Divergent rhodium-catalyzed electrochemical vinylic C-H annulation of acrylamides with alkynes.

ABSTRACT: ?-Pyridones and ?-pyrones are ubiquitous structural motifs found in natural products and biologically active small molecules. Here, we report an Rh-catalyzed electrochemical vinylic C-H annulation of acrylamides with alkynes, affording cyclic products in good to excellent yield. Divergent syntheses of ?-pyridones and cyclic imidates are accomplished by employing N-phenyl acrylamides and N-tosyl acrylamides as substrates, respectively. Additionally, excellent regioselectivities are achieved when using unsymmetrical alkynes. This electrochemical process is environmentally benign compared to traditional transition metal-catalyzed C-H annulations because it avoids the use of stoichiometric metal oxidants. DFT calculations elucidated the reaction mechanism and origins of substituent-controlled chemoselectivity. The sequential C-H activation and alkyne insertion under rhodium catalysis leads to the seven-membered ring vinyl-rhodium intermediate. This intermediate undergoes either the classic neutral concerted reductive elimination to produce ?-pyridones, or the ionic stepwise pathway to produce cyclic imidates.

SUBMITTER: Xing YK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7876044 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature