Enantioselective cascade reactions of stable sulfur ylides and nitroolefins through an axial-to-central chirality transfer strategy

An enantioselective [4 + 1] annulation/rearrangement cascade of stable sulfur ylides and nitroolefins has been developed through an efficient axial-to-central chirality transfer with the use of a chiral BINOL-derived sulfide as a reliable stereocontroller. It can provide pharmaceutically and synthetically important oxazolidinones in high stereoselectivities (up to 96:4 e.r. and >95:5 d.r.). Moreover, this strategy was also successfully applied to the asymmetric [4 + 1]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition cascade of sulfur ylides with alkene-tethered nitroolefins, and the corresponding enantioenriched fused heterocycles (up to 87:13 e.r. and >95:5 d.r.) were obtained in good to excellent yields (54-95% yields).     

Catalytic Asymmetric [3+1]‐Cycloaddition Reaction of Ylides with Electrophilic Metallo‐enolcarbene Intermediates

The first asymmetric [3+1]‐cycloaddition was successfully achieved by copper(I) triflate/double‐sidearmed bisoxazoline complex catalyzed reactions of β‐triisopropylsilyl‐substituted enoldiazo compounds with sulfur ylides. This methodology delivered a series of chiral cyclobutenes in good yields with high enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities (up to 99 % ee , and >20:1 d.r.). Additionally, the [3+1]‐cycloaddition of catalytically generated metallo‐enolcarbenes was successfully extended to reaction with a stable benzylidene dichlororuthenium complex.     

Direct synthesis of benzoxazinones via Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed C–H activation and annulation of sulfoxonium ylides with dioxazolones

A highly novel and direct synthesis of benzoxazinones was developed via Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed C–H activation and [3 + 3] annulation between sulfoxonium ylides and dioxazolones. The reaction is conducted under base-free conditions and tolerates various functional groups. Starting from diverse readily available sulfoxonium ylides and dioxazolones, a variety of benzoxazinones could be synthesized in one step in 32%-75% yields.     

Synthesis of Chiral Tetrasubstituted Azetidines from Donor–Acceptor Azetines via Asymmetric Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Imido‐Ylide [3+1]‐Cycloaddition with Metallo‐Enolcarbenes

The all‐cis stereoisomers of tetrasubstituted azetidine‐2‐carboxylic acids and derivatives that possess three chiral centers have been prepared in high yield and stereocontrol from silyl‐protected Z‐γ‐substituted enoldiazoacetates and imido‐sulfur ylides by asymmetric [3+1]‐cycloaddition using chiral sabox copper(I) catalysis followed by Pd/C catalytic hydrogenation. Hydrogenation of the chiral p‐methoxybenzyl azetine‐2‐carboxylates occurs with both hydrogen addition to the C=C bond and hydrogenolysis of the ester.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [ 2,3 ] -Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Sulfur Ylides Generated from Carbenoids

The catalytic asymmetric reactions of oxygen or sulfur ylides generated from carbenoids have attracted consider able attention in recent years. High enantioselectivities have been achieved in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions and [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement of oxygen ylides. In contrast to the oxygen ylide, the corresponding catalytic asymmetric reaction of sulfur ylide is less developed. Compared to oxygen ylides, the sulfur ylides are more stable and experimental evidence supports a free ylide rather than a metal-bound ylide as reaction intermediate. That means the enantio-control must be in the step of the ylide formation. If the subsequent reaction such as [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement or 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is a concerted process and is faster than the racemization of the chiral ylide intermediate, then the catalytic asymmetric sulfur ylide reaction will be possible.     

Iodine‐Promoted Synthesis of 1‐Alkyl‐3‐aroylindolizines from N‐(Aroylmethyl)pyridinium Salts and Aliphatic Aldehydes

An effective and practical method has been developed for the diversity‐oriented synthesis of 1‐alkyl‐3‐aroylindolizines via the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of pyridinium ylides and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of molecular iodine and a catalytic amount of MnO₂. The synthesis proceeds by tandem reactions involving [3+2] cycloaddition, dehydration of the cycloadduct, and dehydroaromatization. Molecular iodine served both as a catalyst and a dehydroaromatization reagent in the reaction.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition of Enoldiazoimides with Sulfur Ylides

Enoldiazoimides, a new subclass of enoldiazo compounds, generate enol‐substituted carbonyl ylides whose reactions with sulfur ylides enable an unprecedented formal [4+2] cycloaddition. The resulting multifunctionalized indolizidinones, which incorporate sulfur, are formed in good yields under mild reaction conditions. The uniqueness of this transformation stems from the role of the silyl‐protected enol, since the corresponding acetyldiazoimide failed to provide any cross‐products in metal‐catalyzed reactions with sulfur ylides. This copper‐catalyzed cycloaddition is initiated with the generation of enol‐substituted carbonyl ylides and sulfur ylides from enoldiazoimides and sulfonium salts, respectively, and proceeds through stepwise six‐membered ring formation, C?O and C?S bond cleavage, and silyl and acetyl group migration.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Formal Synthesis of MDM2 Antagonist RG7388 and Its Analogues

The catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with stilbenes has been established, affording structurally diverse pyrrolidines bearing four contiguous stereocenters with stereo‐diversity in generally high yields and good to excellent stereoselectivities (up to 98% yield, 99 : 1 dr, >99% ee). Meanwhile, this strategy allowed the formal synthesis of antitumor drug RG7388 (Phase III clinical study) and its analogues in high efficiency.     

A One-Pot Approach to Multi-Substituted Fused Aziridines: Formal Intermolecular [2+1] Cycloaddition Reaction between Saccharin-Derived Cyclic Ketimines and Sulfur Ylides

Herein a concise and efficient method for the synthesis of aziridines has been developed. The reaction proceeds through a formal intermolecular [2+1] cycloaddition reaction of saccharin-derived cyclic ketimines with sulfur ylides. This methodology features high atom-economy, broad substrate scope and an operationally simple procedure, affording the aziridines with excellent yields and diastereoselectivity (>20 : 1 dr). In the presence of base, the aziridine products could be readily converted to benzothiazines by an unusual rearrangement reaction.     

Reaction of pyridinium disubstituted methylides with diphenylcyclopropenethione

Diphenylcyclopropenethione undergoes nucleophilic attack by pyridinium disubstituted ylides 1a-1e to produce the corresponding 2-pyranthione 3a , 2-pyrone 4a or 4c , thiopyran-2-one 6a, 6b, 6d or 6e , and/or 5H-thieno[3,2-b]thiopyran 5a .     

A three-component, one-pot synthesis of indolizidines and related heterocycles via the [3+2] cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides

Nonstabilized azomethine ylides (i.e. those bearing only hydrogens or alkyl groups) can be generated from (2-azaallyl)stannanes and (2-azaallyl)silanes through an intramolecular N-alkylation/demetalation cascade. The resulting ylides undergo [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-poor or electron-rich dipolarophiles yielding indolizidines and related 1-aza[m.3.0]bicycloalkane systems in good yield. An in situ protocol allows for a one-pot, three-component synthesis of indolizidines. The (2-azaallyl)stannanes tolerate enolizable hydrogens in these cycloadditions, while (2-azaallyl)silanes do not. The mechanism of the cycloaddition cascade is clarified by a series of control experiments. The same (2-azaallyl)stannanes may be transmetalated by n-butyllithium to generate 2-azaallyllithiums, which also may undergo a [3+2] cycloaddition/N-alkylation cascade to form indolizidines.     

Asymmetric Brønsted Base Catalyzed and Directed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2‐Acyl Cycloheptatrienes with Azomethine Ylides

Conjugated cyclic trienes have the potential for different types of cycloaddition reactions. In the present work, we will, in a novel asymmetric cycloaddition reaction, demonstrate that the organocatalytic reaction of 2‐acyl cycloheptatrienes with azomethine ylides proceeds as a [3+2] cycloaddition, which is in contrast to the Lewis acid‐catalyzed reaction, in which a [3+6] cycloaddition takes place. In the presence of a chiral organosuperbase, 2‐acyl cycloheptatrienes react in a highly enantioselective manner in the [3+2] cycloaddition with azomethine ylides, providing the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition product in high yields and up to 99 % ee. It is also shown that the diene formed by the reaction can undergo stereoselective dihydroxylation, bromination, and cycloaddition reactions. Finally, based on experimental observations, some mechanistic considerations are discussed.     

Gold(I)-Catalyzed [8+2]-Cycloaddition of 8-Aryl-8-azaheptafulvenes with Allenamides and Ynamides: Regioselective Synthesis of Dihydrocycloheptapyrrole Derivatives

Gold(I)-catalyzed higher-order [8+2] cycloadditions of 8-aryl-8-azaheptafulvenes 1 with allenamides 2 and ynamides 3 were studied. 1,8-Dihydrocycloheptapyrroles 4 were achieved by a regioselective [8+2] cycloaddition of azaheptafulvenes 1 and allenamides 2 in the presence of (2,4-ditBuC₆H₃O)₃PAuNTf₂ as catalyst. Besides, ynamides 3 and 8-aryl-8-azaheptafulvenes 1 , undergo a regioselective [8+2] cycloaddition, to give 2-amido-1,4-dihydrocycloheptapyrroles 7 in the presence of JohnPhosAuNTf₂ as catalyst. Both reactions take place with good yields and with a variety of substituents. A plausible mechanism hypothesis suggests a nucleophilic attack of the 8-azaheptafulvene to the gold activated electron rich allene or alkyne moieties of the allenamide and ynamide, respectively.     

ZnCl2-Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation of Alkylthio-Substituted Enaminones and Enaminothiones with Sulfur Ylides

Concise construction of furan and thiophene units has played an important role in the synthesis of potentially bioactive compounds and functional materials. Herein, an efficient Lewis acid ZnCl₂ catalyzed [4+1] annulation of alkylthio-substituted enaminones is reported, that is, α-oxo ketene N,S-acetals with sulfur ylides to afford 2-acyl-3-aminofuran derivatives. In a similar fashion, [4+1] annulation of the corresponding enaminothiones, that is, α-thioxo ketene N,S-acetals, with sulfur ylides efficiently proceeded to give multisubstituted 3-aminothiophenes. This method features wide substrate scopes as well as broad functional group tolerance, offering a concise route to highly functionalized furans and thiophenes.     

Transition-Metal-Free One-Pot [3+3] Heteroannulative Coupling of Thioamides with Epichlorohydrin: Access to Diverse 1,3-Thiazinanes

An operationally simple and efficient cascade approach to access a series of 1,3-thiazinanes has been developed through intermolecular [3+3] heteroannulative coupling employing β-ketothioamide as a C1 N1S1 unit and epichlorohydrin as a C3 unit at room temperature for the first time. The reaction proceeds by nucleophilic attack of thiocarbonyl sulfur to less hindered primary carbon of oxirane followed by sequential intramolecular N-cyclization and dehydrochlorination enabling the coupling by cleavage of C−O bond and formation of two new C−S and C−N bonds in one stretch. This protocol not only avoids potential toxicity and tedious work up procedures, but also features open atmosphere, good to high yields, gram-scalability, and easy performance from inexpensive, readily available starting materials under transition-metal-free conditions. A probable mechanism for the formation of 1,3-thiazinanes has been suggested.     

Transition-metal-free approach to synthesis of indolines from N-(ortho-chloromethyl)aryl amides and iodonium ylides

A transition-metal-free method for the synthesis of indolines has been developed. In the presence of K₂CO₃, the cyclization reaction of N-(ortho-chloromethyl)aryl amides and iodonium ylides proceeded smoothly at room temperature in moderate to good yields.     

Sulfilimines as Versatile Nitrene Transfer Reagents: Facile Access to Diverse Aza‐Heterocycles

We herein report the unprecedented synthesis of diverse biologically important aza‐heterocycles by employing sulfilimines as nitrene transfer reagents. This class of sulfur‐based aza‐ylides had not been successfully used for gold nitrene transfer before. This work contains an efficient generation of α‐imino gold carbenes by N?S cleavage of sulfilimines. These gold carbenes undergo C?H insertion, cyclopropanation, and nucleophilic attack to form indoles (44 examples), 3‐azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan‐2‐imines (24 examples), and imidazoles (3 examples). Our study represents a unique gold‐catalyzed reaction between alkynes and sulfur ylides, and also includes the first aza‐heterocycle synthesis that proceeds by intermolecular nitrene transfer followed by cyclopropanation of the α‐imino gold carbenes. Moreover, an unexpected synthesis of 4‐acylquinolines (3 examples) from 2‐acylphenyl sulfilimines and propargylic silyl ether derivatives by a 1,2‐hydride shift onto the α‐imino gold carbene and a subsequent Mukaiyama aldol cyclization was discovered.     

An efficient synthesis of 2-isoxazolines from α-haloketone oximes and dimethyl sulfonium salts

2-Isoxazolines were synthesized efficiently from a formal [4+1] cycloaddition of nitrosoalkenes and sulfur ylides, which were generated in situ from α-haloketone oximes and dimethyl sulfonium salts. This approach provides a new method to synthesize a range of 2-isoxazolines in high yields and high regioselectivity.     

Highly enantioselective Ag(i)-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

A highly reactive Ag(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides is founded using AgOAc as the catalytic precursor and phosphines as ligands. Using a new bis-ferrocenyl amide phosphine (FAP) as the ligand, we found that high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) have been achieved in the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. Up to four stereogenic centers can be established in this multicomponent coupling reaction from readily available materials such as aldehydes, aminoesters, and dipolarophiles.     

The Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+1+1] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with isocyanides

A Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+1+1] cycloaddition reaction between aliphatic isocyanides and azomethine ylides generated in situ from aziridines, leading to pyrrolidine derivatives, has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and can also be modified by employing aromatic isocyanides to generate four-membered heterocycles, azetidines, through a [3+1] cycloaddition reaction.