Highly enantioselective Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins catalyzed by (S)-pyrrolidine arenesulfonamide

A new type of catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reaction has been designed and synthesized. This catalyst, (S)-pyrrolidine arenesulfonamide 1, resulted in high yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio up to 99/1), and excellent enantioselectivities (ee up to 99%) for various cyclic ketones and nitroolefins.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective Michael addition reactions of α-cyanoketones to nitroalkenes catalyzed by binaphthyl-derived organocatalyst

The catalytic enantioselective and diastereoselective Michael addition reactions promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts are described. The treatment of α-cyanoketones with nitroalkenes under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding γ-niro α-cyanoketones with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to syn/anti >99/1) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Enantioselective synthesis of indolo[2,3-b]-dihydrothiopyranones via [3+3] cycloaddition of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts

A nucleophile-catalyzed Michael addition/proton transfer/lactonization (NCMPL) organocascade process of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts and indoline-2-thiones is described, which delivers the indolo[2,3-b]dihydrothiopyranone motifs in high yields (up to 97%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Cinchona alkaloid derived squaramide catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition of isocyanoacetates to 2-enoylpyridines

An efficient organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition of α-substituted isocyanoacetates to 2-enoylpyridines catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid-derived squaramide has been achieved, affording the corresponding adducts with two adjacent tertiary-quaternary stereocenters in excellent yields (up to 99%) and good to excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr, up to 98% ee) under mild conditions.     

Enantioselective anti-Mannich reaction catalyzed by modularly designed organocatalysts

A highly stereoselective method for achieving the anti-Mannich reaction of aldehydes and ketones with ethyl (4-methoxyphenylimino)acetate was realized using the modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs) self-assembled from cinchona alkaloid derivatives and (R)-pyrrolidien-3-carboxylic acid in the reaction media. The desired anti-Mannich products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr), and good to high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Pyrrolidine-carbamate based new and efficient chiral organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins

The novel ((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl phenylcarbamate was synthesized and used as an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of cyclic/acyclic ketones to nitroolefins. Interestingly, the resulting Michael adducts were obtained in good to high yields (up to 96%) with excellent stereoselectivity (ee up to >99%, dr up to >99:1) without using any additive.     

Highly stereoselective direct aldol reactions catalyzed by (S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide

(S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide was employed as organocatalyst in the direct aldol reactions of different ketones and aromatic aldehydes using dioxane as solvent and in the presence of water as additive. Acetone led to the aldol products in up to 93% ee, while cyclic ketones furnished the anti-aldols in moderate to high yield, excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99/<1 anti/syn ratio) and high ee (up to 95%).     

Highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles

A highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles has been developed. With 5?mol% of bifunctional organocatalyst C15, chiral spiro[2-amino-4H-pyran-oxindole] derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (97–99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to?>?99% ee).     

Rhodium/diene-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-Boc-protected α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam with arylboronic acids: enantioselective synthesis of 4-aryl-2-piperidinones

Utilizing toluene/isopropanol (20:1 to 40:1) as a solvent and KHF₂ as an additive, the rhodium/diene-catalyzed asymmetric arylation (RCAA) reaction of arylboronic acids to N-Boc-protected α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam proceeded smoothly to afford chiral 4-aryl-2-piperidinones with high to excellent yields (up to 94%) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Further conversion of adduct (R)-1-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-piperidone to (R)-Homobaclofen hydrochloride was also presented.     

A novel asymmetric organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction for the construction of spirocyclic benzofuranones

Organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction of 3-(1-hydroxyethylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and enones catalyzed by Cinchona-based primary amine has been developed. The desired chiral spirocyclic benzofuranones were obtained in excellent stereoselectivities (dr>20:1 and up to 96% ee) and moderate to excellent yields (up to 98%).     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted indole derivatives containing tetrahydrothiophene via cascade sulfa-Michael/Michael additions catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst

The organocatalyzed enantioselective cascade sulfa-Michael/Michael addition reaction of (E)-3-mercapto-2-butenoic acid esters to (E)-3-aryl-2-(indol-3-ylcarbonyl)acrylonitriles has been developed. This process was promoted by a chiral squaramide catalyst to afford chiral 3-substituted indole derivatives containing tetrahydrothiophene with three contiguous stereocenters in excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr) with moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 93%, 89% ee).     

Chiral thiophosphoramide catalyzed asymmetric aryl transfer reactions for the synthesis of functional diarylmethanols

In this investigation, chiral thiophosphoramide 3d was easily prepared from chiral (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine and then applied as an efficient chiral ligand in the catalytic asymmetric arylation reactions of various aromatic aldehydes. The corresponding diarylmethanol products were produced with good to excellent yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 94%). The recovery of chiral ligand 3d could be as high as 96%.     

Novel chiral ammonium ionic liquids as efficient organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins

Two chiral ammonium ionic liquids 1a and 1b have been newly synthesized from commercially available (+)-cis-2-benzamidocyclohexanecarboxylic acid. These CILs have been demonstrated to be efficient organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins with excellent yields (up to 99%), high enantioselectivities (up to 90%) and modest to high diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio up to 99/1).     

A chiral primary-tertiary-1,2-diamine as an efficient catalyst in asymmetric aldehyde–ketone or ketone–ketone aldol reactions

A novel chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivative, (1R,2R)-N¹-n-pentyl, N¹-benzyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, was designed, synthesized and applied as a catalyst in a number of aldol reactions between ketones and aryl aldehydes. Reactions between acetone and aryl aldehydes gave aldol products with moderate to good yields and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to yield 85%, ee 98%), while reactions between cyclohexanone and aryl aldehydes provided anti-β-hydroxyketone products with excellent yields, diastereoselectivity and with enantioselectivity (up to 82% yield, anti/syn ratio 99:1, ee 99%). The aldol reactions between acetone and isatins were investigated, which afforded excellent yields and enantioselectivity (up to 95% yield, 98% ee). The (R)- and (S)-isomers of convolutamydine A were obtained with 95% yield and 96% ee, and 95% yield and 94% ee, respectively.     

Highly enantioselective aza-henry reaction of ketimines catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine derived from quinine

We have developed a highly enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of aryl α-ketoester-derived N-Ts ketimines with a wide range of substrate scope by a simpler bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine catalyst derived from quinine. A variety of ketimines were investigated and corresponding products were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99% yield) with excellent enatioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Ferrocenophane-based bifunctional organocatalyst for highly enantioselective Michael reactions

Highly enantioselective Michael reactions between acetylacetone and trans-β-nitroolefins are achieved by a novel ferrocenophane-based tertiary amine-thiourea organocatalyst to provide the corresponding products in good to excellent yields (up to 95%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Enantioselective hydrosilylation of ketimines with trichlorosilane promoted by chiral N-picolinoylaminoalcohols

Enantioselective hydrosilylation of N-aryl and N-benzyl ketimines with trichlorosilane catalyzed by readily accessible chiral N-picolinoylaminoalcohols proceeded smoothly furnishing chiral secondary amines in good yields (up to 93%) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).     

Catalytic and asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroacrylates. Application to the synthesis of tryptophan analogues

An asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroacrylates catalyzed by chiral (4R,5S)-DiPh-BOX (L1)-Cu(OTf)₂ complex (10 mol %) has been developed. The reactions provide tryptophan nitro-precursors in moderate diastereoselectivities (anti/syn up to 72:28) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The alkylation products could be easily reduced to optically active tryptophan analogues with Zn/H⁺.     

Chiral iminophosphoranes organocatalyzed asymmetric hydroxylation of 3-substituted oxindoles with oxaziridines

Enantioselective hydroxylation of N-protected 3-substituted oxindoles has been developed via chiral iminophosphorane catalysis with oxaziridines as oxidants. As such, a variety of optically active 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles were obtained in excellent yields (91–99%) and moderate to excellent level of enantiomeric excess (up to 94% ee).     

L-tert-Leucine derived urea-ammonium salts: Efficient bifunctional phase transfer catalysts for highly diastereo- and enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of isatin-derived N-Boc ketimines with α-aryl nitromethanes

An efficient way of aza-Henry reaction between isatin-derived N-Boc ketimines and α-aryl nitromethanes catalyzed by bifunctional phase transfer catalysts with a quaternary ammonium center derived from L-tert-Leucine has been developed. A series of 3-substituted 3-amino-oxindoles were constructed by this catalytic protocol in excellent yields (90–99%), with high enantioselectivities (83–95%) and diastereoselectivities (79:21–97:3). The asymmetric aza-Henry reaction of N-Boc amidosulfones and α-aryl nitromethanes were also investigated and gave the corresponding products in high to excellent yields (72–97%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1).