Efficient Synthesis of N‐Alkylated 4‐Pyridones by Copper‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Propargylic Amination

Copper‐catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric propargylic amination with 4‐hydroxypyridines has been realized for the first time. In the presence of Cu complex derived from Pybox ligand, the N‐propargylated 4‐pyridones were obtained under mild reaction conditions with up to 99 % yield and 95 % ee. The Pybox ligand bearing a 4‐F‐phenyl substituent plays a key role for the high enantioselectivity. The products can be easily transformed to the core structure of quinolizidine alkaloids.     

Enantioselective Formation of Cyano‐Bearing All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters: Desymmetrization by Copper‐Catalyzed N‐Arylation

The enantioselective construction of all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters is one of the most challenging fields in asymmetric synthesis. An asymmetric desymmetrization strategy offers an indirect and efficient method for the formation of all‐carbon stereocenters. An enantioselective formation of cyano‐bearing all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters in 1,2,3,4,‐tetrahydroquinolines and 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐benzo[b]azepines by copper‐catalyzed desymmetric N‐arylation is demonstrated. The cyano group at the prochiral center plays a key role for the high enantioselectivity and works as an important functional group for further transformations. DFT studies provide a model which successfully accounts for the origin of enantioselectivity.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Benzoxazoles,Benzothiazoles, and Benzimidazoles

An iridium‐catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction of benzoxazoles, benzothiazoles, and benzimidazoles was developed. The reaction was found to be compatible with a wide range of five‐membered‐ring electron‐deficient heteroaromatic compounds and furnished the corresponding dearomatized heterocycles in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of 3a‐Amino‐Pyrroloindolines by Copper‐Catalyzed Direct Asymmetric Dearomative Amination of Tryptamines

A direct asymmetric dearomative amination of tryptamines with O‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)hydroxylamine (DPH) was achieved using CuBr‐bisoxazoline complex as a catalyst, affording 3a‐amino‐pyrroloindolines in good to excellent enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the synthetic value of this method was demonstrated in the total synthesis of (?)‐psychotriasine in a highly concise manner.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Dearomatization of β‐Naphthols with Allyl Alcohols or Allyl Ethers

An Ir‐catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric dearomatization reaction of β‐naphthols with allyl alcohols or allyl ethers was developed. When an iridium catalyst generated from [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ (COD=cyclooctadiene) and a chiral P/olefin ligand is employed, highly functionalized β‐naphthalenone compounds bearing an all‐carbon‐substituted quaternary chiral center were obtained in up to 92 % yield and 98 % ee . The direct utilization of allyl alcohols as electrophiles represents an improvement from the viewpoint of atom economy. Allyl ethers were found to undergo asymmetric allylic substitution reaction under Ir catalysis for the first time. The diverse transformations of the dearomatized product to various motifs render this method attractive.     

Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Allylic Dearomatization of Indoles by a Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

Bridged indoline derivatives were synthesized by an intermolecular Pd‐catalyzed allylic dearomatization reaction of substituted indoles. The reaction between indoles and allyl carbonates bearing a nucleophilic alcohol side‐chain proceeds in a cascade fashion, providing bridged indolines in excellent enantioselectivity.     

Highly Regio‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of N‐Substituted 2‐Pyridones: Iridium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Allylic Amination

The first iridium‐catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric allylic amination reaction with 2‐hydroxypyridines has been developed, thus providing a highly efficient synthesis of enantioenriched N‐substituted 2‐pyridone derivatives from readily available starting materials. This protocol features a good tolerance of functional groups in both the allylic carbonates and 2‐hydroxypyridines, thereby delivering multifunctionalized heterocyclic products with up to 98 % yield and 99 % ee.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Dihydrofurans through Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition of β‐Ketoesters with Propargylic Esters

An enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized dihydrofurans through a copper‐catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of β‐ketoesters with propargylic esters has been developed. With a combination of Cu(OTf)₂ and a chiral tridentate P,N,N ligand as the catalyst, a variety of 2,3‐dihydrofurans bearing an exocyclic double bond at the 2 position were obtained in good chemical yields and with good to high enantioselectivities. The exocyclic double bond can be hydrogenated in a highly diastereoselective fashion to give unusual cis‐2,3‐dihydrofuran derivatives, thus further enhancing the scope of this transformation.     

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Cascade Dearomatization Reaction of Indoles with Propargyl Carbonate

An intermolecular asymmetric cascade dearomatization reaction of indole derivatives with propargyl carbonate was developed. The challenges associated with both the chemoselectivity between the carbon and nitrogen nucleophile and the enantioselective control during the formation of an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center were well addressed by a Pd catalytic system derived from the Feringa ligand. A series of enantioenriched multiply substituted fused indolenines were provided in good yields (71–86 %) with excellent enantioselectivity (91–96 % ee) and chemoselectivity ( 3 / 4 >19:1 in most cases).     

Hydrogenative Dearomatization of Pyridine and an Asymmetric Aza‐Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Sequence

Highly efficient synthesis of enantiomerically enriched substituted piperidines has been realized via chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed cascade hydrogenative dearomatization of substituted pyridines and aza‐Friedel‐Crafts reaction in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivity.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Arylative Dearomatization of 2,3‐Disubstituted Indoles Enabled by Tandem Reactions

The organocatalytic asymmetric arylative dearomatization of indoles was achieved through two tandem approaches involving 2,3‐disubstituted indoles and quinone imine ketals. One approach utilized the enantioselective cascade 1,4 addition/alcohol elimination reaction, the other employed the one‐pot tandem arylative dearomatization/transfer hydrogenation sequence. In both cases, enantiomerically pure indole derivatives that bear an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center were generated in high yields and excellent stereoselectivities (all d.r.>95:5, up to 99 % ee).     

Skeletal Rearrangement of O‐Propargylic Formaldoximes by a Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization/Intermolecular Methylene Transfer Sequence

Skeletal rearrangement of O‐propargylic formaldoximes, in the presence of gold catalysts, afforded 4‐methylene‐2‐isoxazolines in good to excellent yields by an intermolecular methylene transfer. In addition, the cascade reaction with maleimide in the presence of a gold catalyst afforded isoxazole derivatives by cyclization/methylene transfer and a subsequent ene reaction, whereas that using a copper catalyst gave oxazepines through a 2,3‐rearrangement.