A facile Cu(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed asymmetric approach to unnatural α-amino acid derivatives containing gem-bisphosphonates

A novel catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of azomethine ylide with β-substituted alkylidene bisphosphates was realized in the presence of a chiral copper(I)/TF-BiphamPhos complex. The present system provides a unique and facile access to enantioenriched unnatural α-amino acid derivatives containing gem-bisphosphonates (gem-BPs) in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. Subsequent transformations lead to the expedient preparation of biologically active unnatural α-amino acid derivatives containing BPs and bisphosphonic acids without loss of diastereo- and enantiomeric excess.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric α-benzoyloxylation of α-branched aldehydes and enals: a useful approach to oxygenated quaternary stereocenters

Direct asymmetric α-benzoyloxylation of α-branched aldehydes and α-branched enals via enamine and dienamine catalysis was used to construct quaternary oxygenated stereocenters with good yields and moderate to good enantioselectivity. This method uses an inexpensive and readily available cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amine as the catalyst, benzoyl peroxide as the oxygen source, and stoichiometric amounts of the aldehyde substrates, providing simple metal-free access to valuable protected 2-hydroxyaldehyde derivatives.     

The preparation of optically active α-amino 4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-ones from optically active α-amino acids

Optically active α-amino 4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-ones (oxadiazolones) were prepared from optically active α-amino acids in five synthetic steps. The oxadiazolone moiety serves as a bioisosteric replacement for the carboxylic acid. Incorporation of an α-amino oxadiazolone into a representative dipeptide mimic is described.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of α-substituted cyanoacetates to maleimides

The asymmetric conjugate addition of α-substituted cyanoacetates to N-substituted maleimides has been developed. A number of cinchona alkaloids and amine thioureas were evaluated as catalysts. Takemoto’s catalyst was found to be the most efficient for the transformation. Chiral succinimides with two adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereogenic carbon centers were obtained in good yields, enantioselectivities, and diastereoselectivities. The products were converted to chiral γ-lactams conveniently without a loss in the enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of optically active α-sulfinylacetaldehyde

Optically active α-sulfinylacetaldehyde is prepared by formylation of the (R)-methyl p-tolylsulfoxide anion with N-formylpiperidine.     

Direct asymmetric synthesis of α-deuterated α-amino acid derivatives from the parent α-amino acids via memory of chirality

A method for asymmeyric α-deuteration of α-amino acid derivatives has been developed by a memory of chirality (MOC) strategy. The α-deuterated α-amino acid derivatives with 88–93% D were obtained in 60–98% ee in retention of the configuration (7 examples). The characterisrtic feature of the present procedure is that asymmeric induction was achieved by employing the parent amino acid derivatives as a sole source of chirality without the use of any external chiral souces.     

Highly enantioselective zinc/BINOL-catalyzed alkynylation of α-ketoimine ester: a new entry to optically active quaternary α-CF3 α-amino acids

An effective method for highly enantioselective alkynylation of ketoimine (α-trifluoromethyl ketoimine ester) has been developed via a zinc/BINOL catalyzed process. This protocol provides a useful and facile access to optically active quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids and related derivatives of interest in life sciences.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric oxy-Michael addition to a γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated thioester via hemiacetal intermediates

We report an asymmetric oxy-Michael addition to a γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated thioester via hemiacetal intermediates in the presence of Cinchona-alkaloid-thiourea-based bifunctional organocatalysts. This method provides a novel enantioselective route to β-hydroxy carboxyl compounds, which in turn can be used to synthesize valuable chiral building blocks.     

Rhodium/diene-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-sulfonyl indolylimines: a new access to highly optically active α-aryl 3-indolyl-methanamines

A new and efficient method for the preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched α-aryl 2- or 3-indolyl-methanamines by rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-sulfonyl indolylimines with arylboronic acids using chiral bicyclo[3.3.0] diene was developed.     

An efficient synthetic approach to optically active β-carboline derivatives via Pictet–Spengler reaction promoted by trimethylchlorosilane

A highly diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction using chiral tryptamine carbamates has been developed. The reaction proceeds using aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane.     

Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of β-substituted α,β-unsaturated phosphonates: an efficient synthesis of optically active β-stereogenic alkylphosphonates

A series of chiral alkylphosphonates bearing β-stereogenic center were synthesized in good enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) via the CuH-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of β-substituted α,β-unsaturated phosphonates under optimal conditions using Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O as the copper source, (R)-SEGPHOS as the ligand, PMHS as the siloxane, and t-BuOH as the additive.     

Enantioselective synthesis of optically active cis-β-thio-α-amino acid derivatives through an organocatalytic cascade thio-Michael/ring opening process

Non-naturally enantioenriched cis-β-thio-α-amino acid derivatives were synthesized through one pot, cascade thio-Michael/ring opening reaction of aromatic thiols with (Z)-olefinic azlactones in good yields with high levels of diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities, which was catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine catalyst.     

Synthesis of optically active α-aminobenzolactam via an oxidative–cyclization reaction

A convergent pathway for the asymmetric synthesis of (−)-α-aminobenzolactam 1 is described. For the first time, the key intermediate N-methoxybenzolactam 8 was prepared from l-homophenylalanine ethyl ester hydrochloride (LHPE·HCl) 5 by employing an oxidative cyclization in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).     

Organocatalytic conjugate addition of α-nitroacetates to β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and subsequent decarboxylation: synthesis of optically active δ-nitro-α-keto esters

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of tert-butyl nitroacetates to β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters has been developed. The subsequent in situ hydrolysis-decarboxylation of the adducts provided 5-nitro-2-oxopentanoates. A pyrrolidine-based thiourea-tertiary amine was identified as the best catalyst. A number of γ-aryl, γ-alkyl, and γ-heteroaryl β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and α-substituted tert-butyl nitroacetates were examined in the transformation. Generally 5-nitro-2-oxopentanoates were obtained in good yields (up to 97%) and enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). The products were readily transformed to chiral proline derivatives by catalytic hydrogenation.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of oximes to trisubstituted β-nitroacrylates: an organocatalytic approach to β(2,2)-amino acid derivatives

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic intermolecular conjugate addition of oximes to β-nitroacrylates has been developed. The highly functionalized adducts obtained are valuable precursors for asymmetric synthesis, as demonstrated by the synthesis of β(2,2)-amino acids and oxazolidin-2-ones.     

Facile synthesis of enantioenriched Cγ-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives via an asymmetric nucleophilic addition/protonation cascade

An asymmetric nucleophilic addition/protonation reaction of 3-substituted oxindoles and ethyl 2-phthalimidoacrylate has been described. This strategy can give direct access to C(γ)-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives bearing 1,3-nonadjacent stereocenters with up to 98% yield, 94:6 dr, and >99% ee. Dual activation is proposed in the transition state, and the opposite enantiomers can be obtained simply by changing cinchonidine-derived catalyst to the cinchonine analogue.