l-proline and l-histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction

Baylis–Hillman reaction between an aldehyde and an activated alkene, such as alkyl vinyl ketones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinylsulfones, giving the β-hydroxy-α-methylene carbonyl compounds, is a versatile and atom-economical carbon–carbon bond-forming reaction. This reaction usually is catalyzed by strong Lewis bases such as tertiary amines and suffers from slow reaction rate. In this paper the Baylis–Hillman reaction between arylaldehydes and methyl vinyl ketone was successfully realized by a catalytic amount of l-proline and l-histidine system to give the corresponding normal Baylis–Hillman adducts in moderate to high yields for the first time. The effects of solvent and reagent electro property on the yields of this reaction were also investigated. Proline and histidine are naturally widely present amino acids in food system; furthermore, aldehydes and activated alkenes can also be easily produced in food processing, so proline and histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction may find application in explaining some phenomena in food processing.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Isoquinolines: Merging Chiral‐Phosphine and Gold Catalysis

The highly enantioselective synthesis of dihydroisoquinoline derivatives from aromatic sulfonated imines tethered with an alkyne moiety, through a one‐pot asymmetric relay catalysis of chiral‐phosphine and gold catalysts, is reported. Enantiomerically enriched dihydroisoquinoline derivatives were afforded in good yields and good‐to‐excellent ee values under mild conditions, based on the asymmetric aza‐Morita‐Baylis–Hillman reaction. Dihydroisoquinoline derivatives containing two chiral centers were also synthesized through further transformations.     

Chiral 3-aminopyrrolidines as a rigid diamino scaffold for organocatalysis and organometallic chemistry

Over 20 new and easily prepared diamines were screened for the asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction. Chiral non-racemic 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1-methylpyrrolidine was found to promote efficiently the reaction of methyl vinyl ketone and substituted benzaldehydes. Enantiomeric excesses up to 73% were reached with electron-deficient benzaldehyde derivatives. After a simple deprotonation, one of these diamines was transformed into a chiral mixed aggregate for the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-1-o-tolylethanol with 76% ee.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Annulation of ortho‐Alkynylanilines: Synthesis of Axially Chiral Naphthyl‐C2‐indoles

A chiral Brønsted base catalyzed asymmetric annulation of ortho‐alkynylanilines has been developed to access axially chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles via vinylidene ortho‐quinone methide (VQM) intermediates. This strategy provides a unique organocatalytic atroposelective route to axially chiral aryl‐C2‐indole skeletons with excellent enantioselectivity and functional‐group tolerance. This transformation was applicable to decagram‐scale preparation (50.0 g) with perfect enantioselectivity through simple recrystallization. Moreover, the utility of this reaction was demonstrated by a variety of transformations towards chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles for a series of carbon–heteroatom bond formations. Furthermore, the prepared axially chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles were applied as a chiral skeleton for organocatalytic aza‐Baylis–Hillman reaction and asymmetric formal [4+2] tandem cyclization to give the corresponding adducts in high yields with improved enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity.     

Chiral activated alkenes induced asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reaction in Me3N/H2O/solvent medium

Chiral‐activated alkenes, L ‐menthyl acrylate and (+)‐N‐α‐phenylethyl acrylamide, induced asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reaction of aromatic aldehydes was realized at 25°C for 7 days in Me₃N/H₂O/solvent homogeneous medium. The corresponding Baylis–Hillman adducts were obtained in good chemical yield with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 99% de). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:317–321, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20209     

Steric determinants in diastereocontrol during Baylis–Hillman reaction of sugar-derived aldehydes

Diastereoselective Baylis–Hillman reaction using different sugar-derived aldehydes with various activated olefins afforded chiral multifunctional adducts in good yields. Steric factors that dictate and determine the diastereoselection will be discussed.     

Baylis-Hillman Reactions of Sulfonyl Aldimines or Aryl Aldehydes with 3-Methylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one or 3-Benzylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one

The attempted Baylis-Hillman reactions of sulfonyl aldimines or aryl aldehydes with 3-methylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one or 3-benzylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one gave the corresponding Baylis-Hillman adducts in moderate yields in DMSO under the catalysis of DBU or PMe3, respectively. Moderate diastereoselectivities were observed in the reaction of 3-benzylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one with N-arylmethylidene-1-naphthalenesulfonamides catalyzed by chiral catalyst cinchona alkaloid derivative TQO {4-（3-ethyl-4-oxa-1-azatricyclo[4.4.0.0^3,8]dec-5-yl）quinolin-6-ol}.     

Recent developments in the asymmetric organocatalytic Morita−Baylis−Hillman reaction

The goal of this review is to collect the recent developments in asymmetric organocatalytic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions reported since the beginning of 2013. It also includes the asymmetric organocatalysed transformations of racemic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts, illustrating that they constitute synthetically important synthons in organic chemistry. It is divided into four sections, dealing successively with organocatalytic enantioselective Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, asymmetric (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions of chiral substrates and asymmetric organocatalysed applications of Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts.     

Organocatalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction: an enantioselective approach

A convenient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of Baylis–Hillman adducts in the presence of a base and an organocatalyst. We have designed and synthesized organocatalysts based on hydrogen bonding using a pyrrolidine ring as the backbone and applied them to Baylis–Hillman transformations. This method provides products in good to high yields (73–90%) and with excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%) and reasonable reaction times.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric C(sp2)−H Allylic Alkylation: Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Allenoates

Herein we describe the first organocatalytic asymmetric C(sp²)−H allylation of racemic trisubstituted allenoates with Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates to access axially chiral tetrasubstituted allenoates. Various trisubstituted allenoates and MBH carbonates were well tolerated under mild reaction conditions, providing novel chiral tetrasubstituted allenoates with adjacent axial chirality and tertiary carbon stereocenters in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities.     

A Novel Asymmetric Benzoin Reaction Catalyzed by a Chiral Triazolium Salt. Preliminary communication

Using the chiral triazolium salt 1 as catalyst, a novel asymmetric variant of the benzoin reaction is reported. For the first time, the scope of the method is extended to a broader range of aromatic aldehydes 2 , affording the acyloins 3a–h in yields of 22–72% and enantiomeric excesses up to 86%.     

Efficient Synthesis of a New Type of Baylis–Hillman Adducts and Their Stereoselective Bromination

A new type of Baylis–Hillman adducts derived from chlorovinyl aldehydes were prepared via Vilsmeier reaction of ketones with a bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate (BTC)/DMF system to construct chlorovinyl aldehydes, followed by sonochemical Baylis–Hillman reaction under solvent-free conditions. The stereoselective bromination of these new compounds with a Br₂-Ph₃P system has been achieved efficiently with good to excellent yields under mild conditions.     

Cooperative Tertiary Amine/Chiral Iridium Complex Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3] and [3+3] Annulation Reactions

Asymmetric reactions merging organocatalysis and metal catalysis significantly broaden the scope of organic synthesis. Nevertheless, the accomplishment of stereoselective annulations combining two types of dipole species, independently generated from the activations of organocatalysts and metal complexes, still remains as a challenging task. Now, Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates from isatins and carbamate‐functionalized allyl carbonates could be chemoselectively activated by achiral Lewis basic tertiary amines and chiral iridium complexes. The zwitterionic allylic ylides and 1,4‐π‐allyliridium dipoles formed in situ are assembled in a highly stereoselective [4+3] annulation pattern. Similar cooperative catalytic strategy could be applied for the reactions of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates and vinyl aziridines, furnishing an asymmetric [3+3] annulation reaction also with excellent stereocontrol.     

Valine-derived phosphinothiourea as organocatalyst in enantioselective Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of acrylates with aromatic aldehydes

A new type of chiral bifunctional phosphinothiourea derived from l-valine is synthesized and used as an organocatalyst in the enantioselective Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of aromatic aldehydes with acrylates. The desired products were obtained in good enantioselectivities (up to 83% ee) and in excellent yields (up to 96%) under mild reaction conditions.     

Methods for the synthesis of chiral sulfur heterocycles and their application in the asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions

Enantiomerically pure (2S,6S)-2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran, (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro thiophene, and (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran were prepared in 70–72% yields and with 86–99% ee via cyclization of the corresponding dimesylate in an S_N2 cyclization reaction using sodium sulfide nonahydrate. The results on the application of various chiral sulfides in asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions are also described.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral β-iodo Baylis–Hillman esters using MgI2 as promoter via a one-pot three-component reaction

An asymmetric synthesis of β-iodo-α-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylates has been developed involving conjugate addition of I⁻ to menthyl propiolates to give β-iodo allenolate intermediates which undergo 1,2-addition to form β-iodo Baylis–Hillman products. Modest diastereoselectivities (37–58% de) and excellent yields (80–87%) were obtained when (1R,2S,5R)-(−)-menthol was used as a chiral auxiliary. The two diastereoisomers of the product were separated by silica gel chromatography to give diastereomerically pure products.     

Amino oxazolines as a new class of organocatalyst for the direct intermolecular asymmetric aldol reaction between acetone and aromatic aldehydes

A series of chiral amino oxazolines were synthesized and screened as organocatalysts for asymmetric intermolecular aldol reactions between acetone and aromatic aldehydes. The reaction works well with a range of aromatic aldehydes showing good to high selectivity. The present new system of the organocatalyst was effective for the asymmetric aldol reaction for a wide range of aromatic aldehydes and isatin to carry out an asymmetric carbon–carbon bond forming reaction with a high enantioselectivity of up to 91%.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Allylation of Racemic Morita–Baylis–Hillman Adducts

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric allyl–allyl cross‐coupling of acetates of racemic Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts and allylB(pin) has been developed using a spiroketal‐based bis(phosphine) as the chiral ligand, thus affording a series of chiral 1,5‐dienes bearing a vinylic ester functionality in good yields, high branched regioselectivities, and uniformly excellent enantioselectivities (95–99 % ee). Further synthetic manipulations of the allylation products provided novel ways for rapid access to a range of chiral polycyclic lactones and polycyclic lactams, as well as the antidepressant drug (−)‐Paroxetine, in high optical purities.     

Asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reaction using sugar acrylates—synthesis of optically active α-methylene-β-hydroxy alkanoates

A study on the asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reaction of three chiral acrylates; 1,2:5,6-di-O-iso-propylidine-α-d-glucofuranose-3-acrylate 1, 2,3:5,6-di-O-iso-propylidine-α-d-mannofuranose-1-acrylate 2 and 1,2-O-iso-propylidine-5-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-α-d-xylofuranose-3-acrylate 3, with various aldehydes was conducted, resulting in adducts with moderate diastereoselectivity (5–40% e.e.).     

Boron（Ⅲ） Tribromide or Tianium （Ⅳ） Bromide and Lewis Base Promoted Baylis—Hillman Reaction

It was found that,when the Baylis-Hillman reaction of arylaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone was carried out at below -20℃ in the presence of boron (Ⅲ） tribromide or titanium (Ⅳ） bromide using a catalytic amount of Lewis base such as amine,the brominated compounds and the Baylis-Hillman adducts could be obtained as the major products in good yields for various aryl aldehydes.But at room temperature,the elimination products were the major products.In addition,the palladium catalyzed allylic substitution reactions of the elimination products were also examined.