Chiral amidophosphane-copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to nitroalkenes

The copper-amidophosphane-catalyzed asymmetric addition reaction of dialkylzinc reagents with β-aryl and β-alkylnitroalkenes afforded the corresponding nitroalkanes with moderate to good enantioselectivities (54-80% ee). The performance was highly dependent on the reaction procedure where the addition of nitroalkene to the mixture of copper-amidophosphane and dialkylzinc gave higher ee than the addition of dialkylzinc to a mixture of copper-amidophosphane and nitroalkene.     

Stereoselective conjugate additions of Grignard reagents to cyclopentadienones

Conjugate addition reactions of Grignard reagents with cyclopentadienones having trimethylsilyl groups at the α and α′ positions, and 1-hydroxyethyl substitutents at the β and β′ positions, are reported; excellent stereoselectivity was observed and the relative stereochemistry of three of the products was determined by X-ray methods.     

Copper(I) iodide dimethyl sulfide catalyzed 1,4-addition of alkenyl groups from alkenyl-alkylzincate reagents

The presence of catalytic quantities of the copper(I) iodide dimethyl sulfide complex {(CuI)₄(SMe₂)₃} with alkenyl-alkylzincate reagents allows for the complete chemoselective 1,4-addition of various alkenyl groups to a number of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in CH₂Cl₂ at +35 °C. The 1,4-addition of the mixed vinylzincate reagent is more efficient than the corresponding vinylzirconocene reagent in CH₂Cl₂ or THF. By employing CH₂Cl₂ as a medium, the asymmetric copper-catalyzed addition of the vinyl groups to α,β-unsaturated imides is facilitated by the presence of TMSOTf to give excellent yields and up to 95:5 diastereomeric ratios (dr).     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to acyclic enones using monodentate phosphoramidite ligands

Herein, we report efficient catalysts based on phosphoramidites for the asymmetric copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to acyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones. A variety of Grignard reagents can be added to aliphatic and aromatic acyclic enones with good yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities.     

Highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones with spirocyclic phosphoramidite ligands

A series of spirocyclic phosphoramidite ligands 6-9 with different substituents on the amine moiety were synthesized from the chiral spirocyclic diol (R)-5. These monodentate ligands have been applied in copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones. Excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) can be achieved by the use of ligand (R,S,S)-9 bearing stereochemically matched structure derived from the C₂-symmetric (S,S)-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine.     

Asymmetric syntheses of dihydroxyhomoprolines via doubly diastereoselective lithium amide conjugate addition reactions

The asymmetric syntheses of novel dihydroxyhomoprolines have been achieved using the doubly diastereoselective conjugate additions of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a set of four chiral α,β-unsaturated esters (derived from d-pentoses) as one of the key steps. A full account of the diastereoselectivity observed in these conjugate additions is presented and the stereochemical outcomes of these reactions have been established unambiguously via a combination of hydrogenolytic chemical correlation and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. A tandem hydrogenolysis/intramolecular reductive amination reaction was then used to create the corresponding enantiopure pyrrolidines, providing access to (2′S,3′S,4′R)-dihydroxyhomoproline and (2′S,3′R,4′S)-dihydroxyhomoproline after deprotection.     

Asymmetric conjugate additions of α-substituted-α-cyanoacetates to acetylenic ketones by chiral phase transfer catalysis

Asymmetric conjugate addition of α-substituted-α-cyanoacetates to acetylenic ketones has been achieved with high enantioselectivity and moderate E/Z selectivity under the influence of our recently designed, binaphthyl-modified 3,5-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phenyl substituted phase transfer catalyst.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral tertiary borylated phosphonates by copper-catalyzed conjugate borylation

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate borylation of α,β-unsaturated phosphonates with bis(pinacolato)diboron affords chiral tertiary organoboronate esters with a vicinal phosphonate group in good yields and enantiomeric excess. Linear aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic substituents at the β-position can be accommodated, and oxidation of the borylated organophosphonate products leads to β-hydroxyphosphonates.     

Efficient access to chiral β-arylamides via asymmetric 1,4-additions of potassium trifluoro(organo)borates

This paper describes an efficient enantioselective conjugate addition of highly stable potassium trifluoro(organo)borates to α,β-unsaturated amides. This reaction, catalyzed by chiral rhodium(I) complexes affords Michael adducts with high yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 95%.     

Acid-catalyzed conjugate additions to 3-fluorobutenone

3-Fluorobutenone (2) reacts under Zn(II) catalysis in ethanol solution with active methylene compounds such as anthrone and aromatic phenols to give products of the addition of one unit of 3-fluorobutenone.     

Novel guanidinyl pyrrolidine salt-based bifunctional organocatalysts: application in asymmetric conjugate addition of malonates to enones

Novel guanidinyl pyrrolidine salts are useful bifunctional organocatalysts for the asymmetric addition of malonates to enones. These organocatalysts are effective under a wide range of reaction conditions and afford products in high yield and enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of alicyclic esters via an intramolecular conjugate addition reaction. New method for generating (Z)-vinylcopper species from 1,1-dibromoalkenes

A novel cyclization reaction of a 1,1-dibromoalkene derivative having an α,β-unsaturated ester moiety was developed. Under the influence of Me₂CuLi, the 1,1-dibromoalkene was converted into a (Z)-vinylcopper species which in turn underwent an intramolecular conjugate addition reaction with the α,β-unsaturated ester moiety. Five-, six-, and seven-membered carbocycles were constructed by the present method. The substrate having an epoxide moiety also afforded a five-membered product via a 5-exo type intramolecular cyclization reaction.     

Diastereoselective conjugate addition/cyclization/bromination: Access to four stereocenters in a single step

A stereoselective tandem conjugate addition reaction with a chiral amine-derived nucleophile is reported in which the enolate intermediate is quenched with 1,2-dibromotetrachloroethane as a mild brominating reagent. X-ray analysis of a subsequent derivative was used to prove the configuration at each of the four newly formed stereocenters. The resulting α-bromoester underwent selective transesterification catalyzed by mild base to allow selective manipulation of the two ester groups of the product.     

Concise synthesis of valuable chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid via construction of chiral N-Boc-3-benzyl-5-oxoisoxazolidine through cross-metathesis/conjugate addition/oxidation

Valuable chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid was concisely synthesized via construction of chiral NBoc-3-benzyl-5-oxoisoxazolidine through cross-metathesis/conjugate addition/oxidation.All of the starting materials for the synthesis of chiral N-Boc-β-benzyl-β-amino acid are cheap,and two-step short procedure make it easy for the rapid construction of various chiral β-arylmethyl-β-amino acids and important drugs,such as sitagliptin phosphate.     

1,4-Addition reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate to Michael acceptors in the presence of copper powder: Improvement of the reaction using TMEDA as an additive

Reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate with a variety of Michael acceptors was tremendously improved by the addition of TMEDA. Using this additive, 1,4-adducts were formed exclusively, and any 1,2-adducts or radical adducts were not obtained. THF or other low boiling solvents can be used as a solvent. This simplifies the work-up of the reaction effectively.     

Highly diastereoselective aldol additions to five-ring N,O-acetals

Highly diastereoselective aldol additions of pure (2R,4S)-2-tert-butyloxazolidinone-3,4-dicarboxylic acid 3-tert-butyl ester 4-methyl ester 1 are reported. While achiral carbonyl compounds lead to mixtures of diastereomers, the double stereodifferentiation of chiral aldehydes gave a single product isomer. The relative and absolute configurations of the aldol products were assigned by NOESY.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones using a copper phosphino-phenol complex as catalyst

Newly designed phosphino-phenol 1c was found to be an efficient chiral auxiliary for copper-mediated asymmetric conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones. High enantioselectivity up to >99% ee was achieved in the reaction of acyclic α,β-enones.     

Formation of highly substituted chiral cyclohexanone derivatives using a tandem conjugate addition/cyclisation

A tandem conjugate addition/cyclisation approach, that allows the synthesis of chiral highly substituted cyclohexanones and cyclohexenones, which is applicable to natural product syntheses has been developed.