Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

3.2: Reactions With Metal Nitrenoid and Direct C-H Oxidation

  • Page ID
    168781
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    3.2.1 Reactions with Metal Nitrenoid

    The amine functional group is an important component of many biologically active compounds. The nitrene insertion into C-H bonds provides powerful tool for the direct introduction of C-N bond from C-H bonds. The mechanism of metal nitrenoid formation is believed to take place via an in situ-formed iodonium ylide that produces the reactive metal nitrenoid intermediate in the presence of suitable metal (Scheme \(\PageIndex{1}\)). The major intrinsic factors controls the selectivity are (i) the catalyst and (ii) the electron withdrawing group.

    clipboard_e71f7dc2db9c33c7dcfebefdf4669d611.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    3.2.1.1 Intramolecular Reactions

    3-Amino glycol derivatives serve as intermediates for the synthesis of 2-oxygenated sugars, 2-deoxysugars and antibiotics. Dirhodium-catalyzed nitrene transfer has been utilized as a key step in the synthesis of carbamate-protected 3-aminoglycols. For example, Scheme \(\PageIndex{2}\) illustrates the selective transformation of carbamate into oxazolidinone via nitrene insertion with 86% yield. The resulting oxazolidinone can be converted into L-vancosamine. This method has been employed for the synthesis of protected glycols of L-daunosamine, D-saccharosamine and L-ristosamine.

    clipboard_ef758ec1f3ab3d277857daf1d56e3986d.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Chiral Ru(II) porphyrin complex catalyzes the C-H amination of prochiral sulfonamides with good enantioselectivity (Scheme \(\PageIndex{3}\)). This procedure can be used for the synthesis of both five and six membered cyclic sulfamidates.

    clipboard_e1d9a52147ecbf1f0624f4df57b9a3f1a.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Chiral dirhodium has been shown effective catalyst for the cyclization of sulfonamides (Scheme \(\PageIndex{4}\)). This procedure is an example for the highly enantioselective amination process catalyzing the reactions of heteroaromatic substituents with up to 99% ee.

    clipboard_ee91eeb6191914f61ac74bad510734960.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    3.2.1.2 Intermolecular Reaction

    Intermolecular amination of benzylic C-H bonds can be accomplished using the chiral tosylsulfonylimidamide as a nitrene precursor in the presence of chiral dirhodium carboxylate Rh2(S-NTTL)4 with excellent diastereoselectivity (Scheme \(\PageIndex{5}\)).

    clipboard_e02344727a28d7bd4548e9600bd68412c.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    3.2.2 C-H Activation via Direct C-H Oxidation

    Chiral Ru-porphyrin complex has been shown to catalyze benzylic C-H hydroxylation with moderate enantioselectivity (Scheme \(\PageIndex{6}\)).

    clipboard_efac99d839a3e93e4dce1c10d1fa939e7.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    C-H functionalization via insertion of a reactive metal complex is one of the emerging areas for the development of practical C-H activation. The synthesis of alkynyl tetrahydroisoquinoline has been shown by double C-H activation in the presence of copper-pyBox at moderate temperature (Scheme \(\PageIndex{7}\)). The reaction of series of alkynes and aryl substituents is demonstrated. However, the presence of ortho methoxy substituent is essential for the success of the reaction.

    clipboard_ecc6b376f1b9859b11056b2db3245f437.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    Intramolecular alkylation of ketimines has been shown using chiral rhodium complex bearing chiral phosphoramidite L1* (Scheme \(\PageIndex{8}\)). The observed results suggest that the reaction involves substrate directed oxidative addition of rhodium into the arene C-H bond. This approach provides a new cyclization strategy for the construction of five and six membered cyclic system.

    clipboard_e2e43532477a1d121e9d995066b45a4af.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    The scope of the above procedure has been expanded for the reactions of 1,2-disbstituted and 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkenes to give chiral indane, dihydrobenzofuran and dihydropyrroloindole with high enantioselectivity (Scheme \(\PageIndex{9}\)). The formation of syn -products is observed regardless the configuration of the starting alkenes. Thus, a mixture of E and Z alkenes may be used as starting material.

    clipboard_ea6ecc593247a89ed97c45691dd74fdd8.png

    clipboard_e9f45c391781dc4571f971ded477fb390.png
    Scheme \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    • Was this article helpful?