l-proline and l-histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction

Baylis–Hillman reaction between an aldehyde and an activated alkene, such as alkyl vinyl ketones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinylsulfones, giving the β-hydroxy-α-methylene carbonyl compounds, is a versatile and atom-economical carbon–carbon bond-forming reaction. This reaction usually is catalyzed by strong Lewis bases such as tertiary amines and suffers from slow reaction rate. In this paper the Baylis–Hillman reaction between arylaldehydes and methyl vinyl ketone was successfully realized by a catalytic amount of l-proline and l-histidine system to give the corresponding normal Baylis–Hillman adducts in moderate to high yields for the first time. The effects of solvent and reagent electro property on the yields of this reaction were also investigated. Proline and histidine are naturally widely present amino acids in food system; furthermore, aldehydes and activated alkenes can also be easily produced in food processing, so proline and histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction may find application in explaining some phenomena in food processing.     

Amination of the Baylis–Hillman Acetates in Ethanol

Baylis–Hillman acetates in EtOH were substituted by various nitrogen nucleophiles to give the corresponding trisubstituted alkenes in high yields.     

Asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylates

The first Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylic acid derivatives, i.e. N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam and (−)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate is described. The reaction with cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeded under the catalytic influence of dimethyl sulfide in the presence of titanium tetrachloride. The adducts were obtained with very high diastereoisomeric excess (over 95% d.e.) and typical yields of 78%. The absolute configuration of the newly created stereogenic center was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Organocatalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction: an enantioselective approach

A convenient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of Baylis–Hillman adducts in the presence of a base and an organocatalyst. We have designed and synthesized organocatalysts based on hydrogen bonding using a pyrrolidine ring as the backbone and applied them to Baylis–Hillman transformations. This method provides products in good to high yields (73–90%) and with excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%) and reasonable reaction times.     

Acid–base organocatalysts for the aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of nitroalkenes

A new class of acid–base chiral organocatalysts 1a and 2 for aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction of conjugated nitroalkenes is described. The acidic phenolic hydroxy groups and basic imidazole unit cooperatively activate nitroalkenes to promote the aza-MBH reaction in good yields with moderate enantioselectivities.     

Aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction with ion-supported Ph3P

Various N-tosyl arylimines reacted with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone in the presence of ion-supported Ph₃P A and B to give adducts, N-(2′-methylene-3′-oxo-1′-arylbutyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamides and N-(2′-methylene-3′-oxo-1′-arylpentyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamides, respectively, in good yields with high purity by simple diethyl ether extraction of the reaction mixture. Moreover, ion-supported Ph₃P A and B could be repeatedly used for the same reaction to provide the corresponding adducts while maintaining good yields with high purity.     

Recent developments in the asymmetric organocatalytic Morita−Baylis−Hillman reaction

The goal of this review is to collect the recent developments in asymmetric organocatalytic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions reported since the beginning of 2013. It also includes the asymmetric organocatalysed transformations of racemic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts, illustrating that they constitute synthetically important synthons in organic chemistry. It is divided into four sections, dealing successively with organocatalytic enantioselective Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, asymmetric (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions of chiral substrates and asymmetric organocatalysed applications of Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts.     

Enantioselective Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction catalyzed by a chiral phosphine oxide

An application of a hypervalent silicon complex, generated from a chiral phosphine oxide catalyst and silicon tetrachloride, to the enantioselective organocatalytic Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction is described. A chloride anion liberated from the hypervalent silicon complex smoothly generated a γ-chloro silyl enol ether that subsequently reacted with an aldehyde to afford the Baylis–Hillman adducts in good yields and with good enantioselectivities.     

Methods for the synthesis of chiral sulfur heterocycles and their application in the asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions

Enantiomerically pure (2S,6S)-2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran, (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro thiophene, and (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran were prepared in 70–72% yields and with 86–99% ee via cyclization of the corresponding dimesylate in an S_N2 cyclization reaction using sodium sulfide nonahydrate. The results on the application of various chiral sulfides in asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions are also described.     

Enantioselective intramolecular Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction using chiral bifunctional phosphinothiourea as an organocatalyst

Chiral cyclohexane-based phosphinothioureas were found to be efficient organocatalysts for the enantioselective intramolecular Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of ω-formyl-enone. Among the solvents screened, t-BuOH was the best one which provided good yield and enantioselectivity. Moreover in the presence of 3 mol % of phosphinothiourea 2b, the desired products were obtained in good-to-excellent yields with up to 98% ee under mild reaction conditions.     

N‐Methylpiperidine—A Useful Base Catalyst in the Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction

N‐methylpiperidine, a commercially available mild base, has effectively been utilized as a catalyst in the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction. Moderate to excellent yields (34–95%) and significant rate enhancement have been observed.     

Synthesis of functionalized and fused furans and pyrans from the Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates of nitroalkenes

The Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) acetates derived from nitroalkenes and ethyl glyoxylate have been transformed in one pot at room temperature to highly fused and functionalized furans and pyrans in good to excellent yield. The reaction involves a cascade Michael–oxa-Michael addition of β-dicarbonyl compounds to the MBH acetates in the presence of an amine base such as DABCO. An unusual switching of selectivity in the oxa-Michael addition from 5-exo-trig to 6-endo-trig was observed when the β-dicarbonyl compound was changed from acyclic or six-membered ring cyclic to five-membered ring cyclic system.     

Total synthesis of (+)-pericosine B and (+)-pericosine C and their enantiomers by using the Baylis–Hillman reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps

A simple and divergent route for the total synthesis of pericosine B and pericosine C and their enantiomers from d-ribose by using the Baylis–Hillman reaction and ring-closing metathesis reactions as key steps has been described.     

Baylis–Hillman reaction based flexible strategy for the synthesis of gabosine I,gabosine G,epi-gabosine I and carba l-pentose

A combination of diastereoselective Baylis–Hillman reaction and RCM reaction set is used as the flexible strategy for the ready access to cyclohexenoid and cyclopentenoid skeletons.     

Efficient synthesis of N-allylated 2-nitroiminoimidazolidine analogues from Baylis–Hillman bromides

Various Baylis–Hillman–derived new N-allylated 2-nitroiminoimidazolidine analogs were efficiently prepared using potassium carbonate as base. Simple workup procedure, excellent yields, and mild reaction conditions are the salient features of this method. All the synthesized compounds are screened for their larvicidal activity on fourth instar mosquito larvae, Culex quinquefasciatus.     

Catalytic Effects in Baylis–Hillman Reactions of Chromone-3-carbaldehydes with Acrylonitrile and Methyl Acrylate

The effects of various catalysts, the solvent system, and the temperature on the efficiency and chemoselectivity of reactions of a series of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate are discussed.     

Oxidative oxo Diels–Alder Reactions of Baylis–Hillman Adducts with Electron-Rich Alkenes in the Presence of IBX

Baylis–Hillman adducts were oxidized by iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) to 2-methylene-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, which can act as oxodiene to react with electron-rich alkenes to generate a variety of oxo Diels–Alder adducts in good yields.     

Solvent-dependent Baylis–Hillman reactions for the synthesis of 3-benzyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles and benzo-δ-sultams

We have developed a solvent-dependent method for the preparation of novel benzo-δ-sultam and 3-benzyl-3-hydroxy-N-methyloxindole scaffolds. A variety of 3-(methoxy(phenyl)methyl)-1-methyl-1H-benzo-[c][1,2]thiazine 2,2-dioxides and 3-benzyl-3-hydroxy-1-methylindolin-2-ones were obtained in moderate to high yields via DBU-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction of a number of (E)-N-(2-formylphenyl)-N-methyl-2-phenylethenesulfonamides in DMF and MeOH, respectively. The proof of the structures relies on analytical investigation and X-ray crystallography. Whereas reaction of (E)-N-(2-formylphenyl)-N-methyl-2-phenylethenesulfonamides in MeOH presumably proceeds through intramolecular Baylis–Hillman/dehydration, 3-hydroxy-N-methyloxindoles seem to have been generated via intramolecular Baylis–Hillman/1,3-H shift/oxidation/intramolecular cyclization tandem sequences in DMF.     

Facile synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides from Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates

A facile two-step synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides (BPMOs, with both the phosphine and phosphine oxide moieties within one molecule) from readily available Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates was realized. Under the catalysis of DABCO, the MBH carbonates undergo allylic phosphorylation reaction with diphenylphosphine oxide or diethyl phosphonate to give monophosphine oxides bearing an activated alkene moiety; subsequent base-catalyzed hydrophosphination of the prepared monophosphine oxide with HPPh₂ readily affords the BPMOs.