Hypervalent iodine mediated Pd(II)‐catalyzed ortho‐C(sp2−H) functionalization of azoles deciphering Hantzsch ester and malononitrile as the functional group surrogates

Abstract C−H bond activation has surfaced as a transformative toolbox for the efficient assembly of biologically important molecules. However, despite of major advances in palladium, rhodium and silver catalysis, yet palladium(II)‐ catalyzed, iodobenzene diacetate (PIDA) mediated C−H bond activation in azole skeleton has deluged with interesting wining outcome. Concentrating on that we herein report on the involvement of 4‐functionalized 1,4‐dihydropyridines (R‐DHPs) as the representative surrogates of benzoyl, pivalyl and ethoxycarbonyl groups and in presence of PIDA it releases appropriate functional radical (following single electron transfer oxidation of R‐DHPs under thermal condition)to become the part of ortho‐ functionalized azoles via Pd(II) catalysis. In case of cyanation reaction, malononitrile has served the key source of nitrile functionality by undergoing oxidative C−CN bond cleavage in presence of PIDA and with the help of Pd(II) catalyst it offers ortho ‐cyanated azoles. Additionally, the selective formation of C‐3 benzoyl and ester functionalized indazole derivatives in absence of Pd(II)‐catalyst and the unprecedented formation of homo‐coupling products between two identical 2 H ‐indazoles are also notable outcome of present strategic access. Overall this protocol operates under mild condition, tolerates a wide range of structural moieties and gives versatile azole derivatives in high efficiency. The antioxidant properties of the synthesized 2‐thiophenyl benzoyl selenazole and isoselenazole are further evaluated using a chemically defined method. The Copper‐ascorbate (Cu−As) was utilized as an oxidative stress generator. Out of screened azoles, the 2‐benzoyl isoselenazole compound ( 3 i ) displays magnificent antioxidant property as compared to the 2‐thiophenyl benzoyl selenazole ( 3 g ).