Enantioselective Michael addition of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes to maleimides organocatalyzed by chiral primary amine-guanidines

New primary amine-guanidines derived from the monoguanylation of (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine have been prepared and used as chiral organocatalysts for the enantioselective conjugate addition of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes to maleimides. The corresponding Michael adducts bearing a new stereocenter were generally obtained in high or quantitative yields and with good enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee).     

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of isobutyraldehyde to nitroalkenes

The asymmetric catalytic Michael reaction between isobutyraldehyde and nitroalkanes with chiral primary amine thiourea organocatalysts was described. In the presence of 10 mol % of 1-((1R,2R)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethyl)-3-benzylthiourea, the desired products were achieved in excellent enantioselectivity (up to>99% ee) with up to 98% yield.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes catalyzed by monosaccharide-based chiral crown ethers

The asymmetric Michael addition of diethyl malonate and α-substituted diethyl malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes was carried out under mild reaction conditions in a solid–liquid phase transfer reaction in the presence of α-d-glucopyranoside- and α-d-mannopyranoside-based crown ethers as the catalysts. The use of d-glucose-based lariat ether 1 gave the best results. The substituents of the β-nitrostyrene and the diethyl malonate had a significant impact on the chemical yields and enantioselectivity. The addition of diethyl-2-acetamidomalonate to aromatic nitroalkenes afforded the corresponding Michael adducts in moderate to high enantiomeric excess (ee up to 99%). The reaction of diethyl-2-methylmalonate with 2-nitro-β-nitrostyrene gave the adduct with 93% enantiomeric excess in the presence of crown catalyst 1.     

Enantioselective synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans via primary amine-thiourea organocatalyzed intramolecular Michael addition

A primary amine-thiourea organocatalyzed intramolecular Michael addition access was developed for the synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans. Under the catalysis of an (R,R)-1,2-diphenylethylamine derived primary amine-thiourea bearing a glucosyl scaffold, the corresponding trans-dihydrobenzofurans were obtained in high yields with excellent level of enantioselectivities (94 to >99% ee). Moreover, an in situ isomerization occurring at high temperature gave good to excellent trans/cis ratios as well (trans/cis: 84/16-96/4).     

Enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of functionalized furanones to nitroalkenes catalyzed by an axially chiral guanidine base

The highly syn-diastereo- and enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of α-thio substituted furanones with conjugate nitroalkenes was demonstrated using an axially chiral guanidine base catalyst. The method provides facile access to enantioenriched α,γ-functionalized butenolides that can be further manipulated, thereby rendering them useful synthetic intermediates.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of anthrone to nitroalkenes catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amines

A highly bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition reaction of anthrone to a wide variety of nitroalkenes has been developed, and the corresponding adducts were obtained smoothly in high yields (up to 97%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee).     

Enantioselective Michael addition of malonate esters to nitroolefins organocatalyzed by diaryl-2-pyrrolidinemethanols

Bis-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)methanol, easily prepared from l-proline, was found to be an efficient bifunctional organocatalyst, amongst the different 2-pyrrolidinemethanols tested, for the enantioselective Michael addition of malonate esters to nitroolefins. The products were isolated in good to high yields and with up to 56% ee.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of N-boc-protected oxindoles to nitroalkenes catalyzed by a chiral secondary amine

New mission for prolinol ethers: A secondary-amine-catalyzed Michael addition of N-Boc-protected oxindoles to nitroalkenes through a Br?nsted base activation mode has been developed, furnishing the products in excellent yields (88-98?%), diastereoselectivities (d.r.=98:2->99:1) and high to excellent enantioselectivities (82->99?%?ee; see scheme).     

Enantioselective organocatalytic direct Michael addition of nitroalkanes to nitroalkenes promoted by a unique bifunctional DMAP-thiourea

A new catalyst is designed, synthesized, and evaluated for the asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkanes to nitroalkenes. The obdurate nature of this reaction has made this a formidable challenge to subdue by asymmetric catalysis. The catalyst design includes a thiourea function to activate the nitroalkene by a double H-bond and a 4-dimethylaminopyridine unit to deprotonate the nitroalkane and to bind the resulting nitronate anion also by a double H-bond. The chiral scaffold for the catalyst is 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthalene (BINAM), and a bis-conjugate is prepared by the attachment of the thiourea unit and the dimethylaminopyridine moiety (DMAP) via the two amino groups. The resulting catalyst will effect the reaction of nitroalkanes to a variety of nitrostyrenes and gives excellent asymmetric inductions (91-95% ee) over a range of 10 substrates. Remarkably, the asymmetric induction increases with decreasing catalyst loading with the optimal compromise between rate and induction at a loading of 2 mol %.     

Catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes catalyzed by well-defined chiral ru amido complexes

Well-defined chiral Ru amido complexes promoted asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds including malonates, beta-keto esters, and 1,3-diketones to nitroalkenes to give the corresponding adducts with excellent ees and in excellent yields.     

Enantioselective nickel-catalyzed Michael additions of azaarylacetates and acetamides to nitroalkenes

Put a nickel in it: Azaarylacetates and acetamides, which have been neglected as substrates in catalytic asymmetric synthesis, undergo highly enantioselective Michael additions to nitroalkenes in the presence of a chiral nickel(II)-bis(diamine) complex (see scheme; Bn=benzyl, MS=molecular sieves). This process is tolerant of a wide variety of azaarenes in the pronucleophile.     

Aromatic l-prolinamide-catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes

Two chiral aromatic l-prolinamides were synthesized in high overall yield (95%) from N-Boc-l-proline and served as organocatalysts in asymmetric Michael reactions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes. Under the optimized reaction conditions, (S)-N-tritylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide 4 was found to be a highly efficient organocatalyst for the Michael addition, and the corresponding Michael adducts were obtained in good yields (up to 94%), with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr).     

Highly enantioselective direct conjugate addition of ketones to nitroalkenes promoted by a chiral primary amine-thiourea catalyst

Primary amine-thiourea derivative 1 is an active and highly enantioselective catalyst for the conjugate addition of ketones to nitroalkenes. Broad substrate scope is described, with nitroalkenes bearing either aromatic or aliphatic substituents and a wide variety of ketones shown to be useful reacting partners. Ethyl ketones react preferentially, generating anti products with methyl-bearing stereocenters with good-to-excellent diastereoselectivity. An enamine mechanism is indicated, with cooperative activation of the electrophile by the thiourea and of the ketone by the primary amine.     

First organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to vinyl sulfones

[reaction: see text] The first asymmetric direct Michael addition of aldehydes to vinyl sulfones catalyzed by N-iPr-2,2'-bipyrrolidine is described. 1,4-Adducts are obtained in good yields and enantioselectivities. The determination of absolute configuration allowed us to postulate a Si,Si transition state model, as shown previously for nitroolefins.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of 2,4-pentandione to nitroalkenes promoted by bifunctional thioureas with central and axial chiral elements

Two novel bifunctional amine-thiourea organocatalysts 1 and 2, which both bear central and axial chiral elements, have been developed to promote enantioselective Michael reaction between 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and nitro olefins. The catalyst 2 afforded the desired products with good levels of enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee), showing clearly that two chiral elements of 2 are matched, and enhance the stereochemical control.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by chiral bisoxazoline-Zn(II) complex

An enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by a chiral bisoxazoline-Zn(II) complex has been developed. The corresponding Michael adducts have been obtained in high yields with up to 96% ee. A plausible transition-state model has been proposed to explain the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins catalyzed by pyrrolidine-HOBt

The oxytriazole catalyst “pyrrolidine-HOBt” developed for asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins is now evaluated for the asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins under similar reaction conditions. The results of this study indicate that, the oxytriazole catalyst “pyrrolidine-HOBt” is equally effective in promoting the Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins on employing benzoic acid as an additive. The desired products, γ-nitrocarbonyl compounds were obtained in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Enantioselective Michael reaction of nitroalkanes onto nitroalkenes catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives

An effective asymmetric synthesis of optically active 1,3-dinitro compounds via the direct Michael addition of nitroalkanes onto nitroalkenes has been described. In the presence of readily modified cinchona alkaloid derivatives, nitroethane reacted well with a variety of aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic nitroalkenes to afford products with good diastereoselectivities (dr up to 72/28) and enantioselectivities (ee up to 94%). The catalyst loading can be decreased to 2 mol % without compromising the asymmetric induction or the reaction rate.     

Enantioselective Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes catalyzed with ionically tagged organocatalyst

Enantioselective organocatalytic Michael additions affords useful building blocks for many biologically and medicinally relevant compounds. Ionically-tagged diphenylprolinol silyl ether efficiently catalyzes several Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes in ionic liquids. The Michael additions work well in ionic liquids; yields up to 95% and enantioselectivities up to 95% ee were achieved. Furthermore, in some cases, the catalytic system was reusable.