Majji
Shankar
a,
Raja K.
Rit
a,
Somratan
Sau
a,
Kallol
Mukherjee
a,
Vincent
Gandon
*bc and
Akhila K.
Sahoo
*a
aSchool of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India. E-mail: akhilchemistry12@gmail.com; akssc@uohyd.ac.in
bInstitut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay, CNRS UMR 8182, Université; Paris-Sud, Université; Paris-Saclay, Bâtiment 420, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. E-mail: vincent.gandon@universite-paris-saclay.fr
cLaboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire (LCM), CNRS UMR 9168, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
First published on 27th May 2020
Direct difunctionalization of chemically distinct ortho- and peri-C–H bonds of fused hetero(arenes) is illustrated through an unusual one-pot domino {[4 + 2] & [5 + 2]} double annulation with alkynes for the first time. This process is viable under Ru(II)-catalysis using a sulfoximine directing group and builds four bonds [(C–C)–(C–N) and (C–C)–(C–O)] in a single operation. Such synthetic manifestation offers access to uncommon [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridine skeletons. DFT calculations provide mechanistic insight into this double annulation of naphthoic acid derivatives with alkynes and corroborate the participation of a ruthena-oxabicyclooctene intermediate, which is responsible for the rare 7-membered ring formation.
Fig. 1 Background: Annulation of ortho-C(2)–H & peri-C(8)–H bond of 1-naphthalene derivatives with alkynes. |
Recent domino one-pot double annulation of o/o′-C–H bonds of (hetero)arenes with alkynes have led to [6,6]-fused heteroaryls.10,11 Although important issues of regio- and chemoselectivity, cumbersome mixtures due to incomplete conversion, catalytic viability, etc., could be addressed,12 such domino double C–H annulations were not extended to the formation of [6,7]-fused heteroarenes. To make such synthetic plan feasible, we hypothesized a Ru-catalyzed double annulation of 1-naphthoic acid derivatives with alkynes.
We believed the reaction would be initiated by N-aided C(2)–H activation and annulation with the alkyne to first form an angularly [6,6,6]-fused benzo[h]isoquinolinol. As peri-C–H bonds of fused-arenes are susceptible to electrophilic substitution, we anticipated an O-directed ruthenation of the proximal peri-C(8)–H bond to provide Int-Z (Fig. 2B). Finally, second alkyne incorporation to Int-Z and reductive elimination would build the unusual [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridine motif (Fig. 2B). This one-pot domino double annulation uses the methylphenyl sulfoximine (MPS)-DG.12b Thus, the sequential activation of ortho- and peri-C–H bonds and annulation results in the formation of N- and O-enabled 6- and 7-membered rings on fused (hetero)arenes by generating four bonds (C–C & C–N and C–C & C–O) in a single operation (Fig. 2B).
Entry | Additive 1 (20 mol%) | Additive 2 (1.0 equiv.) | Solvent | Yield 3aab (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
a Conditions: 1a (0.3 mmol), 2a (0.9 mmol), [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 (5.0 mol%), additive-1 (20 mol%), additive-2 (0.3 mmol), solvent (2.0 mL) at 120 °C. b Isolated yield. c 1H NMR conversion. d [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 (10 mol%), AgSbF6 (40 mol%) was used. e 2a (1.2 mmol), [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 (10 mol%), AgSbF6 (40 mol%), Cu(OAc)2·H2O (1.5 equiv.) was used. DCE = ClCH2CH2Cl, TCE = 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. | ||||
1 | AgSbF6 | NaOAc | DCE | 8 |
2 | 〃 | Mn(OAc)2 | DCE | 12 |
3 | 〃 | AgOAc | DCE | 15 |
4 | 〃 | Zn(OAc)2·2H2O | DCE | 11 |
5 | 〃 | Cu(OAc)2·H2O | DCE | 35 |
6 | KPF6 | 〃 | DCE | <5c |
7 | NaPF6 | 〃 | DCE | 6 |
8 | AgBF4 | 〃 | DCE | 30 |
9 | AgSbF6 | 〃 | MeCN | <5c |
10 | 〃 | 〃 | Toluene | 7 |
11 | 〃 | 〃 | TCE | 22 |
12 | 〃 | 〃 | 1,4-Dioxane | 41 |
13d | AgSbF6 | Cu(OAc)2·H2O | 1,4-Dioxane | 68 |
14 | AgSbF 6 | Cu(OAc) 2 ·H 2 O | 1,4-Dioxane | 77 |
15 | AgSbF6 | — | 1,4-Dioxane | <5c |
16 | — | Cu(OAc)2·H2O | 1,4-Dioxane | <5c |
To validate the role of DGs in this one-pot domino {[4 + 2] & [5 + 2]} double annulation strategy, various DG-enabled 1-naphthyl bearing amides (I–VI) were subjected to the annulation with 2a under the optimized conditions (bottom of Table 1). The substrates having NH-Me (I) and NH-tosyl (II) DGs proved unreactive, whereas, simple 1-naphthylamide (III) underwent this domino annulations with 2a producing 3aa in poor yield.6 The N-oxidizable group protected amides [IV (with N–O bond), V, and VI (with N–N bond)] provided 3aa in 15%, 7%, and 26% yield, respectively. Thus, the MPS-DG was found most effective for the construction of the [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridine skeleton.13
The generality of this annulation among fused (hetero)arenes exhibiting peri-C–H bonds and unactivated alkynes was explored under the optimized catalytic conditions (Scheme 1). The annulation of naphthalene derivatives 1a–l, bearing either electron-donating (Me, OMe, OEt), labile halo (F, Cl, Br), electron-withdrawing (CO2Me, COMPS), arene (Ph, pyrene), and OBn substituents at position 4, 5, or 6, with 2a, was successful in producing the respective 6,7-fused oxepino-pyridine 3aa–la in 45–87% yield. The tolerance of modifiable functionalities (i.e. F, Cl, Br, CO2Me, COMPS) offers the possibility of further functionalization. The core structure of 3ha and 3ja were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis.14,15 Likewise, this double-annulation of 1a with the other internal alkynes 5-decyne (2b) and 3-hexyne (2c) delivered 3ab (79%) and 3ac (80%), respectively. Moreover, the gram scale synthesis of3ac(1.15 g) with recovery of PhSOMe (0.44 g) showed the robustness of the catalytic system and the transformable nature of the MPS group.5g Polyarene bearing scaffolds, for example: phenanthrene (1m), pyrene (1n), and perylene (1o), delivered 3ma, 3nb and 3oa, albeit in moderate yield.
Importantly, benzothiophene derivative 1p smoothly reacted with 2b to afford 3pb in 82% yield. Indole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives 1q–s were used in this double annulation with 2b and 2a. The respective complex heteroarenes 3qb, 3rb, and 3sa were reliably accessed. The common N-protecting groups benzyl and MOM did not prevent the reaction. The yields are moderate in these cases, but the construction of these molecular scaffolds with three heteroatoms (i.e. S–N–O, N–N–O) in a 5,6,7-fused system is remarkable. Notably, the current synthetic plan was successful in making 8 bonds (4 C–C, 2 C–N, and 2 C–O) in a single operation; thus, an extended π-conjugated system 4a with two oxepino-pyridine motifs was made. The reaction of 1a with diphenylacetylene provided polycyclic amides through linear diannulation.11,14 On the other hand, the reaction of a thioalkyne or an ynamide with 1a produced complex mixtures (Scheme 1). Lastly, the terminal alkyne phenylacetylene underwent dimerization under the optimized oxidative condition.
The site-specific introduction of a novel functionality on an unreactive site of a complex motif has tremendous significance to the field of complex molecule synthesis and is often termed as late stage functionalization (LSF).16 In particular, LSF through C–H functionalization is very useful in drug discovery and draws significant attention from the scientific community. Accordingly, a range of biologically relevant motifs moulded with MPS-bearing naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid (5a–g) were synthesized and were independently subjected to the optimized reaction conditions with 2a and 2c (Scheme 2). Thus, the desired oxepino-pyridines 6aa-β-citronellol, 6bc-camphorsultam, 6ca-(−)-boreneol, 6ec-cholesterol, 6fc-estrone, and 6gc-lithocholic acid were constructed without any structural (chemical and stereochemical) changes of the complex architecture.14 The poor-to-moderate synthetic yields are due to low conversions. Isolation of unreacted precursors justifies the mass balance of the transformation.
Encouraged by the broad range of oxepino-pyridines derivatives obtained (Schemes 1 and 2), the title reaction was next envisaged with two different alkynes. However, the difference in reactivity, regio- and chemoselectivity with different alkynes led to unexploitable annulation mixtures.12 To make this challenging unsymmetrical transformation viable, a two-step annulation sequence was tested. Accordingly, benzo[h]isoquinolinone 7a (0.5 mmol, 75%) was accessed from 1a and 2a when the reaction was carried out in presence of AcOH under Ru-catalysis (Scheme 3, Conditions A). Presumably the acid suppresses the second annulation through proto-demetallation.11 Next, the annulation of 7a with 1,2-diaryl alkynes (2d–g) led to the respective [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridines (8ad–ag) in moderate yields (Scheme 3). The structure of 8ae was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography.14,15 A deuterium scrambling study and competition experiments were then performed to gain some mechanistic insight into this annulation (Scheme 4).
Exposing 1a to the optimized conditions in presence of CD3CO2D (2.5 equiv.) resulted in D-incorporation at C2 (65%) and C8 (62%) positions (eqn (1)). Similarly, 55% of deuterium incorporation occurred at C8 in an identical experiment with 7a (eqn (2)). Therefore, activation of both the ortho- and peri-C–H bonds of MPS-enabled-1-naphthylamide is reversible. The competitive annulation of an equimolar mixture of 1c and 1f with 2a led to a 2:1 ratio of 3ca and 3fa; thus, an electron-rich arene reacts faster than an electron-poor one (eqn (3)).
In general, the π-conjugated polyfused heteroarenes show interesting photophysical properties. Thus, the absorption and emission spectra of oxepino-pyridines 3nb, 3oa, 3pb, 3qb, 3sa, 4a, and 8ae were measured in dichloromethane (1 × 10−5).14 Of note, compounds 3nb and 3ob show emission maxima at 436–512 nm with broad bandwidths and weak intensities.14
The mechanism of the title reaction has been studied computationally, employing the Gaussian 09 software package.17 Following a recent report, optimizations were carried out with the M06 functional, the 6-31G(d,p) basis set for all main group elements, and the LANL2DZ+f (ECP)18 basis set for Ru. Single point calculations were conducted at the M06/6-311++G(d,p)-SDD+f(ECP) level of theory. Solvation energies were obtained at the single point level using SMD approach for 1,4-dioxane. The discussed values are solvent-corrected Gibbs free energies at 393.15 K in kcal mol−1 (ΔG393). The molecular system A [1a, 2-butyne (2.0 equiv.), [RuOAcL]+ (L = p-cymene), AcO− ] was used as a reference for the free energies (Fig. 3). Thus, A contains two acetates to ensure two deprotonation of 1a. The complexation of the putative active species [RuOAc(p-cymene)]+ with 1a at first provides B with a release of 20.5 kcal mol−1. Next, C–H metalation occurs through TSBC lying 11.9 kcal mol−1 above B to provide metallacycle C (−23.6 kcal mol−1). Elimination of acetic acid and insertion of 2-butyne delivers the alkyne-complex E (more stable than C by 2.6 kcal mol−1). Alkyne insertion does not yield the proposed metal-alkenyl complex F′, but rather its valence isomer F, which is a metallacyclopropene as witnessed by the distortion of the 7-membered ring and by the short Ru–C distance of 1.85 Å. The formation of F is slightly endergonic by 0.3 kcal mol−1 that requires 14.9 kcal mol−1 of free energy of activation (TSEF). Then, intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the NS bond gives the annulation intermediate G (see arrows in F′). The conversion of F to G is the rate-determining step with a barrier 25.0 kcal mol−1 (19.6 kcal mol−1 from B), which is consistent with the temperature of the reaction (120 °C). Although the resulting complex G is less stable than F by 3.2 kcal mol−1, the acetate aided dissociation of [Ru(OAc)L]+ promotes spontaneous elimination of PhSOMe from the free ligand to give H, located as low as −69.0 kcal mol−1 on the energy surface. The liberation of PhSOMe, the conjugation of the anion, and the strong H-bond in H assist the loss of the sulfur moiety.
Finally, protonation of H by AcOH produces pyridine I or the pyridone species J. In line with the experimental observations, J is significantly more stable. The mechanistic insight directed towards the second annulation for the construction of pyridine-fused 7-membered oxepine ring is depicted in Fig. 4. The complexation of H (at −69.0 kcal mol−1) with [Ru(OAc)L]+ is exergonic by 56.4 kcal mol−1 and yields K at −125.4 kcal mol−1. Intermediate K shows a H-bond between the acetate ligand and the peri-H of the naphthalene moiety. The Ru–C bond is short (2.36 Å), due to the coordination of Ru to the ipso-carbon and makes the peri-H acidic. The C–H metalation of the pre-organized complex K provides L (at −137.5 kcal mol−1 on the energy surface). This step requires 6.5 kcal mol−1 free energy of activation (TSKL). Next, the substitution of acetic acid with second alkyne equivalent is endergonic by 10.9 kcal mol−1 to afford N (−126.6 kcal mol−1). Of particular interest, the formation of 7-membered ring does not arise from the reductive elimination of a simple 8-membered metallacycle (O′′). Instead, at the expense of 15.9 kcal mol−1 of free energy of activation, the ruthena-oxabicyclooctene complex O, located at −132.7 kcal mol−1, is achieved from NviaTSNO. Among the Lewis depiction of O and O′, the structure O is supported by the Ru–Cipso distance of 2.35 Å and other geometrical parameters. Its formation can be understood as an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition between the alkyne and a RuC bond as shown in N′ (a fictive valence isomer of N). This process eventually avoids the participation of a highly strained phenanthrene-containing 8-membered ring (O′′). Then, the reductive elimination of O demands 25.2 kcal mol−1 free energy of activation to give P. This process is slightly endergonic and is the rate-determining step of this second annulation process. The transfer of the RuL moiety from P to the precursor 1a produces the desired [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridine skeleton Q and chelate R. This step is exergonic by 7.9 kcal mol−1. Finally, as it is generally accepted, one can then propose that complex R transforms into B by Cu(OAc)2 mediated oxidation. Based on the experimental observations and insightful computational data, the mechanism of this double annulation is sketched in Fig. 5.4
The active Ru-catalyst {generated from [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2, AgSbF6, and AcO−} first coordinates to MPS and activates the C(2)–H bond of 1a to form I (D in Fig. 3). The coordination of alkyne to I and its migratory insertion leads to II (F in Fig. 3). Next, the intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the NS bond provides III (G in Fig. 3), which is the rate-determining step of the mono-annulation. The acetate-aided expulsion of [Ru(OAc)L]+ and elimination of PhSOMe leads to pyridone species IV (H in Fig. 3). Next, direct C(8)–H ruthenation of IV affords V (M in Fig. 4). Then, alkyne insertion into V generates the unusual ruthena-oxabicyclooctene complex VI (O in Fig. 4). The reductive elimination of VI gives VII (P in Fig. 4) and is the rate-determining step of the second annulation. Finally, Cu(OAc)2 mediated transfer of RuL moiety to 1a liberates the desired [6,7]-fused oxepino-pyridine skeleton.
Footnote |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Copies of the 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data for all products. CCDC 1979334–1979336. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/d0sc01373k |
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