Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylations of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes

An enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation with alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles and electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes has been accomplished. These alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles are effective electrophiles for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. The resulting adduct 2-acyl imidazole is easily converted to amides, esters, carboxylic acids, ketones, and aldehydes by methylation and subsequent displacement of the imidazole residue.     

Catalytic conjugate additions of carbonyl anions under neutral aqueous conditions

The conjugate addition of carbonyl anions catalyzed by thiazolium salts that is fully operative under neutral aqueous conditions has been accomplished. The combination of alpha-keto carboxylates and thiazolium-derived zwitterions produces reactive carbonyl anions in a buffered protic environment that readily undergo conjugate additions to substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The scope of the reaction has been examined and found to accommodate various alpha-keto carboxylates and beta-aryl substituted unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The optimal precatalyst for this process is the commercially available thiazolium salt 5, a simple analogue of thiamin diphosphate. In this process, no benzoin products from carbonyl anion dimerization are observed. The corresponding 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds can be efficiently converted into esters and amides by way of activation of the N-methylimidazole ring via alkylation.     

Enantioselective nitrone cycloadditions of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-cerium(IV) triflate complexes

[Structure: see text] Enantioselective nitrone cycloadditions with beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-cerium(IV) triflate complexes 1 have been reported. The isoxazolidine products were efficiently transformed into densely functionalized beta'-hydroxy-beta-amino acid derivatives.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylations catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes

The enantioselective Friedel-Crafts addition of a variety of indoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes (Sc(III)-pybox) was accomplished utilizing a series of beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated phosphonates and alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The acyl phosphonate products were efficiently transformed into esters and amides, whereas the acyl imidazole adducts were converted to a broader spectrum of functionalities such as esters, amides, carboxylic acids, ketones, and aldehydes. The sense of stereoinduction and level of enantioselectivity were found to be functions of the size of the substrate employed, the substitution on the ligand, and the catalyst loading. Molecular modeling of the catalyst with the bound substrates was performed based on the crystal structures of the catalyst complexes and the sense of stereoinduction observed in the addition reaction. Nonlinear effects over a range of catalyst concentrations implicate a mononuclear complex as the active catalyst.     

Regioselective preparation of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles: a concise total synthesis of ningalin B

Methylisocyanoacetate undergoes a 2 + 3 cycloaddition with alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles to provide a regioselective synthesis of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles. The ease of preparation of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles allows the rapid synthesis of pyrroles with varied substituents. Using this method, a key intermediate (1) for the synthesis of the marine natural products lukianol A, lamellarin O, and lamellarin Q was prepared in two steps. A total synthesis of ningalin B (11) was also accomplished utilizing this methodology.     

Asymmetric allylboration of alpha,beta-enals as a surrogate for the enantioselective synthesis of allylic amines and alpha-amino acids

[reaction: see text] Optically pure allylic amines have been synthesized from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes via allylboration with (-)-B-allyldiisopinocampheylborane, followed by Overman rearrangement. By incorporating crotyl and alkoxyallylboration, functionalization at delta-position was readily accomplished. By applying this methodology, the synthesis of several chiral alpha-amino acids has been achieved.     

Alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles as a practical class of dienophiles for the DNA-based catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction in water

Alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles are a novel and practical class of dienophiles for the DNA-based catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction in water. The Diels-Alder products are obtained with very high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities in the range of 83-98%. The catalytic reaction was performed on a 1.0 mmol scale, and the imidazole auxiliary was removed readily.     

Diphenylprolinol silyl ether as catalyst of an asymmetric, catalytic, and direct Michael reaction of nitroalkanes with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes

A catalytic enantioselective direct conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes using diphenylprolinol silyl ether as an organocatalyst has been developed. Using this methodology as a key step, short syntheses of therapeutically useful compounds have also been accomplished.     

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-arisugacin A, a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase

The first convergent total synthesis of (+/-)-arisugacin A was accomplished by stereoselective construction of the arisugacin skeleton via a Knoevenagel-type reaction of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde with a 4-hydroxy 2-pyrone and stereoselective dihydroxylation followed by deoxygenation.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic indole alkylations. Design of a new and highly effective chiral amine for iminium catalysis

The indole framework has become widely identified as a "privileged" structure with representation in over 3000 natural isolates and 40 medicinal agents of diverse therapeutic action. A new strategy for asymmetric access to this important pharmacaphore has been accomplished that involves the amine catalyzed alkylation of indoles with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Central to these studies has been the design of a new chiral amine catalyst that exhibits improved reactivity and selectivity for iminium catalysis. This new (2S,5S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-imidazolidinone catalyst has enabled the conjugate addition of a variety of indole systems to a diverse range of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes in high yield and with excellent levels of enantiocontrol (70-97% yield, 84-97% ee). A demonstration of the utility of this new organocatalytic alkylation for the rapid construction of biomedically relevant molecules is presented in the enantioselective synthesis of an indolobutyric acid COX-2 inhibitor.     

Rhodium-catalyzed approach to Mannich-type products using aldimine,alpha,beta-unsaturated ester,and hydrosilane

A rhodium-catalyzed method for the synthesis of beta-amino esters was accomplished in a one-pot procedure from aldimine, alpha,beta-unsaturated ester and hydrosilane.     

Gold-catalyzed addition of carbon nucleophiles to propargyl carboxylates

Propargyl carboxylates react with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and electron-rich arenes in the presence of Au(I) catalysts to give enol carboxylates via alpha,beta-unsaturated Au(I) carbenes or Au(I)-coordinated allenes formed by 1,2- or 1,3-acyl migration, respectively.     

Catalytic and asymmetric vinylogous mukaiyama reactions on aliphatic ketones: formal asymmetric synthesis of taurospongin a

Catalytic asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama reactions on ketones, leading to the formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones with tertiary alcohols, have been described (11 examples, up to 93% ee). This methodology has been applied in a formal enantioselective synthesis of taurospongin A (12 steps, 6% overall yield).     

Octahedral iridium complex catalyzed α-chlorination of 2-acyl imidazoles with tosyl chloride

An efficient and catalytic α-chlorination of 2-acyl imidazoles with readily available tosyl chloride catalyzed by an octahedral iridium complex under mild condition was reported. A range of 2-acyl imidazoles were converted to their corresponding α-chlorination products in good to excellent yields.     

A modular and concise total synthesis of (+/-)-daurichromenic acid and analogues

A modular and concise total synthesis of (+/-)-daurichromenic acid has been accomplished in four steps from ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl crotonate, and trans,trans-farnesal. A series of analogues of this natural product, which has potent anti-HIV activity, were also prepared from ethyl or methyl acetoacetate and a series of readily available alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and aldehydes.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 4-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones via Cu(I)-catalyzed reductive aldol cyclization

[chemical reaction: see text]. 4-Hydroxypiperidin-2-ones may be prepared in highly diastereoselective fashion using a Cu(I)-catalyzed reductive aldol cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides with ketones. Used in combination with proline-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions, this methodology enables the enantioselective synthesis of more highly functionalized piperidin-2-ones and hydroxylated piperidines.     

Catalytic enantioselective conjugate reduction of lactones and lactams

A dramatic acceleration of the enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones, lactams, and esters is reported upon addition of alcohol additives. Good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities were realized using a catalyst generated in situ from CuCl(2).H(2)O, t-BuONa, p-tol-BINAP, and PMHS, and this methodology was applied to the synthesis of (-)-Paroxetine.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate and (-)-cubebaol

[reaction: see text] The first highly enantioselective organocatalyzed carbo [3 + 3] cascade cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Using this methodology, crotonaldehyde is converted to 6-hydroxy-4-methylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde, which is used in the synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate, (-)-cubebaol, and p-tolualdehyde as well as (-)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol acetate, an intermediate in the total synthesis of lycopodium alkaloid magellanine. Other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes give rise to chiral cyclohexadienes via formal [4 + 2] reactions.     

Convenient synthesis of substituted piperidinones from alpha,beta-unsaturated amides: formal synthesis of deplancheine, tacamonine, and paroxetine

[reaction: see text] An intermolecular aza-double Michael reaction leading to functionalized piperidin-2-ones from simple starting materials has been developed. The method allows alpha,beta-unsaturated amides to be used as a synthon of the piperidine nucleus. In addition, the utility of this methodology is demonstrated by its application to a formal synthesis of the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine alkaloids, (+/-)-deplancheine, (+/-)-tacamonine, and the antidepressant paroxetine.     

A novel multicomponent synthesis of polysubstituted 5-aminooxazole and its new scaffold-generating reaction to pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridine

A novel three-component synthesis of 5-amino oxazole (1) is reported. Its subsequent reaction with alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl chloride leads to polysubstituted pyrrolopyridine (2). A triple domino process, acylation/IMDA/retro-Michael cycloreversion, was involved in the latter process. The methodology allows the quick preparation, from simple and readily available inputs, of highly functionalized title compounds not easily accessed by other methods.