A comprehensive computational study of stereoretentive olefin metathesis with Ru-dithiolate catalysts has been performed. We have determined how the dithiolate ligand enforces a side-bound mechanism and how the side-bound mechanism allows for stereochemical control over the forming olefin. We have used density functional theory (DFT) and ligand steric contour maps to elucidate the origins of stereoretentive metathesis with the goal of understanding how to design a new class of E-selective metathesis catalysts.

The Rh(I)-catalyzed allenic Pauson–Khand reaction (APKR) is an efficient, redox-neutral method of synthesizing α-acyloxy cyclopentenones. An enantioselective APKR could provide access to chiral, nonracemic α-acyloxy and α-hydroxy cyclopentenones and their corresponding redox derivatives, such as thapsigargin, a cytotoxic natural product with potent antitumor activity. Rapid scrambling of axial chirality of allenyl acetates in the presence of Rh(I) catalysts enables the conversion of racemic allene to enantiopure cyclopentenone product in a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DyKAT). A combined experimental and computational approach was taken to develop an effective catalytic system to achieve the asymmetric transformation. The optimization of the denticity, and steric and electronic properties of the ancillary ligand (initially (S)-MonoPhos, 58:42 er), afforded a hemilabile bidentate (S)-MonoPhos-alkene-Rh(I) catalyst that provided α-acyloxy cyclopentenone product in up to 14:86 er. Enantioselectivity of the Rh(I)-(S)-MonoPhos-alkene catalyst was rationalized using ligand-substrate steric interactions and distortion energies in the computed transition states. This asymmetric APKR of allenyl acetates is a rare example of a Type I DyKAT reaction of an allene, the first example of DyKAT in a cyclocarbonylation reaction, and the first catalyst-controlled enantioselective APKR.

Removable tridentate directing groups inspired by pincer ligands have been designed to stabilize otherwise kinetically and thermodynamically disfavored 6-membered alkyl palladacycle intermediates. This family of directing groups enables regioselective remote hydrocarbofunctionalization of several synthetically useful alkene-containing substrate classes, including 4-pentenoic acids, allylic alcohols, homoallyl amines, and bis-homoallylamines, under Pd(II) catalysis. In conjunction with previous findings, we demonstrate regiodivergent hydrofunctionalization of 3-butenoic acid derivatives to afford either Markovnikov or anti-Markovnikov addition products depending on directing group choice. Preliminary mechanistic and computational data are presented to support the proposed catalytic cycle.

The current understanding of ligand effects in transition metal catalysis is mostly based on the analysis of catalyst–substrate through-bond and through-space interactions, with the latter commonly considered to be repulsive in nature. The dispersion interaction between the ligand and the substrate, a ubiquitous type of attractive noncovalent interaction, is seldom accounted for in the context of transition-metal-catalyzed transformations. Herein we report a computational model to quantitatively analyze the effects of different types of catalyst–substrate interactions on reactivity. Using this model, we show that in the copper(I) hydride (CuH)-catalyzed hydroamination of unactivated olefins, the substantially enhanced reactivity of copper catalysts based on bulky bidentate phosphine ligands originates from the attractive ligand–substrate dispersion interaction. These computational findings are validated by kinetic studies across a range of hydroamination reactions using structurally diverse phosphine ligands, revealing the critical role of bulky P-aryl groups in facilitating this process.

Site-selective functionalization of hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates is one of the long-standing challenges in chemistry. Using a pair of chiral catalysts, we now can differentiate the most prevalent trans-1,2-diols in pyranoses systematically and predictably. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the key determining factor for the selectivity is the presence or absence of a cation–n interaction between the cation in the acylated catalyst and an appropriate lone pair in the substrate. DFT calculations also provided a predictive model for site-selectivity and this model is validated by various substrates.

The mechanisms of Ni-catalyzed C–H arylation, alkylation, and sulfenylation with N,N-bidentate directing groups are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While the C–H cleavage occurs via the concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) mechanism in all types of reactions, the subsequent C–C and C–X bond formation steps may occur via either oxidative addition to form a Ni(IV) intermediate or radical pathways involving Ni(III) complexes generated from homolytic dissociation of disulfides/peroxides or halide-atom transfer from alkyl halides. DFT calculations revealed that radical mechanisms are preferred in reactions with sterically hindered coupling partners with relatively low bond dissociation energies (BDE) such as dicumyl peroxide, heptafluoroisopropyl iodide and diphenyl disulfide. In contrast, these radical processes are highly disfavored when generating unstable phenyl and primary alkyl radicals. In such cases, the reaction proceeds via an oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism involving a Ni(IV) intermediate. These theoretical insights into the substrate-controlled mechanisms in the C–H functionalizations were employed to investigate a number of experimental phenomena including substituent effects on reactivity, chemo- and regioselectivity and the effects of oxidant in the intermolecular oxidative C–H/C–H coupling reactions.

An exceptionally hindered class of enantiopure NHC ligands has been developed. While racemic forms had previously been utilized, a scalable and practical route to the enantiopure form of this ligand class is described utilizing a Buchwald–Hartwig N,N-diarylation in a highly sterically demanding environment. Using this newly accessible ligand class, nickel-catalyzed enantioselective reductive coupling reactions of aldehydes and alkynes have been developed. These studies illustrate that the newly available NHC ligands are well suited for simultaneous control of regio- and enantioselectivity, even in cases with internal alkynes possessing only very subtle steric differences between two aliphatic substituents. The steric demand of the new ligand class enables a complementary regiochemical outcome compared with previously described enantioselective processes. Using this method, a number of allylic alcohol derivatives were efficiently obtained with high regioselectivity (up to >95:5) and high enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee). The reaction conditions can also be extended to the reaction of aldehydes and allenes, providing silyl-protected allylic alcohol derivatives possessing a terminal methylene substituent. Computational studies have explained the origin of the exceptional steric demand of this ligand class, the basis for enantioselectivity, and the cooperative relationship of the aldehyde, alkyne, and ligand in influencing enantioselectivity.

An intermolecular 1,2-carboamination of unactivated alkenes proceeding via a Pd(II)/Pd(IV) catalytic cycle has been developed. To realize this transformation, a cleavable bidentate directing group is used to control the regioselectivity of aminopalladation and stabilize the resulting organopalladium(II) intermediate, such that oxidative addition to a carbon electrophile outcompetes potential β-hydride elimination. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a broad range of nitrogen nucleophiles and carbon electrophiles are compatible coupling partners in this reaction, affording moderate to high yields. The products of this reaction can be easily converted to free γ-amino acids and γ-lactams, both of which are common structural motifs found in drug molecules and bioactive compounds. Reaction kinetics and DFT calculations shed light on the mechanism of the reaction and explain empirically observed reactivity trends.

Reaction of bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene borane with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate gives 80% yield of a stable borirane (boracyclopropane) formed by formal double hydroboration along with 5% of the (E)-alkenylborane. DFT calculations suggest a mechanism where divergence to the two products occurs after a common initial stage of hydride transfer from the NHC-borane to the acetylenedicarboxylate.

A Ru(II) complex ligated to a quinone-annulated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) was synthesized as a redox-active analogue of the Hoveyda–Grubbs II generation catalyst. The complex exhibited a single reversible reduction with a E1/2 of −0.63 V (vs. SCE), and was successfully reduced and then oxidized with high fidelity using chemical reagents. While the catalyst facilitated a range of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions in its neutral state, its activity was inhibited upon the introduction of a suitable reducing reagent. A series of density functional theory calculations revealed that the differences in catalytic activity may be attributed to the stronger donating ability of the reduced NHC ligand which stabilized a ruthenacyclobutane intermediate and thus suppressed the rate-determining retro-[2 + 2] cycloaddition step of the underlying RCM mechanism.

We report a unified photoredox-catalysis strategy for both hydroxylation and amidation of tertiary and benzylic C–H bonds. Use of hydroxyl perfluorobenziodoxole (PFBl–OH) oxidant is critical for efficient tertiary C–H functionalization, likely due to the enhanced electrophilicity of the benziodoxole radical. Benzylic methylene C–H bonds can be hydroxylated or amidated using unmodified hydroxyl benziodoxole oxidant Bl–OH under similar conditions. An ionic mechanism involving nucleophilic trapping of a carbocation intermediate by H2O or CH3CN cosolvent is presented.

AbstractWe describe the synthetically useful enantioselective addition of Br−CX3 (X=Cl or Br) to terminal olefins to introduce a trihalomethyl group and generate optically active secondary bromides. Computational and experimental evidence supports an asymmetric atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) mechanism in which the stereodetermining step involves outer-sphere bromine abstraction from a [(bisphosphine)RhIIBrCl] complex by a benzylic radical intermediate. This mechanism appears unprecedented in asymmetric catalysis.

AbstractWe describe the synthetically useful enantioselective addition of Br−CX3 (X=Cl or Br) to terminal olefins to introduce a trihalomethyl group and generate optically active secondary bromides. Computational and experimental evidence supports an asymmetric atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) mechanism in which the stereodetermining step involves outer-sphere bromine abstraction from a [(bisphosphine)RhIIBrCl] complex by a benzylic radical intermediate. This mechanism appears unprecedented in asymmetric catalysis.

AbstractThe regioselective conversion of C−H bonds into C−Si bonds is extremely important owing to the natural abundance and non-toxicity of silicon. Classical silylation reactions often suffer from poor functional group compatibility, low atom economy, and insufficient regioselectivity. Herein, we disclose a template-assisted method for the regioselective para silylation of toluene derivatives. A new template was designed, and the origin of selectivity was analyzed experimentally and computationally. An interesting substrate–solvent hydrogen-bonding interaction was observed. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational studies shed light on the reaction mechanism. The synthetic significance of this strategy was highlighted by the generation of a precursor of a potential lipophilic bioisostere of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), various late-stage diversifications, and by mimicking enzymatic transformations.

AbstractThe regioselective conversion of C−H bonds into C−Si bonds is extremely important owing to the natural abundance and non-toxicity of silicon. Classical silylation reactions often suffer from poor functional group compatibility, low atom economy, and insufficient regioselectivity. Herein, we disclose a template-assisted method for the regioselective para silylation of toluene derivatives. A new template was designed, and the origin of selectivity was analyzed experimentally and computationally. An interesting substrate–solvent hydrogen-bonding interaction was observed. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational studies shed light on the reaction mechanism. The synthetic significance of this strategy was highlighted by the generation of a precursor of a potential lipophilic bioisostere of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), various late-stage diversifications, and by mimicking enzymatic transformations.

A dithienylethene-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene-Ru(II) complex was synthesized and found to undergo a reversible photoisomerization which influenced its intrinsic catalytic activity. UV-induced ring-closure enhanced the rate of ring-closing metathesis reactions (kclosed/kopened = 1.4–1.7) and attenuated the rate of ring-opening metathesis polymerizations (kclosed/kopened = 0.56–0.66). Visible light irradiation promoted cycloreversion and restored the initial activity. The ability to switch between the isomeric states of the catalyst was also utilized to modulate the rate of ongoing olefin metathesis reactions via photoirradiation. A computational investigation revealed how steric and electronic effects separately influence the transition states adopted by each form of the catalyst and afforded activation energies that were in agreement with the relative reaction rate constants determined by experiment.

Photoinduced metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate was investigated using several phenothiazine derivatives and other related compounds as photoredox catalysts. The experiments show that all selected catalysts can be involved in the activation step, but not all of them participated efficiently in the deactivation step. The redox properties and the stability of radical cations derived from the catalysts were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. Laser flash photolysis (LFP) was used to determine the lifetime and activity of photoexcited catalysts. Kinetic analysis of the activation reaction according to dissociative electron-transfer (DET) theory suggests that the activation occurs only with an excited state of catalyst. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the structures and stabilities of the radical cation intermediates as well as the reaction energy profiles of deactivation pathways with different photoredox catalysts. Both experiments and calculations suggest that the activation process undergoes a DET mechanism, while an associative electron transfer involving a termolecular encounter (the exact reverse of DET pathway) is favored in the deactivation process. This detailed study provides a deeper understanding of the chemical processes of metal-free ATRP that can aid the design of better catalytic systems. Additionally, this work elucidates several important common pathways involved in synthetically useful organic reactions catalyzed by photoredox catalysts.

The iridium-catalyzed carbonyl-directed hydroarylation of monosubstituted alkenes developed by Bower and co-workers [Crisenza, G. E. M.; McCreanor, N. G.; Bower, J. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 10258–10261] provides an efficient strategy for highly branched-selective hydroarylation of both aryl- and alkyl-substituted alkenes. Density functional theory calculations in the present study revealed that the unique regiochemical control in this reaction is due to an unconventional modified Chalk–Harrod-type mechanism. Instead of the commonly accepted Chalk–Harrod-type mechanism of transition metal-catalyzed hydroarylation that involves C–H oxidative addition, olefin migratory insertion into the Ir–H bond, and C–C reductive elimination, the Ir-catalyzed reaction occurs via migratory insertion of the olefin into the Ir–aryl bond and C–H reductive elimination. The experimentally observed ligand-controlled selectivity is attributed to a combination of electronic and steric effects in the selectivity-determining olefin migratory insertion step. Ligand steric contour maps show that, in reactions with large-bite-angle bisphosphine ligands, such as dFppb, the steric repulsions between the substrate and the aryl substituents on the ligand lead to complete branched selectivity, and the linear selectivity in reactions with small-bite-angle ligands is due to electronic effects that favor 2,1-olefin migratory insertions.Keywords: DFT calculations; hydroarylation; iridium catalyst; mechanism; selectivity

The mechanism, reactivity, regio- and enantioselectivity of the Rh-catalyzed carboacylation of benzocyclobutenones are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The calculations indicate that the selective activation of the relatively unreactive C1–C2 bond in benzocyclobutenone is achieved via initial C1–C8 bond oxidative addition, followed by rhodacycle isomerization via decarbonylation and CO insertion. Analysis of different ligand steric parameters, ligand steric contour maps, and the computed activation barriers revealed the origin of the positive correlation between ligand bite angle and reactivity. The increase of reactivity with bulkier ligands is attributed to the release of ligand–substrate repulsions in the P–Rh–P plane during the rate-determining CO insertion step. The enantioselectivity in reactions with the (R)-SEGPHOS ligand is controlled by the steric repulsion between the C8 methylene group in the substrate and the equatorial phenyl group on the chiral ligand in the olefin migratory insertion step.

A series of second-generation ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts was investigated using a combination of reaction kinetics, X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations in order to determine the relationship between the structure of the chelating o-alkoxybenzylidene and the observed initiation rate. Included in this series were previously reported catalysts containing a variety of benzylidene modifications as well as four new catalysts containing cyclopropoxy, neopentyloxy, 1-adamantyloxy, and 2-adamantyloxy groups. The initiation rates of this series of catalysts were determined using a UV/vis assay. All four new catalysts were observed to be faster-initiating than the corresponding isopropoxy control, and the 2-adamantyloxy catalyst was found to be among the fastest-initiating Hoveyda-type catalysts reported to date. Analysis of the X-ray crystal structures and computed energy-minimized structures of these catalysts revealed no correlation between the Ru–O bond length and Ru–O bond strength. On the other hand, the initiation rate was found to correlate strongly with the computed Ru–O bond strength. This latter finding enables both the rationalization and prediction of catalyst initiation through the calculation of a single thermodynamic parameter in which no assumptions about the mechanism of the initiation step are made.

The mechanism of the copper-catalyzed regioselective ortho C–H cyanation of vinylarenes has been investigated using density functional theory calculations. This C–H cyanation is composed of two discrete catalytic cycles (the copper-catalyzed electrophilic cyanative dearomatization and the subsequent base-catalyzed hydrogen transposition) that furnish the ortho C–H cyanated arenes. The electrophilic cyanation step features a unique six-membered transition state, leading to the formation of the dearomatized intermediate with a high level of site selectivity. Such dearomatization significantly increases the reactivity of the C–H bond, thereby enabling the base-assisted C–H activation in the following steps.Keywords: copper catalysis; cyanation; C−H functionalization; dearomatization; DFT

One of the most widely used methods of preparation of organolithium compounds is by the reductive lithiation of alkyl phenyl thioethers or, usually less conveniently, alkyl halides with either aromatic radical-anions of lithium or lithium metal in the presence of an aromatic electron-transfer catalyst. Here we present results showing that lithium dispersion can achieve reductive lithiation in the absence of the electron-transfer agent. This procedure is more efficient, and surprisingly, the order of reactivity of substrates is reversed depending on whether the electron-transfer agent is present or absent. For example, in the presence of a preformed radical-anion, tert-butyl phenyl sulfide cleaves significantly faster than methyl phenyl sulfide, whereas in the absence of the radical-anion, it is just the opposite. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the exothermicity of the cleavage of the C–S bond in alkyl phenyl thioethers on the lithium surface is dependent on the size of the alkyl group, the smaller the alkyl group the greater the exothermicity. The increased reactivity is attributed to the smaller steric repulsion between the alkyl group and the lithium surface. The methodology includes, but may not be limited to, the lithium dispersion reductive lithiation of phenyl thioethers, alkyl chlorides, acrolein diethyl acetal, and isochroman.

Correction for ‘Photoredox-mediated Minisci C–H alkylation of N-heteroarenes using boronic acids and hypervalent iodine’ by Guo-Xing Li et al., Chem. Sci., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6sc02653b.

A photoredox-mediated Minisci C–H alkylation reaction of N-heteroarenes with alkyl boronic acids is reported. A broad range of primary and secondary alkyl groups can be efficiently incorporated into various N-heteroarenes using [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 as photocatalyst and acetoxybenziodoxole as oxidant under mild conditions. The reaction exhibits excellent substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and offers a broadly applicable method for late-stage functionalization of complex substrates. Mechanistic experiments and computational studies suggest that an intramolecularly stabilized ortho-iodobenzoyloxy radical intermediate might play a key role in this reaction system.