New Strategies for Transition Metal Catalyzed C-C and C-N Bond Formation

Abstract

Transition metal catalysis emerged as an essential tool in the field of organic chemistry. In this context, transition metal catalyzed C-H bond functionalization is considered as an alluring strategy as it occurs with the high atom-and-step economy. In the recent years, significant attention has been paid for the conversion of C-H bond into C-X (X = C, N, O, S, P..etc) bonds using transition metal catalysts. This thesis presents the development of new catalytic systems for the construction of C-C and C-N bonds through late transition metal-mediated C-H activation and decarboxylation reactions. Chapter 1 introduces the background of transition metal catalyzed C-H bond functionalization. This chapter provides reported catalytic methods for the conversion of arene C-H bonds into various functional groups through transition metal mediated chelation-assisted C-H bond activation. Chapter 2 describes the development of a new method for the synthesis of oxindoles via intramolecular alkene hydroarylation with N-aryl acrylamides using a Ru(II)/N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst system. This reaction occurs with good substrate scope and synthetically useful tolerance of functional groups and does not require the assistance of additional directing group. Preliminary mechanistic results support a tandem sequence involving amide-directed aromatic C-H bond activation and intramolecular alkene arylmetalation. Chapter 3 describes ruthenium-based decarboxylative alkenylation of heteroarenes through carboxylate directed C-H bond functionalization. The decarboxylative functionalization of heteroarenes occurs with high regioselectivity and a broad range of functional group tolerance. This decarboxylation proceeds without stoichiometric amounts of bases or oxidants and it is applicable for functionalization of various heteroarenes such as indole, pyrrole, thiophene, benzothiophene, and benzofuran at both C-2 and C-3 positions. The current protocol provides a straightforward approach for the synthesis of trisubstituted olefins with heteroarenes. Chapter 4 explains the development of Rh/Ag-bimetallic catalyst system for decarboxylative amidation of ortho-substituted benzoic acids with 3-aryldioxazolones. The nature of ortho-substituents determines regioselectivity of this reaction through two forms of proposed chelation assistance: (1) A wide range of non-directing ortho-substituents led to ortho-amidation products via carboxylate-directed C-H amidation and subsequent decarboxylation. (2) 2-Pyridyl and analogous DGs led to ipso-amidation products via DG-assisted decarboxylation and subsequent amidation.