A Multicomponent Reaction Towards N‐(Cyanomethyl)amides

Diversity‐oriented synthesis : The multicomponent reaction of α‐isocyano amides, aldehydes or ketones, and amines affords N‐(cyanomethyl)amides, presenting the fourth class of products from this combination of reagents (see scheme). The scope of the reaction is very broad and various functional groups are tolerated. The outcome of the reaction can also be directed to the formation of 2H‐2‐imidazolines by Ag^I catalysis.

     

Highly Efficient Enantioselective Construction of Bispirooxindoles Containing Three Stereocenters through an Organocatalytic Cascade Michael–Cyclization Reaction

Bispirooxindole derivatives containing three stereocenters, including two spiro quaternary centers, were synthesized in a high‐yielding, atypically rapid, and stereocontrolled cascade Michael–cyclization reaction between methyleneindolinones and isothiocyanato oxindoles catalyzed by a bi‐ or multifunctional organocatalyst. Mild conditions were used to construct bispirooxindoles with excellent enantio‐ and diastereomeric purities within less than 1 min. Catalyst reconfiguration offered access to the opposite enantiomer. This exceptionally highly efficient procedure will allow diversity‐oriented syntheses of this intriguing class of compounds with potential biological activities.     

A Three‐Component Enantioselective Cyclization Reaction Catalyzed by an Unnatural Amino Acid Derivative

A new diastereo‐ and enantioselective three‐component cyclization reaction is described. The reaction takes place between a ketone, a carboxylic acid, and a nitroalkene to yield a bicyclic octahydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐one scaffold possessing three chiral centers. This reaction involves a rearrangement of the nitro group under simple thermal conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for this new reaction based on DFT calculations and isotope‐labeling experiments. A new concise enantioselective synthesis of the alkaloid (+)‐pancracine is presented as an example of the potential of this novel organocatalytic cyclization reaction in the synthesis of natural products.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic One‐Pot Amination/aza‐Michael/Aldol Condensation Reaction Sequence: Synthesis of 3‐Pyrrolines with a Quaternary Stereocenter

Primary amine‐catalyzed direct conversion of α,α‐disubstituted aldehydes into 3‐pyrrolines with a quaternary stereocenter is reported. The one‐pot enantioselective sequence is based on a α‐amination, an aza‐Michael addition of hydrazine, an aldol condensation dehydratation and proceeds with good yields and excellent levels of enantioselectivity. Synthetically attractive applications including the formation of aziridinopyrrolidine or epoxypyrrolidine derivatives with good yields and selectivities are also described.     

Stereoselective Organocatalytic Synthesis of Oxindoles with Adjacent Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters

Oxindoles with adjacent tetrasubstituted stereocenters were obtained in high yields and stereoselectivities by organocatalyzed conjugate addition reactions of monothiomalonates (MTMs) to isatin‐derived N‐Cbz ketimines. The method requires only a low catalyst loading (2 mol %) and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. Both enantiomers are accessible in good yields and excellent stereoselectivities by using either Takemoto’s catalyst or a cinchona alkaloid derivative. The synthetic methodology allowed establishment of a straightforward route to derivatives of the gastrin/cholecystokinin‐B receptor antagonist AG‐041R.     

Applications of Multicomponent Reactions to the Synthesis of Diverse Heterocyclic Scaffolds

The sequencing of multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and subsequent cyclization reactions is a powerful stratagem for the rapid synthesis of diverse heterocyclic scaffolds. The optimal MCR is sufficiently flexible that it can be employed to generate adducts bearing a variety of functional groups that may then be selectively paired to enable different cyclization manifolds, thereby leading to a diverse collection of products. The growing interest in diversity‐oriented synthesis has led to increased attention to this paradigm for library synthesis, which has inspired many advances in the design and implementation of MCRs for the construction of diverse heterocyclic scaffolds.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric 1,6‐Addition/1,4‐Addition Sequence to 2,4‐Dienals for the Synthesis of Chiral Chromans

A novel asymmetric organocatalytic 1,6‐addition/1,4‐addition sequence to 2,4‐dienals is described. Based on a 1,6‐Friedel–Crafts/1,4‐oxa‐Michael cascade, the organocatalyst directs the reaction of hydroxyarenes with a vinylogous iminium‐ion intermediate to give only one out of four possible regioisomers, thus providing optically active chromans in high yields and 94–99 % ee. Furthermore, several transformations are presented, including the formation of an optically active macrocyclic lactam. Finally, the mechanism for the novel reaction is discussed based on computational studies.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Construction of a Bispirooxindole Scaffold Containing a Tetrahydro‐β‐carboline Moiety through an Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cascade Reaction

The first catalytic asymmetric construction of a new class of bispirooxindole scaffold‐containing tetrahydro‐β‐carboline moiety has been established through chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed three‐component cascade Michael/Pictet–Spengler reactions of isatin‐derived 3‐indolylmethanols, isatins, and amino‐ester, which afforded structurally complex and diverse bispirooxindoles with one quaternary and one tetrasubstituted stereogenic centers in excellent stereoselectivities (all >95:5 diastereomeric ratio (d.r.), up to 98:2 enantiomeric ratio (e.r.)). This intriguing class of chiral bispirooxindoles integrated the two important structures of tetrahydro‐β‐carboline and bispirooxindole, both of them possessing significant bioactivities. This approach also combined the merits of asymmetric organocatalysis and multicomponent tandem reaction, which provided a unique strategy for the preparation of structurally rigid bispiro‐architectures with concomitant creation of multiple quaternary stereogenic centers.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Fully Substituted Cyclopentane‐Oxindoles through an Organocatalytic Triple Michael Domino Reaction

An efficient, highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of fully functionalized cyclopentanes bearing an oxindole moiety and several other functional groups in one pot has been developed. Key step is an organocatalytic triple Michael domino reaction forming three C?C bonds and six stereocenters, including a quaternary one. Starting from equimolar amounts of simple substrates, a high molecular complexity can be reached after a Wittig olefination in one pot. The new protocol can easily be scaled up to gram amounts.