Highly diastereoselective nitroaldol reactions with chiral derivatives of glyoxylic acid

N-Glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam (1a) and (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate (1b) react stereoselectively with simple nitroalkanes giving diastereomeric nitroalcohols with high asymmetric induction. The glyoximide 1a is proved to be a highly efficient chiral inducer, superior to glyoxylate 1b. In all cases, the absolute configuration (2S) and relative configuration, syn for the major diastereoisomers, were confirmed.     

Fast diastereoselective Baylis-Hillman reaction by nitroalkenes: synthesis of di- and triene derivatives

The Baylis-Hillman reaction is performed using nitroalkenes as activated alkenes, ethyl-2-bromomethylacrylate as electrophilic acceptor and DBU as catalyst base. Nitro dienes are obtained in good yields and very short reaction times. Moreover, starting from appropriate nitroalkenes it is possible to realize one pot the synthesis of trienic systems.     

Recent progress in copper catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction

Henry reaction is one of the most classical reactions to construct synthetically useful product nitro alcohol, which as a privileged skeleton is widely distributed in various pharmaceuticals. This review summarizes the recent progress of copper-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction from 2011 to 2016. The significant progress that has been made in this area will be highlighted and some of challenges that the author believes may be hindering further progress will be revealed.     

On the scope of diastereoselective allylation of various chiral glyoxylic oxime ethers with allyltributylstannane in the presence of a Lewis acid and triallylaluminum

The nucleophilic allylation of various chiral auxiliaries derived glyoxylic oxime ethers was studied. The use of allyltributylstannane in the presence of a Lewis acid and triallylaluminum provided the corresponding homoallylic amines in high chemical yields (up to 89%) and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >99%). The stereochemical bias of the allylation is proposed.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene derivatives: Bronsted acid catalyzed aza-Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and imino-acetates with two chiral auxiliaries

The cycloaddition between protonated glyoxylate imines possessing two chiral auxiliaries, N-(S)- or N-(R)-1-phenylethyl and (−)-8-phenylmenthyl or (+)-8-phenylneomenthyl, and cyclopentadiene is described. The absolute configuration of all adducts formed was unequivocally assigned through NMR, specific optical rotation, and X-ray data of appropriated derivatives. Experimental results confirm the highly exo-selectivity for these aza-Diels-Alder reactions, single adducts being obtained from combinations of (8PM)-(R-PEA) and (8PNM)-(S-PEA).     

Convenient fluorination of nitro and nitrile compounds with Selectfluor

A variety of nitro and nitrile compounds were fluorinated in good yields by Selectfluor under mild conditions. For these transformations to be successful, it is crucial to select proper amounts of an appropriate base as a function of the properties of the substrate and also to use Selectfluor only as required.     

Sonochemical fluorination of heterocyclic nitro compounds with Selectfluor

Methine and methylene groups attached to a nitro function and heterocycle (and Ph for CH) were rapidly mono- or di-fluorinated by reaction with 1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2,2,2]octane bis-tetrafluoroborate (Selectfluor) in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), preferably with ultrasonic irradiation.     

New chiral morpholine-pyrrolidine ligands affecting asymmetric selectivity in copper catalyzed Henry reaction

In this study, several chiral diamine (35, 36, 37 and 39), triamine (24 and 25), diaminol (38, 42 and 43) and triaminol ligands (29 and 30) having chiral morpholine and pyrrolidine moieties conjugated constitutes, were prepared from commercially available (S)-2-amino-2-phenylacetic acid and (S)-proline. These ligands were complexed with copper (II) salt in situ and applied to asymmetric Henry reaction. Asymmetric addition of various structurally divergent aldehydes and nitromethane in the presence of 5?mol% of chiral ligand with CuCl₂ furnished corresponding β-nitro alcohol in good yields (up to 55–79%) with good enantioselectivity (up to 89%).     

Stereoselective synthesis of (S)-dapoxetine: a chiral auxiliary mediated approach

An imidazolidin-2-one chiral auxiliary mediated acetate aldol reaction was explored in the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-dapoxetine (SSRI). The diastereoselective aldol adduct was transformed to highly enantiopure (S)-dapoxetine with overall good yield.     

Synthesis of azo compounds by nanosized iron-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic nitro compounds

Treatment of a variety of aromatic nitro compounds with the active-iron based reducing system composed of FeCl₂·4H₂O, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 5 mol %) in THF at room temperature, led to the formation of the corresponding symmetrically substituted azo compounds in good yield, resulting from a reductive coupling process. Some other functionalities including carbonyl, halogen, amino and hydroxyl groups, demonstrated to be compatible with the reaction conditions, giving none reduced or coupled by-products. In all cases, the azo compounds formed have not experienced over-reduction to the corresponding hydrazo or amino derivatives even upon prolonged heating or using an excess of the reducing system.     

Resolution of BIPHEP on Rh with a chiral diene auxiliary

Resolution of the atropisomeric chiral BIPHEP ligand on Rh has been achieved with the aid of 2-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-8-methoxy-1,8-dimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene, a chiral chelating diene ligand. The diene complex 3 containing an (S)-BIPHEP ligand was found to be configurationally stable in CDCl₃ solution at RT. Conversion of the diene complex 3 to a dicarbonyl Rh complex 4 that had a barrier of 25.0 kcal/mol for atropisomerization of the BIPHEP ligand. Preliminary studies of the use of the resolved complex 3 for catalysis are presented.     

Catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction using copper(II) chiral tridentate Schiff-base complexes and their polymer-supported complexes

A series of chiral tridentate Schiff-base ligands and their polymer-supported ligands were conveniently prepared and introduced as copper(II) chiral complexes for the asymmetric Henry reaction. The structures of these ligands have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS. The experimental results showed that the corresponding β-nitro alcohols were obtained in moderate to high yields (up to 98%) with up to 98% ee under mild conditions. The complex catalyst forming from copper(II) polymer-supported ligands could be recycled by a simple filtration and reused 6 times at least with similar good catalytic effect (about 94% yield and 90% ee).     

Levopimaric acid derived 1,2-diamines and their application in the copper-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction

Levopimaric acid, a readily available starting material, was used in efficient syntheses of new enantiopure diamines and Schiff bases with good yields. The synthetic procedure is based on the fumaropimaric acid monomethyl ester conversion into the optically pure trans-1,2-diamine via a Curtius rearrangement. New diamines were studied as ligands in the copper-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction.     

Enantioselective synthesis induced by chiral organic-inorganic hybrid silsesquioxane in conjunction with asymmetric autocatalysis

5-Pyrimidyl alkanol with up to 96% ee was formed using chiral organic-inorganic hybrid silsesquioxane in the enantioselective addition of diisopropylzinc to pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde, in conjunction with asymmetric autocatalysis.     

Reductive N-alkylation of aromatic amines and nitro compounds with nitriles using polymethylhydrosiloxane

The potential utility of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as a reducing agent for reductive N-alkylation of aromatic amines and nitro compounds using nitriles as an alkylating agent and Pd(OH)₂/C as a catalyst is described. The application of this method for the synthesis of several heterocyclic compounds is also reported.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.0]octanone derivatives by the [2+2] photocycloaddition of chiral cyclohexenonecarboxylates to ethylene

The diastereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of a cyclohexenonecarboxylate containing (−)-8-(4-nitrophenyl)menthyl as a chiral auxiliary to ethylene gave the photocycloadduct, a bicyclo[4.2.0]octanone derivative, with a high degree of diastereoselectivity. A photoreaction, conducted in CH₂Cl₂ at −78 °C gave the corresponding photocycloadduct in 88% de. In the presence of Ti(OR)₄ or Me₃SnCl, the diastereoselectivity was increased up to 92% de.     

2-Chlorotetrafluoroethanesulfinamide induced asymmetric vinylogous Mannich reaction

The generality of (S)-2-chlorotetrafluoroethanesulfinamide (CTFSA) induced asymmetric vinylogous Mannich (AVM) addition reaction has been investigated. The reaction of aldimines derived from (S)-CTFSA with 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy) furan (TBSOF) took place regioselectively at the γ-site at room temperature in DMSO under air atmosphere to give the desired addition products in syn-configuration with high diastereoselectivities (up to 98:2 dr). However, anti-configuration product as major isomer was obtained in the presence of tetra-butyl ammonium fluoride (TBAF) at −78 °C. Facile removal of the auxiliary group without epimerization demonstrated their synthetic potential for piperidone derivatives.     

One step synthesis of azo compounds from nitroaromatics and anilines

A general and efficient method for synthesis of both symmetric and asymmetric aromatic azo compounds in one single step has been developed. The nitro compounds were reduced and the substituted anilines were oxidized by each other without any metal in the base condition. Various azo compounds with halogen, methyl and methoxy functional group were obtained by using available, cheap nitro compounds and substituted anilines. In addition, the electronic effect and substituent effect of the compounds have been discussed.