Once considered the 'holy grail' of organometallic chemistry, synthetically useful reactions employing C-H bond activation have increasingly been developed and applied to natural product and drug synthesis over the past decade. The ubiquity and relative low cost of hydrocarbons makes C-H bond functionalization an attractive alternative to classical C-C bond forming reactions such as cross-coupling, which require organohalides and organometallic reagents. In addition to providing an atom economical alternative to standard cross - coupling strategies, C-H bond functionalization also reduces the production of toxic by-products, thereby contributing to the growing field of reactions with decreased environmental impact. In the area of C-C bond forming reactions that proceed via a C-H activation mechanism, rhodium catalysts stand out for their functional group tolerance and wide range of synthetic utility. Over the course of the last decade, many Rh-catalyzed methods for heteroatom-directed C-H bond functionalization have been reported and will be the focus of this review. Material appearing in the literature prior to 2001 has been reviewed previously and will only be introduced as background when necessary. The synthesis of complex molecules from relatively simple precursors has long been a goal for many organic chemists. The ability to selectively functionalize a molecule with minimal pre-activation can streamline syntheses and expand the opportunities to explore the utility of complex molecules in areas ranging from the pharmaceutical industry to materials science. Indeed, the issue of selectivity is paramount in the development of all C-H bond functionalization methods. Several groups have developed elegant approaches towards achieving selectivity in molecules that possess many sterically and electronically similar C-H bonds. Many of these approaches are discussed in detail in the accompanying articles in this special issue of Chemical Reviews. One approach that has seen widespread success involves the use of a proximal heteroatom that serves as a directing group for the selective functionalization of a specific C-H bond. In a survey of examples of heteroatom-directed Rh catalysis, two mechanistically distinct reaction pathways are revealed. In one case, the heteroatom acts as a chelator to bind the Rh catalyst, facilitating reactivity at a proximal site. In this case, the formation of a five-membered metallacycle provides a favorable driving force in inducing reactivity at the desired location. In the other case, the heteroatom initially coordinates the Rh catalyst and then acts to stabilize the formation of a metal-carbon bond at a proximal site. A true test of the utility of a synthetic method is in its application to the synthesis of natural products or complex molecules. Several groups have demonstrated the applicability of C-H bond functionalization reactions towards complex molecule synthesis. Target-oriented synthesis provides a platform to test the effectiveness of a method in unique chemical and steric environments. In this respect, Rh-catalyzed methods for C-H bond functionalization stand out, with several syntheses being described in the literature that utilize C-H bond functionalization in a key step. These syntheses are highlighted following the discussion of the method they employ.

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Rhodium-Catalyzed C-C Bond Formation via Heteroatom-Directed C-H Bond Activation

The direct functionalization of C-H bonds in organic compounds has recently emerged as a powerful and ideal method for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. This Review provides an overview of C-H bond functionalization strategies for the rapid synthesis of biologically active compounds such as natural products and pharmaceutical targets.

C-H bond functionalization: emerging synthetic tools for natural products and pharmaceuticals

Novel reactions that can selectively functionalize carbon-hydrogen bonds are of intense interest to the chemical community because they offer new strategic approaches for synthesis. A very promising 'carbon-hydrogen functionalization' method involves the insertion of metal carbenes and nitrenes into C-H bonds. This area has experienced considerable growth in the past decade, particularly in the area of enantioselective intermolecular reactions. Here we discuss several facets of these kinds of C-H functionalization reactions and provide a perspective on how this methodology has affected the synthesis of complex natural products and potential pharmaceutical agents.

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Catalytic C–H functionalization by metal carbenoid and nitrenoid insertion

The design and implementation of cascade reactions is a challenging facet of organic chemistry, yet one that can impart striking novelty, elegance, and efficiency to synthetic strategies. The application of cascade reactions to natural products synthesis represents a particularly demanding task, but the results can be both stunning and instructive. This Review highlights selected examples of cascade reactions in total synthesis, with particular emphasis on recent applications therein. The examples discussed herein illustrate the power of these processes in the construction of complex molecules and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

Cascade reactions in total synthesis.

Asymmetric multicomponent reactions involve the preparation of chiral compounds by the reaction of three or more reagents added simultaneously. This kind of addition and reaction has some advantages over classic divergent reaction strategies, such as lower costs, time, and energy, as well as environmentally friendlier aspects. All these advantages, together with the high level of stereoselectivity attained in some of these reactions, will force chemists in industry as in academia to adopt this new strategy of synthesis, or at least to consider it as a viable option. The positive aspects as well as the drawbacks of this strategy are discussed in this Review.

Asymmetric multicomponent reactions (amcrs): the new frontier

Recent advances in catalytic intramolecular C-H aminations.

The total synthesis of (−)-colombiasin A (2) and (−)-elisapterosin B (3) has been achieved The key step is a C−H functionalization process, the combined C−H activation/Cope rearrangement, between methyl (E)-2-diazo-3-pentenoate and 1-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalenes When the reaction is catalyzed by dirhodium tetrakis((R)-(N-dodecylbenzenesulfonyl)prolinate), Rh2(R-DOSP)4, an enantiomer differentiation step occurs where one enantiomer of the dihydronaphthalene undergoes the combined C−H activation/Cope rearrangement while the other undergoes cyclopropanation This sequence controls the three key stereocenters in the natural products such that the remainder of the synthesis is feasible using standard chemistry

Combined C-H activation/cope rearrangement as a strategic reaction in organic synthesis: total synthesis of (-)-colombiasin a and (-)-elisapterosin B.

Fortschritte bei katalytischen intramolekularen C‐H‐Aminierungen

Application of a diastereoselective three-component coupling to the bicyclic core of the batzelladine alkaloids is described. The synthesis features the elaboration of glutamic acid by use of Eschenmoser sulfide contraction. An earlier approach is also included, which shows some limitations of dithiane chemistry when applied to the particular compounds required for this target.

Matthew S. Long

Papers

Recent advances in catalytic intramolecular C-H aminations.

Combined C-H activation/cope rearrangement as a strategic reaction in organic synthesis: total synthesis of (-)-colombiasin a and (-)-elisapterosin B.

Fortschritte bei katalytischen intramolekularen C‐H‐Aminierungen

Studies towards the total synthesis of batzelladine A.

Studies towards the total synthesis of Batzelladine A: synthesis of a model pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine