Enantioselective intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction catalyzed by chiral phosphinothiourea

Chiral organophosphine-catalyzed enantioselective Rauhut-Currier reaction has been disclosed for the first time. With L-valine-derived phosphinothiourea, the intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction of bis(enones) was achieved in good yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.4% ee).     

Lewis acid-catalyzed conjugate additions of silyloxyallenes: a selective solution to the intermolecular Rauhut-Currier problem

Silyloxyallenes serve as highly useful alpha-acylvinyl anion equivalents. These latent allenolates undergo conjugate additions to alkylidene malonates in the presence of 10 mol % Sc(OTf) 3. The reaction delivers intermolecular Rauhut-Currier products in excellent yields and regioselectivities for a wide scope of substrates. Notably, the formal cross-coupling of two different alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (a cross Rauhut-Currier reaction) is achieved. Preliminary investigations have demonstrated good levels of enantioselectivity for the addition of a racemic silyloxyallene with a chiral Lewis acid.     

ortho-Acidic aromatic thiols as efficient catalysts of intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier reactions

ortho-Mercaptobenzoic acid and ortho-mercaptophenols were discovered as efficient thiol catalysts of both the intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) and Rauhut-Currier (RC) reaction. High reaction rates were achieved under mildly basic, aqueous conditions. The unprecedented catalytic activity of these protic nucleophiles could originate from a Brønsted acid induced destabilization of intermediate thioethers and thus represent a unique mechanism of multifunctional Lewis base catalysis.     

DMAP catalysed vinylogous Rauhut–Currier reaction of allenoates with para-quinone methides

The hitherto unknown, organocatalysed (DMAP) vinylogous Rauhut-Currier reaction of 2,3-butadienoates with para-quinone methides has been achieved. The products, diarylmethane substituted allenoates, are formed in high to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Recent Developments in Intermolecular Cross-Rauhut-Currier Reactions

Intermolecular cross Rauhut-Currier reactions have gained much importance in recent years. It has proved its importance through procedures involving various catalysts and resulting in complex structures with good regio- as well as stereo- selectivity. This review highlights the recent developments of these reactions, published in current years, involving both achiral and chiral catalysts to give products, having various utilities. In addition, the detailed mechanistic studies of the above-mentioned reactions are also presented.     

Enantioselective synthesis of bicarbocyclic structures with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter through sequential cross metathesis and intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction

A new extension of the Birch-Cope sequence is described which allows the efficient enantioselective construction of highly functionalized, fused bicarbocyclic structures with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in two steps. The two-step sequence includes a cross metathesis between a terminal alkene and a polarized alkene followed by an intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction with a trialkylphosphine catalyst.     

Enantioselective intramolecular crossed Rauhut-Currier reactions through cooperative nucleophilic activation and hydrogen-bonding catalysis: scope and mechanistic insight

A highly efficient and enantioselective intramolecular crossed Rauhut-Currier (RC) reaction of nitroolefins with tethered enonates has been developed through cooperative nucleophilic activation and a hydrogen-bonding catalytic strategy (≤98% ee and 98% yield). The reaction features simple experimental procedures and is completely chemoselective and atom-economic in character. The potential synthetic applications have been demonstrated by the conversion of the RC reaction products into biologically and pharmaceutically valuable compounds with highly diastereoselectivity. In addition, computational investigations were employed to support the proposed mechanism and to obtain a good understanding of the origin of the stereoselectivity in RC reactions.     

Optically active helical polyisocyanides bearing chiral phosphine pendants: Facile synthesis and application in enantioselective Rauhut-Currier reaction

Three novel enantiopure phenyl isocyanide monomers with BH3-protected phosphine functional group were designed and synthesized.Polymerization of these monomers using a alkyne-Pd(Ⅱ) complex as a catalyst led to the formation of respective helical polyisocyanides in high yields with controlled molecular weights (Mns) and narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mns).Removing the protecting BH3 groups afforded helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s bearing phosphine pendants.Thanks to the chiral induction of monomer,the isolated helical polyisocyanides showed high optical activity,as revealed by circular dichroism (CD) and absorption spectroscopies and polarimetry.The helical structures of these polymers were quite stable in various organic solvents with different polarities and in a wide temperature range.Moreover,these helical polymers could be used as organocatalysts and showed good performance in enantioselective cross Rauhut-Currier reaction.The enantiomeric excess (ee) values of the isolated products of cross Rauhut-Currier reaction could be up to 90％.The polymer organocatalysts could be easily recovered from the reaction mixtures and reused at least five times in the reaction without significant loss of their enantioselectivities and catalytic activities.     

Regioselective cyclizations utilizing a gold-catalyzed [3,3] propargyl ester rearrangement

Switch-Au-roo: A new strategy for the regioselective synthesis of unsaturated carbocycles by chemoselective activation of a Rauhut-Currier zwitterion surrogate, formed from the Au-catalyzed [3,3]?sigmatropic rearrangement of propargylic esters, has been achieved. By reversing the regiochemistry of the propargyl ester the synthesis of either the endo- or exocyclic enones is feasible.     

Elucidating the Mechanism and Chemoselectivity in the PBu3-Catalyzed Rauhut-Currier Reaction of Chalcone with Ethyl Acrylate

Disclosing the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of phosphine-catalyzed Rauhut-Currier (R−C) reaction remains a challenge. Here, a comprehensive study on the possible mechanisms and origins of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of PBu₃-catalyzed R−C reactions between ethyl acrylate and chalcone is performed by DFT. Both cross and homo R−C reactions are investigated and compared. The computational results show that the cross R−C reaction is energetically favorable than the homo R−C reaction, with head-to-tail product being generated preferentially. Moreover, the C−C bond formation process is identified to be the regioselectivity- and chemoselectivity-determining step. The CDFT and Parr function analyses are successfully used to predict the origins of chemoselectivity and regioselectivity, respectively. This work would provide a valuable case for exploring the origins of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the phosphine catalyzed reactions, which should be helpful to understand and control the selectivities by rational design.     

Synthesis of Rapeseed Biodiesel Using Short-Chained Alkyl Acetates as Acyl Acceptor

In this study, we conducted experiments using a response surface methodology to determine the optimal reaction conditions for the enzymatic synthesis of biodiesel from rapeseed oil and short-chained alkyl acetates, such as methyl acetate or ethyl acetate, as the acyl acceptor at 40 °C. Based on our response surface methodology experiments, the optimal reaction conditions for the synthesis of biodiesel were as follows: methyl acetate as acyl acceptor, catalyst concentration of 16.50%, oil-to-methyl acetate molar ratio of 1:12.44, and reaction time of 19.70 h; ethyl acetate as acyl acceptor, catalyst concentration of 16.95%, oil-to-ethyl acetate molar ratio of 1:12.56, and reaction time of 19.73 h. The fatty acid ester content under the above conditions when methyl acetate and ethyl acetate were used as the acyl acceptor was 58.0% and 62.6%, respectively. The statistical method described in this study can be applied to effectively optimize the enzymatic conditions required for biodiesel production with short-chained alkyl acetates.     

Solvent-free double aza-Michael under ultrasound irradiation: diastereoselective sequential one-pot synthesis of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloids analogues

Novel 2,5-meso-pyrrolidines have been straightforwardly synthesized from readily available symmetrical double Michael acceptors. The key step rested on an aza-Michael addition of primary alkylamines to bis-enones. Competitive Rauhut-Currier and aza-Michael reactions have been highlighted in protic solvent. Ultrasound activation associated with solvent-free conditions led to the expected pyrrolidines in quantitative yields and excellent stereoselectivities. The optimized conditions have been extended to the sonochemical synthesis of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloids analogues in short sequences.     

迈克尔反应受体分子化学生物学研究

迈克尔受体是烯键或炔键与吸电子基团共轭相连形成的官能团,含有这样官能团的化学小分子能与亲核试剂发生迈克尔加成反应,因此称为迈克尔反应受体分子。迈克尔反应受体分子是一类重要的生理活性分子,它们直接或间接参与许多生命过程,同时也是细胞中许多信号转导途径的调节者,在化学生物学研究中起着重要的作用。本文对迈克尔反应受体分子化学生物学研究进展进行了综述。     

Trapping rhodium carbenoids with aminoalkynes for the synthesis of diverse N-heterocycles

A convergent approach for the synthesis of diverse N-heterocycles is described. The reaction involves trapping of diazo-derived rhodium carbenoids with gold activated aminoalkynes, and accommodates both the donor/acceptor (D/A) as well as acceptor/acceptor (A/A) diazo carbonyls. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the Rh(II)/Au(I) catalyzed reaction of aminoalkynes with D/A diazos is concerted, while the reaction with A/A diazo is stepwise and proceeds with carbene N–H insertion and a subsequent Conia-ene cyclization.     

Donor–acceptor ferrocenyl triazines: synthesis and properties

A series of star shaped donor–π–acceptor type symmetrical triazine was designed and synthesized by the Pd-catalysed Sonogshira cross coupling reaction. The ferrocenyl moiety with different spacer groups acts as donor and 1,3,5-triazine as acceptor. The photophysical results show intramolecular charge transfer from ferrocene to the 1,3,5-triazine unit. The cyclic voltammetric analysis reveals substantial donor–acceptor interaction. The triazines exhibit good thermal stability with high decomposition temperature.     

Ultrafast Electron Transfer from Photoexcited CdSe Quantum Dots to Methylviologen

The ultrafast charge separation at the quantum dot (QD)/molecular acceptor interface was investigated in terms of acceptor concentration and the size of the QD. Time‐resolved experiments revealed that the electron transfer (ET) from the photoexcited QD to the molecular acceptor methylviologen (MV²⁺) occurs on the fs time scale for large acceptor concentrations and that the ET rate is strongly reduced for low concentrations. The increase in the acceptor concentration is accompanied with a growth in the overlap of donor and acceptor wavefunctions, resulting in a faster reaction until the MV²⁺ concentration reaches a saturation limit of 0.3–0.4 MV²⁺ nm^?2. Moreover, we found significant QD size dependence of the ET reaction, which is explained by a change of the free energy (ΔG).     

Ring-Opening 1-Amino-3-aminomethylation of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes via 1,3-Diazepanes

The first ring-opening reaction of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes to give diamines is reported. For this reaction, a 1,3-bisfunctionalization was developed using cyclopropanes, triazinanes, and Sc(OTf)₃ as the catalyst, followed by treatment with acid. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions and tolerates many functional groups. Moreover, a library of various 1,3-diazepanes, which arise as intermediates of the first formal aza-[4+3]-cycloaddition reaction with donor–acceptor cyclopropanes, was synthesized.     

Single-Step Glycosylations with 13C-Labelled Sulfoxide Donors: A Low-Temperature NMR Cartography of the Distinguishing Mechanistic Intermediates

Glycosyl sulfoxides have gained recognition in the total synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and as model substrates for dissecting the mechanisms involved. Reactions of these donors are usually performed under pre-activation conditions, but an experimentally more convenient single-step protocol has also been reported, whereby activation is performed in the presence of the acceptor alcohol; yet, the nature and prevalence of the reaction intermediates formed in this more complex scenario have comparatively received minimal attention. Herein, a systematic NMR-based study employing both ¹³C-labelled and unlabelled glycosyl sulfoxide donors for the detection and monitoring of marginally populated intermediates is reported. The results conclusively show that glycosyl triflates play a key role in these glycosylations despite the presence of the acceptor alcohol. Importantly, the formation of covalent donor/acceptor sulfonium adducts was identified as the main competing reaction, and thus a non-productive consumption of the acceptor that could limit the reaction yield was revealed.     

α:β Selectivity in the synthesis of 3-substituted, 4-methyl umbelliferone glycosides of N-acetyl glucosamine and chitobiose

The influence of phenolic acceptor nucleophilicity; for example, 3-substituted, 4-methylumbelliferones, and glycosyl donor electrophilicity; for example, 3- and 4-substituted N-acetylglucosamines, on glycosylation stereochemistry has been evaluated. In a systematic comparison, the stereochemical outcome as well as the reaction yield appeared to be influenced by the 3- and 4-substituents of the donor as well as the 3-substituent of the aryl acceptor. In the context of synthesizing a fluorogenic substrate for oligosaccharyltransferase, an α-glycoside was desired. Although most acceptor–donor pairs led to predominantly or exclusively the β-glycoside, reaction of the most activated (3,4-di-O-benzyl) donor and the least nucleophilic acceptor (3-Br), resulted in a 1:1 ratio of α,β arylglycosides.     

Electron transfer reactions: generalized spin-boson approach

We introduce a mathematically rigorous analysis of a generalized spin-boson system for the treatment of a donor–acceptor (reactant-product) quantum system coupled to a thermal quantum noise. The donor/acceptor probability dynamics describes transport reactions in chemical processes in presence of a noisy environment – such as the electron transfer in a photosynthetic reaction center. Besides being rigorous, our analysis has the advantages over previous ones that (1) we include a general, non energy-conserving system-environment interaction, and that (2) we allow for the donor or acceptor to consist of multiple energy levels lying closely together. We establish explicit expressions for the rates and the efficiency (final donor–acceptor population difference) of the reaction. In particular, we show that the rate increases for a multi-level acceptor, but the efficiency does not.