Arenes possessing an 8-quinolinylamide group as a directing group are ortho aminated with N-chloroamines and N-benzoyloxyamines in the presence of an iron/diphosphine catalyst and an organometallic base to produce anthranilic acid derivatives in high yield. The reaction proceeds via iron-catalyzed C-H activation, followed by the reaction of the resulting iron intermediate with N-chloroamine. The choice of the directing group and diphosphine ligand is crucial for obtaining the anthranilic acid derivative with high yield and product selectivity.

Negatively curved nanographene (NG) 4 , having two heptagons and a [5]helicene, was unexpectedly obtained by aryl rearrangement and stepwise cyclodehydrogenations. X-ray crystallography confirmed the saddle-shaped structures of intermediate 3 and NG 4 . The favorability of rearrangement over helicene formation following radical cation or arenium cation mechanisms is supported by theoretical calculations. NG 4 demonstrates a reversible mechanochromic color change and solid-state emission, presumably benefiting from its loose crystal packing. After resolution by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography, the circular dichroism spectra of enantiomers 4 -( P ) and 4 -( M ) were measured and showed moderate Cotton effects at 350 nm (|Δε| = 148 M –1 cm –1 ).

We report here that an iron-catalyzed directed C-H functionalization reaction allows the coupling of a variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and olefinic substrates with alkenyl and aryl boron compounds under mild oxidative conditions. We rationalize these results by the involvement of an organoiron(III) reactive intermediate that is responsible for the C-H bond-activation process. A zinc salt is crucial to promote the transfer of the organic group from the boron atom to the iron(III) atom.

Arenes possessing an N-(quinolin-8-yl)amide directing group are ortho-allylated with allyl phenyl ether in the presence of an iron/diphosphine catalyst and an organometallic base at 50-70 °C. The reaction proceeds via fast iron-catalyzed C-H activation, followed by reaction of the resulting iron intermediate with the allyl ether in γ-selective fashion.

Alkenes, arenes, and heteroarenes possessing an 8-quinolylamide group as the directing group are alkylated with primary and secondary alkyl tosylates, mesylate, and halides in the presence of Fe(acac)3/diphosphine as a catalyst and ArZnBr as a base. The reaction proceeds stereospecifically for alkene substrates and takes place without loss of regiochemical integrity of the starting secondary tosylate, but with loss of the stereochemistry of the chiral center.

The reaction of an aryl Grignard reagent with a cyclic or acyclic olefin possessing a directing group such as pyridine or imine results in the stereospecific substitution of the olefinic C-H bond syn to the directing group. The reaction takes place smoothly and without isomerization of the product olefin in the presence of a mild oxidant (1,2-dichloro-2-methylpropane) and an aromatic cosolvent. Several lines of evidence suggest that the reaction proceeds via iron-catalyzed olefinic C-H bond activation rather than an oxidative Mizoroki-Heck-type reaction.

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Direct arylation of the ortho-C-H bond of an aryl pyridine or an aryl imine with an aryl Grignard reagent has been achieved by using an iron-diamine catalyst and a dichloroalkane as an oxidant in a short reaction time (e.g., 5 min) under mild conditions (0 °C). The use of an aromatic co-solvent, such as chlorobenzene and benzene, and slow addition of the Grignard reagent are essential for the high efficiency of the reaction. The present arylation reaction has distinct merits over the previously developed reaction that used an arylzinc reagent, such as its reaction rate and atom economy. Selective C-H bond activation occurs in the presence of a leaving group, such as a tosyloxy, chloro, and bromo group. Studies on a stoichiometric reaction and kinetic isotope effects shed light on the reaction intermediate and the C-H bond-activation step.