Recent advances in organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of polysubstituted pyrrolidines

Chiral substituted pyrrolidines are important N-heterocyclic structural motifs, existing in many natural products, drug candidates, ligands and organocatalysts. We summarise herein the recent (between January 2010 and July 2013) developments on synthesising the chiral polysubstituted pyrrolidines through asymmetric organocatalysis. The organocatalytic strategies for constructing the pyrrolidine scaffolds can be divided into one-step and sequential approaches, respectively. The straightforward one-step approach is mainly the [3+2] cycloaddition based on the iminium activation, chiral Brønsted acid catalysis, bifunctional organocatalysis and SOMO activation. In the sequential approach (multi-step or one-pot reactions), the primary construction of chiral linear precursors is followed by the sequential cyclisation. Other important strategies, such as the organocatalytic bromoaminocyclisation were also described. These organocatalytic strategies have enriched the synthetic chemistry of chiral pyrrolidines, especially towards the target-, diversity- and application-oriented synthesis. New organocatalytic approaches are thus expected for the facile construction of polysubstituted pyrrolidines with well-controlled stereochemistry and for the practical synthesis of pyrrolidine-related natural alkaloids, drug candidates and functional proline derivatives.     

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic Biginelli reaction

A series of binol- and H8-binol-based phosphoric acids have for the first time been evaluated for their ability to catalyze Biginelli reactions of aldehydes, thiourea or urea, and beta-keto esters. A new chiral phosphoric acid, derived from 3,3'-diphenyl-H8-binol, exhibited superior catalytic activity and enantioselectivity compared to its structural analogues, affording high enantioselectivities ranging from 85 to 97% ee with a wide scope of substrates. A metal-free preparation of optically active monastrol was achieved on the basis of the current process.     

Alloxazine-cyclodextrin conjugates for organocatalytic enantioselective sulfoxidations

Four structurally different alloxazine-cyclodextrin conjugates were prepared and tested as catalysts for the enantioselective oxidation of prochiral sulfides to sulfoxides by hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions. The alloxazinium unit was appended to the primary face of α- and β-cyclodextrins via a linker with variable length. A series of sulfides was used as substrates: n-alkyl methyl sulfides (n-alkyl = hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl), cyclohexyl methyl sulfide, tert-butyl methyl sulfide, benzyl methyl sulfide and thioanisol. α-Cyclodextrin conjugate having alloxazinium unit attached via a short linker proved to be a suitable catalyst for oxidations of n-alkyl methyl sulfides, displaying conversions up to 98% and enantioselectivities up to 77% ee. β-Cyclodextrin conjugates were optimal catalysts for the oxidation of sulfides carrying bulkier substituents; e.g. tert-butyl methyl sulfide was oxidized with quantitative conversion and 91% ee. Low loadings (0.3-5 mol%) of the catalysts were used. No overoxidation to sulfones was observed in this study.     

First enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate addition of aldehydes to vinyl phosphonates

Chiral amines catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of aldehydes to vinyl phosphonates in high yields and with enantioselectivities up to 97% ee. This novel process provides synthetically useful chiral gamma-geminal phosphonate aldehydes which can be easily converted in a few steps into chiral beta-substituted vinyl phosphonates with conservation of the optical purity.     

Direct organocatalytic enantioselective α-aminomethylation of ketones

The scope and limitations of the direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-aminomethylation of ketones are disclosed. The proline-catalyzed classical Mannich reactions between unmodified ketones, aqueous formaldehyde and aromatic amines furnished the desired Mannich bases in high yield with up to >99% ee. Moreover, methyl alkyl ketones were regioselectively α-aminomethylated at the methylene carbon affording the corresponding Mannich products with up to >99% ee. In addition, the proline-catalyzed one-pot three-component reaction between p-anisidine, aqueous formaldehyde and 4,4-dimethyl-2-cycloxehen-1-one furnished the corresponding bicyclic aza-Diels–Alder adduct with >99% ee.     

Direct and enantioselective organocatalytic alpha-chlorination of aldehydes

The first direct enantioselective catalytic alpha-chlorination of aldehydes has been accomplished. The use of enamine catalysis has provided a new organocatalytic strategy for the enantioselective chlorination of aldehydes to generate alpha-chloro aldehydes, an important chiral synthon for chemical and medicinal agent synthesis. The use of imidazolidinone 3 as the asymmetric catalyst has been found to mediate the halogenation of a large variety of aldehyde substrates with the perchlorinated quinone 1 serving as the electrophilic chlorinating reagent. A diverse spectrum of aldehyde substrates can also be accommodated in this new organocatalytic transformation. The capacity of catalyst 3 to override the inherent bias of resident stereogenicity in the chlorination of enantiopure beta-chiral aldehydes is also described. Catalyst quantities of 5 mol % were generally employed in this study.     

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic sulfenylation of 3-aryloxindoles

An organocatalytic asymmetric sulfenylation of 3-aryloxindoles with N-(sulfanyl)succinimides has been developed by using commercially available (DHQD)(2)PHAL as catalyst. Various chiral 3-benzylthio-, alkylthio-, and arylthio-substituted oxindoles, containing 3,3-disubstituted quarternary carbon stereocenters, could be obtained in high enantioselectivities (85-97% ee). Furthermore, the opposite enantiomers of the sulfenylated products were readily accessible with equal excellent enantioselectivities (86-95% ee) by replacing the catalyst with (DHQ)(2)PHAL.     

Recent advances into the enantioselective protonation of prostereogenic enol derivatives

We discuss the recent developments into the enantioselective protonation of substituted enol derivatives and comment on the effect that reaction parameters (such as solvent, temperature and salt additive) have on the facial preference.     

Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of unprotected enamines

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of enamines is undoubtedly a useful and environment-friendly method for the preparation of optically pure chiral amines and amine derivatives. Over the last few decades, the use of transition metal catalysts containing chiral phosphorus or phosphine-oxazoline ligands attracted much attention for the hydrogenation of unprotected enamines. A number of efficient chiral catalysts have been developed, and some of them have shown high potential for the application in the synthesis of optical chiral amines in both laboratory and industry. This tutorial review focuses on the contributions concerning the transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of unprotected enamines for the synthesis of chiral amines and amine derivatives.     

An organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of (+)-duryne

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of the potent anticancer agent (+)-duryne was achieved by the use of a one-pot organocatalyzed hydroxylation/Ohira–Bestmann and Grubbs cross-metathesis/selective cis-Wittig reaction. This new approach is envisioned to facilitate the synthesis of every representative member of the family.     

Thiourea catalyzed organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of diphenyl phosphite to nitroalkenes

Bifunctional thiourea catalyzes the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of diphenyl phosphite to nitroalkenes. This methodology provides a facile access to enantiomerically enriched β-nitrophosphonates, precursors for the preparation of synthetically and biologically useful β-aminophosphonic acids. DFT level of computational calculations invoke the attack of the diphenyl phosphite to the nitroolefin by the Re face, this give light to this scarcely explored process update in the literature. The computational calculations support the absolute configuration obtained in the final adducts.     

The direct and enantioselective organocatalytic alpha-oxidation of aldehydes

The first direct enantioselective catalytic alpha-oxidation of carbonyls has been accomplished. The use of enamine catalysis has provided a new organocatalytic strategy for the enantioselective oxyamination of aldehydes, to generate alpha-oxyaldehydes, important chiral synthons for natural product and medicinal agent synthesis. The use of l-proline as the asymmetric catalyst has been found to mediate the oxidation of a large variety of aldehyde substrates with nitrosobenzene serving as the electrophilic oxidant. A diverse spectrum of aldehyde substrates can also be accommodated in this new organocatalytic transformation. While catalyst quantities of 2 mol % were generally employed in this study, successful oxidations conducted using catalyst loadings as low as 0.5 mol % are described.     

A general organocatalytic enantioselective malonate addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated enones

A general enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate addition procedure of a variety of malonates to alpha,beta-unsaturated enone systems is presented. The reaction is efficiently catalysed by the pyrrolidinyl tetrazole catalyst 1. Cyclic, acyclic and aromatic enones can be used and the reaction with ethyl malonates 3 b provides the Michael addition products in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Since only 1.5 equivalents of malonate are used as a reagent, the reaction is readily scaled and practical to operate. Furthermore, the malonate addition products can be easily mono decarboxylated without loss in enantiomeric excess by enzymatic or sodium hydroxide mediated methods.     

One-pot approach to chiral chromenes via enantioselective organocatalytic domino oxa-Michael-aldol reaction

A highly enantioselective (S)-diphenylpyrrolinol triethylsilyl ether promoted tandem oxa-Michael-aldol reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with salicylaldehydes has been developed; the method affords one-pot access to chiral and synthetically useful chromenes in high yields and high enantioselectivities from readily available compounds.     

A concise organocatalytic and enantioselective synthesis of isotetronic acids

A concise enantioselective route to isotetronic acids using an organocatalyzed aldol reaction between alpha-oxocarboxylic acids and aldehydes has been developed, leading to the titled compounds in reasonable yields and good enantioselectivities.