Hydrazonyl Sultones as Stable Tautomers of Highly Reactive Nitrile Imines for Fast Bioorthogonal Ligation Reaction.

Here we report the design and synthesis of a new class of bioorthogonal reagents called hydrazonyl sultones (HS) that serve as stable tautomers of highly reactive nitrile imines (NI). Compared to the photogenerated NI, HS display a broad range of aqueous stability and tunable reactivity in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, depending on substituents, sultone ring structure, and solvent conditions. DFT calculations have provided vital insights into the HS → NI tautomerism, including a base-mediated anionic tautomerization pathway and a small activation barrier. Comparative kinetic analysis of tetrazole vs HS-mediated cycloadditions reveals that a tiny fraction of the reactive NI (∼15 ppm) is present in the tautomeric mixture, underpinning the extraordinary stability of the six-membered HS. We further demonstrate the utilities of HS in selective modification of bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN)-lysine-containing nanobodies in phosphate buffered saline and fluorescent labeling of a BCN-lysine-encoded transmembrane glucagon receptor on live cells.

Seeking Citius: Photochemical Access of Reactive Intermediates for Faster Bioorthogonal Reactions.

Fast bioorthogonal reactions are sought after because of their superior performance in labeling low-abundance biomolecules in native cellular environments. An attractive strategy to increase reaction kinetics is to access the reactive intermediates through photochemical activation. To this end, significant progress was made in the last few years in harnessing two highly reactive intermediates-nitrile imine and tetrazine-generated through photoinduced ring rupture and catalytic photooxidation, respectively. The efficient capture of these reactive intermediates by their cognate reaction partners has enabled bioorthogonal fluorescent labeling of biomolecules in live cells.

Superfast Tetrazole-BCN Cycloaddition Reaction for Bioorthogonal Protein Labeling on Live Cells.

Here we report the design of a superfast bioorthogonal ligation reactant pair comprising a sterically shielded, sulfonated tetrazole and bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN). The design involves placing a pair of water-soluble N-sulfonylpyrrole substituents at the C-phenyl ring of diphenyltetrazoles to favor the photoinduced cycloaddition reaction over the competing nucleophilic additions. First-principles computations provide vital insights into the origin of the tetrazole-BCN cycloaddition's superior kinetics compared to the tetrazole-spirohexene cycloaddition. The tetrazole-BCN cycloaddition also enabled rapid bioorthogonal labeling of glucagon receptors on live cells in as little as 15 s.

Light-Triggered Click Chemistry.

The merging of click chemistry with discrete photochemical processes has led to the creation of a new class of click reactions, collectively known as photoclick chemistry. These light-triggered click reactions allow the synthesis of diverse organic structures in a rapid and precise manner under mild conditions. Because light offers unparalleled spatiotemporal control over the generation of the reactive intermediates, photoclick chemistry has become an indispensable tool for a wide range of spatially addressable applications including surface functionalization, polymer conjugation and cross-linking, and biomolecular labeling in the native cellular environment. Over the past decade, a growing number of photoclick reactions have been developed, especially those based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions and Diels-Alder reactions owing to their excellent reaction kinetics, selectivity, and biocompatibility. This review summarizes the recent advances in the development of photoclick reactions and their applications in chemical biology and materials science. A particular emphasis is placed on the historical contexts and mechanistic insights into each of the selected reactions. The in-depth discussion presented here should stimulate further development of the field, including the design of new photoactivation modalities, the continuous expansion of λ-orthogonal tandem photoclick chemistry, and the innovative use of these unique tools in bioconjugation and nanomaterial synthesis.

Oxazolinyl-Assisted Ru(II)-Catalyzed C-H Allylation with Allyl Alcohols and Synthesis of 4-Methyleneisochroman-1-ones.

We report herein a ruthenium-catalyzed, oxazoline-directed strategy for C-H allylation of aryl oxazolines using allylic alcohols as the coupling partner. The present transformation unravels the unusual reactivity of allylic alcohols in the synthesis of 4-methyleneisochroman-1-ones and C-H-allylated products. A complete switch in the product selectivity was observed with substrate control and tuning the reaction conditions. The approach employs allyl alcohols as an efficient alternative to preactivated allylating agents to access diverse products in a highly selective manner.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of Benzoic Acids with Allyl Alcohols: A Controlled Reactivity Switch between C-H Alkenylation and C-H Alkylation Pathways.

A highly selective and switchable ruthenium-catalyzed ortho C-H alkylation and C-H alkenylation of benzoic acids with allyl alcohols is reported. A complete switch in selectivity is achieved upon tuning the reactivity of the organometallic intermediate in the carboxylate-directed C-H activation to provide access to highly useful motifs such as 2-alkylbenzoic acids and phthalides.

Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Coupling of Allylic Alcohols with Anilines in the Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles.

We report herein an unprecedented and expedient Pd-catalyzed oxidative coupling of allyl alcohols with anilines to afford ß-amino ketones which are converted into substituted quinolines in a one-pot fashion. The exclusive preference for N-alkylation over N-allylation makes this approach unique when compared to those reported in literature. Detailed mechanistic investigations reveal that the conjugate addition pathway was the predominant one over the allylic amination pathway. The notable aspects of the present approach are the use of readily available, bench-stable allyl alcohols and molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant, in the process dispensing the need for unstable and costly enones. Further, we explored the synthetic utility of ß-amino ketones through an intramolecular α-arylation methodology and a one-pot domino annulation, thereby providing rapid access to indolines and quinolines.

Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Silylenol Ethers in the Synthesis of Isoquinolines and Phenanthridines.

A diverse array of isoquinolines and phenanthridines have been accessed by developing a two-step, one-pot method constituting regioselective palladium-catalyzed Kuwajima-Urabe α-arylation of silylenol ethers and acid-mediated deprotection, annulation, and aromatization. Structural diversity in the silylenol ethers leads to three different classes of isoquinolines and phenanthridines from which related natural products can be derived. The synthetic utility of this method by the quick assembly of the natural product trispheridine is also demonstrated.

Traceless Directing-Group Strategy in the Ru-Catalyzed, Formal [3 + 3] Annulation of Anilines with Allyl Alcohols: A One-Pot, Domino Approach for the Synthesis of Quinolines.

A unique, ruthenium-catalyzed, [3 + 3] annulation of anilines with allyl alcohols in the synthesis of substituted quinolines is reported. The method employs a traceless directing group strategy in the proximal C-H bond activation and represents a one-pot Domino synthesis of quinolines from anilines.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed, Site-Selective C-H Allylation of Indoles with Allyl Alcohols as Coupling Partners.

A new ruthenium-catalyzed, heteroatom-directed strategy for C-H allylation of indoles is described. The use of allyl alcohols as coupling partners as well as pyridine as the removable directing group is highlighted. This methodology provides access to C2-allylated indoles by utilizing a strategy that does not require prefunctionalization of either of the coupling partners.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 2-alkenyl-3-arylindoles via a dual α-arylation strategy: formal synthesis of the antilipemic drug fluvastatin.

A new approach has been developed for the synthesis of substituted 2-alkenyl-3-arylindoles. The strategy comprises palladium-catalyzed dual α-arylation of TES-enol ethers of enones as the key step. This methodology results in products with very good yields and the regioselectivity is exclusive. We have also successfully used this dual α-arylation methodology in the formal synthesis of the cholesterol-lowering drug fluvastatin.

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of enones in the synthesis of 2-alkenylindoles and carbazoles.

A new unified strategy has been developed for the synthesis of substituted 2-alkenylindoles and carbazoles. The strategy uses palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of TES-enol ethers of enones as the key step. The method is highly regioselective, provides good yields, and is expected to have wide application.