Catalytic enantioselective domino oxa-michael/aldol condensations: asymmetric synthesis of benzopyran derivatives

The first direct organocatalytic asymmetric domino oxa-Michael/aldol condensation reaction is presented. The unprecedentedly simple, chiral, pyrrolidine-catalyzed asymmetric domino reactions between salicylic aldehyde derivatives and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes proceed with high chemo- and enantioselectivities to give the corresponding chromene-3-carbaldehyde derivatives in high yields and with ee values of 83-98%.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of α-methylene-δ-valerolactones by an asymmetric Michael reaction

The synthesis of α-methylene-δ-valerolactones 7, 13, and 19 with enantiomeric excesses of 90–97% was achieved by the asymmetric Michael reaction of chiral imines 3, 9, and 15 with the acrylate 1. Reduction of the carbonyl group of the resulting adducts followed by lactonization and HWE reaction with formaldehyde yielded the lactones as mixtures of diastereoisomers.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric domino aza-Michael-Mannich reaction: synthesis of tetrahydroimidazopyrimidine derivatives

Highly substituted tetrahydroimidazopyrimidine derivatives with three chiral centers have been synthesized for the first time using an organocatalytic asymmetric domino aza-Michael-Mannich reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and N-arylidene-1H-imidazol-2-amines. This efficient approach furnishes the products in good yields (42-87%) with excellent stereoselectivities (>20:1 dr, up to >99% ee).     

First enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-(R)-Pinnatolide using an asymmetric domino allylation reaction

An efficient total synthesis of (+)-(R)-Pinnatolide is described. As a key step an asymmetric multicomponent domino allylation reaction of methyl levulinate is used to form the quaternary stereogenic center in a highly selective way.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindoles via enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of isatins

The enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of acrylates to isatins was investigated for the first time, employing bifunctional phosphinothiourea organocatalysts based on chiral cyclohexane scaffold. The 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindole derivatives were obtained in excellent yields with moderate enantioselectivity (up to 69% ee) in the presence of 10 mol % catalyst 1b.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of fluoromethylated stereocenters by asymmetric hydrogenation

Fluoromethyl groups possess specific steric and electronic properties and serve as a bioisostere of alcohol, thiol, nitro, and other functional groups, which are important in an assortment of molecular recognition processes. Herein we report a catalytic method for the asymmetric synthesis of a variety of enantioenriched products bearing fluoromethylated stereocenters with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Various N,P-ligands were designed and applied in the hydrogenation of fluoromethylated olefins and vinyl fluorides.

Herein, a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation to synthesize various products bearing fluoromethylated stereocenters has been developed.     

Catalytic enantioselective Meerwein-Eschenmoser Claisen rearrangement: asymmetric synthesis of allyl oxindoles

The first catalytic, enantioselective Meerwein-Eschenmoser Claisen rearrangement has been achieved. Palladium(II) BINAP or phosphinooxazoline catalysts were employed to generate oxindole products with 100% conversion and up to 92% ee.     

Catalytic enantioselective Michael addition in the synthesis of α-aminophosphonates

Enantioenriched (S)-phosphoglutaminic acid derivatives with up to 72% ee were obtained in the catalytic enantioselective Michael reaction of the achiral phosphoglycine synthon. The scope and limitation of the process in terms of the catalyst (diverse (R,R)-TADDOL derivatives) and the base (solid alkali metal tert-butoxides) were examined. The nature of the transition complex was also investigated.     

Construction of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines: enantioselective organocatalytic Michael/alkylation domino reaction and one-pot aza-cyclization

An asymmetric two-step approach toward the synthesis of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines is described. In this synthesis, an asymmetric organocatalytic Michael/alkylation domino reaction of dialkyl bromomalonates with o-N-protected aminophenyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes allows the process to proceed efficiently to afford the corresponding 2-formylcyclopropane products in good yields and with high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). In addition, a one-pot procedure for the DBU-mediated aza-cyclization of the 2-formylcyclopropane adducts was applied for the formation of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines.     

Highly convergent synthesis of chiral bicyclophosphinates by domino hydrophosphinylation/Michael/Michael reaction

Diastereoselective domino reactions of iminoalcohols and allenyl H-phosphinates produce chiral phosphorus bicycles in a regio- and stereoselective fashion. A predictive model for diastereoselection is used for these new chiral phosphinic esters.     

Catalytic asymmetric cyclocarbonylation of o-isopropenylphenols: enantioselective synthesis of six-membered ring lactones

Cyclocarbonylation of o-isopropenylphenols with CO (500 psi) and H(2) (100 psi), using Pd(OAc)(2) and (+)-DIOP as the chiral catalyst, in CH(2)Cl(2) affords 3,4-dihydro-4-methylcoumarins in 60-85% yield and in up to 90% enantiomeric excess. The stereoselectivity is influenced by the structure of the chiral phosphine ligands and substrates, as well as by the reaction conditions.     

Catalytic asymmetric aza-Michael-Michael addition cascade: enantioselective synthesis of polysubstituted 4-aminobenzopyrans

A catalytic asymmetric aza-Michael-Michael addition cascade of anilines to nitroolefin enoates in the presence of chiral bifunctional thiourea catalysts has been disclosed. This reaction provides a mild and efficient approach to polysubstituted chiral 4-aminobenzopyrans bearing three consecutive stereocenters in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.     

Catalytic synthesis of dihydrofurans (review)

Various methods for the preparation of 2,3-dihydrofuran, 2,5-dihydrofuran, 2-methylenetetrahydrofuran, and their alkyl and aryl derivatives are examined. The most promising method for the preparation of 2,3-dihydrofuran is the conversion of 1,4-butanediol on cobalt catalysts. 2,5-Dihydrofuran is obtained by dehydration of 2-butene-1,4-diol on Al₂O₃, cobalt-containing and other catalysts, while 2-methylenetetrahydrofuran is obtained by dehydrohalogenation of tetrahydrofurfuryl halides. The various methods for the isomerization of 2,5-dihydrofuran to 2,3-dihydrofuran are discussed. Examples of the application of dihydrofurans in organic synthesis are presented.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1299–1311, October, 1982.     

One-pot organocatalytic domino Michael/α-alkylation reactions: highly enantioselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopentanones and cyclopentanols

A simple, highly enantioselective catalytic route to cyclopentanones is presented. The chiral amine catalyzed domino Michael/α-alkylation reaction gives access to functionalized cyclopentanones in good to high yields with 93 → 99% ee. The products were also reduced with high diastereoselectivity to the corresponding cyclopentanols.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino phosphonates using enantioselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions

We have developed highly enantioselelctive reactions of silicon enolates with N-acyl-alpha-iminophosphonates leading to optically active alpha-amino phophonates. A copper (II)-diamine complex was shown to be effective in this reaction, and high levels of yield and selectivity were achieved. It is noteworthy that this reaction opens a way to various biologically important, optically active alpha-amino phosphonate derivatives.