Enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate addition of organoboron nucleophiles

This review covers the use of organoboron nucleophiles in enantioselective conjugate additions catalyzed by organic-based catalysts. It is divided into sections based on the type of nucleophile, with each section arranged in roughly chronological order. The categories of nucleophiles are alkynyl, alkenyl, and aryl boronates or borates. The principle modes of catalysis, iminium formation and boron chelation, are covered.     

Copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of allene-derived nucleophiles to alkenyl-substituted carboxamides

Catalytic Michael addition reaction represents a fundamental importance in organic synthetic chemistry. Whereas corresponding conversions toward intrinsically low reactive enamide remains an ongoing challenging. We herein report a copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of allenes to β-substituted alkenyl amides, one of the most challenging Michael acceptors. The present method utilizes readily available allenes as the latent carbon-based nucleophiles and simple, common β-substituted alkenyl amides ...     

Stereoselective conjugate addition of nitrogen nucleophiles to 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-nitropropene

In order to access 1,2-diamines incorporating perfluorinated groups, the Michael-like addition of nitrogen nucleophiles to 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-nitropropene has been investigated using racemic and optically pure nucleophiles such as amines, amides, oxazolidin(on)es, and thiazolidin(on)es. Complete diastereoselectivity of the addition was achieved with 4-phenylthiazolidine-2-thione.     

A new catalytic conjugate addition/aldol strategy that avoids preformed metalated nucleophiles

A new conjugate addition/aldol strategy has been developed. Unlike conventional procedures that require metalation of the nucleophilic species, the procedure allows the direct coupling of aryl iodides, aldehydes, and acrylates in a nickel-catalyzed, organozinc-promoted process.     

Reactions of 3-R-5-nitropyridines with nucleophiles: Nucleophilic substitution vs conjugate addition

A number of 3-R-5-nitropyridines were synthesized and their reactions with various types of nucleophiles were investigated. The reaction outcome depends on the nature of a nucleophile: in case of anionic O-, N- and S-nucleophiles the previously unreported substitution of non-activated nitro group occurred while carbon nucleophiles underwent dearomatization of the pyridine ring with the formation of products of 1,2- and 1,4-addition.     

Enantioselective formal hydration of alpha,beta-unsaturated imides by Al-catalyzed conjugate addition of oxime nucleophiles

The (salen)Al-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of salicylaldoxime to alpha,beta-unsaturated imides is the key step in an efficient and highly enantioselective two-step formal hydration of these electron-deficient olefins. This reaction constitutes the first example of an enantioselective conjugate addition of an oxygen-centered nucleophile to alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives. Application of this method to chiral, nonracemic substrates revealed a high level of catalyst-induced diastereoselectivity, underscoring its potential utility for polyketide natural product synthesis.     

Diastereoselective conjugate addition of 1-(α,β-unsaturated acyl)hydantoin with nucleophiles

A diastereomeric conjugate addition of dialkylaluminum chloride to 1-(α,β-unsaturated acyl)hydantoin provided the corresponding alkyl adduct with inducted chirality in the β-position. Treatment of 1-(α,β-unsaturated acyl)hydantoin with Gilman reagent in the presence of Lewis acid also gave the same product. In this reaction, diethylaluminum chloride was the most effective Lewis acid and the absolute configuration of the major adduct at the β-position of acyl group depended on the kinds of existing metals.     

Simple camphor derivatives as chiral auxiliaries for asymmetric conjugate addition

The chiral enoates, $\text{4}$, readily available in two simple steps from (+)-camphor, Undergo asymmetric conjugate addition with the Gilman reagent LiBu₂Cu. Chemical yields are high (70–90%) and in the case of the naphthyl-substituted enoate $\text{4e}$ excellent diastereoselectivity (95% $\text{d.e.}$) is observed. 3-Methyl-heptan-l-ol of correspondingly high enantiomeric purity is obtained by reduction of the conjugate adduct with lithium aluminium hydride.     

Mild addition of nucleophiles to pyridine-N-oxides

A general and facile one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-substituted pyridines from the corresponding pyridine-N-oxides and nucleophiles is presented as a mild alternative to S(N)Ar chemistry. A variety of nucleophiles and heterocyclic-N-oxides participate effectively in this transformation, which uses the phosphonium salt, PyBroP, as a means of substrate activation.     

A simple colorimetric assay for muramic acid and lactic acid

The Barker and Summerson method of assaying lactic acid colorimetrically is modified to provide a simple and fast method of measuring lactic acid and other compounds such as muramic acid and glyceraldehyde that will release acetaldehyde on incubation in hot sulfuric acid. The assay can be done with open tubes and no more complicated equipment than a spectrophotometer. A further modification allows a relatively specific determination of formaldehyde.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of thioacetic acid to β-nitrostyrenes

A method for organocatalytic, enantioselective Michael addition reactions of thioacetic acid with a range of trans-β-nitrostyrenes has been developed. The processes, promoted by the chiral amine thiourea organocatalyst, take place in high yields with up to 70% ee.     

Catalytic electronic activation as a tool for the addition of stabilised nucleophiles to allylic alcohols

This paper describes the activation of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) through the use of aluminium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation. The electronically activated substrates are demonstrated to undergo facile conjugate addition and, when the alcohol functional group is subsequently restored in a one-pot procedure, this leads to an indirect addition of nucleophiles to allylic alcohols. This novel methodology has been termed catalytic electronic activation.The aluminium tert-butoxide catalysed conversion of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (18) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclopentyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (16) in 90 and 60% yield, respectively has been demonstrated through an efficient domino Oppenauer/Michael addition/Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley process.     

Hydroxyl-directed conjugate additions of carbon nucleophiles to cyclopentadienones

[Structure: see text] The conjugate additions of different carbon nucleophiles to cyclopentadienone substrates (1 and 2) with one free hydroxyl functional group were investigated to determine the role of the hydroxyl group in controlling regiochemistry. During this reaction an unexpected intramolecular displacement of OTBS by the enolate intermediate occurs, to afford cyclopropane derivatives.     

Competition between vinylic substitution and conjugate addition in the reactions of vinyl selenoxides and vinyl selenones with nucleophiles in DMF

Vinyl selenoxides and vinyl selenones present a different reactivity towards thiolate or alkoxide anions in DMF. In the case of selenoxides the addition of the nucleophiles regioselectively occurs at the α-carbon leading to the formation of the vinylic substitution products with complete retention of configuration. These reactions occur under very mild conditions indicating that the seleninyl group markedly enhances nucleophilic vinylic substitution rates. The results obtained with vinyl selenones are consistent with competitive nucleophilic attack at the α- and at the β-carbon. The former yields irreversibly the vinylic substitution products, whereas attack at the β-carbon leads to the reversible formation of selenonyl stabilized carbanions. The fate of these intermediates depends upon the nucleophilic reagent employed. With thiolate anions the vinyl selenones are rapidly subtracted from the equilibrium and the carbanion does not give any other product. With methoxide anions, on the contrary, the vinylic substitution is a slow process and the carbanion can give rise to conjugate addition products also. Malonate anions react only at the β-carbon of vinyl selenones and the resulting carbanions suffer proton transfer and intramolecular displacement of the selenonyl group to afford cyclopropane derivatives.     

2-Cyanoacrylates in the conjugate addition of trifluoroacetic acid and nucleophilic reagents

In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate readily reacts with nucleophilic reagents, such as 2-chloro-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphole, (EtO)₃P, (EtO)₂PCl, Ph₂PCl, Ph₃P, and thiourea. In these reactions the acid proton enters position 2 of the cyanoacrylate, whereas the nucleophilic component enters position 3, in accordance with the electron density distribution in the acrylate. In the absence of trifluoroacetic acid the above reagents, except 2-chloro-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphole, cause ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate polymerization. The interaction of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate with 2-chloro-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphole and trifluoroacetic acid is the first example of a 2-cyanoacrylate taking part in the acid-initiated electrophilic conjugate addition of a weak nucleophile.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1245–1247, July, 1993.     

S-linked ganglioside analogues for use in conjugate vaccines

[structure: see text] Glycosidase resistant thioglycoside precursors of the melanoma-associated ganglioside GM(2) have been synthesized starting from lactose. Syntheses of several analogues of ganglioside GM(3) and a positional isomer have been developed. These compounds contain thio-linked sialic acid residues and a modified ceramide aglycon functionalized for coupling to proteins, surfaces, or matrices. The hydrolytic stability of these oligosaccharides enhances the immunogenicity of the corresponding conjugate vaccines by ensuring their integrity in the acidic compartments of antigen processing cells.     

Direct organocatalytic coupling of carboxylated piperazine-2,5-diones with indoles through conjugate addition of carbon nucleophiles to indolenine intermediates

Organocatalytic conjugate addition of diketopiperazines to indoles was achieved in good to excellent yields through electrophilic indolenine intermediates generated under mild conditions. Screening of catalysts and solvents at different temperatures was performed in order to achieve high product yields.