Chiral Amine Catalyzed Reductive Aldol/Reductive Michael Addition Cascade Towards Enantioselective Synthesis of Benzannulated Diquinanes

Disclosed here an amine-catalyzed reductive aldol-condensation followed by an intramolecular reductive Michael-addition cascade employing Hantzsch ester as hydride source to a keto-bis-enone to provide enantio- and diastereoselective benzannulated diquinanes having three consecutive stereocenters, one of which is an all-carbon quaternary formyl stereocenter. Interestingly, on changing a tether connecting the ketone and an enone moiety from an aliphatic to an aromatic, a change in reactivity is observed. In this case, instead of the above-mentioned reductive aldol condensation, an asymmetric aldol reaction occurs, followed by an iminium/enamine isomerization and, finally diastereoselective Michael addition reaction occurs. As a result, a bis-benzannulated diquinane is obtained with vicinal congested quaternary chiral centers.     

Enantioselective tandem Michael reaction to nitroalkene catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea: total synthesis of (−)-epibatidine

Successive treatment of γ,δ-unsaturated β-ketoesters and nitroalkenes with a bifunctional thiourea and TMG promoted the tandem Michael addition, giving rise to highly functionalized cyclohexanones in good yields. The three contiguous stereogenic centers of the obtained products were constructed with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity (up to >99% de and 92% ee). The reaction was successfully applied to the asymmetric synthesis of (−)-epibatidine, which was synthesized from the cyclohexanone derivative in seven steps in 30% overall yield.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-strychnine using the catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction and tandem cyclization

The enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-strychnine was accomplished through the use of the highly practical catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction (0.1 mol % of (R)-ALB, more than kilogram scale, without chromatography, 91% yield and >99% ee) as well as a tandem cyclization that simultaneously constructed B- and D-rings (>77% yield). Moreover, newly developed reaction conditions for thionium ion cyclization, NaBH3CN reduction of the imine moiety in the presence of Lewis acid to prevent ring opening reaction, and chemoselective reduction of the thioether (desulfurization) in the presence of exocyclic olefin were pivotal to complete the synthesis. The described chemistry paves the way for the synthesis of more advanced Strychnos alkaloids.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis and Absolute Configuration Assignment of (+)-Tronocarpine Enabled by an Asymmetric Michael/Aldol Reaction

We present the first asymmetric total synthesis and absolute configuration determination of (+)-tronocarpine. The [6.5.7.6.6] pentacyclic core was constructed at an early stage by using a sequential cyclization strategy through a newly developed catalytic asymmetric Michael/aldol cascade to build the aza[3.3.1]-bridged cycle and a tandem reduction/hemiamidation procedure to assemble the seven-membered lactam. The side-chain functionalities were incorporated at a late stage by several appropriately orchestrated manipulations under mild conditions. The synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)-tronocarpine was achieved through a 20-step longest linear sequence from tryptamine.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Michael/Aldol Sequence: Anticancer Natural Product (+)‐trans‐Dihydrolycoricidine

A total synthesis of the anticancer natural product (+)‐trans‐dihydrolycoricidine is reported from α‐azidoacetone and cinnamaldehyde precursors. Key elements include an asymmetric organocatalytic sequence proceeding by a regiospecific secondary‐amine‐catalyzed syn Michael addition followed by an intramolecular aldol reaction. The sequence results in the formation of an advanced intermediate, containing three stereogenic centers, in one step which and was converted into the title compound in eight steps.     

Highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles

A highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles has been developed. With 5?mol% of bifunctional organocatalyst C15, chiral spiro[2-amino-4H-pyran-oxindole] derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (97–99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to?>?99% ee).     

Enantioselective synthesis of fused dihydropyranones via squaramide-catalyzed Michael addition/lactonization cascade reaction

A highly enantioselective (49–99% ee) Michael addition/lactonization cascade process has been developed to construct 3,4-dihydropyran-2-one in the presence of a bifunctional squaramide. Various α,β-unsaturated N-acyl heterocycles were well tolerated and afforded 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones in moderate to excellent isolated yields (50–99%). Both cyclic and acyclic β-diketones functioned as appropriate donors. The resulting 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones could be readily converted into oxadecalinones.     

Facile synthesis of thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles via K2CO3 catalyzed tandem sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction

A facile method for the synthesis of thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles via sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction of 3-ylideneoxindoles with thiosalicylaldehydes has been developed. This tandem reaction, which tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, furnished diverse substituted functional thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles in up to 90% yields with good diastereoselectivities. Furthermore, the reaction system could be promoted to gram-scale efficiently under the mild conditions.     

Enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexanone derivatives via the organocatalytic direct Aldol reaction

Asymmetric desymmetrization of 4-substituted cyclohexanones using proline amide-catalyzed direct aldol reaction afforded beta-hydroxyketones with three stereogenic centers in high enantioselectivities of up to >99% ee.     

Enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition reaction catalyzed by organic molecules

Chiral 2-azanorbornyl-3-methanol is used as an organocatalyst for the highly enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition reaction of vinyl malononitriles to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. In many cases, the products can be obtained in almost optically pure form (>95% ee) after a single recrystallization.     

Enantioselective synthesis of enol lactones from tandem Michael addition/lactonization catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst

The enantioselective tandem Michael addition reaction of dimedone and related 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with α,β-unsaturated N-acylated succinimides catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst has been investigated. This reaction provides a new approach for the synthesis of chiral enol lactones in good yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 88% ee) through the enantioselective Michael addition followed by lactonization and removal of the succinimide auxiliary.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis and Absolute Configuration Assignment of (+)‐Tronocarpine Enabled by an Asymmetric Michael/Aldol Reaction

We present the first asymmetric total synthesis and absolute configuration determination of (+)‐tronocarpine. The [6.5.7.6.6] pentacyclic core was constructed at an early stage by using a sequential cyclization strategy through a newly developed catalytic asymmetric Michael/aldol cascade to build the aza[3.3.1]‐bridged cycle and a tandem reduction/hemiamidation procedure to assemble the seven‐membered lactam. The side‐chain functionalities were incorporated at a late stage by several appropriately orchestrated manipulations under mild conditions. The synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)‐tronocarpine was achieved through a 20‐step longest linear sequence from tryptamine.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of isishippuric acid B via intramolecular Michael reaction

The first enantioselective total synthesis of isishippuric acid B bearing a novel 4,5-seco-6-norquadrane skeleton was accomplished from (R)-citronellal with use of a Diels-Alder cycloaddition and an intramolecular Michael addition as the ring-forming steps. Comparison of the optical rotation of the synthetic material with that of the natural product confirmed the absolute configuration of isishippuric acid B to be 1R, 2R, 8R, and 11R.     

Enantioselective Michael reaction of malonates to nitroolefins catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts

Michael reaction of malonates to nitroolefins with chiral bifunctional organocatalysts, bearing both a thiourea and tertiary amino group, afforded Michael adducts with high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 95%, up to 93% ee).     

Diversity-oriented regioselective domino Michael/Aldol reaction of 3-ylideneoxindoles: A direct access to indanol-fused 3-oxindoles

A diversity-oriented molecular hybridization strategy has been utilized for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 1-indanol-fused 3-oxindoles through a regioselective domino Michael/Aldol reaction of 3-ylideneoxindoles 1 with malononitrile or cyanacetate ethyle 2. Products bearing consecutive stereocenters consist of an oxindole moiety and an indanol core, were smoothly obtained in high yields (up to 92% yield) with good diastereoselectivity (up to 20:1). This protocol also represents the first construction of indanol-fused 3-oxindole scaffolds, thus leading to new knowledge in the fields of both molecular complexity and diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) and the lead compound discovery. It is also worth mentioning that the reaction was completely regioselective and the competitive regioisomeric products 4 or 5 were not obtained in any case.