Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Compounds by Ruthenium Porphyrin Catalyzed Amination of Benzylic C–H Bonds

Herein we report the catalytic activity of ruthenium porphyrin complexes to promote the amination of benzylic C–H bonds by aryl azides, yielding α- and β-amino esters. The catalytic methodology is also effective to synthesize two derivatives of methyl l-3-phenyllactate in order to convert one of them into the corresponding β-lactam. The catalytic experimental conditions have been optimized on the basis of a preliminary mechanistic investigation which underlines the pivotal role of the substrate concentration to maximize the reaction productivity.

本文报道了卟啉钌（ruthenium porphyrin）配合物的催化活性：该类配合物可催化芳基叠氮化物对苄基C-H键的胺化反应，生成α-与β-氨基酯。该催化方法同样可用于合成L-3-苯基乳酸甲酯的两种衍生物，并可将其中一种衍生物进一步转化为对应的β-内酰胺。本研究通过初步机理探究对催化实验条件进行了优化，明确了底物浓度对最大化反应产率的关键作用。