Construction 7-membered ring via Ni-Al bimetal-enabled C-H cyclization for synthesis of tricyclic imidazoles

The construction of 7-membered ring via direct C7-H cyclization of benzoimidazoles with alkenes would provide a more atom- and step-economical route to tricyclic imidazoles and derivatives that widely exist in a broad range of bioactive molecules. However, transition metal-catalyzed C-H cyclization for medium-ring synthesis has been limited to reactive C-H bonds, instead, the activation of unreactive C-H bonds towards medium synthesis still remains an elusive challenge. Herein, we report a direct construction of 7-membered rings via Ni-Al co-catalyzed unreactive C7-H cyclization of benzoimidazoles with alkenes, providing a series of tricyclic imidazoles in 40-98% yield and with up to 95:5 er. Transition metal-catalyzed C-H cyclization for medium-ring synthesis has been limited to reactive C-H bonds, the activation of unreactive C-H bonds still remains a challenge. Here the authors show the direct construction of 7-membered rings via Ni-Al co-catalyzed unreactive C-H cyclization of benzoimidazoles with alkenes, providing a series of tricyclic imidazoles.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates a novel approach for the direct construction of 7-membered rings via Ni-Al co-catalyzed unreactive C-H cyclization of benzoimidazoles with alkenes, yielding a series of tricyclic imidazoles. Transition metal-catalyzed C-H cyclization for medium-ring synthesis has been limited to reactive C-H bonds, presenting a challenge for activating unreactive C-H bonds.