Copper Hydride-Catalyzed Conjugate Reduction-Aldol Addition Domino Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylates with Ketones

Copper hydride‐catalyzed conjugate reduction‐intermolecular aldol addition domino reactions were realized using α,β‐unsaturated carboxylates as hydride acceptors and a silane as the reducing reagent. High diastereoselectivities were achieved with 4,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene as the ligand and tert‐butyl acrylate as the hydride acceptor.     

Co(Salox)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Esters

Co-Salox complexes are suitable catalysts for the reduction of prochiral α,β-unsaturated esters. These ligands can be prepared in a single step from available and inexpensive materials, thus representing an easily accessible alternative to previously reported Co-catalysts. NaBH₄ is employed as reducing agent in the presence of EtOH as proton source, leading to the stereoselective formation of chiral esters, amides, and nitriles in up to 99 % yield and 96.5 : 3.5 er. The concentration of the reductant counter cation (Na⁺) and the solvent polarity have been shown to correlate with reactivity and enantioselectivity, suggesting that a relatively complex mechanistic manifold is in place.     

Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric Kinetic Boron Conjugate Addition of γ-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated γ-Lactams

Chiral α,β-unsaturated γ-lactams bearing simple γ- substituents are found in biologically active molecules and natural products, however, their synthesis still remains difficult. Herein, we report an efficient kinetic resolution (KR) of γ-substituted α,β-unsaturated γ-lactams via a Cu-catalyzed asymmetric boron conjugate addition, which also leads to the efficient synthesis of chiral β-hydroxy-γ-lactams with β,γ-stereogenic carbon centers. The KR proceeded smoothly with a wide range of γ-alkyl or aryl substituted substrates including those bearing aromatic heterocycles and different N-protected substrates in up to 347 of s value. Their highly versatile transformations, synthetic utility in biologically active molecules, and inhibitory activities against cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer cell A2780 have also been demonstrated. Differing from the well-known mechanism involving Cu−B species in Cu-catalyzed boron conjugate additions, our mechanistic studies using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments indicate that a Lewis acid Cu^I-catalyzed mechanism is the likely pathway in the catalytic reaction.     

Rh(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α-Substituted Ethenylphosphonic Acids

A class of chiral Rh(I) catalysts containing monodentate phosphorous acid diesters tautomerized from the corresponding secondary phosphine oxides was discovered by serendipitous hydrolysis of phosphoramidite ligands. The evolved catalysts demonstrated unprecedented enantioselectivities (98-99% ee) and high catalytic activities (as low as 0.01 mol% catalyst loading) in asymmetric hydrogenations of a wide variety of α-aryl-/alkyl-substituted ethenylphosphonic acids, providing a facile approach to the corresponding enantiopure phosphonic acids with significant biological importance.     

SmI3-Catalyzed Addition of Amines to α,β-Unsaturated N-Acylbenzotriazoles

The addition of amines to α,β-unsaturated N-acylbenzotriazoles could be catalyzed by samarium triiodide (SmI₃) at ambient temperature. α,β-Unsaturated aliphatic N-acylbenzotriazoles afforded bis-addition products (β-amino amides), whereas N-cinnamoylbenzotriazoles gave acylated products (cinnamoylamides) exclusively.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Indolizines to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

A catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of indolizines to enones is described. The chiral phosphoric acid (S)-TRIP activates α,β-unsaturated ketones, thereby promoting an enantioface-differentiating attack by indolizines. Using this reaction, several alkylated indolizines were synthesized in good yields and with enantiomeric ratios of up to 98:2.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Thiols to α,β-Unsaturated Thioamides: Expeditious Access to Enantioenriched 1,5-Benzothiazepines

Softly does it: The title reaction proceeded under proton transfer conditions with a catalyst prepared from commercially available reagents to afford the desired product in high enantioselectivity. The reaction was compatible with a free amino group, thus allowing for expeditious access to enantiomerically enriched 1,5-benzothiazepines, which are important chemical entities in medicinal chemistry.     

Conjugate Addition Reactions of Functionalized Organozinc-copper Reagents to α,β-Unsaturated Esters

Theconjugateadditionoforganometal1icstoMichaelacceptorsisanimportantsyntheticmethodforcarbon-carbonbondformation'.FunctionalizedorganozincreagentsaremoreusefulinthatfleldbecausetheytolerateabroadrangeoffunctionalitiesandreactinthepresenceofCuCN'2LiClwithvariouselectrophilesinexcellentyields"'.Thus,apolyfunctionalizedorganicmoleculecanbeformedinonestep.However,CuCNhasbeentheonlycoppersaltsinceitwasfirstusedinl988,',andunsaturatedestersdonotreactwithfunctionalizedorganozincreagentsundergener…     

Nickel(0)-Catalyzed Enantioselective [3+2] Annulation of Cyclopropenones and α,β-Unsaturated Ketones/Imines

Ni⁰-catalyzed chemo- and enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones/imines is described. This reaction integrates C−C bond cleavage of cyclopropenones and enantioselective functionalization by carbonyl/imine group, offering a mild approach to γ-alkenyl butenolides and lactams in excellent enantioselectivity (88–98 % ee) through intermolecular C−C activation.     

Conjugate Addition of Alkyllithium Reagents to α,β-Unsaturated N,N',N'-Trimethylhydrazides

The site of nucleophilic attack by an alkyllithium reagent upon an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is governed by, among other factors, the nature of the group attached to the carbonyl.¹ Thus the amount of carbonyl addition decreases in favor of conjugate addition for the α,β-unsaturated series: aldehyde, ketone, ester, amide. We wish to report that α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid trimethylhydrazides, which have an exceptionally unreactive carbonyl group², undergo exclusive conjugate addition with simple alkyllithium reagents.³ Furthermore, the derived hydrazide lithium enolates can be transformed in convenient and useful ways.     

Bifunctional Iminophosphorane-Catalyzed Enantioselective Nitroalkane Addition to Unactivated α,β-Unsaturated Esters**

Herein we describe the enantioselective intermolecular conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to unactivated α,β-unsaturated esters, catalyzed by a bifunctional iminophosphorane (BIMP) superbase. The transformation provides the most direct access to pharmaceutically relevant enantioenriched γ-nitroesters, utilizing feedstock chemicals, with unprecedented selectivity. The methodology exhibits a broad substrate scope, including β-(fluoro)alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl substituted electrophiles, and was successfully applied on a gram scale with reduced catalyst loading, and, additionally, catalyst recovery was carried out. The formal synthesis of a range of drug molecules, and an enantioselective synthesis of (S)-rolipram were achieved. Additionally, computational studies revealed key reaction intermediates and transition state structures, and provided rationale for high enantioselectivities, in good agreement with experimental results.     

Nickel (Ⅱ) Complex Catalyzed Conjugate Addition Reaction of Functionalized Organozinc Reagents to α,β-Unsaturated Esters

Functionalizedorganozinchandes(FG-ZnX)haveprovedtobeveryusefulinorganicsynthesisinrecentyears'.Theycanalsobesuccessfullyusedinconjugateadditionreactionswithcarbonylcompounds'.However,stoichiometriccoppersaltCuCN'ZLiCImustbeusedinmostcasesl'2andunsatu...     

The Copper Mediated Barbier Reactions of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones: Regioselective Conjugate and 1,2-Addition

The one-pot reaction of isophorone and other α, β,-unsaturated ketones with alkyl and aryl halides in the presence of magnesium and a copper salt (“Barbier” conditions) leads to the regiospecific formation of 1,4-addition products; the use of lithium leads to regioselective 1,2-addition.     

Photocatalytic Enantioselective Hydrosulfonylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls with Sulfonyl Chlorides

This research explores the enantioselective hydrosulfonylation of various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds via the use of visible light and redox-active chiral Ni-catalysis, facilitating the synthesis of enantioenriched α-chiral sulfones with remarkable enantioselectivity (exceeding 99 % ee). A significant challenge entails enhancing the reactivity between chiral metal-coordinated carbonyl compounds and moderate electrophilic sulfonyl radicals, aiming to minimize the background reactions. The success of our approach stems from two distinctive attributes: 1) the Cl-atom abstraction employed for sulfonyl radical generation from sulfonyl chlorides, and 2) the single-electron reduction to produce a key enolate radical Ni-complex. The latter process appears to enhance the feasibility of the sulfonyl radical's addition to the electron-rich enolate radical. An in-depth investigation into the reaction mechanism, supported by both experimental observations and theoretical analysis, offers insight into the intricate reaction process. Moreover, the versatility of our methodology is highlighted through its successful application in the late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules, demonstrating its practicality as a strategy for producing α-chiral sulfones.     

Gold(I)-Catalyzed and PTSA-Promoted Cycloisomerization of Ynamides to Access Pyrrole Substituted α,β-Unsaturated Ketones**

Substituted pyrroles are prevalent aromatic ring systems encountered in numerous natural products and bioactive molecules. Herein, a novel ynamide scaffold has been designed, synthesized and subsequently applied to an unprecedented gold-catalyzed and para-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA)-assisted cascade cycloisomerization reaction for the synthesis of β-pyrrole substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones. Notably, the reaction is stereoselective, offering E-isomer as major product with low to moderate yield.     

Electrophilic and Nucleophilic Addition Reactions of α,β-Unsaturated Diphenylphosphoryl Compounds

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - Procedures were developed for the synthesis of diphenyl(prop-1-en-1-yl)phosphine oxide and cyclohex-1-en-1-yl(diphenyl)phosphine oxide by alkaline hydrolysis...     

Copper(II) Bromide–Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Indoles to α,β‐Enones

Copper(II) bromide was found to be an efficient catalyst for the conjugate addition of indoles to α,β‐enones in acetonitrile at room temperature.     

Highly Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Esters

α,β-Unsaturated esters have been employed as substrates in iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. Full conversions and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99?%?ee) were obtained for a broad range of substrates with both aromatic- and aliphatic substituents on the prochiral carbon. The hydrogenated products are highly useful as building blocks in the synthesis of a variety of natural products and pharmaceuticals.     

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Nucleophilic Borylation of Aliphatic Ketones: Synthesis of Enantioenriched Chiral Tertiary α-Hydroxyboronates

A new method was developed for the first catalytic enantioselective borylation of aliphatic ketones. A variety of substrates reacted efficiently with bis(pinacolato)diboron in the presence of a copper(I)/chiral N-heterocyclic carbene complex catalyst to furnish optically active tertiary α-hydroxyboronates with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 94 % ee). Notably, the product could be converted into the chiral tertiary alcohol derivative using a stereospecific boron functionalization process. The theoretical study of the mechanism for the enantioselectivity is also described.