC bonds can either react independently or lead to rearrangements through intramolecular trapping of the carbon-centered radical generated in the initial addition step. In many cyclic dienes, addition occurs selectively at the more strained double bond, and products resulting from rearrangements are often observed. For example, the addition of thiophenol to 5-methylene-norbornene led to the exo addition products 118 and 119, together with tricyclic adduct 120. The latter results from the rearrangement of homoallyl radical intermediate 121 into cyclopropylcarbinyl radical 122 (Scheme 52). Similar rearrangements have been observed in norbornadiene derivatives where substitution at C-7 can influence facial selectivity, while substitution of the methylene bridge in 7,7-dimethylnorbornene proved to have no effect in directing the addition of thiophenol. The formation of cyclopropylcarbinyl radical intermediates in norbornadiene derivatives can also lead to other skeletal rearrangements, as illustrated by the addition of thiophenol to hexachloronorbornadiene 123, which results in the formation of 125, beside the expected 1:1 addition product 124 (Scheme 53, eq a). Following addition of the thiyl radical, presumably from the less hindered endo-face, and subsequent 3-exo-trig cyclization onto the neighboring CC bond, cyclopropylcarbinyl radical 126 undergoes fragmentation to give the more stable α-chlorosubScheme 51 Scheme 52 Chemical Reviews Review dx.doi.org/10.1021/cr400441m | Chem. Rev. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX Z stituted carbon-centered radical 127. The latter then abstracts a hydrogen atom from the thiol to give 125 (relative configuration not established) and a thiyl radical, which goes on to propagate the chain. Similar rearrangement was observed i n t h e add i t i on o f t BuSH on to 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 7 hexamethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene. Likewise, Hodgson and co-workers have observed complete skeletal rearrangements in the addition of thiophenol to 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptadienes such as 128 (Scheme 53, eq b). Transa

Thiyl Radicals in Organic Synthesis

Free‐Radical‐Based, Specific Desulfurization of Cysteine: A Powerful Advance in the Synthesis of Polypeptides and Glycopolypeptides

Over the last thirty years organic azides have drawn a great deal of attention as radical traps for carbon- and heteroatom-centered radicals, both in intra- and in intermolecular processes. The resulting intermediates (nitrogen-centered radicals such as triazenyls, aminyls, or even iminyls) can be conveniently employed in the synthesis of a variety of cyclic and acyclic nitrogen-containing compounds.

From azides to nitrogen-centered radicals: applications of azide radical chemistry to organic synthesis.

Approach to Spirocyclohexadienimines and Corresponding Dienones through Radical ipso Cyclization onto Aromatic Azides

An explorative study of the Thiol−Yne Coupling (TYC) reaction has been carried out using an aliphatic (1-octyne) and an aromatic alkyne (phenylacetylene) and two alkanethiols (methyl thioglycolate and N-acetyl-L-cysteine methyl ester). The outcomes of the TYC reactions strongly depend on the experimental conditions (e.g., temperature, solvent, and alkyne/thiol ratio), but these can be properly adjusted to achieve selective production of either mono- or bis-coupling products. With respect to 1-octyne, phenylacetylene undergoes notably easier radical hydrothiolation, further showing a notably higher aptitude for monohydrothiolation exclusive of bis-hydrothiolation. The overall findings were exploited in glycosylation of cysteine derivatives as well as of cysteine-containing peptides. A sugar featuring an arylacetylene moiety gave rise to a true click-reaction, that is, glycosylation of the tripeptide glutathione in its native form, by means of virtually equimolar amounts of reagents. This reaction was succe...

An Insight into the Radical Thiol/Yne Coupling: The Emergence of Arylalkyne-Tagged Sugars for the Direct Photoinduced Glycosylation of Cysteine-Containing Peptides

Matteo Minozzi

Papers

From azides to nitrogen-centered radicals: applications of azide radical chemistry to organic synthesis.

Approach to Spirocyclohexadienimines and Corresponding Dienones through Radical ipso Cyclization onto Aromatic Azides

An Insight into the Radical Thiol/Yne Coupling: The Emergence of Arylalkyne-Tagged Sugars for the Direct Photoinduced Glycosylation of Cysteine-Containing Peptides

Generation and intramolecular reactivity of acyl radicals from alkynylthiol esters under reducing tin-free conditions.

Reaction of azides with dichloroindium hydride: very mild production of amines and pyrrolidin-2-imines through possible indium-aminyl radicals.