Formal C─H Functionalization of Quinolines at the C7 Position Through a Traceless Directing Strategy

K Kun Zhou (Key Laboratory of Animal Virology, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs of China and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Biological Products, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences) N Ni Zhang X Xin‐Rou Zhong (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China) R Rui‐Rui Wu (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China) Y Yang‐Jie Mao (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China) P Peng Ye (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province) G Gen Luo (Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology) D Dan‐Qian Xu (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China) S Shao‐Jie Lou (Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China)

Abstract

Abstract The precise C─H functionalization of quinolines is of high interest in organic synthesis and drug discovery. However, although many strategies have been developed for the regioselective C─H bond functionalization of the quinoline scaffold, the facile and selective remote C─H bond functionalization of quinolines at the geometrically and electronically disfavored C7‐position has remained underdeveloped. Here, we disclose a Cu‐catalyzed formal C─H arylation and alkenylation of quinolines at the C7 position with diverse iodonium triflates. The reaction features exclusive C7‐selectivity, broad substrate scope, short reaction time, and simple operation. This practical protocol has also been applied in the analogous C7‐H functionalization of tetrahydroquinolines and the further C7‐elaboration of quinolines. Experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the key to the success of this transformation is the unique ring‐size‐induced in situ removal of the N ‐acyl directing group, constituting a traceless directing strategy for the rapid access to a variety of C7‐substituted neutral quinolines.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 45
Published November 03, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

K

Kun Zhou

Key Laboratory of Animal Virology, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs of China and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Biological Products, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences

N

Ni Zhang

X

Xin‐Rou Zhong

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China

R

Rui‐Rui Wu

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China

Y

Yang‐Jie Mao

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China

P

Peng Ye

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province

G

Gen Luo

Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology

D

Dan‐Qian Xu

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China

S

Shao‐Jie Lou

Catalytic Hydrogenation Research Center State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides and Cleaner Production Technology of Zhejiang Province Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou 310014 P.R. China