Synthesis of Biindene Derivatives via Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions.

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-allylphenyl triflate and related electrophiles with substituted indenes affords biindene derivatives in moderate to good yields with high selectivity for thermodynamically preferred alkene isomers. The transformations involve alkene nucleopalladation with indenyl anions, and we also demonstrate that 2-allylphenyl triflates can be transformed to indenes under similar conditions. The scope of this transformation, along with the mechanism of formation of both indene and biindene products, is described.

Influence of CUREs on STEM retention depends on demographic identities.

Research has shown that undergraduate research experiences can have substantive effects on retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, it is impossible to provide individual research experiences for every undergraduate student, especially at large universities. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have become a common approach to introduce large numbers of students to research.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 1-Alkylidene-2-dialkylaminomethyl Cyclobutane Derivatives via Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions: Influence of Nucleophile and Water on the Reaction Mechanism.

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of 1,5-diene-2-yl triflates with amine nucleophiles affords exomethylenecyclobutanes bearing dialkylaminomethyl groups at C2. The strained carbocyclic products are obtained in moderate to excellent yields, with regioselectivities of up to >95:5 for four-membered ring formation. The mechanism of these reactions, which provides products resulting from -addition to alkenes, differs from related reactions involving malonate nucleophiles that provide -addition products.

Synthesis of 2-Cyanomethyl Indane Derivatives via Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions of Alkyl Nitriles.

The synthesis of indanes bearing substituted cyanomethyl groups at C2 is achieved through Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions between 2-allylphenyl triflate derivatives and alkyl nitriles. Related partially saturated analogues were generated from analogous transformations of alkenyl triflates. The use of a preformed BrettPhosPd(allyl)(Cl) complex as a precatalyst was essential for the success of these reactions.

Regiodivergent Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions for the Construction of Methylene Cyclobutanes and Methylene Cyclopentanes.

Regiodivergent palladium-catalyzed alkene difunctionalization reactions between diethyl malonate and 1,5-dienes bearing a triflate group at C2 are described. Use of tris(2,4-di--butylphenyl)phosphite as a ligand leads to 4--cyclization/functionalization to afford malonate-substituted methylene cyclobutanes. In contrast, the 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene ligand provides methylene cyclopentanes via 5--cyclization/functionalization.

Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Diamination Reactions with -Benzoylhydroxylamine Electrophiles: Evidence Supporting a Pd(II/IV) Catalytic Cycle, the Role of 2,4-Pentanedione Derivatives as Ligands, and Expanded Substrate Scope.

This article describes continued studies on Pd-catalyzed alkene diamination reactions between -allylguanidines or ureas and -benzoylhydroxylamine derivatives, which serve as N-centered electrophiles. The transformations generate cyclic guanidines and ureas bearing dialkylaminomethyl groups in moderate to good yield. We describe new mechanistic experiments that have led to a revised mechanistic hypothesis that involves a key oxidative addition of the electrophile to a Pd complex, followed by reductive elimination from Pd to form the alkyl carbon-nitrogen bond.

Pd-Catalyzed C-C, C-N, and C-O Bond-Forming Difunctionalization Reactions of Alkenes Bearing Tethered Aryl/Alkenyl Triflates.

Over the past few years our group has described a new type of alkene difunctionalization reaction in which aryl or alkenyl triflates bearing tethered alkenes are coupled with various nucleophiles to afford carbocyclic products. The products are formed in moderate to good chemical yield, with generally high levels of stereoselectivity. Our progress to date in this area, which includes reactions of amine, alcohol, enolate, and indole nucleophiles, is described in this review.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions.

The synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via palladium-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions between aryl/alkenyl halides/triflates and alkenes bearing pendant cyclic sulfamides and ureas is described. The substrates for these reactions are generated in 3-5 steps from commercially available materials, and products are obtained in good yield with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the sulfamide alkene addition is consistent with a mechanism involving -aminopalladation of the alkene, whereas the stereochemical outcome of the urea alkene addition is consistent with a -aminopalladation mechanism.

Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions of Enolates for the Synthesis of Substituted Bicyclic Cyclopentanes.

Palladium-catalyzed alkene difunctionalization reactions between alkenes bearing tethered aryl or alkenyl triflates and enolate nucleophiles are described. The transformations form two C-C bonds, a ring, and up to two stereocenters, while producing substituted cyclopentane derivatives that contain appended carbonyl functionality. Products are formed with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity, and formation of sterically congested bonds between quaternary carbon atoms is feasible.

Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Difunctionalization Reactions of Malonate Nucleophiles: Synthesis of Substituted Cyclopentanes via Alkene Aryl-Alkylation and Akenyl-Alkylation.

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of malonate nucleophiles with alkenes bearing tethered aryl or alkenyl triflates is described. These alkene difunctionalization reactions afford malonate-substituted cyclopentanes that contain fused aryl or cycloalkenyl rings. The transformations generate a five-membered ring, two C-C bonds, and provide products bearing up to three stereocenters with good chemical yield and generally high diastereoselectivity.

Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Carboheteroarylation Reactions for the Synthesis of 3-Cyclopentylindole Derivatives.

The Pd-catalyzed alkene carboheteroarylation of aryl and alkenyl triflate electrophiles bearing pendant alkenes with heteroaromatic nucleophiles affords substituted carbocycles with 3-indolyl or 3-pyrrolyl groups. The products are obtained in moderate to good yields, and the use of alkenyl triflate substrates produces products with high diastereoselectivities. The transformation is believed to proceed via a Friedel-Crafts-like reaction between the heteroaromatic nucleophile and an intermediate electrophilic palladium complex.

A Cross-Metathesis/Aza-Michael Reaction Strategy for the Synthesis of Cyclic and Bicyclic Ureas.

The synthesis of cyclic and bicyclic ureas via a ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis / aza-Michael reaction strategy between protected alkenyl ureas and Michael acceptors is described. The substrates for these reactions are generated in 1-3 steps from commercially available materials, and products are formed in moderate yield with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity.

Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Diamination Reactions of Nitrogen Electrophiles: Synthesis of Cyclic Guanidines and Ureas Bearing Dialkylaminomethyl Groups.

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of N-allylguanidines or N-allylureas with O-benzoylhydroxylamine derivatives affords cyclic guanidines or cyclic ureas bearing dialkylaminomethyl groups. The desired products are obtained in good yield, and substrates bearing substituents at the allylic position are transformed with moderate diastereoselectivity. The mechanism of these reactions appears to involve anti-aminopalladation of the alkene, followed by a rare spC-spN bond-forming reductive elimination from an alkylpalladium complex that contains β-hydrogen atoms.

Recent Developments in Pd(0)-Catalyzed Alkene Carboheterofunctionalization Reactions.

This review summarizes recent developments in palladium-catalyzed alkene carboalkoxylation and carboamination reactions. New synthetic methods that have been reported in the past four years are described, along with mechanistic issues and the influence of mechanism on product stereochemistry. The applications of these transformations to the synthesis of natural products and other biologically relevant compounds are also discussed.

Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Carboalkoxylation Reactions of Phenols and Alcohols for the Synthesis of Carbocycles.

Intermolecular alkene difunctionalization reactions between terminal alkenes bearing a pendant aryl or alkenyl triflate electrophile and exogenous alcohol or phenol nucleophiles are described. These transformations afford substituted indanyl or alkylidenecyclopentyl ethers in high yield with excellent diastereoselectivity. The transformations proceed through intermolecular capture of an intermediate [Pd(II)-alkene][OTf] complex by the alcohol or phenol nucleophile.

Synthesis of Cyclic Guanidines Bearing N-Arylsulfonyl and N-Cyano Protecting Groups via Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions.

Palladium-catalyzed carboamination reactions of N-allylguanidines bearing cleavable N-cyano or N-arylsulfonyl protecting groups are described. The reactions afford cyclic guanidine products in good yield, and transformations of substrates bearing internal alkenes proceed with high diastereoselectivity. Deuterium labeling studies indicate these transformations proceed via anti-aminopalladation pathways.

Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans via the Palladium Catalyzed Carboalkoxylation of 2-Allylphenols.

A new Pd-catalyzed alkene carboalkoxylation strategy for the preparation of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans is described. This method effects the coupling of readily available 2-allylphenol derivatives with aryl triflates to generate a wide range of functionalized 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans in good yields and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1). Use of newly developed reaction conditions that promote -heteropalladation of the alkene is essential in order to generate products in high yield.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Amino-Substituted Carbocycles by Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions.

Amino-substituted alkylidenecyclopentanes were synthesized through a stereoselective intermolecular Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reaction between alkenyl triflates bearing a pendant alkene and exogenous amine nucleophiles. The reactions are effective with a range of different substrate combinations, and proceed with generally high diastereoselectivity. Use of (S)-tBuPhox as the ligand in reactions of achiral substrates provides enantioenriched products with up to 98.

Synthesis of Substituted γ- and δ-Lactams via Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions.

The synthesis of substituted γ- and δ-lactams via palladium-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions between aryl halides and alkenes bearing pendant amides is described. The substrates for these reactions are generated in 1-3 steps from commercially available materials, and products are obtained in good yield with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the alkene addition is consistent with a mechanism involving anti-aminopalladation of the alkene.

Synthesis of Cyclic Guanidines via Silver-Catalyzed Intramolecular Alkene Hydroamination Reactions of N-Allylguanidines.

The silver-catalyzed hydroamination of tosyl-protected N-allylguanidines is described. These reactions provide substituted cyclic guanidines in high yields. The reactions are amenable to the construction of quaternary stereocenters as well as both monocyclic and bicyclic guanidine products.

Asymmetric Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions for the Synthesis of Cyclic Sulfamides.

The synthesis of cyclic sulfamides by enantioselective Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions between N-allylsulfamides and aryl or alkenyl bromides is described. High levels of asymmetric induction (up to 95:5 e.r.

Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions of Electron-Poor Nitrogen Nucleophiles.

Modified reaction conditions that facilitate Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions of electron-deficient nitrogen nucleophiles are reported. Pent-4-enylamine derivatives bearing -tosyl or -trifluoroacetyl groups are coupled with aryl triflates to afford substituted pyrrolidines in good yield. These reactions proceed via a mechanism involving -aminopalladation of the alkene, which differs from previously reported analogous reactions of -aryl and -boc pentenylamines.

Development of Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Alkene Carboalkoxylation Reactions for the Synthesis of Tetrahydrofurans.

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of γ-hydroxyalkenes with aryl bromides affords enantiomerically enriched 2-(arylmethyl)tetrahydrofuran derivatives in good yield and up to 96:4 e.r. This transformation was achieved through the development of a new TADDOL/2-arylcyclohexanol-derived chiral phosphite ligand.

Aza-Wittig Rearrangements of N-Benzyl and N-Allyl Glycine Methyl Esters. Discovery of a Surprising Cascade Aza-Wittig Rearrangement/Hydroboration Reaction.

Treatment of N-(arylmethyl)-N-aryl or N-allyl-N-aryl glycine methyl ester derivatives with (n)Bu2BOTf and (i)Pr2NEt effects an aza-Wittig rearrangement that provides N-aryl phenylalanine methyl ester derivatives and N-aryl allylglycine methyl ester derivatives, respectively, in good yield with moderate to good diastereoselectivity. Under similar conditions, analogous substrates bearing N-carbonyl groups are converted to 1,4,2-oxazaborole derivatives. Additionally, N-allyl-N-aryl glycine methyl ester derivatives subjected to similar conditions at elevated temperatures undergo an aza-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, followed by a subsequent hydroboration oxidation reaction, to afford substituted amino alcohol products.

Asymmetric Pd-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination Reactions for the Synthesis of 2-Aminoindane Derivatives.

A new type of Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reaction that provides direct access to enantioenriched 2-aminoindanes from 2-allylphenyltriflate derivatives and aliphatic amines is described. A catalyst generated in situ from Pd(OAc)2 and (S)-tert-butylPHOX provides the functionalized carbocycles in good yield with up to >99:1 er. The transformations occur via a key anti-aminopalladation that involves intermolecular attack of an amine nucleophile on an arylpalladium alkene complex.