A facile synthetic method of α-quaternary-β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes via the stereoselective 1,4-elimination and α-regioselective Ferrier reaction

The 1,4-elimination reaction of 2-substituted-(2Z)-4-methoxy-O-alkenyl acetals with n-butyllithium is shown to afford the 2-substituted-(1Z,3E)-O-1,3-dienyl acetals in high stereoselectivities. The Ferrier reaction of the O-1,3-dienyl acetals thus obtained provides the corresponding α-quaternary-β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes in excellent yields with high α-regioselectivities.     

Mukaiyama addition of (trimethylsilyl)acetonitrile to dimethyl acetals mediated by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate

(Trimethylsilyl)acetonitrile reacts smoothly with dimethyl acetals in the presence of stoichiometric trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) to yield β-methoxynitriles. The ideal substrates for this reaction are acetals derived from aromatic aldehydes. Elimination to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated nitriles is observed as the major product in the case of electron-rich acetals. A mechanistic hypothesis that includes isomerization of the silylnitrile to a nucleophilic N-silyl ketene imine is presented.     

A practical synthesis of 3-indolyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

An acid-catalyzed practical synthesis of 3-indolyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds using methyl 3-methoxyacrylate, methyl 3,3-dimethoxypropionate, or 1,1-dimethoxy-3-butanone is reported. 35% HCl aqueous solution catalyzes this reaction efficiently in acetic acid. One of the most favorable substrates is 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-isopropyl-1H-indole, which reacts nearly quantitatively to give the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ester, and the scope of the reaction can be extended to some electron-rich benzene derivatives.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans: Brønsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization of α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates

Intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization (IOCC) of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, triggered by deprotonation with a base, represents a straightforward method for the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans. However, it has been known that stereochemical outcome of IOCC depends on the local structure of substrates and sometimes requires harsh reaction conditions and/or prolonged reaction times for selective formation of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans. These shortcomings limit the feasibility of IOCC in the context of complex natural product synthesis. In this paper, we describe Br?nsted acid-catalyzed IOCC of α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates (e.g., α,β-unsaturated thioesters, oxazolidinone imides, and pyrrole amides) under mild reaction conditions, which affords a series of synthetically versatile 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives with good to excellent stereoselectivity (dr from 7:1 to >20:1). These α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were found to be more reactive than the corresponding oxoesters that are generally unreactive toward Br?nsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular oxa-conjugate additions. The product tetrahydropyrans could be transformed into various derivatives in an efficient manner, highlighting the usefulness of our methodology.     

Development of effective Lewis acids for the catalytic Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated lactones with cyclopentadiene

We found that ‘Tf₂CH₂ + Me₃Al’ systems are effective catalytic systems for the DA reaction of less reactive α,β-unsaturated lactone derivatives, compared to α,β-unsaturated ester derivatives, with cyclopentadiene. Mononuclear aluminum methide complex, Tf₂CHAlMe₂, as an active species is formed in these catalytic systems. Effects of lactone ring-size on the reactivity and stereoselectivity were also examined. By expanding ring-size, reactivity of α,β-unsaturated lactones reduced but endo-selectivity notably increased.     

High pressure-promoted cycloadditions of ketene acetals and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones

Cycloadditions of ketene acetals with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are strongly promoted by high pressure. The influence of the solvent and the substitution pattern on the product distribution at 12 kBar has been investigated. In the polar solvent, acetonitrile, α,β-unsaturated aldehydes not having large β-substituents, yield mainly cyclobutane aldehydes, which are minor products at normal pressure. The products can be transformed under basic conditions without ring opening.     

α,β-Unsaturated acyl cyanide synthesis via triethylamine catalyzed redox cyanation

Stereoselective redox cyanation of alkynyl aldehydes was explored, furnishing (E)-α,β-unsaturated acyl cyanides. This reaction was catalyzed by mild TEA base, as a dual role of Lewis base and Brönsted base. TMSCN treated with TEA was an effective reagent for generating umpolung intermediates from alkynyl aldehydes, and this nucleophilic intermediate can be protonated by equimolar amount of EtOH, promoting the efficient conversion into α,β-unsaturated acyl cyanides. The synthesized acyl cyanides were successfully applied as the synthetic precursors in the iron-catalyzed arylation reactions.     

Aza-Michael reactions catalyzed by samarium diiodide

Samarium diiodide catalyzes the Michael addition of aromatic amines onto α,β-unsaturated N-acyloxazolidinones to form β-aminoacid derivatives. Aza-Michael reactions can be followed by an amidation reaction with the aromatic amine, leading to β-aminoamides. β-Amino-N-acyloxazolidinones are selectively obtained with o-anisidine, while amidation reaction is observed with p-anisidine.     

A convenient method for the synthesis of (Z)-α-haloacrylates: Lewis base-catalyzed carbonyl olefination using α-halo-C,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetals

A highly useful method for the stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-haloacrylates from various aldehydes that uses α-halogenated ethyl-C,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetals in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst such as acetate salts was established. This procedure gives the corresponding α-halo-α,β-unsaturated esters in high yields with excellent stereoselectivity from E/Z mixtures of ketene silyl acetals under mild conditions.     

A facile one-pot synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters from alkoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromides

A convenient one-pot synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters from ethoxy- and tert-butoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide was developed. The fluorinated phosphoranes, generated in situ from alkoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromides and 1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate) (Selectfluor^®), undergo a Wittig reaction with aldehydes to yield α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters with (Z)-selectivity.     

1-Methylimidazole 3-N-oxide as a new promoter for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of aldehydes with α,β-unsaturated ketones can be affected by the Lewis bases. We have found that 1-methylimidazole 3-N-oxide promoted the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of various activated aldehyde compounds in non-solvent system. This is a mild reaction condition and requires no special equipment to give the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

Superbase promoted synthesis of dienamides as useful intermediates for the synthesis of α-ketoamides, γ-lactams and cyclic imino ethers

Alkoxydienamides 2 have been synthesized exploiting the reactivity of α,β-unsaturated acetals 1 with isocyanates in the presence of Schlosser's superbase LIC-KOR. In a mild acidic medium, 2 can then be promptly converted both into α-ketoamides 3 and into substituted 2-pyrrolidinones 4 or imino ethers 5 by choosing the appropriate experimental conditions.     

Competitive thermal ene reaction and Diels-Alder reactions of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones

Thermal reaction of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-(2-substituted and 2,2-disubstituted)vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones gave azepine, the desired ene products, and/or pyran derivatives. The formation of the latter was responsible for the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between the α,β-unsaturated ester carbonyl moiety as a diene part and the alkenylamino moiety as an ene one. The reaction features depended upon the kinds of substituents both on the vinyl and alkenyl counterparts; strongly electron-withdrawing substituents on the vinyl moiety or an electron-donating substituent on the alkenyl one changed the reaction feature from the ene reaction to the hetero Diels-Alder reaction.     

Bis-aluminated triflic amide promoted Diels-Alder reactions of α,β-unsaturated lactones

The bis-aluminated triflic amides such as TfN[Al(Me)Cl]₂ and TfN[Al(iBu)₂]₂, which are derived from triflic amide (1 mol) and aluminum reagent (2 mol), can efficiently promote the Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated lactone derivatives as dienophiles. Selection of the ligand on aluminum of these Lewis acids should be important depending on the combination of dienophile and 1,3-diene.     

ZrCl4-catalyzed X-C/C-C bond formation for the geometric selective synthesis of (E)-β-iodo aza Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts

A geometric selective synthesis of (E)-β-iodo and β-alkyl vinyl ketones (MBH amino adducts) has been developed through a three-component Mannich-type reaction. The reaction was conveniently conducted by generating 3-iodo allenolate intermediates via the α,β-unsaturated addition of TMS-I to 3-butyn-2-one followed by a carbonyl addition onto N-aryl imines in the presence of ZrCl₄ catalyst. The resulting β-iodo allylic amines can be readily converted into β-alkyl Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts by performing Suzuki and Kumada cross-couplings.     

An enantioselective organocatalyzed aza-MBH domino process: application to the facile synthesis of tetrahydropyridines

A chiral acid-base organocatalyst was found to promote an aza-MBH domino process between α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and N-tosylimines to afford tetrahydropyridine derivatives with high enantioselectivity.     

β-Ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated phosphonates and sulfones

Ferrocene reacts with β-ketophosphonates and β-ketosulfones (or acetals of formylphosphonates and sulfones) in the presence of a strong acid (triflic or methanesulfonic) to afford β-ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated phosphonates and β-ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated sulfones in good yield. The (E)-stereochemistry of these compounds was confirmed by spectral and analytical data, as well as by X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of chiral spiro-cyclopentene/cyclopentadiene-oxindoles through an asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of isatin-derived MBH carbonates and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters

A highly stereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition for constructing the chiral spiro-cyclopentene/cyclopentadiene-oxindole skeletons is developed. Under the mild reaction conditions, the straightforward cyclization of isatin-derived MBH carbonates and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters involving a chiral tertiary amine catalyst provides the corresponding spirooxindole derivatives with an extraordinary level of diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the gram-scale experiment and functional transformation of the synthetic compound into other structurally diverse spirooxindole.     

Enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction promoted by a heterobimetallic complex with a Lewis base

A new double-activation catalysis is presented for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of an α,β-unsaturated ketone and an aldehyde by the combined use of a heterobimetallic asymmetric complex and tributylphosphine ((n-Bu)₃P) to afford the α-methylene-β-hydroxy ketone with up to 99% ee.     

Asymmetric organocatalytic oxy-Michael addition of alcohols to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

A 1,4-addition of alcohols to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was found to be efficiently promoted by biphenyldiamine-based catalyst 3 without formation of the acetals. An asymmetric variant of this reaction has also been performed by designing a novel axially chiral organocatalyst (R)-10c.