Rhodium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of substituted pyridine derivatives from alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes and alkynes

A rhodium-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H activation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes and the reaction with alkynes to afford highly substituted pyridine derivatives is described.     

Alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes carrying a terminal pyridine or quinoline subunit as building blocks for supramolecular syntheses

[Structure: see text]. The crystal structures of a new series of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes, 8-14, carrying the terminal 4-pyridinyl, 3-pyridinyl, or 4-quinolinyl subunit have been investigated by X-ray structural analysis. The dominating intermolecular interaction in all structures, except 11, is the head-tail OH...N hydrogen bond between the oxime moiety and the nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic unit. This intermolecular interaction generates infinite chains, which are cross-linked by CH...O/N/Cl or CH...pi interactions. Compound 10 has been shown to adopt a double-helical structure in the crystalline state. Compound 11 represents the only case where the unexpected head-head NOH...N(OH) hydrogen bonds determine the crystal packing. Both hydrogen-bonding and aromatic interactions stabilize the crystal structures of 8-14.     

Stereoselective alkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines via C-H bond activation

The stereoselective alkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines via C-H activation followed by imine hydrolysis produces tri- and tetrasubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, alpha,beta-unsaturated N-benzyl imines derived from methacrolein, crotonaldehyde, and tiglic aldehyde undergo directed C-H activation at the beta-position and react with terminal alkenes and alkynes to form the tri- and tetrasubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated imines with very high stereoselectivity. Hydrolysis to provide alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes can be performed under carefully controlled conditions that maintain the stereochemistry of the beta-alkylated imine products. Alternatively, for beta-alkylation products of the N-benzyl imine of methacrolein, hydrolysis can be performed under conditions that provide complete isomerization to the E isomer.     

Asymmetric three- and [2 + 1]-component conjugate addition reactions for the stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted piperidinones

The efficiency and stereoselectivity of the conjugate addition of lithium (Z)- or (E)-beta-amino ester enolates, generated by lithium amide conjugate addition to an alpha,beta-unsaturated ester or deprotonation of a beta-amino ester, respectively, to a range of alpha,beta-unsaturated acceptors has been investigated. Deprotonation of a beta-amino ester with LDA, followed by conjugate addition to a chiral alpha,beta-unsaturated oxazolidinone gives high 2,3-anti selectivity ( approximately 90% d.e.), with hydrogenolysis and purification to homogeneity generating stereodefined trisubstituted piperidinones as single stereoisomers. Asymmetric three-component couplings of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and alkylidene malonates initiated by lithium amide conjugate addition proceeds with high levels of 2,3-anti stereoselectivity, with hydrogenolysis giving tetrasubstituted piperidinones.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids and derivatives

It is shown that racemic oxazolones are excellent reagents for the synthesis of chiral quaternary amino acids and its derivatives by the diastereo- and enantioselective nucleophilic addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by diarylprolinol silyl ethers. The scope of this new organocatalytic reaction is demonstrated for different oxazolones having aromatic and alkyl groups at the reactive carbon atom and different aromatic and aliphatic substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, for which the stereoselective reaction proceeds with good yield, moderate to good to very high diastereoselectivity, and very high enantioselectivity. The potential of the reaction is shown for the synthesis of optically active alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids, alpha-quaternary proline derivatives, amino alcohols, lactams, and tetrahydropyranes. Furthermore, we have calculated by DFT-methods the transition-state structures that account for both the diastereo- and enantioselectivity observed for the addition of oxazolones to the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. For one class of compounds, the stereoselectivity is controlled by a hydrogen-bonding interaction of the enolate-form of the oxazolone with an ortho-hydroxy-phenyl substituent of the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, whereas the benzhydryl-protecting group in the oxazolone determines the diastereo- and enantioselectivity in a more general manner for both aromatic and aliphatic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes.     

Reversal of chemoselectivity in Diels-Alder reaction with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones catalyzed by Brønsted acid or Lewis acid

[reaction: see text] High chemoselectivity was observed in the Diels-Alder reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone with cyclopentadiene. Using Tf2NH as catalyst, the reaction gave Diels-Alder adduct derived from alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone as a major product. On the other hand, bulky Lewis acid, B(C6F5)3, gave mainly the cycloadduct of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde and cyclopentadiene.     

Isomerization reaction of olefin using RuClH(CO)(PPh(3))(3)

When methyl 5-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy-2-pentenoate was refluxed in toluene in the presence of RuClH(CO)(PPh(3))(3) (5 mol %), double-bond migration took place to afford methyl 5-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy-4-pentenoate in high yield. This means that the double bond conjugated with the ester moiety migrates to a deconjugated position by a ruthenium catalyst. We planned to prepare an enol ether from alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds having an ether moiety in a tether using ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of the double bond. As a result, silyl or benzyl enol ether was obtained from the alpha,beta-unsaturated ester having alcohol protected by the silyl or benzyl group in a tether in high yield. In this reaction, double bond migration of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone and alpha,beta-unsaturated amide took place to produce deconjugated compounds. Moreover, the double bond of alpha, beta-unsaturated ester having a triple or double bond in a molecule migrated to produce conjugated enyne and diene. On the other hand, treatment of a bis-metalated compound having an alpha, beta-unsaturated ester moiety or the double bond in a tether with RuClH(CO)(PPh(3))(3) gave allyl bis-metalated compound in good yield. These compounds are useful units in synthetic organic chemistry.     

Synthesis of Cp-Re complexes via olefinic C-H activation and successive formation of cyclopentadienes

Treatment of an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketimine with an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound in the presence of a rhenium complex, Re2(CO)10, gave a cyclopentadienyl-rhenium complex. This reaction proceeds via rhenium-catalyzed C-H bond activation of an olefinic C-H bond, insertion of an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound into a Re-C bond of the alkenylrhenium intermediate, intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization, reductive elimination, elimination of aniline to give a cyclopentadiene derivative, followed by the formation of a cyclopentadienyl-rhenium complex from the cyclopentadiene derivative and the rhenium complex.     

Desymmetrization of diols by a tandem oxidation/Wittig olefination reaction

Diols are desymmetrized by a tandem oxidation/Wittig olefination to give alpha,beta-unsaturated hydroxy esters without the requirement for protecting group strategies; the alpha,beta-unsaturated hydroxy esters are transformed into dienyl diesters using a second oxidation/Wittig olefination sequence using PCC.     

Direct synthesis of 1,3-diketones by Rh-catalyzed reductive alpha-acylation of enones

1,3-Diketones were synthesized from alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by treatment with acid chlorides and Et(2)Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh(3))3. This is a very simple and extremely chemoselective reaction to give the adduct at the alpha-position of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones.     

Selective liquid phase hydrogenation of citral on Au/Fe2O3 catalysts

Gold supported on iron oxide hydrogenates citral (an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde) to the corresponding alpha,beta-unsaturated alcohols (geraniol and nerol) with a selectivity higher than 95%.     

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective organocatalytic cascade aza-Michael-Michael reactions: a direct method for the synthesis of trisubstituted chiral pyrrolidines

An unprecedented highly enantio- and diastereoselective cascade aza-Michael-Michael reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with trans-gamma-Ts protected amino alpha,beta-unsaturated ester has been developed; the simple and practical process, efficiently catalyzed by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether, serves as a powerful access to highly functionalized trisubstituted chiral pyrrolidines.     

Catalytic [4+1] cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with isocyanides

The GaCl(3)-catalyzed [4+1] cycloaddition reactions of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with isocyanides leading to lactone derivatives are described. While some other Lewis acids also show catalytic activity, GaCl(3) was the most efficient catalyst. The reaction is significantly affected by the structure of both the isocyanides and the alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones. Aromatic isocyanides, especially sterically demanding ones and those bearing an electron-withdrawing group, can be used, but aliphatic isocyanides cannot. The bulkiness of substituents at the beta-position of acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is an important factor for the reaction to proceed efficiently. Generally, the more the bulky substituent, the higher is the yield. The reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones bearing geminal substituents at the beta-position gave the corresponding products in high yields. In monosubstituted derivatives, the yields are relatively low. However, substrates having a bulky substituent, such as a tert-Bu group, at the beta-position give high yields. Bulkiness is also required in cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, but the effect is small. In alkyl vinyl ketones, the reactivity decreased with the steric bulk of the alkyl group. In aryl vinyl ketones, the presence of an electron-donating group on the aromatic ring decreases the reactivity. The success of the catalysis can be attributed to the low affinity of GaCl(3) toward heteroatoms, compared with usual Lewis acids.     

Palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones with aryl iodides

Unlike traditionally used acyclic 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, the reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated phenyl sulfones with aryl iodides under Heck reaction conditions (Pd(OAc)(2) as catalyst, Ag(2)CO(3) as base in DMF at 120 (0)C) takes place mainly by a cascade process, involving one unit of the alkene and three units of the aryl iodide, to afford a substituted 9-phenylsulfonyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene. The dominant formation of this 3:1 coupling product, instead of the Heck trisubstituted olefin, shows that aromatic C-H bond activation processes can compete with the usually fast syn beta-hydrogen elimination step in the Heck arylation of an acyclic olefin. The structural scope of this palladium-catalyzed cascade arylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones has proved to be wide with regard to substitution at the beta-position (alkyl, aryl, or alkenyl substitution), substitution at the sulfone unit (alkyl or phenyl sulfones), and configuration at the CdoublebondC bond (trans or cis). Moreover, although less favored than in the case of the arylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones, similarly substituted 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes have also been obtained in the case of alpha,beta-unsaturated phosphine oxides and alpha,beta-unsaturated phosphonate esters. A Pd(0)-Pd(II)-Pd(IV) mechanistic pathway involving the successive formation of highly electrophilic sigma-alkylpalladium intermediates and palladacycles is proposed for this multicomponent arylation.     

New rearrangement of 4-isoxazoline system: conversion of ketones into alpha,beta-unsaturated amides

A new rearrangement pattern of the 4-isoxazoline system is reported. The reaction, starting from 3,3-disubstituted derivatives and leading to alpha,beta-unsaturated amides, proceeds through the quaternarization of the nitrogen atom and involves the heterolytic cleavage of C(3)-N bond, assisted by the formation of a relatively stable intermediate. The overall process represents a useful conversion of ketones into alpha,beta-unsaturated amides.     

Highly versatile enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters

Herein, we report efficient catalysts for the asymmetric copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters. MeMgBr adds to aromatic alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters with excellent enantioselectivities and moderate to good yields using Josiphos/CuBr and Tol-BINAP/CuI complexes. The use of bulky Grignard reagents leads to unprecedented enantioselectivities in the 1,4-addition to a broad range of aromatic and aliphatic alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters using Tol-BINAP/CuI. The highest enantioselectivities reported so far for the addition of Grignard reagents to crowded beta-substituted aliphatic substrates are achieved with Tol-BINAP/CuI.     

Direct amination of homoenolates catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes derived from N-mesityl-N-methyltriazolium salts are effective catalysts for generating homoenolate species from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. The unique intermediate adds to the electrophilic nitrogen of 1-acyl-2-aryldiazenes, and the resulting activated carbonyl unit undergoes an intramolecular acylation event. This formal [3+2] cycloaddition between alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and acylaryldiazenes, catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene, produces substituted pyrazolidinones in good yields. This new NHC-catalyzed reaction accommodates aromatic and alkyl alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and various aromatic diazenes. A chiral triazolium salt catalyzes the formation of the pyrazolidinone product in moderate yield and good enantioselectivity. The pyrazolidinones can undergo reductive N-N bond cleavage to give beta-amino acid derivatives.     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid is described. A fully functionalized trisubstituted pyrrolidine ring was constructed by ring-closing metathesis of an acrylate derivative followed by an intramolecular Michael addition of the resultant alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone with high diastereoselectivity. Two alternative protocols for the construction of the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone were also developed.     

Extremely Efficient Chiral Induction in Conjugate Additions of p-Tolyl alpha-Lithio-beta-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl Sulfoxide and Subsequent Electrophilic Trapping Reactions

Reaction of p-tolyl alpha-lithio-beta-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl sulfoxide with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters gave the conjugate addition products as a single diastereomer. The intermediate enolates were subsequently trapped with various alkyl halides or aldehydes to give the products with extremely high stereoselectivity. The reaction with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones also proceeded with high diastereoselectivity. Protolysis of the enolates derived from the alpha-methyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters gave the products with high stereoselectivity. The stereo- and regioselective elimination of the sulfinyl group gave chiral homoallylic carboxylates.     

gem-Dibromomethylarenes: a convenient substitute for noncommercial aldehydes in the knoevenagel-doebner reaction for the synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids

A facile synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids from gem-dibromomethylarenes is described. gem-Dibromomethylarenes are employed for the first time in the Knoevenagel-Doebner reaction as aldehyde equivalents for the efficient synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids.