The direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reaction

Direct Access to N-Unprotected α- and/or β-Tetrasubstituted Amino Acid Esters via Direct Catalytic Mannich-Type Reactions Using N-Unprotected Trifluoromethyl Ketimines

Direct catalytic C-C bond-forming addition to N-unprotected ketimines is an efficient and straightforward method of synthesizing N-unprotected tetrasubstituted amines that eliminates prior protection/deprotection steps and allows facile transformation of the products. Despite its advantages, however, N-unprotected ketimines have difficulties in C-C bond-forming reactions, and only a limited number of reactions and substrates are reported compared with their N-protected counterparts. Herein we report that N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines are effective for C-C bond-forming reactions using Mannich-type reactions as a model case. We demonstrate that Lewis acid catalysis was effective for promoting reactions with various N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines, and thiourea organocatalysis was effective for promoting highly enantioselective reactions with various carbonyl nucleophiles, providing direct access to various N-unprotected α- and/or β-tetrasubstituted amino acid esters. Furthermore, direct construction of vicinal tetrasubstituted chiral carbon stereocenters was achieved for the first time in a highly enantio- and diastereoselective manner. These results demonstrate the potential of N-unprotected ketimines as substrates applicable to many other addition reactions.

Chiral Primary Amine Catalysis for Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of Aldehydes with Ketimines: Stereoselectivity and Reactivity

The application potential of primary amine catalysts in the context of Mannich reactions of aldehydes with ketimines is exemplified by isatin-derived ketimines and cyclic trifluoromethyl ketimines. Primary amine catalysts exhibit either unusual stereoselectivity or reactivity, which is not observable with secondary amine catalysts. Moreover, reversal of diastereofacial selectivity between primary and secondary amine catalysts is disclosed. These new reactions provide useful methods for the syntheses of chiral 3-substituted 3-amino-2-oxindoles and dihydroquinazolinones bearing a trifluoromethylated quaternary stereocenter. The synthetic utility of the reactions is demonstrated through the formal synthesis of AG-041R and DPC 083 and the total synthesis of (-)-psychotriasine.

Highly functionalized cyclic β-amino acid moieties as promising scaffolds in peptide research and drug design

Peptide-based drug research has received high attention in the field of medicinal chemistry over the past decade. For drug design, to improve proteolytic stability, it is desirable to include unnatural building blocks, such as conformationally restricted β-amino acid moieties, into the peptide sequence. Accordingly, the synthesis and incorporation of such conformationally rigid systems into novel type of peptides has gained large interest. Our research group has designed highly efficient methods for the construction of potential antimicrobial peptides. Moreover, a number of synthetic approaches have been developed for the synthesis of various pharmacologically interesting cyclic β-amino acid derivatives as monomers with multiple stereogenic centers.

Enantioselective conjugate addition of hydroxylamines to α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by a chiral-at-metal Rh(iii) complex

A highly efficient chiral-at-metal Rh(iii) complex catalyzed asymmetric aza-Michael addition was developed, affordingN-protected β-amino acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivity.

Oxidative cross-coupling reaction by scandium catalysis for synthesis of α-alkyl α-amino acid ester derivatives

A novel oxidative cross-coupling reaction between N-arylglycine esters and alkyl boronic acid esters was developed by scandium catalysis.

Enantioselective magnesium-catalyzed transformations

This review updates the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral magnesium catalysts, covering the literature since 2007, illustrating the power of these green catalysts to promote many types of reactions.

A novel homobimetallic nickel complex for the asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of imines: a practical method on a multi-gram scale

A practical asymmetric direct Mannich reaction catalyzed by a homobimetallic nickel complex with a low catalyst loading on a preparative scale.

Enantioselective Silver-Catalyzed Transformations

This review collects the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral silver catalysts, covering the literature since 2008, well illustrating the power of these especially mild Lewis acid catalysts to provide novel asymmetric reactions.

Enantioselective Synthesis of β-Hydrazino Alcohols Using Alcohols and N-Boc-Hydrazine as Substrates

An enantioselective approach for the synthesis of α-hydrazino aldehydes is described that utilizes alcohols and N-Boc hydrazine instead of the conventional combination of aldehydes with azodicarboxylates. This protocol is enabled by merging in situ aerobic dual oxidation with asymmetric organocatalysis. This reaction also exhibits a high tolerance for varieties of substituents on the alcohol component. This approach features excellent enantiocontrol, cheap starting materials, operational simplicity, and scalability. The corresponding chiral β-hydrazino alcohols were obtained by sequential reduction with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee).

A new approach to the asymmetric Mannich reaction catalyzed by chiral N,N'-dioxide-metal complexes

An efficient asymmetric Mannich-type reaction between α-tetralone-derived β-keto esters/amides and 1,3,5-triaryl-1,3,5-triazinanes was realized catalyzed by chiral N,N'–dioxide-Ni(ii)/Mg(ii) complexes.

A highly efficient asymmetric Mannich-type reaction between α-tetralone-derived β-keto esters/amides and 1,3,5-triaryl-1,3,5-triazinanes was realized in the presence of chiral N,N′-dioxide–Ni(ii) or Mg(ii) complex. A variety of optically active β-amino compounds with all-carbon quaternary stereocenters were obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. A possible transition state was proposed based on these experiments and previous reports.

Enantioselective Organocatalyzed Transformations of β-Ketoesters

The β-ketoester structural motif continues to intrigue chemists with its electrophilic and nucleophilic sites. Proven to be a valuable tool within organic synthesis, natural product, and medicinal chemistry, reports on chiral β-ketoester molecular skeletons display a steady increase. With the reignition of organocatalysis in the past decade, asymmetric methods available for the synthesis of this structural unit has significantly expanded, making it one of the most exploited substrates for organocatalytic transformations. This review provides comprehensive information on the plethora of organocatalysts used in stereoselective organocatalyzed construction of β-ketoester-containing compounds.

Rh-Catalyzed reductive Mannich-type reaction and its application towards the synthesis of (±)-ezetimibe

An effective synthesis for syn-β-lactams was achieved using a Rh-catalyzed reductive Mannich-type reaction. A rhodium–hydride complex (Rh–H) derived from diethylzinc (Et₂Zn) and a Rh catalyst was used for the 1,4-reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ester to give a Reformatsky-type reagent, which in turn, reacted with an imine to give the syn-β-lactam. Additionally, the reaction was applied to the synthesis of (±)-ezetimibe, a potent β-lactamic cholesterol absorption inhibitor.

Cu-Catalyzed Intramolecular Amidation of Unactivated C(sp(3) )-H Bonds To Synthesize N-Substituted Indolines

A copper-catalyzed intramolecular amidation of unactivated C(sp(3) )-H bonds to construct indoline derivatives has been developed. Such an amidation proceeded well at primary C-H bonds preferred to secondary C-H bonds. The transformation owned a broad substrate scope. The corresponding indolines were obtained in good to excellent yields. N-Formal and other carbonyl groups were suitable and were easily deprotected and transformed into methyl or long-chained alkyl groups. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested a radical pathway.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reactions for the Construction of Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters

Herein, we report a Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed Mannich reaction using α-branched ketones as nucleophilic partners for the direct enantio- and diastereoselective construction of quaternary carbon stereocenters. The reaction can be run on a gram-scale with a low catalyst loading without impacting its efficiency. Moreover, the Mannich adducts can be further elaborated with complete diastereocontrol to access molecules possessing complex stereotriads.

Copper-Catalyzed Borylative Cross-Coupling of Allenes and Imines: Selective Three-Component Assembly of Branched Homoallyl Amines

A copper-catalyzed three-component coupling of allenes, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and imines allows regio-, chemo-, and diastereoselective assembly of branched α,β-substituted-γ-boryl homoallylic amines, that is, products bearing versatile amino, alkenyl, and borane functionality. Alternatively, convenient oxidative workup allows access to α-substituted-β-amino ketones. A computational study has been used to probe the stereochemical course of the cross-coupling.

An organocatalytic enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction of α,α-dicyanoolefins with isatin N-Boc ketimines

The first catalytic enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction of α,α-dicyanoolefins with ketimines derived from isatins has been developed. High yields and enantioselectivities were observed for the reaction of various ketimines and α,α-dicyanoolefins using a tertiary butyl substituted cinchona alkaloid type squaramide catalyst.

Chiral dendrigraft polymer for asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidines

A copper complex of chiral modified dendrigraft amidoamine polymer with a pentaerythritol initiated polyepichlorohydrin core, PEN-G₂, on a solid resin support is employed in the synthesis of isoquinuclidines via aza Diels–Alder reaction between cyclohexenone and imines.

α,α-Dicyanoolefins: versatile substrates in organocatalytic asymmetric transformations

α,α-Dicyanoolefins have emerged as versatile reactants, finding use as vinylogous nucleophiles, Michael acceptors and dienophiles in a variety of organic reactions.

Sulfonated ethylenediamine–acetone–formaldehyde condensate: preparation, unconventional photoluminescence and aggregation enhanced emission

The water-soluble sulfonated ethylenediamine–acetone–formaldehyde (SEAF) with unconventional fluorescence and AEE effect was prepared. The emission mechanism was ascribed to the cluster-induced emission of carbonyl groups.

The application of heterogeneous visible light photocatalysts in organic synthesis

The recent advances of organic synthesis reactions based on heterogeneous visible-light photocatalysis are reviewed.

Catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective Mannich reaction of α-substituted isocyanoacetates and ketimines

The highly diastereo- and enantioselective Mannich reaction/cyclisation of α-substituted isocyanoacetates and ketimines catalysed by silver acetate and a cinchona-derived amino phosphine is reported.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich-Type Reaction of α- and β-Fluorinated Amides

The last two decades have witnessed the emergence of direct enolization protocols providing atom-economical and operationally simple methods to use enolates for stereoselective C-C bond-forming reactions, eliminating the inherent drawback of the preformation of enolates using stoichiometric amounts of reagents. In its infancy, direct enolization relied heavily on the intrinsic acidity of the latent enolates, and the reaction scope was limited to readily enolizable ketones and aldehydes. Recent advances in this field enabled the exploitation of carboxylic acid derivatives for direct enolization, offering expeditious access to synthetically versatile chiral building blocks. Despite the growing demand for enantioenriched fluorine-containing small molecules, α- and β-fluorinated carbonyl compounds have been neglected in direct enolization chemistry because of the competing and dominating defluorination pathway. Herein we present a comprehensive study on direct and highly stereoselective Mannich-type reactions of α- and β-fluorine-functionalized 7-azaindoline amides that rely on a soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalytic system to guarantee an efficient enolization while suppressing undesired defluorination. This protocol contributes to provide a series of fluorinated analogs of enantioenriched β-amino acids for medicinal chemistry.