Methodologies in Amine Synthesis. Группа авторов

aromatic C–H amination.

      Source: Modified from Paudyal et al. [47].

Scheme 1.32 Problems with uncatalyzed electrophilic amination.

Scheme 1.33 TM‐free electrophilic amination of arylboronic acids.

      Source: Modified from Zhu et al. [48].

Another approach to achieve TM‐free electrophilic amination while avoiding undesired quenching of the nucleophile is to modify the structure of the aminating reagent. In 2017, the Kürti group reported the use of sterically hindered oxaziridines to achieve the TM‐free direct primary amination of aryl Grignard reagents and aryl lithiums (Scheme 1.34) [49]. Subsequent studies carried out in the Kürti group successfully expanded the substrate scope to include alkyl organometallic reagents [50].

The backbone of these aminating reagents can be readily recovered and reused for the preparation of more reagents (i.e. NH‐oxazirdines). Remarkably, the N—H bond does not undergo deprotonation as this pathway is sterically inhibited (i.e. because of the kinetic decrease of the N—H bond acidity). It is intriguing that the N‐alkyl derivatives of these oxaziridines transfer the oxygen atom to aryl and alkyl Grignard reagents at low temperatures with complete chemoselectivity (i.e. no N‐transfer occurs with these reagents). Both the direct primary amination and hydroxylation of Grignard reagents are currently considered to be still extremely challenging, and they represent unmet synthetic needs. The camphor‐derived N‐benzyl oxaziridine is significantly less reactive and considerably more stable than Davis's oxaziridine; thus, it allows for highly chemoselective hydroxylations in the presence of multiple sensitive functionalities such as sulfides, amines, and alkenes.

Scheme 1.34 TM‐free electrophilic amination of arylmetals using NH‐oxaziridines.

      Source: Modified from Gao et al. [49].

For weaker nucleophiles such as olefins and arenes, successful TM‐free electrophilic aminations rely on highly reactive aminating reagents. Pioneering works in this area by the Bower group have shown that it is possible to achieve TM‐free intramolecular electrophilic amination using highly reactive sulfonyl hydroxylamines under acid catalysis (Scheme 1.35). The unprotected tosylhydroxylamines are too unstable to be isolated, so they are instead generated in situ from the Boc‐protected precursors under acidic conditions. These reactions are proposed to proceed via the “Butterfly Mechanism” akin to the Prilezhaev reaction [51].

The α‐aminoketone moiety is commonly found in biological molecules, natural products, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Despite their apparent importance, synthetic access to these compounds is not always straightforward. This is especially evident when the desired amino ketones have a primary amino group attached to a fully substituted α‐carbon atom. The most common strategy for synthesizing these compounds involves a two‐step approach, in which either an azido, a nitro, or a hydroxylamino group is first installed at the α‐position. A subsequent hydrogenation, usually catalyzed by a transition metal such as Pd, Pt, or Raney Ni, is then carried out to obtain the corresponding primary α‐aminoketone. Aside from the added steps, this approach also has limitations such as the lack of chemoselectivity during the reduction and the potential instability of the azido‐ or nitro‐intermediates.

Scheme 1.35 TM‐free Prilezhaev reaction.

      Source: Modified from Farndon et al. [51].

In 2019, the Kürti group reported the intermolecular TM‐free Aza‐Rubottom reaction [52]. Electron‐rich silyl enol ethers can be directly converted to the corresponding α‐primary amino ketones in one step. This reaction also proceeds via the “Butterfly Mechanism,” and the reactivity of the hydroxylamine aminating reagent is enhanced by cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions provided by the HFIP solvent molecules (Scheme 1.36).

Scheme 1.36 TM‐free Rubottom oxidation.

Scheme 1.37 TM‐free NH‐aziridination of unactivated olefins.

      Source: Modified from Cheng et al. [53].

      Two sets of conditions for the synthesis of primary α‐aminoketones from silyl enol ethers were developed. Electron‐rich substrates can be α‐aminated without transition metal catalysis, while substrates bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents can undergo α‐amination with the help of Rh or Cu catalysts.

Further studies in the Kürti group have shown that it is possible to achieve TM‐free NH‐aziridination of unactivated olefins with highly reactive NH‐oxaziridines via the “Butterfly Mechanism” [53]. These unique NH‐oxaziridines bear one or more strongly electron‐withdrawing group(s), which greatly enhance the electrophilicity of the nitrogen atom. With the further enhancement provided via the hydrogen bonding interactions by the HFIP solvent molecules, these highly reactive intermediates are capable of TM‐free transfer of the NH onto the unactivated olefins (Scheme 1.37).

However, because of their high reactivities, these highly electron‐deficient NH‐oxaziridines cannot be isolated. The Kürti group solved this issue by forming these intermediates in situ from HOSA and ketones bearing electron‐withdrawing groups. Mass spectrometric studies confirmed the existence of the highly reactive oxaziridine intermediates.

      By using a chiral nonracemic ketone as the organocatalyst, the reaction can give enantiomerically enriched products.

1.6 Conclusion

In the past two decades, a number of C—N bond‐forming reactions have been developed that take advantage of hydroxylamine‐based electrophilic aminating agents as sources of nitrogen. A great deal of structural diversity has been achieved in terms of the products. Olefins, substituted aromatic systems, as well as organometallic compounds have been successfully aminated. Although the vast majority of reported methods utilize transition metal complexes as catalysts, metal‐free and even organocatalytic methods have also emerged during the past decade. The two emerging trends are to incorporate unprotected amino groups directly and to use inexpensive and nontoxic transition metal catalysts such as iron complexes. We are