Sultam Synthesis Via Intramolecular C-H Amination of Hydroxylamines

Abstract

Nitrogen is a vital element for the existence of life, as shown by its frequent presence in essential biomolecules, and inclusion into valuable drugs. Sulfonamides and their heterocycle counterpart, sultams, are N-containing functional groups and metabolically stable amide isosteres. Sulfa drugs, which contain these moieties, have a broad spectrum of medical applications. The industrial value of sultams has prompted the development of novel methods for their synthesis, and metal-catalyzed C-H amination reactions with nitrene precursors have recently shown promise. The current thesis presents a survey of conditions for benzo[d]sultam synthesis via intramolecular C-H amination of N-acyloxysulfonamides. Initially, using Ru(Bpy)3(PF6)2 as a photocatalyst and Et3N as a base enabled benzo[d]sultam formation by tertiary C-H amidation. The photoredox conditions were optimized to accommodate other 2,6-disubstituted-N-acyloxysulfonamides upon omission of the base, which consistently gave sulfonamide byproducts. Control reactions indicated that a thermal base-induced reaction was simultaneously occurring, both enabling productive C-H amidation and byproduct formation. Systematic optimization of base-induced conditions enabled sultam synthesis from 2,6-dialkyl- and tertiary ortho-monoalkyl-precursors in moderate yield, but sulfonamide formation still impeded the reaction.

An additional control reaction indicated that a thermal Ruthenium-catalyzed C-H amidation reaction was possible. Indeed, heating N-acyloxysulfonamides in the presence of Ru(Bpy)3(PF6)2 and in the absence of light and base enabled efficient C-H amidation, particularly with DCE as a solvent. A representative scope of 12 benzo[d]sultams was then synthesized including entries derived from ortho-monoalkyl-N-acyloxyarylsulfonamides. Aside from optimizing an efficient reaction for the synthesis of benzo[d]sultams through the cyclization of N-acyloxyarylsulfonamides, including the challenging primary C-H amidation of orthomonomethyl-substrates, the unique reaction conditions developed in this thesis set precedent for future investigation of hydroxylamine derived nitrene precursors. The optimization and design of superior ruthenium catalysts could allow for more challenging C-H amination reactions with hydroxysulfonamide derivatives and similar N-oxy nitrene precursors.