Development of N,N-bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)squaramides as new strong Brønsted acids and their application to organic reactions

New strong Brønsted acids derived from a squaric acid scaffold bearing different perfluoroalkanesulfonyl groups have been developed and applied to several organic reactions. These squaramides are bench-stable and exhibit much higher reactivities in several organic reactions than squaric acid itself. N,N-Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)squaramide 2a was applied to the Mukaiyama aldol reaction and Mukaiyama Michael reaction. Mechanistic studies revealed that the Brønsted acid might be the predominant catalyst through direct protonation of carbonyl compound by the acid itself rather than the silylated Brønsted acid. The utility of this acid 2a was further extended to Hosomi-Sakurai allylation of aldehydes and a carbonyl-ene reaction. Furthermore, other squaramides 2b and c bearing longer perfluoroalkyl chains have been developed, which are also bench-stable and displayed similar reactivities with squaramide 2a in several organic reactions.     

Enantioselective Pictet-Spengler Reactions of Isatins for the Synthesis of Spiroindolones

The condensation cyclization between isatins and 5-methoxy tryptamine catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acids provides spirooxindole tetrahydro-β-carboline products in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivity (up to 98:2 er). A comparison of catalysts provides insight for the substrate scope and factors responsible for efficient catalytic activity and selectivity in the spirocyclization. Chiral phosphoric acids with different 3,3′-substitution on the binaphthyl system and opposite axial chirality afford the spiroindolone product with the same absolute configuration.     

Enantioselective addition of phenyl and alkyl acetylenes to imines catalyzed by chiral Cu(I) complexes

The stereoselective addition of phenyl acetylene and alkyl acetylenes to imines, catalyzed by chiral bis-imines-Cu(I) complexes was studied. A very simple experimental procedure allowed to obtain at room temperature optically active propargyl amines in very good yields and enantioselectivity up to 81%.     

Enantioselective nucleophilic addition to N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines by use of dynamically induced chirality

Enantioselective nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents to N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines in the presence of bis(oxazoline) afforded products with good enantioselectivity. Dynamically induced chirality on the sulfur by coordination of a chiral Lewis acid to a pyridyl nitrogen and one of the sulfonyl oxygens fixes the conformation of the complex and induces enantioselectivity. Since the 2-pyridylsulfonyl group can be easily removed after the addition reaction, it acts not only as a protecting group but also as an efficient stereocontroller.     

Effect of Brønsted acid co-catalyst in asymmetric conjugate addition of 3-aryloxindoles to maleimide under base-free phase-transfer conditions

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of 3-aryloxindoles to maleimide was accomplished under base-free phase-transfer conditions. The effect of Brønsted acid co-catalyst was examined, and we found that the use of a phenol derivative as co-catalyst was effective for obtaining the target conjugate adduct in good yield with high stereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric sp C-H functionalization via a chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed redox reaction for the synthesis of cyclic aminals

An organocatalytic asymmetric tandem 1,5-hydride transfer/ring closing reaction of o-aminobenzoketones with anilines to give cyclic aminals in fairly good diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Enantioselective concomitant creation of vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers via cyclization of alkynols triggered addition of azlactones

An asymmetric cyclization of alkynols triggered addition of azlactones catalyzed by a combined catalyst system consisting of a chiral gold phosphate and a phosphoric acid produces conformationally restricted amino acid precursors bearing vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers in high levels of stereoselectivity.     

Enantioselective Brønsted base catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition using novel amino-substituted tetraphenylene derivatives

This paper is concerned with the syntheses of 1,8,9,16-tetrahydroxytetraphenylene derivatives and their applications as Brønsted base organocatalysts for [4+2] cycloaddition between anthrone and maleimides. The structural modifications of the catalysts and their related catalytic properties are described and discussed in details.     

Highly diastereoselective radical addition to glyoxylate imines of chiral amines without additional heteroatoms

The diastereoselective addition of alkyl radicals to glyoxylate imines of α-alkylbenzylamines has been investigated and it was found that diastereoselectivity improved as the size of the alkyl group increased.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of simple ketones activated by Brønsted acids

Homogeneous Pd(OCOCF₃)₂/(R)-C₄-TunePhos has been successfully applied in the asymmetric hydrogenation of simple ketones activated by catalytic amount of Brønsted acid with up to 88% ee.     

Asymmetric metal-free synthesis of fluoroquinolones by organocatalytic hydrogenation

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation enabling the synthesis of both 6-fluoro-2-methyltetrahydroquinoline and 7,8-difluoro-3-methyl-benzoxazine has been developed. These key building blocks can for the first time be synthesized using the same methodology allowing fast and efficient, metal-free access to the antibiotic fluoroquinolones flumequine and levofloxacine.     

A convenient protocol for the synthesis of axially chiral Brønsted acids

Partially hydrogenated binaphthol monophosphoric acids were prepared via an improved four-step sequence. It is demonstrated that typical protection and deprotection of the phenolic groups are dispensable. The vinyl-substituted derivative has been polymerized to give a novel polymerized organocatalyst.     

An improved procedure for the diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines: use of catalytic dialkylzinc

The addition of triorganozincates to (R)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)benzaldimine has been performed with very good results by using a catalytic amount of Me₂Zn (0.15 equiv) to generate the organozincate. Yields and/or diastereoselectivities of the formed α-branched sulfinamides improve in comparison with the values obtained in the same reactions carried out with an excess of a previously formed triorganozincate. On the other hand, the transfer of the two alkyl groups of a dialkylzinc reagent to the imine has been achieved by using 0.5 equiv of dialkylzinc and 1.5 equiv of MeMgBr to generate the trialkylzincate. In both methods, good to excellent yields and diastereomeric ratios (up to 98:2) have been obtained.     

Metal/linked-BINOL complexes: Applications in direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions

Development of metal/linked-BINOL complexes and their applications in direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of hydroxyketones are reviewed. A Et₂Zn/linked-BINOL complex was effective for diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of β-amino alcohols. By choosing the proper protective groups on the imine nitrogen, either anti- or syn-β-amino alcohol was obtained in excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99.5% ee) using the same zinc catalysis. Y{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃/linked-BINOL complex was effective for various hydroxyketones, affording syn-β-amino alcohols with high enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). To broaden the nucleophile scope to carboxylic acid derivatives, N-acylpyrrole was utilized as an ester equivalent donor. In(O-iPr)₃/linked-BINOL complex was effective for generating an In-enolate from N-acylpyrrole in situ, giving Mannich adducts with high enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee).     

Asymmetric radical cyclization reactions of axially chiral N-allyl-o-iodoanilides to form enantioenriched N-acyl dihydroindoles

Radical cyclizations of enantiomerically enriched N-allyl-o-iodoanilides provide N-acyl-3-alkyl-2,3-dihydroindoles in good yields and with good to excellent levels of chirality transfer from the N-Ar axis to the new stereocenter. In competitive cyclizations of N-acryloyl-N-allyl-o-iodoanilides, the addition of an o-methyl group reverses the regioselectivity of the radical cyclization from the acryloyl group to the allyl group. Approximate rate constants for representative radical cyclizations have been measured to provide insight into the origin of these observations.     

Enantioselective radical cyclization of α,β-unsaturated sulfonyl compounds

Enantioselective intramolecular radical cyclization of benzimidazolyl iodoalkenyl and iodoalkadienyl sulfones using chiral Lewis acids gave products with good enantioselectivity. Newly formed chiral centers could be induced effectively by enantioselective coordination to one of the sulfonyl oxygens.     

Pictet-Spengler reactions catalyzed by Brønsted acid-surfactant-combined catalyst in water or aqueous media

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSA), Brønsted acid-surfactant-combined catalyst, efficiently catalyzes the Pictet-Spengler reactions of β-arylethyl carbamate derivatives with aldehydes in water. The present reaction is accelerated by the addition of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP).     

Enantioselective syntheses of candenatenins B and C using a chiral anthracene auxiliary

The asymmetric syntheses of two anticancer natural products, candenatenins B and C, are described, leading to a revision of the originally assigned stereochemistries. The syntheses follow a Diels-Alder/retro-Diels Alder strategy using a chiral anthracene auxiliary to access both targets with 90% ee. The inherent structural qualities of the auxiliary allow for both regio- and diastereoselective transformations.     

Enantioselective reactions of tert-butyl glycinate-benzophenone Schiff base catalyzed by chiral phase-transfer catalyst in aqueous media without any organic solvent

Chiral phase-transfer catalyzed enantioselective alkylations of tert-butyl glycinate-benzophenone Schiff base were investigated in aqueous media without any organic solvent. Reactions in aqueous media smoothly proceeded to give the desired product in higher yield than under standard liquid-liquid biphasic conditions. In aqueous media the formation of benzophenone, which was caused by in situ hydrolysis of Schiff base, was depressed.