Secondary Amine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric γ‐Alkylation of α‐Branched Enals via Dienamine Activation

The direct and enantioselective γ‐alkylation of α‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes proceeding under dienamine catalysis is described. We have found that the Seebach modification of the diphenyl‐prolinol silyl ether catalyst in combination with saccharin as an acidic additive promotes an S_N1 alkylation pathway, while ensuring complete γ‐site selectivity and a high stereocontrol. Theoretical and spectroscopic investigations have provided insights into the conformational behavior of the covalent dienamine intermediate derived from the condensation of 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal and the chiral amine. Implications for the mechanism of stereoinduction are discussed.     

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium(IV) salts in alcohol

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium(IV) salts or lanthanide triflates in alcohols gave good yields of the corresponding β‐alkoxy compounds. In the case of 2‐cyclopentenone and 2‐cyclohexenone, the 1,1,3‐trialkoxy acetal derivatives were obtained preferentially accompanied by β‐alkoxyketone, except 2‐cycloheptenone. However, in the reaction of 2‐cycloheptenone with alcohol using cerium(IV) sulfate (CS)‐molecular sieve, 1,1,3‐trialkoxy derivatives were obtained. Also, in the cases of 1‐penten‐3‐one, 4‐hexen‐3‐one and 3‐hepten‐2‐one, 1,1,3‐trialkoxy derivatives were obtained preferentially. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral α‐Substituted Mercaptoglycine Derivatives via α‐Sulfenylation of Ni(II) Complex of Glycine and S‐Substituted 4‐Methylbenzenesulfonothioate

The asymmetric α ‐sulfenylation of Ni(II ) complex of glycine with S ‐substituted 4‐methylbenzenesulfonothioate is reported. Due to the mild and simple reaction conditions, this asymmetric reaction is compatible with various functional groups.     

Synthesis of Phenanthrene Derivatives through the Reaction of an α,α‐Dicyanoolefin with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Phenanthrene derivatives were prepared by reacting an α,α‐dicyanoolefin with different α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds resulting from Wittig reaction of ninhydrin and phosphanylidene or condensation of barbituric acid and an aldehyde. The easy procedure, mild and metal‐catalyst free, reaction conditions, good yields, and no need for chromatographic purifications are important features of this protocol. The structures of the product of type 3 and 5 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of Halogenated α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactone Derivatives by Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cyclization of α‐Halogeno Ketones with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates (=Dialkyl But‐2‐ynedioates)

A Ph₃P‐catalyzed cyclization of α‐halogeno ketones 2 with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates) 3 produced halogenated α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone derivatives 4 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The presence of electron‐withdrawing groups such as halogen atoms at the α‐position of the ketones was necessary in this reaction. Cyclization of α‐chloro ketones resulted in higher yields than that of the corresponding α‐bromo ketones. Dihalogeno ketones similarly afforded the expected γ‐butyrolactone derivatives in high yields.     

Highly Efficient Synthesis of α‐Halomethylketones via Ce(SO4)2/Acid Co‐Catalyzed Hydration of Alkynes

A general atom‐economical approach for the synthesis of α‐halomethyl ketones is demonstrated through Ce(SO₄)₂/acid co‐catalyzed hydration of a wide range of haloalkynes. The reactions are conducted under convenient conditions and provide products with excellent regioselectivity in good to excellent yields, with broad substrate scope. This protocol is an alternative to conventional α‐halogenation of ketones.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,2‐Addition of α‐Isothiocyanato Phosphonates: Synthesis of Chiral β‐Hydroxy‐ or β‐Amino‐Substituted α‐Amino Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

α‐Amino phosphonic acid derivatives are considered to be the most important structural analogues of α‐amino acids and have a very wide range of applications. However, approaches for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of such useful compounds are very limited. In this work, simple, efficient, and versatile organocatalytic asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions of α‐isothiocyanato phosphonate were developed. Through these processes, derivatives of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino phosphonic acid and α,β‐diamino phosphonic acid, as well as highly functionalized phosphonate‐substituted spirooxindole, can be efficiently constructed (up to 99 % yield, d.r. >20:1, and >99 % ee). This novel method provides a new route for the enantioselective functionalization of α‐phosphonic acid derivatives.     

Oxidative acylation of α,α‐diarylallylic alcohols: Synthesis of 1,2,4‐triarylbutane‐1,4‐diones

A metal‐free mediated oxidative acylation of α,α‐diarylallylic alcohols with simple aromatic aldehydes for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐triphenylbutane‐1,4‐diones is presented. In the presence of TBPB (tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate), desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields for 28 examples. This protocol features high regioselectivity, wide functional group tolerance and atom economy.     

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones using cerium (IV) sulfate tetrahydrate in acetic acid

The reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium (IV) sulfate tetrahydrate [Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O, CS] in acetic acid gave the corresponding β‐acetoxy ketones. In the case of 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one with CS in acetic acid, benzobicyclo[2.2.2]octen‐2‐one was obtained. The reaction mechanism also was proposed. Moreover, we report the aromatization and esterification of (R)‐(?)‐carvone by CS in acetic acid. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Mild Isomerization Reaction for β,γ‐Unsaturated Ketone to α,β‐Unsaturated Ketone

A series of β,γ‐unsaturated ketones were isomerized to their corresponding α,β‐unsaturated ketones by the introduction of DABCO in iPrOH at room temperature. The endo‐cyclic double bond (β,γ‐position) on ketone was rearranged to exo‐cyclic double bond (α,β‐position) under the reaction conditions.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of the Molybdenum(II) Complexes with the N,N‐dimethylthiocarbamoyl Containing Ligand: Crystal Structures of β [Mo(CO)2{η2‐S2P(OEt)2}(η2‐SCNMe2)(PPh3)] and [Mo(CO)2(η3‐Tp)(η2‐SCNMe2)(PPh3)]

Reactions of the thiocarbamoyl‐molybdenum complex [Mo(CO)₂(η²‐SCNMe₂)(PPh₃)₂Cl] 1 , and ammonium diethyldithiophosphate, NH₄S₂P(OEt)₂, and potassium tris(pyrazoyl‐1‐yl)borate, KTp, in dichloromethane at room temperature yielded the seven coordinated diethyldithiophosphate thiocarbamoyl‐molybdenum complexe [Mo(CO)₂{η²‐S₂P(OEt)₂}(η²‐SCNMe₂)(PPh₃)] β‐3 , and tris(pyrazoyl‐1‐yl)borate thiocabamoyl‐molybdenum complex [Mo(CO)₂(η³‐Tp)(η²‐SCNMe₂)(PPh₃)] 4 , respectively. The geometry around the metal atom of compounds β‐3 and 4 are capped octahedrons. The α‐ and β‐isomers are defined to the dithio‐ligand and one of the carbonyl ligands in the trans position in former and two carbonyl ligands in the trans position in later. The thiocabamoyl and diethyldithiophosphate or tris(pyrazoyl‐1‐yl)borate ligands coordinate to the molybdenum metal center through the carbon and sulfur and two sulfur atoms, or three nitrogen atoms, respectively. Complexes β‐3 and 4 are characterized by X‐ray diffraction analyses.     

Synthesis of new optically active α,α′,β‐trisubstituted‐β‐lactones as monomers for stereoregular biopolyesters

Various optically active (4R)‐alkyloxycarbonyl‐3,3‐dialkyl‐2‐oxetanones as monomers were synthesized from L‐(S)‐malic acid in six steps to prepare a new family of stereopolyesters for biomedical applications. The synthesis began with an esterification followed of a dialkylation in the aim to introduce hydrophobic groups as methyl or reactive group as allyl. Then, a saponification has permitted to obtain the corresponding diacids that reacted with appropriate alcohols to furnish different monoesters. The last and most important step was activation of hydroxyl group of monoesters with the asymmetric carbon configuration inversion according to the Mitsunobu reaction. Thus, this reaction has provided lactones from monoesters with 100% enantiomeric excess which was confirmed by ¹H NMR and by the synthesis of corresponding isotactic and semicrystalline homopolyesters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2586–2597     

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Homologation of Ketones with α‐Diazoesters: Synthesis of Cyclic α‐Aryl/Alkyl β‐Ketoesters

A catalytic asymmetric intramolecular homologation of simple ketones with α‐diazoesters was firstly accomplished with a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ complex. This method provides an efficient access to chiral cyclic α‐aryl/alkyl β‐ketoesters containing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. Under mild conditions, a variety of aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted ketone groups reacted with α‐diazoester groups smoothly through an intramolecular addition/rearrangement process, producing the β‐ketoesters in high yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Palladium‐catalyzed cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones with arylhydrazines leading to 3‐substituted 1‐aryl‐1 H‐pyrazoles

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones are condensed with arylhydrazines to form hydrazones, which are in situ intramolecularly cyclized into 3‐substituted 1‐aryl‐1 H‐pyrazoles under a catalytic system of Pd(OAc)₂/1,3‐bis(diphenylhosphino)propane (dppp)/NaO^tBu. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of α‐(Fluorophenyl)pyridine by Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reaction

A series of α‐(fluoro‐substituted phenyl)pyridines have been synthesized by means of a palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between fluoro‐substituted phenylboronic acid and 2‐bromopyridine or its derivatives. The reactivities of the phenylboronic acids containing di‐ and tri‐fluoro substituents with α‐pyridyl bromide were investigated in different catalyst systems. Unsuccessful results were observed in the Pd/C and PPh₃ catalyst system due to phenylboronic acid containing electron‐withdrawing F atom(s). For the catalyst system of Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃, the reactions gave moderate yields of 55% –80%, meanwhile, affording 10% –20% of dimerisation (self‐coupling) by‐products, but trace products were obtained in coupling with 2,4‐difluorophenylboronic acids because of steric hinderance. Pd(PPh₃)₄ was more reactive for boronic acids with sterically hindering F atom(s), and the coupling reactions gave good yields of 90% and 91% without any self‐coupling by‐product.     

Synthesis of β‐Haloketones by β‐Addition Reactions of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with BX3 (X = Br,Cl) as Halide Source

A series of β‐bromoketones and β‐chloroketones were synthesized by the addition reactions of α,β‐unsaturated ketones under BX₃ (X = Br, Cl) and ethylene glycol reaction system. The α,β‐unsaturated ester also was successfully converted to its corresponding β‐bromoester under the reaction condition.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Reaction of α‐Epoxyketones with AlCl3: An Efficient Approach for the Synthesis of Functionalized β‐Chlorohydrines

A simple and efficient synthesis of functionalized β‐chlorohydrins is described from the regio‐ and stereoselective reaction of α‐epoxyketones with AlCl₃ in acetonitrile at room temperature.