CS2 Reductive Coupling to Acetylenedithiolate by a Dinuclear Ytterbium(II) Complex

The activation of CS₂ is of interest in a broad range of fields and, more particularly, in the context of creating new C−C bonds. The reaction of the dinuclear ytterbium(II) complex [Yb₂L₄], 1 , [L=(OtBu)₃SiO⁻] with carbon disulfide led to the isolation of unprecedented reduction products. In particular, the crystallographic characterization of complex [Yb₂L₄(μ-C₂S₂)], 2 , provided the first example of an acetylenedithiolate ligand formed from metal reduction of CS₂. Computational studies indicated that this unprecedented reactivity can be ascribed to the unusual binding mode of CS₂²⁻ in the isolated “key intermediate” [Yb₂L₄(μ-CS₂)], 3 , which results from the dinuclear nature of 1 .     

Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions of 4‐Substituted Indoles with Nitroethene: A Direct Entry to Ergot Alkaloid Structures

A domino Friedel–Crafts/nitro‐Michael reaction between 4‐substituted indoles and nitroethene is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by BINOL‐derived phosphoric acid catalysts, and delivers the corresponding 3,4‐ring‐fused indoles with very good results in terms of yields and diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. The tricyclic benzo[cd]indole products bear a nitro group at the right position to serve as precursors of ergot alkaloids, as demonstrated by the formal synthesis of 6,7‐secoagroclavine from one of the adducts. DFT calculations suggest that the outcome of the reaction stems from the preferential evolution of a key nitronic acid intermediate through a nucleophilic addition pathway, rather than to the expected “quenching” through protonation.     

Me2Zn‐Mediated Catalytic Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Addition of TosMIC to Ketones

The first catalytic asymmetric addition of TosMIC to unactivated ketones is presented. A combination of Me₂Zn and aminoalcohol catalyst promoted the aldol addition/cyclization reaction to render oxazolines possessing a fully substituted stereocenter with excellent yields (up to 92 %), high enantioselectivities (up to 96 %), and complete diastereoselectivity. The chiral oxazolines were then used to give, after a straightforward acid hydrolysis, enantioenriched building blocks bearing tertiary alcohol motifs such as hydroxylaldehydes, hydroxylacids, and hydroxylesters without racemization.     

Conformation and stereodynamics of 1,2-diaryltetrahydropyrimidine and of its five- and seven-membered ring analogs

The 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-(2-methylphenyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine and its five- and seven-membered ring analogs were synthesized and their conformational properties investigated by low temperature NMR spectroscopy and DFT theoretical calculations. Restricted rotation of the aryl substituents were observed in all cases and the corresponding barriers determined. In the case of the six-membered ring derivative the additional conformers resulting from a ring inversion process were also detected.     

Tuning Lanthanide Reactivity Towards Small Molecules with Electron‐Rich Siloxide Ligands

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of stable homoleptic heterometallic LnL₄K₂ complexes of divalent lanthanide ions with electron‐rich tris(tert‐butoxy)siloxide ligands are reported. The [Ln(OSi(OtBu)₃)₄K₂] complexes (Ln=Eu, Yb) are stable at room temperature, but they promote the reduction of azobenzene to yield the KPhNNPh radical anion as well as the reductive cleavage of CS₂ to yield CS₃^2? as the major product. The Eu^III complex of the radical anion PhNNPh is structurally characterized. Moreover, [Yb(OSi(OtBu)₃)₄K₂] can reduce CO₂ at room temperature. Release of the reduction products in D₂O shows the quantitative formation of both oxalate and carbonate in a 1:2.2 ratio. The bulky siloxide ligands enforce the labile binding of the reduction products providing the opportunity to establish a closed synthetic cycle for the Yb^II‐mediated CO₂ reduction. These studies show that the presence of four electron‐rich siloxide ligands renders their Eu^II and Yb^II complexes highly reactive.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Aziridination of Cyclic Enones

The first catalytic method for the asymmetric aziridination of cyclic enones is described. The presented organocatalytic strategy is based on the use of an easily available organocatalyst that is able to convert a wide range of cyclic enones into the desired aziridines with very high enantiomeric purity and good chemical yield. Such a method may very well open up new opportunities to stereoselectively prepare complex chiral molecules that possess an indane moiety, a framework that is found in a large number of bioactive and pharmaceutically important molecules     

Enantiopure α-imino glyoxylate: a versatile substrate for the spontaneous asymmetric synthesis of unnatural hydroxyaryl glycinates

A novel synthesis of useful enantiomerically pure arylglycinates via spontaneous reaction between phenol or naphthol derivatives and enantiopure α-imino glyoxylate in the absence of an acid catalyst is reported. A library of enantiopure substituted phenol or naphthol glycinates was obtained in good yields and high diastereoselectivities. Diastereoisomerically pure aryl glycinates were obtained by direct flash chromatography separation of the crude reaction mixture. The free OH moiety of the phenols or naphthols contributed to the activation of the imino group to form an intermolecular hydrogen bond and promoted the reaction in the absence of an acid catalyst, as shown in the transition state reported. The diastereoselectivity is due to thermodynamic control in the addition step.     

New Chemistry of α-Silyl Vinylsulfides

α-Silyl Vinylsulfides, obtained in a stereoselective manner through enethiolizable silyl thioketones, can be used for the synthesis of vinylsulfides and vinylsilane with a specific geometry, and for the preraration of bicyclic and open chain thiofunzionalized enones.