title: Selective and catalytic arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine: sp3 C-H bond functionalization in the absence of a directing group.
abstract: We herein describe our studies on arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine, which led to the development of a new transformation for the direct and selective arylation of sp3 C-H bonds in the absence of a directing group. In this method, Ru(H)2(CO)(PCy3)3 4 was used as the catalyst, and preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that Ru(Ph)(I)(CO)(PCy3)2 5 is the key intermediate of the catalytic cycle. A large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 5.4) was observed, which supports the proposal that C-H bond metalation is the slow step. Preliminary examination of the substrate scope showed that in addition to N-phenylpyrrolidine, N-methyl- and N-benzylpyrrolidine, as well as N-benzoylpyrrolidine, were arylated under the reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Bengü
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sezen
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sames
mesh_terms: D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D012428:Ruthenium