Copper‐Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Aerobic Oxidative Cross‐Coupling of 2‐Naphthols: Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,3′‐Substituted C1‐Symmetric BINOLs

A novel chiral 1,5‐N,N‐bidentate ligand based on a spirocyclic pyrrolidine oxazoline backbone was designed and prepared, and it coordinates CuBr in situ to form an unprecedented catalyst that enables efficient oxidative cross‐coupling of 2‐naphthols. Air serves as an external oxidant and generates a series of C₁‐symmetric chiral BINOL derivatives with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) and good yield (up to 87 %). This approach is tolerant of a broader substrates scope, particularly substrates bearing various 3‐ and 3′‐substituents. A preliminary investigation using one of the obtained C₁‐symmetric BINOL products was used as an organocatalyst, exhibiting better enantioselectivity than the previously reported organocatalyst, for the asymmetric α‐alkylation of amino esters.     

Branched‐Selective Direct α‐Alkylation of Cyclic Ketones with Simple Alkenes

Herein, we describe an intermolecular direct branched‐selective α‐alkylation of cyclic ketones with simple alkenes as the alkylation agents. Through an enamine‐transition metal cooperative catalysis mode, the α‐alkylation is realized in an atom‐ and step‐economic manner with excellent branched selectivity for preparing β‐branched ketones. Employment of a pair of bulky Brønsted acid and base as additives is responsible for enhanced efficiency. Promising enantioselectivity (74 % ee) has been obtained. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies suggest that a pathway through alkene migratory insertion into the Ir?C bond followed by C?H reductive elimination is involved for the high branched selectivity.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of ortho‐Substituted 1,1‐Diarylalkanes by a 1,2‐Metalate Rearrangement/anti‐SN2′ Elimination/Rearomatizing Allylic Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction Sequence

The one‐pot sequential coupling of benzylamines, boronic esters, and aryl iodides has been investigated. In the presence of an N‐activator, the boronate complex formed from an ortho‐lithiated benzylamine and a boronic ester undergoes stereospecific 1,2‐metalate rearrangement/anti‐S_N2′ elimination to form a dearomatized tertiary boronic ester. Treatment with an aryl iodide under palladium catalysis leads to rearomatizing γ‐selective allylic Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling to generate 1,1‐diarylalkanes. When enantioenriched α‐substituted benzylamines are employed, the corresponding 1,1‐diarylalkanes are formed with high stereospecificity.     

Highly Enantioselective Formation of α‐Allyl‐α‐Arylcyclopentanones via Pd‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

A highly enantioselective Pd‐catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of cyclopentanone derived α‐aryl‐β‐keto esters employing the (R,R)‐ANDEN‐phenyl Trost ligand has been developed. The product (S)‐α‐allyl‐α‐arylcyclopentanones were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 % ee). This represents one of the most highly enantioselective formations of an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center reported to date. This reaction was demonstrated on a 4.0 mmol scale without any deterioration of enantioselectivity and was exploited as the key enantioselective transformation in an asymmetric formal synthesis of the natural product (+)‐tanikolide.     

Synergistic Cu/Pd Catalysis for Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation of Aldimine Esters: Access to α,α‐Disubstituted α‐Amino Acids

An unprecedented enantioselective allylic alkylation of readily available aldimine esters has been developed, and is catalyzed by a synergistic Cu/Pd catalyst system. This strategy provides facile access to nonproteinogenic α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. The more challenging double allylic alkylation of glycinate‐derived imine esters was also realized. Furthermore, this methodology was applied for the construction of the key intermediate of PLG peptidomimetics.     

NiH‐Catalyzed Remote Asymmetric Hydroalkylation of Alkenes with Racemic α‐Bromo Amides

Reported here is a terminal‐selective, remote asymmetric hydroalkylation of olefins with racemic α‐bromo amides. The reaction proceeds by NiH‐catalyzed alkene isomerization and subsequent alkylation reaction, and can enantioconvergently introduce an unsymmetrical secondary alkyl group from a racemic α‐bromo amide onto a terminal C(sp³)?H position along the hydrocarbon chain of the alkene. This mild process affords a range of structurally diverse chiral α‐alkylalkanoic amides in excellent yields, and high regio‐ and enantioselectivities. In addition, the synthetic utility of this protocol is further highlighted by the regioconvergent conversion of industrial raw materials of isomeric olefin mixtures into enantioriched α‐alkylalkanoic amides on large scale.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Acyclic α‐Quaternary Carboxylic Acid Derivatives through Iridium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation

The first highly enantioselective iridium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation that provides access to products bearing an allylic all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center has been developed. The reaction utilizes a masked acyl cyanide (MAC) reagent, which enables the one‐pot preparation of α‐quaternary carboxylic acids, esters, and amides with a high degree of enantioselectivity. The utility of these products is further explored through a series of diverse product transformations.     

Catalytic,Enantioselective α‐Alkylation of Azlactones with Nonconjugated Alkenes by Directed Nucleopalladation

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed enantioselective α‐alkylation of azlactones with nonconjugated alkenes is described. The reaction employs a chiral BINOL‐derived phosphoric acid as the source of stereoinduction, and a cleavable bidentate directing group appended to the alkene to control the regioselectivity and stabilize the nucleopalladated alkylpalladium(II) intermediate in the catalytic cycle. A wide range of azlactones were found to be compatible under the optimal reaction conditions to afford products bearing α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino‐acid derivatives with high yields and high enantioselectivity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Dehydration for the Synthesis of α‐Vinyl Carbonyl Compounds and Total Synthesis of (−)‐Aspewentins A,B, and C

The direct α‐vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ‐oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α‐vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.     

Geometry‐Retentive C‐Alkenylation of Lithiated α‐Aminonitriles: Quaternary α‐Alkenyl Amino Acids and Hydantoins

α‐Amino nitriles tethered to alkenes through a urea linkage undergo intramolecular C‐alkenylation on treatment with base by attack of the lithionitrile derivatives on the N′‐alkenyl group. A geometry‐retentive alkene shift affords stereospecifically the E or Z isomer of the 5‐alkenyl‐4‐iminohydantoin products from the corresponding starting E ‐ or Z ‐N ′‐alkenyl urea, each of which may be formed from the same N ‐allyl precursor by stereodivergent alkene isomerization. The reaction, formally a nucleophilic substitution at an sp² carbon atom, allows the direct regioselective incorporation of mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetrasubstituted olefins at the α‐carbon of amino acid derivatives. The initially formed 5‐alkenyl iminohydantoins may be hydrolyzed and oxidatively deprotected to yield hydantoins and unsaturated α‐quaternary amino acids.     

Enantioselective Alkylation of N‐Arylhydrazones Derived from α‐Keto Esters and Isatin Derivatives through Asymmetric Phase‐Transfer Catalysis

The phase‐transfer‐catalyzed asymmetric alkylation reactions of N‐arylhydrazones derived from α‐keto‐esters and isatin derivatives afford enantioenriched azo compounds that bear a tetra‐substituted carbon stereocenter in good yields with high chemo‐ and enantioselectivity. The alkylation products can be readily converted into chiral amino esters, hydrazine derivatives, and aza‐β‐lactams without loss of enantiopurity.     

Regioselective Insertion of o‐Carborynes into the α‐C?H Bond of Tertiary Amines: Synthesis of α‐Carboranylated Amines

o‐Carboryne can undergo α‐C H bond insertion with tertiary amines, thus affording α‐carboranylated amines in very good regioselectivity and isolated yields. In this process, the nucleophilic addition of tertiary amines to the multiple bond of o‐carboryne generates a zwitterionic intermediate. An intramolecular proton transfer, followed by a nucleophilic attack leads to the formation of the final product. Thus, regioselectivity is highly dependent upon the acidity of α‐C H proton of tertiary amines. This approach serves as an efficient methodology for the preparation of a series of 1‐aminoalkyl‐o‐carboranes.     

Stereospecific α‐Sialylation by Site‐Selective Fluorination

Sialic acids are ubiquitous components of mammalian cell membranes and key regulators of cellular recognition events. Located at the non‐reducing termini of bioactive gangliosides, these essential building blocks are fused to the polysaccharide core via a characteristic α‐linkage, and rarely occur in the monomeric form. Effective chemical strategies to enable α‐sialylation are urgently required to construct well‐defined tools for glycomics. To complement existing chemoenzymatic strategies, an α‐selective process has been devised based on the site‐selective introduction of fluorine at C3 (more than 20 examples, up to 90 % yield). Predicated on localized particle charge inversion (C?H^δ+→C?F^δ?), fluorine insertion simultaneously augments the anomeric effect, enhances electrophilicity at C2 and mitigates elimination. A stereochemical induction model is postulated that spans the S_N continuum and validates the role of the C?F bond in orchestrating α‐selectivity.     

Chemospecific Cyclizations of α‐Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylides on Aryls and Heteroaryls

The functionalization of aryl and heteroaryls using α‐carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides without the help of a directing group has remained so far a neglected area, despite the advantageous safety profile of sulfoxonium ylides. Described herein are the cyclizations of α‐carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides onto benzenes, benzofurans and N‐p‐toluenesulfonyl indoles in the presence of a base in HFIP, whereas pyrroles and N‐methyl indoles undergo cyclization in the presence of an iridium catalyst. Significantly, these two sets of conditions are chemospecific for each groups of substrates.     

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Amino Nitriles: Synthetic Homoenolate Equivalents

An enantioselective rhodium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐amino nitriles is described. This protocol provides a novel approach for the construction of β‐stereogenic carbonyl derivatives via the catalytic asymmetric alkylation of a homoenolate equivalent. The particularly challenging nature of this transformation is highlighted by the fact that three modes of selectivity must be manipulated, namely regio‐ and enantioselectivity, in addition to geometrical control. The γ‐stereogenic cyanoenamine products can be readily hydrolyzed in situ to afford the β‐substituted carboxylic acids, which in turn provide expedient access to a number of related carbonyl derivatives. Additionally, control experiments indicate that the chiral rhodium‐allyl intermediate facilitates the selective formation of the E‐cyanoenamine products, which is critical since the Z‐isomer affords significantly lower enantiocontrol.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,4‐Keto‐Alkenylboronate Esters and 1,4‐Dicarbonyls

A catalytic enantioselective method for the synthesis of 1,4‐keto‐alkenylboronate esters by a rhodium‐catalyzed conjugate addition pathway is disclosed. A variety of novel, bench‐stable alkenyl gem‐diboronate esters are synthesized. These easily accessible reagents react smoothly with a collection of cyclic α,β‐unsaturated ketones, generating a new C?C bond and stereocenter. Products are isolated in up to 99 % yield with greater than 20:1 E/Z and greater than 99:1 e.r. Mechanistic studies show the site‐selectivity of transmetalation and reactivity is ligand dependent. The utility of the approach is highlighted by gram‐scale synthesis of enantioenriched cyclic 1,4‐diketones, and stereoselective transformations of the products by hydrogenation, allylation, and isomerization.     

Asymmetric Strecker Reaction Arising from the Molecular Orientation of an Achiral Imine at the Single‐Crystal Face: Enantioenriched l‐ and d‐Amino Acids

Strecker synthesis has long been considered one of the prebiotic reactions for the synthesis of α‐amino acids. However, the correlation between the origin of chirality and highly enantioenriched α‐amino acids through this method remains a puzzle. In the reaction, it may be conceivable that the handedness of amino acids has been determined at the formation stage of the chiral intermediate α‐aminonitrile, that is, the enantioselective addition of hydrogen cyanide to an imine. Herein, an enantiotopic crystal surface of an achiral imine acted as an origin of chirality for the enantioselective formation of α‐aminonitriles by the addition of HCN. In conjunction with the amplification of the enantiomeric excess and multiplication of enantioenriched aminonitrile, a large amount of near enantiopure α‐amino acids, with the l ‐ and d ‐handedness corresponding to the molecular orientation of the imine, is reported.     

Iron‐Catalyzed α‐Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols

A general and benign iron‐catalyzed α‐alkylation reaction of ketones with primary alcohols has been developed. The key to success of the reaction is the use of a Knölker‐type complex as catalyst (2 mol %) in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ as base (10 mol %) under hydrogen‐borrowing conditions. Using 2‐aminobenzyl alcohol as alkylation reagent allows for the “green” synthesis of quinoline derivatives.