Catalytic Ambiphilic C-H Activation: Mechanism and Exploitation

Methods for the formation of C-C and C-Y (Y = O, N) bonds are crucial for the synthesis of new molecules. In the last 20 years there have been huge advances in Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions and this was recognized in the award of the 2011 Nobel Prize. These reactions involve joining together two organic molecules, one of which features a bond between carbon and a halogen (a C-X bond) while the other coupling partner may feature a non-carbon centre such as tin, boron or zinc (a C-M bond). The coupling of these two partners to give a new C-C bond usually involves a palladium catalyst. Later versions involved forming C-N or C-O bonds. This coupling reaction generally works well, however the efficiency of this individual step masks significant waste of time and energy as well problems with environmental sustainability. These problems arise because both coupling partners ultimately derive from precursors that only contain C-H bonds and therefore require prior synthesis that usually involves several steps each with costly energy and purification implications. Moreover the final coupling process itself eliminates salts that must first of all be separated from the reaction products (a further costly and expensive process) before disposal, often with significant environmental impact.
A far more desirable approach would be to use the unactivated C-H containing precursors directly as the coupling partners. Such compounds are readily available and cheap. This approach would circumvent the need for the costly and wasteful preactivation that is required to make C-X and M-C species, as well as the post processing clean up of M-X by-products. Until very recently this approach has not been adopted as C-H based precursors are usually rather chemically inert. However, catalysis based on such C-H species (catalytic C-H activation) is now within reach, mainly due to recent advances where the means to activate the C-H bond with a transition metal catalyst have been understood. A key point in C-H activation is to have a directing group elsewhere on the feedstock molecule so that it can interact with the metal catalyst and so bring the C-H bond close enough to react. The M-C bond that is thus formed can then undergo reactions with other substrates to produce the desired C-C, C-N or C-O bond. Moreover, if instead this new bond is formed with another atom in the same molecule then a ring is formed. Such cyclic compounds containing an N or O atom are heterocyclic compounds and these play a key role as major constituents of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. In addition they often have interesting optical and electrical properties in their own right that are important in a range of technological applications. It is therefore crucial that the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is as efficient as possible; moreover the need for a wide range of heterocycles with different properties depends upon the development of new, efficient methods for their synthesis.

There are several precedents for this type of catalytic C-H activation in the scientific literature, however to date there is little understanding of what controls this reactivity. Thus the range of species that can be made is limited, the catalysis is not yet efficient and the selectivity of the reaction is poorly understood. To improve this situation requires a deeper understanding of how these systems work. We aim to provide this here through a combination of experimental studies and computational modeling. By understanding the factors that control reactivity and selectivity we will be able to design new, more efficient catalysts and also to widen the scope of the catalytic C-H activation methodology. The ultimate aim is to provide a flexible set of efficient synthetic tools that chemists will be able to use to make a wide range of important heterocycles in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Methods for the formation of C-C and C-Y (Y = O, N) bonds are crucial for the synthesis of new molecules. In the last 20 years there have been huge advances in Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions and this was recognized in the award of the 2010 Nobel Prize. However, despite the tremendous success of these reactions they all rely on at least one of the starting materials containing a C-X (X = Cl, Br, I) bond which is the functional group which is converted into the desired C-Y bond. Moreover, in addition to the waste formed in these reactions (equivalent amounts of salts) there is also the waste and time involved in the prior preparation of the C-X starting material from a C-H precursor. Hence these reactions are far from ideal from a sustainability point of view. Our approach is to directly activate the ubiquitous C-H bond, an "un-functional group", and make the new C-Y bond (Y = O, N, C) in one step. To facilitate this process requires a metal catalyst which helps break the C-H bond and controls formation of the C-C or C-Y bond. Catalytic C-H activation has the potential to revolutionise chemical synthesis by shortening synthetic routes and reducing waste in terms of raw materials and energy usage.
This project will potentially benefit all users of synthetic chemistry across a diverse range of fields and industries. Waste reduction is important in all sectors of the chemical industry; in the near-future growing environmental pressures will undeniably dictate a rapid escalation in the demand for sustainable synthesis.
The fine chemical and especially the pharmaceutical industry will also benefit from new strategies that will reduce the number of synthetic steps required to make, for example, target compounds required for drugs. This is a clear benefit in terms of cutting costs and saving time. Cheaper production costs and more flexible synthetic methods should also lead to benefits to the wider public regarding a long-term enhancement of the quality of life. So, the chemistry we propose could impact a wide-range of beneficiaries including the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and organic materials industries. These appear to be diverse targets, but this reflects the broad applicability of the methodology.