Rhodium-Catalyzed Chemo-, Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective Intermolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Three Unsymmetric 2π Components

We have developed the Rh⁺/H₈-binap-catalyzed chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of three unsymmetric 2π components. Thus, two arylacetylenes react with a cis-enamide to yield a protected chiral cyclohexadienylamine. Moreover, replacing one arylacetylene with a silylacetylene enables the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of three distinct unsymmetric 2π components. These transformations proceed with excellent selectivity (complete regio- and diastereoselectivity and up to >99 % yield and >99 % ee). Mechanistic studies suggest the chemo- and regioselective formation of a rhodacyclopentadiene intermediate from the two terminal alkynes.     

Cobalt-Mediated [2 + 2 + 2]-Cycloadditions: A Maturing Synthetic Strategy [New Synthetic Methods (43)]

Dicarbonyl (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt functions as a matrix on which a variety of unsaturated organic substrates undergo mutual bond formation. In this way α,ω-diynes cocyclize with monoalkynes to give annelated benzenes, while o-diethynylbenzenes furnish biphenylenes, and α,ω-enynes lead to the formation of complexed bi-and tricyclic dienes. Nitriles cocyclize with two alkynyl groups to give pyridines and other heterocycles, isocyanates allow access to annelated 2-pyridones, and incorporation of carbon monoxide provides complexed cyclopentadienones. In many cases remarkable chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity are observed, partially facilitated by use of the trimethylsilyl substituent as a controlling group. The scope and level of maturity of the method are demonstrated by the synthesis of a series of hitherto inaccessible, novel, and theoretically interesting molecules, and by its utilization in several unique approaches to a variety of natural products, e.g. protoberberines, steroids, vitamin B₆, and camptothecin.     

Functionalization of Olefinic C−H Bonds by an Aryl-to-Vinyl 1,4-Nickel Migration/Reductive Coupling Sequence

An attractive approach to selective functionalization of remote C−H bonds is a metal/hydride shift/cross-coupling reaction sequence. Complimentary to the heavily exploited 1,2-nickel/hydride shift along an sp³ chain, a chain-walking process, the 1,4-nickel/hydride shift along an sp² chain is more complex. Here we report an unprecedented aryl-to-vinyl 1,4-nickel/hydride shift reaction, in which the migratory alkenylnickel species generated in situ is selectively trapped by one of various coupling partners, such as isocyanates, alkyl bromides, aryl chlorides or alkynyl bromides, allowing regio- and stereoselective access to trisubstituted alkenes. In contrast to the well-reported ipso-aryl coupling reactions, this strategy provides remote alkenyl C−H functionalized products with good yield and with excellent chemo-, regio- and E/Z-selectivity.     

Chemo- and Regioselective Catalyst-Controlled Carbocyclization of Alkynyl Ketones: Rapid Synthesis of 1-Indanones and 1-Naphthols

A catalyst-controlled intramolecular carbocyclization of 2-alkynyl aryl ketones is presented. Under rhodium(III) catalysis, 1-indanones are formed through 5-exo-dig carbocyclizations with exclusive chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity. When catalyzed by copper(I), 1-naphthols are obtained through 6-endo-dig carbocyclizations with exclusive chemo- and regioselectivity.     

Functionalized C-Glycosyl Compounds. III. Reaction of Tertiary Nucleophiles with Unsaturated Carbohydrates. Mechanism of the Anomerization

Abstract

Phenyl 2, 3-dideoxy-4, 6-di-O-benzyl-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside 1α (or 1β) is alkylated regio- and stereospecifically at the anomeric center by stabilized tertiary nucleo-philes in the presence of Pd(0) as a catalyst, leading to the C-glycoside of α- (or β-) configuration. The observed loss of stereoselectivity using secondary stabilized nucleophiles is mainly due to a retro Michael reaction. The assignment of the α- (or β-) configuration at the anomeric center was accomplished using ¹³C NMR and NOE experiments.     

Chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity in acid-catalyzed hydromethoxylation of tricyclo[4.1.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]hept-1-yl and 7-methyltricyclo[4.1.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]hept-1-yl phenyl sulfones

Hydromethoxylation of tricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl and 7-methyltricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl phenyl sulfones with methanol at 20°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of perchloric acid is initiated by the endo attack of proton at the C¹ atom, and the subsequent cleavage of the side C¹–C² bond leads to formation of mixtures of diastereoisomeric exo-7-phenylsulfonyl-2-methoxybicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes, the endo-2 isomer prevailing. Probable factors responsible for the observed chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity of the addition are discussed.     

Rapid access to t-butylalkylated olefins enabled by Ni-catalyzed intermolecular regio- and trans-selective cross-electrophile t-butylalkylation of alkynes

Among the carbo-difunctionalization of alkynes, the stereoselective dialkylation of alkynes is the most challenging transformation due to associated competitive side reactions and thus remains underdeveloped. Herein, we report the first Ni-catalyzed regio- and trans-selective cross-dialkylation of alkynes with two distinct alkyl bromides to afford olefins with two aliphatic substituents. The reductive conditions circumvent the use of organometallic reagents, enabling the cross-dialkylation process to occur at room temperature from two different alkyl bromides. This operationally simple protocol provides a straightforward and practical access to a wide range of stereodefined dialkylated olefins with broad functional group tolerance from easily available starting materials.

A direct reductive cross-dialkylation of alkynes is achieved to afford trans-dialkylated olefins using two distinct alkyl bromides. The reaction undergoes with exclusive chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity without the use of organometallic reagents.     

Asymmetric Direct Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by a Simple Chiral Primary Diamine–Br⊘nsted Acid Catalyst in/on Water

Abstract

The direct asymmetric aldol reaction catalyzed by the simple and commercially available chiral primary diamines, (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine and (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine, is presented. The catalyst system is a primary amine with Br?nsted acid–catalyzed direct aldol reaction of p-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone with high chemo- and stereoselectivity on water, which furnishes the corresponding β-hydroxyketone with up to 94% ee.     

Catalytic effect of nanosized metal oxides in the Biginelli reaction

The effect of nanosized metal oxides on the regio- and stereoselectivity of the multicomponent Biginelli reaction and the reaction mechanism under conditions of heterogeneous catalysis were studied. It was found that the considerable activation of reagents occurred on the surface of metal nanooxides. The Biginelli reaction occurred by two mechanisms: a carbocationic mechanism took place along with the generally accepted mechanism (through the N-acyliminium ion). Nanosized metal oxides in the presence of chiral inductors increased the regio- and stereoselectivity of the Biginelli reaction.     

Highly Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroazepines and Benzo[b]oxepines through Palladium-Catalyzed [4+3] Cycloaddition Reactions

A novel Pd⁰-catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] annulation reaction of two readily accessible starting materials has been developed for building seven-membered heterocyclic architectures. The potential [3+2] side pathway could be suppressed though fine tuning of the conditions. A broad scope of cycloaddition donors and acceptors participated in the transformation with excellent chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivtities, leading to valuable tetrahydroazepines and benzo[b]oxepines.     

Hypervalent-Iodine-Mediated Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage and Dearomatization of 9H-Fluoren-9-ols

A transition-metal-free synthesis of spiro compounds from 9H-fluoren-9-ols mediated by hypervalent iodine is reported. In this reaction, an unprecedented β-carbon elimination of tertiary alkoxyliodine(III) to form new diaryliodonium salts is proposed. The obtained phenol intermediates undergo oxidative dearomatization to furnish a class of oxo-spiro compounds. This domino reaction significantly increases the complexity of these molecules and shows excellent regio- and stereoselectivity.     

Method for Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)-β,γ-Unsaturated Acids from Aldehydes Under Solvent-Free Conditions

Synthesis of (E)-β,γ-unsaturated acids from aldehydes with malonic acid has been explored under solvent-free conditions. The modified Knoevenagel condensation reaction with N-methyl morpholine (NMM) as catalyst exhibits highly β,γ-regioselectivity and exclusively E-stereoselectivity. A mechanism accounting for both regio- and stereoselectivity has been proposed and preliminarily studied.     

(R)-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-thione: an efficient chiral auxiliary for [4+2] cycloaddition of 1-aminodiene and activated phosphonodienophiles

A theoretical model for the facial selectivity of N-dienyl oxazolidin-2-(thi)one and thiazolidin-2-thione 2a-c is presented. Our analysis provides a clear understanding of factors controlling stereoselectivity in reaction of these dienes, and allows predictions of high diastereoselectivity in the case of oxazolidin-2-thionyl diene (2b). The application of this diene to the synthesis of β- and γ-aminophosphonic derivatives is then investigated. Under classical conditions or under microwave activation, the D-A reaction of diene 2b leads to aminophosphonic chirons with high regio- and stereoselectivities.     

Single-isomer iodochlorination of alkynes and chlorination of alkenes using tetrabutylammonium iodide and dichloroethane

The efficient formation of single-isomer, differentially halogenated alkenes and alkanes is described. These structures were generated by treatment of the appropriate alkyne or alkene with tetrabutylammonium iodide in refluxing dichloroethane. This process is highly selective as evidenced by control experiments using ICl. Treatment of the same alkenes and alkynes directly with iodine monochloride resulted in complex, inseparable mixtures of regio- and stereoisomers. Mechanistic studies indicated that the Bu4NI reaction most likely proceeded through the slow generation of ICl. Complexation of ICl with Bu4NI is also a key controlling element that leads to perfect regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity in these processes.     

Novel anti-Prelog stereospecific carbonyl reductases from Candida parapsilosis for asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones

The application of biocatalysis to the synthesis of chiral molecules is one of the greenest technologies for the replacement of chemical routes due to its environmentally benign reaction conditions and unparalleled chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities. We have been interested in searching for carbonyl reductase enzymes and assessing their substrate specificity and stereoselectivity. We now report a gene cluster identified in Candida parapsilosis that consists of four open reading frames including three putative stereospecific carbonyl reductases (scr1, scr2, and scr3) and an alcohol dehydrogenase (cpadh). These newly identified three stereospecific carbonyl reductases (SCRs) showed high catalytic activities for producing (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol from 2-hydroxyacetophenone with NADPH as the coenzyme. Together with CPADH, all four enzymes from this cluster are carbonyl reductases with novel anti-Prelog stereoselectivity. SCR1 and SCR3 exhibited distinct specificities to acetophenone derivatives and chloro-substituted 2-hydroxyacetophenones, and especially very high activities towards ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutyrate, a β-ketoester with important pharmaceutical potential. Our study also showed that genomic mining is a powerful tool for the discovery of new enzymes.     

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactivity of 1-(Dimethoxy)methyl-2,3,5,6-tetramethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Preliminary communication

A short synthesis of the title compound 13 is reported. The acetal group in 13 enables one to control the regio- and stereoselectivity of the two successive Diels-Alder additions of the tetraene. The first addition is significantly faster than the second one, thus making 13 a versatile reagent for regio- and stereoselective ‘tandem’ cycloadditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed approach to stereodefined ten-membered cycles from 1,5-bisallenes

A three-component Pd(0)-catalyzed reaction of 1,5-bisallenes with organic halides in the presence of primary amines was observed to afford stereodefined not readily available ten-membered cyclic compounds highly chemo- and regioselectively. A mechanism involving two π-allylic palladium intermediates was proposed to account for the observed regio- and stereoselectivity.     

Coronenohelicenes with Dynamic Chirality

The synthesis of a new type of chiral and dynamic nonplanar aromatics containing a combination of fused perylene-based coronenes and helicenes is reported. Either one or two helicene moieties were fused to the bay regions of an extended perylene core. The target compounds contain either identical or two different helicene building blocks. The combination with two helicene units leads to six different isomers, including two pairs of enantiomers and two meso forms. The experimental determination of the isomerization barriers the corresponding double [5]-helicenes revealed activation energies of E_a=24.81 and 25.38 kcal mol⁻¹, which is slightly above the barrier of the parent [5]-helicene. Resolution of all possible regio- and stereoisomers allowed for the systematic investigation of the chiroptical properties. They revealed remarkable dissymmetry factors Ig_absI of up to 1.2×10⁻², which mirror the synergy between the strong absorbing perylenes and the inherent chirality of helicenes.     

Enantioselective Propargylation of Polyols and Desymmetrization of meso 1,2-Diols by Copper/Borinic Acid Dual Catalysis

A copper/borinic acid dual catalytic reaction enabled the enantioselective propargylation of aliphatic polyols. Readily available reagents and catalysts were used in this transformation, which displayed good to excellent chemo- and stereoselectivity for a broad array of substrates. The method was also applicable to the desymmetrization of meso 1,2-diols to furnish products with three stereogenic centers and a terminal alkyne group in one operation.