Desilylation‐Activated Propargylic Transformation: Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Propargylic Esters with β‐Naphthol or Phenol Derivatives

A copper‐catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of 3‐trimethylsilylpropargylic esters with either β‐naphthols or electron‐rich phenols has been realized and proceeds by a desilylation‐activated process. Under the catalysis of Cu(OAc)₂?H₂O in combination with a structurally optimized ketimine P,N,N‐ligand, a wide range of optically active 1,2‐dihydronaphtho[2,1‐b]furans or 2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans were obtained in good yields and with high enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee). This represents the first desilylation‐activated catalytic asymmetric propargylic transformation.     

Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Propargylic Alkylation of Propargyl β‐Ketoesters with a Chiral Ketimine P,N,N‐Ligand

The first enantioselective copper‐catalyzed decarboxylative propargylic alkylation has been developed. Treatment of propargyl β‐ketoesters with a catalyst, prepared in situ from [Cu(CH₃CN)₄BF₄] and a newly developed chiral tridentate ketimine P,N,N‐ligand under mild reaction conditions, generates β‐ethynyl ketones in good yields and with high enantioselectivities without requiring the pregeneration of ketone enolates. This new process provides facile access to a range of chiral β‐ethynyl ketones in a highly enantioenriched form.     

Highly Selective Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Acyclic 1,3‐Dienes

The first examples of the catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with acyclic activated 1,3‐dienes (and 1,3‐enynes) are described. Under copper catalysis, a selective cycloaddition at the terminal γ,δ‐C?C bond is observed. In addition, depending on the ligand used, either the exo or the endo adduct can be obtained with high selectivity. Under appropriate reaction conditions, the acyclic 1,6‐addition product is detected, suggesting a stepwise mechanism. The resulting C4‐alkenyl‐substituted pyrrolidines are suitable substrates for further access to polycyclic systems, as highlighted by the preparation of hexahydrochromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrole and the tetracyclic core of the alkaloid gracilamine.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Propargylic Dearomatization of Indoles

The first copper‐catalyzed intermolecular dearomatization of indoles by an asymmetric propargylic substitution reaction was developed. This method provides a highly efficient synthesis of versatile furoindoline and pyrroloindoline derivatives containing a quaternary carbon stereogenic center and a terminal alkyne moiety with up to 86 % yield and 98 % ee.     

Highly Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Aziridines and α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of vinylaziridines with α,β‐unsaturated ketones, wherein the alkenes have a single activator, is realized in high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity, thus affording 3,4‐disubstituted pyrrolidines in high yields with excellent ee values. The introduction of a methyl group at C1 of the vinyl group the vinylaziridines greatly improves the stereochemistry of the reaction. A plausible transition state is proposed.     

Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Trimethylenemethane and Fluorinated Ketones

A nitrile‐substituted trimethylenemethane (TMM) donor undergoes palladium‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloadditions with fluorinated ketones to generate tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated centers in high enantioselectivity under mild conditions. The generation of the palladium–TMM complex was achieved by a self‐deprotonation strategy, which shows remarkable improvements in regiocontrol, efficiency, and atom economy of asymmetric [3+2] cycloadditions. Moreover, the versatility of the nitrile group provides direct access to a variety of synthetically useful intermediates, including amides, aldehydes, and esters. The developed reaction conditions allow for the synthesis of a wide variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic fluorinated dihydrofurans in excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities.     

Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Asymmetric [2+2] Cycloadditions of Cyclic α‐Alkylidene β‐Oxo Imides with Ynamides

Highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric [2+2] cycloadditions of cyclic α‐alkylidene β‐oxo imides with ynamides are described. The high reactivity of the cyclic α‐alkylidene β‐oxo imide allows the [2+2] cycloadditions of a hindered substrate with unreactive ynamides at low temperature. The X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the product suggests that the enantioselectivity of the [2+2] cycloaddition can be well explained by the chelate model comprising the intramolecular hydrogen bond, wherein the cyclic α‐alkylidene β‐oxo imide coordinates with Cu^II through the two imide carbonyls. The imide group in the product can be transformed to amide, nitrile, and ester groups; moreover, it is removable.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Protected Cyclohexenylamines and Cyclohexenols by Rhodium‐Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition

It has been established that cationic rhodium(I)/axially chiral biaryl bis(phosphine) complexes catalyze the asymmetric [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6‐enynes with electron‐rich functionalized alkenes, enamides, and vinyl carboxylates, to produce the corresponding protected cyclohexenylamines and cyclohexenols. Interestingly, regioselectivity depends on structures of substrates. The present cycloaddition was successfully applied to the enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐porosadienone by using the amide moiety as a leaving group.     

Construction of Chiral Tri‐ and Tetra‐Arylmethanes Bearing Quaternary Carbon Centers: Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Propargylation of Indoles with Propargylic Esters

Copper‐catalyzed enantioselective propargylation of indoles with propargylic esters and sequential Huisgen cycloaddition with azides lead to the construction of chiral triarylmethanes, bearing a quaternary carbon center, with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The result described herein can be used in the enantioselective preparation of a tetraarylmethane.     

PyBidine/Copper Catalyst: Asymmetric exo′‐Selective [3+2] Cycloaddition using Imino Ester and Electrophilic Indole

Electrophilic indoles having two electron‐withdrawing groups undergo nucleophilic attack at C2 and electrophilic functionalization at C3. This is the first enantioselective formal [3+2] cycloaddition using electrophilic indoles. The PyBidine/Cu catalyst smoothly promoted highly enantio‐ and exo′‐selective [3+2] cycloaddition using imino esters and 3‐nitroindoles. This reaction provides a method for the preparation of diverse and complex chiral pyrroloindoline compounds.     

Highly Enantioselective Carbonyl–Ene Reactions of 2,3‐Diketoesters: Efficient and Atom‐Economical Process to Functionalized Chiral α‐Hydroxy‐β‐Ketoesters

Carbonyl–ene reactions of 2,3‐diketoesters catalyzed by [Cu{(S,S)‐tBu‐box}](SbF₆)₂ [box=bis(oxazoline)] generate chiral α‐functionalized α‐hydroxy‐β‐ketoesters in up to 94 % yield and 97 % ee. The 2,3‐diketoesters are conveniently accessed from the corresponding α‐diazo‐β‐ketoester, and a catalyst loading as low as 1.0 mol % can be achieved.     

A Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective γ‐Boryl Substitution of Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Alkenes: Synthesis of Enantioenriched γ,γ‐gem‐Difluoroallylboronates

The first catalytic enantioselective γ‐boryl substitution of CF₃‐substituted alkenes is reported. A series of CF₃‐substituted alkenes was treated with a diboron reagent in the presence of a copper(I)/Josiphos catalyst to afford the corresponding optically active γ,γ‐gem‐difluoroallylboronates in high enantioselectivity. The thus obtained products could be readily converted into the corresponding difluoromethylene‐containing homoallylic alcohols using highly stereospecific allylation reactions.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective β‐Boration of Acyclic Enones

Josi or Mandy? Asymmetric conjugate addition of diboron to acyclic enones catalyzed by copper affords chiral organoboronates that possess a boronate group at the β stereocenter with excellent chemical yields and enantioselectivities (see scheme). This method accommodates the structural variation of acyclic enones and provides access to highly functionalized chiral organoboronates in one step.