Mn(III)-based C-C bond formation: regioselective α′-allylation of various α,β-unsaturated, α and β-alkoxy α,β-unsaturated ketones

The Manganese(III)-based regioselective α′-keto radical generation of unsaturated ketones is a versatile synthetic procedure with broad applicability. The generated α′-keto radical slowly creates a metal enolate in a solvent at reflux. The resultant metal enolate affords the corresponding α′-allylated α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yields. This method is the first example of the metal mediated regioselective α′-allylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones. The ketones that have α or β-alkoxy groups also work efficiently.     

Reactivity of 4-Hydroxy-2-pyrones in the Diels-Alder Reactions

Biphenylcarboxylic acid derivatives, and some tetracyclic bridge cycloadducts have been prepared by Diels-Alder reactions of acetylenic and olefinic dienophiles with 4-hydrpxy-6-phenyl-2H-pyran-2-one and its methyl ether derivative.     

Enantioselective reduction of ketones with borane catalyzed by cyclic β- amino alcohols prepared from proline

New catalysts have been prepared from (S)- and (R)- proline and the asymmetric borane reduction of prochiral ketones using these catalysts has been studied. The secondary alcohols were obtained in 76–95% yield with 57– 96% enantiomeric excesses.     

Asymmetric aldol addition of α-azido ketones to ethyl pyruvate mediated by a cinchona-based bifunctional urea catalyst

The first asymmetric synthesis of ethyl 4-aryl-3-azido-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxobutanoates via a cinchona organocatalyst induced aldol addition of α-azido ketones to ethyl pyruvate has been developed. The coupling reaction under optimized conditions was carried out to furnish tetrafunctionalized synthons with enantioselectivities of up to 91:9 and enriched diastereoselectivities of up to 95:5 (syn:anti).