Rh(II)-catalysed N2-selective arylation of benzotriazoles and indazoles using quinoid carbenes via 1,5-H shift

Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 Apr 25;60(35):4727-4730. doi: 10.1039/d4cc00823e.

Abstract

An efficient Rh(II)-catalyzed highly selective N2-arylation of benzotriazole, indazole, and 1,2,3 triazole is developed using diazonaphthoquinone. The developed protocol is extended with a wide scope. In addition, late-stage arylation of these scaffolds tethered with bioactive molecules is explored. Control experiments and DFT calculations reveal that the reaction proceeds presumably via nucleophilic addition of the N2 (of the 1H tautomer) center to quinoid-carbene followed by a 1,5-H shift.