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Here we report a silver-catalyzed alkynyl carbene insertion into β-ketocarbonyls using alkynyl N -nosylhydrazones as alkynyl carbene precursors, which provides access to trisubstituted allenyl ketones. This reaction represents the first example of an alkynyl carbene insertion into a C-C σ bond, affording products homologated with an sp 2 carbon center. The products are useful substrates for further transformations. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations suggest the reaction proceeds through a stepwise enol cyclopropanation/retro-aldol pathway.

Aliphatic azides are a versatile class of compounds found in a variety of biologically active pharmaceuticals. These compounds are also recognized as useful precursors for the synthesis of a range of nitrogen-based scaffolds of therapeutic drugs, biologically active compounds, and functional materials. In light of the growing importance of aliphatic azides in both chemical and biological sciences, a vast array of synthetic strategies for the preparation of structurally diverse aliphatic azides have been developed over the past decades. However, to date, this topic has not been the subject of a dedicated review. This review aims to provide a concise overview of modern synthetic strategies to access aliphatic azides that have emerged since 2010. The discussed azidation reactions include (a) azidation of C-C multiple bonds, (b) azidation of C-H bonds, (c) the direct transformation of vinyl azides into other aliphatic azides, and (d) miscellaneous reactions to access aliphatic azides. We critically discuss the synthetic outcomes and the generality and uniqueness of the different mechanistic rationale of each of the selected reactions. The challenges and potential opportunities of the topic are outlined.

The hydroazidation of alkynes is the most straightforward way to access vinyl azides-versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. We previously realized such a fundamental reaction of terminal alkynes using Ag 2 CO 3 as a catalyst. However, the high catalyst loading seriously limits its practicality, and moreover, the exact reaction mechanism remains unclear. Here, on the basis of X-ray diffraction studies on the conversion of silver salts, we report the identification of AgN 3 as the real catalytic species in this reaction and developed a AgN 3 -catalyzed hydroazidation of terminal alkynes. AgN 3 proved to be a highly robust catalyst, as the loading of AgN 3 could be as low as 5 mol %, and such a small proportion of AgN 3 is still highly efficient even at a 50 mmol reaction scale. Further, the combination of experimental investigations and theoretical calculations disclosed that the concerted addition mechanism via a six-membered transition state is more favored than the classical silver acetylide mechanism.

Alkynes are one of the most abundant chemicals in organic chemistry, and therefore the development of catalytic reactions to transform alkynes into other useful functionalities is of great value. In recent decades, extraordinary advances have been made in this area with transition-metal catalysis, and silver-based reagents are ideal for the activation of alkynes. This high reactivity is probably due to the superior π-Lewis acidic, carbophilic behavior of silver(I), allowing it to selectively activate carbon-carbon triple bonds (C≡C) through the formation of a silver-π complex. Within this field, we have been interested in the activation and subsequent reactions of readily accessible terminal alkynes for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds, which has generally received less attention than methods involving internal alkynes. This is possibly due to the lack of suitable reactive reaction partners that are compatible under transition metals. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the factors that influence homogeneous silver catalysis and the identification of the appropriate reaction partners can provide a powerful platform for designing more efficient silver-catalyzed reactions of terminal alkynes. In this context, we envisioned that using readily available, environmentally benign, and inexpensive trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN 3 ) or an isocyanide as the nitrogen-donor would be the key to develop novel reactions of terminal alkynes.This Account describes our efforts since 2013 toward the development of novel silver-catalyzed tandem reactions of terminal alkynes with either TMSN 3 or isocyanides for the assembly of various nitrogen-containing compounds. The first section of this Account discusses the initial developments in the silver-catalyzed hydroazidation of terminal alkynes with TMSN 3 and the subsequent advances made in our laboratory. We first describe the discovery and experimental and computational mechanistic investigations of silver-catalyzed hydroazidation reactions, which is the most efficient strategy reported to date for accessing vinyl azides. Mechanistic study of this hydroazidation reaction provides an alternative activation mode for terminal alkyne conversion in transition metal catalysis. We then present the chemistry of in situ generated vinyl azides, including one-pot tandem radical addition/cyclization or migration reactions of terminal alkynes to access a variety of nitrogen-containing molecules. Finally, we discuss the one-pot, multistep tandem hydroazidation and 1,2-azide migratory gem -difluorination of terminal alkynes for the synthesis of β-difluorinated alkyl azides. The second section describes the silver-catalyzed coupling reactions between terminal alkynes and isocyanides, which offer a straightforward method for accessing synthetically useful building blocks, such as pyrroles, allenamides, benzofuran, vinyl sulfones, indazolines, propiolonitriles, and pyrazoles. The high efficiency, mild conditions, low cost, broad substrate scope, high chemo- and regioselectivity, step economy, and ecofriendliness of the developed approaches make them attractive and practical. The progress in this area provides guiding principles for designing new reactions of terminal alkynes that can be extended to various nitrogen-containing molecules of interest to medicinal and materials chemists.

A transition-metal-free [3 + 2] cycloaddition between trifluoroacetaldehyde N -triftosylhydrazone (TFHZ-Tfs) and alkynes is reported. This protocol provides an operationally simple and general method for the synthesis of diverse 3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scope, including aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl terminal alkynes, and electron-deficient internal alkynes. The synthetic potential of this method was further demonstrated by the synthesis of an antiarthritic drug Celecoxib in multigram scale.

The synthesis of alkyl gem -difluoroalkenes remains a difficult task in organic synthesis. Here, we report a general and efficient approach for tackling this problem by gem -difluoroolefination of trifluoroacetaldehyde N -triftosylhydrazone with organoboronic acids. This protocol is operationally simple, free of transition metals, and suitable for a broad range of organoboronic acids. Moreover, the utility of the products was demonstrated by further conversion of the gem -difluorovinyl group.

Reported herein an unprecedented 1,2-azide migratory hydroazidation and subsequent gem -difluorination of alkynes accessing β-difluorinated alkyl azides. Importantly, functional group controlled 1,2-azide or 1,2-aryl migration was observed in the case of aromatic alkynes. Moreover, the azide group is sustained up to the final product. The method can be easily adapted for large-scale preparation, and the resulting products can be readily transformed into gem -difluoro group containing amine and triazole derivatives.

A simple silver salt (AgOAc)-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov-selective hydroboration of alkenes, 1,3-dienes, and alkynes with pinacolborane (HBpin) has been described. This strategy provides an efficient and practical method to access various alkyl-, allyl-, and ( E)-alkenylboronate esters in good to excellent yields with regio- and stereoselectivity under ligand- and base-free conditions.

A ligand- and base-free silver-catalyzed reduction of quinolines and electron-deficient aromatic N-heteroarenes in water has been described. Mechanistic studies revealed that the effective reducing species was Ag-H. This versatile catalytic protocol provided facile, environmentally friendly, and practical access to a variety of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives at room temperature.

A silver-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of "CNN" and "C≡C" for constructing pyrazoles has been described. The "CNN" building block used is N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane, which is a stable, safe, easy-to-handle, and odorless solid isocyanide. The reaction is characterized by its mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group tolerance.

A multifunctionalization of unactivated cyclic ketones via synergistic catalysis of copper and diarylamine for the direct synthesis of cyclic α-enaminone is reported for the first time. This reaction goes through oxidative α-amination, followed by a desaturation, and features mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and great functional group tolerance.

An efficient silver-catalyzed [2 + 1] cyclopropanation of sterically hindered internal alkenes with diazo compounds in which room-temperature-decomposable N-nosylhydrazones are used as diazo surrogates is reported. The unexpected unique catalytic activity of silver was ascribed to its dual role as a Lewis acid activating alkene substrates and as a transition metal forming silver carbenoids. A wide range of internal alkenes, including challenging diarylethenes, were suitable for this protocol, thereby affording a variety of cyclopropanes with high efficiency in a stereoselective manner under mild conditions.

An electron-withdrawing-group-generable radical-induced enamination of vinyl azides is reported, which results in a variety of β-functionalized N-unprotected enamines in a stereoselective manner. A plausible mechanism involving an unusual 1,3-H transfer of in situ generated iminyl radical intermediate was proposed on the basis of experimental results and DFT calculations.

A direct cyanation of terminal alkynes for the synthesis of propionitrile derivatives, with the aid of silver salt using water additive, has been achieved. The cyano source used is N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane, which is nontoxic, safe, and easy to handle. This protocol is characterized by its operational simplicity, high efficiency with excellent yields, broad substrate scope, and greater functional group tolerance.

A silver-catalyzed tandem carbon-carbon triple bond hydroazidation, radical addition, and cyclization of biphenyl acetylene is described under mild conditions, leading to the formation of 6-methyl sulfonylated phenanthridines in good yields. In this novel cascade reaction, most of the atoms are incorporated into the product without cleavage of the C≡C bond. Mechanistic studies suggest the reaction should proceed through an iminyl radical reactive intermediate.

A highly diastereoselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed transannulation of aldehyde-tethered N-sulfonyl triazoles with electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles is reported for the first time to afford functionalized 6-substituted piperidin-3-ones. The reaction has a broad substrate scope including both aliphatic and aromatic N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles together with various aromatic nucleophiles. The addition of a catalytic amount of Lewis acid has proven to be crucial for the yield improvement. By employing this methodology, hardly accessible piperidin-3-ones bearing quaternary carbons could be obtained.

An ambient-light-promoted and metal-free three-component reaction of active methylene compounds, perfluoroalkyl iodides, and guanidines/amidines is reported. This constitutes a powerful method to prepare perfluoroalkylated pyrimidines with mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and simple operation. A radical/polar mechanism involving the formation of a halogen-bond adduct and radical cross-coupling is proposed.

An unexpected silver-catalyzed cascade reaction of β-enaminones and isocyanoacetates affording functionalized pyrrole derivatives is reported. In this reaction, tautomeric equilibria of β-enaminones are utilized to generate imine partners in situ. A hypothesized sequential Mannich addition/cyclization of imine tautomers and isocyanoacetates followed by an unprecedented ring-opening of the resultant 2-imidazolines and dehydration-condensation deliver the final 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrrole products.

Alcohols are among the most abundant and commonly used organic feedstock in industrial processes and academic research. The first tandem O-H insertion/[1,3]-alkyl shift reaction reported is between benzylic alcohols and rhodium azavinyl carbenoids derived from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles, which provides a strategically novel way of cleaving C-OH bonds and forming C-C bonds. The substrate scope is broad, capable of covering 1°-, 2°-, and 3°-benzylic alcohols. Moreover, it constitutes a new and powerful synthetic method for constructing α-aminoketones. Mechanistic studies suggest that a [1,3]-alkyl shift of oxonium ylides is responsible for cleavage of the C-OH bonds.

The room-temperature nucleophilic addition of vinyl azides to propargylic alcohols under BF3·Et2O catalysis provides an efficient synthesis of 4-ynamides. The procedure is operationally convenient, shows broad substrate scope, and is viable for the synthesis of multifunctional 4-ynamides. Further, a Vilsmeier intramolecular cyclization of 4-ynamides into dihydrofuran-2(3H)-ones has also been discovered, which represents the first report of alkynes being used as the nucleophiles in Vilsmeier-type reactions.

A general cascade hydroazidation and alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diynes using silver catalysis is reported. A wide variety of diynes participated in the reaction with trimethylsilyl azide (TMS-N3) in the presence of H2O, affording the corresponding 1,5-fused-1,2,3-triazoles in good-to-excellent yields. This unprecedented protocol is operationally simple with a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and high reaction efficiency, thus providing easy access to various fused 1,2,3-triazoles.

An atom-economic route to benzo[f]-1-indanone frameworks has been developed starting from the readily available gem-dialkylthio trienynes by intramolecular annulations. The chemoselectivity of the intramolecular cyclizations can be regulated by both the base and the type of gas atmosphere used in the reaction, thus allowing the divergent synthesis of the corresponding functionalized benzo[f]-1-indanones in good to excellent yields.

A new silver-catalyzed heteroaromatization of propargylic alcohols with p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) has been developed that provides an efficient and modular approach to sulfonyl benzoheteroles. For the first time, TosMIC plays a dual role in one reaction: sulfonyl source and ligand. An unprecedented deoxysulfonylation/hydration/condensation reaction pathway is disclosed.

A general hydroazidation of unactivated alkynes using silver catalysis is reported. The reactions of diverse terminal alkynes with trimethylsilyl azide (TMS-N(3)) in the presence of H(2)O afforded the corresponding vinyl azides in good to excellent yields. This reaction has a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, simple operation, and high reaction efficiency, thus providing an easy access to various functionalized vinyl azides.

A novel copper-mediated chelation-assisted ortho C-H nitration of (hetero)arenes has been developed for the first time, which used dioxygen as terminal oxidant and 1,2,3-TCP as solvent, leading to the synthesis of nitroaromatics with excellent regioselectivity and in good yields. Mechanistic investigations indicate a mechanism involving a four-centered transition state, with simultaneous cleavage of an ortho C-H bond and a N-O bond of the nitrate anion on the 2-arylpyridine-coordinated copper(II) complex.

A novel iron-catalyzed aminolysis of β-carbonyl 1,3-dithianes with various amines including ammonia, primary and secondary amines, as well as hydrazine hydrate has been developed, leading to the synthesis of stereodefined β-enaminones and 3,4-disubstituted pyrazoles in good to high yields.

The intramolecular thia-anti-Michael addition starting from readily available alpha-alkenoyl-alpha'-carbamoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 1 containing a 1,3-dithiolane moiety was developed. In particular, in the presence of aliphatic primary amines, a series of tetrasubstituted thiophene derivatives, 2-(alkylamino)-5-alkyl-4-hydroxythiophene-3-carboxamides 2, were synthesized via tandem fragmentation, substitution, and intramolecular thia-anti-Michael addition reactions of 1, where amine played the dual roles of a base and a nucleophile. The intramolecular thia-anti-Michael addition, as the key step, proceeded in a regiospecific manner and showed a general scope to the beta-substituents of enones 1. A possible mechanism for the formation of the multisubstituted thiophenes was proposed. By this research, a new and efficient route to various tetrasubstituted thiophene derivatives was created.

A convenient and efficient synthesis of highly functionalized dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines via a double [5 + 1] annulation strategy starting from easily available alpha-alkenoyl-alpha-carbamoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 1 and cheap reagents (NH4OAc, DMF, and POCl3) has been developed. In the first step of the double annulation route, 2-amino-3-carbamoyl-5,6-dihydro-4-pyridones 2 were created in high to excellent yields by a formal [5C + 1N] annulation reaction of ketene-(S,S)-acetals 1 with ammonia (from ammonium acetate). In the second step of the double annulation strategy, the highly functionalized dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives, 7,8-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones 3 (when R1 = aryl) and 7,8-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 4 (when R1 = H), were constructed, respectively, in fair to good yields by reacting 2 with excessive Vilsmeier reagent (DMF/POCl3). A mechanism involved in the second [5 + 1] annulation step, including a formal [5 + 1] annulation and accompanied chlorovinylation, chloroformylation, amination, and aromatization reactions, is proposed.

[reaction: see text] A facile and efficient synthetic route toward highly substituted 2,3-dihydrothiopyran-4-ones 2 has been developed via a formal [5C + 1S] annulation of readily available alpha-alkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 1 with sodium sulfide nonahydrated salt (Na2S x 9H2O) and utilized in the synthesis of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-(morpholin-4-yl)-4H-thiopyran-4-one 5l, an inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK).

A novel [5 + 1] annulation strategy is developed for the synthesis of highly substituted phenols and cyclohexenones from alpha-alkenoyl ketenedithioacetals and nitroalkanes.