Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reaction with N‐Carbamoyl Imine Surrogates of Formaldehyde and Glyoxylate

N,O‐acetals (NOAcs) were developed as bench stable surrogates for N‐carbamoyl, (Boc, Cbz and Fmoc) formaldehyde and glyoxylate imines in asymmetric Mannich reactions. The NOAcs can be directly utilized in the chiral primary amine catalyzed Mannich reactions of both acyclic and cyclic β‐ketocarbonyls with high yields and excellent stereoselectivity. The current reaction offers a straightforward approach in the asymmetric synthesis of α‐ or β‐amino carbonyls bearing chiral quaternary centers in a practical and highly stereocontrolled manner.     

Direct asymmetric intermolecular aldol reactions catalyzed by amino acids and small peptides

In nature there are at least nineteen different acyclic amino acids that act as the building blocks of polypeptides and proteins with different functions. Here we report that alpha-amino acids, beta-amino acids, and chiral amines containing primary amine functions catalyze direct asymmetric intermolecular aldol reactions with high enantioselectivities. Moreover, the amino acids can be combined into highly modular natural and unusual small peptides that also catalyze direct asymmetric intermolecular aldol reactions with high stereoselectivities, to furnish the corresponding aldol products with up to >99 % ee. Simple amino acids and small peptides can thus catalyze asymmetric aldol reactions with stereoselectivities matching those of natural enzymes that have evolved over billions of years. A small amount of water accelerates the asymmetric aldol reactions catalyzed by amino acids and small peptides, and also increases their stereoselectivities. Notably, small peptides and amino acid tetrazoles were able to catalyze direct asymmetric aldol reactions with high enantioselectivities in water, while the parent amino acids, in stark contrast, furnished nearly racemic products. These results suggest that the prebiotic oligomerization of amino acids to peptides may plausibly have been a link in the evolution of the homochirality of sugars. The mechanism and stereochemistry of the reactions are also discussed.     

The proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric three-component Mannich reaction: scope, optimization, and application to the highly enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols

We have developed proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric three-component Mannich reactions of ketones, aldehydes, and amines. Several of the studied reactions provide beta-amino carbonyl compounds (Mannich products) in excellent enantio-, diastereo-, regio-, and chemoselectivities. The scope of each of the three components and the influence of the catalyst structure on the reaction are described. Reaction conditions have been optimized, and the mechanism and source of asymmetric induction are discussed. We further present application of our reaction to the highly enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols.     

A novel design of roof-shaped anthracene-fused chiral prolines as organocatalysts for asymmetric Mannich reactions

A new class of artificial anthracene-fused chiral proline catalysts has been synthesized from the Diels–Alder adduct of anthracene and maleic anhydride via lithiation/carboxylation of 6 as a key step. Chiral resolution of racemic amino acids was carried out through the formation of diastereomeric esters with (−)-menthol. The absolute configuration of the chiral amino acid was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The utility of the catalyst was confirmed by effecting asymmetric three-component Mannich reactions between aldehyde, ketone, and amine (yield up to 76%, ee up to 90%).     

Asymmetric Mannich reactions with in situ generation of carbamate-protected imines by an organic catalyst

The instability of carbamate-protected alkyl imines has greatly hampered the development of catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions suitable for the synthesis of optically active carbamate-protected chiral alkyl amines. A highly enantioselective Mannich reaction with in situ generation of carbamate-protected imines from stable alpha-amido sulfones catalyzed by an organic catalyst was developed. This reaction provides a concise and highly enantioselective route converting aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes into optically active aryl and alkyl beta-amino acids. [reaction: see text].     

Highly efficient one-pot three-component Mannich reaction in water catalyzed by heteropoly acids

[reaction: see text] Heteropoly acids efficiently catalyzed the one-pot, three-component Mannich reaction of ketones with aromatic aldehydes and different amines in water at ambient temperature and afforded the corresponding beta-amino carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields and with moderate diastereoselectivity. This method provides a novel and improved modification of the three-component Mannich reaction in terms of mild reaction conditions and clean reaction profiles, using very a small quantity of catalyst and a simple workup procedure.     

Diastereoselective Ugi reaction without chiral amines: the synthesis of chiral pyrroloketopiperazines

The three-component Ugi reaction with chiral 2-(2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)acetic acids prepared from natural l-aminoacids was investigated. The reaction opens a new route to chiral substituted pyrroloketopiperazines. One of the first examples of an asymmetric Ugi reaction without chiral amines is described. The reaction proceeds with moderate diastereoselectivity to give the target compounds in good yields. The scope and limitation of the approach are discussed.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

Direct organocatalytic enantioselective α-aminomethylation of ketones

The scope and limitations of the direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-aminomethylation of ketones are disclosed. The proline-catalyzed classical Mannich reactions between unmodified ketones, aqueous formaldehyde and aromatic amines furnished the desired Mannich bases in high yield with up to >99% ee. Moreover, methyl alkyl ketones were regioselectively α-aminomethylated at the methylene carbon affording the corresponding Mannich products with up to >99% ee. In addition, the proline-catalyzed one-pot three-component reaction between p-anisidine, aqueous formaldehyde and 4,4-dimethyl-2-cycloxehen-1-one furnished the corresponding bicyclic aza-Diels–Alder adduct with >99% ee.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,β-diamino acid derivates via Mannich-type reactions of a chiral Ni(II) complex of glycine with N-tosyl imines

A practical procedure composed of an asymmetric Mannich-type reaction between N-tosyl imine and a Ni(II) complex of glycine with (R)-o-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino]bezaophenone (BPB) as a chiral auxiliary catalyzed by Et(3)N in DMF to (R,2R,3S)-complexes, and decomposition of products with HCl to offer syn-(2R,3S)-α,β-diamino acids, was developed. Stereochemical mechanism of the Mannich reaction was proposed and supported by determining the absolute configuration of the product of the Mannich reaction relying on X-ray analysis. This two-step approach to amino acids was a general method and adapted to large-scale preparation.     

InCl3-Catalyzed,Three-Component Reactions for the Synthesis of Some Novel Functionalized/Annulated Barbituric Acids

Some novel 5-aminoalkylbarbituric acids and corresponding chromene derivatives were synthesized via a one-pot, three-component Mannich reaction starting from 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid, arylaldehydes, and amines.     

Aminoboranes as "compatible" iminium ion generators in aminative C-C bond formations

Aminoboranes have been shown to be highly efficient and mild iminium ion generators in the Mannich-type aminative coupling of aldehydes with silyl ketene acetals. By using aminoboranes bearing bulky amino groups, such as a diisopropylamino group, free secondary amines can be successfully used as the amino component in a three-component Mannich reaction with aldehydes and silyl ketene acetals.     

Asymmetric synthesis of O-alkylated tetronic acid derivatives via an organocatalytic Mannich reaction and subsequent intramolecular cyclization

The organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reaction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate with N-Boc-imines has been studied and Cinchona alkaloids and chiral thiourea-tertiary amines were evaluated as catalysts. A pyrrolidine-based thiourea-tertiary amine was identified as the best catalyst for the transformation. The Mannich adducts readily underwent a one-pot intramolecular cyclization in the presence of triethylamine. A number of O-ethyl tetronic acid derivatives were obtained in good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee). The products could be further converted to the heteroatomic mimics of prostaglandins via reaction with primary amines.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of vicinal diamines by organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reaction of N-protected aminoacetaldehydes: formal synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A

The 1,2-diamine (vicinal diamine) motif is present in a number of natural products with interesting biological activity and in many chiral molecular catalysts. The efficient and stereocontrolled synthesis of enantioenriched vicinal diamines is still a challenge to modern chemical methodology. We report here both syn- and anti-selective asymmetric direct Mannich reactions of N-protected aminoacetaldehydes with N-Boc-protected imines catalyzed by proline and the axially chiral amino sulfonamide (S)-3. This organocatalytic process represents the first example of a Mannich reaction using Z- or Boc-protected aminoacetaldehyde as a new entry of α-nitrogen functionalized aldehyde nucleophile in enamine catalysis. The obtained optically active vicinal diamines are useful chiral synthons as exemplified by the formal synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A.     

Biomimetic Chiral Pyridoxal and Pyridoxamine Catalysts

Vitamin B₆ serves as universal co‐enzymes in biological systems. However, its catalytic power has not been applied into the area of asymmetric catalysis. Based on the core structure of vitamin B₆, we have developed several types of pyridoxal and pyridoxamine catalysts with different structural skeletons and different electronic properties. With these pyridoxals and pyridoxamines as catalysts, we have realized biomimetic asymmetric transamination of α‐keto acids and biomimetic asymmetric Mannich reaction of glycinate, respectively, to give various chiral α‐amino acids and α,β‐diamino acids in good yields with excellent diastero‐ and/or enantioselectivities. Both of the reactions have perfectly mimicked the corresponding biological transformations.     

Enantioselective biomimetic transamination of α-keto acids catalyzed by H4-naphthalene-derived axially chiral biaryl pyridoxamines

Asymmetric biomimetic transamination is a highly attractive method for synthesis of chemically and biologically important chiral amino acids and chiral amines. Development of chiral pyridoxamines/pyridoxals is the key for the reaction. New axially chiral biaryl pyridoxamines based on H₄-naphathene skeleton have been developed. The pyridoxamines display good enantioselectivity and high catalytic activity in asymmetric biomimetic transamination of α-keto acids, affording various optically active unnatural amino acids in 61–98% yields with up to 91% ee’s.     

Construction of Vicinal Quaternary Stereogenic Centers by Enantioselective Direct Mannich‐Type Reaction Using a Chiral Bis(guanidino)iminophosphorane Catalyst

A novel asymmetric direct Mannich‐type reaction of α‐iminophenylacetate esters with thionolactones, bearing a substituent at the α‐position, as a less acidic pronucleophile was developed. Using bis(guanidino)iminophosphorane as the chiral organosuperbase catalyst, the reaction afforded densely functionalized amino‐acid derivatives having vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers, one of which is an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center, in good yield with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities.     

The Direct catalytic asymmetric cross-Mannich reaction: a highly enantioselective route to 3-amino alcohols and alpha-amino acid derivatives

The first proline-catalyzed direct catalytic asymmetric one-pot, three-component cross-Mannich reaction has been developed. The highly chemoselective reactions between two different unmodified aldehydes and one aromatic amine are new routes to 3-amino aldehydes with dr>19:1 and up to >99 % ee. The asymmetric cross-Mannich reactions are highly syn-selective and in several cases the two new carbon centers are formed with absolute stereocontrol. The reaction does not display nonlinear effects and therefore only one proline molecule is involved in the transition state. The reaction was also catalyzed with good selectivity by other proline derivatives. The Mannich products were converted into 3-amino alcohols and 2-aminobutane-1,4-diols with up to >99 % ee. The first one-pot, three-component, direct catalytic asymmetric cross-Mannich reactions between unmodified aldehydes, p-anisidine, and ethyl glyoxylate have been developed. The novel cross-Mannich reaction furnishes either enantiomer of unnatural alpha-amino acid derivatives in high yield and up to >99 % ee. The one-pot, three-component, direct catalytic asymmetric reactions were readily scaled up, operationally simple, and conductible in environmentally benign and wet solvents. The mechanism and stereochemistry of the proline-catalyzed, one-pot, three-component, asymmetric cross-Mannich reaction are also discussed.     

Chiral-Directing-Group-Assisted Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Inert Arene C−H Bond to Aldimines with Subsequent Intramolecular Cyclization

By using a chiral directing group, an asymmetric rhodium(III)-catalyzed C−H bond addition to aldimines followed by intramolecular cyclization to form chiral isoindolinones has been achieved (up to 68 % yield, up to 93 % ee). A three-component variant that resembles Mannich reaction was also realized (41 % yield, 83 % ee). Product elaborations and preliminary mechanistic studies were described.     

Development of Asymmetric Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Organotin‐Alkoxide Reagents

Asymmetric catalysis under almost‐neutral reaction conditions is key for the efficient synthesis of optically active polar molecules. We have developed catalytic enantioselective reactions of acyclic or cyclic alkenyl esters by using an (S)‐BINOL‐derived chiral tin‐dibromide reagent that possesses a bulky aryl group at the 3 or 3′ position as the chiral pre‐catalyst in the presence of a sodium alkoxide and an alcohol, in which a chiral tin alkoxide bromide is generated in situ and recycled with the assistance of an alcohol. In this Personal Account, we describe three types of asymmetric transformation that proceed through a chiral tin enolate: 1) The asymmetric aldol reaction of alkenyl esters or unsaturated lactones with aldehydes or isatins; 2) the asymmetric three‐component Mannich‐type reaction of alkenyl esters and related cycloaddition reactions; and 3) the asymmetric N‐nitroso aldol reaction of unsaturated lactones with nitrosoarenes.