New pyridine N-oxides as chiral organocatalysts in the asymmetric allylation of aromatic aldehydes

Asymmetric allylation of aromatic aldehydes 1 with allyltrichlorosilane (2) can be catalyzed by new terpene-derived bipyridine N,N′-dioxides 12-15 and an axially chiral biisoquinoline dioxide 17b with good enantioselectivities. Dioxides have been found to be more reactive catalysts than their monooxide counterparts.     

Recent advances in the asymmetric catalytic synthesis of chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindoles and derivatives: Medicinally relevant compounds

Several oxindole derivatives, of natural or synthetic origin, have been identified as medicinally appealing compounds, with a plethora of bioactivities reported. Chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindole scaffolds have captured the attention of several research groups, due to their importance in drug discovery. In this review, we systematically address the wide variety of asymmetric catalytic methodologies employed in the preparation of these relevant chiral scaffolds, present in many biologically active compounds and/or natural products. Special focus will be given to the nature of the catalyst used.     

Concise synthesis of valuable chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid via construction of chiral N-Boc-3-benzyl-5-oxoisoxazolidine through cross-metathesis/conjugate addition/oxidation

Valuable chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid was concisely synthesized via construction of chiral NBoc-3-benzyl-5-oxoisoxazolidine through cross-metathesis/conjugate addition/oxidation.All of the starting materials for the synthesis of chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid are cheap,and two-step short procedure make it easy for the rapid construction of various chiral β-arylmethyl-β-amino acids and important drugs,such as sitagliptin phosphate.     

N,N-Ethylene-bridged flavinium salts derived from l-valinol: synthesis and catalytic activity in H2O2 oxidations

Three chiral N¹,N¹⁰-ethylene-bridged flavinium salts with a stereogenic centre derived from l-valinol are prepared and investigated as oxidation catalysts. These salts efficiently catalyse chemoselective H₂O₂ oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and the oxidation of 3-phenylcyclobutanone to the corresponding lactone at room temperature. The flavinium salts react with hydrogen peroxide to form flavin-10a-hydroperoxide, which is the agent responsible for oxidation of the substrate.     

Organocatalyzed asymmetric α-hydroxyamination of α-branched aldehydes: asymmetric synthesis of optically active N-protected α,α-disubstituted amino aldehydes and amino alcohols

Enantioselective direct α-hydroxyamination and α-aminoxylation of α-branched aldehydes using a proline-derived tetrazole catalyst is described herein. α-Hydroxyamination adducts with up to 90% ee were obtained by the reaction of nitrosobenzene with unactivated α-branched aldehydes under mild reaction conditions.     

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of fluorinated ketoesters with N-Boc aldimines in the presence of chiral palladium complexes

The catalytic enantioselective Mannich reaction promoted by chiral palladium complexes is described. The treatment of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with N-Boc-aldimines under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding β-aminated α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Development of an N-sulfinyl prolinamide for the asymmetric aldol reaction

A new class of organocatalysts is reported that incorporates an N-sulfinyl amide in place of the carboxylic acid of proline to serve as a hydrogen bond donor, chiral directing group, and solubilizing element. The successful application of this type of catalyst to the asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone and aryl aldehydes, for which proline performs poorly, is also described.     

New chiral phase-transfer catalysts possessing a 6,6′-bridged ring on the biphenyl unit: application to the synthesis of α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids

A new chiral phase-transfer catalyst possessing a 6,6′-bridged ring on the biphenyl unit has been developed for the practical synthesis of α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids. This catalyst shows very high activity for the asymmetric alkylation of an alanine derivative to give α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acid derivatives with high enantioselectivities.     

Evaluation of bifunctional chiral phosphine oxide catalysts for the asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketimines

A series of bifunctional phosphine oxides have been prepared and evaluated as catalysts for the trichlorosilane mediated asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketimines. bis-Phosphine oxides, hydroxy-phosphine oxides, and biaryl phosphine oxides all demonstrated good catalytic activity, but poor to moderate enantioselectivity. A bis-P-chiral phosphine oxide displayed the highest enantioselectivity of 60%.     

Ugi amine-derived P,N- and P,P-ligands with N-alkyltriethoxysilyl tethers: synthesis and evaluation of mesoporous silica-supported Pd complexes in asymmetric allylic substitution reactions

A facile approach to the synthesis of several types of chiral P,N- and P,P-ligands bearing triethoxysilyl groups starting from N,N-diemthyl-1-ferrocenylethylamine (Ugi amine) has been developed. Allyl palladium complexes of these ligands have been prepared, characterized, and grafted on mesoporous silica. The resulting silica-supported complexes have been shown to catalyze asymmetric allylic alkylation and aminations reactions with moderate enantioselectivities.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-heterocycles: application of the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed addition of Et2Zn to functionalized alkyl and aryl imines

The preparation of N-heterocycles from alkyl- and aryl-substituted imines is described. The key step involves a copper-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to functionalized alkyl-substituted imines that were generated in situ from the sulfinic acid adducts. The nucleophilic addition products were then converted to 2-substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. Aryl-substituted imines were transformed into enantioenriched 1- and 1,4-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines.     

d-Mannitol-derived novel chiral thioureas: Synthesis and application in asymmetric Henry reactions

Five novel thioureas have been obtained through multi-step reactions from d-Mannitol as starting material and applied as catalysts in the asymmetric Henry reaction. Using catalyst 7a, (1S,2R)-2-nitro-1-phenylpropan-1-ol containing two chiral centers was obtained in high yield and with high selectivity (up to 95% yield, 87% ee, 91:9 dr). This catalyst also retained activity in the presence of water, affording a up to 93% yield, 88% ee, and 94:6 dr.     

An organocatalytic synthesis of N-sulfonyl imines using chloramine-T in aqueous medium

N-Sulfonyl imines have been synthesized in good to excellent yields from aldehydes and chloramine-T using proline as an organocatalyst in aqueous medium at ambient temperature. The protocol is applicable to a wide range of aldehydes, especially enals exhibit remarkable efficiency in the reaction. The reaction presumably occurs via iminium activation and opens new avenues for the synthesis of N-sulfonyl imines under environmentally benign and mild conditions.     

Multiple catalysis with two chiral units: an additional dimension for asymmetric synthesis

This Minireview focuses on asymmetric reactions mediated by two distinct chiral catalysts (chiral multiple catalysis). Initially, this approach appears unconventional, but indeed it allows a fast multidimensional optimization and fine-tuning of the catalytic system required to perform a given transformation. Herein, this emerging concept is presented and its potential applications are highlighted.     

Enantioselective radical addition reactions to imines using binaphthol-derived chiral N-triflyl phosphoramides

Binaphthol-derived chiral phosphoric acid catalysts were applied to enantioselective radical addition reactions of imines and provided chiral amines with good enantioselectivities (73-84% ee). Furthermore, the enantioselectivities were not affected by either electronic properties of phenyl imines or radical precursors.     

一种新型双亲性有机小分子催化剂在水相体系中催化环己酮与硝基烯烃直接不对称Michael加成反应

设计合成了一系列基于脯氨酸巯基咪唑衍生物的新型双亲性有机小分子催化剂,在水相中加入酸作为助催化剂,可以高效高选择性的催化环己酮与硝基烯烃的不对称Michael加成反应,非对映选择性和对映选择性分别高达99：1和96%.     

Quinine-catalyzed asymmetric domino Michael-cyclization reaction for the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles bearing two spiro quaternary centers and three consecutive stereocenters

An efficient organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective method for the construction of spirocyclic oxindole derivatives bearing two spiro quaternary centers and three consecutive stereocenters via a domino Michael/cyclization process has been developed. Using commercially available quinine as catalyst, the reactions of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with unsaturated pyrazolones and unsaturated isoxazolones proceeded smoothly under mild reaction conditions for giving two classes of spirocyclic oxindole compounds in high to excellent yields with moderate to good diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. A plausible dual activation working model was tentatively proposed to account for the stereochemistry of the domino Michael/cyclization process.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles: diazooxindole joins the field

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles, a big family of privileged scaffolds in natural products and drugs, is of current interest. Recently, the catalytic asymmetric functionalization of diazooxindoles emerges as a potentially general and flexible strategy for this purpose, with several notable examples coming out in 2013. In this digest, synthetic applications of diazooxindoles have been summarized and discussed, which might be helpful for readers to understand the special properties of this type of donor/acceptor cyclic diazo reagent and to develop new catalytic asymmetric reactions.