Catalytic C-C bond-forming multi-component cascade or domino reactions: pushing the boundaries of complexity in asymmetric organocatalysis

Deciphering the Origin of Stereoinduction in Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis Involving Pd(II) and a Chiral Brønsted Acid

The density functional (M06) computations on a cooperative multicatalytic reaction involving palladium acetate and a chiral Brønsted acid in the conversion of an indenyl cyclobutanol to spirocyclic indene bearing a quaternary carbon ring junction are reported. A chiral Pd-bis-phosphate is identified as the active catalyst in the enantioselective ring expansion as compared to alternative possibilities wherein the chiral phosphate/phosphoric acid is in the outer sphere of palladium. The enantiocontrolling transition state exhibited more effective C-H···π interactions, lower distortion of the catalyst, and an orthogonal orientation of the bulky phosphate ligands.

Highly stereoselective [4+2] and [3+2] spiroannulations of 2-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)acetic esters catalyzed by bifunctional thioureas

A new Michael-Michael cascade reaction between 2-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)acetic esters 1 and nitroenoates 2, catalyzed by bifunctional thioureas, is investigated. The combination of the two Michael reactions results in a novel and facile [4+2] or [3+2] spiroannulation process, which is characterized by the following features: 1) two carbon-carbon bonds and four stereocenters, including a quaternary spiro carbon, are formed under mild conditions; 2) an unprecedented and stereochemically defined substitution pattern on the spirocarbocyclic unit is obtained; 3) the double-bond configuration of the donor-acceptor nitroenoate 2 determines the absolute configuration of the spiro center, whereas the remaining stereocenters are formed under control of the catalyst. The effect on the final stereochemical outcome of structural variations of each starting material, catalyst, and experimental conditions is analyzed in detail. In particular, the use of specifically designed chiral nitroenoates enables diverse polyfunctional spirocyclohexane derivatives containing six consecutive stereogenic centers to be constructed. To our knowledge, this is the first asymmetric organocatalytic strategy enabling both five- and six-membered β-nitro spirocarbocyclic oxindoles.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Polycarbocycles via a Three-Component Organocascade Quadruple Reaction

An efficient organocascade quadruple reaction was conducted to synthesize a functionalized spiropolycyclic scaffold in high chemical yields (43-80%) and excellent levels of stereoselectivity (up to >19:1 dr and 99% ee). The quadruple reaction proceeded smoothly between 1,3-indanedione and aromatic aldehydes with concomitant desymmetrization of prochiral 4-substituted cyclohexanones through the Knoevenagel/Michael/aldol/aldol reaction sequence catalyzed by a bifunctional thiourea catalyst. Two of the formed products were transformed into spirocyclic epoxides containing four contiguous quaternary centers.

Organocatalytic one-pot 1,4-/1,6-/1,2-addition sequence for the stereocontrolled formation of six consecutive stereocenters

An unprecedented stereoselective organocatalytic one-pot 1,4-/1,6-/1,2-addition sequence between β-dicarbonyl compounds, β-nitroalkenes and 4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles sequentially catalyzed by low loading of a squaramide catalyst and an achiral base has been developed. The protocol opens an efficient entry to isoxazole bearing cyclohexanes with six consecutive stereogenic centers including one tetrasubstituted carbon in good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

4-Fluoro and 4-Hydroxy Pyrrolidine-thioxotetrahydropyrimidinones: Organocatalysts for Green Asymmetric Transformations in Brine

The synthesis of both trans- and cis-diastereomers of pyrrolidinine-thioxotetrahydropyrimidinone bearing either a fluorine or a hydroxyl group was accomplished. The new compounds were tested for their catalytic properties in a variety of asymmetric organic transformations and compared with the first generation catalyst. It was found that the new catalysts could efficiently catalyze the reactions in brine, without the use of organic solvent, and by employing an almost stoichiometric amount of reagents. Thus, the products were isolated by simple extractions, avoiding the use of chromatography in excellent yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities.

Organocatalytic, Asymmetric Eliminative [4+2] Cycloaddition of Allylidene Malononitriles with Enals: Rapid Entry to Cyclohexadiene-Embedding Linear and Angular Polycycles

A direct aminocatalytic synthesis has been developed for the chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective construction of densely substituted polycyclic carbaldehydes containing fused cyclohexadiene rings. The chemistry utilizes, for the first time, remotely enolizable π-extended allylidenemalononitriles as electron-rich 1,3-diene precursors in a direct eliminative [4+2] cycloaddition with both aromatic and aliphatic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The generality of the process is demonstrated by approaching 6,6-, 5,6-, 7,6-, 6,6,6-, and 6,5,6-fused ring systems, as well as biorelevant steroid-like 6,6,6,6,5- and 6,6,6,5,6-rings. A stepwise reaction mechanism for the key [4+2] addition is proposed as a domino bis-vinylogous Michael/Michael/retro-Michael reaction cascade. The utility of the malononitrile moiety as traceless activating group of the dicyano nucleophilic substrates is demonstrated.

Organocatalytic Highly Enantioselective Substitution of 3-(1-Tosylalkyl)indoles with Oxindoles Enables the First Total Synthesis of (+)-Trigolutes B

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic substitution of 3-(1-tosylalkyl)indoles with oxindoles has been established by using chiral bifunctional organocatalysts, providing an efficient entry to multiply functionalized 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles, and was exploited as the key step to enable the first asymmetric total synthesis of optically pure (+)-trigolutes B to be accomplished in a concise manner, within seven steps with an 18% overall yield.

An Asymmetric Organocatalytic Quadruple Domino Reaction Employing a Vinylogous Friedel-Crafts/Michael/Michael/Aldol Condensation Sequence

An organocatalytic quadruple cascade initiated by a Friedel-Crafts-type reaction is described. The (S)-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether catalyzed reaction yields highly functionalized cyclohexenecarbaldehydes bearing a 1,1-bis[4-(dialkylamino)phenyl]ethene moiety and three contiguous stereogenic centers. The reaction tolerates various functional groups and all products are obtained with very good diastereoselectivity and with virtually complete enantiomeric excess.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Domino Michael/Henry Reaction of Indolin-3-ones with o-Formyl-β-nitrostyrenes

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective domino Michael/Henry reaction of 1-acetylindolin-3-ones with o-formyl-(E)-β-nitrostyrenes catalyzed by low loading of a quinine-derived amine-squaramide provides the corresponding indolin-3-one derivatives bearing four adjacent stereogenic centers in good to high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities.

Functionalized cyclopentenes through a tandem NHC-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution and ambient temperature decarboxylation: mechanistic insight and synthetic application

An unusual room temperature β-lactone decarboxylation facilitated a five-step enantioselective formal synthesis of the cyclopentane core of an estrogen receptor β-agonist. A computational study probed the underlying factors facilitating unprecedented, rapid decarboxylation. Aryl substitution promotes faster reaction in the retro-[2+2] as a result of conjugative stabilization with the forming olefin. Additionally, the configuration of the α-ester in these fused β-lactones leads to differential decarboxylation rates.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydroisoquinolinones via a One-Pot Aza-Henry-Hemiaminalization-Oxidation Sequence

The asymmetric organocatalytic one-pot synthesis of trans-3,4-disubstituted 3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones is described. Starting from 2-(nitromethyl)benzaldehydes and various N-protected aldimines, 5 mol% of a quinine-based squaramide organocatalyst was used to synthesize the title compounds as virtually single diastereomers via an aza-Henry-hemiaminalization-oxidation sequence. Moderate to good yields (39-78%) and moderate to very good enantioselectivities (40-95% ee) were reached.

One-pot quadruple/triple reaction sequence: a useful tool for the synthesis of natural products

Multiple reactions in one pot has always been a useful technique for synthetic organic chemists, as it can minimizes solvent usage, time and the number of purification steps when compared to individual multi-step syntheses. In line with this, here in this perspective we discuss a one-pot quadruple/triple reaction sequence comprising an enyne ring-closing metathesis/cross-metathesis/Diels-Alder/aromatization for the synthesis of natural products setting.

Asymmetric synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentane-oxindoles through an organocatalytic triple Michael domino reaction

An efficient, highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of fully functionalized cyclopentanes bearing an oxindole moiety and several other functional groups in one pot has been developed. Key step is an organocatalytic triple Michael domino reaction forming three C-C bonds and six stereocenters, including a quaternary one. Starting from equimolar amounts of simple substrates, a high molecular complexity can be reached after a Wittig olefination in one pot. The new protocol can easily be scaled up to gram amounts.

Stereoselective construction of functionalized tetracyclic and pentacyclic coumarinopyranpyrazole/pyrimidinedione/coumarin scaffolds using a solid-state melt reaction

An assembly of tetra / pentacyclic hybrid scaffolds have been synthesized for the first time using a solid-state melt reaction in a stereoselective fashion with excellent yields.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative alkenylation of C(sp3)–H bonds via benzyl or alkyl radical addition to β-nitrostyrenes

A new method for the preparation of (E)-β-alkylstyrene derivatives has been developed via the addition of benzyl or alkyl radicals to β-nitrostyrenes using di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as the oxidant in the presence of Cu powder catalyst.

Organopolymerization of naturally occurring Tulipalin B: a hydroxyl-functionalized methylene butyrolactone

Naturally occurring, OH-containing, tri-functional Tulipalin B has been successfully polymerized by N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphazene superbase catalysts into polymers with M_n up to 13.2 kg mol⁻¹.

Recyclable organocatalyst-promoted one-pot Michael/aza-Henry/lactamization reactions for fluorinated 2-piperidinones bearing four stereogenic centres

A highly efficient method for asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated 2-piperidinones bearing four stereogenic centres is introduced.

Organocatalytic multicomponent synthesis of enantioenriched polycyclic 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines: key substrate selection enabling regio- and stereoselectivities

A completely regioselective and highly enantioselective organocatalytic multicomponent synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines is described.

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition of 3-substituted oxindoles to α,β-unsaturated acyl phosphonates for the synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted oxindoles with chiral squaramides

The first Michael addition of 3-monosubstituted oxindoles to α,β-unsaturated acyl phosphonates is investigated to give 3,3′-disubstituted oxindoles with excellent results.

One-pot synthesis of (R)-2-acetoxy-1-indanone from 1,2-indanedione combining metal catalyzed hydrogenation and chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution

A heterogeneously catalyzed one-pot reaction for synthesis of (R)-2-acetoxy-1-indanone is described.

Asymmetric synthesis of poly-substituted spirocyclohexane oxindole via a squaramide catalyzed cascade Michael–Michael–aldol sequence

Asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclohexane oxindoles bearing six contiguous stereocenters has been achieved in good yields (up to 85%) with excellent stereoselectivities (>20 : 1 dr, >99% ee).