Rh(iii)-catalyzed tandem annulative redox-neutral arylation/amidation of aromatic tethered alkenes.

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H functionalization has emerged as a powerful and straightforward tool to construct C-C bonds and C-N bonds. Among these processes, the intramolecular annulative alkene hydroarylation reaction has received much attention because this intramolecular annulation can produce more complex and high value-added structural motifs found in numerous natural products and bioactive molecules. Despite remarkable progress, these annulative protocols developed to date remain limited to hydroarylation and functionalization of one side of alkenes, thus largely limiting the structural diversity and complexity. Herein, we developed a rhodium(iii)-catalyzed tandem annulative arylation/amidation reaction of aromatic tethered alkenes to deliver a variety of 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranmethanamine derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereo center by employing 3-substituted 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as an amidating reagent to capture the transient C(sp3)-Rh intermediate. Notably, by simply changing the directing group, a second, unsymmetrical ortho C-H amidation/annulation can be achieved to provide tricyclic dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinazolinones in good yields. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Transition-metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization for the direct conversion of C–H bonds to C–C bonds and C–N bonds has evolved into a widespread and effective strategy for fine chemical production.[1] Among these processes, the hydroarylation of C–C double bonds via a C–H addition has been well-established and become an effective strategy to access synthetically useful structural motifs.[1] Recently, this alkene hydroarylation reaction has received much attention in an intramolecular fashion[2] (Scheme 1a) because this intramolecular annulation can produce more complex and high value-added structural motifs found in numerous natural products and bioactive molecules (Fig. 1).[3] Despite remarkable progress in this area, most of the annulative protocols developed to date remain limited to one-component intramolecular alkene hydroarylation and functionalization of one side of alkenes. More challenging C–H arylation of intramolecular alkenes followed by a tandem coupling with a different coupling partner have unfortunately proven elusive thus far, thus largely limiting the structural diversity and complexity.

Scheme 1

Transition-metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization to construct the C–C and C–N bonds.

Fig. 1

Representative bioactive 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans.

On the other hand, nitrogen-containing molecules have gained great attention due to their widespread presence in natural products and widespread use in pharmaceutical science.[4] During the last two decades, transition-metal-catalyzed direct C(sp2)–H amination/amidation assisted by chelating directing group is a well-established strategy.[5] Recently, several examples of C(sp3)–H amination/amidation have also been reported for the efficient installation of C–N bonds.[6,7] Mechanistically, the reaction is initiated by a chelation-assisted C–H metalation to form a C(sp3)–M species, which is then coupled with amination reagents to construct the C–N bonds.

In this context, we wondered if a catalytic annulative C–H arylation of a O-bearing olefin-tethered arenes might be possible, thus leading to a C(sp3)–M intermediate, which upon capture with a amidation reagent to construct a new C–N bond and provide bioactive 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranmethanamine derivatives. Inherently, the tandem annulative 1,2-arylation/amidation of alkenes has several challenges. First, the resulting C(alkyl)–M intermediate is liable to undergo protonation to provide the alkene hydroarylation products.[1,2] Moreover, a potential competing β-H elimination of the resulting C(alkyl)–M intermediate also required to be suppressed. In addition, compared with the C(sp2)–M species, the resulting C(alkyl)–M species is relatively unstable and also has a low reactivity.

To address these challenges and with our continuing interest in the Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H functionalization,[8] we introduced a Weinreb amide as a directing group and 3-substituted 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as the amide sources[9] to trigger a new tandem annulative 1,2-arylation/amidation of alkenes via a Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation,[10] providing a variety of synthetically challenging 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranmethanamine derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereo center (Scheme 1b). More importantly, through simply changing the directing group, a second, unsymmetrical ortho C–H amidation/annulation could be realized to provide tricyclic dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinazolinone derivatives. This protocol provides a good complement to previously reported carboamination reactions.[11]

To begin our studies, Weinreb amide 1a was reacted with methyl dioxazolone 3a in the presence of various catalyst and AgSbF6 at 70 °C in DCE (Table 1, entries 1–4). The use of [Cp*RhCl2]2 as the catalyst was found to be crucial to give the desired tandem annulative product 4a, with other catalysts, such as [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2, [Cp*IrCl2]2, and Cp*Co(CO)I2, resulting in no desired product. Attempt to increase or lower the reaction temperature led to a slightly low yield (entries 5 and 6). Interestingly, when employing a NH–OMe amide 2a as the substrate and using 3 equivalent of 3a, a second, unsymmetrical ortho C–H amidation/annulation was achieved to provide the tricyclic dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinazolinone 5a in 50% yield (entry 7). A screen of additives (entries 8–10) identified LiOAc as the optimal additive, affording the desired product 5a in 93% yield (entry 10). The Rh(iii) catalyst was found to be crucial for this tandem annulative arylation/amidation reaction, with no reactivity in its absence (entries 11 and 12).

Optimization of reaction conditionsa

Entry	X	Catalyst (5 mol%)	Additive (20 mol%)	Solvent	T (°C)	Yield of 4a (%)	Yield of 5a (%)
1	Me	[Cp*RhCl2]2	—	DCE	70	89	0
2	Me	[Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2	—	DCE	70	0	0
3	Me	[Cp*IrCl2]2	—	DCE	70	0	0
4	Me	Cp*Co(CO)I2	—	DCE	70	0	0
5	Me	[Cp*RhCl2]2	—	DCE	90	69	0
6	Me	[Cp*RhCl2]2	—	DCE	50	70	0
7b	H	[Cp*RhCl2]2	—	DCE	70	0	50
8b	H	[Cp*RhCl2]2	Cu(OAc)2	DCE	70	0	87
9b	H	[Cp*RhCl2]2	KOAc	DCE	70	0	86
10b	H	[Cp*RhCl2]2	LiOAc	DCE	70	0	93
11b	H	—	LiOAc	DCE	70	0	0
12	Me	—	—	DCE	70	0	0

Conditions: 1a (0.1 mmol), 3a (0.12 mmol), catalyst (5 mol%), AgSbF6 (20 mol%) and additive (20 mol%) in DCE (1 mL) for 12 h. Yield isolated by column chromatography.

Conditions: 2a (0.1 mmol), 3a (0.3 mmol), catalyst (5 mol%), AgSbF6 (20 mol%), additive (20 mol%) in DCE (1 mL) for 12 h. Yield isolated by column chromatography.

Having determined the optimal reaction conditions, we sought to evaluate the substrate scope (Scheme 2). First, the amidation reagents were explored and 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones substituted with primary alkyl (4a and 4e), secondary alky (4b, 4c and 4f), tertiary alkyl (4d) and aryl group (4g–j) all coupled smoothly with 1a, providing the 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranmethanamines 4a–4j in good yields. The structure of 4f was unambiguously confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic analysis (CCDC 2015893). The scope with regards to the arene moiety was then examined. The substrates 1 containing either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents at different positions on the arene ring were well tolerated and provide the desired products 4k–t in good yields. We were pleased that 2-naphthalenecarboxamide effectively underwent this tandem annulative 1,2-arylation/amidation reaction, affording the desired product 4r in good yield. Notably, the various substituted allyl groups such as ethyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, and phenoxymethyl groups were found to be compatible with the reaction conditions (4u–x). In addition, 3-N-tethered and 3-S-tethered substrates failed to give the desired tandem annulative products 4z and 4za.

Scheme 2

Substrate scope of tandem annulative arylation/amidation reaction of aromatic tethered alkenes. Conditions: 1 (0.1 mmol), 3 (0.12 mmol), [Cp*RhCl2]2 (5 mol%), AgSbF6 (20 mol%) in DCE (1 mL) at 70 °C for 12 h. Yield isolated by column chromatography.

Next, we proceeded to explore the scope of this unsymmetrical twofold C–H functionalization reaction (Scheme 3). Under the optimal reaction conditions, amidating reagents bearing alkyl or aryl groups are fully tolerated, affording the tricyclic dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinazolinones 5a–5h in good yields. The structure of 5e was unambiguously confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic analysis (CCDC 2014245). Electronic and steric modification of the aryl group was also tolerated. Both electron-deficient (5j, 5m–o) and electron-rich (5i, 5k, 5l, 5q and 5r) substrates gave the corresponding tricyclic systems in good yields. Meta and para substitutions of a methyl group were also tolerated and delivered the products 5i and 5k, indicating a high tolerance for steric hindrance. Interestingly, when 2-naphthalenecarboxamide was used, a third C–H amidation of naphthalene ring took place, affording the product 5s in 65% yield. Notably, the current method effectively resulted in the ethyl-, cyclopentyl, phenyl, and phenoxymethyl-substituted products 5t–w bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereo center in good yield, respectively.

Scheme 3

Substrate scope of unsymmetrical twofold C–H functionalization reaction. Conditions: 2 (0.1 mmol), 3 (0.30 mmol), [Cp*RhCl2]2 (5 mol%), AgSbF6 (20 mol%), LiOAc (20 mol%) and DCE (1 mL) at 70 °C for 12 h. Yield isolated by column chromatography.

To check the practicability of this protocol, this two procedures could be readily scaled up with comparable efficiency in the presence of 2.5 mol% of Rh(iii) catalyst on a 2.0 mmol scale (eqn (1) and (2)). The product 5a could be readily converted into potential useful intermediates, such as amines 6a and free amino quinazolinone analog 6b, respectively (eqn (3)).

To gain insight into the reaction mechanism, hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange were carried out. A H/D exchange at the ortho-position of the amide group in the re-isolated 1a and 2a was observed in the absence or presence of 3a, indicative of the reversibility of the ortho C–H activation (eqn (4)–(6)). Treatment of 2a with 1 equivalent of 3d at room temperature for 1 h delivered the 6d as the sole product, indicating that the intramolecular tandem annulative 1,2-arylation/amidation of alkenes is faster than ortho C–H amidation/annulation (eqn (7)). In addition, the use of 3 equivalent of 3d at 70 °C for 2 h provided 6e as the main product and subsequent treatment of 6e under the standard conditions gave 5d in 60% yield (eqn (8)), indicating that the second ortho C–H amidation occurs first, followed by an intramolecular dehydration to give the desired quinazolinone product. Finally, treatment of substrate 7 with 3a under the standard reaction conditions did not give any product 8, ruling out the possibility of the insertion of a nitrene to double bond (eqn (9)).

Based on above-mentioned experimental results, a plausible reaction pathway is proposed in Scheme 4. [Cp*RhCl2]2 precursor reacts with AgSbF6 to form an active cationic Rh(iii) species, which undergoes a C–H bond activation to form cyclometalated complex Int-A. Coordination of the tethered olefin and a subsequent migratory insertion affords the intermediate Int-B, which undergoes an oxidative addition into the N–O bond of 3a, followed by a CO2 extrusion, to provide the Rh(v) nitrenoid species Int-C. Reductive elimination occurs to deliver the intermediate Int-D which then is protonated to release product 4a or Int-E and regenerate the catalyst. Int-E can undergo a second ortho C–H activation to give Int-F, which can be oxidized by 3a again to afford the Rh(v) nitrenoid species Int-G, with a CO2 extrusion. Subsequent reductive elimination and protonation give the Int-I which undergoes an intramolecular dehydration to deliver the product 5a.

Scheme 4

Proposed reaction mechanism.

Conclusions

In summary, we have developed an unprecedented rhodium-catalyzed tandem annulative arylation/amidation reaction of aromatic tethered alkenes by using 3-substituted 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as an amidating reagent. This robust transformation proceeds with a broad functional group tolerance under relatively mild and redox-neutral reaction conditions, releasing CO2 as the single byproduct. A wide variety of 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranmethanamine derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereo center can be accessed with high yields. Notably, by simply changing the directing group, a second, unsymmetrical ortho C–H amidation/annulation can be achieved to provide tricyclic dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinazolinone derivatives in good yields.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts to declare.