Light‐Driven Organocatalysis Using Inexpensive,Nontoxic Bi2O3 as the Photocatalyst

The development of enantioselective catalytic processes that make use of sunlight as the energy source and nontoxic, affordable materials as catalysts represents one of the new and rapidly evolving areas in chemical research. The direct asymmetric α‐alkylation of aldehydes with α‐bromocarbonyl compounds can be successfully achieved by combining bismuth‐based materials as low‐band‐gap photocatalysts with the second‐generation MacMillan imidazolidinone as the chiral catalyst and simulated sunlight as a low‐cost and clean energy source. This reaction also proceeded with high efficiency when the reaction vial was exposed to the morning sunlight on a clear September day in Tarragona, Spain.     

Efficient Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of Spiro‐epoxyoxindoles with Concomitant Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indoles

An efficient process involving the catalytic kinetic resolution of racemic spiro‐epoxyoxindoles with the simultaneous enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles has been realized using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The reaction provides two useful intermediates in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Performing the catalysis on a gram scale led to (R)‐3‐(3‐indolyl)‐oxindole‐3‐methanol, which was used in the asymmetric formal total synthesis of (+)‐gliocladin C. Notably, the enantiomers (S)‐3‐(3‐indolyl)‐oxindole‐3‐methanol can be obtained easily by the reaction of the resolved spiro‐epoxyoxindole with indole.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Acyclic α‐Quaternary Carboxylic Acid Derivatives through Iridium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation

The first highly enantioselective iridium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation that provides access to products bearing an allylic all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center has been developed. The reaction utilizes a masked acyl cyanide (MAC) reagent, which enables the one‐pot preparation of α‐quaternary carboxylic acids, esters, and amides with a high degree of enantioselectivity. The utility of these products is further explored through a series of diverse product transformations.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed N‐Alkylation of Acylhydrazines and Arylamines Using Alcohols and Enantioselective Examples

A borrowing‐hydrogen reaction between amines and alcohols is an atom‐economic way to prepare alkylamines, ideally with water as the sole byproduct. Herein, nickel catalysts are used for direct N‐alkylation of hydrazides and arylamines using racemic alcohols. Moreover, a nickel catalyst of (S )‐binapine was used for an asymmetric N‐alkylation of benzohydrazide with racemic benzylic alcohols.     

Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Quinoline N‐Oxides with Vinylarenes

An asymmetric copper‐catalyzed alkylation of quinoline N ‐oxides with chiral Cu–alkyl species, generated by migratory insertion of a vinylarene into a chiral Cu−H complex, is reported. A variety of quinoline N ‐oxides and vinylarenes underwent this Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective alkylation reaction, affording the corresponding chiral alkylated N‐heteroarenes in high yield with high‐to‐excellent enantioselectivity. This enantioselective protocol represents the first general and practical approach to access a wide range of chiral alkylated quinolines.     

A Regio‐ and Stereodivergent Synthesis of Homoallylic Amines by a One‐Pot Cooperative‐Catalysis‐Based Allylic Alkylation/Hofmann Rearrangement Strategy

Herein, we report a modular synthetic route to linear and branched homoallylic amines that operates through a sequential one‐pot Lewis base/transition‐metal catalyzed allylic alkylation/Hofmann rearrangement strategy. This protocol is operationally trivial, proceeds from simple and easily prepared substrates and catalysts, and enables all aspects of regio‐ and stereoselectivity to be controlled through a conserved experimental protocol. Overall, the high levels of enantio‐, regio‐, and diastereoselectivity obtained, in concert with the ability to access orthogonally protected or free amines, render this a straightforward and effective approach for the preparation of useful enantioenriched homoallylic amines. We have also demonstrated the utility of the products in the context of pharmaceutical synthesis.