Ortho-Aryl functionalization, alkene

Abstract The selective catalytic activation/functionalization of sp C-H bonds is expected to improve synthesis methods by better step number and atom economy. This chapter describes the recent achievements of ruthenium(II) catalysed transformations of sp C-H bonds for cross-coupled C-C bond formation. First arylation and heteroarylation with aromatic halides of a variety of (hetero)arenes, that are directed at ortho position by heterocycle or imine groups, are presented. The role of carboxylate partners is shown for Ru(II) catalysts that are able to operate profitably in water and to selectively produce diarylated or monoarylated products. The alkylation of (hetero)arenes with primary and secondary alkylhalides, and by hydroarylation of alkene C=C bonds is presented. The recent access to functional alkenes via oxidative dehydrogenative functionalization of C-H bonds with alkenes first, and then with alkynes, is shown to be catalysed by a Ru(ll) species associated with a silver salt in the presence of an oxidant such as Cu(OAc)2. Finally the catalytic oxidative annulations with alkynes to rapidly form a variety of heterocycles are described by initial activation of C-H followed by that of N-H or O-H bonds and by formation of a second C-C bond on reaction with C=0, C=N, and sp C-H bonds. Most catalytic cycles leading from C-H to C-C bond are discussed. 

Pyridylarenes undergo Cu(II)-catalysed diverse oxidative C-H functionalization reactions. The tolerance of alkene, alkoxy, and aldehyde functionality is a synthetically useful feature of this reaction. A radical-cation pathway (Scheme 4) has been postulated to explain the data from mechanistic studies. A single electron transfer (SET) from the aryl ring to the coordinated Cu(II) leading to the cation-radical intermediate is the rate-limiting step. The lack of reactivity of biphenyl led to the suggestion that the coordination of Cu(II) to the pyridine is necessary for the SET process. The observed ortho selectivity is explained by an intramolecular anion transfer from a nitrogen-bound Cu(I) complex.53... 

Functionalized benzenes preferentially induced ortho-para substitution with electron-donating groups and meta substitution with electron-withdrawing groups (see above). Additionally, the order of reactivity found with aromatics was similar to that of electrophilic aromatic substitution. These observations implicated an electrophihc metalation of the arene as the key step. Hence, Fujiwara et al. [4b] believed that a solvated arylpalladium species is formed from a homogeneous solution of an arene and a palladium(ll) salt in a polar solvent via an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction (Figure 9.2). The alkene then coordinates to the unstable arylpalladium species, followed by an insertion into the aryl-palladium bond. The arylethyl-palladium intermediate then rapidly undergoes )8-hydride elimination to form the alkenylated arene and a palladium hydride species, which then presumably decomposes into an acid and free palladium metal. Later on, the formation of the arylpalladium species proposed in this mechanism was confirmed by the isolation of diphenyltripalladium(ll) complexes obtained by the C-H activation reaction of benzene with palladium acetate dialkylsulfide systems [19]. 

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