Enzyme‐ and Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Transformation of α‐Allenic Alcohols into 2,3‐Dihydrofurans

An efficient one‐pot method for the enzyme‐ and ruthenium‐catalyzed enantioselective transformation of α‐allenic alcohols into 2,3‐dihydrofurans has been developed. The method involves an enzymatic kinetic resolution and a subsequent ruthenium‐catalyzed cycloisomerization, which provides 2,3‐dihydrofurans with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee). A ruthenium carbene species was proposed as a key intermediate in the cycloisomerization.     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloadditions of Allenic Ketones: Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines

Amino‐acid‐derived phosphine catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition leading to chiral tetrahydropyridines, making use of α‐substituted allenic ketones as “C4 synthons” and N‐sulfonyl cyclic ketimines, has been developed. This asymmetric cycloaddition tolerates a wide range of α‐substituted allenic ketones. A series of chiral sultam‐fused tetrahydropyridines bearing a quaternary stereocenter were obtained in high yields with good enantioselectivities.     

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.     

Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of α‐Carbonyl Iodides to Alkynes

β,γ‐Unsaturated ketones are an important class of organic molecules. Herein, copper catalysis has been developed for the synthesis of β‐γ‐unsaturated ketones through 1,2‐addition of α‐carbonyl iodides to alkynes. The reactions exhibit wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The reaction products are versatile synthetic intermediates to complex small molecules. The method was applied for the formal synthesis of (±)‐trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor.     

Enantioselective NiH/Pmrox‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Reduction of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

The enantioselective 1,2‐reduction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones was achieved using a NiH catalyst in the presence of pinacolborane. This mild process represents a general method to access a wide variety of structurally diverse α‐chiral allylic alcohols in excellent yields and enantioselectivity, as well as very high levels of ambidoselectivity for 1,2‐ over 1,4‐reduction. Furthermore, for reactions on a 10 mmol scale, catalyst loadings as low as 0.5 mol % could be employed to deliver product without any detrimental effect on the yield, enantio‐, or ambidoselectivity.     

Metal‐Free Oxidative Radical Addition of Carbonyl Compounds to α,α‐Diaryl Allylic Alcohols: Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Ketones

A metal‐free direct alkylation of simple carbonyl compounds (ketones, esters, and amides) with α,α‐diaryl allylic alcohols is described. The protocol provides facile access to highly functionalized dicarbonyl ketones by a radical addition/1,2‐aryl migration cascade. The regioselectivity of the reaction was precisely controlled by the nature of the carbonyl compound.     

碱促进联烯酮与丙酮二羧酸酯反应制备官能化的2-羟基间苯二甲酸酯

发展了一种以碳酸钾为碱,在温和条件下,通过1,2-联烯酮与丙酮二羧酸二乙酯的串联反应高效合成取代2-羟基间苯二羧酸二乙酯类化合物的新方法。在最优条件下,以73%~85%的收率成功合成了一系列的目标产物。从机理上而言,该方法涉及了联烯酮与活泼亚甲基化合物的共轭Michael加成和酮的分子内羟醛缩合两个反应的串联组合。与文献方法相比,该方法还具有简单的起始原料,极高的反应产率和方便的处理过程等优点。     

Exact Mass Measurements for a-Allenic Alcohol by Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization／Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

The atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/time,of-flight mass speetrmtry (APEI/TOF-MS) was applied to determine the mass of five a.aIIenic alcohols via their vrotonated molecu.lar ions nslna Imsifive ion mode. Polyethylene Idycol (PEG) was used as the hlternal reference. All results were obtained under the resolution of about 5000 FWHM (full width at the half maximum). Solvent effects were studied and the satired results were obtained in acetonitrile. Comvared with the theoreflcal values, nun absolute errors were less thRn 1.0 mmu. The efTeets Of nozzle pote.Jldal, push pulse potential, pug pulse potentlai, puO bias potential and ic(lulsltion rate on exact mass determina/lon were also discussed. APCI/TOF.MS is proven to be a very semi/ire analytical technique and an alternative ionizafion mode in analytical technique lablle compounds with relatively weak polarity, such as a-allenic alcohol.     

Enantio‐ and Site‐Selective α‐Fluorination of N‐Acyl 3,5‐Dimethylpyrazoles Catalyzed by Chiral π–CuII Complexes

Catalytic enantioselective α‐fluorination reactions of carbonyl compounds are among the most powerful and efficient synthetic methods for constructing optically active α‐fluorinated carbonyl compounds. Nevertheless, α‐fluorination of α‐nonbranched carboxylic acid derivatives is still a big challenge because of relatively high pK_a values of their α‐hydrogen atoms and difficulty of subsequent synthetic transformation without epimerization. Herein we show that chiral copper(II) complexes of 3‐(2‐naphthyl)‐l ‐alanine‐derived amides are highly effective catalysts for the enantio‐ and site‐selective α‐fluorination of N‐(α‐arylacetyl) and N‐(α‐alkylacetyl) 3,5‐dimethylpyrazoles. The substrate scope of the transformation is very broad (25 examples including a quaternary α‐fluorinated α‐amino acid derivative). α‐Fluorinated products were converted into the corresponding esters, secondary amides, tertiary amides, ketones, and alcohols with almost no epimerization in high yield.     

Cross‐Coupling/Cyclization Reactions of Two Different Allenic Moieties

The allene moiety represents an excellent building block for allene cross‐coupling cyclization reactions, affording heterocyclic skeletons in a single step. This strategy is of particular interest when two different allene derivatives are involved in a series of metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling heterocyclization processes. This Concept article is focused on the Pd‐catalyzed union of two different allenic moieties, with cyclization of at least one of them by intramolecular cyclometalation. These new, versatile, and highly effective transformations are complex multistep processes leading to potential privileged structures that could find wide applications in related medicinal chemistry.     

Byproduct‐Catalyzed Four‐Component Reactions of Aldehydes with Hexamethyldisilazane,Chloroformates, and Nucleophiles in Acetonitrile Leading to Protected Primary Amines, β‐Amino Esters,and β‐Amino Ketones

Multicomponent reactions are a very powerful tool for the construction of complex organic molecules by using readily available starting materials. While most of the multicomponent reactions discovered so far consist of three components, the reactions with four or more components remain sparse. We have successfully developed several four‐component reactions using a catalytic amount of water as a hydrolyzing agent to decompose byproduct chlorotrimethylsilane (TMSCl) to yield secondary byproduct HCl that serves as a catalyst. In the presence of 40 mol % of water, the four‐component reaction of aldehydes with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), chloroformates, and silylated nucleophiles proceeds smoothly at room temperature to give a range of protected primary amines in moderate to excellent yields. Importantly, a wide variety of protic carbon nucleophiles, such as β‐keto esters, β‐diketones, and ketones, have further been explored as suitable substrates for the synthesis of protected β‐amino esters and β‐amino ketones that are useful building blocks for various pharmaceuticals and natural products. These four‐component reactions proceed through a pathway of tandem nitrogen protection/imine formation/imine addition, and the decomposition of byproduct TMSCl, generated in the first step of nitrogen protection, with water results in the formation of secondary byproduct HCl, a strong Brønsted acid that catalyzes the following imine formation/imine addition. Taking advantage of the fact that alcohols or phenols are also able to decompose byproduct TMSCl to yield secondary byproduct HCl, no catalyst is needed at all for the four‐component reactions with aldehydes bearing hydroxy groups.     

InI3‐ or ZnI2‐Catalyzed Reaction of Hydroxylated 1,5‐Allenynes with Thiols: A New Access to 3,5‐Disubstituted Toluene Derivatives

Transition‐metal‐activated alkynes or allenes can accept nucleophilic attack and undergo direct addition of the nucleophiles to the unsaturated bonds or trigger subsequent rearrangement reactions. This chemistry has witnessed increasing development in recent years. In this report, we have focused on the metal‐catalyzed reactions of a variety of substituted propargyl allenic alcohols and thiophenols using indium(III) and zinc(II) catalysts, which can activate both the alcohol and alkyne. In this reaction, thio groups play the role of a nucleophile and trigger subsequent rearrangements to give benzene derivatives. The products can be further transformed into various 1,3,5‐trisubstituted aromatic compounds by nickel‐catalyzed coupling reactions through the cleavage of the C? S bonds.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Domino Heterocyclization/Cross‐Coupling of α‐Allenols and α‐Allenic Esters: Efficient Preparation of Functionalized Buta‐1,3‐dienyl Dihydrofurans

A mild, palladium(II)‐catalyzed reaction of α‐allenols with α‐allenic esters in a heterocyclization/cross‐coupling sequence, applicable to a wide range of substitution patterns, has been developed for the preparation of 2,3,4‐trifunctionalized 2,5‐dihydrofurans. Our studies indicate high levels of chemo‐ and regiocontrol. The possibility of using optically active substrates as well as substrates of increased steric demand, such as tertiary α‐allenols, makes this novel sequence of heterocyclization/cross‐coupling an attractive method in organic synthesis. The current mechanistic hypothesis invokes a regiocontrolled palladium(II)‐mediated intramolecular oxypalladation of the free allenol component, that then undergoes a cross‐coupling reaction with the allenic ester partner, followed by a trans‐β‐deacyloxypalladation with concomitant regeneration of the Pd^II species.     

Tertiary α‐Silyl Alcohols by Diastereoselective Coupling of 1,3‐Dienes and Acylsilanes Initiated by Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Borylation

An efficient synthesis of functionalized tertiary α‐silyl alcohols by an enantio‐ and diastereoselective copper‐catalyzed three‐component coupling of 1,3‐dienes, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and acylsilanes is reported. The reaction proceeds well with different 1,3‐dienes and a broad range of aryl‐ as well as alkenyl‐ but also alkyl‐substituted acylsilanes. The target compounds are formed with high regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee and d.r. >20:1) and are highly versatile synthetic building blocks.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Tandem 1,3‐Acyloxy Migration/Mannich‐type Addition/Elimination of the Sulfonyl Group of N‐Sulfonylhydrazone‐propargylic Esters to 5,6‐Dihydropyridazin‐4‐one Derivatives

The addition of nucleophiles to C?N bonds offers a highly efficient synthetic strategy for accessing nitrogen‐containing molecules. 1 Among the well‐developed addition reactions, such as the highly efficient Mannich reaction, various C? H bond‐activated compounds including carboxylic acid derivatives, nitroalkanes, and terminal alkynes have been applied as nucleophiles to achieve different classes of amines. 2 However, employing new nucleophiles without activated C? H bonds, such as internal alkynes and allenic esters are limited when using metal catalysts. 3 Herein, we wish to report a new addition of allenic esters to C?N bonds initiated by a silver‐catalyzed 1,3‐migration of propargylic esters.     

Tandem Three‐Component Synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐Diol Derivatives

The development of efficient methods for stereocontrolled synthesis of polyol derivatives has been of continuing interest for the synthetic community. We describe herein tandem olefin cross‐metathesis/hemiacetalization/intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition of allylic/homoallylic alcohols, α,β‐unsaturated ketones, and aldehydes, which enabled the synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐diol derivatives in a step‐economical manner. A series of differentially protected polyol derivatives could be obtained in subsequent transformations via chemoselective/regioselective cleavage of the acetal moiety of the tandem reaction products.     

Efficient Trapping of 1,2‐Cyclohexadienes with 1,3‐Dipoles

1,2‐Cyclohexadienes are transient intermediates that undergo rapid dimerization and intermolecular trapping with activated olefins and heteroatomic nucleophiles. Fluoride‐mediated desilylative elimination of readily accessible 6‐silylcyclohexene‐1‐triflates allows the mild, chemoselective, and functional‐group tolerant generation of cyclic allene intermediates, which undergo efficient trapping reactions with stable 1,3‐dipoles. The reactions proceed with high levels of both regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. The reaction of cyclic allenes with azides is accompanied by the facile loss of dinitrogen, resulting in the formation of tetrahydroindoles or polycylic aziridines depending on the azide employed.     

NIS‐Assisted Aza‐Friedel–Crafts Reaction with α‐Carbamoysulfides as Precursors of N‐Carbamoylimines

A general and practical N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS)‐promoted aza‐Friedel–Crafts reaction of various aromatic nucleophiles with N‐acylimines generated in situ from α‐amidosulfides to give a rapid access to highly functionalized amines is described. The newly developed methodology is very mild, fast, efficient, and complementary.     

Synthesis of α‐Chiral Ketones and Chiral Alkanes Using Radical Polar Crossover Reactions of Vinyl Boron Ate Complexes

Vinyl boron ate complexes of enantioenriched secondary alkyl pinacolboronic esters undergo stereospecific radical‐induced 1,2‐migration in radical polar crossover reactions. In this three‐component process various commercially available alkyl iodides act as radical precursors and light is used for chain initiation. Subsequent oxidation and protodeborylation leads to valuable α‐chiral ketones and chiral alkanes, respectively, with excellent enantiopurity.     

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α‐Alkoxyamides to α‐Fluorinated Ketones

α‐Oxygen‐functionalized amides found particular utility as enolate surrogates for direct aldol couplings with α‐fluorinated ketones in a catalytic manner. Because of the likely involvement of open transition states, both syn‐ and anti‐aldol adducts can be accessed with high enantioselectivity by judicious choice of the chiral ligands. A broad variety of alkoxy substituents on the amides and aryl and fluoroalkyl groups on the ketone were tolerated, and the corresponding substrates delivered a range of enantioenriched fluorinated 1,2‐dihydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives with divergent diastereoselectivity depending on the ligand used. The amide moiety of the aldol adduct was transformed into a variety of functional groups without protection of the tertiary alcohol, showcasing the synthetic utility of the present asymmetric aldol process.