Novel Applications of Nitrous Oxide and Transition Metals for C-C and C-N Bond Formation

This thesis describes novel methods for and investigations into C–C and C–N bond formation reactions. Chapter 1 gives a very brief overview of established strategies for the formation of new C–C bonds in organic synthesis. In chapter 2, a multi‐step one‐pot synthesis is described. Arylalkynes and ethylene are converted to 2‐arylbutadienes by ruthenium catalyzed enyne metathesis. Upon addition of polyhalogenated substrates, the butadienes react in a 1,4‐atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) to yield 1,5‐dichloropen‐2‐enes. These form substituted vinylcyclopropanes via reductive 1,5 dechlorination with magnesium or manganese. Chapter 3 describes a study about two complex organometallic structures that form by reaction of rhodium(III) chloride with tert‐butylacetylene. The reaction products demonstrate the ability of rhodium to mediate various reactions of alkynes such as [2+2+1] cycloadditions, oxidative cleavages and others. Cobalt‐catalyzed reactions for C–C bond formation are reported in chapter 4. In the first part, the focus lies on the putative pre‐catalysts [CoX2(dppe)] (X = Cl, Br, I; dppe = diphenylphosphinoethane), which are used together with a reducing agent (e. g. zinc) in a wide range of C–C bond formation reactions. It is shown that they are, in reality, complex salts of the formula [CoX(dppe)2]2[X3Co(dppe)CoX3]. The second part describes the synthesis and characterization of the complexes [CoX(dppe)(PPh3)] and [CoX(dppe)(η4‐isoprene)]. Without addition of a reducing agent, these cobalt(I) complexes catalyze reactions that are usually accomplished with the catalyst system Co(II)/dppe/Zn. These results provide evidence that the active species in these reactions are indeed Co(I) complexes as supposed. In the fifth chapter, two methods for the use of nitrous oxide (N2O, laughing gas) in organic reactions are described. The challenge of using N2O in synthetic chemistry is to overcome its kinetic inertness. In the oxidative homo‐ and cross‐coupling of Grignard reagents, N2O takes the role of an oxidizing agent. The reactions proceed under mild conditions with copper, iron and cobalt salts as catalysts and exhibit high turnover numbers. The utilization of N2O has advantages compared to established methods with other oxidation agents such as oxygen. Furthermore, a procedure for the synthesis of triazenes from lithium dialkylamides, N2O and Grignard reagents is described. This method enables the synthesis of aryl and alkyl triazenes, but also alkenyl and alkynyl triazenes that are difficult to access via established procedures. Some alkynyl triazenes are selectively cytotoxic against certain cancer cell lines.

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

Oleg Vechorkin

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.

EPFL2011

Stereoselective synthesis of alkenes via base-metal-catalyzed addition reactions to alkynes and activation of hydrogen peroxide and carbon dioxide by iron complexes

Fedor Zhurkin

Alkene functionality can be found in the majority of natural products, drugs, catalysts and organic materials. Therefore, methods of C-C double bond formation constitute a cornerstone of organic synthesis. Selective formation of either (Z)- or (E)-isomer is especially desirable. 1,2-Addition to alkynes unites a large arsenal of methods of C-C double bond formation, among which the addition of carbon-centered species is the most interesting, since it offers a possibility of construction of the carbon skeleton. The first part of the present dissertation is devoted to the development of methods of selective addition of carbon reagents to alkynes. Chapter 1 reviews the existing methods of addition of carbon-centered species, generated from organometallic reagents, organic halides or carbonyl compounds to C-C triple bond with the accent on their stereoselectivity. Carbometalative mechanisms lay in the background of the majority of the reactions in this chemistry. The Z/E selectivity of 1,2-addition to triple bond can be controlled via predominance of either syn- or anti-addition or via Z/E isomerization of the addition intermediates. In Chapter 2 a novel method of disubstituted alkene synthesis via reductive addition of alkyl halides to terminal arylalkynes is described. The remarkable feature of this method is highly selective formation of (Z)-alkenes (generally Z/E > 10:1). Minor modifications of the reducing agent allowed the extension of the substrate scope to the primary alkyl iodides. Mechanistic studies revealed that this reaction proceeds as a formal anti-carbozincation. The resulting organozinc species form disubstituted (Z)-alkenes upon aqueous work-up. On the other hand, it would be interesting to utilize these species in cross-coupling reactions to allow the selective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes. In Chapter 3 a catalytic system for highly regioselective copper-catalyzed allylation of these reagents is described. In Chapter 4 the results on stereoselective intermolecular addition of aldehydes and ketones to alkynes in the presence of zinc and trimethylchlorosilane are summarized. This reaction gives 1-chloro-1,3-dienes as products. The activation of small molecules has become an increasingly attractive area of research over the last years. In Chapter 5 an outline is given of the literature examples of small-molecule activation, namely activation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, by iron complexes. In Chapter 6 the studies on small-molecule activation by iron-sulfur cubane clusters are presented. Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and hydrogenation of alkenes were studied. As an additional result, synthesis and characterization of an unprecedented organic iron(I) ate-complex is reported. Structural modification of a non-heme iron complex with hydrogen-bond-donating substituents is described in Chapter 7. The deep impact of these modifications on the structure and reactivity of the resulting complex is discussed.

EPFL2017

Ligand synthesis for homogeneous catalysis

Michael Maurin

Organophosphorus compounds found applications in varied fields of the organic chemistry: they are particularly present in natural compounds such as the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and in the field of catalysis in which their utility is also proven. Thus, this thesis work first focused on the preparation of various phosphorus ligands utilizable in transition metal catalysed reactions. Being given the importance of this type of reaction in organic synthesis, it appears essential to have many ligands at disposal in order to fine-tune and to optimize the reaction conditions as much as possible. Thus, the first objective of this work was to propose a simple and general method for the preparation of monodentate phosphorus ligands. Based on the use of phosphites in substitution for the usual phosphorus trihalides, this method was initially tested during the preparation of different simple triarylphosphines. Thereafter, this method was extended to the synthesis of new ligands having more complex structures. The yields obtained for the latter as well as the variety of the substrates authorized by this method confirmed its value and suggested its application to the synthesis of new heteroaromatic phosphines. The preparation of bidentate phosphorus ligands based on chiral biphenyl motifs was then addressed. For that purpose, the 2,2',6,6' -tetrabromobiphenyl was chosen as a pivot substrate for the development of a modular synthetic approach. Indeed, by means of successive halogen/metal permutational exchanges and after treatment with the suitable electrophile, it was possible to functionalize this substrate, isolate each atropisomer in enantiomerically pure form, and finally convert each one of those into chiral biphenylbisphosphines. In addition, it was also possible, during the synthesis of these ligands, to evaluate the rotational stability of some enantiomerically pure dilithiobiphenyls by means of dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance experiments.

EPFL2007