Highly Enantioselective Aza‐Michael Reaction between Alkyl Amines and β‐Trifluoromethyl β‐Aryl Nitroolefins

The aza‐Michael addition reaction is a vital transformation for the synthesis of functionalized chiral amines. Despite intensive research, enantioselective aza‐Michael reactions with alkyl amines as the nitrogen donor have not been successful. We report the use of chiral N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as noncovalent organocatalysts to promote a highly selective aza‐Michael reaction between primary alkyl amines and β‐trifluoromethyl β‐aryl nitroolefins. In contrast to classical conjugate‐addition reactions, a strategy of HOMO‐raising activation was used. Chiral trifluoromethylated amines were synthesized in high yield (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98 % ee).     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular [3+2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with β‐Trifluoromethyl β,β‐Disubstituted Enones

Reported herein is an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with β‐trifluoromethyl β,β‐disubstituted enones, a reaction which is enabled by a Ming‐Phos‐derived copper(I) catalyst (Ming‐Phos=chiral sulfinamide monophosphines, Figure 2 ). This method provides scalable and efficient access to the highly substituted pyrrolidines with a trifluoromethylated, all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter in good yields with up to greater than 20:1 d.r. and 98 % ee. The reaction has a broad substrate scope and tolerates a wide range of functional groups.     

A Cinchona Alkaloid‐Functionalized Mesostructured Silica for Construction of Enriched Chiral β‐Trifluoromethyl‐β‐Hydroxy Ketones over An Epoxidation‐Relay Reduction Process

A cinchona alkaloid‐functionalized heterogeneous catalyst is prepared through a thiol‐ene click reaction of chiral N‐(3,5‐ditrifluoromethylbenzyl)quininium bromide and a mesostructured silica, which is obtained by co‐condensation of 1,2‐bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane and 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propane‐1‐thiol. Structural analyses and characterizations disclose its well‐defined chiral single‐site active center, and electron microscopy images reveal its monodisperse property. As a heterogenous catalyst, it enables an efficient asymmetric epoxidation of achiral β‐trifluoromethyl‐β,β‐disubstituted enones, the obtained chiral products can then be converted easily into enriched chiral β‐trifluoromethyl‐β‐hydroxy ketones through a sequential epoxidation‐relay reduction process. Furthermore, such a heterogeneous catalyst can be recovered conveniently and reused in asymmetric epoxidation of 4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1,3‐diphenylbut‐2‐enone, showing an attractive feature in a practical construction of enriched chiral β‐CF₃‐substituted molecules.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated γ‐Amino Acids through the Umpolung Addition of Trifluoromethyl Imines to Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Novel cinchona alkaloid derived chiral phase‐transfer catalysts enabled the highly chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselective umpolung addition of trifluoromethyl imines to α,β‐unsaturated N‐acyl pyrroles. With a catalyst loading ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 mol %, this new catalytic asymmetric transformation provides facile and high‐yielding access to highly enantiomerically enriched chiral trifluoromethylated γ‐amino acids and γ‐lactams.     

Tandem Insertion–[1,3]‐Rearrangement: Highly Enantioselective Construction of α‐Aminoketones

An enantioselective synthesis of α‐aminoketone derivatives were readily available through a tandem insertion–[1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement reaction. The rhodium salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐indium(III) complex make up relay catalysis, which enables the O?H insertion of benzylic alcohols to N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, and asymmetric [1,3]‐rearrangement of amino enol ether intermediates, subsequently. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the [1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement step proceeded through an ion pair pathway.     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of β‐Fluoroalkylated α,β‐Unsaturated 2‐Pyridylsulfones with Nitrones for Chiral Fluoroalkylated Isoxazolidines and γ‐Amino Alcohols

2‐Pyridylsulfone‐ and fluoroalkylated group‐activated olefins underwent highly efficient diastereo‐ and enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions across various aromatic and aliphatic nitrones in the presence of a chiral Ni^II/bis(oxazoline) catalyst. The process was tuned by 4 Å molecular sieves, chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands, reaction solvents, and temperature. A wide array of optically pure fluoroalkylated isoxazolidines were obtained, thus facilitating the asymmetric synthesis of an enantioenriched α‐trifluoromethylated γ‐amino alcohol in gram‐scale and a trifluoromethylated derivative of 1,3‐oxazinan‐2‐one with potential pharmaceutical interest. A stereochemical model, based on the absolute configuration of one adduct and some control experiments, was postulated to account for the observed endo‐ and enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Conjugate Alkynylation of α,β‐Unsaturated 1,1,1‐Trifluoromethyl Ketones with Terminal Alkynes

The first catalytic enantioselective conjugate alkynylation of α,β‐unsaturated 1,1,1‐trifluoromethyl ketones has been carried out. Terminal alkynes and 1,3‐diynes were treated with trifluoromethyl ketones in the presence of a low catalytic load of a Cu^I‐MeOBIPHEP complex (2.5 mol %) and triethylamine (10 mol %) to give the corresponding trifluoromethyl ketones bearing a propargylic stereogenic center at the β position with good yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses in most of the cases. No 1,2‐addition products were formed under the reaction conditions. The procedure showed broad substrate scope for alkyne, diyne, and enone. A rationale for the observed stereochemistry has been provided. Finally, the potential application of the reaction products in the synthesis of chiral tetrahydrofurans bearing a trifluoromethylated quaternary stereocenter has been devised.     

Synthesis of α‐Trifluoromethylated Ketones from Vinyl Triflates in the Absence of External Trifluoromethyl Sources

A novel method for the conversion of vinyl triflates into α‐trifluoromethylated ketones in the absence of external trifluoromethyl sources is described. This process accomplishes an efficient migration of the trifluoromethyl group of the triflate to the α‐position in the ketone through a radical process. The reaction proceeds by the addition of a trifluoromethyl radical to the vinyl triflate and subsequent fragmentation of the trifluoromethane sulfonyl radical. Based on this reaction, a one‐pot two‐step procedure for the trifluoromethylation of ketones was developed. The method presented herein also allows the transfer of perfluoroalkyl groups from vinyl perfluoroalkanesulfonates, which are readily accessible from alkynes and perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids.     

Facile Synthesis of Chiral Cyclic Ureas through Hydrogenation of 2‐Hydroxypyrimidine/Pyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one Tautomers

A facile access to optically active cyclic ureas was developed through palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of pyrimidines containing tautomeric hydroxy group with up to 99 % ee. Mechanistic studies indicated that reaction pathway proceed through hydrogenation of C=N of the oxo tautomer pyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one, acid‐catalyzed isomerization of enamine–imine, and hydrogenation of imine pathway. In addition, the chiral cyclic ureas are readily converted into useful chiral 1,3‐diamine and thiourea derivatives without loss of optical purity.     

Solid‐State Form Screen of Cardiosulfa and Its Analogues

Cardiosulfa is a biologically active sulfonamide molecule that was recently shown to induce abnormal heart development in zebrafish embryos through activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present report is a systematic study of solid‐state forms of cardiosulfa and its biologically active analogues that belong to the N‐(9‐ethyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl)benzene sulfonamide skeleton. Cardiosulfa (molecule 1 ; R¹=NO₂, R²=H, R³=CF₃), molecule 2 (H, H, CF₃), molecule 3 (CF₃, H, H), molecule 4 (NO₂, H, H), molecule 5 (H, CF₃, H), and molecule 6 (H, H, H) were synthesized and subjected to a polymorph search and solid‐state form characterization by X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction (VT‐PXRD), FTIR, and solid‐state (ss) NMR spectroscopy. Molecule 1 was obtained in a single‐crystalline modification that is sustained by N? H???π and C? H???O interactions but devoid of strong intermolecular N? H???O hydrogen bonds. Molecule 2 displayed a N? H???O catemer C(4) chain in form I, whereas a second polymorph was characterized by PXRD. The dimorphs of molecule 3 contain N? H???π and C? H???O interactions but no N? H???O bonds. Molecule 4 is trimorphic with N? H???O catemer in form I, and N? H???π and C? H???O interactions in form II, and a third polymorph was characterized by PXRD. Both polymorphs of molecule 5 contain the N? H???O catemer C(4) chain, whereas the sulfonamide N? H???O dimer synthon R₂²(8) was observed in polymorphs of 6 . Differences in the strong and weak hydrogen‐bond motifs were correlated with the substituent groups, and the solubility and dissolution rates were correlated with the conformation in the crystal structure of 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 . Higher solubility compounds, such as 2 (10.5 mg mL^?1) and 5 (4.4 mg mL^?1), adopt a twisted confirmation, whereas less‐soluble 1 (0.9 mg mL^?1) is nearly planar. This study provides practical guides for functional‐group modification of drug lead compounds for solubility optimization.     

trans‐4‐Acetylcyclo­hexane­carboxyl­ic acid and ()‐trans‐2‐acetyl­cyclo­hexane­carboxyl­ic acid: hydrogen‐bonding patterns in two isomeric keto acids

Both title compounds, C₉H₁₄O₃, display carboxyl‐dimer hydrogen‐bonding patterns. The 4‐acetyl isomer adopts a chiral conformation with negligible disordering of the methyl and carboxyl groups and forms centrosymmetric dimers across the b and c edges of the chosen cell [O?O = 2.667 (3) Å and O—H?O = 175°]. Intermolecular C—H?O close contacts were found for both carbonyl groups. In the 2‐acetyl isomer, there is no intramolecular interaction between the carboxyl and acetyl groups and the hydrogen bonding involves centrosymmetric carboxyl dimerization across the ab and ac faces of the chosen cell [O?O = 2.668 (2) Å and O—H?O = 173°]. The carboxyl group is negligibly disordered, but significant rotational disordering was found for the acetyl methyl group. An intermolecular C—H?O close contact was found involving the ketone group.     

Phenyl‐ and mesitylglyoxylic acids: catemeric hydrogen bonding in two α‐keto acids

α‐Oxo­benzene­acetic (phenyl­glyoxy­lic) acid, C₈H₆O₃, adopts a transoid di­carbonyl conformation in the solid state, with the carboxyl group rotated 44.4 (1)° from the nearly planar benzoyl moiety. The heterochiral acid‐to‐ketone catemers [O?O = 2.686 (3) and H?O = 1.78 (4) Å] have a second, longer, intermolecular O—H?O contact to a carboxyl sp³ O atom [O?O = 3.274 (2) and H?O = 2.72 (4) Å], with each flat ribbon‐like chain lying in the bc plane and extending in the c direction. In α‐oxo‐2,4,6‐tri­methyl­benzene­acetic (mesityl­glyoxy­lic) acid, C₁₁H₁₂O₃, the ketone is rotated 49.1 (7)° from planarity with the aryl ring and the carboxyl group is rotated a further 31.2 (7)° from the ketone plane. The solid consists of chiral conformers of a single handedness, aggregating in hydrogen‐bonding chains whose units are related by a 3₁ screw axis, producing hydrogen‐bonding helices that extend in the c direction. The hydrogen bonding is of the acid‐to‐acid type [O?O = 2.709 (6) and H?O = 1.87 (5) Å] and does not formally involve the ketone; however, the ketone O atom in the acceptor mol­ecule has a close polar contact with the same donor carboxyl group [O?O = 3.005 (6) and H?O = 2.50 (5) Å]. This secondary hydrogen bond is probably a major factor in stabilizing the observed cisoid di­carbonyl conformation. Several intermolecular C—H?O close contacts were found for the latter compound.     

Chiral 1,3,2‐Diazaphospholenes as Catalytic Molecular Hydrides for Enantioselective Conjugate Reductions

Secondary 1,3,2‐diazaphospholenes have a polarized P?H bond and are emerging as molecular hydrides. Herein, a class of chiral, conformationally restricted methoxy‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholene catalysts is reported. We demonstrate their catalytic potential in asymmetric 1,4‐reductions of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl derivatives, including enones, acyl pyrroles, and amides, which proceeded in enantioselectivities of up to 95.5:4.5 e.r.     

Heterocyclic tautomerism: reassignment of two crystal structures of 2‐amino‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one derivatives

The structures of 5‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐2‐[(pyridin‐2‐yl)amino]‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one, C₁₀H₁₁N₃O₂S, (I), and ethyl 4‐[(4‐oxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐2‐yl)amino]benzoate, C₁₂H₁₂N₂O₃S, (II), which are identical to the entries with refcodes GACXOZ [Váňa et al. (2009). J. Heterocycl. Chem. 46 , 635–639] and HEGLUC [Behbehani & Ibrahim (2012). Molecules, 17 , 6362–6385], respectively, in the Cambridge Structural Database [Allen (2002). Acta Cryst. B 58 , 380–388], have been redetermined at 130 K. This structural study shows that both investigated compounds exist in their crystal structures as the tautomer with the carbonyl–imine group in the five‐membered heterocyclic ring and an exocyclic amine N atom, rather than the previously reported tautomer with a secondary amide group and an exocyclic imine N atom. The physicochemical and spectroscopic data of the two investigated compounds are the same as those of GACXOZ and HEGLUC, respectively. In the thiazolidin‐4‐one system of (I), the S and chiral C atoms, along with the hydroxyethyl group, are disordered. The thiazolidin‐4‐one fragment takes up two alternative locations in the crystal structure, which allows the molecule to adopt R and S configurations. The occupancy factors of the disordered atoms are 0.883 (2) (for the R configuration) and 0.117 (2) (for the S configuration). In (I), the main factor that determines the crystal packing is a system of hydrogen bonds, involving both strong N—H...N and O—H...O and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, linking the molecules into a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network. On the other hand, in (II), the molecules are linked via N—H...O hydrogen bonds into chains.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Assembly of Homoallylic Alcohols from Dienes,Aryldiazonium Salts,and Aldehydes

A highly selective multicomponent carbonyl allylation reaction of 1,3‐butadienes, aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates, and aldehydes has been established under the combined catalysis of palladium acetate and chiral anion phase transfer to render the favorable assembly of chiral Z‐configured homoallylic alcohols in high yields and with excellent levels of enantioselectivity.     

α‐Halogenoacetanilides as Hydrogen‐Bonding Organocatalysts that Activate Carbonyl Bonds: Fluorine versus Chlorine and Bromine

α‐Halogenoacetanilides (X=F, Cl, Br) were examined as H‐bonding organocatalysts designed for the double activation of C?O bonds through NH and CH donor groups. Depending on the halide substituents, the double H‐bond involved a nonconventional C?H???O interaction with either a H?CX_n (n=1–2, X=Cl, Br) or a H?C_Ar bond (X=F), as shown in the solid‐state crystal structures and by molecular modeling. In addition, the catalytic properties of α‐halogenoacetanilides were evaluated in the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide, in the presence of a tertiary amine as cocatalyst. The α‐dichloro‐ and α‐dibromoacetanilides containing electron‐deficient aromatic groups afforded the most attractive double H‐bonding properties towards C?O bonds, with a N?H???O???H?CX₂ interaction.     

固相β-环糊精包结物诱导7-羟基-2-甲氧基-2-甲基色满的不对称合成

研究了室温下间苯二酚和甲基乙烯基酮分别与β-环糊精（ β-CD）形成包结物后的几种不同固相反应,结果表明包结物A（间苯二酚/β-CD）与包结物B（甲基乙烯基酮/β-CD）反应能够很好地得到目的产物,产率及ee值分别为82.8%和78.4%;间苯二酚与包结物B反应仅得到低光学活性产物（ee值为19.5%）;包结物A与甲基乙烯基酮反应却没有得到手性目的产物。以熔点、X-粉末衍射、固相核磁碳谱及ROESY多种方法对所形成的包结物进行了表征,包结物中主客体的比例（1：1）通过¹H NMR (400 MHz)得以确定,文章对固相环加成反应的机制也进行了初步探讨。     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Trifluoromethyl Containing Heterocyclic Amino Acids

An operationally convenient, asymmetric synthesis of chiral trifluoromethyl containing heterocyclic amino acids has been developed via Michael addition reaction of chiral equivalent of Ni(II)‐complex of glycine and β ‐trifluoromethylated‐α ,β ‐unsaturated ketones. The simplicity of the experimental procedures and high stereochemical outcome of the presented method render these heterocyclic amino acids readily available for systematic medicinal chemistry studies and de novo peptide design.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Assembly of Homoallylic Alcohols from Dienes,Aryldiazonium Salts,and Aldehydes

A highly selective multicomponent carbonyl allylation reaction of 1,3‐butadienes, aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates, and aldehydes has been established under the combined catalysis of palladium acetate and chiral anion phase transfer to render the favorable assembly of chiral Z‐configured homoallylic alcohols in high yields and with excellent levels of enantioselectivity.