Benzylic C–H isocyanation/amine coupling sequence enabling high-throughput synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant ureas?

Chemical Science Pub Date: 2021-07-02 DOI: 10.1039/D1SC02049H

Abstract

C(sp3)–H functionalization methods provide an ideal synthetic platform for medicinal chemistry; however, such methods are often constrained by practical limitations. The present study outlines a C(sp3)–H isocyanation protocol that enables the synthesis of diverse, pharmaceutically relevant benzylic ureas in high-throughput format. The operationally simple C–H isocyanation method shows high site selectivity and good functional group tolerance, and uses commercially available catalyst components and reagents [CuOAc, 2,2′-bis(oxazoline) ligand, (trimethylsilyl)isocyanate, and N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide]. The isocyanate products may be used without isolation or purification in a subsequent coupling step with primary and secondary amines to afford hundreds of diverse ureas. These results provide a template for implementation of C–H functionalization/cross-coupling in drug discovery.

Graphical abstract: Benzylic C–H isocyanation/amine coupling sequence enabling high-throughput synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant ureas
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