Elucidating the Mechanism and Chemoselectivity in the PBu3-Catalyzed Rauhut-Currier Reaction of Chalcone with Ethyl Acrylate

Disclosing the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of phosphine-catalyzed Rauhut-Currier (R−C) reaction remains a challenge. Here, a comprehensive study on the possible mechanisms and origins of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of PBu₃-catalyzed R−C reactions between ethyl acrylate and chalcone is performed by DFT. Both cross and homo R−C reactions are investigated and compared. The computational results show that the cross R−C reaction is energetically favorable than the homo R−C reaction, with head-to-tail product being generated preferentially. Moreover, the C−C bond formation process is identified to be the regioselectivity- and chemoselectivity-determining step. The CDFT and Parr function analyses are successfully used to predict the origins of chemoselectivity and regioselectivity, respectively. This work would provide a valuable case for exploring the origins of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the phosphine catalyzed reactions, which should be helpful to understand and control the selectivities by rational design.