Ruthenium-catalyzed umpolung carboxylation of hydrazones with CO2†
Abstract
The first ruthenium-catalyzed umpolung carboxylation of hydrazones with CO2 to generate important aryl acetic acids is reported. Besides aldehyde hydrazones, a variety of ketone hydrazones, which have not been successfully applied in previous umpolung reactions with other reactive electrophiles, also show high reactivity and selectivity under mild conditions. Moreover, this operationally simple protocol features good functional group tolerance, is readily scalable, and offers easy derivation of important structures, including bioactive felbinac and adiphenine. Computational studies reveal that this umpolung reaction proceeds through the generation of a Ru-nitrenoid followed by concerted [4 + 2] cycloaddition with CO2.
- This article is part of the themed collections: Celebrating 100 Years of Chemistry at Nankai University and 2018 International Open Access Week Collection