Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3] Cyclization of Trimethylenemethane: Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective Construction of Benzofuro[3,2-b]azepine Skeletons

The palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of trimethylenemethane donors with benzofuran-derived azadienes furnishes chiral benzofuro[3,2-b]azepine frameworks in high yields (up to 98 %) with exclusive regioselectivities and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee). This catalytic asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of Pd-trimethylenemethane can enrich the arsenal of Pd-TMM reactions in organic synthesis. In addition, this strategy provides an alternative approach to chiral azepines by a transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization.     

Highly Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroazepines and Benzo[b]oxepines through Palladium‐Catalyzed [4+3] Cycloaddition Reactions

A novel Pd⁰‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] annulation reaction of two readily accessible starting materials has been developed for building seven‐membered heterocyclic architectures. The potential [3+2] side pathway could be suppressed though fine tuning of the conditions. A broad scope of cycloaddition donors and acceptors participated in the transformation with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivtities, leading to valuable tetrahydroazepines and benzo[b]oxepines.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Lactams through Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition of Imines with Homophthalic Anhydride

An amide‐thiourea compound, operating through a novel ion pairing mechanism, is an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric reaction of homophthalic anhydride with imines. N ‐aryl and N ‐alkyl imines readily undergo formal [4+2] cycloaddition to provide lactams with high levels of enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. The nature of the key chiral ion pair intermediate was elucidated by DFT calculations.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [6+4] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Oxetanes with Azadienes to Access Ten‐Membered Heterocycles

We report herein the first enantioselective cycloaddition of vinyl oxetanes, the reaction of which with azadienes provided unprecedented access to ten‐membered heterocycles through a [6+4] cycloaddition. By using a commercially available chiral Pd‐SIPHOX catalyst, a wide range of benzofuran‐ as well as indole‐fused heterocycles could be accessed in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. A unique Lewis acid induced fragmentation of these ten‐membered heterocycles was also discovered.     

Highly Site Selective Formal [5+2] and [4+2] Annulations of Isoxazoles with Heterosubstituted Alkynes by Platinum Catalysis: Rapid Access to Functionalized 1,3‐Oxazepines and 2,5‐Dihydropyridines

Platinum‐catalyzed formal [5+2] and [4+2] annulations of isoxazoles with heterosubstituted alkynes enabled the atom‐economical synthesis of valuable 1,3‐oxazepines and 2,5‐dihydropyridines, respectively. Importantly, this Pt catalysis not only led to unique reactivity dramatically divergent from that observed under Au catalysis, but also proceeded via unprecedented α‐imino platinum carbene intermediates.     

Construction of Nine‐Membered Heterocycles through Palladium‐Catalyzed Formal [5+4] Cycloaddition

The first catalytic formal [5+4] cycloaddition to prepare nine‐membered heterocycles is presented. Under palladium catalysis, the reaction of N‐tosyl azadienes and substituted vinylethylene carbonates (VECs) proceeds smoothly to produce benzofuran‐fused heterocycles in uniformly high efficiency. Highly diastereoselective functionalization of the nine‐membered heterocycles through peripheral attack is also demonstrated.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Oxa‐Bridged Oxazocines through a Catalytic RhII/ZnII Relay [4+3] Cycloaddition Reaction

Oxa‐bridged oxazocines bearing three chiral carbon centers were synthesized efficiently through a bimetallic catalytic asymmetric tandem reaction of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with diazoimides. The process contained a rhodium‐promoted in situ generation of isomünchnone from diazoimide decomposition, and a [4+3]‐cycloaddition of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoester catalyzed by a chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐Zn^II complex. Ligand‐accelerated catalysis was found, and a possible transition‐state model was proposed to explain the origin of stereoselectivity.     

钯催化三亚甲基甲烷的不对称[3+4]环加成反应:高区域选择性、高非对映选择性和高对映选择性构筑苯并呋喃[3,2-b]吖庚因

环加成反应是构建多官能团化环状化合物最直接、有效的方法之一.其中,三亚甲基甲烷(Trimethylenemethane,TMM)活性中间体被视为一类高效的三碳合成子.目前TMM已被广泛用于多种环加成反应,为一些重要的环状化合物以及天然化合物提供了高效、可靠的合成方法.早在1979年,Trost和Chan等[1]首次报道了Pd-TMM的[3+2]环加成反应.此后,钯催化TMM的多种催化不对称[3+2],[3+3]和[3+6]环加成反应相继得以实现[2,3],并为手性五元环、六元环及九元环类化合物提供了高效的合成策略.然而,对于钯催化TMM的不对称[3+4]环加成化反应——合成七元环状化合物的研究,目前尚无相关报道.其可能的主要原因是七元环状化合物的合成存在不利的熵效应和环化张力.     

Enantioselective Phosphine‐Catalyzed Formal [4+4] Annulation of α,β‐Unsaturated Imines and Allene Ketones: Construction of Eight‐Membered Rings

The first highly enantioselective phosphine‐catalyzed formal [4+4] annulation has been developed. In the presence of amino‐acid‐derived phosphines, the unprecedented [4+4] annulations between benzofuran/indole‐derived α,β‐unsaturated imines and allene ketones proceeded smoothly, thus affording azocines, bearing either a benzofuran or an indole moiety, in excellent yields and with nearly perfect enantioselectivities (≥98 % ee in most cases). This work marks the first efficient asymmetric construction of optically enriched eight‐membered rings by phosphine catalysis.     

Pd/Cu-Catalyzed Enantioselective Sequential Heck/Sonogashira Coupling: Asymmetric Synthesis of Oxindoles Containing Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

An asymmetric palladium and copper co-catalyzed Heck/Sonogashira reaction between o-iodoacrylanilides and terminal alkynes to synthesize chiral oxindoles was developed. In particular, a wide range of CF₃-substituted o-iodoacrylanilides reacted with terminal alkynes, affording the corresponding chiral oxindoles containing trifluoromethylated quaternary stereogenic centers in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (94–98 % ee). This asymmetric Heck/Sonogashira reaction provides a general approach to access oxindole derivatives containing quaternary stereogenic centers including CF₃-substituted ones.     

Synergistic Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Functionalization of Unactivated Alkyl Quinolines with α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

A novel alkyl functionalization of unactivated alkyl quinolines has been developed combining InCl₃ activation with organocatalytic activation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes in a synergistic fashion. The reaction proceeds in a highly stereoselective manner as a sequence involving two consecutive synergistic catalytic cycles (Lewis acid‐ and iminium ion‐catalyzed) and requires neither pre‐activated alkyl quinoline substrates with electron‐withdrawing substituents nor highly activated electrophiles. The reaction provides selectively double‐ or mono‐addition products in good yields and high to excellent stereoselectivities. Furthermore, based on spectroscopic and labelling experiments, the mechanisms for the reactions are discussed.