A Well-Defined Ni Pincer Catalyst for Cross Coupling of Non-Activated Alkyl Halides and Direct C-H Alkylation

Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions are among the most important and useful methods for organic synthesis. During the last years, significant progress has been made in this field. Whereas many catalysts were developed for the coupling of aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl halides, non-activated alkyl halides remain challenging substrates, mainly due to unproductive β-hydride elimination and difficulty in oxidative addition of alkyl halides. This dissertation is devoted to the development of a well-defined nickel catalyst for cross coupling of non-activated alkyl halides and direct alkylation of C–H bonds. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of a new pincer MeN2N ligand and its Ni complexes. This ligand can be obtained by Pd-catalyzed C–N coupling of 2-amino-N,N-dimethylaniline and 2-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline. Reaction of its Li salt with Ni(dme)Cl2 gives [(MeN2N)Ni-Cl] (1). Complex 1 can be akylated with Grignard reagents to give [(MeN2N)Ni-Alkyl] species. Stability of the alkyl complexes against β-hydride elimination inspired us to use the [(MeN2N)Ni-Cl] complex as a catalyst for cross coupling of carbon nucleophiles with alkyl halides. After investigating different experimental conditions, we found that complex 1 is an active catalyst for cross coupling of non-activated alkyl polyhalides (Chapter 3) and alkyl monohalides (Chapter 4) with alkyl Grignard reagents. The reaction with alkyl monohalides can be done at -35 °C in DMA and only 30min is required to accomplish the formation of the desired products. The high activity of the catalyst resulted in a high group tolerance. Ester, ketone, amide, nitrile, heterocyclic, and acetal groups didn't pose problems. In Chapter 5, the catalysis was extended to include aryl and heteroaryl Grignard reagents as nucleophiles. The best results were obtained with primary alkyl bromides and iodides and cyclic secondary alkyl iodides in THF and at room temperature. Addition of an additive such as TMEDA or bis[2-(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl)]ether (O-TMEDA) was necessary to prevent the formation of undesired homocoupling products. Functionalized Grignard reagents could be readily coupled. The [(MeN2N)Ni-Cl] catalyst was then used for the Sonogashira coupling of alkyl halides with alkynes (Chapter 6). A wide range of functionalized alkyl halides could be used for this reaction. Not only alkyl iodides and bromides but also alkyl chlorides can be used. Moreover, by changing reaction conditions (additive and temperature), selective coupling of C–Br bond in the presence of C–Cl bond, and of C–I bond in the presence of both C–Br and C–Cl bonds can be achieved. This feature allowed us to carry out multiple and selective Sonogashira coupling of the substrates containing different alkyl halide bonds. We could combine Sonogashira coupling with Kumada-Corriu-Tamao coupling. Utilization of these two methods leads to a simple and rapid synthesis of organic molecules. Similar conditions were then applied for the direct alkylation of aromatic heterocycles in Chapter 7. Aromatic heterocyclic compounds are widely used as bio-active molecules, pharmaceuticals, and organic materials. Direct C–H functionalization represents the most straightforward way for the derivatization of these compounds. Despite of the developments during the last years, direct alkylation of C–H bond with alkyl halides is still challenging. Utilization of our [(MeN2N)Ni-Cl] catalyst gives the desired products in high yields and a wide range of aromatic heterocyclic compounds can be used for the reaction. The well-defined nature and a high stability of [(MeN2N)Ni-Cl] complex and its derivatives enabled us to perform detailed mechanistic investigations of the catalytic transformations. Presumed intermediates of catalytic cycles were determined and some of them were synthesized or separated from the reaction mixture. The resting states of the catalysts were also defined in most of the cases, giving important information for the mechanistic elucidation. In the last part (Chapter 8) we developed a direct C–H carboxylation chemistry for aromatic heterocycles. The carboxylation can be done under catalyst-free conditions and with a mild base Cs2CO3. The unstable carboxylic acids were converted to the more stable esters by a one-pot reaction with MeI. A wide substrate scope was achieved.

Mechanistic Studies Related to Nickel-Catalyzed Alkyl-Alkyl Cross Coupling Reactions

Jan Breitenfeld

Cross-coupling reactions of non-activated alkyl halides are potentially useful chemical transformations. At the same time, however, they are challenging due to a series of unproductive side reactions. Recently, significant progress has been made to overcome these difficulties. With judicious choice of metal, ligands, and reaction conditions, the normally problematic β- H elimination can be suppressed. As a consequence, a number of examples of the successful coupling of non-activated alkyl halides have been demonstrated. The mechanistic understanding of such reactions is, in most cases, still primitive. In the majority of cases, the active catalysts are generated in situ and remain unidentified and unknown. This dissertation is devoted to mechanistic studies of alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling catalyzed by a well-defined nickel pincer complex [(MeNN2)Ni-Cl] (1; Nickamine). This complex showed excellent activity for the cross-coupling of unactivated alkyl halides. Moreover, several nickel alkyl complexes bearing β-hydrogen atoms have been isolated. These features offered a unique platform to carry out mechanistic studies to gain a better understanding of nickel-catalyzed crosscoupling reactions. Chapter one provides examples of palladium-, iron-, cobalt-, and nickel-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling reactions. In each case mechanistic details are discussed. At the end of the chapter cross-coupling reactions using Nickamine are presented. In chapter two the propensity of isolated nickel alkyl complexes to undergo -hydride elimination is explored. Isomerization and olefin exchange experiments show that -hydride elimination is kinetically viable but thermodynamically unfavorable in [(MeNN2)Ni-alkyl] complexes. The intermediacy of an [(MeNN2)Ni-H] (6) species was corroborated by trapping experiments. The alkyl complex [(MeNN2)Ni-propyl] catalyzes olefin isomerization reactions. In chapter three the aforementioned nickel(II) hydride complex 2 was synthesized by reaction of [(MeNN2)Ni-OMe] (10) with Ph2SiH2, and was characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as X-ray crystallography. Complex 6 was unstable in solution, and decomposed via two reaction pathways. The first pathway was through intramolecular N-H reductive elimination to III give MeNN2H and Ni particles. The second pathway was intermolecular, giving H2, Ni particles, and a five-coordinate Ni(II) complex [(MeNN2)2Ni] (12) as the products. Compound 6 reacted with ethylene and acetone, forming [(MeNN2)Ni-Et] (2) and [(MeNN2)Ni-OiPr] (13), respectively. Complex 6 also reacted with alkyl halides, yielding nickel(II) halide complexes and alkanes. The reduction of alkyl halides was rendered catalytic, using 1 as catalyst, NaOiPr or NaOMe as base, and Ph2SiH2 or Me(EtO)2SiH as the hydride source. The catalysis appeared to operate via a radical mechanism. In chapter four a detailed mechanistic study of alkyl-alkyl Kumada coupling catalyzed by the preformed nickel(II) pincer complex 1 is reported. The coupling proceeds through a radical process, involving two nickel centers for the oxidative addition of alkyl halide. The catalysis is 2nd order in Grignard reagent, 1st order in catalyst, and 0th order in alkyl halide. A transient species, (MeNN2)Ni-Alkyl2, is identified as the key intermediate responsible for the activation of alkyl halide, the formation of which is the turnover-determining step of the catalysis. Finally, a catalytic cycle for Nickamine-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions was established. This dissertation elaborates the properties of nickel-alkyl and nickel-hydride complexes of the Nickamine system. It elucidates many mechanistic features of the alkyl-alkyl Kumada coupling reactions catalyzed by Nickamine, and establishes, for the first time, a bimetallic oxidative addition mechanism for nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions. The work significantly enhances the current understanding of cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides.

EPFL2013

Synthetic methodologies for C-C and C-N bond formation involving alkyl radicals

Guido Barzanò

C-C and C-N bonds are some of the most common structures in molecules ranging from drugs to catalysts and to food additives. Many coupling reactions were developed to form these types of bonds with excellent selectivity and good performance. Still, the synthesis of some of those species either depends on traditional methods or requires expensive and rare reagents and catalysts. The use of precious metals in chemistry, and particularly in the industry, can make molecular synthesis expensive and energy-intensive since the extraction of those materials is costly. Moreover, in homogeneous catalysis, the recovery of metal-based catalysts is almost impossible, making these processes unsustainable for the future. Thus, the discovery of chemical reactions that donât involve precious materials is indispensable. This thesis concentrates on the development of two chemical transformations, one performing an sp2-sp3 radical reductive coupling, one performing a photocatalyzed alkyl amination, involving inexpensive reagents and catalysts. The first chapter reviews the existing methodologies which use alkyl radicals to form carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds. Alkyl radicals are formed from alkyl halides and pseudo-halides (Acids, esters, tosylates, etc.) via oxidation or reduction performed by metal or photoredox catalyst. The wide variety of available methodologies was illustrated, highlighting the advantages and weaknesses of each reaction. The second chapter of this dissertation is devoted to the development of a new iron-based catalytic method to form stereoselectively Z-alkene boron species from the corresponding boron-alkyne. This novel stereoselective method opens a new way to obtain these types of molecules with cheap reagents, in high yields, with excellent stereoselectivity (Z:E ratio >10:1), and with good tolerance of functional group. The reaction is radical based, avoiding the problem of beta-hydride elimination, which usually occurs in ionic reactions involving metal centers. In order to prove the versatility of this method, the vinyl boron compound formed from this reaction was used for further functionalizations. The formal total synthesis of a 5-HT2c receptor agonist was successfully performed, improving the overall yield of the process, and avoiding the use of expensive and polluting chemicals. The third chapter of this thesis is concentrated on the development of a tandem photoredox/metal base catalyzed functionalization of anilines and imines with alkyl carboxylic esters. In this reaction, no late transition metal is used, and the traditional metal-based photocatalyst is substituted with an inexpensive and more efficient organic dye. The alkylation of amines is a challenging topic in organic chemistry and classical nucleophilic substitution lacks selectivity and scope. Harvesting visible light with a photoredox catalyst opens the possibility to a radical pathway, making this coupling easy and with high tolerance for functional groups. In order to understand the catalytic cycle of the reaction, additional mechanistic studies were conducted, leading to some insight on how this reaction works.

EPFL2020

Functional group tolerant Kumada-Corriu-Tamao coupling of non-activated alkyl halides with aryl and heteroaryl nucleophiles: Catalysis by a nickel pincer complex permits the coupling of functionalized Grignard reagents

Xile Hu, Valérie Proust, Oleg Vechorkin

A nickel(II) pincer complex [(MeNN2)NiCl] (1) catalyzes Kumada−Corriu−Tamao cross coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides with aryl and heteroaryl Grignard reagents. The coupling of octyl bromide with phenylmagnesium chloride was used as a test reaction. Using 3 mol % of 1 as the precatalyst and THF as the solvent, and in the presence of a catalytic amount of TMEDA, the coupling product was obtained in a high yield. The reaction conditions could be applied to cross coupling of other primary and secondary alkyl bromides and iodides. The coupling is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups. Therefore, alkyl halides containing ester, amide, ether, thioether, alcohol, pyrrole, indole, furan, nitrile, conjugated enone, and aryl halide moieties were coupled to give high isolated yields of products in which these units stay intact. For the coupling of ester-containing substrates, O-TMEDA is a better additive than TMEDA. The reaction protocol proves to be efficient for the coupling of Knochel-type functionalized Grignard reagents. Thus aryl Grignard reagents containing electron-deficient and/or sensitive ester, nitrile, amide, and CF3 substituents could be successfully coupled to nonactivated and functionalized alkyl iodides. The catalysis is also efficient for the coupling of alkyl iodides with functionalized heteroaryl Grignard reagents, giving rise to pyridine-, thiophene-, pyrazole-, furan-containing molecules with additional functionalities. Concerning the mechanism of the catalysis, [(MeNN2)Ni-(hetero)Ar] was identified as an intermediate, and the activation of alkyl halides was found to take place through a radical-rebound process.

2009