Photocatalytic generation of N-centered hydrazonyl radicals: a strategy for hydroamination of β,γ-unsaturated hydrazones

A visible-light photocatalytic generation of N-centered hydrazonyl radicals has been accomplished for the first time. This approach allows efficient intramolecular addition of hydrazonyl radical to terminal alkenes, thus providing hydroamination and oxyamination products in good yields. Importantly, the protocol involves deprotonation of an N-H bond and photocatalytic oxidation to an N-centered radical, thus obviating the need to prepare photolabile amine precursors or the stoichiometric use of oxidizing reagents.

Palladium-catalyzed vicinal amino alcohols synthesis from allyl amines by in situ tether formation and carboetherification

Vicinal amino alcohols are important structural motifs of bioactive compounds. Reported herein is an efficient method for their synthesis based on the palladium-catalyzed oxy-alkynylation, oxy-arylation, or oxy-vinylation of allylic amines. High regio- and stereoselectivity were ensured through the in situ formation of a hemiaminal tether using the cheap commercially available trifluoroacetaldehyde in its hemiacetal form. The obtained compounds are important building blocks, which can be orthogonally deprotected to give either free alcohols, amines, or terminal alkynes.

Hydroxyamination of olefins using Br-N-(CO2Me)2

The hydroxyamination reagent Br-N-(CO2Me)2 underwent Markovnikov addition to various olefins in the presence of catalytic BF3·OEt2 and provides efficient access to aminoalcohols. The reaction provided the trans-1-bromo, 2-N-bis-carbamate adduct stereoisomer in all cases. The resulting adduct underwent cyclization to give an oxazolidinone, which could be readily hydrolyzed to an oxazolidin-2-one or an amino alcohol.

Dimeric Cinchona alkaloids

Nature is full of dimeric alkaloids of various types from many plant families, some of them with interesting biological properties. However, dimeric Cinchona alkaloids were not isolated from any species but were products of designed partial chemical synthesis. Although the Cinchona bark is amongst the sources of oldest efficient medicines, the synthetic dimers found most use in the field of asymmetric synthesis. Prominent examples include the Sharpless dihydroxylation and aminohydroxylation ligands, and dimeric phase transfer catalysts. In this article the syntheses of Cinchona alkaloid dimers and oligomers are reviewed, and their structure and applications are outlined. Various synthetic routes exploit reactivity of the alkaloids at the central 9-hydroxyl group, quinuclidine, and quinoline rings, as well as 3-vinyl group. This availability of reactive sites, in combination with a plethora of linker molecules, contributes to the diversity of the products obtained.

mCPBA-mediated metal-free intramolecular aminohydroxylation and dioxygenation of unfunctionalized olefins

We report a mild and metal-free process to prepare a variety of 2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine and oxolanimine compounds.

Oxidant controlled regio- and stereodivergent azidohydroxylation of alkenes via I2 catalysis

A novel, I₂ catalyzed regio- and stereodivergent vicinal azidohydroxylation of alkenes leading to 1,2-azidoalcohols in high yields (up to 92%) and excellent dr (up to 98%) has been developed.

PhI(OAc)2-mediated functionalisation of unactivated alkenes for the synthesis of pyrazoline and isoxazoline derivatives

A PhI(OAc)₂-promoted radical cyclization of β,γ-unsaturated hydrazones and oximes has been developed for an efficient synthesis of pyrazolines and isoxazolines.

A systematic approach to diverse, lead-like scaffolds from α,α-disubstituted amino acids

A strategy for the efficient lead-oriented synthesis of novel molecular scaffolds is demonstrated. Twenty two scaffolds were prepared from four quaternary α-amino acid building blocks in only 49 synthetic operations, using six connective reactions. The ability of each scaffold to specifically target leadlike chemical space was demonstrated computationally.

Diastereoselective osmium-catalyzed vicinal oxyamination of acyclic allylic alcohol derivatives

The osmium-catalyzed oxyamination of chiral acyclic allylic alcohol derivatives bearing mono- and 1,1-di-substituted double bonds with benzyl N-(4-tosyloxy)carbamate proceeds with high regioselectivity and moderate levels of diastereoselectivity favoring the anti product. The observed stereoselectivity shows a clear and systematic trend with anti:syn ratios increasing in line with the size of substituent at both the allylic stereocenter and double bond α-carbon. The stereoinduction is in accord with the sense of diastereoselectivity predicted by Kishi's empirical rule and a previously reported transition state model for the osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of allylic alcohol derivatives. In contrast, allylic alcohol derivatives bearing trisubstituted double bonds show low or no reactivity in the oxyamination reaction affording the syn product in low yield in the cases examined.

Electrochemical intramolecular aminooxygenation of unactivated alkenes

An electrochemical approach to the intramolecular aminooxygenation of unactivated alkenes has been developed. This process is based on the addition of nitrogen-centered radicals, generated through electrochemical oxidation, to alkenes followed by trapping of the cyclized radical intermediate with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl radical (TEMPO). Difunctionalization of a variety of alkenes with easily available carbamates/amides and TEMPO affords aminooxygenation products in high yields and with excellent trans selectivity for cyclic systems (d.r. up to>20:1). The approach provides a much-needed complementary route to existing cis-selective methods.

Intramolecular aminocyanation of alkenes by N-CN bond cleavage

A metal-free, Lewis acid promoted intramolecular aminocyanation of alkenes was developed. B(C6F5)3 activates N-sulfonyl cyanamides, thus leading to a formal cleavage of the N-CN bonds in conjunction with vicinal addition of sulfonamide and nitrile groups across an alkene. This method enables atom-economical access to indolines and tetrahydroquinolines in excellent yields, and provides a complementary strategy for regioselective alkene difunctionalizations with sulfonamide and nitrile groups. Labeling experiments with (13)C suggest a fully intramolecular cyclization pattern due to the lack of label scrambling in double crossover experiments. Catalysis with Lewis acid is realized and the reaction can be conducted under air.

Vicinal difunctionalization of alkenes with iodine(III) reagents and catalysts

Hypervalent iodine(III) reagents have been known for over a century, and their reaction profile is still actively investigated. Recent years have seen impressive improvements in the area of alkene difunctionalization reactions, where new methodologies have become available. Especially chiral non-racemic hypervalent iodine(III) reagents and catalysts have emerged as versatile tools for the realization of important enantioselective transformations.

Complete stereodivergence in the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3-diols from allenes

Herein, we describe studies to understand how both reagent and substrate control can be effectively employed in the stereodivergent oxidative amination of allenes, with transfer of the axial chirality of an enantioenriched precursor to point chirality in each possible diastereomeric 2-amino-1,3-diol product.

Rhodium(ii)-catalysed tandem aziridination and ring-opening: stereoselective synthesis of functionalised tetrahydrofurans

Rh(ii) mediated tandem aziridination and cycloetherification achieves a direct, stereoselective synthesis of the 2-(1-amino-2-hydroxyethyl)tetrahydrofuran motif.

Synthesis of 1,4-benzodiazepinones and 1,4-benzoxazepinones via palladium-catalyzed amino and oxyacetoxylation

Palladium-catalyzed amino and oxyacetoxylation have been developed to furnish 1,4-benzodiazepinones and 1,4-benzoxazepinones through the diheterofunctionalization of alkenes.

Asymmetric α-oxyamination of aldehydes by synergistic catalysis of imidazolethiones and metal salts

The novel and efficient imidazolethione catalysts combined with metal salts were successfully introduced to the asymmetric α-oxyamination of aldehydes.

Convergent, asymmetric synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols via Rh-catalyzed addition of α-amido trifluoroborates to carbonyls

The convergent, asymmetric synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols is achieved by the Rh-catalyzed addition of α-amido trifluoroborates to carbonyl compounds.

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-substituted-cyclic sulfamidate-5-carboxylates by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation accompanied by dynamic kinetic resolution and applications to concise stereoselective syntheses of (−)-epi-cytoxazone and the taxotere side-chain

DKR driven, asymmetric transfer hydrogenations of cyclic sulfamidate imine-5-carboxylates were developed.

Synthesis of vicinal aminoalcohols by stereoselective aza-Wacker cyclizations: access to (-)-acosamine by redox relay

Diastereoselective aza-Wacker cyclization of O-allyl hemiaminals under aerobic conditions enables efficient access to 1,2-aminoalcohol derivatives from allylic alcohols. The scope of this method is presented and its utility is highlighted in a streamlined synthesis of the biologically important aminosugar (–)-acosamine.

Tethered aminohydroxylation: synthesis of the β-amino acid of microsclerodermins A and B

The utility of the tethered aminohydroxylation (TA) has been demonstrated by synthesis of the complex β-amino acid residue of microsclerodermins A and B. The TA provided a regio- and stereoselective functionalization of a complex homoallylic alcohol. The route includes late-stage introduction of the aliphatic side chain via a cuprate addition and cross metathesis, a tactic designed to render the synthesis applicable to other microsclerodermins.

Mechanistic analysis and optimization of the copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular alkene aminooxygenation

The catalytic asymmetric aminooxygenation of alkenes provides an efficient and straightforward approach to prepare chiral vicinal amino alcohols. We have reported a copper(II)-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular alkene aminooxygenation, using (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) as the oxygen source, which results in the synthesis of chiral indolines and pyrrolidines. Herein we disclose that kinetics studies indicate the reaction is first order both in substrate and the [Cu(R,R)-Ph-bis(oxazoline)]OTf(2) catalyst and zero order in TEMPO. Furthermore, kinetic isotope effect studies support that the cis-aminocupration step, the addition of N-Cu across the alkene, is the rate-limiting step. Subsequent formation of a carbon radical intermediate and direct carbon radical trapping with TEMPO is the indicated mechanism for the C-O bond formation as suggested by a deuterium labeling experiment. A ligand screen revealed that C(4)-phenyl substitution on the bis(oxazoline) is optimal for high asymmetric induction. The size of the substrate's N-sulfonyl group also influences the enantioselectivity of the reaction. The preparative-scale catalytic aminooxygenation reaction (gram scale) was demonstrated, and an unexpected dependence on reaction temperature was uncovered on the larger scale reaction.

Development of a hypersensitive periodate-cleavable amino acid that is methionine- and disulfide-compatible and its application in MHC exchange reagents for T cell characterisation

Incorporation of cleavable linkers into peptides and proteins is of particular value in the study of biological processes. Here we describe the synthesis of a cleavable linker that is hypersensitive to oxidative cleavage as the result of the periodate reactivity of a vicinal amino alcohol moiety. Two strategies directed towards the synthesis of a building block suitable for solid-phase peptide synthesis were developed: a chemoenzymatic route, involving L-threonine aldolase, and an enantioselective chemical route; these led to α,γ-diamino-β-hydroxybutanoic acids in diastereoisomerically mixed and enantiopure forms, respectively. Incorporation of the 1,2-amino alcohol linker into the backbone of a peptide generated a conditional peptide that was rapidly cleaved at very low concentrations of sodium periodate. This cleavable peptide ligand was applied in the generation of MHC exchange reagents for the detection of antigen-specific T cells in peripheral blood cells. The extremely low concentration of periodate required to trigger MHC peptide exchange allowed the co-oxidation of methionine and disulfide residues to be avoided. Conditional MHC reagents hypersensitive to periodate can now be applied without limitations when UV irradiation is undesired or less practical.