Organocatalytic synthesis of quaternary stereocenter bearing a fluorine atom: enantioselective conjugate addition of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters to nitroalkenes

The catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters to nitroalkenes promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. The treatment of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with nitroalkenes under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding Michael adducts containing a fluorinated quaternary stereogenic center with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee).     

Enantioselective α-hydrazination of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral nickel complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-hydrazination promoted by chiral nickel complexes is described. Treatment of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with azodicarboxylates as electrophilic amination reagents under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding α-amino α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with high yields (80-96%) and enantioselectivities (up to 78% ee).     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-fluoro-α-sulfenyl-β-ketoesters using DBFOX-Ph/Ni(II) complex

Enantioselective α-sulfenylation of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters 4 with phenylsulfenyl chloride catalyzed by DBFOX-Ph/Ni(II) complex afforded the corresponding α-fluoro-α-sulfenyl-β-ketoesters 2 in moderate to good yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses up to 93% ee. α-Fluoro-α-sulfenyl-β-ketoesters can be effectively converted to tri-fluorinated α-sulfenylcarboxylates by the use of DAST, which should be useful intermediates for the synthesis of non-racemized fluorinated isosteres of pharmaceutically attractive SM₃₂. The enantioselective α-phenylsulfenylation as well as α-pentafluoro-phenylsulfenylation of non-fluorinated β-ketoesters 5 were also carried out under the same catalyst conditions affording up to 95% ee of the products 6-8.     

Recyclable cinchona alkaloid catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition reaction

A highly enantioselective and diastereoselective Michael addition reaction of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters with maleimides is catalyzed by fluorous cinchona alkaloid to afford two adjacent chiral centers. The catalyst attached with a perfluroalkyl tag can be recovered by fluorous solid-phase extraction (F-SPE).     

Ozonolysis of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts originated from aromatic aldehydes: an expeditious diastereoselective approach for the preparation of α,β-dihydroxy-esters

We disclose herein ozonolysis of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts originated from aromatic aldehydes. This efficient reaction provides α-ketoesters with different substitution patterns on the aromatic ring. Diastereoselective reduction of the corresponding α-ketoester obtained in the oxidative cleavage step provides α,β-dihydroxy-esters with excellent degree of anti diastereoselection. The method is simple and easy to execute and is therefore a valuable alternative to prepare either α-ketoesters or α,β-dihydroxy-esters.     

Ni-catalyzed α-arylation of secondary α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactam: cross-coupling of a secondary fluorine-containing electrophile

A highly diastereoselective cross-coupling reaction of an α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactam with a wide range of aryl Grignard reagents was catalyzed by Ni/bis(oxazoline) in yields of up to 98%. The product was obtained diastereoselectively as an anti-isomer. This is the first successful α-arylation of an α-fluoro-β-lactam to produce diverse α-aryl-α-fluoro-β-lactams.     

Screening of chiral catalysts for enantioselective electrophilic fluorination of β-ketoesters

A variety of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing chiral ligands in combination with various metals have been screened in the enantioselective electrophilic fluorination of β-ketoesters. This study involved the use of readily available substrates, chiral ligands and electrophilic fluorinating agents. In particular, heterobimetallic Al-Li-BINOL complex allowed to obtain enantiomerically enriched α-fluoro-β-ketoesters in high yields and moderate enantioselectivities; up to 67% ee. A comparison with previously reported chiral ligands is provided.     

A facile one-pot synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters from alkoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromides

A convenient one-pot synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters from ethoxy- and tert-butoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide was developed. The fluorinated phosphoranes, generated in situ from alkoxycarbonylmethyltriphenylphosphonium bromides and 1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate) (Selectfluor^®), undergo a Wittig reaction with aldehydes to yield α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters with (Z)-selectivity.     

Palladium catalyzed reductive decarboxylation of allyl α-alkenyl-β-ketoesters. A new synthesis of (E)-3-alkenones

The reductive decarboxylation of α-alkenyl derivatives of allyl-β-ketoesters was achieved by use of palladium(0) catalyst generated in situ from Pd(OAc)₂ and PPh₃, with triethylammonium formate as the hydride source, in THF. The reaction proceeds smoothly and cleanly, with linear alkenyl derivatives of allyl-β-ketoesters, to afford (E)-3-alkenones in good to excellent yields (73-92%) and high stereoselectivity (>98%).     

New synthetic approach to α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones and their application in Diels-Alder reactions

A new pathway towards α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones was elaborated. The reaction of β-bromo-β-fluorostyrenes with sodium 4-methylphenylsulfinate proceeds with maximum 94:6 stereoselectivity and 72-90% yields. The formed α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones were found to be good dienophiles for Diels-Alder reactions with simple 1,3-dienes. From corresponding (E)-configured dienophiles and cyclopentadiene, cycloadducts bearing the fluorine substituent in exo-position were formed predominantly, while with diphenylisobenzofuran the products with endo-orientation of the fluorine were obtained as the major products. From these cycloadducts, as a proof of principle, p-toluenesulfinic acid was eliminated to give 2-fluoro-3-(4-nitrophenyl)norbornadiene, the formal [4+2]-cycloadduct of cyclopentadiene and 1-fluoro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetylene, or the corresponding diphenylisobenzofuran cycloadducts, respectively. This reaction was not successful when other β-hydrogen atoms are accessible for elimination.     

Nájera oxime-derived palladacycles catalyze intermolecular Heck reaction with Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts. An improved and highly efficient synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters

An improved and highly efficient synthesis of several α-benzyl-β-ketoesters from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts is described. These adducts were used as substrates for an intermolecular Heck reaction catalyzed by a Nájera oxime-derived palladacycles. These efficient catalytic conditions probed to be very selective providing only the corresponding functionalized β-ketoesters in high yield with no decarboxylation product. It seems that the method herein described is one of the most efficient for the synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters.     

One-pot synthesis of quinoxaline-2-carboxylate derivatives using ionic liquid as reusable reaction media

The catalyst-free one-pot synthesis of quinoxaline-2-carboxylate is reported by the reaction of α-halo-β-ketoesters with 1,2-diamines using an ionic liquid as an environmentally benign solvent. The recovered ionic liquid was reused for four to five cycles. Moreover, the method is applicable for a variety of 1,2-diamines and α-halo-β-ketoesters.     

One-pot synthesis of N-methylindoles from N-methylanilines and of benzofurans from phenols using transition-metal carbene X-H insertion reactions

Transition-metal carbene X-H insertion reactions (X=N or O) have been employed in the simple conversion of anilines and phenols into indoles and benzofurans, respectively. Thus copper(II) catalyzed N-H insertion reactions of α-diazo-β-ketoesters with N-methylanilines followed by treatment with acidic ion-exchange resin gives indoles. In a similar manner, dirhodium(II) catalyzed O-H insertion reactions of α-diazo-β-ketoesters with phenols followed by treatment with PPA gives benzofurans.     

Tandem reduction-olefination for the stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters

A tandem stereoselective reduction-olefination reaction of ethyl 2-acyl-2-fluoro-2-diethylphosphonoacetate employing NaBH₄ in EtOH was developed. The one-pot reaction gave α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters with excellent (Z)-selectivity. A plausible mechanism involving a diastereoselective reduction predicted by the Felkin-Anh model, followed by olefination similar to the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, has been proposed.     

Stereocontrolled access to α-fluoro-β-ketoesters

The effect of a fluorine atom on the asymmetric Michael reaction between a chiral α-fluoro-β-enaminoester derived from (S)-1-phenylethylamine and various electrophilic alkenes is studied. α-Fluoro-α-substituted ketoesters are obtained in good yields with fairly good enantioselectivity.     

Novel Bifunctionalization of Activated Methylene: Base-Promoted Trifluoromethylthiolation of β-Diketones with Trifluoromethanesulfinyl Chloride

A novel bifunctionalization of activated methylene was achieved successfully through the base-promoted trifluoromethylthiolation of β-diketones or β-ketoesters with trifluoromethanesulfinyl chloride. A series of α-trifluoromethylthiolated α-chloro-β-diketones and α-chloro-β-ketoesters were obtained in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. When β-diketones containing a phenyl group with a hydroxyl or amino substituent at the ortho position were used as substrates, intramolecular trifluoromethylthiolation/cyclization reaction took place to give the corresponding cyclic products. Furthermore, the protocol could be extended to perfluoroalkylthiolation with the sodium perfluoroalkanesulfinate/POCl₃ system. On the basis of experimental results, plausible mechanisms are proposed.     

Titanium mediated asymmetric aldol reaction with α-fluoropropionimide enolates

Aldol reaction utilising Evans N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-oxazolidinones with TiCl₄ have been explored. Reactions of N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-oxazolidinones with aliphatic aldehydes generated α-fluoro-β-hydroxy-aldol products with high diastereoselectivities. When (αR)- and (αS)-N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-(4S)-oxazolidinones were explored as substrates they gave rise to identical aldol diastereoisomer products. Examination of the enolates formed in each case by ¹⁹F NMR, after treatment with TiCl₄, indicated that both preparations gave the same predominant enolate. This was assumed to be the E-enolate. The α-fluoro-β-hydroxy-aldol products were removed from the auxiliary either by alcoholysis or reduction and converted to the corresponding α,β-difluoro products by treatment with Deoxofluor™.     

Enantioselective synthesis of anti-β-hydroxy-α-amido esters by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in emulsions

Herein, we present two methods for an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation through the dynamic kinetic resolution of α-amido-β-ketoesters. These procedures yield the corresponding anti-β-hydroxy-α-amido esters in good yields and with good diastereo- and enantioselectivities. First, the scope of the reduction of α-amido-β-ketoesters by using triethylammonium formate azeotrope is examined. Then, an emulsion technology with sodium formate is explored, which allows for broader substrate scope, faster reaction times, and lower catalyst loading. Furthermore, these reactions are operationally simple and can be set up in air.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Alkyl-β-ketoesters: Asymmetric Roskamp Reaction Catalyzed by an Oxazaborolidinium Ion

Breaking kamp: A catalytic route toward chiral α-alkyl-β-ketoesters using the title reaction of α-alkyl diazoester with aldehydes has been developed. The reaction proceeds with high to excellent enantioselectivities and this methodology was applied to a concise two-step synthesis of the natural pheromone sitophilate.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-fluoro-olefin analogues of potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors

(E)- and (Z)-fluoro-olefin analogues of potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors were synthesized. A Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons reaction, followed by amide formation and reduction of the amide were used for the construction of the α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated amine functionality.