Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Conicol via Cascade Three-Component Organocatalysis

Recent developments in asymmetric multicomponent reactions

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) receive increasing attention because they address both diversity and complexity in organic synthesis. Thus, in principle diverse sets of relatively complex structures can be generated from simple starting materials in a single reaction step. The ever increasing need for optically pure compounds for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications as well as for catalysis promotes the development of asymmetric multicomponent reactions. In recent years, asymmetric multicomponent reactions have been applied to the total synthesis of various enantiopure natural products and commercial drugs, reducing the number of required reaction steps significantly. Although many developments in diastereoselective MCRs have been reported, the field of catalytic enantioselective MCRs has just started to blossom. This critical review describes developments in both diastereoselective and catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions since 2004. Significantly broadened scopes, new techniques, more environmentally benign methods and entirely novel MCRs reflect the increasingly inventive paths that synthetic chemist follow in this field. Until recently, enantioselective transition metal-catalyzed MCRs represented the majority of catalytic enantioselective MCRs. However, metal contamination is highly undesirable for drug synthesis. The emergence of organocatalysis greatly influences the quest for new asymmetric MCRs.

Observation of neighboring ortho-hydroxyl group participation in organocatalytic asymmetric sequential Michael-lactonization reactions: synthesis of highly substituted chiral spirodihydrocoumarins

A general approach to asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted spirodihydrocoumarins with a quaternary stereocenter was achieved through neighboring ortho-hydroxyl group induced sequential Michael-lactonization reactions on 2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenols with alkyl cyclopentanone-2-carboxylates in the presence of a catalytic amount of quinine-NH-thiourea followed by p-TSA.

Marine natural products

Covering: 2010. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2011, 28, 196. This review covers the literature published in 2010 for marine natural products, with 895 citations (590 for the period January to December 2010) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1003 for 2010), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-galbulin via organocatalytic domino Michael-Michael-aldol condensation

A concise and practical enantioselective synthesis of (+)-galbulin has been achieved using organocatalytic domino Michael-Michael-aldol condensation and organocatalytic kinetic resolution as the key steps.

An organocascade kinetic resolution

Products of a novel iminium-catalyzed oxa-Michael addition undergo a kinetic resolution by a subsequent enamine-catalyzed intermolecular reaction. This is a rare example of kinetic resolution by enamine catalysis and the first organocascade kinetic resolution. This resolution produces enantioenriched 2,6-cis-tetrahydropyrans and, notably, cascade products with absolute and relative configurations normally not observed using this diphenyl prolinol silyl ether. This resolution thus provides new insight into asymmetric induction in reactions employing this catalyst.

Nature-inspired cascade catalysis: reaction control through substrate concentration--double vs. quadruple domino reactions

The design of biologically inspired, multi-component cascade reactions enables the targeted synthesis of assorted structurally complex products. Similar to regulation in cells the reaction path is controlled by the substrate concentration and complex enantiopure products with high structural diversity are provided.

Dynamic kinetic asymmetric synthesis of five contiguous stereogenic centers by sequential organocatalytic stetter and Michael-aldol reaction: enantioselective synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentanols bearing a quaternary stereocenter

A synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentanes bearing a quaternary carbon center and five contiguous stereogenic centers has been achieved by sequential organocatalyzed Stetter and Michael-Aldol reactions of heteroaromatic aldehydes, nitroalkenes, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes via the [1 + 2 + 2] annulation strategy with dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

Asymmetric quadruple aminocatalytic domino reactions to fused carbocycles incorporating a spirooxindole motif

The efficient assembly of hydroindane derivatives incorporating a spirooxindole motif was realized via a new three-component domino reaction of (E)-4-(1-methyl-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-3-oxobutanoates and two molecules of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes under quadruple iminium-enamine-iminium-enamine catalysis. The complex products bearing six contiguous stereogenic centers were obtained in excellent stereoselectivities (96->99% ee, >99% de).