Stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines via addition to N-acyliminium ions

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines is described. The intermolecular alkylation of racemic N-acyliminium ions generated in situ from the corresponding 3-substituted lactams proceeds stereoselectively and in high yield.     

Diastereoselective borono-Mannich reactions on cyclic N-acyliminium ions

The addition of boronic acids to five- and six-membered ring N-acyliminium ions has been employed to prepare 5- and 6-substituted 4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones and 5-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones, respectively, in a diastereoselective fashion.     

Addition of carbon nucleophiles to cyclic N-acyliminium ions in SDS/water

The acid-catalyzed addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and activated olefins (silyl enol ethers and ethyl vinyl ether) to N-Boc-2-methoxypyrrolidine (1a) and N-Boc-2-methoxypiperidine (1b) in SDS/water medium is described. Good yields of the corresponding 2-substituted N-Boc pyrrolidines were generally observed from 1a while moderate yields prevailed from 1b.     

Addition of activated olefins to cyclic N-acyliminium ions in ionic liquids

Organoindate(III) ionic liquid (BMI·InCl₄) was successfully employed in the nucleophilic addition of allyltrimethylsilane, silyl enol ethers and ketene silyl acetals to in situ generated cyclic N-acyliminium ions at room temperature without the need of an external Lewis acid. The corresponding α-substituted heterocycles were obtained in good yields and the recovered ionic liquid phase could be reused at least three times.     

Addition of carbon nucleophiles to cyclic N-acyliminium and oxocarbenium ions under solvent-free conditions

The InCl₃-catalyzed addition of carbon nucleophiles to cyclic N-acyliminium and oxocarbenium ions under solvent-free conditions at room temperature is described. The corresponding α-substituted heterocycles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-heterocycles: application of the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed addition of Et2Zn to functionalized alkyl and aryl imines

The preparation of N-heterocycles from alkyl- and aryl-substituted imines is described. The key step involves a copper-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to functionalized alkyl-substituted imines that were generated in situ from the sulfinic acid adducts. The nucleophilic addition products were then converted to 2-substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. Aryl-substituted imines were transformed into enantioenriched 1- and 1,4-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines.     

Michael addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones to activated cyclic alkenes

The nucleophilic conjugate addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 to doubly activated cyclic alkenes 2-8 proceeds smoothly to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 25 in variable yields and selectivities. The reactions take place either spontaneously or in the presence of MgI₂ as a mild Lewis acid depending on the type of substrate. Release of the chiral auxiliary was achieved by transformation of the hydrazone moiety into acetals, dithioacetals or nitriles.     

Ultrasound-assisted addition of alcohols to N-acyliminium ions mediated by In(OTf)3 and synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles

An easy and mild approach using ultrasound-assisted reaction addition of alcohols to N-acyliminium ion mediated by Lewis acid, In(OTf)₃, allowed the synthesis of ether pyrrolidinones; next, the products were converted to 1,2,3-triazoles using click chemistry reaction conditions. The products in both reactions were afforded in moderate to good yields.     

The stereoselective addition of titanium(IV) enolates of 1,3-oxazolidin-2-one and 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione to cyclic N-acyliminium ion. The total synthesis of (+)-isoretronecanol

(+)-Isoretronecanol (1) has been prepared in four steps and 36% overall yield via the diastereoselective addition of the titanium(IV) enolate derived from N-4-chlorobutyryl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione (3) to N-Boc-2-methoxypyrrolidine (5), which afforded 2-substituted pyrrolidine 7 in 84% yield (8:1 diastereoisomeric ratio), followed by reductive recovery of the chiral auxiliary and cyclization.     

Nucleophilic addition of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates to D-glucal mediated by BF3 x OEt2: highly stereoselective synthesis of alpha-C-glycosides

A convenient, mild and highly stereoselective method for C-glycosidation (alkynylation) of D-glucal with various potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates, mediated by BF3x OEt2 and involving oxonium intermediates, preferentially provides the alpha-acetylene glycoside products with good yields.     

endo-Mode cyclizations of vinylogous N-acyliminium ions as a route to the synthesis of condensed thiazolidines

endo-Mode cyclizations of vinylogous N-acyliminium ions incorporating heteroatom-based nucleophiles have been examined as a route to the synthesis of condensed thiazolidines. The scope of these reactions and stereochemical outcome are discussed and explained using quantum chemical calculations.     

Novel stereoselective synthesis of functionalized oxazolidinones from chiral aziridines

Enantiomerically pure N-(R)-alpha-methylbenzyl-4(R)-(chloromethyl)oxazolidinones (4R)-5a-k were synthesized in one step and high yields from various aziridine-2-methanols (S)-2a-k by intramolecular cyclization with phosgene. The alpha-methylbenzyl substituent on the nitrogen was easily cleaved to give both enanatiomers of 4-(chloromethyl)oxazolidinones (R)-7a and (S)-7a. (R)-7a was used for the efficient syntheses of (L)-homophenylalaninol analogues (S)-12a-j. We also applied the same methodology to prepare oxazolidinones 9a-c containing a heteroatom-substituted alkyl group at C-4 in high yields.     

Diastereoselective addition of planar N-heterocycles to vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates: a new route to isonucleosides

Michael-type addition reactions of planar N-heterocycles at the C-2 positions of vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates provide an efficient and general route for the carbon-N-heterocycle bond formation. Therefore, the addition pattern of planar heterocycles, such as imidazole, triazole, thymine, and adenine to 3-C-phenylsulfonyl-hex-2-enopyranosides (1α/1β) and 3-C-p-toluenesulfonyl-pent-2-enofuranosides (2α/2β) was studied for developing a general methodology for the synthesis of new classes of isonucleosides possessing a carbon-N-heterocycle linkage at C-2 positions of furanosyl and pyranosyl sugars. To a great extent, the anomeric configurations of the starting vinyl sulfones play crucial roles in deciding the diastereoselectivity of addition of heterocycles. However, the trityl protected 3-C-p-toluenesulfonyl-hex-2-enopyranosides (33α/33β) were judged to be more practical starting materials for desulfonylation and deprotection for the synthesis of a new class of thymine and adenine deoxyisonucleosides.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of potassium organotrifluoroborates to N-sulfonyl ketimines

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of readily available potassium organotrifluoroborates to both N-tosyl and N-nosyl ketimines has been developed. High enantioselectivity has been achieved by using a chiral diene ligand, and the nosyl group of the addition products can be easily removed while retaining the enantiomeric purity.     

Spiro cyclisations of N-acyliminium ions involving an aromatic π-nucleophile

Spiro 2-pyrrolidin-5-ones were obtained from N-substituted succinimides by a two-step procedure, involving 5- or 6-endo-trig cyclisation of N-acyliminium ion intermediates with a tethered aromatic π-nucleophile.     

Nucleophilic addition of grignard reagents to 3-acylindoles: stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted indoline scaffolds

3-Acylindoles undergo nucleophilic-type reactions with Grignard reagents to efficiently afford either cis- or trans-substituted indolines, depending on the different quenching procedures. The enolate intermediate could be trapped by aryl acyl chlorides to provide indolines bearing a quaternary carbon center with high stereoselectivity. In contrast, the use of benzyl bromide as an electrophile results in the fragmentation of the indole ring. The indoline products could be easily transformed into indoles through oxidation with DDQ in a one-pot manner.     

Sequential nucleophilic addition/intramolecular cycloaddition to chiral nonracemic cyclic nitrones: a highly stereoselective approach to polyhydroxynortropane alkaloids

Two new polyhydroxylated nortropane analogues closely related with Calystegines have been prepared in excellent chemical yields and complete selectivity. A synthetic strategy based on consecutive nucleophilic allylation, oxidation, and intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition was developed. The formation of key intermediate cycloadducts were observed to take place through the recently confirmed thermally induced 2-aza-Cope rearrangement of nitrones.     

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylation of sodium 2-aminobenzenethiolate: an access to chiral benzo-fused N,S-heterocycles

The use of sodium 2-aminobenzenethiolate in the enantioselective iridium catalyzed allylic substitution with a range of methyl allyl carbonates allows the concise synthesis of the branch-type products with both excellent regio- and enantioselectivities, which are functionalized N,S-containing allylic intermediates for the formation of chiral benzo-fused N,S-heterocycles.     

Stereocontrol in hydride addition to ketone-derived chiral N-acylhydrazones

Chiral N-acylhydrazones derived from various aldehydes and N-amino-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone have previously been shown to be effective for acyclic stereocontrol of intermolecular radical and allylsilane additions. Treatment of the propionaldehyde hydrazone with tributyltin hydride in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate led to rapid chemoselective reduction of the imine bond in high yield. Preparation of similar hydrazones from ketones led to E/Z isomer mixtures, usually in ratios of 4:1 or greater. Geometry of the CN bond was assigned by steric compression shifts in ¹³C NMR spectra. Reduction with tributyltin hydride and boron trifluoride etherate afforded diastereomer mixtures in ratios very similar to the original E/Z isomer ratios. The chiral auxiliary blocked the opposite face of the CN bond relative to a related process using a chelated Lewis acid. A stereocontrol model involving monodentate interaction of the N-acylhydrazone and boron trifluoride is consistent with the observed stereochemical outcome.     

Selective amidoalkylation of cyclic enamino ketones with N-acyliminium salts of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines

A series of cyclic enaminoketones were selectively amidoalkylated at the α-carbon in reactions with acyliminium reagents derived from 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines.