Solvent‐Dependent Asymmetric Synthesis of Alkynyl and Monofluoroalkenyl Isoindolinones by CpRhIII‐Catalyzed C−H Activation

The asymmetric synthesis of alkynyl and monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones from N‐methoxy benzamides and α,α‐difluoromethylene alkynes is enabled by C?H activation with a chiral CpRh^III catalyst. Remarkably, product formation is solvent‐dependent; alkynyl isoindolinones are afforded in MeOH (up to 86 % yield, 99.6 % ee) whereas monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones are generated in ⁱPrCN (up to 98:2 Z/E, 93 % yield, 86 % ee). Mechanistic studies revealed chiral allene and E‐configured alkenyl rhodium species as reaction intermediates. The latter is transformed into the corresponding Z‐configured monofluoroalkene upon protonation in the ⁱPrCN system and into an alkyne by an unusual anti β‐F elimination in the MeOH system. Notably, kinetic resolution processes occur in this reaction. Despite the moderate enantiocontrol for the formation of the chiral allene, the Z‐monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones and alkynyl isoindolinones were obtained in good enantiopurities by one or two sequential kinetic resolution processes.     

Highly E‐Selective and Enantioselective Michael Addition to Electron‐Deficient Internal Alkynes Under Chiral Iminophosphorane Catalysis

A highly E‐selective and enantioselective conjugate addition of 2‐benzyloxythiazol‐5(4H)‐ones to β‐substituted alkynyl N‐acyl pyrazoles is achieved under the catalysis of a P‐spiro chiral iminophosphorane. Simultaneous control of the newly generated central chirality and olefin geometry is possible with a wide array of the alkynyl Michael acceptors possessing different aromatic and aliphatic β‐substituents, as well as the various α‐amino acid‐derived thiazolone nucleophiles. This protocol provides access to structurally diverse, optically active α‐amino acids bearing a geometrically defined trisubstituted olefinic component at the α‐position.     

Bimetallic Catalytic Asymmetric Tandem Reaction of β‐Alkynyl Ketones to Synthesize 6,6‐Spiroketals

The enantioselective tandem reaction of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with β‐alkynyl ketones was realized by a bimetallic catalytic system of achiral Au^ΙΙΙ salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐Mg^ΙΙ complex. The cycloisomerization of β‐alkynyl ketone and asymmetric intermolecular [4+2] cycloaddition with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters subsequently occurred, providing an efficient and straightforward access to chiral multifunctional 6,6‐spiroketals in up to 97 % yield, 94 % ee and >19/1 d.r. Besides, a catalytic cycle was proposed based on the results of control experiments.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerizations and Alkoxycyclizations of ortho‐(Alkynyl)styrenes

Indenes and related polycyclic structures have been efficiently synthesized by gold(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerizations of appropriate ortho‐(alkynyl)styrenes. Disubstitution at the terminal position of the olefin was demonstrated to be essential to obtain products originating from a formal 5‐endo‐dig cyclization. Interestingly, a complete switch in the selectivity of the cyclization of o‐(alkynyl)‐α‐methylstyrenes from 6‐endo to 5‐endo was observed by adding an alcohol to the reaction media. This allowed the synthesis of interesting indenes bearing an all‐carbon quaternary center at C1. Moreover, dihydrobenzo[a]fluorenes can be obtained from substrates bearing a secondary alkyl group at the β‐position of the styrene moiety by a tandem cycloisomerization/1,2‐hydride migration process. In addition, diverse polycyclic compounds were obtained by an intramolecular gold‐catalyzed alkoxycyclization of o‐(alkynyl)styrenes bearing a nucleophile in their structure. Finally, the use of a chiral gold complex allowed access to elusive chiral 1H‐indenes in good enantioselectivities.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Less Accessible α‐Tertiary Amines from Alkynyl Z‐Ketimines

A highly stereoselective synthesis of hitherto less accessible chiral α‐tertiary amines with multiple structurally similar linear carbon chains was achieved through chiral auxiliary mediated addition of organolithium reagents to the geometrically well‐controlled alkynyl Z ‐ketimines. This stereoselective nucleophilic addition offers a general approach to the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen‐containing chiral materials.     

Gold(I)/Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–Nickel(II) Relay Catalysis for Asymmetric Tandem Intermolecular Hydroalkoxylation/Claisen Rearrangement

A highly efficient asymmetric cascade reaction between alkynyl esters and allylic alcohols has been realized. Key to success was the combination of a hydroalkoxylation reaction catalyzed by a π‐acidic gold(I) complex with a Claisen rearrangement catalyzed by a chiral Lewis acidic N,N′‐dioxide–nickel(II) complex. A range of acyclic α‐allyl β‐keto esters were synthesized in high yields (up to 99 %) with good diastereoselectivities (up to 97:3) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee ) under mild reaction conditions. These products can be easily transformed into optically active β‐hydroxy esters, β‐hydroxy acids, or 1,3‐diols.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Amine–Alkyne–Alkyne Addition Reaction: An Efficient Method For the Synthesis of γ,δ‐Alkynyl‐β‐amino Acid Derivatives

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of γ,δ‐alkynyl‐β‐amino acid derivatives by a copper‐catalyzed three‐component amine–alkyne–alkyne addition reaction was developed. Various γ,δ‐alkynyl‐β‐amino acid derivatives were synthesized in moderate to good yields in one step. With chiral prolinol derivatives employed as the amine component, excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 diastereomeric ratio (dr)) were obtained. The scope of the reaction and further transformations of the resulting amino acid derivatives, such as deprotection and cyclization are also described.     

Axially Chiral Aryl‐Alkene‐Indole Framework: A Nascent Member of the Atropisomeric Family and Its Catalytic Asymmetric Construction

A new class of axially chiral aryl‐alkene‐indole frameworks have been designed, and the first catalytic asymmetric construction of such scaffolds has been established by the strategy of organocatalytic (Z/E)‐selective and enantioselective (4+3) cyclization of 3‐alkynyl‐2‐indolylmethanols with 2‐naphthols or phenols (all >95 : 5 E/Z, up to 98% yield, 97% ee). This reaction also represents the first catalytic asymmetric construction of axially chiral alkene‐heteroaryl scaffolds, which will add a new member to the atropisomeric family. This approach has not only confronted the great challenges in constructing axially chiral alkene‐heteroaryl scaffolds but also provided a powerful strategy for the enantioselective construction of axially chiral aryl‐alkene‐indole frameworks.     

The First Modular Route to Core‐Chiral Bispidine Ligands and Their Application in Enantioselective Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Henry Reactions

The first modular and flexible synthesis of core‐chiral bispidines was achieved by using an “inside‐out” strategy. The key intermediate, a NBoc‐activated bispidine lactam, was constructed in enantiomerically pure form from a chirally modified β‐amino acid and 2‐(acetoxymethyl)acrylonitrile in just five steps and good 48 % yield. A simple addition–reduction protocol permitted a highly endo‐selective introduction of substituents and, thus, a fast and variable access to 2‐endo‐substituted and 2‐endo,N‐fused bi‐ and tricyclic bispidines. The new diamines were evaluated as the chiral ligands in asymmetric Henry reactions. Excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee and good diastereomeric ratios of up to 86:14 were reached with a copper(II) complex modified by a 2‐endo,N‐(3,3‐dimethylpyrrolidine)‐annelated bispidine. Its performance is superior to that of the well‐known bispidines (?)‐sparteine and the (+)‐sparteine surrogate.     

Ming‐Phos/Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Stereodivergent Synthesis of Highly Substituted Furo[3,4‐d][1,2]oxazines†

A gold(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular tandem [3+3]‐cyclization reaction of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐ alken‐1‐ones with nitrones has been developed by using Ming‐Phos as a chiral ligand. This method enables access to the stereodivergent synthesis of highly substituted furo[3,4‐d][1,2]oxazines in excellent efficiency and stereoselectivity (up to 99% yield, 99% ee, >20 : 1 dr).     

Asymmetric Michael Addition/Intramolecular Cyclization Catalyzed by Bifunctional Tertiary Amine–Squaramides: Construction of Chiral 2‐Amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐Carbonitrile Derivatives

The efficient asymmetric Michael addition/intramolecular cyclization of malononitrile with dienones catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional tertiary amine–squaramide catalyst for the synthesis of chiral 2‐amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee) for most of the bisarylidenecyclopentanones.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [2+3] Cyclizations of Azlactones with Azonaphthalenes

The first catalytic asymmetric [2+3] cyclization of azlactones with azonaphthalenes has been established. This strategy allowed the synthesis of a variety of chiral isatin derivatives in generally good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield, 98 % ee). The developed reaction has not only established a catalytic enantioselective [2+3] cyclization using azlactones as two‐carbon building blocks, but also enriches the chemistry of catalytic asymmetric cyclizations of azonaphthalenes. In addition, this protocol will provide a useful method for constructing enantioenriched 3,3′‐disubstituted isatin‐type frameworks.     

Efficient Synthesis of Differentiated syn‐1,2‐Diol Derivatives by Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation–Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of α‐Alkoxy‐Substituted β‐Ketoesters

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation was applied to a wide range of racemic aryl α‐alkoxy‐β‐ketoesters in the presence of well‐defined, commercially available, chiral catalyst Ru^II–(N‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine) and a 5:2 mixture of formic acid and triethylamine as the hydrogen source. Under these conditions, dynamic kinetic resolution was efficiently promoted to provide the corresponding syn α‐alkoxy‐β‐hydroxyesters derived from substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes with a high level of diastereoselectivity (diastereomeric ratio (d.r.)>99:1) and an almost perfect enantioselectivity (enantiomeric excess (ee)>99 %). Additionally, after extensive screening of the reaction conditions, the use of Ru^II‐ and Rh^III‐tethered precatalysts extended this process to more‐challenging substrates that bore alkenyl‐, alkynyl‐, and alkyl substituents to provide the corresponding syn α‐alkoxy‐β‐hydroxyesters with excellent enantiocontrol (up to 99 % ee) and good to perfect diastereocontrol (d.r.>99:1). Lastly, the synthetic utility of the present protocol was demonstrated by application to the asymmetric synthesis of chiral ester ethyl (2S)‐2‐ethoxy‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐propanoate, which is an important pharmacophore in a number of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α/γ dual agonist advanced drug candidates used for the treatment of type‐II diabetes.     

Catalytic asymmetric 1,2‐Addition/Lactonization tandem reactions for the syntheses of chiral 3‐Substituted phthalides using organozinc reagents

Using chiral phosphoramide ligand 2d‐ Zn (II) complex derived from (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine as the catalyst, we have developed efficient catalytic asymmetric 1,2‐addition/lactonization tandem reactions of diverse organozinc reagents with varied methyl 2‐formylbenzoates for the construction of optically enriched 3‐aryl or alkyl substituted phthalides, which are significant building blocks of many important chiral pharmaceuticals and natural products. The corresponding products could be afforded with good to excellent yields (up to 95%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 89%).     

Rhodium‐catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐Dehydroamino Ketones: A General Approach to Chiral α‐amino Ketones

Rhodium/DuanPhos‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of aliphatic α‐dehydroamino ketones has been achieved and afforded chiral α‐amino ketones in high yields and excellent enantioselectives (up to 99 % ee), which could be reduced further to chiral β‐amino alcohols by LiAlH(tBuO)₃ with good yields_. This protocol provides a readily accessible route for the synthesis of chiral α‐amino ketones and chiral β‐amino alcohols.     

Rapid Construction of Structurally Diverse Quinolizidines,Indolizidines, and Their Analogues via Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Hydrogenation/Reductive Amination

A rapid construction of enantioenriched benzo‐fused quinolizidines, indolizidines, and their analogues by ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric cascade hydrogenation/reductive amination of quinolinyl‐ and quinoxalinyl‐containing ketones has been developed. This reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions, affording chiral benzo‐fused aliphatic N‐heterocyclic compounds with structural diversity in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1 dr) and enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee). Furthermore, this catalytic protocol is applicable to the formal synthesis of (+)‐gephyrotoxin.     

Rapid Construction of Structurally Diverse Quinolizidines,Indolizidines, and Their Analogues via Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Hydrogenation/Reductive Amination

A rapid construction of enantioenriched benzo‐fused quinolizidines, indolizidines, and their analogues by ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric cascade hydrogenation/reductive amination of quinolinyl‐ and quinoxalinyl‐containing ketones has been developed. This reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions, affording chiral benzo‐fused aliphatic N‐heterocyclic compounds with structural diversity in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1 dr) and enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee). Furthermore, this catalytic protocol is applicable to the formal synthesis of (+)‐gephyrotoxin.     

A Strategy for Synthesizing Axially Chiral Naphthyl‐Indoles: Catalytic Asymmetric Addition Reactions of Racemic Substrates

A new strategy for enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral naphthyl‐indoles has been established through catalytic asymmetric addition reactions of racemic naphthyl‐indoles with bulky electrophiles. Under chiral phosphoric acid catalysis, azodicarboxylates and o‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols served as bulky but reactive electrophiles that were attacked by C2‐unsubstituted naphthyl‐indoles, which underwent a dynamic kinetic resolution to afford two series of axially chiral naphthyl‐indoles in good yields (up to 98 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98:2 er).     

One‐Pot Organocatalytic Enantioselective Michael/Povarov Domino Strategy for the Construction of Spirooctahydroacridine‐3,3′‐oxindole Scaffolds

An asymmetric organocatalytic one‐pot strategy for the construction of spirooctahydroacridine‐3,3′‐oxindole scaffolds has been successfully developed by means of a domino Michael/Povarov reaction sequence. The one‐pot protocol affords the chiral spirocyclohexaneoxindoles bearing an octahydroacridine motif with five stereocenters in good to high yields (up to 89 % yield) with excellent to perfect diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). This highly efficient one‐pot domino procedure will allow diversity‐oriented syntheses of this intriguing class of compounds with potential biological activities.     

Diastereocontrolled Monoprotodeboronation of β‐Sulfinimido gem‐Bis(boronates): A General and Stereoselective Route to α,β‐Disubstituted β‐Aminoalkylboronates

β‐Aminoalkylboronic acids are bioisosteres of the pharmaceutically important class of β‐amino acids but few stereoselective methods exist for their preparation. The 1,2‐addition of lithiated 1,1‐diborylalkanes onto chiral N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl aldimines produces β‐sulfinimido gem‐bis(boronates) in good to excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity. The optimized conditions involve the use of rubidium fluoride and water, and are compatible with functionalized alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl substituents. Under these conditions, the geminal quaternary alkyl bis(pinacolatoboryl) intermediates undergo a highly diastereoselective monoprotodeboronation to afford a wide range of syn‐α,β‐disubstituted β‐aminoalkylboronates. This novel application of protodeboronation chemistry was shown to result from a kinetically controlled, diastereotopic‐group‐selective B?C bond protolysis dictated by the configuration of the adjacent stereogenic C?N center. Facile acidic cleavage of the sulfinimide auxiliary produces the free aminoboronates with high enantiomeric purity.