Intermolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions using dicobalthexacarbonyl complexed acetylenic acetals

An intermolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction using dicobalthexacarbonyl complexed acetylenic acetals as the electrophile is reported. Employing BF₃-OEt₂ as the Lewis acid with a sulfide as the Lewis base MBH adducts were obtained.     

The intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type alkylation reaction

From the initial development of a homologous Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction utilizing epoxides as electrophiles, the method was expanded to enable the exclusively organocatalyzed intramolecular allylation of enones and to develop the intramolecular MBH-type alkylation of activated alkenes. We successfully utilized both enones and unsaturated thioesters as the activated alkene component. This work, carried out using stoichiometric amounts of the trialkylphosphine, gave an array of functionalized five- and six-membered carbocycles in high yields. With the cycloalkylation of enones and thioesters, conditions that allowed the use of substoichometric amounts of the phosphine catalyst were developed. As a result both five- and six-membered rings can be formed efficiently with little to no loss in yield upon comparison to yields obtained when stoichiometric amounts of trialkylphosphines were employed. We isolated, for the first time, an MBH-type intermediate exhibiting unprecedented trans geometry of the phosphonium salt and acyl group.     

Optimization of polystyrene-supported triphenylphosphine catalysts for aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions

A series of polar group functionalized polystyrene-supported phosphine reagents were examined as catalysts in the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosyl arylimines and a variety of Michael acceptors with the aim of identifying the optimal polymer/solvent combination. For these reactions JandaJel-PPh₃ (1 mmol PPh₃/g loading) resin containing methoxy groups (JJ-OMe-PPh₃) on the polystyrene backbone in THF solvent provided the highest yield of all the catalyst/solvent combinations examined. The methyl ether groups were incorporated into JJ-OMe-PPh₃ using commercially available 4-methoxystyrene, and thus such polar polystyrene resins are easily accessible and should find utility as nucleophilic catalyst supports.     

Environmentally Compatible Access to α-Trifluoromethylseleno-Enones

α-Trifluoromethylselenolated enones constitute valuable building-blocks for further synthesis of innovative fluorinated compounds. Herein, we described an easy access to such compounds in green conditions through a Morita-Baylis-Hillman like reaction. These conditions have also been extended to higher fluorinated homologs.     

Simple organocatalysts in multi-step reactions: An efficient one-pot Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type α-hydroxymethylation of vinyl ketones followed by the convenient,temperature-controlled one-pot etherification using alcohols

1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) was utilized as versatile catalyst in a one-pot synthesis: First, for the preparation of alcoholic formaldehyde solutions from para-formaldehyde catalysed by using low loadings of inexpensive DABCO. Second, for the fast α-hydroxymethylation of alkylic and aromatic vinyl ketones in high yields. In a third step, the same catalyst can be used for an optional, temperature controlled in situ etherification of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman product with various alcohols on a multi-gram scale in moderate to good overall yields and high purities. Furthermore, an application of the ether in the enantioselective synthesis of a common building block for total synthesis is shown, thus providing a gram-scale access from inexpensive bulk chemicals.     

Thiourea-catalyzed Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

Here, we describe our studies on the thiourea-catalyzed Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction. Chemoselective activation of carbonyl compounds via hydrogen bonding to thiourea as a catalyst is the key to drastic rate acceleration of this reaction. The application of chiral bis-thiourea-type organocatalysts, which can form a chiral double hydrogen-bonding network, is effective for enantioselective MBH reaction. A cooperative system of bis-thiourea compounds, synthesized from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, and a Lewis base effectively promotes the MBH reaction at lower temperature, affording the MBH adducts in 33-95% yield with 44-90% ee. A plausible transition state model of the enantioselective MBH reaction is presented.     

A facile and efficient synthesis of highly functionalised 3,3′-dispiropyrrolidine- and 3,3′-dispiropyrrolizidine bisoxindoles via [3+2] cycloaddition

The [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with isomerised Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts, both dipoles and dipolarophiles are derived from isatin, afforded highly functionalised 3,3′-dispiro pyrrolidine- and 3,3′-dispiropyrrolizidine bisoxindoles in high yields.     

Enantioselective <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with oxime

The enantioselective O-allylic alkylation of acetophenone oxime with various Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates has been accomplished by the catalysis of a commercially available cinchona alkaloid (DHQD)2PHAL. The corresponding O-allylic products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields up to 96% ee.     

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction in aqueous-organic solvent system

We have found that water and organic solvents mixed at different proportions can give good to excellent yields and short reaction times for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. The present Letter details our findings in the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction between several aromatic aldehydes and methyl acrylate or acrylonitrile. The selection of the catalyst was also evaluated and DABCO affored the best results when compared to DBU, DMAP, HMT, Imidazole and Triethylamine.     

Siloxyallenes revisited. A useful functional intermediate for the synthesis of (Z)-β-branched Morita-Baylis-Hillman type adducts and (Z)-chalcones

Siloxyallenes proved to be a useful functional intermediate in the preparation of (Z)-β-branched Morita-Baylis-Hillman type adducts by the reaction of aldehydes with silylacetylenes or siloxypropynes. Various (Z)-chalcones were stereoselectively synthesized from siloxypropynes via siloxyallenes.