Catalytic enantioselective aza-Diels-alder reactions of imines--an approach to optically active nonproteinogenic alpha-amino acids

A catalytic enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of imines has been developed. The reaction of N-tosyl alpha-imino ester with different dienes including activated, non-activated, cyclic, and acyclic dienes has been investigated in the presence of various chiral Lewis acids. A series of phosphino-oxazoline ligands have been synthesized and evaluated for the reaction. It was found that the combination of phosphino-oxazoline ligands with copper(I) salts gives the best results for the activated dienes, while BINAP-copper(I) complexes are good catalysts for all the dienes studied. In the case of activated acyclic dienes the aza-Diels-Alder products can be obtained in higher than 80% isolated yield and 96% ee, while for the unactivated cyclic dienes the exo diastereomer is formed as the major product in up to 95 % ee. For an activated cyclic conjugated diene, 2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene, the reaction proceeds as a Mannich-type addition reaction giving optically active gamma-oxo alpha-amino acid derivatives in good yields and up to 96% ee. The reaction of an unactivated acyclic diene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, with the N-tosyl alpha-imino ester gives both the aza-Diels-Alder and aza-ene products, in a ratio of 9:1 favoring the aza-Diels-Alder product. Furthermore, a series of different imines have been synthesized and investigated as possible substrates for the present catalytic enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction in order to obtain mechanistic insight. All imines studied gave moderate to high ee. Particularly, the reaction of the N-phenyl and N-p-methoxyphenyl substituted glyoxylate imines with Danishefsky's diene proceeded well affording the corresponding aza-Diels-Alder product in high yield with up to 91% ee at room temperature. The present catalytic enantioselective reaction of imines provided an effective route to optically active nonproteinogenic alpha-amino acids. The products of the catalytic enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of the cyclic dienes can be used for the preparation of key compounds such as natural products and compounds of pharmaceutical interest. The absolute configurations of five products have been solved by X-ray structural analysis, and it is found that the absolute configuration of the aza-Diels-Alder adduct is dependent on the substituent on the imine nitrogen atom. It turned out that the N-tosyl glyoxylate imine and N-p-methoxyphenyl glyoxylate imine give the aza-Diels-Alder adduct with opposite absolute configuration using the same enantiomer of the catalyst. On the basis of the results the mechanistic aspects for the reactions are discussed.     

Lewis acid catalyzed Povarov reaction of pentafulvenes and spiro[2,4]-hepta-[4,6]-diene: An efficient access to cyclopentene fused quinolines

An efficient protocol for the Lewis acid catalyzed three-component aza-Diels-Alder reaction of pentafulvenes as dienophile has been developed. Cyclopentene fused tetrahydroquinolines were formed in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. The method was extended to spiro[2,4]hepta-4,6-diene, by which 3,4-dihydroquinoline derivatives were obtained. The aromatization of cycloadducts furnished corresponding quinoline derivatives.     

Mannich-Michael versus formal aza-Diels-Alder approaches to piperidine derivatives

A review into the aza-Diels-Alder reaction, mainly concentrating on literature examples that form piperidin-4-ones from the reaction of imines and electron rich dienes or enones, either through a Lewis acidic/Br?nsted acid approach or through the use of an organocatalyst. This review questions whether the mechanism of the aza-Diels-Alder reaction is step wise as opposed to concerted when using oxygenated dienes.     

Pyridines and pyridine derivatives from vinyl allenes and imines

The Lewis acid mediated reaction of acyclic vinyl allenes and imines, yielding tetrahydropyridines has been carried out. Only one cycloadduct was observed in each case, and thus, the reaction progressed in all cases with total regio-, face- and endo/exo selectivities. The cycloadducts were transformed into polysubstituted pyridines, including bipyridines, by catalytic transfer hydrogenation using cyclohexene as hydrogen donor in good yield. The reaction was extended to the aromatization of the bicyclic cycloadducts prepared in previous works from the reaction of semicyclic vinyl allenes and imines, yielding tetrahydropyridines.     

The Lewis acids catalyzed aza-Diels-Alder reaction of methylenecyclopropanes with imines

[reaction: see text] The methylenecyclopropanes can react with various imines to give the aza-Diels-Alder adducts in good yields in the presence of Lewis acids.     

Lithium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate catalyzed Mannich-type and aza-Diels-Alder reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide

The Mannich-type reaction of imines with (1-methoxy-2-methylpropenyloxy)trimethylsilane and aza-Diels-Alder reaction of imines with Danishefsky's diene can be carried out in scCO₂ in the presence of lithium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate which offer a way to synthesize β-amino carbonyl compounds and nitrogen-containing six-membered ring compounds under environmentally benign conditions.     

A mild and efficient aza-Diels-Alder reaction of N-benzhydryl imines with trans-1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-trimethylsiloxybuta-1,3-diene catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3

The aza-Diels-Alder reaction of trans-1-methoxy-2-methyl-3-trimethylsiloxybuta-1,3-diene with N-benzhydryl imines in the presence of Yb(OTf)₃ in toluene at room temperature gave the corresponding 2,5-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones in high yields. This reaction can also be carried out with diene, aldehydes, and amine in a three-component one-pot reaction manner in moderate to high yields under solvent-free conditions. The relationship between Lewis acids and activity, solvents and catalyst loading were studied. Some investigation towards the reaction mechanism was discussed.     

Aza-Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated sulfinylimines derived from α-amino acids with enolethers and enamines

α,β-Unsaturated sulfinylimines derived from α-amino acids undergo aza-Diels-Alder reaction with electron rich dienophiles such as enolethers and enamines. Subsequent elimination of sulfinyl and amine or alkoxy moiety on the resulting cycloadducts affords pyridines derived from α-amino acids.     

Three component coupling reactions of N-acetyl-2-azetine- rapid stereoselective entry to 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines

N-Acetyl-2-azetine undergoes Lewis acid catalysed [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with imines derived from aromatic amines and gave a 1:1 mixture of exo-endo diastereoisomeric azetidine cycloadducts which reacted further with aromatic amine, to give 2,3,4-trisubsitituted tetrahydroquinolines in good to excellent yield, predominantly as one diastereoisomer.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 1,7,9-decatrienoates catalyzed by indium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate in aqueous media

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of ester-tethered 1,7,9-decatrienoate derivatives in a mixture of water and 2-propanol was catalyzed by indium(III) triflate to give the cycloadducts in good yield with perfect endo-selectivity.     

Enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of aldimines with "Danishefsky-type diene" catalyzed by chiral scandium(III)-N,N'-dioxide complexes

A new kind of complex prepared from scandium(III) triflate and l-proline-derived N,N'-dioxides has been developed to catalyze the enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction between 1,3-butadiene (diene 1) and aldimines 2, affording the corresponding 2,5-disubstituted dihydropyridinones in moderate to high yields (up to 92%) with good enantioselectivities (up to 90% ee) at room temperature. A variety of aldimines including aromatic, heteroaromatic, conjugated, and aliphatic imines were found to be suitable substrates. Enantiopure samples (up to 99% ee) were obtained for some products by a single recrystallization. The absolute configuration of the products was determined by X-ray diffraction and CD analysis. On the basis of the investigation of 1H NMR spectra and the positive nonlinear effect, the catalyst structure was carefully discussed.     

Imidazolinium salts as catalysts for the aza-Diels-Alder reaction

Various easily accessible imidazolinium salts have been found to be capable of catalysing an aza-Diels-Alder reaction with a range of imines and Danishefsky's diene, giving the desired products in good to excellent yields. The influence of the counter-anions on the reactivity has been explored. These salts could contribute to the field of metal-free catalysis/organocatalysis.     

Hetero Diels-Alder reactions of 1-amino-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes under strictly thermal conditions

The hetero Diels-Alder reaction of 1-amino-3-siloxy-1,3-butadiene (1a) with a range of unactivated aldehydes proceeds readily under remarkably mild conditions: at room temperature and in the absence of Lewis acid catalysts. The cycloadducts are formed in good yields and can be converted directly to the corresponding dihydro-4-pyrones using acetyl chloride. Ketones and imines are also reactive in hetero Diels-Alder reactions with this diene.     

Reaction of 6,6-dimethylfulvene with aromatic imines in the presence of Lewis acids

Formal aza-Diels-Alder (Povarov) reaction of 6,6-dimethylfulvene with aromatic imines is described for the first time.     

Enantioselective construction of pyrrolidines by palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane with imines

A protocol for the enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane (TMM) with imines has been developed. Central to this effort were the novel phosphoramidite ligands developed in our laboratories. The conditions developed to effect an asymmetric TMM reaction using 2-trimethylsilylmethyl allyl acetate were shown to be tolerant of a wide variety of imine acceptors to provide the corresponding pyrrolidine cycloadducts with excellent yields and selectivities. Use of a bis-2-naphthyl phosphoramidite allowed the successful cycloaddition of the parent TMM with N-Boc imines, and has further permitted the reaction of substituted donors with N-tosyl aldimines and ketimines in high regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. Use of a diphenylazetidine ligand allows the complementary synthesis of the exocyclic nitrile product shown, and we demonstrate control of the regioselectivity of the product based on manipulation of the reaction parameters.     

Phosphomolybdic acid-catalyzed efficient one-pot three-component aza-Diels-Alder reactions under solvent-free conditions: a facile synthesis of trans-fused pyrano- and furanotetrahydroquinolines

trans-Fused pyrano- and furanotetrahydroquinoline derivatives have been synthesized via a one-pot three-component aza-Diels-Alder reaction of aryl imines formed in situ from aromatic amines and arylaldehydes with cyclic enol ethers,such as 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran and 2,3-dihydrofuran,in the presence of 1 mol % of phosphomolybdic acid under solvent-free conditions at room temperature in good to excellent yields.     

手性磷酸催化的有机催化不对称反应

手性磷酸是近年来发展起来的一类新型高效、高对映选择性的Brønsted酸类有机催化剂, 已成功应用于催化不对称Mannich反应、还原胺化反应、Pictet-Spengler反应、aza-Diels-Alder反应和aza-Ene反应等许多重要的有机合成反应. 手性磷酸催化剂分子内同时含有Lewis碱性位点和Brønsted酸性位点, 可同时活化亲电与亲核底物. 作为一种新型双功能有机催化剂, 手性磷酸具有较高的催化活性和对映选择性, 催化剂最低用量可达0.05 mol%. 对各类手性磷酸催化剂在有机催化不对称合成反应中的应用研究进展, 以及不对称诱导反应的机理、手性磷酸的分子结构及反应条件对其催化活性和不对称诱导活性的影响进行了评述.     

Chemo- and regioselective assembly of polysubstituted pyridines and isoquinolines from isocyanides, arynes, and terminal alkynes

We have disclosed a general and efficient synthetic strategy for polysubstituted pyridines and isoquinolines with high chemo- and regioselectivity. In this methodology, 1-alkynyl imines act as the key compound to undergo a sequential alkynyl imine-allenyl imine isomerization/aza-Diels-Alder reaction/aromatization. In the first place, 1-alkynyl imines were formed in situ by a highly selective multicomponent reaction of isocyanides, arynes, and terminal alkynes and reacted with another molecule of arynes or terminal alkynes to furnish target heterocyclic products in a highly efficient and atom-economic manner. On the other hand, we attempted to prepare 1-alkynyl imines by other approaches to undergo a similar reaction sequence to afford polysubstituted pyridines and isoquinolines with a wider range. Different from the first approach, the second approach utilized the preprepared 1-alkynyl imines to introduce the related different substitutents into the final products: arynes or terminal alkynes bearing substituents different from those of 1-alkynyl imines have been successfully applied for the synthesis a wide variety of pyridines and isoquinolines with diversity.     

Direct conversion of carbonyl compounds into organic halides: indium(III) hydroxide-catalyzed deoxygenative halogenation using chlorodimethylsilane

The reaction of carbonyls and chlorodimethylsilane was effectively catalyzed by indium(III) hydroxide and afforded the corresponding deoxygenative chlorination products, in which the carbonyl carbon accepted two nucleophiles (H and Cl) with releasing oxygen. Only In(OH)3 catalyzed the reaction, and typical Lewis acids such as TiCl4, AlCl3, and BF3.OEt2 showed no catalytic activity. The reaction mechanism of this deoxygenative chlorination includes initial hydrosilylation followed by chlorination. Other nucleophiles such as allyl or iodine were available for this methodology. The moderate Lewis acidity of indium catalyst enabled chemoselective reaction, and therefore ester, nitro, cyano, or halogen groups were not affected during the reaction course.     

Chiral phosphine lewis bases catalyzed asymmetric aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines with activated olefins

In the aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines (N-arylmethylidene-4-methylbenzenesulfonamides and others) with methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, and acrolein, we found that, in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral phosphine Lewis base such as (R)-2'-diphenylphosphanyl-[1,1']binaphthalenyl-2-ol LB1 (10 mol %) and molecular sieve 4A, the corresponding aza-Baylis-Hillman adducts could be obtained in good yields with good to high ee (70-95% ee) at low temperature (approximately -30 to -20 degrees C) or at room temperature in THF, respectively. In CH2Cl2 upon heating at 40 degrees C, the aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines with phenyl acrylate or naphthyl acrylate gave the adducts in good to high yields (60-97%) with moderate ee (52-77%). The mechanistic insight has been investigated by 31P and 1H NMR spectroscopic measurements. The key enolate intermediate, which has been stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, has been observed by 31P and 1H NMR spectroscopy. An effective bifunctional Lewis base and Bronsted acid phosphine Lewis base system has been disclosed in this catalytic, asymmetric aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction.