Hydrosilyl ethers, generated in situ by the dehydrogenative silylation of cyclopropylmethanols with diethylsilane, undergo asymmetric, intramolecular silylation of cyclopropyl C−H bonds in high yields and with high enantiomeric excesses in the presence of a rhodium catalyst derived from a rhodium precursor and the bisphosphine (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS. The resulting enantioenriched oxasilolanes are suitable substrates for the Tamao–Fleming oxidation to form cyclopropanols with conservation of the ee value from the C−H silylation. Preliminary mechanistic data suggest that C−H cleavage is likely to be the turnover-limiting and enantioselectivity-determining step.

We report the regioselective and enantioselective formal hydroamination of unsymmetrical internal alkenes catalyzed by a copper catalyst ligated by DTBM-SEGPHOS. The regioselectivity of the reaction is controlled by the electronic effects of ether, ester, and sulfonamide groups in the homoallylic position. The observed selectivity underscores the influence of inductive effects of remote substituents on the selectivity of catalytic processes occurring at hydrocarbyl groups, and the method provides direct access to various 1,3-aminoalcohol derivatives with high enantioselectivity.

The asymmetric alkylation of acyclic ketones is a longstanding challenge in organic synthesis. Reported herein are diastereoselective and enantioselective allylic substitutions with acyclic α-alkoxy ketones catalyzed by a metallacyclic iridium complex to form products with contiguous stereogenic centers derived from the nucleophile and electrophile. These reactions occur between allyl methyl carbonates and unstabilized copper(I) enolates generated in situ from acyclic α-alkoxy ketones. The resulting products can be readily converted into enantioenriched tertiary alcohols and tetrahydrofuran derivatives without erosion of enantiomeric purity.

Hydrosilyl ethers, generated in situ by the dehydrogenative silylation of cyclopropylmethanols with diethylsilane, undergo asymmetric, intramolecular silylation of cyclopropyl C−H bonds in high yields and with high enantiomeric excesses in the presence of a rhodium catalyst derived from a rhodium precursor and the bisphosphine (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS. The resulting enantioenriched oxasilolanes are suitable substrates for the Tamao–Fleming oxidation to form cyclopropanols with conservation of the ee value from the C−H silylation. Preliminary mechanistic data suggest that C−H cleavage is likely to be the turnover-limiting and enantioselectivity-determining step.

We report the chemo- and regioselective hydrogenolysis of the C−O bonds in di-ortho-substituted diaryl ethers under the catalysis of a supported nickel catalyst. The catalyst comprises heterogeneous nickel particles supported on activated carbon and furnishes arenes and phenols in high yields without hydrogenation. The high thermal stability of the embedded metal particles allows C−O bond cleavage to occur in highly substituted diaryl ether units akin to those in lignin. Preliminary mechanistic experiments show that this catalyst undergoes sintering less readily than previously reported catalyst particles that form from a solution of [Ni(cod)₂].

We report the chemo- and regioselective hydrogenolysis of the C−O bonds in di-ortho-substituted diaryl ethers under the catalysis of a supported nickel catalyst. The catalyst comprises heterogeneous nickel particles supported on activated carbon and furnishes arenes and phenols in high yields without hydrogenation. The high thermal stability of the embedded metal particles allows C−O bond cleavage to occur in highly substituted diaryl ether units akin to those in lignin. Preliminary mechanistic experiments show that this catalyst undergoes sintering less readily than previously reported catalyst particles that form from a solution of [Ni(cod)₂].

A method for the trifluoromethylation of arylsilanes is reported. The reaction proceeds with [(phen)CuCF₃] as the CF₃ source under mild, oxidative conditions with high functional-group compatibility. This transformation complements prior trifluoromethylation of arenes in several ways. Most important, this method converts arylsilanes formed by the silylation of aryl C−H bonds to trifluoromethylarenes, thereby allowing the conversion of arenes to trifluoromethylarenes. The unique capabilities of the reported method are demonstrated by the conversion of a C−H bond into a C−CF₃ bond in active pharmaceutical ingredients which do not undergo this overall transformation by alternative functionalization processes, including a combination of borylation and trifluoromethylation.

The asymmetric alkylation of acyclic ketones is a longstanding challenge in organic synthesis. Reported herein are diastereoselective and enantioselective allylic substitutions with acyclic α-alkoxy ketones catalyzed by a metallacyclic iridium complex to form products with contiguous stereogenic centers derived from the nucleophile and electrophile. These reactions occur between allyl methyl carbonates and unstabilized copper(I) enolates generated in situ from acyclic α-alkoxy ketones. The resulting products can be readily converted into enantioenriched tertiary alcohols and tetrahydrofuran derivatives without erosion of enantiomeric purity.

A copper-catalyzed coupling of aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl iodides with α-silyldifluoroamides is reported. The reaction forms α,α-difluoro-α-aryl amides from electron-rich, electron-poor, and sterically hindered aryl iodides in high yield and tolerates a variety of functional groups. The aryldifluoroamide products can be transformed further to provide access to a diverse array of difluoroalkylarenes, including compounds of potential biological interest.

We report the regioselective and enantioselective formal hydroamination of unsymmetrical internal alkenes catalyzed by a copper catalyst ligated by DTBM-SEGPHOS. The regioselectivity of the reaction is controlled by the electronic effects of ether, ester, and sulfonamide groups in the homoallylic position. The observed selectivity underscores the influence of inductive effects of remote substituents on the selectivity of catalytic processes occurring at hydrocarbyl groups, and the method provides direct access to various 1,3-aminoalcohol derivatives with high enantioselectivity.

A method for the trifluoromethylation of arylsilanes is reported. The reaction proceeds with [(phen)CuCF₃] as the CF₃ source under mild, oxidative conditions with high functional-group compatibility. This transformation complements prior trifluoromethylation of arenes in several ways. Most important, this method converts arylsilanes formed by the silylation of aryl C−H bonds to trifluoromethylarenes, thereby allowing the conversion of arenes to trifluoromethylarenes. The unique capabilities of the reported method are demonstrated by the conversion of a C−H bond into a C−CF₃ bond in active pharmaceutical ingredients which do not undergo this overall transformation by alternative functionalization processes, including a combination of borylation and trifluoromethylation.

A copper-catalyzed coupling of aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl iodides with α-silyldifluoroamides is reported. The reaction forms α,α-difluoro-α-aryl amides from electron-rich, electron-poor, and sterically hindered aryl iodides in high yield and tolerates a variety of functional groups. The aryldifluoroamide products can be transformed further to provide access to a diverse array of difluoroalkylarenes, including compounds of potential biological interest.

The nickel-catalyzed amination of aryl chlorides to form primary arylamines occurs with ammonia or ammonium sulfate and a well-defined single-component nickel(0) precatalyst containing a Josiphos ligand and an η²-bound benzonitrile ligand. This system also catalyzes the coupling of aryl chlorides with gaseous amines in the form of their hydrochloride salts.

The nickel-catalyzed amination of aryl chlorides to form primary arylamines occurs with ammonia or ammonium sulfate and a well-defined single-component nickel(0) precatalyst containing a Josiphos ligand and an η²-bound benzonitrile ligand. This system also catalyzes the coupling of aryl chlorides with gaseous amines in the form of their hydrochloride salts.

We report Ir-catalyzed, enantioselective allylic substitution reactions of unstabilized silyl enolates derived from α,β-unsaturated ketones. Asymmetric allylic substitution of a variety of allylic carbonates with silyl enolates gave allylated products in 62–94 % yield with 90–98 % ee and >20:1 branched-to-linear selectivity. The synthetic utility of this method was illustrated by the short synthesis of an anticancer agent, TEI-9826.

Reported herein is the iridium-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective allylic substitution reactions of unstabilized silyl dienolates derived from dioxinones. Asymmetric allylic substitution of a variety of allylic trichloroethyl carbonates with these silyl dienolates gave γ-allylated products selectively in 60–84 % yield and 90–98 % ee.

We report Ir-catalyzed, enantioselective allylic substitution reactions of unstabilized silyl enolates derived from α,β-unsaturated ketones. Asymmetric allylic substitution of a variety of allylic carbonates with silyl enolates gave allylated products in 62–94 % yield with 90–98 % ee and >20:1 branched-to-linear selectivity. The synthetic utility of this method was illustrated by the short synthesis of an anticancer agent, TEI-9826.

Reported herein is an iridium-catalyzed, regioselective silylation of the aromatic CH bonds of benzylamines and the benzylic CH bonds of 2,N-dialkylanilines. In this process, (hydrido)silyl amines, generated in situ by dehydrogenative coupling of benzylamine or aniline with diethylsilane, undergo selective silylation at the CH bond γ to the amino group. The products of this silylation are suitable for subsequent oxidation, halogenation, and cross-coupling reactions to deliver benzylamine and arylamine derivatives.

Although chemical and enzymatic catalysts have been combined, reactions in which an organometallic catalyst and a metalloenzyme work cooperatively to create products, which cannot be generated with either catalyst alone or in comparable yields by sequential reactions of the two catalysts, have not been reported. Such reactions are challenging to achieve, in part because the milieu in which these catalysts operate are typically different. Herein, two classes of catalysts are demonstrated to react cooperatively in the same system. Combination of a metathesis catalyst and a P450 enzyme lead to a dynamic equilibration of alkenes and a selective epoxidation of the cross-metathesis products. These results show the potential of combining the two classes of catalysts for synthetic transformations.

Reported herein is the iridium-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective allylic substitution reactions of unstabilized silyl dienolates derived from dioxinones. Asymmetric allylic substitution of a variety of allylic trichloroethyl carbonates with these silyl dienolates gave γ-allylated products selectively in 60–84 % yield and 90–98 % ee.

Reported herein is an iridium-catalyzed, regioselective silylation of the aromatic CH bonds of benzylamines and the benzylic CH bonds of 2,N-dialkylanilines. In this process, (hydrido)silyl amines, generated in situ by dehydrogenative coupling of benzylamine or aniline with diethylsilane, undergo selective silylation at the CH bond γ to the amino group. The products of this silylation are suitable for subsequent oxidation, halogenation, and cross-coupling reactions to deliver benzylamine and arylamine derivatives.

The insertion of an unsaturated ligand into a MC or MH bond proceeds through migratory insertion, a fundamental organometallic reaction. Recent literature documents evidence of the migratory insertion of alkenes into an MO and MN bonds for alkene alkoxylation and alkene amination reactions, respectively. Herein we provide an overview of the literature and a perspective on how these recent experiments relate to classic experiments on CO and CN bond formation with alkene complexes of the late transition metals.

Die Insertion ungesättigter Liganden in M-C- oder M-H-Bindungen verläuft über eine migratorische Insertion, die eine fundamentale metallorganische Reaktion ist. Jüngste Berichte bestätigen migratorische Insertionen von Alkenen in M-O- und M-N-Bindungen im Verlauf von Alkenalkoxylierungen bzw. Alkenaminierungen. Wir geben hier einen Überblick über den Stand der Literatur und wollen außerdem betrachten, wie diese jüngsten Studien mit klassischen Experimenten der Bildung von C-O- und C-N-Bindungen mit Alkenkomplexen später Übergangsmetalle zusammenhängen.