We report sequential ruthenium(0)-catalysis for the synthesis of sterically-hindered amines via direct C–H arylation of simple imines and imine hydrosilylation. The method involves direct C–H arylation under neutral conditions with organoboranes enabled by ruthenium(0) catalysis. The catalytic hydrosilylation was performed in a one-pot fashion using Et 3 SiH. The reaction is compatible with a broad range of electronically- and sterically-varied imines, enabling rapid production of valuable biaryl amines in good to excellent yields. The method constitutes a two-step, one-pot procedure to synthesize sterically-hindered amines from aldehydes. The utility of this atom-economic strategy is demonstrated in one-pot, three-component coupling, direct in situ aldehyde arylation and the use of transfer hydrogenation.
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Expanding chemical space by para-C−H arylation of arenes
Abstract Biaryl scaffolds are privileged templates used in the discovery and design of therapeutics with high affinity and specificity for a broad range of protein targets. Biaryls are found in the structures of therapeutics, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neurological and antihypertensive drugs. However, existing synthetic routes to biphenyls rely on traditional coupling approaches that require both arenes to be prefunctionalized with halides or pseudohalides with the desired regiochemistry. Therefore, the coupling of drug fragments may be challenging via conventional approaches. As an attractive alternative, directed C−H activation has the potential to be a versatile tool to form para -substituted biphenyl motifs selectively. However, existing C–H arylation protocols are not suitable for drug entities as they are hindered by catalyst deactivation by polar and delicate functionalities present alongside the instability of macrocyclic intermediates required for para -C−H activation. To address this challenge, we have developed a robust catalytic system that displays unique efficacy towards para -arylation of highly functionalized substrates such as drug entities, giving access to structurally diversified biaryl scaffolds. This diversification process provides access to an expanded chemical space for further exploration in drug discovery. Further, the applicability of the transformation is realized through the synthesis of drug molecules bearing a biphenyl fragment. Computational and experimental mechanistic studies further provide insight into the catalytic cycle operative in this versatile C−H arylation protocol.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1955876
- PAR ID:
- 10380877
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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