Ligand-Promoted Meta-C-H Arylation of Anilines, Phenols, and Heterocycles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jacs.6b04966

Here we report the development of a versatile 3-acetylamino-2-hydroxypyridine class of ligands that promote meta-C-H arylation of anilines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, phenols, and 2-benzyl heterocycles using norbornene as a transient mediator. More than 120 examples are presented, demonstrating this ligand scaffold enables a wide substrate and coupling partner scope. Meta-C-H arylation with heterocyclic aryl iodides as coupling partners is also realized for the first time using this ligand. The utility for this transformation for drug discovery is showcased by allowing the meta-C-H arylation of a lenalidomide derivative. The first steps toward a silver-free protocol for this reaction are also demonstrated.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/jacs.6b04966

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Article
Ligand-Promoted Meta-C–H Arylation of Anilines, Phenols, and Heterocycles
Peng Wang, Marcus E. Farmer, Xing Huo, Pankaj Jain, Peng-Xiang Shen, Mette
Ishoey, James E. Bradner, Steven R. Wisniewski, Martin D. Eastgate, and Jin-Quan Yu
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Just Accepted Manuscript • DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b04966 • Publication Date (Web): 06 Jul 2016
Downloaded from http://pubs.acs.org on July 6, 2016
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Ligand-Promoted Meta-C–H Arylation of Anilines,
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Phenols, and Heterocycles
Peng Wang†,┴, Marcus E. Farmer†,┴, Xing Huo†,┴, Pankaj Jain†, Peng-Xiang Shen†, Mette Ishoey‡, James
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†
E. Bradner‡, Steven R. Wisniewski§, Martin D. Eastgate§, Jin-Quan Yu*,
†Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla,
California 92037
‡Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 360 Longwood Ave. Boston, MA
02115, USA.
§Chemical Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 1 Squibb Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA.
*yu200@scripps.edu
RECEIVED DATE (to be automatically inserted after your manuscript is accepted if required
according to the journal that you are submitting your paper to)
Abstract. Here we report the development of a versatile 3-acetylamino-2-hydroxypyridine class of
ligands that promote meta-C–H arylation of anilines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, phenols, and 2-benzyl
heterocycles using norbornene as a transient mediator. More than 120 examples are presented,
demonstrating this ligand scaffold enables a wide substrate and coupling partner scope. Meta-C–H
arylation with heterocyclic aryl iodides as coupling partners is also realized for the first time using this
ligand. The utility for this transformation for drug discovery is showcased by allowing the meta-C–H
arylation of a lenalidomide derivative. The first steps towards a silver free protocol for this reaction are
also demonstrated.
1. Introduction
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Cyclometallation has been extensively studied since the 1960s when the first examples of such
process were disclosed.1 These initial reports spurred interest in the catalytic activation and
functionalization of C–H bonds directed by both installed and native functionality within a given molecule.
In the last two decades, directed C–H activation has gained significant traction and robust ortho-
functionalizations of arenes using this strategy have been reported.2 In sharp contrast, the development of
meta- and para-C–H functionalizations has seen much less success. Thus far, two approaches towards the
selective meta- and para-C–H functionalization of arenes have predominated in the literature. The first
strategy is the use of sterics and electronics to guide transition metal catalysts to the meta- or para-C–H
bond of a given substrate.3 This strategy is the longest standing approach to this problem, though it is
largely limited to 1,3-disubstituted arenes.3c-e The second, inspired by the use of directing groups to
carefully guide transition metal catalysts, relies on the use of a template to guide a palladium catalyst to
the remote meta- or para-C–H bond.4 Particularly for meta-C–H functionalization, this approach has been
shown to be highly general. However, a downside to this approach is that the use of a designer template
is required for each substrate class. A third and thought provoking strategy using Ru(II) catalysts has
recently gained attention and holds significant promise if the substrate scope can be expanded to a wide
range of directing groups.5 This approach hinges on the use of an initial ortho-cycloruthenation which
activates the meta-position (para to the newly formed C-Ru bond) of an aromatic ring to react with
electrophiles.5 The mechanism of this transformation is somewhat unclear, though a radical pathway has
recently been proposed.5c Several other approaches towards the meta-C–H functionalization of aromatics
have also been demonstrated, though the scope and generality of these approaches remains to be fully
explored.6
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Recently, our group and others have developed another approach to achieve meta-C–H
functionalization by relaying the initial ortho-cyclopalladation to the meta-position using norbornene as
the mediator.7 Such a relay process is the key step in the well documented Catellani reaction.8 In this
reaction, norbornene acts as an efficient mediator that relays palladium from an initial site of palladation
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(obtained via oxidative addition of Pd(0) to an aryl halide) to the adjacent position.8 In an interesting
example, Bach has also shown that the use of norbornene as a transient mediator can be successfully
combined with palladium catalyzed 1,2-aminopalladation to achieve selective C–H functionalization at
the 2-position of indoles and pyrroles.9 Though the Catellani reaction has been known since 1997, the use
of norbornene as a transient mediator had not been successfully combined with directed ortho-C–H
activation to achieve a net meta-functionalization via a relay process until 2015 (for a simplified
mechanism, see Figure 1a).7 Though this strategy in theory should be able to translate the plethora of
ortho-C–H activation reactions to meta-C–H functionalization, currently only a handful of substrates have
been demonstrated to be compatible with this catalysis.7 Notably, to the best of our knowledge, there have
been no reports disclosing the use of heterocyclic aryl iodides as coupling partners in this transformation.
Further development of this newly emerging meta-C–H functionalization strategy remains an important
challenge as it holds the potential to be a very general approach towards the meta-C–H functionalization
of aromatics in a reliable and predictable manner. To overcome the current limitations of this approach,
the identification of versatile ligands that can promote this transformation is necessary. Specifically,
ligands need to be developed which can work in concert with a wide range of directing groups to promote
the C–H activation and subsequent functionalization steps while disfavoring potential side reactions.
Herein, we report the identification of highly versatile 3-acetylamino-2-hydroxypyridine ligands which
promote the meta-C–H arylation of anilines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, phenols, and 2-benzyl
heterocycles using norbornene as a transient mediator. These ligands enable a broad substrate scope for
this transformation and allow a variety of heterocyclic aryl iodides to be used as effective coupling
partners.
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Figure 1. Norbornene Mediated meta-C–H Arylation
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2. Results and Discussion
In an attempt to expand the scope of norbornene-mediated meta-C–H arylation reactions, we
selected aniline as a model substrate. Meta-functionalization of this class of compounds4b,5c,6d,e is highly
valuable as electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions predominantly afford ortho- and/or para-
substituted products due to the electronic effects of the nitrogen atom. Our initial evaluation of aniline
substrates focused on finding a reactive and readily removable directing group that would be compatible
with the desired catalytic cycle. After a survey of several directing groups, we found that a benzylic-
pyridine based directing group allowed formation of the meta-arylated product in 13% yield while other
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directing groups were not reactive (see supporting information for full screening details). Such directing
groups that promote the formation 7-membered palladacycles are uncommon; however, the use of similar
directing groups is precedented in Pd(II) catalyzed C–H olefination of phenols, anilines and
benzylamines.10 Next, we attempted to identify ligands that could match with this directing group and
promote the reaction, starting with both amino acid and pyridine or quinoline derived ligands which have
been shown to promote C–H activation reactions4,7a,c (Table 1). Intriguingly, only a minimal improvement
of the yield was obtained when utilizing either of these previously established ligand classes. Given the
enabling role of the pyridine derived ligand L1 in the norbornene-mediated meta-C–H arylation of
phenylacetic amide derived substrates previously reported by our laboratory7a,c, this result implies that
new ligand scaffolds must be discovered to extend to other classes of substrates. Phosphine (L4 and L5)
and N-heterocyclic carbene (L6) ligands were also evaluated, but neither provided a significant
improvement of the yield. At this stage, the notion that the multiple steps of this complex catalytic cycle
may require different ligand coordination turned our attention to 2-pyridone based ligands. These ligands
can coordinate as either a -donor through the pyridyl nitrogen or a 2 anion analogous to carboxylates.
When using 2-pyridone as the ligand a slight improvement in the yield was obtained. Interestingly,
substitution of the 3-position on this scaffold with an NHAc moiety (L12) provided a significant
improvement to the reaction, affording the desired product in 42% yield with good mass balance (Table
1). This substitution was chosen as we hypothesized that installation of this NHAc provides a secondary
binding site that may serve a functional role in catalysis. Bisdentate coordination between the NAc and
the oxygen atom would form a structure that is reminiscent of mono-protected amino acid (MPAA)
ligands developed by our laboratory for C–H functionalization reactions11 (Figure 1.). An important
feature of these newly disclosed ligands is their modularity. By appropriate choice of substitution on the
aromatic ring, one can readily tune the coordination strength of this ligand scaffold to the metal catalyst
which in turn should allow this class of ligands to be easily adjusted to match with a variety of substrates.
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Table 1. Representative Ligand Evaluationa,b
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aReaction conditions: substrate (0.1 mmol), methyl 2-iodobenzoate (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), L (20 mol%),
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AgOAc (3.0 equiv), 2-norbornene (1.5 equiv), DCE (0.5 mL), air, 100 °C, 24 h. Yield was determined by H NMR
using CH2Br2 as internal standard.; DCE = CLCH2CH2Cl.
Given the importance of synergy between directing group and ligand for efficient C–H
functionalization12, we re-visited the directing groups and found that electron rich benzylic pyridine based
directing groups matched well with this ligand scaffold. A removable, commercially available directing
group (DG, figure 2, see supporting information for DG screening and removal) was found to provide
optimal synergy with the ligand allowing formation of the desired product in 98% isolated yield. With the
final optimized reaction conditions in hand, we set out to evaluate the substrate scope of the reaction. As
can be seen in table 2, the substrate scope of this ligand promoted transformation is broad. Substrates
bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups (1a-o) at either the ortho- or meta-positions
of the aniline react smoothly providing the desired products in greater than 70% yield. Note that the highly
electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl, cyano and nitro functionalities (5g, 5j, 5k) are tolerated in this
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reaction when utilizing an improved transient mediator, methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylate
(NBE-CO2Me), in place of 2-norbornene.7c Interestingly, unsubstituted aniline 1l and para-substituted
substrate 1p showed high selectivity for the di-substituted product, whereas 4-methoxy substituted aniline
1q showed high mono-selectivity. Currently, we hypothesize that after the initial arylation of substrate 1q,
a conformational change is induced wherein the methyl group on the methoxy is primarily positioned
away from the newly installed aryl ring, sterically hindering the alternative meta-position which prevents
di-arylation. Heterocyclic substrates (2a-l), which are commonly incompatible with C–H cross-coupling
methodology as they poison the transition metal catalyst, react in good to excellent yields forming
products 6a-l. Importantly, the yield of product 6b was reduced to 4% in the absence of L12 (table 2) thus
indicating the importance of the ligand to achieve a broad substrate scope for this transformation.
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Table 2. Scope of Anilines, Aromatic Heterocyclic Amines, Phenols, and 2-Benzylheterocyclesa,b
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aReaction conditions: 1 or 2 (0.1 mmol), methyl 2-iodobenzoate (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), L12 (20 mol%),
AgOAc (3.0 equiv), 2-norbornene (1.5 equiv), ClCH2CH2Cl (0.5 mL), air, 100 °C, 24 h. bIsolated yield. cUsing NBE-
CO2Me (1.5equiv.) instead of 2-norbornene. dNo ligand, yield was determined by 1H NMR using benzyl acetate as an
internal standard. e5 (0.2 mmol), methyl 2-iodobenzoate (3.0 equiv), Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), L14 (10 mol%), AgOAc (3.0
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f
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equiv), NBE-CO2Me (1.5 equiv), CHCl3 (1.0 mL), air, 100 °C, 24 h. Using L12 for 36 h. 4 (0.1 mmol), methyl 2-
iodobenzoate (3.0 equiv), Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), L14 (20 mol%), AgOAc (3.0 equiv), 2-norbornene (1.5 equiv), CHCl3
(1.0 mL), air, 95 °C, 24 h; NBE-CO2Me = methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylate. L12, FG = H. L14, FG = CF3,
N.D. = Desired product was not detected.
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Interested in further examining the breadth of this reaction, we next evaluated meta-C–H arylation
of phenol4c,6f derived substrates bearing benzylic pyridine based directing groups.10a Though good yields
were obtained with the same directing group that was utilized for the aniline derived substrates,
deprotection proved problematic. To circumvent this problem, we opted to use a 2,3-lutidine derived
directing group (DG’) which is removed by hydrogenolysis with catalytic palladium on carbon under
pressurized hydrogen (see supporting information for directing group removal). As shown in figure 2, a
variety of phenols could be successfully arylated at the meta-position utilizing NBE-CO2Me and a
modified ligand (L14). Intriguingly, though substrate 1l shows high selectivity for di-arylated product,
phenolic substrate 3d provides a mono:di ratio of 1:1. We currently attribute this to the phenolic substrates
being slightly less reactive than their aniline counterparts. To fully explore the scope of this methodology,
we evaluated how this ligand would match with substrates containing native heterocycles as directing
groups. Gratifyingly, heterocyclic substrates that form 6-membered palladacycles13 upon cyclopalladation
worked exceedingly well in the presence of L14. The ability of these ligands to promote this catalysis
with directing groups that form 6- and 7-membered palladacycles indicates that they are potentially
applicable to Pd(II) catalyzed meta-C–H functionalizations of substrates beyond the scope reported in this
article. Substrates directed by native pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyrazole, indazole, isoindazole and
isoquinoline were all successfully arylated at the previously difficult-to-access meta-positions. As all of
these substrates are unsubstituted it was interesting that significant variations in mono:di ratios were
observed. We currently hypothesize that these ratios are related to the relative rates of cyclometallation
and substrate exchange on the palladium catalyst. An in-depth study of the cyclometallation kinetics under
these reaction conditions is required to confirm this hypothesis.13
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Table 3. Scope of Aryl Iodide Coupling Partnersa,b
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aReaction conditions: 1a or 2 (0.1 mmol), Ar-I (0.2 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol%), L12 (20 mol%), NBE-CO2Me (1.5
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c
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bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylate. DCE = ClCH2CH2Cl.
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Having thoroughly examined the substrate scope of this reaction, we turned our focus to evaluating
the coupling partner scope. We choose 1a as the model substrate to investigate the reactivity of a wide
range of aryl iodides. Experimental results show that this reaction possesses an exceptionally broad
coupling partner scope when utilizing NBE-CO2Me.7c Electron donating and electron withdrawing groups
at the para- and meta-positions of the aryl iodide coupling partner were well tolerated, providing the
desired products in good yields (9a-y). Interestingly, this reaction was not limited to simple aryl iodides
as an array of heterocyclic aryl iodides was found to work well (9ae-ba). Indoles, thiophenes, furan,
indazole, quinoline, quinazoline, and a range of pyridines were suitable coupling partners. To determine
whether the broad coupling partner scope observed in this reaction was enabled by the ligand, we
attempted the reaction under the optimized conditions with 2-chloro-4-iodopyridine in the absence of L12
and found the yield to be 9% by 1H NMR. This result highlights the importance of the ligands to achieve
a broad coupling partner scope. In order to fully investigate the compatibility of this reaction with
heterocycles, we explored the efficiency of coupling heterocyclic substrates with heterocyclic aryl iodides.
As can be seen in table 3 (9bb-9bh), this ligand enables the coupling of heterocyclic coupling partners
with heterocyclic substrates in reasonable to excellent yields. Furthermore, the utility of this reaction on
a preparative scale was demonstrated by performing the meta-C–H coupling of aniline substrate 1a with
methyl 4-iodobenzoate on gram-scale with 5 mol% Pd(OAc)2 and 5 mol% L12, affording the desired
product (9n, see supporting information) cleanly in 93% yield.
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Having examined the efficiency of the meta-C–H coupling of aniline substrates utilizing 3-
acetylamino-2-hydroxypyridine based ligands, we set out to demonstrate the utility of this methodology
by applying it to the meta-arylation of a lenalidomide derivative. Recently, the drug thalidomide and its
derivatives pomalidomide and lenalidomide have been repurposed for several clinical indications
including multiple myeloma and myelodysplasia. Meta-C–H arylation of this scaffold exemplifies a
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scenario where utilizing norbornene mediated meta-C–H functionalization is advantageous as it allows
for elaboration of the parent drug molecule in relatively few steps. Gratifyingly, the meta-arylation of a
lenalidomide derivative proceeded smoothly to provide the desired product in 61% isolated yield (Scheme
1a). The successful application of the norbornene mediated meta-C–H functionalization in this setting
showcases the potential of this reaction to be applied in drug discovery.
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Scheme 1. Late Stage Functionalization and Removal of Silver.
In collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb, we set out to improve the practicality of the reaction
conditions to enable this methodology to be used in the pharmaceutical industry. A high throughput screen
was undertaken to establish Ag-free conditions with pharmaceutical process-friendly solvents. It was
discovered that use of CsOAc in place of AgOAc in t-Amyl-OH could give synthetically useful yields
with ortho-substituted aryl iodides on gram scale using 5 mol% Pd(OAc)2 utilizing L12 as the ligand.
Following an iterative procedure (Scheme 1b), 73% yield of 9a can be obtained when using L17 as the
ligand. The removal of silver from the Pd(II)-catalyzed, norbornene mediated meta-C–H arylation
reaction will prove crucial for adopting this method in synthesis, especially when reactions need to be
performed beyond gram-scale as stoichiometric use of this metal can become cost prohibitive.
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Figure 2. Potential secondary coordination of 3-acylamino-2-hydroxypyridine ligands
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The effectiveness of this ligand scaffold at providing a broad substrate and coupling partner scope
for this transformation prompted us to investigate the nature by which it operates. Given the drastic
improvement in yield obtained by the installation of an NHAc on the ligand scaffold in our early
investigations (see table 1), we became curious as to its role in this catalytic manifold. Our original
hypothesis was that this ligand may be bifunctional in nature and that coordination to the oxygen and the
NHAc in a bidentate fashion may result in the formation of an active catalytic species (Figure 2). This
hypothesis was formed due to analogy of this coordination mode with that of the NHAc variants of mono-
protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands commonly employed by our group.11 To evaluate an analogous
binding mode in our new ligand, a re-evaluation of 2-hydroxypyridine/2-pyridone using the optimal
conditions was undertaken to shed light on the role of the NHAc moiety on the ligand. Interestingly, this
study revealed that 2-pyridone could also promote this reaction under the fully optimized conditions.
However, it is evident that the NHAc plays an instrumental role in enabling meta-C–H arylation involving
difficult substrates and coupling partners (i.e. those containing heterocycles). For example, the yields of
6b and 9as (see supporting information) were 40% and 65% respectively when using 2-pyridone as the
ligand, whereas the yields when using L12 were 72% and 96% respectively. These results indicate that
removal of the NHAc from the ligand under the fully optimized conditions does not completely ablate the
reactivity of this scaffold, though it does result in a decrease in reactivity. A full mechanistic inquiry into
the enabling nature of the ligands disclosed in this paper is underway. The results of this investigation, as
well as their implication to improved catalysts/ligands, will be reported in due course.
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3. Conclusion
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In summary, a versatile ligand scaffold for Pd(II) catalyzed meta-C–H arylation of a wide range of
arenes using norbornene as a transient mediator has been disclosed. Heterocyclic substrates and
heterocycle-containing coupling partners are well tolerated under the developed reaction conditions,
which should enable rapid uptake of this ligand enabled methodology in drug discovery. Exemplary of
the potential for this reaction to be utilized in drug discovery, a lenalidomide derivative was smoothly
arylated at the meta-C–H bond. The first example of a silver free protocol for this catalytic manifold has
also been demonstrated. Further improvement in the efficiency of a silver free protocol for this reaction
will aid in enabling practical applications of this methodology. A thorough investigation into the nature
of these ligands, as well as their application to other transformations will be disclosed shortly.
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4. Experimental Section
General procedure for the ligand-promoted norbornene-mediated meta-C–H activation of anilines.
Substrate (0.1 mmol), Ar-I (0.2 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (2.2 mg, 10 mol%), L12 (3.0 mg, 20 mol%), AgOAc
(50.1 mg, 0.3 mmol), 2-norbornene (14.1 mg, 0.15 mmol) or NBE-CO2Me (21.6 mg, 0.15 mmol) and 1,2-
dichloroethane (0.5 mL) were added to a 2-dram vial. The vial was capped and closed tightly, then the
reaction mixture was stirred at 100 °C for 24 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was passed
through a pad of Celite with dichloromethane as the eluent to remove the insoluble precipitate. The
resulting solution was concentrated and purified by preparative TLC to afford the desired arylated product.
Full experimental details and characterization of new compounds can be found in the Supplementary
Information.
Corresponding author. *Yu200@scripps.edu
Author Contributions. ┴P.W, M.E.F., & X.H. contributed equally to this work.
Notes. The authors declare no competing financial interest.
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Acknowledgements. We gratefully acknowledge The Scripps Research Institute and the NIH (NIGMS,
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1R01 GM102265) for financial support.
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Supporting Information Available. Detailed experimental procedures, characterization of new
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compounds. This material is available free of charge via the internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
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