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Ethynyl Benziodoxolones for the Direct Alkynylation of Heterocycles: Structural Requirement, Improved Procedure for Pyrroles, and Insights into the Mechanism
Author(s) -
Brand Jonathan P.,
Chevalley Clara,
Scopelliti Rosario,
Waser Jérôme
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201200200
Subject(s) - chemistry , regioselectivity , alkynylation , nucleophile , pyridine , combinatorial chemistry , hypervalent molecule , electrophile , reagent , substituent , electrophilic aromatic substitution , catalysis , organic chemistry
Abstract This report describes a full study of the gold‐catalyzed direct alkynylation of indoles, pyrroles, and thiophenes using alkynyl hypervalent iodine reagents, especially the study of the structural requirements of alkynyl benziodoxolones for an efficient acetylene transfer to heterocycles. An improved procedure for the alkynylation of pyrroles using pyridine as additive is also reported. Nineteen alkynyl benziodoxol(on)es were synthesized and evaluated in the direct alkynylation of indoles and/or thiophenes. Bulky silyl groups as acetylene substituents were optimal. Nevertheless, transfer of aromatic acetylenes to thiophene was achieved for the first time. An accelerating effect of a methyl substituent in both the 3‐ and 6‐position of triisopropylsilylethynyl‐1,2‐benziodoxol‐3(1 H )‐one (TIPS‐EBX) on the reaction rate was observed. Competitive experiments between substrates of different nucleophilicity, deuterium labeling experiments, as well as the regioselectivity observed are all in agreement with electrophilic aromatic substitution. Gold(III) 2‐pyridinecarboxylate dichloride was also an efficient catalyst for the reaction. Investigations indicated that gold(III) could be eventually reduced to gold(I) during the process. As a result of these investigations, a π activation or an oxidative mechanism are most probable for the alkynylation reaction.