Phase‐Transfer‐Catalysed Synthesis of Pyrroloindolines and Pyridoindolines by a Hydrogen‐Bond‐Assisted Isocyanide Cyclization Cascade

A cascade reaction that generates pyrrolo‐ and pyridoindoline motifs from isocyanide precursors under phase‐transfer conditions is described. This transformation proceeds at room temperature in the presence of a quaternary ammonium catalyst and base to generate functionalized products containing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocentre. Quantum chemical calculations demonstrated that intramolecular general acid catalysis plays a key accelerating role through stabilization of developing charge in the transition state, and that the reaction is best described as a 5‐endo dig cyclization, rather than an anionic 6π electrocyclization. Investigations employing chiral phase‐transfer catalysts have given promising selectivities to date.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Dehydration for the Synthesis of α‐Vinyl Carbonyl Compounds and Total Synthesis of (−)‐Aspewentins A,B, and C

The direct α‐vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ‐oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α‐vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Dehydration for the Synthesis of α‐Vinyl Carbonyl Compounds and Total Synthesis of (−)‐Aspewentins A,B, and C

The direct α‐vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ‐oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α‐vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.     

C−H Acetoxylation‐Based Chemical Synthesis of 17 β‐Hydroxymethyl‐17 α‐methyl‐18‐norandrost‐13‐ene Steroids

Palladium‐catalyzed C?H acetoxylation has been proposed as a key transformation in the first chemical synthesis of steroids bearing a unique 17β‐hydroxymethyl‐17α‐methyl‐18‐nor‐13‐ene D ‐fragment. This C?H functionalization step was crucial for inverting the configuration at the quaternary stereocenter of a readily available synthetic intermediate. The developed approach was applied to prepare the metandienone metabolite needed as a reference substance in anti‐doping analysis to control the abuse of this androgenic anabolic steroid.     

Construction of Quaternary Carbon Center by Catalytic Asymmetric Alkylation of 3‐Arylpiperidin‐2‐ones Under Phase‐Transfer Conditions

A highly enantioselective synthesis of δ‐lactams having a chiral quaternary carbon center at the α‐position has been developed through an asymmetric alkylation of 3‐arylpiperidin‐2‐ones under phase‐transfer conditions. In this transformation, a 2,2‐diarylvinyl group on the δ‐lactam nitrogen atom plays a crucial role as a novel protecting group and an achiral auxiliary for improving both yield and enantioselectivity of the reaction.     

Ligand‐Enabled Nickel‐Catalyzed Redox‐Relay Migratory Hydroarylation of Alkenes with Arylborons

A redox‐relay migratory hydroarylation of isomeric mixtures of olefins with arylboronic acids catalyzed by nickel complexes bearing diamine ligands is described. A range of structurally diverse 1,1‐diarylalkanes, including those containing a 1,1‐diarylated quaternary carbon, were obtained in excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Preliminary experimental evidence supports the proposed non‐dissociated chainwalking of aryl‐nickel(II)‐hydride species along the alkyl chain of alkenes before selective reductive elimination at a benzylic position. A catalyst loading as low as 0.5 mol % proved to be sufficient in large‐scale synthesis while retaining high reactivity, highlighting the practical value of this transformation.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Oxidative Annulation of Nitrogen‐Containing Arenes with Alkynes: An Atom‐Economical Route to Heterocyclic Quaternary Ammonium Salts

Four cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative annulation reactions of nitrogen‐containing arenes with alkynes proceeds by C?H activation, thus leading to biologically useful quaternary ammonium salts, including pyridoisoquinolinium, cinnolinium, isoquinolinium, and quinolizinium salts, in high yields. The results are comparable to those reactions catalyzed by rhodium and ruthenium complexes. The transformation of the salts into various N‐heterocycles has also been demonstrated.     

Enantio‐ and Site‐Selective α‐Fluorination of N‐Acyl 3,5‐Dimethylpyrazoles Catalyzed by Chiral π–CuII Complexes

Catalytic enantioselective α‐fluorination reactions of carbonyl compounds are among the most powerful and efficient synthetic methods for constructing optically active α‐fluorinated carbonyl compounds. Nevertheless, α‐fluorination of α‐nonbranched carboxylic acid derivatives is still a big challenge because of relatively high pK_a values of their α‐hydrogen atoms and difficulty of subsequent synthetic transformation without epimerization. Herein we show that chiral copper(II) complexes of 3‐(2‐naphthyl)‐l ‐alanine‐derived amides are highly effective catalysts for the enantio‐ and site‐selective α‐fluorination of N‐(α‐arylacetyl) and N‐(α‐alkylacetyl) 3,5‐dimethylpyrazoles. The substrate scope of the transformation is very broad (25 examples including a quaternary α‐fluorinated α‐amino acid derivative). α‐Fluorinated products were converted into the corresponding esters, secondary amides, tertiary amides, ketones, and alcohols with almost no epimerization in high yield.     

Cascade Mn‐Mediated γ‐Alkylation/oxa‐Michael Addition of Enones with 1,3‐Dicarbonyls

A radical‐based strategy for regioselective γ‐C?C bond formation/oxa‐conjugate addition, forming the tetrahydrobenzofuran core common to many bioactive natural products is described. The technique utilizes readily available enone derivatives and 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds as coupling partners in an oxidative formal [3+2] cycloaddition mediated by Mn^III. The transformation delivers polycyclic products in good yields and proceeds with complete regiocontrol and excellent stereoselectivity. Sterically encumbered substrates are notably well‐tolerated and bond formation occurs readily to form neopentyl and all‐carbon quaternary centers in good yields. Several stereo‐ and chemoselective transformations of the products are described.     

α‐Arylation of Carbonyl Compounds through Oxidative C−C Bond Activation

A synthetically useful approach for the direct α‐arylation of carbonyl compounds through a novel oxidative C?C bond activation is reported. This mechanistically unusual process relies on a 1,2‐aryl shift and results in all‐carbon quaternary centers. The transformation displays broad functional‐group tolerance and can in principle also be applied as an asymmetric variant.     

Ruthenium(II)/Chiral Brønsted Acid Co‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Four‐Component Reaction/Cascade Aza‐Michael Addition for Efficient Construction of 1,3,4‐Tetrasubstituted Tetrahydroisoquinolines

An elegant synergistic catalytic system comprising a ruthenium complex with a chiral Brønsted acid was developed for a four‐component Mannich/cascade aza‐Michael reaction. The ruthenium‐associated ammonium ylides successfully trapped with in situ generated imines indicates a stepwise process of proton transfer in the ruthenium‐catalyzed carbenoid N?H insertion reaction. The different decomposition abilities of various ruthenium complexes towards diazo compounds were well explained by the calculated thermodynamic data. The transformation features a mild, rapid, and efficient method for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1,3,4‐tetrasubstituted tetrahydroquinolines bearing a quaternary stereogenic carbon center from simple starting precursors in moderate yields with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters by Enantioselective Arylation of γ‐Lactams with Aryl Chlorides and Bromides

Herein, we report the first Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective arylation of α‐substituted γ‐lactams. Two sets of conditions were developed for this transformation, allowing for the use of either aryl chlorides or bromides as electrophiles. Utilizing a highly electron‐rich dialkylphosphine ligand we have been able to construct α‐quaternary centers in good yields (up to 91 % yield) and high enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee).     

Asymmetric Induction at Remote Quaternary Centers of Cyclohexadienones by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Conjugate Hydrosilylation

The enantioselective desymmetrizing conjugate hydrosilylation of prochiral differently γ,γ‐disubstituted cyclohexadienone derivatives 2 to furnish the corresponding cyclohexenones 4 with a remote chiral all‐carbon quaternary center at the γ position is described. Chiral rhodium–bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl complexes 1 were effective catalysts for this transformation. This catalytic system was extended to the asymmetric transformation of spirocarbocyclic cyclohexadienones 5 to give the corresponding products 6 with high enantiomeric ratios.     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of and Mechanistic Understanding for the Formation of 2‐Piperidinones from Imines and Cyano‐Substituted Anhydrides

2‐Piperidinones are synthesized in a single step from imines and 2‐cyano glutaric anhydrides. The reaction provides the products in good diastereoselectivity and generates a quaternary stereogenic center. Substitutions on the anhydride skeleton are well tolerated to provide 2‐piperidinones with three stereogenic centers from a single transformation. The pertinent transition structures have also been computed using quantum mechanics and reveal the key interactions controlling the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐Flavisiamine F via Late‐Stage Visible‐Light‐Induced Photochemical Cyclization

The structural features Kopsia alkaloids, in particular multiple all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters in a caged and strained polycyclic skeleton, poses particular challenges for enantioselective total synthesis. Herein, we reported the first total synthesis of (+)‐flavisiamine F. The synthetic approach involved a room‐temperature Overman rearrangement for introducing the chiral amine at C21, a TMS‐promoted ketal Claisen rearrangement for constructing the all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at C20, and a late‐stage visible‐light‐induced photochemical cyclization for establishing the all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at C7.     

Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters by Nickel‐Catalyzed Heck Cyclization Reactions

A nickel‐catalyzed Heck cyclization for the construction of quaternary stereocenters is reported. This transformation is demonstrated in the synthesis of 3,3‐disubstituted oxindoles, which are prevalent motifs seen in numerous biologically active molecules. The method shows broad scope, proceeds in synthetically useful yields, and provides a rare means to construct stereochemically complex frameworks by nonprecious‐metal catalysis.     

Highly Enantioselective Formation of α‐Allyl‐α‐Arylcyclopentanones via Pd‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

A highly enantioselective Pd‐catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of cyclopentanone derived α‐aryl‐β‐keto esters employing the (R,R)‐ANDEN‐phenyl Trost ligand has been developed. The product (S)‐α‐allyl‐α‐arylcyclopentanones were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 % ee). This represents one of the most highly enantioselective formations of an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center reported to date. This reaction was demonstrated on a 4.0 mmol scale without any deterioration of enantioselectivity and was exploited as the key enantioselective transformation in an asymmetric formal synthesis of the natural product (+)‐tanikolide.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cascade Carbonylative Spirolactonization of Enallenols

A highly selective palladium‐catalyzed oxidative carbonylation/carbocyclization/alkoxycarbonylation of enallenols to afford spirolactones bearing an all‐carbon quaternary center was developed. This transformation involves the overall formation of three C−C bonds and one C−O bond through a cascade insertion of carbon monoxide (CO), an olefin, and CO. Preliminary experiments on chiral anion‐induced enantioselective carbonylation/carbocyclization of enallenols afforded spirolactones with moderate enantioselectivity.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Addition of Naphthols and Electron‐Rich Phenols to Isatin‐Derived Ketimines: Highly Enantioselective Construction of Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters

A quinine‐derived thiourea organocatalyst promoted the highly enantioselective addition of naphthols and activated phenols to ketimines derived from isatins. The reaction afforded chiral 3‐amino‐2‐oxindoles with a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). To the best of our knowledge, this transformation is the first highly enantioselective addition of naphthols to ketimines.     

Synthesis of Homoallylic Alcohols with Acyclic Quaternary Centers through CoIII‐Catalyzed Three‐Component C−H Bond Addition to Internally Substituted Dienes and Carbonyls

An efficient Co^III‐catalyzed three‐component strategy to prepare homoallylic alcohols containing acyclic quaternary centers is disclosed. This transformation enables the introduction of two C?C σ bonds through C?H bond activation and sequential addition to internally substituted dienes and a wide range of aldehydes and activated ketones. Isoprene and other internally monosubstituted dienes are effective inputs, with the reaction proceeding with high diastereoselectivity for those substrate combinations that result in more than one stereogenic center. Moreover, the opposite relative stereochemistry can be achieved by employing 1,2‐disubstituted dienes. A mechanism for the transformation is proposed based upon the relative stereochemistry of the products and studies with isotopically labeled starting materials.