Insertion, nitrenoid

With the iron complex [Fe(Cl3terpy)2]( 104)2 (Clsterpy = 4,4, 4"-trichloro-2,2 6, 2"-terpyridine) as catalyst, sulfamate esters react with Phl(OAc)2 to generate iminoiodanes in situ which subsequently undergo intramolecular nitrenoid C-H insertion to give amidation products in good yields (Scheme 30) [48]. 

Metal-oxenoid (oxo metal) species and metal-nitrenoid (imino metal) species are isoelectronic and show similar reactivity both species can add to olefins and be inserted into C—H bonds. Naturally, the study of nitrene transfer reactions began with metalloporphyrins, which were originally used as the catalysts for oxene transfer reactions. 

The intramolecular insertion reactions of nitrenoids into G-H bonds as described above provide an attractive alternative to conventional methods of amine formation. Both carbamate and sulfamate C-H insertions have been applied successfully to the total syntheses of natural products. - The first application of carbamate G-H insertion was reported by Trost in the total synthesis of methyl-L-callipeltose 118 (Equation (92)).230 Intermolecular G-H insertion of carbamate 117 using 10mol% Rh2(OAc)4, PhI(OAc)4, and DTBMP (2,6-di-/ / -butyl-4-methylpyridine) in dichloromethane (40 °C) furnished methyl-L-callipeltose 118 in 63% yield. In an another independent total synthesis of 118, Panek performed this step in refluxing benzene and improved the yield to 93%.231... 

Decomposition of sulfonyl azides was shown to be catalyzed by copper in 1967 (72, 73). In the presence of alkenes, the reaction provides both aziridines and the C-H insertion products, albeit in low yields (73). In 1991, Evans et al. (74, 75) illustrated that both Cu(I) and Cu(II) salts were effective catalysts for nitrenoid transfer from [A-(/Moluenesulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (PhI=NTs) to a variety of acceptor alkenes. In the absence of ancillary ligands, reactions proceed best in polar aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile. Similar results are observed using both Cu(MeCN)4C104 and Cu(acac)2 as precatalysts, Eq. 53. 

Functionalization of C-H bonds by metal carbenoid or nitrenoid insertions represents a promising alternative to the more traditional approach of direct activation by a metal center. Carbenoids and nitrenoids show unusual regio- and stereoselectivity in insertions into C-H bonds, and unlike insertions of metal centers, these are intrinsically functionalizations rather than activations, which must be followed by functionalization (although in either case, loss of the functionalized group, to regenerate the active metal complex, is still required for catalysis) [129]. The use of dimeric Rh(n) complexes in this area has been extensively developed [129]. 

Stance, although Mn(TPP)Cl-catalyzed reaction of 19 with styrene affords aziridine derivative in 80% yield (Eq. 13), significantly lower yields are obtained with other olefins. Allylic insertion by the metal nitrenoid is frequently the major side reaction encountered during olefin aziridination (88TL1927) (Eq. 14). 

A very reactive nitrogen atom is required to convert benzenes or naphthalenes into pyridines, and there are a number of such reactions which involve nitrenes or nitrenoid species. A number of substituted benzenes have been treated with sulfonyl diazide or carbonyl diazide and moderate yields of pyridines recorded (27CB1717). Thus p-xylene gives 2,5-dimethylpyridine there is no indication of the fate of the carbon atom which is lost. More controlled reaction is possible in intramolecular insertions. The examples in which o-nitrotoluene is converted into a derivative (759) of 2-acetylpyridine, and where 2,3-diazidonaphthalenes give 3-cyanoisoquinolines (760) are quoted in a review (81 AHC(28)231>. 

Representative examples of ring syntheses involving carbenoid (Table 6) or nitrenoid (Table 7) intermediates are given. In many cases, the free carbene or nitrene is probably not involved, and the distinction between insertion and addition reactions given in the tables is not always clear cut. Such reactions are particularly useful for the preparation of tricyclic compounds. 

Three prominent types of reactions fall in this classification cyclizations by condensation, metal-mediated cyclizations and nitrenoid insertion reactions. 

Intramolecular carbenoid and nitrenoid insertions are also quite effective for the preparation of peri-condensed heterocycles. Thus, photolysis of 1-naphthyl-1,2,3-triazoles 113 leads to bcnzo[d,e quinolines 115, possibly via carbene intermediate 114 (Scheme 55) <1987J(P1)413>. Similarly, on photolysis or thermolysis of 8-azido-l-arylazonaphtha-lenes 116 naphtho[l,8-<7, ]triazine derivatives 117 are formed along with A-aryhminobenzo[/y/]indazoles 118 (Scheme 56) <1978JOC2508, 1982JOC1996>. 

One of the attractions of dirhodium paddelwheel complexes is their ability to catalyse a wide variety of organic transformations such as C-H insertions, cyclopropanations and ylide formation. A review on the application of high symmetry chiral Rh2(II,II) paddlewheel compounds highlights their application as catalysts for asymmetric metal carbenoid and nitrenoid reactions, and as Lewis acids.59 Their impressive performance as catalysts in C-H functionalisation reactions has been exploited in the synthesis of complex natural products and pharmaceutical agents. A recent review on catalytic C-H functionalisation by metal carbenoid and nitrenoid insertion demonstrates the important role of dirhodium species in this field.60... 

Electrophilic, nitrenoid-mediated amination processes are often challenged to discriminate between alkene aziridination and C-H insertion in substrates possessing some degree of unsaturation. Alkene aziridination is typically favored owing to the greater nucleophilicity of an ordinary n bond vis-a-vis a ct-C-H center. White and coworkers have found an elegant solution to this difficult problem of chemo-selectivity with the advent of a selective Pd(II) catalyst for allylic C-H functionalization [138, 139]. In these examples, allylic C-H activation of terminal alkenes... 

Bicyclization via nitrenoid-to-carhenoid transition followed hy O—C bond insertion serves to demonstrate the power of the reactions catalyzed by Rh carboxylates and the benefit of substrate design to accommodate functional participations. 

The la type classification also applies to a group of reactions attributable to nitrene or related (nitrenoid) intermediates. Although not as prominent as carbonyl condensation reactions, these reactions are especially useful for carbazole synthesis. These are formally insertion reactions but mechanistic scrutiny frequently reveals that the reactions are more complicated than a one step insertion process (Scheme 29). 

Scheme 1.34 The first enantioselective C-H bond insertion reactions involving Rh nitrenoids reported by Muller.

In the context of C—H bond insertion reactions involving metal nitrenoids, Mn and Ru catalysts hold important positions. These catalysts often contain multidentate ligands, such as porphyrins and salen ligands. With these catalysts, the enantioselectivity can be well controlled in many cases. 

Copper nitrenoids that participate in C—H bond insertion reactions have also been studied for a long time. In 1997, the first asymmetric reaction was reported by Katsuki and co-workers. Their design was derived from the Kharash-Sosnovsky reaction (Scheme 1.52, top), the Cu-catalyzed allylic... 

Scheme 1.52 The first Cu nitrenoids participated C—H bond insertion reactions reported by Katsuki.

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