Enantioenriched Methylene-Bridged Benzazocanes Synthesis by Organocatalytic and Superacid Activations

Achieving in a straightforward way the synthesis of enantioenriched elaborated three-dimensional molecules related to bioactive natural products remains a long-standing quest in organic synthesis. Enantioselective organocatalysis potentially offers a unique opportunity to solve this problem, especially when combined with complementary modes of activation. Here, we report the sequential association of organocatalytic and superacid activations of simple linear achiral readily available precursors to promote the formation of unique highly elaborated chiral methylene-bridged benzazocanes exhibiting three to five fully-controlled stereocenters. This peculiar backbone, difficult to assemble by standard synthetic approaches, is closely related to bioactive natural and synthetic morphinans and benzomorphans. The formation of a highly reactive chiral 7-membered ring N-acyl iminium superelectrophilic ion, evidenced by low-temperature in situ NMR experiments, triggers a challenging stereoselective Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization.     

Enantioenriched Methylene‐Bridged Benzazocanes Synthesis by Organocatalytic and Superacid Activations

Achieving in a straightforward way the synthesis of enantioenriched elaborated three‐dimensional molecules related to bioactive natural products remains a long‐standing quest in organic synthesis. Enantioselective organocatalysis potentially offers a unique opportunity to solve this problem, especially when combined with complementary modes of activation. Here, we report the sequential association of organocatalytic and superacid activations of simple linear achiral readily available precursors to promote the formation of unique highly elaborated chiral methylene‐bridged benzazocanes exhibiting three to five fully‐controlled stereocenters. This peculiar backbone, difficult to assemble by standard synthetic approaches, is closely related to bioactive natural and synthetic morphinans and benzomorphans. The formation of a highly reactive chiral 7‐membered ring N‐acyl iminium superelectrophilic ion, evidenced by low‐temperature in situ NMR experiments, triggers a challenging stereoselective Friedel–Crafts‐type cyclization.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Spiro Heterocyclic Compounds Using a Combination of Organocatalysis and Transition-Metal Catalysis

Over the last ten years, the combination of organocatalysis with transition metal (TM) catalysis has become one of the most important toolboxes used for synthesizing optically pure compounds containing chiral quaternary centers, including spiro heterocyclic molecules. The dominant method in the enantioselective synthesis of spiro heterocyclic compounds based on synergistic catalysis includes chiral aminocatalysis and NHC catalysis, as already established covalent organocatalytic strategies. Another area of organocatalysis widely combined with TM catalysis producing enantiomerically enriched spiro heterocyclic compounds is non-covalent catalysis, dominated by chiral phosphoric acids, thiourea, and squaramide derivatives. This review article aims to summarize enantioselective methods used for constructing spirocyclic heterocycles based on a combination of organocatalysis and transition metal catalysis.     

Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels–Alder Reactions of 2-Pyrones: Bridged Lactones and Beyond

Inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reactions of electron-poor 2-pyrones as electrophilic dienes have been extensively studied in the past fifty years. These reactions provide an efficient access to bridged bicyclic lactones and their derivatives, such as densely functionalized 1,3-cyclohexadienes after CO₂ extrusion and polysubstituted aromatic compounds through elimination. This reaction has been used for the synthesis of many biologically active natural products and drug candidates. In this review, the developments of these IEDDA reactions including non-catalytic, Lewis acid-catalyzed and organocatalytic IEDDA reactions, and their applications in total synthesis are discussed in detail.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-amino-2-oxindole derivatives bearing a tetra-substituted stereocenter

3-Amino-2-oxindoles bearing tetra-substituted stereocenter are very important constituents of many bioactive and pharmaceutical agents. In the last few years, asymmetric organocatalysis emerged as an excellent approach for the synthesis of optically active 3-substituted-3-amino-2-oxindoles. This review describes the various organocatalytic enantioselective strategies for the synthesis of 3-substituted 3-amino-2-oxindole frameworks.     

Advances on asymmetric organocatalytic 1,4-conjugate addition reactions in aqueous and semi-aqueous media

Asymmetric Michael addition reactions or 1,4-conjugate addition reactions are considered to be the fundamental C–C bond-forming reaction for the construction of chiral β-nitro, β-carbonyl and several other important structural motifs in organic synthesis. After the development of many chiral metal complexes as catalysts, a tremendous growth in the design and applications of variety of new chiral organocatalysts for asymmetric 1,4-conjugate addition reactions has been witnessed over the last two decades. Initially, asymmetric organocatalysis has been performed in organic solvents, but gradually performing the same catalysis in aqueous and semi-aqueous media became a necessity due to environmental aspects as well as to achieve better reactivity and selectivity. The structural and functional diversity of the chiral organocatalysts derived from natural and synthetic sources utilized differently the water either as the sole solvent, co-solvent or additive for optimising their best performances. In the present review, we discuss a detailed and comprehensive report on the advancement in the field of asymmetric organocatalytic 1,4-conjugate addition reactions in aqueous and semi-aqueous media.     

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Atroposelective C−H Amination of Arenes

N-arylcarbazole structures are important because of their prevalence in natural products and functional OLED materials. C−H amination of arenes has been widely recognized as the most efficient approach to access these structures. Conventional strategies involving transition-metal catalysts suffer from confined substrate generality and the requirement of exogenous oxidants. Organocatalytic enantioselective C–N chiral axis construction remains elusive. Presented here is the first organocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of novel axially chiral N-arylcarbazole frameworks by the assembly of azonaphthalenes and carbazoles. This reaction accommodates broad substrate scope and gives atropisomeric N-arylcarbazoles in good yields with excellent enantiocontrol. This approach not only offers an alternative to metal-catalyzed C–N cross-coupling, but also brings about opportunities for the exploitation of structurally diverse N-aryl atropisomers and OLED materials.     

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Atroposelective C−H Amination of Arenes

N‐arylcarbazole structures are important because of their prevalence in natural products and functional OLED materials. C?H amination of arenes has been widely recognized as the most efficient approach to access these structures. Conventional strategies involving transition‐metal catalysts suffer from confined substrate generality and the requirement of exogenous oxidants. Organocatalytic enantioselective C–N chiral axis construction remains elusive. Presented here is the first organocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of novel axially chiral N‐arylcarbazole frameworks by the assembly of azonaphthalenes and carbazoles. This reaction accommodates broad substrate scope and gives atropisomeric N‐arylcarbazoles in good yields with excellent enantiocontrol. This approach not only offers an alternative to metal‐catalyzed C–N cross‐coupling, but also brings about opportunities for the exploitation of structurally diverse N‐aryl atropisomers and OLED materials.     

Asymmetric organocatalysis: from infancy to adolescence

After an initial period of validating asymmetric organocatalysis by using a wide range of important model reactions that constitute the essential tools of organic synthesis, the time has now been reached when organocatalysis can be used to address specific issues and solve pending problems of stereochemical relevance. This Review deals with selected studies reported in 2006 and the first half of 2007, and is intended to highlight four main aspects that may be taken as testimony of the present status and prospective of organocatalysis: a) chemical efficiency; b) discovery of new substrate combinations to give new asymmetric syntheses; c) development of new catalysts for specific purposes by using mechanistic findings; and d) applications of organocatalytic reactions in the asymmetric total synthesis of target natural products and known compounds of biological and pharmaceutical relevance.     

Recent advances in cooperative ion pairing in asymmetric organocatalysis

Over the last decade, with the surge in the development of organocatalysis, many processes involving chiral ion pairs have emerged as powerful tools in the design of new efficient organocatalysts. This tutorial review focuses on the recent evolutions of these organocatalytic systems in which both anionic and cationic parts are working in a cooperative fashion in order to develop unique catalytic processes which outperform the existing approaches. In this respect, chiral ion pairs opened new avenues in the design of bifunctional organocatalysts by means of combinatorial approaches.     

Synergy,Compatibility, and Innovation: Merging Lewis Acids with Stereoselective Enamine Catalysis

In recent years there has been an accelerated rate of development in the field of organocatalysis, with asymmetric organocatalysis now reaching full maturity. The invention of new organocatalytic reactions and the exploration of new concepts now appear in tandem with the application of organocatalytic techniques in the synthesis of natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). After a “golden rush” in organocatalysis, researchers are now starting to combine different methods, thereby taking advantage of the significant benefits of synergy. Metals are used in combination with organocatalytic processes, thus reaching complexity that is found in nature, where enzymes take advantage of the presence of certain metals to increase the arsenal of organic transformations available. In this Focus review, we illustrate the possibility of a “happy marriage” between Lewis acids and organocatalytic stereoselective processes. Questions have been raised about the combination of Lewis acids and organocatalysis owing to the presence of water and/or strong bases in these processes. Some Lewis acids have been shown to be compatible with organocatalysis and concepts relating to their use will be illustrated herein. To summarize the fruitful use of Lewis acids in stereoselective organocatalytic processes, we will draw attention to the advantages and selectivity achieved using this method.     

Asymmetric Organocatalysis Under Mechanochemical Conditions

Asymmetric organocatalysis is a robust methodology providing access to numerous valuable compounds while having green chemistry principles in mind. The realization of organocatalytic transformation under solvent-free mechanochemical conditions brings additional benefits in terms of yields, selectivities, and, last but not least overall improved sustainability. This overview describes developments in the use of mechanochemistry as a vehicle for asymmetric organocatalytic transformations. The material is organized according to main catalytic activation modes, starting with covalent activation and proceeding to non-covalent activation modes. The advantages of mechanochemical organocatalytic reactions are particularly highlighted, but in some cases also, limitations are mentioned. Possibilities for target compound synthesis are also discussed.     

Umpolung of Imines Enables Catalytic Asymmetric Regio‐reversed [3+2] Cycloadditions of Iminoesters with Nitroolefins

A copper‐catalyzed regio‐reversed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of iminoesters with nitroolefins is disclosed for the first time. This method enables the facile synthesis of polysubstituted chiral pyrrolidines bearing at least one chiral quaternary center in high yields with excellent regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. The application of chiral P,S ligands and the unique effect of α‐aryl groups on the iminoesters are key to the success of this method. The practicality and versatility of the reaction are also demonstrated.     

Organocatalytic Access to Tetrasubstituted Chiral Carbons Integrating Functional Groups

Three-dimensional organic structures containing sp³ carbons bearing four non-hydrogen substituents can provide drug-like molecules. Although such complex structures are challenging targets in synthetic organic chemistry, efficient synthetic approaches will open a new chemical space for pharmaceutical candidates. This review provides an account of our recent achievements in developing organocatalytic approaches to attractive molecular platforms based on optically active sp³ carbons integrating four different functional groups. These methodologies include asymmetric cycloetherification and cyanation of multifunctional ketones, both of which take advantage of the mild characteristics of organocatalytic activation. Enzyme-like but non-enzymatic organocatalytic systems can be used to precisely manufacture molecules containing complex chiral structures without substrate specificity problems. In addition, these catalytic systems control not only stereoselectivity but also site-selectivity and do not induce side reactions even from substrates with rich functionality.     

Access to a Key Building Block for the Prostaglandin Family via Stereocontrolled Organocatalytic Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation

A new protocol for the construction of a crucial bicyclic lactone of prostaglandins using a stereocontrolled organocatalytic Baeyer–Villiger (B‐V) oxidation was developed. The key B‐V oxidation of a racemic cyclobutanone derivative with aqueous hydrogen peroxide has enabled an early‐stage construction of a bicyclic lactone skeleton in high enantiomeric excess (up to 95 %). The generated bicyclic lactone is fully primed with two desired stereocenters and enabled the synthesis of the entire family of prostaglandins according to Corey′s route. Furthermore, the reactivity and enantioselectivity of B‐V oxidation of racemic bicyclic cyclobutanones were evaluated and 90–99 % ee was obtained, representing one of the most efficient routes to chiral lactones. This study further facilitates the synthesis of prostaglandins and chiral lactone‐containing natural products to promote drug discovery.     

Diversity oriented and chemoenzymatic synthesis of densely functionalized pyrrolidines through a highly diastereoselective Ugi multicomponent reaction

A highly diastereoselective Ugi reaction involving a chiral cyclic imine, two enantiomerically pure isocyanides and various carboxylic acids was employed for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized pyrrolidines. Both chiral substrates have been efficiently prepared by chemoenzymatic methodologies from readily available achiral substrates. This highly convergent approach can find an application in the fragment-based drug discovery process.     

Organocatalytic Enantiospecific Total Synthesis of Butenolides

Biologically important, chiral natural products of butenolides, (−)-blastmycinolactol, (+)-blastmycinone, (−)-NFX-2, (+)-antimycinone, lipid metabolites, (+)-ancepsenolide, (+)-homoancepsenolide, mosquito larvicidal butenolide and their analogues were synthesized in very good yields in a sequential one-pot manner by using an organocatalytic reductive coupling and palladium-mediated reductive deoxygenation or organocatalytic reductive coupling and silica-mediated reductive deamination as the key steps.     

Organocatalytic C−H Functionalization of Simple Alkanes

The direct functionalization of inert C(sp³)-H bonds to form carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds offers vast potential for chemical synthesis and therefore receives increasing attention. At present, most successes come from strategies using metal catalysts/reagents or photo/electrochemical processes. The use of organocatalysis for this purpose remains scarce, especially when dealing with challenging C−H bonds such as those from simple alkanes. Here we disclose the first organocatalytic direct functionalization/acylation of inert C(sp³)-H bonds of completely unfunctionalized alkanes. Our approach involves N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst-mediated carbonyl radical intermediate generation and coupling with simple alkanes (through the corresponding alkyl radical intermediates generated via a hydrogen atom transfer process). Unreactive C−H bonds are widely present in fossil fuel feedstocks, commercially important organic polymers, and complex molecules such as natural products. Our present study shall inspire a new avenue for quick functionalization of these molecules under the light- and metal-free catalytic conditions.     

Recent efforts directed to the development of more sustainable asymmetric organocatalysis

In line with the principles of "green" chemistry, organocatalysis seeks to reduce energy consumption and to optimize the use of the available resources, aiming to become a sustainable strategy in chemical transformations. Nevertheless, during the last decade diverse experimental protocols have made organocatalysis an even "greener" alternative by the use of friendlier reaction conditions, or via the application of solvent-free methodologies, or through the design and synthesis of more selective catalysts, or via the development of multicomponent one-pot organocatalytic reactions, or by the recycling and reuse of organocatalysts, or by means of the application of more energy-efficient activation techniques, among other approaches. In this feature article we review some of the remarkable advancements that have made it possible to develop even more sustainable asymmetric organocatalyzed methodologies.     

A Regio‐ and Stereoselective ω‐Transaminase/Monoamine Oxidase Cascade for the Synthesis of Chiral 2,5‐Disubstituted Pyrrolidines

Biocatalytic approaches to the synthesis of optically pure chiral amines, starting from simple achiral building blocks, are highly desirable because such motifs are present in a wide variety of important natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. Herein, a novel one‐pot ω‐transaminase (TA)/monoamine oxidase (MAO‐N) cascade process for the synthesis of chiral 2,5‐disubstituted pyrrolidines is reported. The reactions proceeded with excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity (>94 % ee; >98 % de) and can be performed on a preparative scale. This methodology exploits the complementary regio‐ and stereoselectivity displayed by both enzymes, which ensures that the stereogenic center established by the transaminase is not affected by the monoamine oxidase, and highlights the potential of this multienzyme cascade for the efficient synthesis of chiral building blocks.