Enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated imines and isocyanates

A [4+2] cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated imines and isocyanates catalyzed by a phosphoramidite-rhodium complex provides pyrimidinones in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Enantioselective intramolecular formal [2 + 4] annulation of acrylates and α,β-unsaturated imines catalyzed by amino acid derived phosphines

The first chiral phosphine-catalyzed activation of acrylates for intramolecular formal [2 + 4] reactions with unsaturated imines is described. The catalytic reactions afford N-heterocycles with exceptionally high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The [2 + 4] products are amenable for further transformations to useful molecules such as chiral piperidines and multicyclic structures.     

Transition-metal-free synthesis of polysubstituted pyrrole derivatives via [4 + 1] annulation of β-keto acids (C1 synthon) and α,β-unsaturated imines

A novel [4 + 1] annulation protocol for the synthesis of polysubstituted pyrrole derivatives from β-keto acids and α,β-unsaturated imines via a tandem Michael addition, decarboxylation and TBAI-catalyzed oxidative annulation has been developed. This method provides a new and facile application of β-keto acids as 1,1-nucleophilic/electrophilic type C1 synthons.     

Efficient synthesis of fluorinated α- and β-amino nitriles from fluoroalkylated α,β-unsaturated imines

A simple and efficient synthesis of fluoroalkylated α-amino nitrile (4) derivatives by regioselective 1,2-addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to fluoroalkylated α,β-unsaturated imines (1) is described. Fluoroalkylated β-amino nitriles (7) are also prepared by regioselective 1,2-addition of α-carbanions derived from acetonitrile to fluoroalkylated α,β-unsaturated imines (1). Fluoroalkylated α-(4) and β-amino nitriles (7) are also prepared through an ‘one pot’ procedure by reaction of enaminophosphonate 2 with BuLi, addition of aldehydes and subsequent addition of either trimethylsilyl cyanide or α-carbanion derived from acetonitrile. Basic hydrolysis of α-(4) and β-amino nitriles (7) gives fluoroalkylated α-(5) and β-amino acids (8).     

[2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines,acetylenedicarboxylates and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones

The domino [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones in dry methylene dichloride at room temperature afforded isomeric 2′-styryl-1,2′,3,4′-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indene-2,3′-pyridines] in good yields. Under similar conditions, the reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines with two molecules of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates resulted in 1-aryl-6-styryl-1,6-dihydropyridine-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylates. Additionally, the three-component reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines, dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate and benzoyl cyanide also gave isomeric 1,3-oxazine-4,5-dicarboxylates.     

DMAP-catalyzed [4+2] annulation of α-substituded allenoates with unsaturated pyrazolones

A DMAP-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of α-substituted allenoates with unsaturated pyrazolones has been achieved in dichloromethane at 40 °C, providing multisubstituted tetrahydropyrano [2,3-c]pyrazoles in good to excellent yields with moderate to good Z/E ratios. The allenoates worked as two-carbon synthons in the reaction.     

Total synthesis of (±)-hirsutine: application of phosphine-catalyzed imine-allene [4 + 2] annulation

The total synthesis of the indole alkaloid hirsutine has been achieved, with a key step being the application of our phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of an imine with ethyl α-methylallenoate. From commercially available indole-2-carboxaldehyde, the target was synthesized in 14 steps and 6.7% overall yield.     

A novel α,β-unsaturated nitrone-aryne [3+2] cycloaddition and its application in the synthesis of the cortistatin core

We describe here a novel α,β-unsaturated nitrone-aryne [3+2] cycloaddition. The resulting benzoisoxazolines underwent N-O bond reduction-elimination-electrocyclization sequence to furnish a variety of polysubstituted 2H or 2-alkylated-1-benzo-pyrans. The application of this methodology was further demonstrated in the synthesis of the oxa[3.2.1]octene moiety of cortistatin A.     

Phosphine-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition of α-aminoalkylallenic esters: facile synthesis of 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines

An array of N-tosylated α-aminoalkylallenic esters was prepared and their cyclization under the influence of nucleophilic phosphine catalysts was explored. The α-aminoalkylallenic esters were prepared through aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions or novel DABCO-mediated decarboxylative rearrangements of allenylic carbamates. Conversion of these substrates to 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines was facilitated through Ph(3)P-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition.     

An amine-catalyzed enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes: applications and mechanistic implications

The catalytic enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition between azomethine ylides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by α,α-diphenylprolinol has been studied in detail. In particular, the reaction has been extended to the use of 2-alkenylidene aminomalonates generated in situ as azomethine ylide precursors. These reactions lead to the formation of pyrrolidines containing a 5-alkenyl side chain with potential for chemical manipulation. Moreover, a detailed and concise computational study has been carried out to understand the exact nature of the mechanism of this reaction and especially the consequences derived from the incorporation of the chiral secondary amine catalyst on the reaction pathway.     

Manganese-catalyzed bicyclic annulations of imines and α,β-unsaturated esters via C-H activation

A manganese-catalyzed bicyclic annulation of imines with α,β-unsaturated esters via C–H activation is described, which provides an expedient access to fused β-lactams in one-step operation with high efficiency and good functional group tolerance. Of note, both ketimines and aldimines are amenable to this transformation. Mechanistic studies have identified a five-membered azamanganacycle as the key reaction intermediate.     

Synthesis of substituted dihydro-1H-pyrazoles and 1H-pyrazoles via formal [4+1] annulation of α-arylhydrazonoketones and dimethyl sulfonium methylides

A formal [4+1] annulation of readily available α-arylhydrazonoketones and dimethyl sulfonium methylides is described, which involving tandem ylide-mediated addition and nucleophilic cyclization reactions. This transformation features mild reaction conditions, simple execution, good to high yields, and provides straightforward synthesis of substituted dihydro-1H-pyrazoles and 1H-pyrazoles via C-C and C-N bond formation.     

Ferrocenyl-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones in synthesis of tetrahydropyrimidinones

Ferrocenyltetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones were prepared by reactions of linear and cyclic ,-unsaturated ketones of the ferrocene series with urea in i-PrOH in the presence of t-BuOK. The structures of the compounds prepared were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, and also by single crystal X-ray diffraction.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1887–1893.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by E. Klimova, Lorez, T. Klimova, Garcia, Hernandez, Ramirez.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Iron-catalyzed hydroaminocarbonylation of alkynes: Selective and efficient synthesis of primary α,β-unsaturated amides

α,β-Unsaturated primary amides are important intermediates and building blocks in organic synthesis. Herein, we report a ligand-free iron-catalyzed hydroaminocarbonylation of alkynes using NH₄HCO₃ as the ammonia source, enabling the highly efficient and regioselective synthesis of linear α,β-unsaturated primary amides. Various aromatic and aliphatic alkynes are transformed into the desired linear α,β-unsaturated primary amides in good to excellent yields. Further studies show that using NH₄HCO₃ as the ammonia source is key to obtain good yields and selectivity. The utility of this route is demonstrated with the synthesis of linear α,β-unsaturated amides including vanilloid receptor-1 antagonist TRPV-1.     

Oxidation of fluoroalkyl-substituted allylic alcohols: a synthesis of fluorinated α,β-epoxyketones

Fluoroalkyl-substituted allylic alcohols are readily and selectively oxidized at the hydroxyl group with the Swern or Dess-Martin reagents to give ,-unsaturated ketones, and on treatment withm-chloroperbenzoic acid ortert-butyl hydroperoxide they are oxidized to the corresponding epoxyalcohols. The latter are oxidized by Swern or Dess-Martin reagents at the hydroxyl group to ,-epoxyketones, which form hydrates stable under the conditions of isolation.Translated fromIzvestiya Akadernii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 680–683, March, 1996.     

New types of reactivity of α,β-unsaturated N,N-dimethylhydrazones: chemodivergent diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroquinolines and hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-b]indoles

The indium trichloride-catalyzed reaction between aromatic imines and α,β-unsaturated N,N-dimethylhydrazones in acetonitrile afforded 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines bearing a hydrazone function at C4 through a one-pot diastereoselective domino process that involves the formation of two C-C bonds and the controlled generation of two stereocenters, one of which is quaternary. This reaction constitutes the first example of an α,β-unsaturated dimethylhydrazone that behaves as a dienophile in a hetero Diels-Alder reaction. The related reaction between anilines, aromatic aldehydes, and methacrolein dimethylhydrazone in CHCl(3) with BF(3)?Et(2)O as catalyst afforded polysubstituted 1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-b]indoles as major products through a fully diastereoselective ABB'C four-component domino process that generates two cycles, three stereocenters, two C-C bonds, and two C-N bonds in a single operation.     

La(OTf)3 catalyzed synthesis of α-aryl tetrasubstituted pyrroles through [4+1] annulation under microwave irradiation

A La(OTf)₃ catalyzed synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrroles under microwave irradiation has been developed affording various α-aryl tetrasubstituted pyrroles in acceptable to good yields (36–82% yield) through condensation/alkyne azacyclization/isomerization sequence. Functionalized α-aryl pentasubstituted pyrroles could be prepared from tetrasubstituted pyrroles through easy transformations.     

Mechanism and selectivity of nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones: A computational study

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones. The computations show that the overall catalytic cycle consists of four major steps, including: (1) C-C oxidative addition of the cyclopropenone to afford the four-membered nickelacycle, (2) isomerization, (3) migratory insertion via a 4,1-insertion fashion, and (4) C-C reductive elimination to deliver the [3 + 2] cycloaddition product. The enantioselectivity is mainly attributed to the π-π interaction between the diphenylcyclopropenone moiety and the phenyl substituent of the oxazoline ring of the ligand. The chemoselectivity of the C = O versus C = C insertion was rationalized in terms of the steric effect.     

Organocatalytic conjugate addition of 1-bromonitroalkanes to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes: synthesis of nitrocyclopropanes

A variety of secondary amines were studied as the catalyst in the conjugate addition of 1-bromonitromethane to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Proline was identified as the best catalyst for this reaction. MeOH/AcONa system was found to provide much better yields than CHCl₃/Et₃N system reported before. Good yields of nitrocyclopropane products were obtained with a variety of β-aryl acroleins. Several substituted 1-bromonitromethanes were also examined in the reaction. Both 1-bromonitroethane and 1-phenyl-1-bromonitromethane gave the corresponding nitrocyclopropanes in good yields. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction was strongly affected by the steric hindrance of 1-bromonitroalkanes.     

Regiospecific and diastereoselective aldol reaction of chiral N-sulfinyl metalloenamines with α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones: Asymmetric synthesis of tertiary trifluoromethyl allylic carbinols

Regiospecific and diastereoselective aldol type reaction of chiral N-sulfinyl metalloenamines with α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones was reported, which affords the corresponding tertiary trifluoromethyl allylic carbinols in high yields with good diastereoselectivities (dr up to 90:10). The reduction of the condensation product 3a with LiBHEt₃ and Catecholborane provides CF₃-substituted syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohols 5a and 5b in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (dr > 99:1).