C–H alkylation of pyridines with olefins catalyzed by imidazolin-2-iminato-ligated rare-earth alkyl complexes

An array of rare-earth bis(aminobenzyl)complexes supported by imidazolin-2-iminato ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized.These complexes showed high activity towards ortho-Csp^(2)–H alkylation of 2-alkylpyridines and benzylic Csp^(3)–H alkylation of 2,6-dialkylpyridines with alkenes.A wide range of alkyl or aryl substituted olefin substrates are compatible,providing an atom-economical route to linear or branched alkylated pyridine derivatives in moderate to high yields(45 examples,up to 99%yield).The primary study suggested that the asymmetric version of Csp^(3)–H alkylation of 2,4,6-collidine with allylbenzene was feasible with chiral imidazolin-2-iminato-ligated scandium(III)complexes,and good yield with moderate enantioselectivity was obtained(84%yield,84:16 er).Mechanistic investigations including kinetic isotope effect(KIE)experiments and density functional theory(DFT)calculations shed light on the catalytic cycle and the origin of enantiocontrol.