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.     

Highly enantioselective γ-amination of α,β-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates: efficient synthesis of chiral γ-amino acid derivatives

The cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed γ-amination of α,β-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates to give the corresponding dihydropyridazinones in good yields with high enantioselectivities has been developed. Reductive ring opening of the dihydropyridazinones afforded series of cyclic and acyclic γ-amino acid derivatives in good yields with high enantiopurity.     

Morpholine catalyzed direct C3 alkenylation of indoles with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

Organocatalytic direct C3 alkenylation of indoles has been developed. Simple and readily available morpholine trifluoroacetic acid salt is employed as an efficient catalyst in this oxidative dehydrogenative reaction. Simplicity and practicality constitute the most attractive advantages of this reaction.     

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed annulation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with 1,3-dicarbonyls

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed annulations of ynals and enals with 1,3-dicarbonyls have been described. The two reactions provided direct and efficient methods for enantioselective synthesis of functionalized dihydropyranones. Comparatively, the reactions starting from ynals were atom-economical; furthermore the reactions of enals demonstrated broader substrate compatibility.     

DABCO catalyzed dimerization of α,β-unsaturated ketones and nitriles

α,β-Unsaturated ketones dimerize in the presence of catalytic amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane(DABCO) to produce the corresponding 2-methylene-1,5-diketones in good yields. Acrylonitrile provides the corresponding dimerized product.     

Direct palladium/copper oxidative cross-coupling of α-methylstyrene with acrylates

Fully palladium/copper catalytic oxidative cross-coupling of acrylates with α-methylstyrene was performed in a DMSO/AcOH (1:1) mixture at 60 °C in the air. This improves previous procedures which employed stoichiometric amounts of copper and oxygen. Thus various acrylates were effectively coupled to α-methylstyrene giving the expected compounds in moderate to good yields (44%–65%) as a mixture of E and Z isomers.     

Pd-catalyzed synthesis of α-aryl ketones through couplings of α-arylacetyl chlorides with triarylbismuths as multi-coupling nucleophiles

The cross-coupling reaction of α-arylacetyl chlorides with triarylbismuths was studied under Pd-catalyzed conditions. The reaction was found to be facile under the established protocol and furnished high yields of α-aryl ketones in short reaction times. This work also demonstrated a facile synthesis of various regio-isomeric mono-, di- and tri-substituted α-aryl ketones in high yields. Triarylbismuths were employed as sub-stoichiometric multi-coupling organometallic nucleophiles in this coupling protocol.     

A Convenient Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated Nitriles

α,β-unsaturated nitriles were synthesized by the reaction of aldehydes with bromoacetonitrile promoted by tri-n-butylphosphine and zinc.     

Reaction of dibenzylphosphine oxide with α,β-unsaturated O-methyloximes

The reaction of dibenzylphosphine oxide with O-methyloximes of some ,-unsaturated ketones results in the phosphorylation at the -carbon atom to form methoxyiminophosphine oxides, whereas the reaction of dibenzylphosphine oxide with O-methyloximes of ,-unsaturated aldehydes affords aminodihydrophosphole oxides.     

A very enantioselective photodeconjugation of α,β-unsaturated esters

An enantiomeric excess up to 70% can be obtained in the photodeconjugation of conjugated esters in the presence of (1R, 2S) 1-phenyl, 2-isopropylamino-propanol.     

Enantioselective aldol reactions of α,β-unsaturated ketones with trifluoroacetophenone catalyzed by a chiral primary amine

Chiral primary amine catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reactions of ketones with trifluoroacetophenone, afforded trifluoromethylated β-hydroxycarbonyl aldol products bearing a quaternary carbon stereogenic center in high yields (up to 93% yield) and with high to excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee.     

Nickel–Schiff base complex catalyzed C–S cross-coupling of thiols with organic chlorides

We report an efficient, mild and convenient synthetic protocol for the C–S cross-coupling reaction of various aryl, benzyl, allyl chlorides and thiols using 5 mol % Nickel–Schiff base catalyst with NaOH as the base, in DMF at 70 °C. Using this protocol, we have shown that a variety of aryl sulfides can be synthesized in excellent yields from readily available organic chlorides and thiols.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones with cyclic enamines

The reactions of ,-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones containing aromatic and heteroaromatic substituents with 1-morpholinocyclopentene, 1-morpholinocyclohexene, and 1-methyl-4-morpholino-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine were studied. The reactions proceeded stereospecifically to give the corresponding bicyclo[3.2.1]octane, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, and azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives.     

Reduction of α,β-unsaturated nitrocompounds with tributyltin hydride.

Nitroalkenes upon treatment with tributyltin hydride in the absence of any catalyst provide a new method for the reduction of α,β -unsaturated nitrocompounds. Oxidative cleavage of the intermediate stannyl nitronates yielded carbonyl compounds in good yields.     

Recyclable graphite oxide catalyzed Friedel-Crafts addition of indoles to α,β-unsaturated ketones

The Friedel-Crafts addition of indoles to α,β-unsaturated ketones, and nitro styrenes was studied with graphite oxide as catalyst. Various indole derivatives were synthesized in good to excellent yields. The preparation of graphite oxide catalyst from simple and readily available starting materials makes this method more affordable. The heterogeneous graphite oxide can be easily recovered and recycled up to five cycles without loss of activity.     

Reaction of unsymmetrical α,β-unsaturated ketones with thiobarbituric acid

Carbocyclization of unsymmetrical 1,5-diarylpenta-1,4-dien-3-ones with thiobarbituric acid afforded previously unknown 7,11-diaryl-3-thioxo-2,4-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-1,5,9-triones with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The same spiro compounds were also synthesized by three-component condensation of thiobarbituric acid with the corresponding aromatic aldehydes and 4-arylbut-3-en-2-ones.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed reactions of α-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes/α,β-dibromoaldehydes with 1,3-dinucleophilic reagents

Carbenes ring true: N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed reactions of α-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes/α,β-dibromoaldehydes with 1,3-dinucleophilic reagents, such as 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, β-enamino ketones, and β-enamino esters through umpolung processes gave functionalized 3,4-dihydropyranones and 3,4-dihydropyridinones. The availability of the starting materials, lack of external oxidant, and usefulness of the products make this strategy attractive.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones with ethyl cyanoacetate

β-Aryl-substituted α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones react with ethyl cyanoacetate to give the corresponding Michael addition products, ethyl 3-aryl-2-cyano-6,6,6-trifluoro-5-oxohexanoates, which are formed as mixtures of two diastereoisomers. The reaction time and product yield depend on electron-donating properties of the substituent in the initial ketone. The reaction is not accompanied by intramolecular cyclization of the Michael adducts.     

Highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole and pyrrole with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoester catalyzed by chiral dicationic palladium complex

The chiral dicationic Pd complexes, bearing sterically demanding diphosphine ligands as Lewis acid catalysts, are shown to catalyze the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts (F-C) alkylations of indoles and pyrroles with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters, to provide the F-C alkylation products with benzylic stereocenters in high yields and enantioselectivities. The reactive chelated structure, formed by the chiral dicationic Pd complex and the electrophile, would be important to gain a high level of asymmetric induction in the F-C alkylation. The F-C products can be readily functionalized to give α-hydroxy esters via catalytic asymmetric ene sequences.