Catalytic dehydrogenative cross-coupling: forming carbon-carbon bonds by oxidizing two carbon-hydrogen bonds

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Late Transition Metal Catalysis

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed direct functionalization of C-H bonds under oxidative conditions leading to C-C, C-N, and C-O bond formation is reviewed. Various arene substrates bearing nitrogen and oxygen directing groups are covered in their coupling with unsaturated partners such as alkenes and alkynes. The facile construction of C-E (E = C, N, S, or O) bonds makes Rh(III) catalysis an attractive step-economic approach to value-added molecules from readily available starting materials. Comparisons and contrasts between rhodium(III) and palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative coupling are made. The remarkable diversity of structures accessible is demonstrated with various recent examples, with a proposed mechanism for each transformation being briefly summarized (critical review, 138 references).

C–C, C–O and C–N bond formation via rhodium(III)-catalyzed oxidative C–H activation

The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00482

Cu and Cu-Based Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis.

C-H bonds are ubiquitous in organic compounds. It would, therefore, appear that direct functionalization of substrates by activation of C-H bonds would eliminate the multiple steps and limitations associated with the preparation of functionalized starting materials. Regioselectivity is an important issue because organic molecules can contain a wide variety of C-H bonds. The use of a directing group can largely overcome the issue of regiocontrol by allowing the catalyst to come into proximity with the targeted C-H bonds. A wide variety of functional groups have been evaluated for use as directing groups in the transformation of C-H bonds. In 2005, Daugulis reported the arylation of unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds by using 8-aminoquinoline and picolinamide as bidentate directing groups, with Pd(OAc)2 as the catalyst. Encouraged by these promising results, a number of transformations of C-H bonds have since been developed by using systems based on bidentate directing groups. In this Review, recent advances in this area are discussed.

Catalytic Functionalization of C(sp2) ? H and C(sp3) ? H Bonds by Using Bidentate Directing Groups

ConspectusThe possibility of developing new methods for the efficient construction of organic molecules via disconnections other than traditional functional group transformations has driven the interest in direct functionalization of C–H bonds. The ubiquity of C–H bonds makes such transformations attractive, but they also pose several challenges. The first is the reactivity and selectivity of C–H bonds. To achieve this, directing groups (DGs) are often installed that can enhance the effective concentration of the catalyst, leading to thermodynamically stable metallacyclic intermediates. However, the presence of a pendant directing group in the product is often undesirable and unnecessary. This may account for the limitation of applications of C–H functionalization reactions in more common and general uses. Thus, the development of removable or functionalizable directing groups is desirable. Another key problem is that the reactivity of the resulting M–C bond can be low, which may limit the scope of the co...

Substrate activation strategies in rhodium(III)-catalyzed selective functionalization of arenes.

Rhodium and Iridium Complexes of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes via Transmetalation: Structure and Dynamics

An efficient Rh(III)- and Ir(III)-catalyzed, chelation-assisted C–H alkynylation of a broad scope of (hetero)arenes has been developed using hypervalent iodine-alkyne reagents. Heterocycles, N-methoxy imines, azomethine imines, secondary carboxamides, azo compounds, N-nitrosoamines, and nitrones are viable directing groups to entail ortho C–H alkynylation. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions and with controllable mono- and dialkynylation selectivity when both mono- and dialkynylation was observed. Rh(III) and Ir(III) catalysts exhibited complementary substrate scope in this reaction. The synthetic applications of the coupled products have been demonstrated in subsequent derivatization reactions. Some mechanistic studies have been conducted, and two Rh(III) complexes have been established as key reaction intermediates. The current C–H alkynylation system complements those previously reported under gold or palladium catalysis using hypervalent iodine reagents.

Rh(III)- and Ir(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkynylation of Arenes under Chelation Assistance

An overview of reactive gold α-oxo carbenoid intermediates in the gold-catalyzed functionalization of alkynes is presented. Such intermediates can be generated from inter- and intramolecular oxidation of alkynes by nucleophilic oxygen-atom donor groups, such as amine N-oxides, pyridine N-oxides, nitrones, nitro compounds, sulfoxides, and epoxides. These O-atom transfer processes occur by gold-mediated addition-elimination reactions. In catalytic systems, α-oxo carbenoids can undergo nucleophilic attack by imine, arene, and migrating hydride as well as alkyl groups, leading to cascade reactions and the construction of new skeletons. The facile construction of C-E (E=C, N, S, or O) bonds makes it an attractive step-economic approach to value-added molecules from readily available starting materials. The scope, mechanisms, and reactivity of such α-oxo carbenoid species are discussed. The remarkable diversity of structures accessible is demonstrated with various recent examples.

Xingwei Li

Papers

C–C, C–O and C–N bond formation via rhodium(III)-catalyzed oxidative C–H activation

Substrate activation strategies in rhodium(III)-catalyzed selective functionalization of arenes.

Rhodium and Iridium Complexes of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes via Transmetalation: Structure and Dynamics

Rh(III)- and Ir(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkynylation of Arenes under Chelation Assistance

Gold α-Oxo Carbenoids in Catalysis: Catalytic Oxygen-Atom Transfer to Alkynes