Alireza Ariafard

Density functional theory calculations were carried out to study the relative easiness of oxidative addition of aryl and alkyl halides to Pd(0). Kinetic but not thermodynamic factors were found to contribute to the better reactivity of aryl versus alkyl halides.

Oxidation of binuclear Pd(II) complexes with PhICl(2) or PhI(OAc)(2) has previously been shown to afford binuclear Pd(III) complexes featuring a Pd-Pd bond. In contrast, oxidation of binuclear Pd(II) complexes with electrophilic trifluoromethylating ("CF(3)(+)") reagents has been reported to afford mononuclear Pd(IV) complexes. Herein, we report experimental and computational studies of the oxidation of a binuclear Pd(II) complex with "CF(3)(+)" reagents. These studies suggest that a mononuclear Pd(IV) complex is generated by an oxidation-fragmentation sequence proceeding via fragmentation of an initially formed, formally binuclear Pd(III), intermediate. The observation that binuclear Pd(III) and mononuclear Pd(IV) complexes are accessible in the same reactions offers an opportunity for understanding the role of nuclearity in both oxidation and subsequent C-X bond-forming reactions.

This Article describes the development of a stable NiIV complex that mediates C(sp2)–H trifluoromethylation reactions. This reactivity is first demonstrated stoichiometrically and then successfully translated to a NiIV-catalyzed C–H trifluoromethylation of electron-rich arene and heteroarene substrates. Both experimental and computational mechanistic studies support a radical chain pathway involving NiIV, NiIII, and NiII intermediates.

We report a switchable synthesis of acylindoles and quinoline derivatives via gold-catalyzed annulations of anthranils and ynamides. α-Imino gold carbenes, generated in situ from anthranils and an N,O-coordinated gold(III) catalyst, undergo electrophilic attack to the aryl π-bond, followed by unexpected and highly selective 1,4- or 1,3-acyl migrations to form 6-acylindoles or 5-acylindoles. With the (2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine (JohnPhos) ligand, gold(I) carbenes experienced carbene/carbonyl additions to deliver quinoline oxides. Some of these epoxides are valuable substrates for the preparation of 3-hydroxylquinolines, quinolin-3(4H)-ones, and polycyclic compounds via facile in situ rearrangements. The reaction can be efficiently conducted on a gram scale and the obtained products are valuable substrates for preparing other potentially useful compounds. A computational study explained the unexpected selectivities and the dependency of the reaction pathway on the oxidation state and ligands of gold. With gold(III) the barrier for the formation of the strained oxirane ring is too high; whereas with gold(I) this transition state becomes accessible. Furthermore, energetic barriers to migration of the substituents on the intermediate sigma-complexes support the observed substitution pattern in the final product.

Lewis acidic boranes have been shown to be effective metal-free catalysts for highly selective reactions of donor-acceptor diazo compounds to a range of substrates. The reactions of α-aryl α-diazoesters with nitrogen heterocycles indole or pyrrole selectively generate C3 and C2 C–H insertion products, respectively, in good to excellent yields even when using unprotected indoles. Alternatively, benzofuran, indene, and alkene substrates give exclusively cyclopropanated products with α-aryl α-diazoesters, whereas the reactions with furans lead to ring-opening. Comprehensive theoretical calculations have been used to explain the differing reactivities and high selectivities of these reactions. Overall, this work demonstrates the selective metal-free catalytic reactions of α-aryl α-diazoesters with (hetero)cycles and alkenes. This simple, mild reaction protocol represents an alternative to the commonly used precious metal systems and may provide future applications in the generation of biologically active compounds.