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Gaining more insight into the lignin hydrogenolysis mechanism is of great importance for developing next-generation catalysts and regulating product distribution because lignin is the only renewabl...

Remote C-H functionalization at C5 is the most sparingly observed selectivity in the functionalization of indole templates. Herein, we reported that the combination of a AgSbF6 catalyst and phenyliodine diacetate oxidation enabled the C-H selenylation at the C5 position of indole scaffolds in a selective version, thus leading to the formation of a wide scope of 5-selenylated indole derivatives, which are otherwise difficult to prepare. Mechanistic studies indicated that current transformation follows a radical process, and the tethered C3 pivaloyl group on indole scaffolds plays roles in both blocking the active C3 position and manipulating the electronic affinity of the arenes.

Substantial attention has been given to depolymerization of lignin into monomeric phenols in recent years because lignin is a renewable and CO2-netural aromatic resource. Recent results indicated t...

Lignin, which is biosynthesized through oxidative radical polymerization from primary monolignols during plant growth, represents the most abundant source of renewable aromatic resources. The searc...

Lignin represents the most abundant source of renewable aromatic resources, and the depolymerization of lignin has been identified as a prominent challenge to produce low-molecular-mass aromatic chemicals. Herein, we report a nanostructured MoOx/CNT, which can serve as an efficient catalyst in hydrogenolysis of enzymatic mild acidolysis lignins (EMALs) derived from various lignocellulosic biomass, thus giving monomeric phenols in high yields (up to 47 wt %). This catalyst showed high selectivity toward phenolic compounds having an unsaturated substituent, because the cleavage of C–O bonds in β-O-4 units is prior to reduction of double bonds by MoOx/CNT under a H2 atmosphere, which was confirmed by examination of lignin model compound reactions. The effects of some key parameters such as the influence of solvent, temperature, reaction time, and catalyst recyclability were also examined in view of monomer yields and average molecular weight. This method constitutes an economically responsible pathway for li...

The asymmetric C–H annulation of O-pivaloyl 1-indolehydroxamic acid with donor/acceptor diazo compounds has been achieved for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, by using a rhodium catalyst embedded in a chiral binaphthyl backbone. This protocol constitutes a straightforward route for the synthesis of a new family of 1,2-dihydro-3H-imidazo[1,5-a]indol-3-one derivatives having a quaternary carbon stereocenter in high yields and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98:2 er).

The possibility of developing new methods for the efficient construction of organic molecules via disconnections other than traditional functional group transformations has driven the interest in direct functionalization of C-H bonds. The ubiquity of C-H bonds makes such transformations attractive, but they also pose several challenges. The first is the reactivity and selectivity of C-H bonds. To achieve this, directing groups (DGs) are often installed that can enhance the effective concentration of the catalyst, leading to thermodynamically stable metallacyclic intermediates. However, the presence of a pendant directing group in the product is often undesirable and unnecessary. This may account for the limitation of applications of C-H functionalization reactions in more common and general uses. Thus, the development of removable or functionalizable directing groups is desirable. Another key problem is that the reactivity of the resulting M-C bond can be low, which may limit the scope of the coupling partners and hence limit the reaction patterns of C-H activation reactions. While the first Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of arenes was reported only 7 years ago, significant progress has been made in this area in the past few years. We began our studies in this area in 2010, and we and others have demonstrated that diversified catalytic functionalization of arenes can be realized using Cp*Rh(III) complexes with high reactivity, stability, and functional group compatibility. This Account describes our efforts to solve some of these challenges using Rh(III) catalysis. We fulfilled our design and activation of the arene substrates by taking advantage of the nucleophilicity, electrophilicity, oxidizing potential, and properties of a participating ligand of the directing groups when the arenes are coupled with relatively reactive unsaturated partners such as alkenes and alkynes. These in situ funtionalizable roles of the DG allowed extensive chemical manipulation of the initial coupled product, especially in the construction of a diverse array of heterocycles. In the coupling of arenes with polar coupling partners, the polar Rh(III)-C(aryl) bond showed higher reactivity as both an organometallic reagent and a nucleophilic aryl source. The polar coupling partners were accordingly activated by virtue of umpolung, ring strain, and rearomatization. All of these transformations have been made possible by integration of the higher reactivity, stability, and compatibility of Rh(III)-C bonds into catalytic systems. We have demonstrated that to date some of these transformations can be achieved only under rhodium catalysis. In addition, by means of stoichiometric reactions, we have gained mechanistic insights into the interactions between the Rh-C bond and the other coupling partners, which have opened new avenues in future direct C-H functionalization reactions.

Cationic half-sandwich scandium alkyl complexes bearing monocyclopentadienyl ligands embedded in chiral binaphthyl backbones act as excellent catalysts for the enantioselective C-H bond addition of pyridines to various 1-alkenes, leading to formation of a variety of enantioenriched alkylated pyridine derivatives in high yields and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98:2 er).

Palladium(II) can catalyze the oxidative coupling of tert-butyl 2-alkynylbenzoates with olefins such as acrylates and styrenes, leading to isocoumarines. The reaction was carried out under simple aerobic conditions, and in most cases, high selectivity has been attained.

Selective synthesis of quinolines has been achieved via oxidative annulation of functionalized pyridines with two alkyne molecules under Rh(III)-catalyzed cascade C-H activation of pyridines using Cu(OAc)(2) as an oxidant. The selectivity of this reaction is oxidant-dependent, particularly on the anion of the oxidant.

Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions between benzamides or heteroaryl carboxamides and olefins have been developed. The vinylation product can further undergo a Michael reaction leading to γ-lactam in the case of electron-withdrawing olefins.

[RhCp*Cl(2)](2) (1-2 mol %) can catalyze the oxidative coupling of N-aryl-2-aminopyridines with alkynes and arylates to give N-(2-pyridyl)indoles and N-(2-pyridyl)quinolones, respectively, using Cu(OAc)(2) as an oxidant. Coupling with styrenes gave mono- and/or disubstituted olefination products.

Catalytic oxidative coupling between acrylamides and alkynes was achieved using 0.5 mol % loading of [RhCp*Cl(2)](2) with Cu(OAc)(2) as an oxidant. 2-Pyridones, iminoesters, and substituted indoles could be obtained as a result of the electronic and steric effects of the substituents in the acrylamides.

A methodology for the high yield and facile synthesis of isoquinolones from benzamides and alkynes via the oxidative ortho C-H activation of benzamides has been developed. Ag(2)CO(3) proved to be an optimal oxidant when MeCN was used as a solvent, and [RhCp*Cl(2)](2) was utilized as an efficient catalyst. Both N-alkyl and N-aryl secondary benzamides can be applied as effective substrates. Furthermore, primary benzamides react with two alkyne units, leading to tricyclic products via double C-H activation and oxidative coupling. The reactivity of the structurally related 1-hydroxyisoquinoline was also demonstrated, where both N- and O-containing rhodacyclic intermediates can be generated, leading to the construction of different O- or N-containing heterocycles.

Neutral and cationic Pd(II) and Ni(II) OCO-type pincer complexes have been synthesized from the metalation of 1,3-dinitrones via C−H or C−Br bond activation using Pd(0), Pd(II), and Ni(0) starting materials. In each complex, the two six-membered metallacycles are non-coplanar and atropisomerization proceeds with a low barrier. Palladium dinitrone complexes have been shown as active catalysts for Heck couplings and the related Ni complex for Kumada reactions with turnover numbers up to 950 000.

A series of iridium(III) hydride complexes of chelating pyridine-based N-heterocyclic carbenes (py-NHCs) and remote N-heterocyclic carbenes (remote py-NHCs) were synthesized as stable products from the C-H oxidative addition reactions of pyridine-tethered pyridinium halides and [Ir(COD)(2)](+). X-ray crystal structures of representative iridium py-NHC and remote py-NHC complexes were determined and in all cases mutual cis orientations of the halide and hydride ligands were observed in the solid state. In the solution phase, the cis isomer was observed as the only product for each iridium(III) py-NHC complex, whereas both cis and trans isomers have been observed as equilibration mixtures for iridium(III) remote py-NHC complexes. No beta-insertion of the hydride into a C=C bond of the COD unit of iridium(III) py-NHC hydride complexes was observed, and theoretical studies indicate that this step is thermodynamically unfavorable. Iridium(III) py-NHC hydride complexes have shown high catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation of ketone and enones. Computational studies of the donor capacity of those ligands indicate that py-NHCs are more donating than imidazole-derived NHCs.

Rhodium and iridium complexes of a new type of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) derived from imidazo[1,2-a]pyridiniums have been prepared via silver transmetalation, where metalation can be directed to either the C-2 or the C-3 position of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring provided that the other position is appropriately blocked. The donating abilities of these new NHC ligands have been assessed from the average CO stretching frequencies of their corresponding iridium dicarbonyl complexes. By varying the N-alkyl groups or fusing the pyridine moiety with an aromatic ring, electronic effects of abnormal NHCs of this type can be readily tuned to match the extremely donating imidazole-derived abnormal NHCs or the relatively less donating normal NHCs (imidazolin-2-ylidenes). Both VT NMR studies and CO stretching frequency values strongly support the π-accepting ability of an abnormal NHC derived from imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline.

Imidazoliums with proximal phosphines undergo C−H oxidative addition on [Ir(COD)Cl]2 to give iridium(III) abnormal carbene hydrides. The effects of the length of the linker between the imidazolium and the phosphine are systematically studied. These C−H activation products can undergo base-promoted H−Cl reductive elimination to afford the corresponding Ir(I) abnormal NHC complexes.