N‐Methylpiperidine—A Useful Base Catalyst in the Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction

N‐methylpiperidine, a commercially available mild base, has effectively been utilized as a catalyst in the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction. Moderate to excellent yields (34–95%) and significant rate enhancement have been observed.     

Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of isatins with allenoates

4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) was found to be a fairly efficient catalyst for the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of isatins with α-substituted allenoates to give the corresponding products in good to high yields with moderate diastereoselectivities under mild conditions.     

Reaction of Imines with 5,5‐Dimethyl‐1, 3‐cyclohexandione

The reaction of imines 1 with 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexandione 2 in methanol was investigated. When the reaction was carried out without a catalytic amount of molecular iodine, ring‐opening derivatives of xanthenediones 3 were obtained in high yields. On the other hand, when molecular iodine and a catalytic amount of zinc powder were employed as the catalyst, xanthenediones derivatives 4 were obtained with excellent yields.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of Baylis–Hillman products

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the various Baylis–Hillman products, α-methylene-β-hydroxy compounds, were examined. When lipase PS was used as a biocatalyst in acetonitrile, transesterification of racemic ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylenebutanoate or 3-hydroxy-2-methylenepentanoate proceeded in a practical enantiomeric excess. The resolution by hydrolysis of the acetate derivatives was also tried. In contrast, in case of racemic ethyl 3-acetoxy-2-methylenepentanoate, under the conditions using lipase AK, the E value of the resolution was >321.     

Diastereoselective peroxidation of derivatives of Baylis–Hillman adducts

Cyclic derivatives of Baylis–Hillman adducts were synthesized. Cobalt-catalyzed peroxidation of these cyclic lactones afforded silyl peroxides in diastereomeric ratios ranging from 91:9 to 97:3.     

Aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction with ion-supported Ph3P

Various N-tosyl arylimines reacted with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone in the presence of ion-supported Ph₃P A and B to give adducts, N-(2′-methylene-3′-oxo-1′-arylbutyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamides and N-(2′-methylene-3′-oxo-1′-arylpentyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamides, respectively, in good yields with high purity by simple diethyl ether extraction of the reaction mixture. Moreover, ion-supported Ph₃P A and B could be repeatedly used for the same reaction to provide the corresponding adducts while maintaining good yields with high purity.     

Asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylates

The first Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylic acid derivatives, i.e. N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam and (−)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate is described. The reaction with cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeded under the catalytic influence of dimethyl sulfide in the presence of titanium tetrachloride. The adducts were obtained with very high diastereoisomeric excess (over 95% d.e.) and typical yields of 78%. The absolute configuration of the newly created stereogenic center was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Computational Evolution Of New Catalysts For The Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction**

We present a de novo discovery of an efficient catalyst of the Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction by searching chemical space for molecules that lower the estimated barrier of the rate-determining step using a genetic algorithm (GA) starting from randomly selected tertiary amines. We identify 435 candidates, virtually all of which contain an azetidine N as the catalytically active site, which is discovered by the GA. Two molecules are selected for further study based on their predicted synthetic accessibility and have predicted rate-determining barriers that are lower than that of a known catalyst. Azetidines have not been used as catalysts for the MBH reaction. One suggested azetidine is successfully synthesized and showed an eightfold increase in activity over a commonly used catalyst. We believe this is the first experimentally verified de novo discovery of an efficient catalyst using a generative model.     

Reaction of N‐Nonaflyl and N‐Cyano‐Benzotriazoles with Enamines

N‐Nonaflyl‐benzotriazole 1a reacts with enamines 2 in tetrahydrofurane (THF) at room temperature to afford o‐nonafluorobutansulfonamido‐phenylazo‐enamines 3 in 74–81% yield. Compound 1a reacts with 1‐diethylaminobutadien 2f twice, affording pyridazine derivative 3f in 20% yield. Ringopening of N‐cyano‐benzotriazole 1b with pyrrolidinocyclohexene 2a affords, under cleavage of pyrrolidine 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐dibenzo[4,5:e]imidazo[1,2‐b][1,2,4]triazine 4 in 43% yield.     

Amination of the Baylis–Hillman Acetates in Ethanol

Baylis–Hillman acetates in EtOH were substituted by various nitrogen nucleophiles to give the corresponding trisubstituted alkenes in high yields.     

Facile Allylation of N‐Boc and N‐Cbz Imines with Allyltrichlorosilane promoted by DMF

Facile allylation of various N‐Boc and N‐Cbz imines with allyltrichlorosilane has been effected using N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as the activator. The N‐Boc and N‐Cbz homoallylic amines were obtained in good to high yields under mild conditions.     

The coupling of potassium organotrifluoroborates with Baylis–Hillman derivatives via visible-light photoredox catalysis

Catalyzed by Ir[dF(CF₃)ppy]₂(dtbbpy)PF₆, the coupling of potassium organotrifluoroborates with Baylis–Hillman derivatives under visible light irradiation has been developed. Based on the mechanism of reductive quenching cycle, it provides an easy, mild, efficient method for the synthesis of a variety of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic esters derivatives in a broad scope of the substrates.     

Accelerated Amination of Baylis–Hillman Acetates Under Ultrasound Irradiation

The amination of the Baylis–Hillman acetates with primary amines can be dramatically promoted with improved yields and shortened reaction time under ultrasound irradiation. The selected aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic amines were investigated as the effective candidates for the sonochemical transformation.     

Transition-metal-free nucleophilic allylic substitutions of Morita–Baylis–Hillman bromides with aliphatic and aromatic amines

A simple protocol for the preparation of functionalized allylic amines under mild, transition-metal-free conditions from the reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) bromides with amines is described herein. The treatment of the MBH bromides with various amines in the presence of NaI and Et₃N in aqueous acetone solution and at room temperature affords the corresponding functionalized allyl amines in moderate to good yields (45–87%). The reaction is rapid and carried out at room temperature.     

Facile synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides from Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates

A facile two-step synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides (BPMOs, with both the phosphine and phosphine oxide moieties within one molecule) from readily available Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates was realized. Under the catalysis of DABCO, the MBH carbonates undergo allylic phosphorylation reaction with diphenylphosphine oxide or diethyl phosphonate to give monophosphine oxides bearing an activated alkene moiety; subsequent base-catalyzed hydrophosphination of the prepared monophosphine oxide with HPPh₂ readily affords the BPMOs.     

l-proline and l-histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction

Baylis–Hillman reaction between an aldehyde and an activated alkene, such as alkyl vinyl ketones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinylsulfones, giving the β-hydroxy-α-methylene carbonyl compounds, is a versatile and atom-economical carbon–carbon bond-forming reaction. This reaction usually is catalyzed by strong Lewis bases such as tertiary amines and suffers from slow reaction rate. In this paper the Baylis–Hillman reaction between arylaldehydes and methyl vinyl ketone was successfully realized by a catalytic amount of l-proline and l-histidine system to give the corresponding normal Baylis–Hillman adducts in moderate to high yields for the first time. The effects of solvent and reagent electro property on the yields of this reaction were also investigated. Proline and histidine are naturally widely present amino acids in food system; furthermore, aldehydes and activated alkenes can also be easily produced in food processing, so proline and histidine co-catalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction may find application in explaining some phenomena in food processing.     

Facile synthesis of γ-alkylidenebutenolides from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts

An expedient synthetic procedure of γ-alkylidenebutenolides was developed via a sequential indium-mediated Barbier-type reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman bromide with aldehyde, lactonization, and double-bond isomerization. Various γ-alkylidenebutenolides including bovolide and its derivatives were synthesized in good overall yields.     

Stereoselective Cross-Coupling of Baylis–Hillman Acetates with Diphenyl Disulfides and Diselenides Using Palladium Acetate

An efficient method is described for the stereoselective synthesis of diorganyl chalcogenides from a variety of Baylis–Hillman acetates and diaryl chalcogens using palladium catalyst. This reaction is a convenient new method to produce unsymmetrical sulfides and selenides in good yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic allylic substitution of Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts with enamines: Synthesis of 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds

An efficient nucleophilic allylic substitution of a variety of Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts with enamines catalyzed by Pd(OAc)₂ in the presence of ZnBr₂ as a promoter is described in the present study. The reaction gives S_N2-type 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds that may subsequently undergo an intramolecular conjugate addition onto the enone moiety affording the corresponding 1,4-adducts. All the synthesized compounds have been isolated in moderate to good yields and fully characterized.