Enantioselective Synthesis of Boron‐Substituted Quaternary Carbon Stereogenic Centers through NHC‐Catalyzed Conjugate Additions of (Pinacolato)boron Units to Enones

The first examples of Lewis base catalyzed enantioselective boryl conjugate additions (BCAs) that generate products containing boron‐substituted quaternary carbon stereogenic centers are disclosed. Reactions are performed in the presence of 1.0–5.0 mol % of a readily accessible chiral accessible N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and commercially available bis(pinacolato)diboron; cyclic or linear α,β‐unsaturated ketones can be used and rigorous exclusion of air or moisture is not necessary. The desired products are obtained in 63–95 % yield and 91:9 to >99:1 enantiomeric ratio (e.r.). The special utility of the NHC‐catalyzed approach is demonstrated in the context of an enantioselective synthesis of natural product antifungal (?)‐crassinervic acid.     

Pt(IV)-catalyzed generation and [4+2]-cycloaddition reactions of o-quinone methides

Novel intermolecular and intramolecular generations of ortho-quinone methides and their formal [4+2]-cycloaddition reactions with olefins catalyzed by PtCl₄ and AuCl₃ under mild conditions have been developed. Good to excellent yields (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivity (up to >99:1) of the chromans were obtained. PtCl₄ was found to be effective and compatible with various functional groups present in the substrates. A mechanism accounting for its catalytic cycle is proposed and discussed.     

Metal-free catalytic enantioselective C-B bond formation: (pinacolato)boron conjugate additions to α,β-unsaturated ketones, esters, Weinreb amides, and aldehydes promoted by chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes

The first broadly applicable metal-free enantioselective method for boron conjugate addition (BCA) to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls is presented. The C-B bond forming reactions are promoted in the presence of 2.5-7.5 mol % of a readily accessible C(1)-symmetric chiral imidazolinium salt, which is converted, in situ, to the catalytically active diastereo- and enantiomerically pure N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) by the common organic base 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (dbu). In addition to the commercially available bis(pinacolato)diboron [B(2)(pin)(2)], and in contrast to reactions with the less sterically demanding achiral NHCs, the presence of MeOH is required for high efficiency. Acyclic and cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones, as well as acyclic esters, Weinreb amides, and aldehydes, can serve as suitable substrates; the desired β-boryl carbonyls are isolated in up to 94% yield and >98:2 enantiomer ratio (er). Transformations are often carried out at ambient temperature. In certain cases, such as when the relatively less reactive unsaturated amides are used, elevated temperatures are required (50-66 °C); nonetheless, reactions remain highly enantioselective. The utility of the NHC-catalyzed method is demonstrated through comparison with the alternative Cu-catalyzed protocols; in cases involving a polyfunctional substrate, unique profiles in chemoselectivity are exhibited by the metal-free approach (e.g., conjugate addition vs reaction with an alkyne, allene, or aldehyde).