Two complementary catalytic systems are reported for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and iodoalkynes. These are based on two commercially available/readily available copper complexes, [CuCl(IPr)] or [CuI(PPh3)3], which are active at low metal loadings (PPh3 system) or in the absence of any other additive (IPr system). These systems were used for the first reported mechanistic studies on this particular reaction. An experimental/computational-DFT approach allowed to establish that (1) some iodoalkynes might be prone to dehalogenation under copper catalysis conditions and, more importantly, (2) two distinct mechanistic pathways are likely to be competitive with these catalysts, either through a copper(III) metallacycle or via direct π-activation of the starting iodoalkyne.Keywords: azide; click chemistry; copper; cycloaddition; iodotriazole

Immobilised [Cu(NHC)] catalysts are reported for the preparation of 1,2,3-triazoles. In addition to showing outstanding catalytic activity, the catalyst systems are easy to prepare and can be recycled many times.

The discovery of copper(I) species as excellent catalysts for the regioselective cycloaddition reactions of azides and alkynes served as proof-of-concept of the importance of Click chemistry and opened a broad field of research that has found numerous ramifications in biochemistry, materials and medicinal science, for instance. The use of ligands in this context not only serves to stabilize the oxidation state of copper, but has also been shown to increase and modulate its reactivity. Still, efforts focused on developing more efficient catalytic systems for this transformation remain limited. Herein, the catalytic activities of ligated copper systems are reviewed in a way intended inspirational for further developments.

A careful methodological study revealed a true Click catalytic system based on commercially available [CuBr(PPh3)3]. This system is active at room temperature, with 0.5 mol % [Cu] (or less), in the absence of any additive, and it does not require any purification step to isolate pure triazoles.

The preparation of novel phosphinite- and phosphonite-bearing copper(I) complexes of the general formula [CuX(L)] is reported. These compounds, which remain scarce in the literature, could be prepared using readily available starting materials and were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. These complexes, together with their known phosphine and phosphite analogues, were then applied to the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and alkynes, to find that the new complexes displayed the best activities. Full optimization of the reaction conditions resulted in a noteworthy Click catalytic system, active under very mild reaction conditions in the absence of any additive and using low metal loadings.

•A novel [(NHC)PdII] unit has been immobilised on silica coated nanoparticles.•Good activity shown in Suzuki-Miyaura and chloroarene dehalogenation reactions.•Pd-mediated transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds is demonstratedA novel NHC–palladium(II) (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complex and its immobilised version have been prepared and fully characterised. Optimisation studies led to good catalytic activities in Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling and chloroarene dehalogenation reactions. Furthermore, the unexpected palladium-mediated transfer hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound is reported.Download full-size image

Immobilised [Cu(NHC)] catalysts are reported for the preparation of 1,2,3-triazoles. In addition to showing outstanding catalytic activity, the catalyst systems are easy to prepare and can be recycled many times.

The discovery of copper(I) species as excellent catalysts for the regioselective cycloaddition reactions of azides and alkynes served as proof-of-concept of the importance of Click chemistry and opened a broad field of research that has found numerous ramifications in biochemistry, materials and medicinal science, for instance. The use of ligands in this context not only serves to stabilize the oxidation state of copper, but has also been shown to increase and modulate its reactivity. Still, efforts focused on developing more efficient catalytic systems for this transformation remain limited. Herein, the catalytic activities of ligated copper systems are reviewed in a way intended inspirational for further developments.