Enantioselective De Novo Synthesis of α,α-Diaryl Ketones from Alkynes

Chiral α,α-diaryl ketones are structural motifs commonly present in bioactive molecules, and they are also valuable building blocks in synthetic organic chemistry. However, catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones bearing a tertiary stereogenic center remains largely unsolved. Herein, we report a catalytic de novo enantioselective synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones from simple alkynes via chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysis. A broad range of enolizable α,α-diaryl ketones are prepared in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The described protocol also serves as an efficient deuteration method for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched deuterated α,α-diaryl ketones. Using the methodology reported, bioactive molecules, including one of the best-selling anti-breast cancer drugs, tamoxifen, are readily synthesized.     

Silver-Promoted Fluorination Reactions of α-Bromoamides

Silver-promoted C−F bond formation in α-bromoamides by using AgF under mild conditions is reported. This simple method enables access to tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl fluorides involving biomolecular scaffolds. This transformation is applicable to primary and secondary amides and shows broad functional-group tolerance. Kinetics experiments revealed that the reaction rate increased in the order of 3°>2°>1° α-carbon atom. In addition, it was found that the acidic amide proton plays an important role in accelerating the reaction. Mechanistic studies suggested generation of an aziridinone intermediate that undergoes subsequent nucleophilic addition to form the C−F bond with stereospecificity (i.e., retention of configuration). The synthesis of sterically hindered alcohols and ethers by using Ag^I is also demonstrated. Examples of reactions of α-bromoamides with O nucleophiles are presented.     

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Doyle–Kirmse Reaction of Azide-Ynamides via α-Imino Copper Carbenes

[2,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangement reaction involving sulfonium ylide (Doyle–Kirmse reaction) generated from metal carbenes represents one of the powerful methods for the construction of C(sp³)−S and C−C bonds. Although significant advances have been achieved, the asymmetric versions via the generation of sulfonium ylides from metal carbenes have been rarely reported to date, and they have so far been limited to diazo compounds as metal carbene precursors. Here, we describe a copper-catalyzed enantioselective Doyle–Kirmse reaction via azide-ynamide cyclization, leading to the practical and divergent assembly of an array of chiral [1,4]thiazino[3,2-b]indoles bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in generally moderate to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Importantly, this protocol represents a unique catalytic asymmetric Doyle–Kirmse reaction via a non-diazo approach and an unprecedented asymmetric [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement via α-imino metal carbenes.     

Copper-Catalyzed Radical Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Butyrolactones with Two Non-vicinal Carbon Stereocenters

Chiral heterocycles with two or more carbon stereocenters are quite important skeletons in many fields. However, powerful strategies for the construction of such synthetically valuable heterocycles, especially with two or more remote carbon stereocenters, have largely lagged behind. We report here a powerful method for the synthesis of chiral γ-butyrolactones with two non-vicinal carbon stereocenters from readily available chemical feedstocks under mild conditions. Both of the two diastereoisomers can be obtained with good to excellent enantioselectivities. The well-designed copper/PyBox catalytic system overrides the intrinsic stereoinduction of the close chirality center generated by the previous innocent radical addition step. Nevertheless, this work has the power to selectively provide one single diastereoisomer by taking advantage of the epimerization effect but also to synthesize all four diastereoisomers with the pair of chiral ligands L2 and L2′ having opposite chirality. The obtained useful chiral γ-butyrolactones can be synthetically transformed into acyclic or cyclic molecules with two non-vicinal carbon stereocenters. Mechanistic studies reveal that this radical reaction follows a linear relationship and can be well performed with a less loading amount of ligand compared to that of the copper catalyst.     

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation with a γ-Butyrolactone-Derived Silyl Ketene Acetal

Herein, we report a Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation using a γ-butyrolactone-derived silyl ketene acetal. Critical to the development of this work was the identification of a novel mono-picolinamide ligand with the appropriate steric and electronic properties to afford the desired products in high yield (up to 96 %) and high ee (up to 95 %). Aryl, aliphatic, and unsubstituted allylic chlorides bearing a broad range of functionality are well-tolerated. Spectroscopic studies reveal that a Cu^I species is likely the active catalyst, and DFT calculations suggest ligand sterics play an important role in determining Cu coordination and thus catalyst geometry.     

Application of Hantzsch Dihydropyridine in Copper-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Terminal Alkynes with Azides

2,6-Dimethyl-3,5-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine (dihydropyridine Hantzsch ester, DHPHE) and CuSO₄ · 5H₂O efficiently accelerated azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions of both aliphatic and aromatic substrates and gave 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles as the only isomer in good to excellent yields at room temperature with 1 mol% of CuSO₄ · 5H₂O/DHPHE (1:1 in molar ratio). The reaction could be carried out smoothly in methanol in air with high efficiency. DHPHE may play multiple important roles in the reaction: a reducing reagent to generate the catalytic center copper(I) from CuSO₄, a base to help form the intermediate acetylide, and a ligand to stabilize the catalytic copper(I) species via coordination after being transformed to pyridine derivative.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Synthesis of α-Ketoamides by Copper-Catalyzed Reactions of Phenylacetic Acids with N,N-Dialkylformamides

A new synthetic approach for α-ketoamides was achieved by copper-catalyzed coupling reactions between N,N-dialkylformamides and phenylacetic acids. A variety of substrates were well tolerated to give yields of 46–87% (17 examples). A ¹³C-labeling experiment revealed that the carbonyl group of the products came from the phenylacetic acid.     

Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Borocarbonylative Coupling of Unactivated Alkenes with Alkyl Halides: Synthesis of β-Boryl Ketones

The borocarbonylative coupling of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides remains a challenge. In this communication, a Cu-catalyzed borocarbonylative coupling of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides for the synthesis of β-boryl ketones has been developed. A broad range of β-boryl ketone derivatives was prepared in moderate to excellent yields with complete regioselectivity.     

Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Sonogashira Coupling Reaction

The mechanism of palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction has been studied theoretically by DFT （density functional theory） calculations. The model system studied consists of Pd（PH3）2 as the starting catalyst complex, phenyl bromide as the substrate and acetylene as the terminal alkyne, without regarding to the co-catalyst and base. Mechanistically and energetically plausible catalytic cycles for the cross-coupling have been identified. The DFT analysis shows that the catalytic cycle occurs in three stages： oxidative addition of phenyl bromide to the palladium center, alkynylation of palladium（Ⅱ） intermediate, and reductive elimination to phenylacetylene. In the oxidative addition, the neutral and anionic pathways have been investigated, which could both give rise to cis-configured palladium（Ⅱ） diphosphine intermediate. Starting from the palladium（Ⅱ） diphosphine intermediate, the only identifiable pathway in alkynylation involves the dissociation of Br group and the formation of square-planar palladium（Ⅱ） intermediate, in which the phenyl and alkynyl groups are oriented cis to each other. Due to the close proximity of phenyl and alkynyl groups, the reductive elimination of phenylacetylene proceeds smoothly.     

Sonogashira Coupling Reaction with Palladium Powder and Potassium Fluoride in Methanol

A Sonogashira coupling reaction of aromatic halides with terminal alkynes in the presence of palladium powder,potassium fluoride,cuprous iodide and triphenylphosphine in methanol,giving the corresponding coupling products aryl alkynes in good to excellent yiekls,was investigated.     

Enantioselective N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed α-Oxidative Coupling of Enals with Carboxylic Acids Using an Iodine(III) Reagent

The enantioselective α-oxidative coupling of enals with carboxylic acids was developed via the umpolung of an NHC-bound enolate with an iodine(III) reagent. The corresponding α-acyloxyl-β,γ-unsaturated esters were afforded in good yields, with high regio- and enantioselectivities. The key step of the reaction involves the formation of enol iodine(III) intermediate from the enolate with iodosobenzene, which changes the polarity of α-carbon of the enal from nucleophilic to electrophilic, and thus facilitates the subsequent addition of carboxylate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of protected α-aminoketones via electrophilic amination of α-silylketones with an oxaziridine

N-Boc protected α-aminoketones (4) of moderate enantiomeric purity were synthesised via N-Boc-3-(4-cyanophenyl)-oxaziridine (5) mediated electrophilic amination of enantiopure α-silyl ketones (2) followed by removal of the silyl directing group in the aminated products (3) with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in a buffer solution.     

Enantio- and Diastereoselective NiH-Catalyzed Hydroalkylation of Enamides or Enecarbamates with Racemic α-Bromoamides**

Catalytic methods which control multiple stereogenic centers simultaneously are highly desirable in modern organic synthesis and chemical manufacturing. Herein, we report a regio-, enantio-, and diastereoselective NiH-catalyzed hydroalkylation process which proceeds with simultaneous control of vicinal stereocenters originating from two readily accessible partners, prochiral internal alkenes (enamides or enecarbamates) and racemic alkyl electrophiles (α-bromoamides or Katritzky salts). This reaction produces high-value β-aminoamides and their derivatives under mild conditions and with precise selectivity. Preliminary studies of the mechanism indicate that the reaction involves an enantioselective syn-hydronickelation to generate an enantiomerically enriched alkylnickel(II) species. Subsequent enantioconvergent alkylation with a racemic alkyl electrophile generates the desired product as a single stereoisomer.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Arylglycines via Pd-Catalyzed Coupling of Schöllkopf Bis-Lactim Ethers with Aryl Chlorides

Arylglycines are important pharmacophores present in several top-selling drugs. This compound class has now been made accessible from abundant aryl chlorides by a Pd-catalyzed Schöllkopf-type amino acid synthesis. In the presence of the catalyst methylnaphthyl(XPhos)-palladium bromide, the base lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpyrrolidide and the additive ZnCl₂, tert-leucine-derived bis-lactim ethers were efficiently arylated at room temperature, reaching yields of 95 % and diastereoselectivities of 98 : 2. Hydrolysis gave the corresponding arylglycines in high enantiomeric excess.     

Photocatalytic Enantioselective Hydrosulfonylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls with Sulfonyl Chlorides

This research explores the enantioselective hydrosulfonylation of various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds via the use of visible light and redox-active chiral Ni-catalysis, facilitating the synthesis of enantioenriched α-chiral sulfones with remarkable enantioselectivity (exceeding 99 % ee). A significant challenge entails enhancing the reactivity between chiral metal-coordinated carbonyl compounds and moderate electrophilic sulfonyl radicals, aiming to minimize the background reactions. The success of our approach stems from two distinctive attributes: 1) the Cl-atom abstraction employed for sulfonyl radical generation from sulfonyl chlorides, and 2) the single-electron reduction to produce a key enolate radical Ni-complex. The latter process appears to enhance the feasibility of the sulfonyl radical's addition to the electron-rich enolate radical. An in-depth investigation into the reaction mechanism, supported by both experimental observations and theoretical analysis, offers insight into the intricate reaction process. Moreover, the versatility of our methodology is highlighted through its successful application in the late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules, demonstrating its practicality as a strategy for producing α-chiral sulfones.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic α-fluorination of cyclic ketones

The first highly enantioselective α-fluorination of ketones using organocatalysis has been accomplished. The long-standing problem of enantioselective ketone α-fluorination via enamine activation has been overcome via high-throughput evaluation of a new library of amine catalysts. The optimal system, a primary amine functionalized Cinchona alkaloid, allows the direct and asymmetric α-fluorination of a variety of carbo- and heterocyclic substrates. Furthermore, this protocol also provides diastereo-, regio-, and chemoselective catalyst control in fluorinations involving complex carbonyl systems.     

Enantioselective allylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilane catalyzed by METHOX

α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes 6a-j undergo an enantioselective allylation with allylic trichlorosilanes 2a,b in the presence of METHOX (4) as a Lewis basic catalyst (≤10 mol %) to produce the homoallylic alcohols 7a-l at good to high enantioselectivity (83-96% ee). This study shows that the reactivity scope of METHOX can be extended from aromatic to nonaromatic aldehydes.     

Enantioselective synthesis of tertiary alcohols through a zirconium-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of pyrroles with α-ketoesters

Chiral complexes of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol-based ligands with zirconium tert-butoxide catalyze the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of pyrroles with α-ketoesters to afford tertiary alcohols in good yields and ee up to 98%. The reaction is also of application to 4,7-dihydroindole to give C2-alkylated indoles after oxidation with p-benzoquinone.     

Redox-Neutral Tetrafluoroethylation of Aryl Alkynes with 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethane Sulfonic Acid Leading to α-Tetrafluoroethylated Acetophenones

The redox-neutral tetrafluoroethylation of alkynes with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluroroethanesulfonic acid (TFESA) and azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) proceeds via the formation of vinyl tetrafluoroethanesulfonates followed by a radical tetrafluoroethylation. Experimental and theoretical results support an intermolecular reaction.