Palladium mono--protected amino acid complexes: experimental validation of the ligand cooperation model in C-H activation.

Mechanistic proposals for the C-H activation reaction enabled by mono--protected amino acid ligands (MPAAs) have been supported by DFT calculations. The direct experimental observation of the ligand-assisted C-H activation has not yet been reported due to the lack of well-defined isolated palladium complexes with MPAAs that can serve as models. In this work, palladium complexes bearing chelating MPAAs (NBu)[Pd(κ-,-AcN-CHR-COO)(CF)py] (Ac = MeC(O); R = H, Me) and [Pd(κ-,-MeNH-CH-COO)(CF)py] have been isolated and characterized.

Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Unprotected Anilines: Chemo- and Regioselectivity Enabled by the Cooperating Ligand [2,2'-Bipyridin]-6(1)-one.

Metal-catalyzed C-H functionalizations on the aryl ring of anilines usually need cumbersome N-protection-deprotection strategies to ensure chemoselectivity. We describe here the Pd-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of unprotected anilines with no competition of the N-arylation product. The ligand [2,2'-bipyridin]-6(1)-one drives the chemoselectivity by kinetic differentiation in the product-forming step, while playing a cooperating role in the C-H cleavage step.

[2,2'-Bipyridin]-6(1 H)-one, a Truly Cooperating Ligand in the Palladium-Mediated C-H Activation Step: Experimental Evidence in the Direct C-3 Arylation of Pyridine.

The ligand [2,2'-bipyridin]-6(1 H)-one (bipy-6-OH) has a strong accelerating effect on the Pd-catalyzed direct arylation of pyridine or arenes. The isolation of relevant intermediates and the study of their decomposition unequivocally show that the deprotonated coordinated ligand acts as a base and assists the cleavage of the C-H bond. Mechanistic work indicates that the direct arylation of pyridine with this ligand occurs through a Pd(0)/Pd(II) cycle.