A Photoenzymatic Strategy for Radical-Mediated Stereoselective Hydroalkylation with Diazo Compounds

Carbene insertion reactions initiated with diazo compounds have been widely used to develop unnatural enzymatic reactions. However, alternative functionalization of diazo compounds in enzymatic processes has been unexploited. Herein, we describe a photoenzymatic strategy for radical-mediated stereoselective hydroalkylation with diazo compounds. This method generates carbon-centered radicals through an ene reductase catalyzed photoinduced electron transfer process from diazo compounds, enabling the synthesis of γ-stereogenic carbonyl compounds in good yields and stereoselectivities. This study further expands the possible reaction patterns in photo-biocatalysis and offers a new approach to solving the selectivity challenges of radical-mediated reactions.     

Photoenzymatic Hydrosulfonylation for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Sulfones

Chiral sulfones are recurrent motifs in pharmaceuticals and bioactive molecules. Although chemical methods have been developed to afford α- or β- chiral sulfones, these protocols rely heavily on the pre-synthesis of structurally complicated starting materials and chiral metal complexes. Herein, we described a photoenzymatic approach for the radical-mediated stereoselective hydrosulfonylation. Engineered variants of ene reductases provide efficient biocatalysts for this transformation, enabling to achieve a series of β-chiral sulfonyl compounds with high yields (up to 92 %) and excellent e.r. values (up to 99 : 1).     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Diaryl Ethers through Enantioselective Desymmetrization

Axially chiral diaryl ethers are a type of unique atropisomers bearing two potential axes, which have potential applications in a variety of research fields. However, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of these diaryl ether atropisomers is largely underexplored when compared to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of biaryl or other types of atropisomers. Herein, we report a highly efficient catalytic asymmetric synthesis of diaryl ether atropisomers through an organocatalyzed enantioselective desymmetrization protocol. The chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric electrophilic aromatic aminations of the symmetrical 1,3-benzenediamine type substrates afforded a series of diaryl ether atropisomers in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The facile construction of heterocycles by the utilizations of the 1,2-benzenediamine moiety in the products provided access to a variety of structurally diverse and novel azaarene-containing diaryl ether atropisomers.     

Chiral Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Hydroamination of Racemic Allenes and Asymmetric Hydroamination of Dienes

The first highly efficient and practical chiral Brønsted acid catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric hydroamination (DyKAH) of racemic allenes and asymmetric hydroamination of unactivated dienes with both high E/Z selectivity and enantioselectivity are described herein. The transformation proceeds through a new catalytic asymmetric model involving a highly reactive π‐allylic carbocationic intermediate, generated from racemic allenes or dienes through a proton transfer mediated by an activating/directing thiourea group. This method affords expedient access to structurally diverse enantioenriched, potentially bioactive alkenyl‐containing aza‐heterocycles and bicyclic aza‐heterocycles.     

Synthetic studies towards atkamine

Atkamine is a complex marine pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloid that comprises a heptacyclic scaffold bearing five different heterocycles and four contiguous stereocenters,and therefore it is a highly challenging target for synthetic chemists.We herein reported a modular synthetic strategy toward this alkaloid,featuring a formal [5+2] annulation and an asymmetric Michael addition.The efficient synthesis of the long-chain aliphatic aldehyde and chiral amino acetal fragments have been achieved.A simplified tetracyclic intermediate bearing the core structure of atkamine has been successfully constructed through the formal [5+2] annulation.     

Near‐Infrared‐Light‐Driven Artificial Photosynthesis by Nanobiocatalytic Assemblies

Artificial photosynthesis in nanobiocatalytic assemblies aims to reconstruct man‐made photosensitizers, electron mediators, electron donors, and redox enzymes for solar synthesis of valuable chemicals through photochemical cofactor regeneration. Herein, we report, for the first time, on nanobiocatalytic artificial photosynthesis in near‐infrared (NIR) light, which constitutes over 46% of the solar energy. For NIR‐light‐driven photoenzymatic synthesis, we synthesized silica‐coated upconversion nanoparticles, Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er and Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm, for efficient photon‐conversion through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with rose bengal (RB), a photosensitizer. We observed NIR‐induced electron transfer by using linear sweep voltammetric analysis; this indicates that photoexcited electrons of RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er are transferred to NAD+ through a Rh‐based electron mediator. RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er nanoparticles, which exhibit higher FRET efficiency due to more spectral overlap than RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm, perform much better in the photoenzymatic conversion.     

Chiral aminophosphines as catalysts for enantioselective double-Michael indoline syntheses

The bisphosphine-catalyzed double-Michael addition of dinucleophiles to electron-deficient acetylenes is an efficient process for the synthesis of many nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Because the resulting heterocycles contain at least one stereogenic center, this double-Michael reaction would be even more useful if an asymmetric variant of the reaction were to be developed. Aminophosphines can also facilitate the double-Michael reaction and chiral amines are more readily available in Nature and synthetically; therefore, in this study we prepared several new chiral aminophosphines. When employed in the asymmetric double-Michael reaction between ortho-tosylamidophenyl malonate and 3-butyn-2-one, the chiral aminophosphines produced indolines in excellent yields with moderate asymmetric induction.     

Enantioselective Reactions of N‐Acyliminium Ions Using Chiral Organocatalysts

N‐acyliminium ions are reactive intermediates that can act as electron‐deficient electrophiles toward weak or soft nucleophiles, thereby providing useful methods for both intermolecular‐ and intramolecular carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bond formation. Nucleophilic additions to N‐acyliminium ions constitute an important method for providing α‐functionalized amino compounds and many other biologically active nitrogen‐containing heterocycles. The development of efficient catalytic asymmetric reactions is a key objective in modern organic chemistry and is very important for the synthesis of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Various methods are available for this purpose and mostly rely on the use of chiral catalysts for enantioselective synthesis. This review deals with one aspect of such catalysis, which has emerged only in the past few years, and its applications in enantioselective reactions of N‐acyliminium ions to provide various nitrogen‐containing heterocycles.     

TEMPO-Mediated Selective Synthesis of Isoxazolines, 5-Hydroxy-2-isoxazolines,and Isoxazoles via Aliphatic δ-C(sp3)-H Bond Oxidation of Oximes

Selective synthesis of three different bioactive heterocycles; isoxazolines, 5-hydroxy-2-isoxazolines and isoxazoles from the same starting material using TEMPO (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl) as a radical initiator is reported. Selectivity was achieved using different oxidants with TEMPO. The reaction goes through a 1,5-HAT (hydrogen atom transfer) process resulting in products with good yields. This strategy offers a straightforward route to three different heterocycles from oximes via radical-mediated C(sp³)-H oxidation.     

Synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles by intramolecular α-arylation of ketone enolate anions

A two-step synthesis of six-, seven-, eight-, and nine-member benzo-fused heterocycles in good to excellent yields is reported. The synthetic strategy involves the generation of a new intramolecular α-aryl ketone bond by the photostimulated S(RN)1 reaction of ketone enolate anions linked to a pendant haloarene as the key step. On the other hand, an intramolecular C(Ar)-C(Ar) coupling led to the formation of five- and six-member benzo-fused heterocycles (9H-carbazole and phenanthridine) when an aromatic amide anion is competitively formed.     

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of 2-Amido Benzyl Alcohols: Asymmetric Synthesis of 4H-3,1-Benzoxazines

An efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of 4H-3,1-benzoxazines was developed by kinetic resolution of 2-amido benzyl alcohols using chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclizations. A broad range of benzyl alcohols (both secondary and tertiary alcohols) were kinetically resolved with high selectivities, with an s factor of up to 94. Mechanistic studies were performed to elucidate the mechanism of these reactions, wherein the amide moieties reacted as the electrophiles. Gram-scale reaction and facile transformations of the chiral products demonstrate the potential of this method in asymmetric synthesis of biologically active chiral heterocycles.     

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of 2‐Amido Benzyl Alcohols: Asymmetric Synthesis of 4H‐3,1‐Benzoxazines

An efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of 4H‐3,1‐benzoxazines was developed by kinetic resolution of 2‐amido benzyl alcohols using chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclizations. A broad range of benzyl alcohols (both secondary and tertiary alcohols) were kinetically resolved with high selectivities, with an s factor of up to 94. Mechanistic studies were performed to elucidate the mechanism of these reactions, wherein the amide moieties reacted as the electrophiles. Gram‐scale reaction and facile transformations of the chiral products demonstrate the potential of this method in asymmetric synthesis of biologically active chiral heterocycles.     

Enantioselective cascade reactions of stable sulfur ylides and nitroolefins through an axial-to-central chirality transfer strategy

An enantioselective [4 + 1] annulation/rearrangement cascade of stable sulfur ylides and nitroolefins has been developed through an efficient axial-to-central chirality transfer with the use of a chiral BINOL-derived sulfide as a reliable stereocontroller. It can provide pharmaceutically and synthetically important oxazolidinones in high stereoselectivities (up to 96:4 e.r. and >95:5 d.r.). Moreover, this strategy was also successfully applied to the asymmetric [4 + 1]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition cascade of sulfur ylides with alkene-tethered nitroolefins, and the corresponding enantioenriched fused heterocycles (up to 87:13 e.r. and >95:5 d.r.) were obtained in good to excellent yields (54-95% yields).     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chromenes and tetrahydroquinolines via sequential allylic alkylation and intramolecular Heck coupling

Highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral chromenes and tetrahydroquinolines is achieved by combining asymmetric copper-catalyzed allylic substitution with Grignard reagents and an efficient intramolecular Heck reaction. Moreover, the exocyclic double bond formed in the cyclisation was subjected to RCM, hydroboration and hydrogenation illuminating the synthetic versatility of these heterocycles.     

钯催化烯基苯并噁嗪酮基于内球型机理的线性和不对称烯丙基烷基化反应

烯基苯并噁嗪酮作为底物参与反应受到有机合成工作者的广泛关注.在过渡金属催化作用下,烯基苯并噁嗪酮脱除一分子二氧化碳,生成的两性离子中间体既可以被亲核试剂进攻,得到结构丰富的芳香胺,也可以作为1,4-偶极子与硫叶立德,缺电子烯烃或α,β-不饱和醛参与成环,分别生成相应的五元、六元或七元含氮杂环.后者广泛存在于农药、医药和生物活性分子中.已报道的钯催化烯基苯并噁嗪酮的不对称转化反应中,支链结构是主产物,线性结构产物比较少见.这是因为烯丙基邻位的氨基负离子与亲核试剂存在氢键或者静电作用,诱导亲核试剂进攻位阻更大但是能量更低的苄位.不同于传统的钯催化烯丙基取代反应,产物的结构通常是由亲核试剂的软硬程度决定.除了化学选择性的问题,产物中双键的Z/E构型和立体选择性的控制也同样成为挑战.近期Li课题组(Org.Lett.,2016,18,4392–4395)基于定位基辅助的Rh(Ⅲ)催化C?H活化策略实现了芳烃烯丙基化得到线性产物.Shi课题组(Chem.Commun.,2019,55,1283–1286)利用Ir(Ⅰ)和Br?nsted酸协同催化实现了吖内酯进攻端位烯丙基.但是,这些反应仅能得到消旋产物.发展不对称的线性烯丙基取代反应,不仅可以拓展烯基苯并噁嗪酮的应用前景,还可以合成具有手性的邻乙烯基芳香胺.本文采用α-硫氰基取代的茚酮作亲核试剂,不同于以往文献报道的机理,氨基负离子对烯醇式茚酮没有起到导向作用,意外得到以直链为主的产物.经过优化,最终以联萘二酚骨架亚膦酰胺为配体,钯作为催化剂,成功构建了一系列与硫氰基直接相连的季碳手性产物.所有反应产物均有优秀的化学选择性(线性选择性>20/1),E/Z选择性(>20/1)和立体选择性(最高95%ee).并且该反应适用范围广泛,基团的兼容性良好.为解释实验结果,本文进行相关的控制实验和DFT计算.计算结果表明,由于氨基负离子碱性较强,茚酮α位C?H酸性较强,直接发生了质子转移生成茚酮烯醇负离子,此时氢键作用消失不能起到导向作用.本文还考察了茚酮烯醇负离子与烯丙基钯通过静电作用形成离子复合物.与之前文献报道不同,本文采用了单齿膦配体且钯与配体等量,这意味着钯处于配位不饱和状态,导致离子复合物极其不稳定,烯醇负离子与硫氰基直接与钯配位成键,该过程结合能高达23.47 kcal/mol.最终配合物中间体通过内球型机理,经历环状过渡态得到以线性为主的产物.     

A unique approach to the concise synthesis of highly optically active spirooxazolines and the discovery of a more potent oxindole-type phytoalexin analogue

Drug-lead synthesis through rapid construction of chiral molecular complexity around the biologically relevant framework using a highly efficient strategy is a key goal of organic synthesis. Molecules bearing a spirooxindole-type framework exhibit important bioactivities. Herein, we present a highly efficient and convenient strategy that allows rapid construction of unique optically active spiro[oxazoline-3,3'-oxindole]s through the organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclic thiocarbamates via an aldol reaction. Preliminary biological evaluation of several of the spirooxazolines using a model of acute neuroinflammation revealed promising antipyretic activity and provided an opportunity to discover new antipyretic agents.     

Asymmetric deprotonation-substitution of N-Pop-benzylamines using [RLi/(-)-sparteine]. Enantioselective sequential reactions and synthesis of N-heterocycles

Pop-directed asymmetric deprotonation of benzylic amines using [n-BuLi/(-)-sparteine] provides an efficient method for the synthesis of chiral NC alpha and NC alpha,alpha' derivatives with total selectivity with respect to competing allylic and ortho lithiation. The method described herein offers a straightforward route of accessing chiral N-Pop-protected nitrogen heterocycles.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Chiral Azaheteroaryl Ethylamines by Asymmetric Protonation

The direct enantioselective synthesis of chiral azaheteroaryl ethylamines from vinyl‐substituted N‐heterocycles and anilines is reported. A chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyst promotes dearomatizing aza‐Michael addition to give a prochiral exocyclic aryl enamine, which undergoes asymmetric protonation upon rearomatization. The reaction accommodates a broad range of N‐heterocycles, nucleophiles, and substituents on the prochiral centre, generating the products in high enantioselectivity. DFT studies support a facile nucleophilic addition based on catalyst‐induced LUMO lowering, with site‐selective, rate‐limiting, intramolecular asymmetric proton transfer from the ion‐paired prochiral intermediate.     

Versatile, diastereoselective additions of silyl ketene acetals, allyl tributylstannane, and Me(3)SiCN to N-acyl pyrazolines: asymmetric synthesis of densely functionalized pyrazolidines

We report the diastereoselective addition of a wide range of nucleophiles to chiral pyrazolines to provide facile access to a range of useful densely functionalized building blocks for asymmetric synthesis. Coupled with the asymmetric cycloaddition reaction of Me(3)SiCHN(2) to chiral acrylates, access to these chiral heterocycles is considerably expanded.     

Recent advances in asymmetric synthesis of 2-substituted indoline derivatives

Recent advances in asymmetric synthesis of 2-substituted indoline derivatives are discussed.