Synthesis, structure, and alkynylation reactivity of alkynyl-silicate, -germanate, and -stannate.

The first anionic pentacoordinated group 14 compounds bearing a phenylethynyl substituent were successfully synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The synthesized ate-type compounds were stable in air, water, and some acids, allowing their application as reagents for the nucleophilic alkynylation of carbon electrophiles.

Streptocyanine as an activation mode of amine catalysis for the conversion of pyridine rings to benzene rings.

Amine catalysts have emerged as an invaluable tool in organic synthesis. Iminium, enamine, and enamine radical cation species are representative activation modes of amine catalysis. However, the development of new amine catalysis activation modes that enable novel synthetic strategies remains highly desirable. Herein, we report streptocyanine as a new amine catalysis activation mode, which enables the skeletal editing of pyridine rings to benzene rings. N-Arylation of pyridines bearing an alkenyl substituent at the 3-position generates the corresponding N-arylpyridiniums. The resulting pyridinum reacts with a catalytic amount of piperidine to afford a streptocyanine intermediate. Catalytically generated streptocyanine forms a benzene ring via a ring-closing reaction, thereby releasing the amine catalyst. Consequently, the alkene moiety in the starting pyridines is incorporated into the benzene ring of the products. Pyridiniums bearing various alkene moieties were efficiently converted to formyl-substituted benzene derivatives. Mechanistic studies support the postulation that the present catalytic process was intermediated by streptocyanine. In this reaction system, streptocyanine could be regarded as a new activation mode of amine catalysis.

Trifluoromethylated thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecule as a versatile photocatalyst for electron-transfer- and energy-transfer-driven reactions.

In this study, we propose that the trifluoromethylated thermally activated delayed fluorescent molecule 4[Cz(CF3)2]IPN is a versatile organic photocatalyst that can be used for electron-transfer-driven reactions requiring a photocatalyst with high oxidizing power and energy-transfer-driven reactions that require an Ir photocatalyst. 4[Cz(CF3)2]IPN was used in radical reactions via electron transfer and dearomative cycloaddition reactions via energy transfer.

Transition-Metal-Free O-Arylation of Alcohols and Phenols with S-Arylphenothiaziniums.

Herein, we report the transition-metal-free O-arylation of alcohols and phenols with S-arylphenothiaziniums, which can be easily synthesized from boronic acids. Aryl substituents derived from arylboronic acids were selectively introduced into the hydroxy groups in alcohols and phenols, and a variety of aryl ethers were synthesized. This selectivity is supported by theoretical calculations.

N-Methylphenothiazine S-Oxide Enabled Oxidative C(sp2)-C(sp2) Coupling of Boronic Acids with Organolithiums via Phenothiaziniums.

Herein, we report the development of a transition-metal-free oxidative C(sp2)-C(sp2) coupling of readily available boronic acids and organolithiums via phenothiazinium ions. Various biaryl, styrene, and diene derivatives were obtained using this reaction system. The key to this process is N-methylphenothiazine S-oxide (PTZSO), which allows efficient conversion of boronic acids to phenothiazinium ions. The mechanism of phenothiazinium formation using PTZSO was investigated using theoretical calculations and experiments, which provided insight into the unique reactivity of PTZSO.

Synthesis and structure of a phosphinoboronic ester in a fused bicyclic framework.

The first phosphinoboronic ester bearing a fused bicyclic framework was synthesised by either deprotonation and hydride abstraction or Rh-catalysed dehydrogenation of a hydrophosphineboronic ester. The phosphinoboronic ester reacted as a Lewis acid with KF/18-crown-6, pyridine and DMAP to give the corresponding adducts. Furthermore, its crystal structure shows a remarkably short P-B bond in comparison with other P-B bonded derivatives in spite of the trigonal pyramidal geometry of the phosphorus. Consistent with the phosphorus pyramidality, the π-type donor-acceptor interaction of the P-B bond is small as revealed by the DFT calculations. The P-B bond shared within the fused six-membered rings has to shorten because of the geometrical requirement and high s-character of the boron.

Protonation-Enhanced Reactivity of Triplet State in Dearomative Photocycloaddition of Quinolines to Olefins.

The intermolecular dearomative cycloaddition of acidified bicyclic azaarenes with olefins was recently reported. We report here the crucial role of the acid in the dearomative photocycloaddition of quinolines to olefins. Experimental and theoretical results show that the key role of the protonation of quinolines is not to promote the energy transfer but to enhance the reactivity of the triplet state of quinolines toward olefins.

Sequential Ring-Opening and Ring-Closing Reactions for Converting para-Substituted Pyridines into meta-Substituted Anilines.

Herein we report a method for converting para-substituted pyridine rings into meta-dialkylamino-substituted benzene rings through sequential ring-opening and ring-closing reactions. The nitrogen atom in the pyridine rings was replaced with a methine group, and a dialkylamino substituent was introduced onto the original unsubstituted carbon atom in the pyridine rings. This process can be formally regarded as a hybrid of the skeletal editing and C-H amination of pyridine rings.

Photocatalytic Giese-Type Reaction with Alkylsilicates Bearing C,O-Bidentate Ligands.

Herein, a photocatalytic Giese-type reaction with alkylsilicates bearing C,O-bidentate ligands as stable alkyl radical precursors has been reported. The alkylsilicates were prepared in one step from organometallic reagents. Not only primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals, but also elusive methyl radicals, could be generated by using the present reaction system. The generated radicals were trapped by electron-deficient olefins bearing various functional groups to give the desired alkyl adducts. The silicon byproduct can be recovered after the photoreaction. The radical generation process was investigated by theoretical calculations, which provided an insight into the facile generation of methyl radicals from methylsilicate bearing C,O-bidentate ligands.

Arylation of aryllithiums with S-arylphenothiazinium ions for biaryl synthesis.

Aryllithiums are one of the most common and important aryl nucleophiles; nevertheless, methods for arylation of aryllithums to produce biaryls have been limited. Herein, we report arylation of aryllithiums with S-arylphenothiazinium ions through selective ligand coupling of intermediary sulfuranes. Various unsymmetrical biaryls could be obtained without transition-metal catalysis.

Terminal-oxidant-free photocatalytic C-H alkylations of heteroarenes with alkylsilicates as alkyl radical precursors.

We report the photocatalytic C-H alkylations of heteroarenes with alkylsilicates bearing C,O-bidentate ligands under acidic conditions. Irradiation of heteroaromatics in the presence of the silicates and trifluoroacetic acid produced the corresponding alkylated compounds. The present reaction system does not require any terminal oxidant although the reaction seems to be a formal oxidation reaction. This study demonstrates that alkylsilicates can be used in photocatalytic radical chemistry under acidic conditions.

Photocatalytic C-H Amination of Aromatics Overcoming Redox Potential Limitations.

We report the photocatalytic C-H amination of aromatics overcoming redox potential limitations. Radical cations of aromatic compounds are generated photocatalytically using Ru(phen)3(PF6)2, which has a reduction potential at a high oxidation state (Ered(RuIII/RuII) = +1.37 V vs SCE) lower than the oxidation potentials of aromatic substrates (Eox = +1.65 to +2.27 V vs SCE). The radical cations are trapped with pyridine to give N-arylpyridinium ions, which were converted to aromatic amines.

Connecting a carbonyl and a π-conjugated group through a p-phenylene linker by (5+1) benzene ring formation.

A benzene ring was formed to connect a carbonyl group of various methyl ketones with a π-conjugated group through a p-phenylene linker. Methyl ketones and streptocyanines were used as the C1 and C5 sources, respectively, in the (5+1) annulation, which could form donor-π-acceptor molecules.

Heterocyclization Approach for Electrooxidative Coupling of Functional Primary Alkylamines with Aromatics.

A new approach for electrooxidative coupling of aromatic compounds and primary alkylamines bearing a functional group such as a hydroxyl group and an amino group was developed. The key to the success of the transformation is heterocyclization of functional primary alkylamines. Treatment of primary alkylamines bearing a functional group with nitriles or their equivalents gives the corresponding heterocycles. The electrochemical oxidation of aromatic substrates in the presence of the heterocycles followed by chemical reaction under nonoxidative conditions gave the desired coupling products.

Electrochemical intramolecular C-H amination: synthesis of benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles.

A new method for metal-free intramolecular C-H amination has been developed. Electrochemical oxidation of 2-pyrimidyloxybenzenes and 2-pyrimidylthiobenzenes, which can be easily prepared from phenols and thiophenols, respectively, followed by the treatment of the resulting pyrimidinium ions with piperidine gives 2-aminobenzoxazoles and 2-aminobenzothiazoles, respectively.

Direct C-N coupling of imidazoles with aromatic and benzylic compounds via Electrooxidative C-H functionalization.

A method for the C-N coupling of imidazoles based on electrooxidative C-H functionalization of aromatic and benzylic compounds has been developed. The key to the success is the formation of protected imidazolium ions as initial products, avoiding overoxidation. Deprotection under nonoxidative conditions affords N-substituted imidazoles. Various functional groups are compatible with the present transformation. To demonstrate the power of the method, a P450 17 inhibiter and an antifungal agent having N-substituted imidazole structures were synthesized.

Redox active dendronized polystyrenes equipped with peripheral triarylamines.

Dendronized polystyrene having peripheral bromo groups was prepared from the dendronization of unfunctionalized polystyrene with dendritic diarylcarbenium ions bearing peripheral bromo groups using the "cation pool" method. The palladium-catalyzed amination of the peripheral bromo groups with diarylamine gave dendronized polystyrene equipped with peripheral triarylamines, which exhibited two sets of reversible redox peaks in the cyclic voltammetry curves.

Electrochemical C-H amination: synthesis of aromatic primary amines via N-arylpyridinium ions.

We have developed a new method for C-H amination of aromatic compounds based on electrochemical oxidation of aromatic compounds in the presence of pyridine followed by the reaction of the resulting N-arylpyridinium ions with an alkylamine. This new transformation serves as a powerful method for synthesizing aromatic primary amines from aromatic compounds without using metal catalysts and harsh chemical reagents. High chemoselectivity of the present method is demonstrated by C-H amination of aromatic compounds bearing a nitro group to give a key intermediate for the synthesis of VLA-4 antagonist.

Metal- and chemical-oxidant-free C-H/C-H cross-coupling of aromatic compounds: the use of radical-cation pools.

Pool and couple: A method for oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling has been developed using "radical-cation pools". Aromatic compounds react with aryl radical cations, which are generated and accumulated by low-temperature electrolysis (see scheme). This method avoids both the nonselective oxidation of substrates and oxidation of products and effects the C-H/C-H cross-coupling of aromatic compounds without metal complexes and chemical oxidants.

Direct dendronization of polystyrenes using dendritic diarylcarbenium ion pools.

Dendritic diarylcarbenium ions exhibited sufficient electrophilicity to react with unfunctionalized polystyrenes. The polymers obtained by the reaction of the first and the second generation dendritic diarylcarbenium ions with polystyrenes were well characterized by MALDI-TOF MS and SEC-MALLS analyses and observed by AFM.