Straightforward asymmetric entry to highly functionalized medium-sized rings fused to beta-lactams via chemo- and stereocontrolled divergent radical cyclization of Baylis-Hillman adducts derived from 4-oxoazetidine-2-carbaldehydes

DABCO promoted reactions of various activated vinyl systems with optically pure 4-oxoazetidine-2-carbaldehydes 1 gave rise to Baylis-Hillman adducts 3 with excellent syn stereoselectivities, without detectable racemization. Products 3 are used for the asymmetric preparation of unusual 2-azetidinones fused to medium-sized rings via chemo- and stereocontrolled divergent radical cyclization. The formation of bicyclic beta-lactams 4-6 could be rationalized through a tandem radical Michael addition/endo cyclization or a tandem radical addition/Michael addition, depending on the electronic nature of the radical promoter.     

Metal-mediated entry to functionalized 3-substituted 3-hydroxyindolin-2-ones via regiocontrolled carbonylallylation, bromoallylation, 1,3-butadien-2-ylation, propargylation, or allenylation reactions of isatins in aqueous media

Reactions of 2,3-indolinediones (isatins) with stabilized organometallic reagents were investigated in aqueous media. Isatins and a variety of stabilized organic halides undergo coupling under Barbier-type conditions in the presence of different metals (indium, tin, zinc) and additives (ammonium chloride, hydrobromic acid, bismuth(III) chloride, hafnium(IV) chloride). The regiochemistry of the processes (carbonylallylation, bromoallylation, 1,3-butadien-2-ylation, propargylation, or allenylation reactions) were generally excellent. On this basis, simple and fast protocols for the synthesis of the potentially bioactive 3-substituted 3-hydroxyoxindole moiety were developed.     

Regio- and stereocontrolled metal-mediated carbonyl propargylation or allenylation of enantiomerically pure azetidine-2,3-diones: synthesis of highly functionalized 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams

Regio- and stereocontrolled metal-mediated Barbier-type reactions of azetidine-2,3-diones with differently substituted propargyl bromides offer an efficient asymmetric entry to densely functionalized 3-propargyl- (or allenyl-) substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams.     

Metal-promoted allylation, propargylation, or allenylation of azetidine-2,3-diones in aqueous and anhydrous media. Application to the asymmetric synthesis of densely functionalized 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams.

Metal-mediated carbonyl allylation, allenylation, and propargylation of optically pure azetidine-2,3-diones were investigated in both anhydrous and aqueous environments. Different metals promoters showed varied regioselectivities on product formation during allenylation/propargylation reactions of the keto-beta-lactams. The stereochemistry of the new C3-substituted C3-hydroxy quaternary center was controlled by placing a chiral auxiliary at C4. In this way, the coupling of azetidine-2,3-diones with a variety of propenyl-, propynyl-, and allenylmetal reagents offers a convenient asymmetric entry to potentially bioactive 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams.     

Chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric Baylis-Hillman reactions

An effective chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric Baylis-Hillman reaction is described. Good to high enantioselectivities were obtained using 3 mol % chiral catalyst. Novel camphor-derived dimerized ligands were prepared from the condensation of (+)-ketopinic acid with the corresponding diamines and hydrazine under acidic conditions. When alpha-naphthyl acrylate was used as a Michael acceptor, the reaction is complete within 20 min with high stereoselectivity and in reasonable chemical yields.     

Construction of highly functionalized diazoacetoacetates via catalytic Mukaiyama-Michael reactions

Functionalized diazo acetoacetates are prepared by an efficient Mukaiyama-Michael reaction between methyl 3-(trialkylsilanoxy)-2-diazo-3-butenoate and alpha,beta-unsaturated enones. Vinyl ether and ketone derivatives are both accessible in good to excellent yield through this methodology. The mild Lewis acid zinc(II) triflate is the optimal catalyst, and its loading can be as low as 0.1 mol %. In addition, zinc triflate was also found to be a superior catalyst for the related Mukaiyama-aldol reaction.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted quinolines via transition-metal-catalyzed reductive cyclization of o-nitro Baylis-Hillman acetates

Reductive cyclization of o-nitro-substituted Baylis-Hillman acetates by carbon monoxide, catalyzed by [CpFe(CO)(2)](2), gives moderate to good yields of 3-substituted quinolines.     

Silylstannylation of highly functionalized acetylenes. synthesis of precursors for annulations via radical or Heck reactions

[reaction: see text] Pd-catalyzed silylstannylation of acetylenes tolerates a variety of reactive functional groups (aldehydes, nonterminal acetylenes, epoxides, activated and unactivated olefins), providing easy access to precursors that can be converted into carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds via free radical or Heck reactions. Examples of the synthesis of pyrrolidines, bicyclic beta-lactams, hydrindanes, and tetrahydrofurans are described.     

Enantioselective organocatalyzed cascade reactions to highly functionalized quinolizidines

An organocatalyzed one-pot Michael addition-Pictet-Spengler sequence of β-ketoamides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed, which provided access to highly substituted indolo[2,3-α]quinolizidines and benzo[α]quinolizidines in moderate to good yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities. For aromatic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 1a-j products 10a-r containing a stable enol configuration were obtained.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric 5-hydroxypyrrolidine synthesis: a highly enantioselective route to 3-substituted proline derivatives

The highly enantioselective organocatalytic tandem reaction between 2-acylaminomalonates and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The reaction is a direct entry to 5-hydroxypyrrolidines and 3-substituted proline derivatives, which are furnished in high yields and 90-99% ee.     

Catalytic asymmetric [4+2] annulation initiated by an aza-rauhut-currier reaction: facile entry to highly functionalized tetrahydropyridines

Under control: The first example of chiral amino phosphine catalysts for the title reaction between vinyl ketones and N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1,3-dienes has been developed. Under ambient conditions, this protocol provides straightforward access to densely functionalized, enantioenriched tetrahydropyridines with high levels of sterecontrol in good to excellent yields.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products via lithium amide conjugate addition

A three-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products has been developed. This procedure involves the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-methyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester to generate an N-protected β-amino ester in high de. Subsequent asymmetric aldol reaction via deprotonation with LDA, transmetallation with B(OMe)₃ and addition of an aldehyde gives a range of syn-aldol products in moderate to high de. Purification of the syn-aldol products to homogeneity followed by tandem N-oxidation and Cope elimination gives the desired β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products in good yield and high de and ee.     

A facile synthesis of highly functionalized 4-arylcoumarins via Kostanecki reactions mediated by DBU

An efficient synthesis of 4-arylcoumarins has been accomplished via Kostanecki reactions of 2-hydroxybenzophenones with acetic anhydride employing DBU at ambient temperature. Using the same strategy, several 2-acyloxybenzophenone derivatives were readily converted to 3,4-difunctionalized coumarins. This protocol offers a notable improvement in reaction conditions for coumarin synthesis and takes advantage of its synthetic capability, especially for highly functionalized 4-arylcoumarins with structural diversity.     

Metal-mediated carbonyl-1,3-butadien-2-ylation by 1,4-bis(methanesulfonyl)-2-butyne or 1,4-dibromo-2-butyne in aqueous media: asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams

Metal-mediated 1,3-butadien-2-ylation reactions between 1,4-dibromo-2-butyne or 1,4-bis(methanesulfonyl)-2-butyne and optically pure azetidine-2,3-diones were investigated in aqueous media, offering a convenient asymmetric entry to the potentially bioactive 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactam moiety. The diastereoselectivity of the addition reaction was controlled by the bulky chiral auxiliary at C4. However, while the regioselectivity of the process was full, the chemical yield of the addition was a function of the nature of both the metal reagent and the system solvent as well. In addition, 2-azetidinone-tethered 1,3-butadienes can easily be transformed into other functionalities via Diels-Alder reaction.     

Synthesis of highly functionalized furanones via aldol reaction of 3-silyloxyfurans

[reaction: see text] The stereoselective aldol reaction of 3-silyloxyfurans with aldehydes in the presence of a Lewis acid is described. N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS)-mediated cyclization of the aldol product leads to the formation of the 2,7-dioxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one ring system, which represents the formal product of hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the furan with the aldehyde.     

Chiral calcium VAPOL phosphate mediated asymmetric chlorination and Michael reactions of 3-substituted oxindoles

We disclose a novel high yielding and highly enantioselective chiral calcium VAPOL phosphate-catalyzed chlorination of 3-substituted oxindoles with N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS). The reaction conditions are also shown to be effective for the catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of 3-aryloxindoles to methyl vinyl ketone.     

DABCO catalyzed facile synthesis of highly functionalized pyrazolines from Baylis-Hillman acetates and ethyl diazoacetate

A convenient synthesis of pyrazolines is reported via DABCO mediated reaction of ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) with Baylis-Hillman acetates. The products were obtained in good to excellent yields (70-95%).     

Dioxindole in asymmetric catalytic synthesis: direct access to 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles via 1,4-additions to nitroalkenes

The asymmetric Michael addition of dioxindoles to β-substituted nitroalkenes is reported. The bifunctional primary amine-thiourea A, by means of a non-covalent-based mode of catalysis, secures direct access to 3-substituted 3-hydroxyoxindole derivatives with high stereocontrol.