Highly enantioselective Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins catalyzed by (S)-pyrrolidine arenesulfonamide

A new type of catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reaction has been designed and synthesized. This catalyst, (S)-pyrrolidine arenesulfonamide 1, resulted in high yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio up to 99/1), and excellent enantioselectivities (ee up to 99%) for various cyclic ketones and nitroolefins.     

Enantioselective anti-Mannich reaction catalyzed by modularly designed organocatalysts

A highly stereoselective method for achieving the anti-Mannich reaction of aldehydes and ketones with ethyl (4-methoxyphenylimino)acetate was realized using the modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs) self-assembled from cinchona alkaloid derivatives and (R)-pyrrolidien-3-carboxylic acid in the reaction media. The desired anti-Mannich products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr), and good to high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

A chiral primary-tertiary-1,2-diamine as an efficient catalyst in asymmetric aldehyde–ketone or ketone–ketone aldol reactions

A novel chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivative, (1R,2R)-N¹-n-pentyl, N¹-benzyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, was designed, synthesized and applied as a catalyst in a number of aldol reactions between ketones and aryl aldehydes. Reactions between acetone and aryl aldehydes gave aldol products with moderate to good yields and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to yield 85%, ee 98%), while reactions between cyclohexanone and aryl aldehydes provided anti-β-hydroxyketone products with excellent yields, diastereoselectivity and with enantioselectivity (up to 82% yield, anti/syn ratio 99:1, ee 99%). The aldol reactions between acetone and isatins were investigated, which afforded excellent yields and enantioselectivity (up to 95% yield, 98% ee). The (R)- and (S)-isomers of convolutamydine A were obtained with 95% yield and 96% ee, and 95% yield and 94% ee, respectively.     

Enantioselective hydrosilylation of ketimines with trichlorosilane promoted by chiral N-picolinoylaminoalcohols

Enantioselective hydrosilylation of N-aryl and N-benzyl ketimines with trichlorosilane catalyzed by readily accessible chiral N-picolinoylaminoalcohols proceeded smoothly furnishing chiral secondary amines in good yields (up to 93%) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).     

L-tert-Leucine derived urea-ammonium salts: Efficient bifunctional phase transfer catalysts for highly diastereo- and enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of isatin-derived N-Boc ketimines with α-aryl nitromethanes

An efficient way of aza-Henry reaction between isatin-derived N-Boc ketimines and α-aryl nitromethanes catalyzed by bifunctional phase transfer catalysts with a quaternary ammonium center derived from L-tert-Leucine has been developed. A series of 3-substituted 3-amino-oxindoles were constructed by this catalytic protocol in excellent yields (90–99%), with high enantioselectivities (83–95%) and diastereoselectivities (79:21–97:3). The asymmetric aza-Henry reaction of N-Boc amidosulfones and α-aryl nitromethanes were also investigated and gave the corresponding products in high to excellent yields (72–97%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1).     

Enantio- and diastereoselective Michael addition reactions of α-cyanoketones to nitroalkenes catalyzed by binaphthyl-derived organocatalyst

The catalytic enantioselective and diastereoselective Michael addition reactions promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts are described. The treatment of α-cyanoketones with nitroalkenes under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding γ-niro α-cyanoketones with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to syn/anti >99/1) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Chiral iminophosphoranes organocatalyzed asymmetric hydroxylation of 3-substituted oxindoles with oxaziridines

Enantioselective hydroxylation of N-protected 3-substituted oxindoles has been developed via chiral iminophosphorane catalysis with oxaziridines as oxidants. As such, a variety of optically active 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles were obtained in excellent yields (91–99%) and moderate to excellent level of enantiomeric excess (up to 94% ee).     

Malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands with sp hybridized bridge carbon: synthesis and application in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and allylic alkylation

A series of simple and new C₂-symmetric diphenylmethylidene malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands were synthesized and applied to the Friedel-Crafts reaction and allylic alkylation. The Cu(II) complex of ligand 4b bearing the benzyl group afforded good to excellent enantioselectivity for the F-C adducts (up to >99% ee) between indole and alkylidene malonate, and the palladium complex of ligand 4c bearing the phenyl group afforded excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) for the allylic alkylation product.     

Ferrocenophane-based bifunctional organocatalyst for highly enantioselective Michael reactions

Highly enantioselective Michael reactions between acetylacetone and trans-β-nitroolefins are achieved by a novel ferrocenophane-based tertiary amine-thiourea organocatalyst to provide the corresponding products in good to excellent yields (up to 95%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

4-Trifluoromethanesulfonamidyl prolinol tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether as a highly efficient bifunctional organocatalyst for Michael addition of ketones and aldehydes to nitroolefins

4-Trifluoromethanesulfonamidyl prolinol tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether bifunctional organocatalyst 3a is a highly efficient catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones and aldehydes to nitrostyrenes, leading to syn-selective adducts with excellent yields (>99%), high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Control experiments suggested that the trans-configuration relationship between the bulky group (-CH₂OTBDPS) and the sulfonamido group at the 4-position of the pyrrolidine ring was important to achieve high yield and stereoselectivity.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with enals: Efficient approach to functionalized spiro N-heterocyclic oxindoles

An unprecedented chiral secondary amine-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed. This strategy allowed the construction of structurally novel spiro N-heterocyclic oxindole derivatives in good yields (up to 91%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee), albeit with modest diastereoselectivities (up to 3.1:1 dr).     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-aryl-β-trifluoromethyl-β-aminoarones via Mannich-type reactions of ketone enolates with chiral aryl CF3-substituted N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines

A method for the preparation of chiral β-aryl-β-trifluoromethyl-β-aminoarones has been developed involving the Mannich-type reactions of ketone-derivative enolates with chiral aryl CF₃-substituted N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines. This method tolerates a wide of aromatic ketones, giving the products in moderate to excellent yields (up to 91%) with good diastereoselectiveties (up to 93:7 dr). Acidic cleavage of the tert-butanesulfinyl group gave optically pure β-aryl-β-trifluoromethyl-β-aminoarones in excellent yields (up to 98%), which can be further transformed into CF₃-substituted aziridine derivatives.     

Aromatic l-prolinamide-catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes

Two chiral aromatic l-prolinamides were synthesized in high overall yield (95%) from N-Boc-l-proline and served as organocatalysts in asymmetric Michael reactions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes. Under the optimized reaction conditions, (S)-N-tritylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide 4 was found to be a highly efficient organocatalyst for the Michael addition, and the corresponding Michael adducts were obtained in good yields (up to 94%), with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr).     

Chiral primary amine thiourea promoted highly enantioselective Michael reactions of isobutylaldehyde with maleimides

Chiral primary amine thiourea catalysts were first successfully applied to promote Michael addition of isobutyraldehyde to maleimides. A variety of N-aryl and N-aliphatic maleimides provided Michael adducts in excellent yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) with 5 mol % catalyst.     

Highly stereoselective direct aldol reactions catalyzed by (S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide

(S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide was employed as organocatalyst in the direct aldol reactions of different ketones and aromatic aldehydes using dioxane as solvent and in the presence of water as additive. Acetone led to the aldol products in up to 93% ee, while cyclic ketones furnished the anti-aldols in moderate to high yield, excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99/<1 anti/syn ratio) and high ee (up to 95%).     

Enantioselective synthesis of indolo[2,3-b]-dihydrothiopyranones via [3+3] cycloaddition of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts

A nucleophile-catalyzed Michael addition/proton transfer/lactonization (NCMPL) organocascade process of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts and indoline-2-thiones is described, which delivers the indolo[2,3-b]dihydrothiopyranone motifs in high yields (up to 97%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones using HETPHOX ligands

The HETPHOX ligand class was applied to the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of a range of substituted acetophenones. Enantioselective hydrosilylation of acetophenone with the tert-butyl substituted HETPHOX ligand gave (R)-phenylethanol in excellent enantioselectivity (84% ee) and in good conversion (80%). When applied to the hydrosilylation of other ketones conversions up to 93% and enantioselectivities up to 88% were observed.     

Highly enantioselective construction of CF3-bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters: Chiral spiro-fused bisoxazoline ligands with 1,1'-binaphthyl sidearm for asymmetric Michael-type Friedel-Crafts reaction

A novel class of chiral spiro-fused bisoxazoline ligands possessing a deep chiral pocket was prepared.The developed ligands have been employed in the nickel-catalyzed highly enantioselective Michael-type Friedel-Crafts reaction, affording the products bearing a trifluoromethylated all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with moderate to excellent yields（up to 99%） and good to excellent enantioselectivies（up to> 99.9% ee）. Moreover, a proposed model of chiral pocket revealed that the attack of indo...     

Biocatalytic deracemization of alkyl-2-hydroxy-4-arylbut-3-ynoates using whole cells of Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330

Racemic alkyl-2-hydroxy-4-arylbut-3-ynoates were deracemized to the (S)-alkyl-2-hydroxy-4-arylbut-3-ynoates in excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to >99%) and good isolated yields (up to 81%) with the biocatalyst Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330. The absolute configuration of the resulting enantiomer was assigned by ¹H NMR using Mosher’s method.     

A novel asymmetric organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction for the construction of spirocyclic benzofuranones

Organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction of 3-(1-hydroxyethylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and enones catalyzed by Cinchona-based primary amine has been developed. The desired chiral spirocyclic benzofuranones were obtained in excellent stereoselectivities (dr>20:1 and up to 96% ee) and moderate to excellent yields (up to 98%).