Combining Organocatalysis and Lanthanide Catalysis: A Sequential One‐Pot Quadruple Reaction Sequence/Hetero‐Diels–Alder Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized Tricycles

A stereoselective one‐pot synthesis of functionalized complex tricyclic polyethers has been achieved using the combination of secondary amine and lanthanide catalysis. This one‐pot quadruple reaction/Hetero‐Diels–Alder sequence gave good yields (per step) as well as excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the particular combination of lanthanide complexes with organocatalysis is one of the first examples described for sequential catalysis.     

Enantioselective Redox‐Divergent Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Quinone Diels–Alder Reactions

An efficient enantioselective construction of tetrahydronaphthalene‐1,4‐diones as well as dihydronaphthalene‐1,4‐diols by a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed quinone Diels–Alder reaction with dienecarbamates is reported. The nature of the protecting group on the diene is key to the success of achieving high enantioselectivity. The divergent “redox” selectivity is controlled by using an adequate amount of quinones. Reversible redox switching without erosion of enantioselectivity was possible from individual redox isomers.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Tri‐ and Tetrasubstituted Pyridines by Sequential Ring‐Opening/Cyclization/Oxidation of N‐Arylmethyl 3‐Aziridinylpropiolate Esters

A novel strategy for the one‐pot synthesis of substituted pyridines from N‐arylmethyl 3‐aziridinylpropiolate esters is described. The method employs a three‐step procedure including the formation of allenyl imines, phosphine‐catalyzed cyclization, and subsequent oxidation of the dihydropyridines. Depending on the reaction conditions of the final oxidation step, tri‐ and tetrasubstituted pyridines can be selectively produced.     

A Three‐Component Enantioselective Cyclization Reaction Catalyzed by an Unnatural Amino Acid Derivative

A new diastereo‐ and enantioselective three‐component cyclization reaction is described. The reaction takes place between a ketone, a carboxylic acid, and a nitroalkene to yield a bicyclic octahydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐one scaffold possessing three chiral centers. This reaction involves a rearrangement of the nitro group under simple thermal conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for this new reaction based on DFT calculations and isotope‐labeling experiments. A new concise enantioselective synthesis of the alkaloid (+)‐pancracine is presented as an example of the potential of this novel organocatalytic cyclization reaction in the synthesis of natural products.     

Asymmetric Vinylogous Diels–Alder Reactions Catalyzed by a Chiral Phosphoric Acid

An unprecedented way to extend the synthetic utility of the Diels–Alder reaction to include a vinylogous reactivity space is described. A commercially available chiral phosphoric acid catalyst effectively activates cyclic 2,4‐dienones towards a vinylogous [4+2] cycloaddition with 2‐vinylindoles, which leads to stereochemically dense tetrahydrocarbazoles. The reaction proceeds with a high level of remote stereocontrol and exclusive chemoselectivity for the more distant double bond of the dienone.     

Enantioselective Aza Michael‐Type Addition to Alkenyl Benzimidazoles Catalyzed by a Chiral Phosphoric Acid

Highly enantioselective Michael‐type addition (MTA) reactions between N‐protected alkenyl benzimidazoles and either pyrazoles or indazoles as nitrogen nucleophiles are accomplished for the first time using chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. Theoretical studies elucidated the reaction pathway and the origin of the stereochemical outcomes, where the catalyst substituent and the N‐protecting group of benzimidazole contributed to the resulting high enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Inverse Electron Demand Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reaction with Allylsilanes

The first diastereo‐ and enantioselective inverse electron demand hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with allylsilanes is described. Chiral copper(II) catalysts successfully activate the β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters and promote the reaction with allylsilanes with excellent enantioselectivities. This process represents a new entry to chiral oxanes.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of N‐Phenyl‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles via Cascade Michael Addition/Thorpe‐Ziegler Type Cyclization Catalyzed by a Chiral Squaramide

Enantioselective synthesis of biologically active dihydropyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles has been achieved through a squaramide‐catalysed Michael addition/Thorpe‐Ziegler type cyclization cascade reaction between arylidenepyrazolones and malononitrile. A series of optically active dihydropyano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 79% ee) under mild reaction conditions.     

Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Formal Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions of Trifluoromethylated Enones Catalyzed by Chiral Primary Amines

Enantioselective formal hetero‐Diels‐Alder reactions of trifluoromethylated enones and 2‐amino‐1,3‐butadienes generated in situ from aliphatic acyclic enones and chiral primary amines are reported. The corresponding tetrahydropyran‐4‐ones are formed in up to 94 % yield and with up to 94 % ee. The reaction was carried out through a stepwise mechanism, including initial aminocatalytic aldol condensation of 2‐amino‐1,3‐butadiene to the trifluoromethylated carbonyl group followed by an intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition. Both NMR investigation and theoretical calculations on the transition state indicate that the protonated tertiary amine could effectively activate the carbonyl group of the trifluoromethyl ketone to promote the addition process through hydrogen‐bonding interaction of N?H???F and N?H???O simultaneously, and thus provide a chiral environment for the approach of amino‐1,3‐butadienes to the activated trifluoromethyl ketone, resulting in high enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Intramolecular Aza‐Diels–Alder Reactions

A readily available chiral Brønsted acid was identified as an efficient catalyst for intramolecular Povarov reactions. Polycyclic amines containing three contiguous stereogenic centers were obtained with excellent stereocontrol in a single step from secondary anilines and aldehydes possessing a pendent dienophile. These transformations constitute the first examples of catalytic enantioselective intramolecular aza‐Diels–Alder reactions.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Diels–Alder Trapping of Photochemically Generated Hydroxy‐o‐Quinodimethanes

The photoenolization/Diels–Alder strategy offers straightforward access to synthetically valuable benzannulated carbocyclic products. This historical light‐triggered process has never before succumbed to efforts to develop an enantioselective catalytic approach. Herein, we demonstrate how asymmetric organocatalysis provides simple yet effective catalytic tools to intercept photochemically generated hydroxy‐o‐quinodimethanes with high stereoselectivity. We used a chiral organic catalyst, derived from natural cinchona alkaloids, to activate maleimides toward highly stereoselective Diels–Alder reactions. An unconventional mechanism of stereocontrol is operative, wherein the organocatalyst is actively involved in both the photochemical pathway, by leveraging the formation of the reactive photoenol, and the stereoselectivity‐defining event.     

Diels–Alder Reactions of 1,2‐Azaborines

Diels–Alder reactions employing 1,2‐azaborine heterocycles as 1,3‐dienes are reported. Carbocyclic compounds with high stereochemical and functional complexity are produced, as exemplified by the straightforward two‐step synthesis of an amino allyl boronic ester bearing four contiguous stereocenters as a single diastereomer. Whereas electron‐deficient dienophiles undergo irreversible Diels–Alder reactions, a reversible Diels–Alder reaction with the less electron‐deficient methyl acrylate is observed. Both the N and the B substituent of the 1,2‐azaborine exert significant influence on the [4+2] cycloaddition reactivity as well as the aromatic character of the heterocycle. The experimentally determined thermodynamic parameters of the reversible Diels–Alder reaction between 1,2‐azaborines and methyl acrylate correlate with aromaticity trends and place 1,2‐azaborines approximately between furan and thiophene on the aromaticity scale.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic One‐Pot Amination/aza‐Michael/Aldol Condensation Reaction Sequence: Synthesis of 3‐Pyrrolines with a Quaternary Stereocenter

Primary amine‐catalyzed direct conversion of α,α‐disubstituted aldehydes into 3‐pyrrolines with a quaternary stereocenter is reported. The one‐pot enantioselective sequence is based on a α‐amination, an aza‐Michael addition of hydrazine, an aldol condensation dehydratation and proceeds with good yields and excellent levels of enantioselectivity. Synthetically attractive applications including the formation of aziridinopyrrolidine or epoxypyrrolidine derivatives with good yields and selectivities are also described.