Selective alpha-C-H activation results in the synthesis of the first bridging metallaaziridine complex for the catalytic alpha-alkylation of primary amines. Reaction development led to the preparation of new Zr 2-pyridonate complexes for this useful transformation. No nitrogen protecting groups are required for this reaction, which is capable of assembling quaternary chiral centers alpha to nitrogen. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest bridging metallaaziridine species are the catalytically active intermediates for this alpha-functionalization reaction, while monomeric imido complexes furnish azepane hydroamination products.

A broadly applicable group-4-based precatalyst for the hydroamination of primary and secondary amines was developed. Screening experiments involving a series of amide and urea proligands led to the discovery of a tethered bis(ureate) zirconium complex with unprecedented reactivity in the intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes and the intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes. This catalyst system is effective with primary and secondary amines, 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, and heteroatom-containing functional groups, including ethers, silanes, amines, and heteroaromatics. The gem-disubstituent effect is not required for cyclization. The catalyst is generally regioselective for the anti-Markovnikov product of intermolecular alkyne hydroamination, and chemoselective for hydroamination over alpha-alkylation when forming 6- and 7-membered rings from aminoalkenes.

Unprotected secondary amines are directly alkylated by C-H functionalization adjacent to nitrogen, thereby opening new routes toward the synthesis of α- and β-alkylated N-heterocycles. α-Alkylated piperidine, piperazine, and azepane products are prepared from heterocycles and alkenes in an atom-economic reaction with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. β-Alkylated N-heterocycles are synthesized via a scalable one-pot alkylation/cyclization procedure generating 3-methylated azetidines, pyrrolidines, and piperidines.

The selective (and controllable) modification of complex molecules with disparate functional groups (for example, natural products) is a long-standing challenge that has been addressed using catalysts tuned to perform singular transformations (for example, C-H hydroxylation). A method whereby reactions with diverse functional groups within a single natural product are feasible depending on which catalyst or reagent is chosen would widen the possible structures one could obtain. Fluoroarylborane catalysts can heterolytically split Si-H bonds to yield an oxophilic silylium (RSi) equivalent along with a reducing (H) equivalent. Together, these reactive intermediates enable the reduction of multiple functional groups. Exogenous phosphine Lewis bases further modify the catalyst speciation and attenuate aggressive silylium ions for the selective modification of complex natural products. Manipulation of the catalyst, silane reagent and the reaction conditions provides experimental control over which site is modified (and how). Applying this catalytic method to complex bioactive compounds (natural products or drugs) provides a powerful tool for studying structure-activity relationships.

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