Highly Enantioselective Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Heyns Rearrangement

Herein we report the first method for highly enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed Heyns rearrangements. These reactions, catalyzed by a chiral spiro phosphoric acid, afforded synthetically valuable chiral α-aryl-α-aminoketones which cannot be obtained by means of previously reported Heyns rearrangement methods. This method features low catalyst loadings, high yields and high enantioselectivities, making these reactions highly practical. We used the method to efficiently synthesize various chiral amines, including some biologically active molecules. We experimentally proved that these acid-catalyzed Heyns rearrangements proceeded via a proton-transfer process involving an enol intermediate and the stereocontrol was realized during the proton-transfer step.     

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of cis-Tetrahydrocannabinoids**

We report herein the catalytic asymmetric cyclization of 1-aryl terpenols to afford enantiomerically highly enriched Δ⁹-cis-tetrahydrocannabinoid scaffolds in a single step. As powerful chiral catalysts strongly acidic imidodiphosphorimidates (IDPis) have been identified which furnish the products with good yields and excellent enantioselectivity. Upon MOM-deprotection some naturally occurring cannabimimetica such as (−)-cis-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol and (−)-perrottetinene as well as some unnatural analogues were made accessible along a merely 3-step biomimetic sequence (MOM=methoxymethyl).     

Selective Phosphorylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

Elaboration of effective methods of selective phosphorylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds containing simultaneously C[dbnd]C and C[dbnd]O bonds, which may compete with each other or react consistently one after another, is one of the most complex problems in the modern organophosphorus synthesis. On the basis of our previous systematic investigations of kinetics and mechanism of the Pudovik and Abramov reactions in the series of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds we have suggested three possible ways to solve this problem: a) soft reaction conditions, regulated by solvent, catalyst and temperature; b) interface catalysis; c) metallocomlex catalysis (reaction in the coordination sphere of transition metal).     

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-Type Coupling and Dedinitrogenation Reactions of Vinyldiazo Compounds

The direct Friedel–Crafts-type coupling and dedinitrogenation reactions of vinyldiazo compounds with aromatic compounds using a metal-free strategy are described. This Brønsted acid catalyzed method is efficient for the formation of α-diazo β-carbocations (vinyldiazonium ions), vinyl carbocations, and allylic or homoallylic carbocation species via vinyldiazo compounds. By choosing suitable nucleophilic reagents to selectively capture these intermediates, both trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters, β-indole-substituted diazo esters, and dienes are obtained with good to high yields and selectivity. Experimental insights implicate a reaction mechanism involving the selective protonation of vinyldiazo compounds and the subsequent release of dinitrogen to form vinyl cations that undergo intramolecular 1,3- and 1,4- hydride transfer processes as well as fragmentation.     

A Supramolecular Model for the Co-Catalytic Role of Nitro Compounds in Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Reactions

Nitro compounds are known to change reaction rates and kinetic concentration dependence of Brønsted-acid-catalyzed reactions. Yet, no mechanistic model exists to account for these observations. In this work, an atomistic model for the catalytically active form for an alcohol dehydroazidation reaction is presented, which is generated by DFT calculations and consists of an H-bonded aggregate of two molecules of Brønsted acid and two molecules of nitro compound. The computed O−H stretching frequencies for the aggregate indicate they are stronger acids than the individual acid molecules and serve as predictors for experimental reaction rates. By applying the model to a chemically diverse set of potential promoters, it was predicted and verified experimentally that sulfate esters induce a similar co-catalytic effect. The important implication is that Brønsted-acid catalysis must be viewed from a supramolecular perspective that accounts for not only the pK_a of the acid and the bulk properties of a solvent, but also the weak interactions between all molecules in solution.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Tropanes: Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Pseudotransannular Desymmetrization

The enantioselective synthesis of tropanols has been accomplished through chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed pseudotransannular ring opening of 1-aminocyclohept-4-ene-derived epoxides. The reaction proceeds together with the desymmetrization of the starting material and leads to the direct formation of the 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold with excellent stereoselectivity. The synthetic applicability of the reaction was demonstrated by the enantioselective synthesis of the two natural products (−)-α-tropanol and (+)-ferruginine.     

Brønsted Acid–Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Reaction of Indoles to α-Ketimino Esters

Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles to aromatic α-ketimino esters was found to be catalyzed by camphorsulfonic acid with good yields (up to 98%) under ambient temperature. This process provides an efficient method for the synthesis of unnatural amino acid derivatives that bear quaternary carbon centers.     

Brønsted Base-Catalyzed Enantioselective α-Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds Involving π-Extended Enolates

Chiral Brønsted base (BB) catalyzed asymmetric transformations constitute an important tool for synthesis. A meaningful fraction of these transformations proceeds through transiently generated enolate intermediates, which display quite versatile reactivity against a variety of electrophiles. Some years ago, our group became interested in developing BB-catalyzed asymmetric reactions of enolizable carbonyl substrates that involve π-extended enolates in which, besides control of reaction diastereo and enantioselectivity, the site-selectivity control is an additional issue in most cases. In the examples covered in this account the opportunities deployed, and the challenges posed, by these methods are illustrated, with a focus on the generation of quaternary carbon stereocenters. In the way, new bifunctional BB catalysts as well as achiral templates were developed that may find further applications.     

Reaction of Trialkyl Phosphites with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

Reaction of trialkyl phosphites 1 with α,β-unsaturated oxo-compounds 2 gives oxaphospholenes 3 or/and two types of Arbuzov products, γ-keto-phosphonates 4 and alkyl-enol-ethers 5.     

Natural α-Amino Acid L-Lysine–Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensations of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Knoevenagel condensations of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were catalyzed by primary natural amino acid L-lysine. The reactions were carried out at room temperature in dimethylsulfoxide. It provides a facile entry to a wide variety of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated dicarbonyl compounds.

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An Improved Procedure for the Conversion of Carbonyl Compounds to α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

The two carbon homologation of aldehydes and ketones to give α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids is often carried out via the corresponding ester using metallated phosphonate reagents² (1) (Equation I). When alkyl esters (la) are employed problems are sometimes encountered in the hydrolysis step due to acid or base sensitivity but these problems can be overcome using the silyl ester (lb)³.     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Monofluorocyclohexenes through Photocatalyzed Cascade Cyclization of gem-Difluoroalkenes and α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Monofluoroalkenes are nonhydrolyzable mimetics of amides. Previous work focused on the synthesis of non-cyclic monofluoroalkenes. However, diastereoselective synthesis of monofluorocyclohexenes from non-cyclic substrates is challenging. Herein, we report the first photocatalyzed cascade cyclization reactions of readily available α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and gem-difluoroalkenes for the synthesis of highly functionalized monofluorocyclohexenes. The reaction shows broad substrate scope with high diastereoselectivity (>30 examples, up to 86 % yield, >20 : 1 dr). The post-reaction transformations of the products demonstrate the synthetic potential of this methodology.     

The Reaction of N-Phenyliminoketenylidenetriphenyl-phosphorane with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds. Synthesis of New Pyran Derivatives

Abstract

The reaction of N-phenyliminoketenylidenetriphenylphosphorane [a] (1), with 2-benzylidene-1, 3-indandione (2), 1,2-diphenyl-3,4-pyrazolidenedione (3)and/or 5-benzylidene barbituric acid (4) has been investigated. When ylide 1 was allowed to react with compounds 2, 3 or 4 in THF at ambient temp. the corresponding new pyrano-phosphoranylidenes 5, 6 or 7 were obtained. The elemental microanalyses, IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and MS data agree with the structure of the cyclic iminophosphoranes by [4+2]-cycloaddition and exclude 4-membered ring structure by [2+2]-cycloaddition. When the Wittig reaction was carried on the pyrano-phosphoranes 5, 6 or 7 using p-nitrobenzaldehyde, the exocyclic olefins together with triphenylphosphine oxide were isolated.     

Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Nitriles by Reaction of Haloacetonitrile with Carbonyl Compounds Mediated by Tri-n-butylstibine

α,β-Unsaturated nitriles were synthesized by the reaction of haloacetonitriles with carbonyl compounds mediated by tri-n-butylstibine in excellent yields.     

Efficient Synthesis of bis- and tris-Indolylalkanes Catalyzed by a Brønsted Acid–Surfactant Catalyst in Water

A simple and efficient synthesis of bis- and tris-indolylalkanes from carbonyls (aldehydes/ketones) and indoles with excellent yields in the presence of dodecylsulphonic acid (DSA) in water at room temperature is described. The catalyst is also applicable for the synthesis of 3,3-di(3-indolyl)oxindoles. The dodecylsulphonic acid acts as both Brønsted acid and surface-active agent in the reaction mixture.     

Experimental and Computational Investigations of the Reactions between α,β-Unsaturated Lactones and 1,3-Dienes by Cooperative Lewis Acid/Brønsted Acid Catalysis

The reactions of α,β-unsaturated δ-lactones with activated dienes such as 1,3-dimethoxy-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-1,3-butadiene (Brassard's diene) are barely known in literature and show high potential for the synthesis of isocoumarin moieties. An in-depth investigation of this reaction proved a stepwise mechanism via the vinylogous Michael-products. Subsequent cyclisation and oxidation by LHMDS and DDQ, respectively, provided six mellein derivatives (30–84 %) and four angelicoin derivatives (40–78 %) over three steps. DFT-calculations provide insights into the reaction mechanism and support the theory of a stepwise reaction.     

Convenient One-Pot Synthesis of β-Alkylthio Acid Derivatives from Thioacetates and the Corresponding α,β-Unsaturated Compounds

Various β-alkylthio acid derivatives were prepared conveniently from thioacetates and α,β-unsaturated compounds through borohydride exchange resin (BER)-Pd catalyzed transesterification of thioacetates to the corresponding thiols and Michael addition of the resulting thiols to α,β-unsaturated compounds.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Two New Trihydroxylated Pyrrolidines Using a Meyer–Schuster Rearrangement

The synthesis of two new trihydroxylated pyrrolidines, in a highly diastereoselective manner, has been developed using the Meyer–Schuster rearrangement as a key step.

Mild Regioselective Catalytic Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with Lindlar Catalyst

The hydrogen-Lindlar catalyst system is effective for the highly regioselective reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding α,β-saturated compounds.