Gold‐Catalyzed [3+2]/Retro‐[3+2]/[3+2] Cycloaddition Cascade Reaction of N‐Alkoxyazomethine Ylides

A novel cascade reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,6‐methanopyrrolo[1,2‐b]isoxazoles based on the gold‐catalyzed generation of an N‐allyloxyazomethine ylide. This reaction involves sequential [3+2]/retro‐[3+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition reactions, thus providing facile access to fused and bridged heterocycles which would be otherwise difficult to prepare using existing synthetic methods. Notably, this reaction allows the efficient construction of three C−C bonds, one C−O bond, one C−N bond and one C−H bond, as well as the cleavage of one C−C bond, one C−O bond and one C−H bond in a single operation. The intermolecular cycloaddition of an N‐allyloxyazomethine ylide and the subsequent application of the product to the synthesis of tropenol is also described.     

Enantioselective Phosphine‐Catalyzed Formal [4+4] Annulation of α,β‐Unsaturated Imines and Allene Ketones: Construction of Eight‐Membered Rings

The first highly enantioselective phosphine‐catalyzed formal [4+4] annulation has been developed. In the presence of amino‐acid‐derived phosphines, the unprecedented [4+4] annulations between benzofuran/indole‐derived α,β‐unsaturated imines and allene ketones proceeded smoothly, thus affording azocines, bearing either a benzofuran or an indole moiety, in excellent yields and with nearly perfect enantioselectivities (≥98 % ee in most cases). This work marks the first efficient asymmetric construction of optically enriched eight‐membered rings by phosphine catalysis.     

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.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Synthesis of δ‐Sultones via α,β‐Unsaturated Sulfonyl Azolium Intermediates

A limited array of reactive intermediates have enabled a wealth of discoveries in N‐heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis. In this study, the viability of α,β‐unsaturated sulfonyl azoliums as double electrophiles in new reactions is examined. Specifically, the (3+3) annulation of such species with the trimethylsilyl enol ethers of various 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds has been developed. This reaction provides access to a range of novel unsaturated δ‐sultones (18 examples) in good yields (40–88 %) under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies and the development of an enantioselective variant (55 % yield, 73:27 e.r.) support the intermediacy of an α,β‐unsaturated sulfonyl azolium species.     

Highly Substituted Spiro[4.4]nonatrienes from a β-Amino-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated Fischer Carbene Complex and Three Molecules of an Arylalkyne

A novel mode of reaction towards arylethynes is shown by the β-trimethylsilyl-substituted α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes 1 . A mixture of the isomeric, highly substituted spiro[4.4]nonatrienes 2 and 3 is formed by the formal insertion of three alkyne molecules and subsequent cyclization (see scheme). Such selective triple insertions of alkynes into ethenylcarbene complexes have not been previously observed.