C–H activation through late transition metal cyclometallation. Addressing selectivity and reactivity problems

Abstract: The ligand-directed C—H activation relies on a coordinating donor atom being in proximity to the C—H bond activated. Cyclometallation of 2-(1-naphthyl)-pyridine – a substrate containing both γ- and δ-positions in proximity to the directing nitrogen atom – was studied. Cycloruthenation and cyclopalladation result in γ-substitution and formation of the corresponding 5-membered metallacycles, which is in agreement with published regioselectivities of the corresponding catalytic reactions. Simultaneously, cycloauration and cycloborylation result in δ-substitution and formation of the corresponding 6-membered metallacycles. X-ray structures of all the metallacycles are presented. Deuterium labelling studies show that the cyclopalladation and cycloauration are irreversible, while the cycloruthenation is reversible and happens in both γ- and δ-positions.
Attempts to synthesise bimetallic palladium complexes, consisting of two (2-phenyl-pyridine) palladium fragments connected via bridging ligands, resulted predominantly in the formation of monometallic species. While 1,8-naphthyridine and 7-aza-indole bind to palladium in an L-fashion with only one of the two nitrogen atoms, N-piperidine dithiocarbamic acid binds with both sulfur atoms in a chelating, rather than a bridging fashion. 3,3-Dimethylglutaric acid acts as a bridging ligand. X-ray structures of naphthyridine and dithiocarbamate complexes are presented. No increase in the reactivity is observed, when 1,8-naphthyridine, 7-aza-indole and N-piperidine dithiocarbamic acid were used as additives in palladium-catalysed acetoxylation and bromination of 2-phenyl-pyridine.
Oxidative anion metathesis was employed as a method of synthesis of organic salts. Trimethylsulfoxonium iodide salts can be converted to tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, tosylate and bis-triflimide salts in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and the corresponding acids. The scope of cations, suitable for this reaction also includes N-alkylpyridinium and quaternary phosphonium salts.
N-acetoxypyridinium chloride was employed as an oxidant in the palladium-catalysed C—H functionalisation of 2-aryl-pyridine resulting in the formation of the corresponding chloro-derivative. Trimethylsulfoxonium tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate and tosylate are unreactive as oxidants towards 2-(phenyl)-pyridine palladium acetate.
Cyclopalladation of PCP pincer ligands with aromatic and aliphatic backbones by (PhCN)2PdCl2 was shown to proceed at temperatures as low as -62⁰C. The initial interaction results in the formation of a mixture of coordinated species, only some of which react further to form metallacyclic pincer compounds. The formation of pre-cyclometallation intermediates is kinetically disfavoured. However, C—H activation is fast and not rate-limiting in case of neither sp2 nor sp3 C—H bonds.