Expedient Synthesis of Bridged Bicyclic Nitrogen Scaffolds via Orthogonal Tandem Catalysis.

Bridged nitrogen bicyclic skeletons have been accessed via unprecedented site- and diastereoselective orthogonal tandem catalysis from readily accessible reactants in a step economic manner. Directed Pd-catalyzed γ-C(sp3 )-H olefination of aminocyclohexane with gem-dibromoalkenes, followed by a consecutive intramolecular Cu-catalyzed amidation of the 1-bromo-1-alkenylated product delivers the interesting normorphan skeleton. The tandem protocol can be applied on substituted aminocyclohexanes and aminoheterocycles, easily providing access to the corresponding substituted, aza- and oxa-analogues. The Cu catalyst of the Ullmann-Goldberg reaction additionally avoids off-cycle Pd catalyst scavenging by alkenylated reaction product. The picolinamide directing group stabilizes the enamine of the 7-alkylidenenormorphan, allowing further product post functionalizations. Without Cu catalyst, regio- and diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed γ-C(sp3 )-H olefination is achieved.

Directed C-H Functionalization Reactions with a Picolinamide Directing Group: Ni-Catalyzed Cleavage and Byproduct Recycling.

An efficient strategy for the cleavage of the picolinamide directing group (DG) and recycling of the byproduct generated has been developed. In this protocol, picolinamides were first Boc activated into tertiary N-Boc-N-substituted picolinamides. These were then cleaved via a Ni-catalyzed esterification reaction with EtOH to give valuable N-Boc protected amines. Ni(cod)2 was used as a catalyst without any ligands or base additives. The byproduct, ethyl 2-picolinate can be used to install the picolinamide DG in a direct or indirect manner on amines. The protocol exhibits a broad functional group tolerance and high yields. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, it was applied on many selected examples from the recent C-H functionalization literature featuring 2-picolinamide as a DG.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Reductive Arylation of N-(2-Pyridinyl)amides with Isopropanol and Arylboronate Esters.

A new three-component reductive arylation of amides with stable reactants (iPrOH and arylboronate esters), making use of a 2-pyridinyl (Py) directing group, is described. The N-Py-amide substrates are readily prepared from carboxylic acids and PyNH2 , and the resulting N-Py-1-arylalkanamine reaction products are easily transformed into the corresponding chlorides by substitution of the HN-Py group with HCl. The 1-aryl-1-chloroalkane products allow substitution and cross-coupling reactions. Therefore, a general protocol for the transformation of carboxylic acids into a variety of functionalities is obtained. The Py-NH2 by-product can be recycled.