On the Mechanism of Bifunctional Squaramide‐Catalyzed Organocatalytic Michael Addition: A Protonated Catalyst as an Oxyanion Hole

A joint experimental–theoretical study of a bifunctional squaramide‐amine‐catalyzed Michael addition reaction between 1,3‐dioxo nucleophiles and nitrostyrene has been undertaken to gain insight into the nature of bifunctional organocatalytic activation. For this highly stereoselective reaction, three previously proposed mechanistic scenarios for the critical C?C bond‐formation step were examined. Accordingly, the formation of the major stereoisomeric products is most plausible by one of the bifunctional pathways that involve electrophile activation by the protonated amine group of the catalyst. However, some of the minor product isomers are also accessible through alternative reaction routes. Structural analysis of transition states points to the structural invariance of certain fragments of the transition state, such as the protonated catalyst and the anionic fragment of approaching reactants. Our topological analysis provides deeper insight and a more general understanding of bifunctional noncovalent organocatalysis.     

吲哚与亚烷基丙二酸二甲脂Michael加成反应机理的从头算研究

在HF/6-31G(d)水平下, 对吲哚(A)与亚烷基丙二酸二甲脂(B)的Michael加成反应的机理进行了从头算理论研究. 计算结果表明, 该反应的机理为: A＋B→分子复合物→TS1→IM→TS2→产物. 其中第一阶段由复合物经过渡态TS1生成中间体IM, 是C—C键的形成阶段, 该阶段的活化能垒较后一阶段要大, 是该反应的决速步骤; 第二阶段由IM经过渡态TS2生成产物, 完成H迁移和C—H键的形成. 反应过程中, 底物分子中离域化的π键电子的相互作用, 促进了 C—C新键的形成, 同时吲哚的共轭体系遭到部分破坏, 而体系经H迁移使新的C—H键形成后, 吲哚环的共轭体系又得到了恢复. 在MP2/6-311＋G(d,p)水平下, 分别考虑乙醇和1,2-二氯乙烷的溶剂化效应, 单点能计算结果显示, 质子化溶剂对反应的影响较大, 不仅降低了反应的能垒, 且溶剂质子有可能参与了H迁移和C—H键的形成过程, 这一结论与实验结果一致.     

Origin of the Enantioselectivity in Organocatalytic Michael Additions of β‐Ketoamides to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyls: A Combined Experimental,Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study

The organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of secondary β‐ketoamides to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds is reported. Use of bifunctional Takemoto’s thiourea catalyst allows enantiocontrol of the reaction leading either to simple Michael adducts or spirocyclic aminals in up to 99 % ee. The origin of the enantioselectivity has been rationalised based on combined DFT calculations and kinetic analysis. This study provides a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism, which involves a predominant role of the secondary amide proton, and clarifies the complex interactions occurring between substrates and the catalyst.     

有机催化蒽酮与β-硝基烯烃的不对称Michael加成反应

将金鸡纳生物碱衍生物用于催化蒽酮和β-硝基芳基乙烯的不对称Michael加成反应。 考察了溶剂、温度及催化剂用量对反应催化性能的影响。 结果表明,最佳条件为5%(摩尔分数)催化剂1b、甲苯为溶剂、0 ℃反应,得到了91%~99%的化学产率和最高达95%ee的对映体选择性。     

Unprecedented Diastereoselective Arylogous Michael Addition of Unactivated Phthalides

The first highly enantioselective arylogous Michael reaction (AMR) of 3-unsubstituted phthalides has been described. This phase-transfer methodology, which uses catalytic amounts of KOH/18-crown-6 catalyst in mesitylene in the presence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA), gives access to a broad range of 3-monosubstituted phthalides with high levels of syn diastereoselectivity and good yields, starting from 3-unsubstituted derivatives and diverse α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The reaction also applies to unactivated 3-alkyl phthalides to afford 3,3-dialkyl derivatives. A plausible mechanism has been suggested. DFT analysis of possible transition states gives a rationale of the high syn diastereoselectivity observed and its correlation with the solvent's dielectric constant.     

Unprecedented Double aza‐Michael Addition within a Sapphyrin Core

A novel sapphyrin derivative was obtained from the reaction between a free‐base sapphyrin and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). The formation of the new compound involved a double aza‐Michael addition of two pyrrolic NH groups to a DMAD molecule, with the formation of a disubstituted ethano bridge. The NMR spectral data reveal a product with an unsymmetrical structure; DFT calculations provided support for a structure in which the ethano bridge links two adjacent pyrrole units. The present study provides a seemingly unprecedented example of an N,N′‐dinucleophile reacting with DMAD to form a heterocyclic compound in which the two N‐atoms are linked to the two sp³ carbon atoms derived from a substituted acetylene.     

Stereodivergent Organocatalytic Intramolecular Michael Addition/Lactonization for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Substituted Dihydrobenzofurans and Tetrahydrofurans

A stereodivergent asymmetric Lewis base catalyzed Michael addition/lactonization of enone acids into substituted dihydrobenzofuran and tetrahydrofuran derivatives is reported. Commercially available (S)‐(?)‐tetramisole hydrochloride gives products with high syn diastereoselectivity in excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99:1 d.r._syn/anti, 99 % ee_syn), whereas using a cinchona alkaloid derived catalyst gives the corresponding anti‐diastereoisomers as the major product (up to 10:90 d.r._syn/anti, 99 % ee_anti).     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Aldehydes to Vinyl Sulfones and Vinyl Phosphonates as Challenging Michael Acceptors

Chiral framework : Chiral amines with pyrrolidine frameworks catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of a wide range of aldehydes to various vinyl sulfones and vinyl phosphonates in high yields and with enantioselectivities up to >99 % ee (see scheme). The high versatility of the Michael adducts is exemplified by various functionalizations with conservation of the optical purity.

     

The Cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl Group as a Placeholder for Hydrogen: Organocatalytic Michael Addition of an Acetaldehyde Surrogate

An aldehyde with a cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl group in the α-position is introduced as a storable surrogate of highly reactive acetaldehyde. The cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl unit is compatible with an enantioselective Michael addition to nitroalkenes promoted by a Hayashi–Jørgensen catalyst and can be removed by a boron Lewis acid mediated C−C bond cleavage. The robust two-step sequence does not require a large excess of the aldehyde component that is typically needed when directly using acetaldehyde.     

How Dihalogens Catalyze Michael Addition Reactions

We have quantum chemically analyzed the catalytic effect of dihalogen molecules (X₂=F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, and I₂) on the aza‐Michael addition of pyrrolidine and methyl acrylate using relativistic density functional theory and coupled‐cluster theory. Our state‐of‐the‐art computations reveal that activation barriers systematically decrease as one goes to heavier dihalogens, from 9.4 kcal mol^?1 for F₂ to 5.7 kcal mol^?1 for I₂. Activation strain and bonding analyses identify an unexpected physical factor that controls the computed reactivity trends, namely, Pauli repulsion between the nucleophile and Michael acceptor. Thus, dihalogens do not accelerate Michael additions by the commonly accepted mechanism of an enhanced donor–acceptor [HOMO(nucleophile)–LUMO(Michael acceptor)] interaction, but instead through a diminished Pauli repulsion between the lone‐pair of the nucleophile and the Michael acceptor's π‐electron system.     

The role of noninnocent solvent molecules in organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition reactions

A proline-catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition between ketones and trans-beta-nitrostyrene was studied by using the density-functional theory with mPW1PW91 and B3LYP functionals. Improved insight into the enantio- and diastereoselective formation of gamma-nitroketones/-aldehydes is obtained through transition-state analysis. Consideration of the activation parameters obtained from gas-phase calculations and continuum solvation models failed to reproduce the reported experimental stereoselectivities for the reaction between cyclohexanone and 3-pentanone with trans-beta-nitrostyrene. The correct diastereo- and enantioselectivites were obtained only upon explicit inclusion of solvent molecules in the diastereomeric transition states that pertain to the C--C bond formation. Among the several transition-state models that were examined, the one that exhibits cooperative hydrogen-bonding interactions with two molecules of methanol could explain the correct stereochemical outcome of the Michael reaction. The change in differential stabilization that arises as a result of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the key transition states is identified as the contributing factor toward obtaining the correct diastereomer. This study establishes the importance of including explicit solvent molecules in situations in which the gas-phase and continuum models are inadequate in obtaining meaningful insight regarding experimental stereoselectivities.     

Enantioselective Construction of Functionalized Thiochromans via Squaramide‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Sulfa‐Michael/Michael Addition

An efficient enantioselective cascade sulfa‐Michael/Michael addition reaction of trans‐3‐(2‐mercaptophenyl)‐2‐propenoic acid ethyl ester with nitroalkenes catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst was disclosed. This cascade reaction afforded thiochroman derivatives with three contiguous stereocenters in high yields (up to 94%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Organocatalyzed Cascade Aza‐Michael/Michael Addition for the Asymmetric Construction of Highly Functionalized Spiropyrazolone Tetrahydroquinolines

An organocatalyzed diastereo‐ and enantioselective cascade aza‐Michael/Michael addition of 2‐tosylaminoenones to unsaturated pyrazolones has been developed to afford novel chiral spiropyrazolone tetrahydroquinolines containing three contiguous stereocenters. This cascade reaction proceeded well with 2 mol % chiral bifunctional tertiary amine squaramide catalyst to give the desired products in excellent yields (up to 99 %) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >25:1 diastereomeric ratio) and high enantioselectivity (up to 91 % enantiomeric excess).     

Synthesis of Optically Enriched Spirocyclic Benzofuran‐2‐ones by Bifunctional Thiourea‐Base Catalyzed Double‐Michael Addition of Benzofuran‐2‐ones to Dienones

A highly enantioselective catalytic double‐Michael addition reaction of substituted benzofuran‐2‐ones with divinyl ketones promoted by readily accessible tertiary amine–thiourea Cinchona alkaloids has been developed. A number of optically enriched spirocyclic benzofuran‐2‐ones were prepared in very good yields (up to 99 %), diastereoselectivities (up to 19:1 d.r.), and very good enantioselectivities (up to 92 % ee). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the origin of stereoselectivity.     

An Organocatalytic Asymmetric Tandem Reaction for the Construction of Bicyclic Skeletons

Cyclic ketones react with (E)‐2‐nitroallylic acetates in the presence of catalytic pyrrolidine‐thiourea, which affords bicyclic skeletons with four or five stereocenters in one single reaction with up to 98 % ee in moderate to high yields. The cooperative effects of both enamine and the Brønsted acid are found to be crucial for the high reactivity and enantioselectivity of this cascade reaction, which is demonstrated by both theoretical calculation and experimental data.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of thioacetic acid to enones

An enantioselective, organocatalytic Michael addition reaction of thioacetic acid with enones has been developed. The process, catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional amine thiourea, furnishes products in excellent yields with up to 63% ee.     

Triphenylphosphine-Catalyzed Michael Addition of Alcohols to Acrylic Compounds

A facile triphenylphosphine-catalyzed Michael addition of alcohols to acrylic compounds was described. The reaction was carried out in open air at refluxing temperature in the presence of 10 mol% PPh3. Michael addition of saturated and unsaturated alcohols to acrylonitrile or acrylates has been examined. The reaction gave β-alkoxy derivatives with isolated yields of 5%-79%. PPh3 is cheaper and more stable than those trialkylphosphines previously used for the similar reactions, and the products can be easily separated from the reaction mixture via distillation.