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We have recently developed palladium-catalyzed methods for direct arylation of indoles (and other azoles) wherein high C-2 selectivity was observed for both free (NH)-indole and (NR)-indole. To provide a rationale for the observed selectivity ("nonelectrophilic" regioselectivity), mechanistic studies were conducted, using the phenylation of 1-methylindole as a model system. The reaction order was determined for iodobenzene (zero order), indole (first order), and the catalyst (first order). These kinetic studies, together with the Hammett plot, provided a strong support for the electrophilic palladation pathway. In addition, the kinetic isotope effect (KIE(H/D)) was determined for both C-2 and C-3 positions. A surprisingly large value of 1.6 was found for the C-3 position where the substitution does not occur (secondary KIE), while a smaller value of 1.2 was found at C-2 (apparent primary KIE). On the basis of these findings, a mechanistic interpretation is presented that features an electrophilic palladation of indole, accompanied by a 1,2-migration of an intermediate palladium species. This paradigm was used to design new catalytic conditions for the C-3 arylation of indole. In case of free (NH)-indole, regioselectivity of the arylation reaction (C-2 versus C-3) was achieved by the choice of magnesium base.

This paper describes a method, discovered and refined by parallel screening, for the epoxidation of alkenes. It uses hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant, is promoted by catalytic amounts (1.0-0.1 mol %) of manganese(2+) salts, and must be performed using at least catalytic amounts of bicarbonate buffer. Peroxymonocarbonate, HCO(4)(-), forms in the reaction, but without manganese, minimal epoxidation activity is observed in the solvents used for this research, that is, DMF and (t)BuOH. More than 30 d-block and f-block transition metal salts were screened for epoxidation activity under similar conditions, but the best catalyst found was MnSO(4). EPR studies show that Mn(2+) is initially consumed in the catalytic reaction but is regenerated toward the end of the process when presumably the hydrogen peroxide is spent. A variety of aryl-substituted, cyclic, and trialkyl-substituted alkenes were epoxidized under these conditions using 10 equiv of hydrogen peroxide, but monoalkyl-alkenes were not. To improve the substrate scope, and to increase the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide consumption, 68 diverse compounds were screened to find additives that would enhance the rate of the epoxidation reaction relative to a competing disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide. Successful additives were 6 mol % sodium acetate in the (t)BuOH system and 4 mol % salicylic acid in the DMF system. These additives enhanced the rate of the desired epoxidation reaction by 2-3 times. Reactions performed in the presence of these additives require less hydrogen peroxide and shorter reaction times, and they enhance the yields obtained from less reactive alkene substrates. Possible mechanisms for the reaction are discussed.

Ar-Rh(III) pivalate complexes assembled in situ from the reaction of [RhCl(coe)2]2 (coe = cis-cyclooctene), [p-(CF3)C6H4]3P, and CsOPiv effectively catalyzed the direct C-arylation of free (NH)-indoles and (NH)-pyrroles in good yields and with high regioselectivity. The reaction displayed excellent functional group compatibility and low moisture sensitivity. Kinetics studies support a mechanism involving phosphine displacement by indole in complex 2 (resting state of the catalyst), followed by a rate-limiting C-H bond metalation.

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