Hydrogenative Dearomatization of Pyridine and an Asymmetric Aza‐Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Sequence

Highly efficient synthesis of enantiomerically enriched substituted piperidines has been realized via chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed cascade hydrogenative dearomatization of substituted pyridines and aza‐Friedel‐Crafts reaction in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivity.     

Combining Organocatalysis and Lanthanide Catalysis: A Sequential One‐Pot Quadruple Reaction Sequence/Hetero‐Diels–Alder Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized Tricycles

A stereoselective one‐pot synthesis of functionalized complex tricyclic polyethers has been achieved using the combination of secondary amine and lanthanide catalysis. This one‐pot quadruple reaction/Hetero‐Diels–Alder sequence gave good yields (per step) as well as excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the particular combination of lanthanide complexes with organocatalysis is one of the first examples described for sequential catalysis.     

Remote Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Alkylations of Furans through HOMO Activation

Catalytic asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation is a powerful protocol for constructing a chiral C(sp²)? C(sp³) bond. Most previous examples rely on LUMO activation of the electrophiles using chiral catalysts with subsequent attack by electron‐rich arenes. Presented herein is an alternative strategy in which the HOMO of the aromatic π system of 2‐furfuryl ketones is raised through the formation of a formal trienamine species using a chiral primary amine. Exclusive regioselective alkylation at the 5‐position occurred with alkylidenemalononitriles, and high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95 % ee) was obtained by this remote activation.     

One‐Pot Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 3‐Nitro‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines by a Dual‐Activation Protocol

Generally, amine‐catalyzed enantioselective transformations rely on chiral enamine or unsaturated iminium intermediates. Herein, we report a protocol involving dual activation by an aromatic iminium and hydrogen‐bonding. An enantioselective aza‐Michael–Henry domino reaction of 2‐aminobenzaldehydes with nitroolefins has been developed through this protocol using primary amine thiourea catalysts to provide a variety of 3‐nitro‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines in moderate yields and with up to 90 % ee. The mechanism for the catalytic enantioselective reaction was confirmed by ESI mass spectrometric detection of the reaction intermediates. The products formed are substructures found in skeletons of important biological and pharmaceutical molecules.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of (−)‐Oseltamivir and Mechanistic Insights into the Organocatalyzed Michael Reaction

The one‐pot sequential synthesis of (?)‐oseltamivir has been achieved without evaporation or solvent exchange in 36 % yield over seven reactions. The key step was the asymmetric Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide, catalyzed by a diphenylprolinol silyl ether. The use of a bulky O‐silyl‐substituted diphenylprolinol catalyst, chlorobenzene as a solvent, and HCO₂H as an acid additive, were key to produce the first Michael adduct in both excellent yield and excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Investigation into the effect of acid demonstrated that an acid additive accelerates not only the E–Z isomerization of the enamines derived from pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with diphenylprolinol silyl ether, but also ring opening of the cyclobutane intermediate and the addition reaction of the enamine to (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide. The transition‐state model for the Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide was proposed by consideration of the absolute configuration of the major and minor isomers of the Michael product with the results of the Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with phenylmaleimide and naphthoquinone.     

Heteroaromatic Belts through Fold‐in Synthesis: Mechanistic Insights into a Macrocycle‐Templated Friedel–Crafts Alkylation

Direct alkylation of 9,9′,9′′‐triethyl[2.2.2](2,7)carbazolophane with dimethoxymethane or paraformaldehyde affords a belt‐like heteroaromatic structure, which forms as a kinetic product in acid‐catalyzed condensations. In a competing, thermodynamically favored process, polymeric structures are formed by a largely regioselective condensation of stereochemically rigid “semi‐belts”. The relationship between these reactivity routes is rationalized in terms of strain release and differential reversibility of consecutive condensation steps.     

Linking Conformational Flexibility and Kinetics: Catalytic 1,4‐Type Friedel–Crafts Reactions of Phenols Utilizing 1,3‐Diamine‐Tethered Guanidine/Bisthiourea Organocatalysts

Herein, we present details of our conformationally flexible, 1,3‐diamine‐tethered guanidine/bisthiourea organocatalysts for chemo‐, regio‐, and enantioselective 1,4‐type Friedel–Crafts reactions of phenols. These organocatalysts show a unique stereo‐discrimination governed by the differential activation entropy (ΔΔS^≠), rather than by the differential activation enthalpy (ΔΔH^≠). Extensive kinetic analyses using Eyring plots for a series of guanidine/bisthiourea organocatalysts revealed the key structural motif in the catalysts associated with a large magnitude of differential activation entropy (ΔΔS^≠). A plausible guanidine–thiourea cooperative mechanism for the enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction is proposed.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Lepadins A–D from a Phenylglycinol‐Derived Hydroquinolone Lactam

The marine alkaloids (?)‐lepadins A–C and (+)‐lepadin D, belonging to two diastereoisomeric series, were synthesized from an (R)‐phenylglycinol‐derived tricyclic lactam via a common cis‐decahydroquinoline intermediate. Crucial aspects of the synthesis are the stereochemical control in the assembly of the cis‐decahydroquinoline platform, in the introduction of the C2 methyl and C3 hydroxy substituents, and in the generation of the C5 stereocenter.     

Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) Reaction Derived Nitroallylic Alcohols,Acetates and Amines as Synthons in Organocatalysis and Heterocycle Synthesis

The Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction is one of the most useful and efficient protocols for constructing new carbon–carbon bonds between an activated olefin and electrophiles in the presence of a tertiary amine/phosphine. Herein, we present the use of MBH alcohols, which are obtained from the reaction of nitrostyrenes with aldehydes, as well as acetates and amines derived thereof in several organocatalytic transformations. Densely functionalised MBH adducts can also be used to synthesise substituted heteroaromatic compounds, such as furan, pyrrole, pyrazole and imidazole derivatives.     

Intramolecular Aza‐Diels–Alder Reactions of ortho‐Quinone Methide Imines: Rapid,Catalytic, and Enantioselective Assembly of Benzannulated Quinolizidines

Aza‐Diels–Alder reactions (ADARs) are powerful processes that furnish N‐heterocycles in a straightforward fashion. Intramolecular variants offer the additional possibility of generating bi‐ and polycyclic systems with high stereoselectivity. We report herein a novel Brønsted acid catalyzed process in which ortho‐quinone methide imines tethered to the dienophile via the N substituent react in an intramolecular ADAR to form complex quinolizidines and oxazinoquinolines in a one‐step process. The reactions proceed under very mild conditions, with very good yields and good to very good diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the process was extended to a domino reaction that efficiently combines substrate synthesis, ortho‐quinone methide imine formation, and ADAR.     

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Addition of Enamides to ortho‐Quinone Methide Imines—An Efficient and Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Tetrahydroacridines

The direct and highly enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroacridines was achieved through the phosphoric acid catalyzed addition of enamides to in situ generated ortho‐quinone methide imines and subsequent elimination. This novel one‐step process constitutes a very efficient, elegant, and selective synthetic approach to valuable N‐heterocycles with a 1,4‐dihydroquinoline motif. By subsequent highly diastereoselective hydrogenation and N‐deprotection the reaction products were easily converted into free hexahydroacridines with a total of three new stereogenic centers.