Asymmetric Dearomative Fluorination of 2-Naphthols with a Dicarboxylate Phase-Transfer Catalyst

A linked dicarboxylate phase-transfer catalyst enables smooth asymmetric dearomative fluorination of 2-naphthols with Selectfluor under mild conditions to give the corresponding 1-fluoronaphthalenone derivatives in a highly enantioselective manner. This reaction, which is compatible with a range of functional groups, is the first example of catalytic asymmetric fluorination of 2-naphthols, and is expected to be useful in the synthesis of bioactive molecules.     

Direct amidation of non-activated carboxylic acid and amine derivatives catalyzed by TiCp2Cl2

This paper described a mild and efficient direct amidation of non-activated carboxylic acid and amine derivatives catalyzed by TiCp₂Cl₂. Arylacetic acid derivatives reacted with different amines to afford the corresponding amides in good to excellent yield except of aniline. Aryl formic acids failed to react with aniline but smoothly reacted with aliphatic amines and benzylamine in moderate to good yield, fatty acids reacting with benzyl and aliphatic amines give amides in good to excellent yield. Chiral amino acids derivatives were transformed into amides without racemization in moderate yield. The possible mechanism of direct amidation catalyzed by TiCp₂Cl₂ was discussed. This catalytic method is very suitable for the amidation of low sterically hindered arylacetic acid, fatty acids with different low sterically hindered amines except aniline, as well as the amidation of aryl formic acid with benzyl and aliphatic amines.     

Highly selective hydroarylation of propiolic acid derivatives using a PtCl2/AgOTf catalytic system

Hydroarylation of propiolic acid derivatives with arenes in trifluoroacetic acid efficiently proceeded in the presence of PtCl₂/AgOTf catalyst to give cis-cinnamic acid derivatives in good to high yields. This PtCl₂/AgOTf-catalyzed reaction did not afford any 4-arylbuta-1,3-diene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives formed by Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed hydroarylation. The specific optimization of the catalytic hydroarylation and application to electron-rich arenes are reported.     

Nickel/Photoredox‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross‐Coupling of Racemic α‐Chloro Esters with Aryl Iodides

A unique nickel/organic photoredox co‐catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross‐coupling between α‐chloro esters and aryl iodides is developed. This cross‐electrophile coupling reaction employs an organic reductant (Hantzsch ester), whereas most reductive cross‐coupling reactions use stoichiometric metals. A diverse array of valuable α‐aryl esters is formed under these conditions with high enantioselectivities (up to 94 %) and good yields (up to 88 %). α‐Aryl esters represent an important family of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. This novel synergistic strategy expands the scope of Ni‐catalyzed reductive asymmetric cross‐coupling reactions.     

Asymmetric Dearomative Fluorination of 2‐Naphthols with a Dicarboxylate Phase‐Transfer Catalyst

A linked dicarboxylate phase‐transfer catalyst enables smooth asymmetric dearomative fluorination of 2‐naphthols with Selectfluor under mild conditions to give the corresponding 1‐fluoronaphthalenone derivatives in a highly enantioselective manner. This reaction, which is compatible with a range of functional groups, is the first example of catalytic asymmetric fluorination of 2‐naphthols, and is expected to be useful in the synthesis of bioactive molecules.     

Gadolinium triflate catalyzed alkylation of pyrroles: efficient synthesis of 3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine derivatives

Novel 2-alkylated pyrrole derivatives were synthesized regioselectively by Gd(OTf)₃ catalyzed addition reactions of pyrrole to substituted dimethyl 2-benzylidenemalonate derivatives under mild reaction conditions. 2-Alkylated pyrrole derivatives are used for the construction of the 3-oxo pyrrolizine skeleton. Intramolecular cyclization of alkylated pyrrole derivatives afforded new diastereoselective 3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine derivatives with good to high yields.     

Cationic ruthenium complex of the formula [RuCl(2,6-diacetylpyridine)(PPh3)2]BArF and its catalytic activity in the formation of enol esters

A new ruthenium 2,6-diacetylpyridine complex was synthesized and applied in the atom-economic synthesis of enol esters through Markovnikov-directed addition of carboxylic acids to terminal alkynes. The ruthenium complex [RuCl(dap)(PPh₃)₂]⁺BArF^? was synthesized from [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂] and the corresponding ligand 2,6-diacetylpyridine (dap). The complex was characterized structurally. The new ruthenium complex was utilized under ambient conditions as a catalyst in the Markovnikov addition of carboxylic acids to terminal alkynes to afford the corresponding enol esters in 93% to 52% isolated yields (85?°C, 16?h reaction time, 1?mol% catalyst loading).     

Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of β‐Ketoesters with Allylic Alcohols by a Nickel/Diphosphine Catalyst

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of β‐ketoesters with allylic alcohols catalyzed by [Ni(cod)₂]/(S)‐H₈‐BINAP was found to be a superior synthetic protocol for constructing quaternary chiral centers at the α‐position of β‐ketoesters. The reaction proceeded in high yield and with high enantioselectivity using various β‐ketoesters and allylic alcohols, without any additional activators. The versatility of this methodology for accessing useful and enantioenriched products was demonstrated.     

Efficient Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acid Derivatives via Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α‐Isothiocyanato Imide with Aldehydes

An easily available and efficient chiral N,N′‐dioxide–nickel(II) complex catalyst has been developed for the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of α‐isothiocyanato imide with aldehydes which produces the products in morderate to high yields (up to 98 %) with excellent diastereo‐ (up to >99:1 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, α,β‐unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes were found to be suitable substrates in the presence of 2.5 mol % L ‐proline‐derived N,N′‐dioxide L5 –nickel(II) complex. This process was air‐tolerant and easily manipulated with available reagents. Based on experimental investigations, a possible transition state has been proposed to explain the origin of reactivity and asymmetric inductivity.     

An N-heterocyclic carbene/Lewis acid strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of spirooxindole lactones

A cooperative catalysis approach for the enantioselective formal [3+2] addition of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to isatins has been developed. Homoenolate annulations of β-aryl enals catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) require the addition of lithium chloride for high levels of enantioselectivity. This NHC-catalyzed annulation has been used for the total synthesis of maremycin B.     

Towards perfect catalytic asymmetric synthesis: dual activation of the electrophile and the nucleophile

The design and development of new high-performance catalysts for applications in asymmetric catalytic reactions is of ongoing interest in organic chemistry. The combination of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base working in concert is now considered state of the art in stereoselective syntheses. The synergistic activation by two or more reactive centers allows high reaction rates and excellent transfer of stereochemical information. Despite the self-quenching reaction between Lewis acids and Lewis bases that might lead to an inactive catalyst, considerable effort has been directed towards the development of the dual-activation concept. The ultimate goal is to mimic nature by the discovery of catalytic systems analogous to enzymatic processes that involve metal-ion cocatalysts. With this aim, the dual activation concept greatly broadens the range of artificial catalysts. The most efficient catalytic systems are reviewed, and the mechanisms of action are discussed.     

Allylation of acetals and ketals with allyltrimethylsilane catalyzed by the mixed Lewis acid system AlBr3/CuBr

The synthesis of homoallyl ethers from various acetals and a cyclic ketal with allyltrimethylsilane catalyzed by aluminum bromide in the presence of trimethylaluminum as a desiccant is described. We found that the addition of a catalytic amount of copper(I) bromide accelerates the allylation reactions to afford the homoallyl ether derivatives in good to excellent yield.     

Chiral relay: a novel strategy for the control and amplification of enantioselectivity in chiral Lewis acid promoted reactions

Chiral Lewis acid catalysis has emerged as one of the premiere method to control stereochemistry. Much effort has gone into the design of superior ligands with increasing steric extension to shield distant reactive sites. We report here an alternative and complementary approach based on a "chiral relay". This strategy focuses on the improved design of achiral templates which may relay and amplify the stereochemistry from ligands. The essence of this strategy is that the chiral Lewis acid would effectively convert an achiral template into a chiral non-racemic template. This approach combines the advantages of enantioselective catalysis (substoichiometric amount of the chiral inducer) with the ones of chiral auxiliary control (efficient and predictable stereocontrol).