A powerful new strategy for diversity-oriented synthesis of pyrroles from donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and nitriles

Lewis acid activated donor-acceptor cyclopropanes react with aliphatic, aromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles in a novel cascade [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition, dehydration, and tautomerization sequence to afford pyrroles in moderate to excellent overall yield. This cost-effective and regiospecific method is ideally suited for the preparation of combinatorial libraries. [reaction: see text]     

Formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and nitriles

Donor-acceptor cyclopropanes activated with Me3SiOTf cleave to reactive intermediates that can be efficiently intercepted by nitriles in a formal [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Aliphatic, aromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles are excellent reaction partners, giving synthetically useful 2H-3,4-dihydropyrrole cycloaddition products in high yield.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic Mukaiyama-Michael addition of silyl enol ethers to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes

[reaction: see text] A highly enantioselective, organocatalytic Mukaiyama-Michael addition reaction of silyl ethers and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The process, catalyzed by MacMillan's chiral imidazolidinone, affords delta-keto aldehydes in high yields (56-87%) and high enantioselectivities (85-97% ee). Moreover, the reaction is applicable to a wide range of silyl ethers and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and, as such, provides access to a range of important synthetic building blocks.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids and derivatives

It is shown that racemic oxazolones are excellent reagents for the synthesis of chiral quaternary amino acids and its derivatives by the diastereo- and enantioselective nucleophilic addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by diarylprolinol silyl ethers. The scope of this new organocatalytic reaction is demonstrated for different oxazolones having aromatic and alkyl groups at the reactive carbon atom and different aromatic and aliphatic substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, for which the stereoselective reaction proceeds with good yield, moderate to good to very high diastereoselectivity, and very high enantioselectivity. The potential of the reaction is shown for the synthesis of optically active alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids, alpha-quaternary proline derivatives, amino alcohols, lactams, and tetrahydropyranes. Furthermore, we have calculated by DFT-methods the transition-state structures that account for both the diastereo- and enantioselectivity observed for the addition of oxazolones to the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. For one class of compounds, the stereoselectivity is controlled by a hydrogen-bonding interaction of the enolate-form of the oxazolone with an ortho-hydroxy-phenyl substituent of the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, whereas the benzhydryl-protecting group in the oxazolone determines the diastereo- and enantioselectivity in a more general manner for both aromatic and aliphatic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes.     

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective organocatalytic cascade aza-Michael-Michael reactions: a direct method for the synthesis of trisubstituted chiral pyrrolidines

An unprecedented highly enantio- and diastereoselective cascade aza-Michael-Michael reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with trans-gamma-Ts protected amino alpha,beta-unsaturated ester has been developed; the simple and practical process, efficiently catalyzed by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether, serves as a powerful access to highly functionalized trisubstituted chiral pyrrolidines.     

Selective synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by dibutyltin dimethoxide-catalyzed condensation of aldehydes with alkenyl trichloroacetates

Various alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones were stereoselectively synthesized in high yields up to 94% by a condensation reaction between alkenyl trichloroacetates and aldehydes using dibutyltin dimethoxide as a catalyst in the presence of methanol. This process is superior to the classical Claisen-Schmidt condensation with respect to mildness of the base catalyst and product selectivity.     

Dienamine catalysis: organocatalytic asymmetric gamma-amination of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes

A new concept in organocatalysis is presented, the direct asymmetric gamma-functionalization of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. We disclose that secondary amines can invert the usual reactivity of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, enabling a direct gamma-amination of the carbonyl compound using azodicarboxylates as the electrophilic nitrogen-source. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated for the enantioselective gamma-amination of different alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, giving the products in moderate to good yields and with high enantioselectivities up to 93% ee. Experimental investigations and DFT calculations indicate that the reaction might proceed as a hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. Such a mechanism can explain the "unexpected" stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

Tandem oxidation processes for the preparation of functionalized cyclopropanes

[reaction: see text] A novel manganese dioxide-mediated tandem oxidation process (TOP) has been developed which allows the direct conversion of allylic alcohols into cyclopropanes, the intermediate aldehydes being trapped in situ with a stabilized sulfur-ylide. This methodology has been applied successfully to a variety of allylic alcohols and to a formal synthesis of the simple, naturally occurring lignan, (+/-)-picropodophyllone.     

Palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones with aryl iodides

Unlike traditionally used acyclic 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, the reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated phenyl sulfones with aryl iodides under Heck reaction conditions (Pd(OAc)(2) as catalyst, Ag(2)CO(3) as base in DMF at 120 (0)C) takes place mainly by a cascade process, involving one unit of the alkene and three units of the aryl iodide, to afford a substituted 9-phenylsulfonyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene. The dominant formation of this 3:1 coupling product, instead of the Heck trisubstituted olefin, shows that aromatic C-H bond activation processes can compete with the usually fast syn beta-hydrogen elimination step in the Heck arylation of an acyclic olefin. The structural scope of this palladium-catalyzed cascade arylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones has proved to be wide with regard to substitution at the beta-position (alkyl, aryl, or alkenyl substitution), substitution at the sulfone unit (alkyl or phenyl sulfones), and configuration at the CdoublebondC bond (trans or cis). Moreover, although less favored than in the case of the arylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones, similarly substituted 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes have also been obtained in the case of alpha,beta-unsaturated phosphine oxides and alpha,beta-unsaturated phosphonate esters. A Pd(0)-Pd(II)-Pd(IV) mechanistic pathway involving the successive formation of highly electrophilic sigma-alkylpalladium intermediates and palladacycles is proposed for this multicomponent arylation.     

Simple synthesis of 1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopropanes

A new, simple synthesis of 1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopropanes has been discovered. It is based on the reaction of readily available 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)thietanes with tertiary phosphines in a polar solvent, which leads to an unusual desulfurization process, resulting in the formation of 1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2-alkoxy cyclopropanes. The process of the corresponding thietanes appears to be sensitive to the steric volume of the atom connected to carbon in α-position to sulfur.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate and (-)-cubebaol

[reaction: see text] The first highly enantioselective organocatalyzed carbo [3 + 3] cascade cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Using this methodology, crotonaldehyde is converted to 6-hydroxy-4-methylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde, which is used in the synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate, (-)-cubebaol, and p-tolualdehyde as well as (-)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol acetate, an intermediate in the total synthesis of lycopodium alkaloid magellanine. Other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes give rise to chiral cyclohexadienes via formal [4 + 2] reactions.     

Allylation of donor--acceptor cyclopropanes

[reaction: see text] Direct allylation of glycal-derived donor-acceptor cyclopropanes has been achieved with TiCl(4) activation followed by addition of allyltrimethylsilane. The alpha diastereomer is the major product, with selectivities ranging from 3:1 to 10:1 and yields around 80%.     

Lewis base activation of Lewis acids: catalytic, enantioselective vinylogous aldol addition reactions

The generality of Lewis base catalyzed, Lewis acid mediated, enantioselective vinylogous aldol addition reactions has been investigated. The combination of silicon tetrachloride and chiral phosphoramides is a competent catalyst for highly selective additions of a variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone-, 1,3-diketone-, and alpha,beta-unsaturated amide-derived dienolates to aldehydes. These reactions provided high levels of gamma-site selectivity for a variety of substitution patterns on the dienyl unit. Both ketone- and morpholine amide-derived dienol ethers afforded high enantio- and diastereoselectivity in the addition to conjugated aldehydes. Although alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone-derived dienolate did not react with aliphatic aldehydes, alpha,beta-unsaturated amide-derived dienolates underwent addition at reasonable rates affording high yields of vinylogous aldol product. The enantioselectivities achieved with the morpholine derived-dienolate in the addition to aliphatic aldehydes was the highest afforded to date with the silicon tetrachloride-chiral phosphoramide system. Furthermore, the ability to cleanly convert the morpholine amide to a methyl ketone was demonstrated.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic cyclopropanations. The identification of a new class of iminium catalyst based upon directed electrostatic activation

A new method for enantioselective organocatalytic cyclopropanation is described. This study outlines the identification of a new class of iminium catalyst based on the concept of directed electrostatic activation (DEA). This novel organocatalytic mechanism exploits dual activation of ylide and enal substrates through a proposed electrostatic activation and stereodirected protocol. Formation of trisubstituted cyclopropanes with high levels of enantio- and diastereoinduction is accomplished for a variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and sulfonium ylides. In addition, mechanistic studies have found that this cyclopropanation reaction exhibits enantioselectivity and reactivity profiles that are in accord with the proposed DEA step.     

One-pot synthesis of 2-substituted indoles from 2-aminobenzyl phosphonium salts. A formal total synthesis of arcyriacyanin A

The reaction of (2-aminobenzyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide with aromatic aldehydes or alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes under microwave-assisted conditions constitutes a new synthesis of 2-substituted indoles in high yields (81-97%) in a one-pot reaction. The adduct from indole-4-carboxaldehyde was an advanced intermediate in the synthesis of arcyriacyanin A.     

A new type of cascade reaction: direct conversion of carbonyl compounds and malononitrile into substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes

A new type of chemical cascade reaction was found: the direct formation of cyclopropanes from carbonyl compounds and C-H acid. The action of free halogen or active halogen containing compounds on a mixture of 1 equiv of carbonyl compound and 2 equiv of malononitrile in a basic alcohol solution results in the formation of substituted 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes in 15-80% yield. The latter are well-known precursors for the different bicyclic heterosystems, among them compounds containing a cyclopropane ring and possessing different types of pharmacological activity. Thus, the new, simple and efficient ‘one-pot’ way to substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes in 50-80% yield was found directly from such simple and reasonable starting compounds as aldehydes, or some cyclic ketones, or substituted cyclohexanones and malononitrile.     

Chiral Diphenylprolinol TES ether promoted conjugate addition-aldol-dehydration reactions between alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and 2-N-protected amino benzaldehydes

A conjugate addition-aldol-dehydration reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with 2-N-protected amino benzaldehydes has been developed. The process is promoted by (S)-diphenylprolinol TES ether to afford synthetically useful 1,2-dihydroquinolines in high enantioselectivities with good yields. [reaction: see text]     

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective Brassard type hetero-Diels-Alder approach to 5-methyl-containing alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactones

Two efficient new chiral copper (II) Schiff base complexes were developed for the highly enantio- and diastereoselective HDA reaction of Brassard type diene 1b with aldehydes, to afford the corresponding 5-methyl-containing alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactone derivatives in moderate yields, high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 anti/syn). On the basis of the absolute configuration of 4a-4j disclosed by X-ray diffraction and CD analysis, a possible transition-state model for the enantio- and diastereoselective catalytic reaction has been proposed.     

Direct amination of homoenolates catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes derived from N-mesityl-N-methyltriazolium salts are effective catalysts for generating homoenolate species from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. The unique intermediate adds to the electrophilic nitrogen of 1-acyl-2-aryldiazenes, and the resulting activated carbonyl unit undergoes an intramolecular acylation event. This formal [3+2] cycloaddition between alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and acylaryldiazenes, catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene, produces substituted pyrazolidinones in good yields. This new NHC-catalyzed reaction accommodates aromatic and alkyl alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and various aromatic diazenes. A chiral triazolium salt catalyzes the formation of the pyrazolidinone product in moderate yield and good enantioselectivity. The pyrazolidinones can undergo reductive N-N bond cleavage to give beta-amino acid derivatives.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic double Michael addition reactions

[reaction: see text] A novel organocatalytic, enantioselective domino double Michael addition reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with ethyl 4-mercapto-2-butenoate has been developed. The process is promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether to give chiral tetrahydrothiophenes in high to excellent levels of enantioselectivities.