Open AccessModular Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for the Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective C–H Functionalization of Heterocycles
Author(s) -
Johannes Diesel,
Nicolai Cramer
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2020.278
Subject(s) - enantioselective synthesis , carbene , combinatorial chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , surface modification , chemistry , catalysis , annulation , nickel , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , receptor
N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are the ligands of choice in a large variety of transformations entailing different transition metals. However, the number and variety of chiral NHCs suitable as stereo-controlling ligands in asymmetric catalysis remains limited. Herein we highlight the introduction of a modular NHC ligand family, consisting of a chiral version of the widely used IPr ligand. These chiral NHC ligands were applied in the nickel-catalyzed enantioselective C–H functionalization of N-heterocycles. Nickel-NHC catalysis unlocked the stereoselective C–H annulation of 2- and 4-pyridones, delivering fused bicyclic compounds found in many biologically active compounds. Applying a bulky, yet flexible ligand scaffold enabled the highly enantioselective C–H functionalization of pyridones under mild conditions. The introduction of a bulky chiral SIPr analogue enabled the nickel-catalyzed enantioselective C–H functionalization of indoles, yielding valuable tetrahydropyridoindoles. Additionally, pyrrolopyridines, pyrrolopyrimidines and pyrroles were efficiently functionalized, delivering chiral annulated azoles.