γ-Oxygenation of α,β-unsaturated esters by vinylogous O-nitroso Mukaiyama aldol reaction

A practical procedure has been developed for γ-oxygenation of α,β-unsaturated esters by a vinylogous O-nitroso Mukaiyama aldol reaction followed by a one-pot N-O bond heterolysis of the in situ generated γ-aminoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Synthesis of α-chiral-β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives using chiral auxiliaries

We report an efficient and reliable method for the synthesis of α-chiral-β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives using chiral auxiliaries and vinylacetic acid. Two well-established chiral auxiliaries ((S,S)-pseudoephedrine and (R)-benzyl-oxazolidinone) were chosen to test the merits of this method. Six different electrophiles were examined in the diastereoselective alkylation with both auxiliaries. The pseudoephedrine auxiliary provided isolated yields between 61 and 85% and diastereomeric ratios all greater than 96:4. Employing the same reactions as with the pseudoephedrine derivative, the corresponding oxazolidinone auxiliary provided isolated yields between 0 and 80% with diastereomeric ratios from 80:20 to 93:7.     

α,β- and β,γ-unsaturated phosphonium salts in reactions with halogenating agents

Reaction of 1,4-bisphosphonium salts containing common buta-1,3-dienylene group with the halogenating agenst such as halogens and copper halides is studied. It was found than in all the cases instead of the expected products of the 1,2- or 1,4-addition to the above-mentioned salts the adducts with complex anions were formed quantitatively. According to the X-ray studies of bis(tributylphosphonio)buta-1,3-dienotribromocuprate the positive charge on phosphorus is compensated with the complex [Cu₂Br₆]²⁻ anion.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to α,β- and α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketones

An enantioselective Cu(II)-catalyzed conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to α,β- or α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketones with chiral cyclohexane-based amidophosphine ligands was developed. With 2 mol% of Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O/L5, the conjugate addition of diethylzinc to α,β-unsaturated ketones was achieved in good-to-excellent yields (up to 98%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee). This catalytic system was shown to be efficient for the 1,4-conjugate addition of Et₂Zn to (2E,4E)-1,5-diphenylpenta-2,4-dien-1-one with 85% yield and 90% ee. Moreover, with 1 mol% of Cu(OTf)₂/L11, the conjugate addition of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketones was accomplished with 1,4-regioselectivity, good yields (79–86%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Double asymmetric induction in the osmylation of -γ-alkoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters

OsO₄ promoted cis-dihydroxylation of enantiomerically pure (E)-α,β- unsaturated esters derived from alkoxyaldehydes occurs with noticeable levels (up to⩾ 45:1) of stereoselection when carried out in the presence of alkaloid derived ligands. Matching and mismatching substrate-ligand pairs have been identified.     

Alkylating potential of α,β-unsaturated compounds

Alkylation reactions of the nucleoside guanosine (Guo) by the α,β-unsaturated compounds (α,β-UC) acrylonitrile (AN), acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA) and acrolein (AC), which can act as alkylating agents of DNA, were investigated kinetically. The following conclusions were drawn: i) The Guo alkylation mechanism by AC is different from those brought about the other α,β-UC; ii) for the first three, the following sequence of alkylating potential was found: AN > AM > AA; iii) A correlation between the chemical reactivity (alkylation rate constants) of AN, AM, and AA and their capacity to form adducts with biomarkers was found. iv) Guo alkylation reactions for AN and AM occur through Michael addition mechanisms, reversible in the first case, and irreversible in the second. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the Guo-AN adduct is K(eq) (37 °C) = 5 × 10(-4); v) The low energy barrier (≈10 kJ mol(-1)) to reverse the Guo alkylation by AN reflects the easy reversibility of this reaction and its possible correction by repair mechanisms; vi) No reaction was observed for AN, AM, and AA at pH < 8.0. In contrast, Guo alkylation by AC was observed under cellular pH conditions. The reaction rate constants for the formation of the α-OH-Guo adduct (the most genotoxic isomer), is 1.5-fold faster than that of γ-OH-Guo. vii) a correlation between the chemical reactivity of α,β-UC (alkylation rate constants) and mutagenicity was found.     

DABCO-catalyzed regioselective cyclization reactions of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketophosphonates or β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with allenic esters

Highly efficient DABCO-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketophosphonates or β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with allenic esters gives the corresponding highly functionalized tetrahydropyran and dihydropyran derivatives in good to excellent yields and moderate to good regioselectivities under mild conditions.     

Synthesis and reactions of sulfur-substituted α,β-unsaturated δ- and γ-lactones

A new synthetic method for the preparation of sulfur-substituted α,β-unsaturated δ- and γ-lactones has been developed by reaction of the allylic bromides of 5,6-dihydro-2-pyridinones with NaOH in refluxing MeOH or t-BuOH. The substituents at C5 and C6 of these substrates are very important for the success of this reaction. Some synthetic transformations of the α,β-unsaturated δ-lactones have also been carried out.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric nitrocyclopropanation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

A novel organocatalytic highly enantioselective nitrocyclopropanation reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The 1-nitro-2-formylcyclopropane derivatives synthesized from this catalytic transformation were converted to the corresponding β-nitromethyl-acid esters, which are excellent precursors of GABA analogues such as Baclofen, by subsequent organocatalytic chemoselective ring-opening.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides has been examined to obtain β-aryl-α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides. The chelation between the palladium center of an alkylpalladium intermediate and Weinreb amide moiety facilitated both coordination and insertion steps.     

Intramolecular heterocyclization of α,β-unsaturated ketone thiosemicarbazones

Intramolecular heterocyclization of thiosemicarbazones derived from α,β-enones under acid activation of one nucleophilic center afforded previously unknown 2-(2-arylethenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. The transformation involves the thiol tautomer of thiosemicarbazone without participation of the conjugated carbon-carbon double bond.     

Diastereoselective photodeconjugation of chiral α,β-unsaturated esters

Chiral alcohols available in both enantiomeric forms have been tested for the diastereoselective photochemical deconjugation of 2,4-dimethylpentenoic acid esters. (R)-Pantolactone afforded selectively the (2R)-β,γ-unsaturated ester in good yield and high d.e. (89%), while analogous use of (S)-pantolactone gave the (2S)-stereoisomer with similar selectivity.     

Catalytic asymmetric aziridination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The development, scope, and application of the highly enantioselective organocatalytic aziridination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The aminocatalytic azirdination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes enables the asymmetric formation of β-formyl aziridines with up to >19:1 d.r. and 99% ee. The aminocatalytic aziridination of α-monosubstituted enals gives access to terminal α-substituted-α-formyl aziridines in high yields and up to 99% ee. In the case of the organocatalytic aziridination of disubstituted α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, the transformations were highly diastereo- and enantioselective and give nearly enantiomerically pure β-formyl-functionalized aziridine products (99% ee). A highly enantioselective one-pot cascade sequence based on the combination of asymmetric amine and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis (AHCC) is also disclosed. This one-pot three-component co-catalytic transformation between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, hydroxylamine derivatives, and alcohols gives the corresponding N-tert-butoxycarbonyl and N-carbobenzyloxy-protected β-amino acid esters with ee values ranging from 92-99%. The mechanisms and stereochemistry of all these catalytic transformations are also discussed.     

γ-substituent effects on the oxidative cyclization of o-acyl β,γ-unsaturated hydroxamates

Bromine induced cyclization of O-acyl β,γ-unsaturated hydroxamates to β-lactams is compatible with a variety of γ-substitutents.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Vinyl Epoxides from Glycidic Esters via α-Hydroxy-β,γ-unsaturated Esters

Glycidic esters, upon isomerisation with BF₃.Et₂O yield α-hydroxy-β,γ-unsaturated esters. These are then reduced with LiAlH₄ to vicinal diols which are converted to vinyl epoxides in two steps.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives from β-hydroxy-γ,δ-unsaturated sulfilimine

The first report on the use of N-sulfinyl benzylcarbamate for the preparation of N-Cbz sulfilimine from the corresponding sulfoxide is reported. The sulfilimine moiety is utilized as an intramolecular nucleophile for the regio- and stereoselective heterofunctionalization of an alkene to furnish a bromo carbamate which is used as a key advanced intermediate in the synthesis of representative α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives.     

Palladium-catalyzed allylic nucleophilic substitution reactions of (E)-γ-acetoxy-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulfoxides

Regio- and diastereoselective nucleophilic allylic substitutions of optically pure (E)-γ-acetoxy-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulfoxides 2 and 3 with sodium dimethyl malonate have been carried out. The reactivity of these substrates is controlled by both the chiral sulfinyl group and the size of the alkyl group attached at the γ-terminus of the allylic system. This process constitutes an example of palladium-mediated resolution of a 1:1 mixture of acetates 2 and 3.     

Catalytic enantioselective conjugate additions with α,β-unsaturated sulfones

We describe the development of a highly efficient catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated sulfones. Utilizing practical bifunctional organic catalysts and involving air- and moisture-tolerant conditions, conjugate additions of a wide range of Michael donors to α,β-unsaturated sulfones proceeded in excellent enantioselectivity/diastereoselectivity and high yield. This efficient and operationally simple new catalytic asymmetric reaction should provide a versatile approach for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfones bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters.