Enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction promoted by a heterobimetallic complex with a Lewis base

A new double-activation catalysis is presented for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of an α,β-unsaturated ketone and an aldehyde by the combined use of a heterobimetallic asymmetric complex and tributylphosphine ((n-Bu)₃P) to afford the α-methylene-β-hydroxy ketone with up to 99% ee.     

α-Hydroxymethylation of conjugated nitroalkenes via the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction (MBHR) of conjugated nitroalkenes has been successfully carried out for the first time. A variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic nitroalkenes react with formaldehyde at room temperature in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of imidazole and catalytic amounts of anthranilic acid in THF providing moderate to good yields of the multifunctional adducts in most of the cases.     

Chiral 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)alcohols (HAROLs) with a 1,4-diol scaffold as a new family of ligands and organocatalysts

Efficient and modular syntheses of chiral 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)alcohols (HAROLs), novel 1,4-diols carrying one phenolic and one alcohol hydroxyl group, have been developed which led to generation of a small library of structurally diverse HAROLs in enantiomerically pure form. Of the different HAROLs examined, a HAROL based on the indan backbone exhibited the highest activity and enantioselectivity in the 1,2-addition of certain organometallic compounds to aldehydes in the presence of Ti(OⁱPr)₄ (up to 97% y, 88% ee) and performed as a hydrogen-bond donor organocatalyst in the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction, promoted by trialkylphosphines.     

Chalcogeno-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction of Chalcogenide-Enones with Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

The Chalcogeno-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction was achieved by the reactions of 2-(methylchalcogeno)phenyl vinyl ketones with carbonyl compounds or acetals in the presence of BF₃· Et₂O. This reaction proceeds via the intramolecular Michael addition of the chalcogenide group to an enone moiety followed by the aldol reaction of the resulting chalcogenonio-enolate with an aldehyde. The reactions were worked up with triethylamine or saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ to give the α -methylene aldols (the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts).     

3,5-Disubstituted 6H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,2,3]triazoles from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts of propargyl aldehydes

A simple method for synthesizing several 6H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,2,3]triazole derivatives having a methoxycarbonyl or an acetyl group at C-5 position and 7,8-dihydro-4H-[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]indol-5(6H)-ones via an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azido enynes, which were readily obtained from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates of propargyl aldehydes with sodium azide, has been developed.     

Synthesis of β-aminovinylphosphonates by organocatalytic nucleophilic displacement of acetate with amines

The synthesis of diethyl β-aminovinylphosphonates 2 from acetoxy phosphonate 1 is described. The reaction entails an organocatalyzed substitution of the acetoxy group by primary or secondary amines. The use of a catalytic amount of DABCO is necessary if the amine is not nucleophilic enough, otherwise a strong nucleophilic amine can react without organocatalyst. The reaction led to a series of functionalized title compounds in good to excellent yields.     

The allylic nucleophilic substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates with isocyanides: a facile synthesis of trisubstituted olefins

Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates undergo smooth allylic nucleophilic substitution (S_N2′) with tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) in the presence of a catalytic amount of BF₃·OEt₂ under mild conditions to furnish trisubstituted olefins in high yields with (E)-stereoselectivity.     

An approach for the enantioselective synthesis of biologically active furanones from a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct

Herein, we disclose an approach for the asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of an anti-inflammatory furanone. The approach is based on the utilization of a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct as starting material and has as key step a selective epoxide-opening/benzylic oxidation mediated by Palladium (II). This sequence afforded an advanced intermediate, which was used to accomplish the total synthesis. Experimental evidences allowed us to suggest a mechanistic proposal for the oxidation Palladium(II)-mediated.     

Syntheses of (−)-gabosine A, (+)-4-epi-gabosine A, (−)-gabosine E, and (+)-4-epi-gabosine E

(+)-4-epi-Gabosine A 1 and (−)-gabosine A 2 have been synthesized starting from methyl α,d-glucopyranoside and methyl α,d-mannopyranoside, respectively, by utilizing Pd(0) catalyzed Stille coupling as the key step. On the other hand, syntheses of (+)-4-epi-gabosine E 3 and (−)-gabosine E 4 have been accomplished from methyl α,d-glucopyranoside and from methyl α,d-mannopyranoside, respectively, by utilizing DMAP catalyzed Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction as the key step. Presence of acetyl group at C-6 position of sugar derived cyclic enone prevented the aromatization of MBH adduct. A plausible mechanism is also described.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindoles via enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of isatins

The enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of acrylates to isatins was investigated for the first time, employing bifunctional phosphinothiourea organocatalysts based on chiral cyclohexane scaffold. The 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindole derivatives were obtained in excellent yields with moderate enantioselectivity (up to 69% ee) in the presence of 10 mol % catalyst 1b.