Construction of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines: enantioselective organocatalytic Michael/alkylation domino reaction and one-pot aza-cyclization

An asymmetric two-step approach toward the synthesis of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines is described. In this synthesis, an asymmetric organocatalytic Michael/alkylation domino reaction of dialkyl bromomalonates with o-N-protected aminophenyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes allows the process to proceed efficiently to afford the corresponding 2-formylcyclopropane products in good yields and with high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). In addition, a one-pot procedure for the DBU-mediated aza-cyclization of the 2-formylcyclopropane adducts was applied for the formation of chiral cyclopropane-fused tetrahydroquinolines.     

Catalytic asymmetric aziridination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The development, scope, and application of the highly enantioselective organocatalytic aziridination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The aminocatalytic azirdination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes enables the asymmetric formation of β-formyl aziridines with up to >19:1 d.r. and 99% ee. The aminocatalytic aziridination of α-monosubstituted enals gives access to terminal α-substituted-α-formyl aziridines in high yields and up to 99% ee. In the case of the organocatalytic aziridination of disubstituted α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, the transformations were highly diastereo- and enantioselective and give nearly enantiomerically pure β-formyl-functionalized aziridine products (99% ee). A highly enantioselective one-pot cascade sequence based on the combination of asymmetric amine and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis (AHCC) is also disclosed. This one-pot three-component co-catalytic transformation between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, hydroxylamine derivatives, and alcohols gives the corresponding N-tert-butoxycarbonyl and N-carbobenzyloxy-protected β-amino acid esters with ee values ranging from 92-99%. The mechanisms and stereochemistry of all these catalytic transformations are also discussed.     

One-pot organocatalytic domino Michael/α-alkylation reactions: highly enantioselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopentanones and cyclopentanols

A simple, highly enantioselective catalytic route to cyclopentanones is presented. The chiral amine catalyzed domino Michael/α-alkylation reaction gives access to functionalized cyclopentanones in good to high yields with 93 → 99% ee. The products were also reduced with high diastereoselectivity to the corresponding cyclopentanols.     

Enantioselective synthesis of nitrocyclopropanes via conjugate addition of bromomalonate to nitroalkenes catalyzed by Ni(II) complexes

A novel one-pot methodology for the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized nitrocyclopropanes promoted by chiral nickel complexes is developed. The treatment of bromomalonates with nitroalkenes under the mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding Michael adducts which cyclizes to controlled reaction conditions with excellent diasteroselectivities (>99 de) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Enantioselective organocatalytic domino synthesis of tetrahydropyridin-2-ols

The asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydropyridin-2-ols from enals and enaminones is described. The organocatalytic domino reaction involves a Michael addition-hemiaminalization sequence using the J?rgensen-Hayashi catalyst. Dehydration or oxidation leads to the corresponding 1,4-dihydro-pyridines or 3,4-dihydropyridin-2-ones in a one-pot fashion.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of 2H-1-benzothiopyrans by a catalytic domino reaction

A highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 2H-1-benzothiopyrans is presented. The organocatalytic asymmetric domino reactions between 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes proceed with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivities to give the corresponding pharmaceutically valuable benzothiopyrans in high yields with 91-98% ee.     

Control of four stereocenters in an organocatalytic domino double Michael reaction: efficient synthesis of multisubstituted cyclopentanes

A highly enantioselective and diastereoselective domino organocatalytic double Michael reaction which provides expedited access to multifunctionalized five-membered rings catalyzed by 9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinine (V) has been developed. Simple operational procedures, high yields (81-92%), excellent enantioselectivity (90-97% ee), diastereoselectivities (95:5->99:1 dr), and immense potential of synthetic versatility of the products render this new methodology highly appealing for asymmetric synthesis.     

Enantioselective addition of aldehydes to amines via combined catalytic biomimetic oxidation and organocatalytic C-C bond formation

The biomimetic catalytic enantioselective addition of aldehydes to amines is reported. This was accomplished by combining biomimetic coupled catalytic aerobic oxidation of amines involving ruthenium-induced dehydrogenation and organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions. The novel one-pot reactions furnished β-amino aldehyde and α-amino acid derivatives in high yields with excellent chemoselectivity and up to >99% ee.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective domino synthesis of highly functionalized cyclohexanes with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic domino Michael/aldol reaction is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by chiral amines and gives access to highly functionalized cyclohexanes with one all-carbon quaternary stereocenter and multiple chiral stereocenters in high yields and 83-98% ee.     

Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type reactions: highly enantioselective organocatalytic addition of unmodified α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to N-Boc protected imines

Highly enantioselective catalytic routes to Boc protected aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type products are presented. The organocatalytic asymmetric reactions between unmodified α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and N-Boc protected aryl imines proceed with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding compounds in good yields with 97-99% ee.     

Water-compatible one-pot organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of cyclic nitrones. Application in intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions

Optically active five-membered cyclic nitrones are readily obtained in a one-pot procedure via the organocatalytic Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins and in situ reductive cyclization. Application of the methodology to the synthesis of tricyclic compounds through intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions (DFT calculations have also been performed) is also demonstrated. All the reactions were carried out in water as a solvent and excellent ee values (ee >99%) were obtained.     

Catalytic enantioselective domino oxa-michael/aldol condensations: asymmetric synthesis of benzopyran derivatives

The first direct organocatalytic asymmetric domino oxa-Michael/aldol condensation reaction is presented. The unprecedentedly simple, chiral, pyrrolidine-catalyzed asymmetric domino reactions between salicylic aldehyde derivatives and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes proceed with high chemo- and enantioselectivities to give the corresponding chromene-3-carbaldehyde derivatives in high yields and with ee values of 83-98%.     

A simple and concise catalytic asymmetric entry to tetrahydroxanthenones

The first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydroxanthenones is presented. The simple organocatalytic enantioselective domino reactions between salicylic aldehyde derivatives and α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones proceed with excellent chemoselectivity to give the corresponding tetrahydroxanthenones in moderate to good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Asymmetric domino aza-Michael–Michael reaction of o-N-protected aminophenyl α,β-unsaturated ketones: construction of chiral functionalized tetrahydroquinolines

The diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines has been developed through organocatalytic domino aza-Michael–Michael reaction of o-N-tosylaminophenyl α,β-unsaturated ketones with nitroalkenes. This useful and simple domino process afforded diverse highly functionalized tetrahydroquinolines, some of which are not easily accessible using other methodologies, in good yields and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >30:1 dr, >99% ee).     

A one-pot organocatalytic asymmetric entry to tetrahydrothioxanthenones

A simple catalytic asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydrothioxanthenones is presented. The organocatalytic enantioselective domino reactions between 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde and α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones proceed with excellent chemoselectivity to give the corresponding tetrahydrothioxanthenones in high yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of highly decorated chiral 2-nitro-cyclohexane carboxylic esters through microwave-assisted organocatalyzed cascade reactions

Starting from (E)-β-substituted-β-nitroacrylates and α,β-unsaturated ketones, a stereoselective organocatalyzed one-pot methodology allowed to synthesize highly decorated chiral 2-nitro-cyclohexane carboxylic esters. The reaction is promoted by Cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amines in the presence of an acidic co-catalyst and affords two diastereoisomers, in good yields and high enantiomeric excess (often higher than 90% ee). By replacing conventional heating with microwave irradiation, cleaner reactions in shortened times (from 48 h to 30 min) were obtained, with improved dr (80:20) and high ee (up to 94%). The application of microwave technology to this organocatalytic methodology allowed also employing C1 substituted enones, leading to cyclohexanones with four contiguous stereocenters in two isomers only, and up to 99% enantioselectivity.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in aqueous media: one-pot Mannich-allylation reactions

The first direct organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in aqueous media are demonstrated herein. l-Proline-catalyzed reactions in aqueous media to provide β-formyl substituted α-amino acid derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivities (dr up to 19:1, syn/anti) and high enantioselectivities (ee between 72 and >99%). These conditions provided for the development of novel one-pot asymmetric syntheses of cyclic γ-allyl substituted α-amino acid derivatives (ee up to >99%). This was accomplished by combining the proline-catalyzed Mannich-type reactions with indium promoted allylations in aqueous media.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Domino Michael/Aldol Reactions: An Efficient Procedure for the Stereocontrolled Construction of 2H‐Thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline Scaffolds

An efficient procedure for the stereocontrolled construction of 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline scaffolds has been developed, starting from simple compounds. The domino Michael/aldol reactions between 2‐mercaptobenzaldehydes and enals, promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether, proceed with excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding synthetically useful and pharmaceutically valuable 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinolines in high yields with 90–99 % ee.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric 1,6-additions of beta-ketoesters and glycine imine

The first organocatalytic enantioselective 1,6-addition of beta-ketoesters and benzophenone imine to electron-poor delta-unsubstituted dienes using cinchona alkaloids under phase-transfer conditions is demonstrated. The scope of the reaction for the beta-ketoesters is outlined for reactions with different delta-unsubstituted dienes having ketones, esters, and sulfones as electron-withdrawing substituents giving the corresponding optically active products in good yields and enantioselectivities in the range of 90-99% ee. The 1,6-addition also proceeds with a number of cyclic beta-ketoesters having different ring sizes, ring systems and substituents in high yields and enantioselectivities. The potential of this new organocatalytic 1,6-addition for beta-ketoesters is demonstrated by a two-step synthesis of the bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-one structure, a bicyclic bridged skeleton occurring in a variety of natural compounds. Benzophenone imines also undergo the organocatalytic asymmetric 1,6-addition to the activated dienes in high yields and with enantioselectivities from 92% to 98% ee, except in one case. The synthetic utility of this asymmetric reaction is demonstrated by the two-step transformation of the allylated alpha-amino acid derivative to highly attractive optically active pyrrolidines.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes by organocatalytic domino reactions

A simple approach for the formation of optically active highly functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes, which might find important use in biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, and nanoscience is presented. Development of new organocatalytic Michael-aldol domino reactions is outlined, and with the appropriate choice of additives it is possible to control the regioselectivity of these domino reactions, yielding diastereomerically pure (tetrahydrothiophen-2-yl)phenyl methanones or tetrahydrothiophene carbaldehydes in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities up to 96% ee. The stereochemical outcome of these reactions is investigated, and the mechanism of these organocatalytic domino processes is presented.