Enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes catalyzed by monosaccharide-based chiral crown ethers

The asymmetric Michael addition of diethyl malonate and α-substituted diethyl malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes was carried out under mild reaction conditions in a solid–liquid phase transfer reaction in the presence of α-d-glucopyranoside- and α-d-mannopyranoside-based crown ethers as the catalysts. The use of d-glucose-based lariat ether 1 gave the best results. The substituents of the β-nitrostyrene and the diethyl malonate had a significant impact on the chemical yields and enantioselectivity. The addition of diethyl-2-acetamidomalonate to aromatic nitroalkenes afforded the corresponding Michael adducts in moderate to high enantiomeric excess (ee up to 99%). The reaction of diethyl-2-methylmalonate with 2-nitro-β-nitrostyrene gave the adduct with 93% enantiomeric excess in the presence of crown catalyst 1.     

Enantioselective Michael reaction of malonates to nitroolefins catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts

Michael reaction of malonates to nitroolefins with chiral bifunctional organocatalysts, bearing both a thiourea and tertiary amino group, afforded Michael adducts with high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 95%, up to 93% ee).     

Asymmetric Michael addition of malonates to enones catalyzed by nanocrystalline MgO

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to cyclic and acyclic enones has been achieved by using nanocrystalline magnesium oxide at −20 °C.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins catalyzed by pyrrolidine-HOBt

The oxytriazole catalyst “pyrrolidine-HOBt” developed for asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins is now evaluated for the asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins under similar reaction conditions. The results of this study indicate that, the oxytriazole catalyst “pyrrolidine-HOBt” is equally effective in promoting the Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins on employing benzoic acid as an additive. The desired products, γ-nitrocarbonyl compounds were obtained in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of functionalized furanones to nitroalkenes catalyzed by an axially chiral guanidine base

The highly syn-diastereo- and enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of α-thio substituted furanones with conjugate nitroalkenes was demonstrated using an axially chiral guanidine base catalyst. The method provides facile access to enantioenriched α,γ-functionalized butenolides that can be further manipulated, thereby rendering them useful synthetic intermediates.     

Asymmetric Michael addition reactions of 2-silyloxyfurans catalyzed by binaphthyldiimine-Ni(II) complexes

N,N'-Bis(2-quinolylmethylene)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine-Ni(II) complex and analogous complexes were found to be efficient chiral Lewis acid catalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions between 2-silyloxyfurans and 3-alkenoyl-2-oxazolidinones, for which asymmetric inductions of up to 97% ee were obtained.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of alpha-hydroxyketones to nitroolefins catalyzed by chiral diamine

[reaction: see text] The regio-, stereo-, and enantioselective direct Michael addition of alpha-hydroxyketones to beta-arylnitroolefins catalyzed by N-iPr-2,2'-bipyrrolidine is described. The formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the OH group of alpha-hydoxyacetone and the tertiary nitrogen of the catalyst leads to the formation of a rigid cis enamine intermediate that explains the inversion of the expected diastereoselectivity and the very high ee's.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of dialkylzinc to cyclic enones catalyzed by chiral binaphthyldiamine-copper(I) complexes

The enantioselective conjugate addition of dialkylzinc (R₂Zn) to cyclic enones was examined using chiral binaphthyldiamine-copper(I) catalysts. Under the present reaction conditions, chiral C₂-symmetric [RZn(II)]₂-diamine-Cu(I) complexes were formed from chiral binaphthyldiamine, R₂Zn, and copper(I or II) chloride in situ. The reaction of 2-cyclohexenone with Et₂Zn proceeded smoothly in the presence of the corresponding chiral copper(I) complex (5 mol %) and achiral 2,6-diphenylaniline (10 mol %), and the desired Et-adduct was obtained with up to 76% ee in 95% yield.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions catalyzed by a chiral nonracemic C2-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl copper(II) complex

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions of a series of substituted indoles with methyl trifluoropyruvate, catalyzed by a chiral nonracemic C(2)-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl copper(II) triflate complex, are described. The corresponding 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-indole-3-yl-propionic acid methyl esters were formed in good yield and in high enantiomeric excess (up to 90%). This is the first report of the use of a chiral nonracemic 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand in catalytic and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions. The structural characterization of a copper(II) chloride complex of the chiral 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand by X-ray crystallography is also presented. [reaction: see text]     

Enantioselective Michael addition of anthrone to nitroalkenes catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amines

A highly bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition reaction of anthrone to a wide variety of nitroalkenes has been developed, and the corresponding adducts were obtained smoothly in high yields (up to 97%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee).     

Enantioselective Michael addition of isobutyraldehyde to nitroalkenes organocatalyzed by chiral primary amine-guanidines

Primary amine-guanidines derived from trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines are used as organocatalysts for the enantioselective conjugate addition of isobutyraldehyde to arylated and heteroarylated nitroalkenes. The reaction was performed in the presence of imidazole as the additive in aqueous DMF as the solvent at 0 °C. The corresponding Michael adducts bearing a new stereocenter were obtained in high yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 80%. Theoretical calculations are used to justify the observed sense of the stereoinduction.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of malonates to enones catalyzed by a siloxy amino acid lithium salt

Siloxy amino acid lithium salt, O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl l-serine lithium salt, was found to be an effective catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reaction of malonates to enones.     

Enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition reaction catalyzed by organic molecules

Chiral 2-azanorbornyl-3-methanol is used as an organocatalyst for the highly enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition reaction of vinyl malononitriles to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. In many cases, the products can be obtained in almost optically pure form (>95% ee) after a single recrystallization.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with arylidene malonates catalyzed by iPr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)2

The cheap and simple (i)Pr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)(2) proves to be an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole with arylidene malonates. In (i)BuOH, the S-enantiomer was obtained in up to 97% ee, while the opposite enantiomer was obtained in up to 78% ee in CH(2)Cl(2) or TTCE.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to alpha, beta-enones catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts. A simple synthesis of (R)-baclofen

[reaction:see text] Enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to an alpha, beta-enone is a key step in the synthesis of (R)-baclofen.     

Enantioselective addition of phenyl and alkyl acetylenes to imines catalyzed by chiral Cu(I) complexes

The stereoselective addition of phenyl acetylene and alkyl acetylenes to imines, catalyzed by chiral bis-imines-Cu(I) complexes was studied. A very simple experimental procedure allowed to obtain at room temperature optically active propargyl amines in very good yields and enantioselectivity up to 81%.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic Michael addition of malonates to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in water

The Michael addition of malonates to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by O-TMS protected diphenylprolinols and acetic acid in water occurs at 0 °C to rt. In most cases, the reaction runs to completion in less than 24 h. A wide range of aldehydes including β-aryl, β-alkyl and β-alkenyl acroleins are found to be compatible with these conditions, providing the corresponding adducts in good yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities.     

Enantioselective addition of nitromethane to alpha-keto esters catalyzed by copper(II)-iminopyridine complexes

The copper complex of a chiral iminopyridine easily prepared from (R)-(-)-fenchone and picolylamine catalyzes the enantioselective Henry (nitroaldol) reaction between nitromethane and alpha-keto esters. Good yields and modest to good enantioselectivities are obtained for a wide range of alpha-keto esters, bearing aromatic, alkyl or alkenyl groups attached to the ketone carbonyl group.     

Enantioselective synthesis of enol lactones from tandem Michael addition/lactonization catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst

The enantioselective tandem Michael addition reaction of dimedone and related 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with α,β-unsaturated N-acylated succinimides catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst has been investigated. This reaction provides a new approach for the synthesis of chiral enol lactones in good yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 88% ee) through the enantioselective Michael addition followed by lactonization and removal of the succinimide auxiliary.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of alpha-substituted cyanoacetates to vinyl ketones catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of alpha-substituted cyanoacetates to vinyl ketones was accomplished in the presence of simple bifunctional thiourea/tertiary amine organocatalysts. A number of alpha-aryl or alkyl cyanoacetates have been successfully applied to give multifunctional compounds with an all-carbon-substituted quaternary stereocenter in excellent enantioselectivities (82-97 % ee) and yields (61-99 %). The optical pure adducts could be smoothly converted to variously structured beta(2,2)-amino acid esters. Moreover, an interesting reaction model involving multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions amongst the thiourea/tertiary amine catalyst and the reactants has been proposed based on the absolute configuration of the adduct and computational studies.