Copper-catalyzed asymmetric silylative cyclization of cyclohexadienone-containing 1,6-enynes

The first copper-catalyzed asymmetric silylative cyclization of cyclohexadienone-containing 1,6-enynes has been accomplished through a tandem process: regioselective silylcupration of terminal unactivated alkynes and subsequently enantioselective conjugate addition to cyclohexadienones. This reaction proceeded smoothly to afford the cis-hydrobenzofuran and cis-hydroindole frameworks bearing two consecutive chiral carbon centers in high to excellent yields and moderate enantioselectivities. Additionally, the cyclization products could be readily subjected to several transformations for elaborating synthetic utilities.     

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H functionalizations: trends and mechanistic insights

The selective oxidation of C-H bonds and the use of O(2) as a stoichiometric oxidant represent two prominent challenges in organic chemistry. Copper(II) is a versatile oxidant, capable of promoting a wide range of oxidative coupling reactions initiated by single-electron transfer (SET) from electron-rich organic molecules. Many of these reactions can be rendered catalytic in Cu by employing molecular oxygen as a stoichiometric oxidant to regenerate the active copper(II) catalyst. Meanwhile, numerous other recently reported Cu-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions feature substrates that are electron-deficient or appear unlikely to undergo single-electron transfer to copper(II). In some of these cases, evidence has been obtained for the involvement of organocopper(III) intermediates in the reaction mechanism. Organometallic C-H oxidation reactions of this type represent important new opportunities for the field of Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidations.     

Copper-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenyl oxindoles

Herein we describe the NHC-Cu(I)-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenyl oxindoles. The corresponding boronates were obtained in good yields, under operationally simple and environmentally friendly conditions, using ethanol as the solvent. Our studies revealed that water-based systems were not very effective. Furthermore, the obtained products are amenable to further elaboration and can be useful to the synthesis of a broader range of oxindole-containing molecules with biological relevance.     

Catalytic intermolecular amination of C-H bonds: method development and mechanistic insights

Reaction methodology for intermolecular C-H amination of benzylic and 3 degrees C-H bonds is described. This process uses the starting alkane as the limiting reagent, gives optically pure tetrasubstituted amines through stereospecific insertion into enantiomeric 3 degrees centers, displays high chemoselectivity for benzylic oxidation, and enables the facile preparation of isotopically enriched 15N-labeled compounds. Access to substituted amines, amino alcohols, and diamines is thereby made possible in a single transformation. Important information relevant to understanding the initial steps in the catalytic cycle, reaction chemoselectivity, the nature of the active oxidant, and pathways for catalyst inactivation has been gained through mechanistic analysis; these studies are also presented.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of alkenyl alanes to N-substituted-2-3-dehydro-4-piperidones

Readily available vinyl alanes are used in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition reaction to N-substituted-2-3-dehydro-4-piperidones. The enhanced reactivity of recently developed and easily prepared phosphine amine ligands in combination with inexpensive Cu(II)naphtenate (CuNp) allows the introduction of a great variety of alkenyl, alkyl, and aryl aluminums in high enantioselectivity.     

A new cine-substitution of alkenyl sulfones with aryltitanium reagents catalyzed by rhodium: mechanistic studies and catalytic asymmetric synthesis of allylarenes

The reaction of alkenyl sulfones with aryltitanium triisopropoxide (ArTi(OPr-i )3) in the presence of 3 mol % of [Rh(OH)((S)-binap)]2 in THF at 40 degrees C gave high yield of cine-substitution products. The catalytic cycle was established by deuterium-labeling studies, and it was applied to catalytic asymmetric synthesis of allylarenes which proceeds with over 99% enantioselectivity.     

Gas-phase carbene radical anions: new mechanistic insights

The gas-phase reactivity of the CHCl*- anion has been investigated with a series of halomethanes (CCl4, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, and CH3Cl) using a FA-SIFT instrument. Results show that this anion primarily reacts via substitution and by proton transfer. In addition, the reactions of CHCl*- with CHCl3 and CH2Cl2 form minor amounts of Cl2*- and Cl-. The isotopic distribution of these two products is consistent with an insertion-elimination mechanism, where the anion inserts into a C-Cl bond to form an unstable intermediate, which eliminates either Cl2*- or Cl- and Cl*. Neutral and cationic carbenes are known to insert into single bonds; however, this is the first observation of such reactivity for carbene anions.     

Copper-catalyzed radical oxytrifluoromethylation of alkenyl oximes at ambient temperature

A mild and efficient copper-catalyzed radical oxytrifluoromethylation reaction of alkenyl oximes was successfully developed. The method provides a straightforward access to a wide range of CF₃-containing isoxazolines in good to excellent yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed cyclization/carboalkoxylation of alkenyl indoles

Reaction of 1-methyl-2-(4-pentenyl)indole with a catalytic amount of PdCl2(CH3CN)2 (5 mol %) and a stoichiometric amount of CuCl2 (3 equiv) in methanol under CO (1 atm) at room temperature for 30 min led to cyclization/carboalkoxylation to form the corresponding tetrahydrocarbazole in 83% isolated yield as a single regioisomer. Palladium-catalyzed cyclization/carboalkoxylation of 2-(4-pentenyl)indoles tolerated substitution along the alkenyl chain and at the internal and cis-terminal olefinic positions. Palladium-catalyzed cyclization/carboalkoxylation tolerated a range of alcohols and was effective for the cyclization of 2-(3-butenyl)indoles, 3-(3-butenyl)indoles, 3-(4-pentenyl)indoles, and 2-(5-hexenyl)indoles.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of sulfides

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric sulfoxidation of aryl benzyl and aryl alkyl sulfides, using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, has been investigated. A relationship between the steric effects of the sulfide substituents and the enantioselectivity of the oxidation has been observed, with up to 93% ee for 2-naphthylmethyl phenyl sulfoxide, in modest yield in this instance (up to 30%). The influence of variation of solvent and ligand structure was examined, and the optimized conditions were then used to oxidize a number of aryl alkyl and aryl benzyl sulfides, producing sulfoxides in excellent yields in most cases (up to 92%), and good enantiopurities in certain cases (up to 84% ee).     

Unexpected migration and oxidative cyclization of substituted 2-acetophenone triflates under basic conditions: synthetic and mechanistic insights

Oxidative ring closure of alkyl-substituted 2-hydroxyacetophenone trifluoromethanesulfonate esters (triflates) occurs upon exposure to base in anaerobic DMF at 20-90 degrees C. Alkyl substitution is required for ring closure. A migrated enol triflate product forms at lower temperature in high yield via migration of the trifluoromethanesulfonate in the unsubstituted and monoalkyl-substituted cases. The alkyl-substituted enol triflates also enter into the benzofuran-3-one ring-forming process under thermal cyclization conditions. Potential mechanistic pathways are evaluated.     

Copper-catalyzed cyclization of iodo-tryptophans: a straightforward synthesis of pyrroloindoles

Pyrroloindoles are a key structural motif found in a wide number of biologically active alkaloids. Intramolecular copper-catalyzed coupling of readily accessible 2-iodo-tryptophan derivatives occurs in excellent yield, affording a wide range of polysubstituted, enantioenriched tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3- b]indoles. Diketopiperazines are also suitable substrates for this cyclization reaction, which affords a straightforward entry to tetra- to hepta-polycyclic systems.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of 3,3-diarylacrylonitriles

CuH-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate reduction of 3,3-diaryl-substituted acrylonitriles is described. A range of 3-aryl-3-pyridylacrylonitriles were reduced with high levels of enantioselectivity under optimal conditions employing a copper/Josiphos complex in the presence of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS).     

Alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactones from copper-catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama reactions of aldehydes: scope and mechanistic insights

A direct regio-, diastereo-, and enantiocontrolled access to alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactones is described, based on the reaction of a silyl dienolate and an aldehyde in the presence of 10 % of Carreira's catalyst. The scope and limitations of this reaction, as well as mechanistic insights concerning the reactivity of an allyl copper species, are discussed.     

Dramatic acceleration of the pd-catalyzed [4+2] benzannulation reaction of enynes and diynes in the presence of lewis acids and bases: expanded scope and new mechanistic insights

Dramatic acceleration of the palladium catalyzed [4+2] benzannulation and sequential [2+2+2] trimerization reactions in the presence of a Lewis acid/phosphine combination or in the presence of Bronsted bases has been explored. These novel sets of conditions allowed for remarkable enhancement of reaction rates and broadening of the substrate scope and for a significant improvement of reaction yields, particularly for problematic pentasubstituted benzenes. It was found that the real nature of Lewis acid acceleration does not only lie in the isomerization of conjugated enynes but also in the direct acceleration of the [4+2] benzannulation reaction. These experimental findings, combined with the deuterium-labeling studies and DFT calculations, led to a mechanistic rationale, which (a) reasonably accounts for the observed acceleration of the reaction by Lewis acid and bases; (b) provides a viable alternative route for the ring-closing step in the mechanism of benzannulation; (c) clarifies the mechanism of hydrogen migration; and (d) for the first time provides a rationale for the origins of the remarkable stereoselectivity of the hydrogen migration during the benzannulation reaction.     

Lanthanide triflate-promoted palladium-catalyzed cyclization of alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides

[reaction: see text] Lanthanide triflates were found to promote the palladium-catalyzed cyclization of alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides. In the presence of catalytic amounts of PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2) and Ln(OTf)(3), various alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides underwent regioselective cyclization reactions to give six-, seven-, or eight-membered-ring carbocycles in moderate to excellent yields.     

Stereochemistry-59: New insights into the mechanism of the proline-catalyzed asymmetric robinson cyclization; structure of two intermediates. asymmetric dehydration

Two sets of results give information about the mechanism of carbonyl activation by (S)-proline during asymmetric syntheses: (i) X-ray structures of two ketols produced by the proline-induced cyclization of triketones; (ii) (S)-Proline-catalyzed asymmetric dehydration of (±)-β ketols leading to optically active enones.     

Direct synthesis of fused indoles by gold-catalyzed cascade cyclization of diynes

A direct, concise, and atom-economical synthetic method for the generation of fused indoles, using a gold-catalyzed cascade cyclization of diynes, has been developed. The reaction gave various fused indoles, such as aryl-annulated[a]carbazoles, dihydrobenzo[g]indoles, and azepino- or oxepinoindole derivatives in good to excellent yields, through an intramolecular cascade 5-endo-dig hydroamination followed by a 6- or 7-endo-dig cycloisomerization, without producing theoretical byproduct. Three of the resulting indoles exhibited potent antifungal activities against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum, demonstrating the practical application of the described cascade reaction for drug discovery.     

Ammonium-directed olefinic epoxidation: kinetic and mechanistic insights

The ammonium-directed olefinic epoxidations of a range of differentially N-substituted cyclic allylic and homoallylic amines (derived from cyclopentene, cyclohexene, and cycloheptene) have been investigated, and the reaction kinetics have been analyzed. The results of these studies suggest that both the ring size and the identity of the substituents on nitrogen are important in determining both the overall rate and the stereochemical outcome of the epoxidation reaction. In general, secondary amines or tertiary amines with nonsterically demanding substituents on nitrogen are superior to tertiary amines with sterically demanding substituents on nitrogen in their ability to promote the oxidation reaction. Furthermore, in all cases examined, the ability of the (in situ formed) ammonium substituent to direct the stereochemical course of the epoxidation reaction is either comparable or superior to that of the analogous hydroxyl substituent. Much slower rates of ring-opening of the intermediate epoxides are observed in cyclopentene-derived and cycloheptene-derived allylic amines as compared with their cyclohexene-derived allylic and homoallylic amine counterparts, allowing for isolation of these intermediates in both of the former cases.