Metal-free, organocatalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes

Tandem Nazarov cyclization-michael addition sequence catalyzed by an Ir(III) complex

The first examples of a tandem Nazarov cyclization/Michael addition process are described. The sequence is efficiently catalyzed by Ir[Me(CO)(dppe)(DIB)]2+ and occurs with high diastereoselectivity, creating three contiguous stereocenters. The mechanistic factors controlling the reactivity and diastereoselectivity are discussed.

Consideration of molecular arrangements in regio- and enantioselective reduction of an NAD model compound controlled by carbonyl oxygen orientation

The regio- and enantioselectivity of the reduction of an NAD model compound having axial chirality with respect to the C(3)(quinolinium)-C(carbonyl) bond, 3-piperidinylcarbonyl-1,2,4-trimethylquinolinium ion (1), by using several reducing agents is described. Reaction of 1 with sodium hydrosulfite affords the 1,4-reduced product, 3-piperidinylcarbonyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-1,4-dihydroquinoline (), with low enantioselectivity, whereas sodium borohydride promotes 1,2-reduction, affording 3-piperidinylcarbonyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline () as the sole product in a moderate enantioselectivity. When 1 was reduced by the chiral NADH model compound, 2,4-dimethyl-3-(N-alpha-methylbenzylcarbamoyl)-1-propyl-1,4-dihydropyridine (Me(2)PNPH (4)), the regioselectivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction were significantly altered by the stereochemistry of 1 and 4. An achiral NADH model compound, 1-propyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (PNAH (5)) exhibited both high regio- and enantioselectivities. The product selectivity reflects the change in molecular arrangement in the transition state of the reaction and reveals the relative importance of the parameters governing the molecular arrangement in the reaction.

Catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters with hantzsch esters

C2-symmetric chiral copper(II)-bisoxazolines function as alcohol dehydrogenase mimics and catalyze highly enantioselective transfer hydrogenations of alpha-ketoesters with Hantzsch esters as a synthetic NADH analogue to give alpha-hydroxy esters in excellent enantioselectivities. [reaction: see text].

Organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of cyclic enones

The first enantioselective organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of cyclic enones has been accomplished. The use of iminium catalysis has provided a new organocatalytic strategy for the enantioselective reduction of beta,beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated cycloalkenones, to generate beta-stereogenic cyclic ketones. The use of imidazolidinone 4 as the asymmetric catalyst has been found to mediate the hydrogenation of a large class of enone substrates with tert-butyl Hantzsch ester serving as an inexpensive source of hydrogen. The capacity of catalyst 4 to enable enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of cycloalkenones has been extended to five-, six-, and seven-membered ring systems. The sense of asymmetric induction is in complete accord with the stereochemical model first reported in conjunction with the use of catalyst 4 for enantioselective ketone Diels-Alder reactions.

Organocatalyst-Mediated Enantioselective Intramolecular Aldol Reaction Featuring the Rare Combination of Aldehyde as Nucleophile and Ketone as Electrophile

The trifluoroacetic acid salt of 2-(pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine was found to be an effective organocatalyst of an asymmetric intramolecular aldol reaction, affording bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane derivatives with a high enantioselectivity, in which the rare combination of aldehyde as a nucleophile and ketone as an electrophile was realized.

Recent Developments in Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation with Hantzsch Esters: A Biomimetic Approach

By utilizing Hantzsch esters as the hydrogen source, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of C=C, C=N, and C=O is realized in the presence of an organocatalyst or a metal-ligand complex, thus affording versatile chiral building blocks in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions. A detailed discussion of recent findings and an assessment of this biomimetic approach are presented in this review.

Catalytic hydrogenation of alpha,beta-epoxy ketones to form beta-hydroxy ketones mediated by an NADH coenzyme model

[reaction: see text] The hydrogenation of alpha,beta-epoxy ketones can be mediated by a catalytic amount of BNAH or BNA(+)Br(-) to form corresponding beta-hydroxy ketones in high yield. Na2S2O4 is used as the reducing agent to convert BNA(+)Br(-) to BNAH. A radical mechanism has been proposed to understand many observations of this catalytic reaction.

An Approach to Skeletal Diversity Using Functional Group Pairing of Multifunctional Scaffolds

Diversification of enantioenriched Michael adducts through functional group pairing to gain access to a range of five- to ten-membered complex fused and bridged ring systems is described.

Enantioselective organocatalytic formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate and (-)-cubebaol

[reaction: see text] The first highly enantioselective organocatalyzed carbo [3 + 3] cascade cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Using this methodology, crotonaldehyde is converted to 6-hydroxy-4-methylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde, which is used in the synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate, (-)-cubebaol, and p-tolualdehyde as well as (-)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol acetate, an intermediate in the total synthesis of lycopodium alkaloid magellanine. Other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes give rise to chiral cyclohexadienes via formal [4 + 2] reactions.

Asymmetric bioreduction of activated C=C bonds using enoate reductases from the old yellow enzyme family

The asymmetric bioreduction of alkenes bearing an electron-withdrawing group using flavin-dependent enzymes from the 'old yellow enzyme' family at the expense of NAD(P)H yields the corresponding non-racemic alkanes going in hand with the creation of up to two chiral carbon centres. To avoid external cofactor recycling, this intriguing biotransformation was hitherto performed using whole microbial cells, which frequently showed insufficient stereoselectivities and/or undesired side reactions because of the action of competing enzymatic activities. Co-expression of enoate reductases with the corresponding redox enzymes for NAD(P)H recycling in a suitable host enables to overcome these drawbacks to furnish highly stereoselective and 'clean' C=C bioreductions on a preparative scale that are difficult to perform by conventional means.

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Domino Reactions

The current status of organic synthesis is hampered by costly protecting-group strategies and lengthy purification procedures after each synthetic step. To circumvent these problems, the synthetic potential of multicomponent domino reactions has been utilized for the efficient and stereoselective construction of complex molecules from simple precursors in a single process. In particular, domino reactions mediated by organocatalysts are in a way biomimetic, as this principle is used very efficiently in the biosynthesis of complex natural products starting from simple precursors. In this Minireview, we discuss the current development of this fast-growing field.

A reductase-mimicking thiourea organocatalyst incorporating a covalently bound NADH analogue: efficient 1,2-diketone reduction with in situ prosthetic group generation and recycling

A new class of bifunctional organocatalyst promotes the chemoselective reduction of diketone electrophiles at catalytic loadings in the presence of an inorganic co-reductant.

Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Hydroxyenones by Chiral Base-Catalyzed Kornblum DeLaMare Rearrangement

A cinchona-alkaloid catalyzed asymmetric Kornblum DeLaMare rearrangement has been developed. Thus, enantioenriched 4-hydroxyenones are prepared from dienes by a two-step sequence involving photochemical dioxygenation and chiral base-catalyzed desymmetrization of the resulting endoperoxides.

Origins of stereoselectivity in Diels-Alder cycloadditions catalyzed by chiral imidazolidinones

B3LYP/6-31G(d) density functional theory has been used to study Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones organocatalyzed by MacMillan's chiral imidazolidinones. Preferred conformations of transition structures and reaction intermediates have been located. The dramatically different reactivities and enantioselectivities exhibited by two similar chiral imidazolidinones are rationalized.

Development of drug intermediates by using direct organocatalytic multi-component reactions

Novel, economic and environmentally friendly one-pot three-component Knoevenagel/hydrogenation (K/H) and four-component Knoevenagel/hydrogenation/alkylation (K/H/A) reactions of ketones, CH-acids, dihydropyridines and alkyl halides using proline and proline/metal carbonate catalysis, respectively, have been developed. Many of the products of these K/H and K/H/A reactions have direct applications in pharmaceutical chemistry.

Catalytic enantioselective aza-Henry reaction with broad substrate scope

In situ generated azomethines from readily available precursors react with nitromethane in the presence of 120 mol % of CsOH.H2O and 12 mol % of quinine- and cinchonidine-derived quaternary ammonium chlorides to provide the corresponding aza-Henry adducts in good yields and very high selectivities. It represents the first general enantioselective aza-Henry method for azomethines derived from enolizable aldehydes, giving rise to enantiomeric excesses above 94%. In addition, the reactions with nitroethane afforded high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (syn:anti up to 95:5; up to 98% ee for syn).

Dual-Function Cinchona Alkaloid Catalysis: Catalytic Asymmetric Tandem Conjugate Addition−Protonation for the Direct Creation of Nonadjacent Stereocenters

Catalytic tandem asymmetric reactions constitute a powerful strategy for the asymmetric construction of nonadjacent stereocenters in acyclic molecules directly from achiral precursors. In this Communication, we report a highly enantioselective and diastereoselective addition of trisubstituted carbon donors to 2-chloroacrylonitrile catalyzed by bifunctional cinchona alkaloid catalysts. This represents the first asymmetric tandem conjugate addition-protonation with efficient catalytic control of two nonadjacent stereocenters. As demonstrated in a concise and highly stereoselective formal total synthesis of (-)-manzacidin A, this asymmetric tandem reaction establishes a new and versatile catalytic approach for the enantioselective and diastereoselective creation of 1,3-tertiary-quaternary stereocenters.

Enantioselective nitroaldol reaction of alpha-ketoesters catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids

The development of highly enantioselective and general catalytic nitroaldol (Henry) reactions with ketones is a challenging yet desirable task in organic synthesis. In this communication, we report an asymmetric nitroaldol reaction with alpha-ketoesters catalyzed by a new C6'-OH cinchona alkaloid catalyst. This is the first highly efficient organocatalytic asymmetric Henry reaction with ketones. This reaction is operationally simple and affords high enantioselectivity as well as good to excellent yield for a broad range of alpha-ketoesters.

Towards organo-click reactions: development of pharmaceutical ingredients by using direct organocatalytic bio-mimetic reductions

Economic and environmentally friendly bio-mimetic one-pot three and four-component Knoevenagel-hydrogenation (K-H), five-component Knoevenagel-hydrogenation-alkylation (K-H-A) and six-component Knoevenagel-hydrogenation-alkylation-Huisgen cycloaddition (K-H-A-HC) reactions of aldehydes, CH-acids, o-phenylenediamine, alkyl halides and azides using proline, proline-metal carbonate and proline-metal carbonate-Cu(I)-catalysis, respectively have been developed. Many of K-H and K-H-A compounds have direct application in pharmaceutical chemistry.

The ying and yang of asymmetric aminocatalysis

During the last six years the asymmetric catalysis of carbonyl transformations via iminium ion and enamine intermediates using chiral amines as organocatalysts has grown most remarkably. In this personal account an overview of this area is given. The field can be divided into two sub areas: (a) Iminium catalysis, which is typically used for cycloadditions and conjugate additions to enals and enones and (b) Enamine catalysis, which is commonly used in electrophilic alpha-substitution reactions of ketones and aldehydes. A common origin of the two catalysis principles is proposed and their recent merger in tandem sequences is discussed.

Asymmetric Conjugate Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones and Esters with Chiral Rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) Catalysts

New asymmetric conjugate reduction of beta,beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters was accomplished with alkoxylhydrosilanes in the presence of chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) complexes in high yields and high enantioselectivity. (E)-4-Phenyl-3-penten-2-one and (E)-4-phenyl-4-isopropyl-3-penten-2-one were readily reduced at 60 degrees C in 95 % ee and 98 % ee, respectively, by 1 mol % of catalyst loading. (EtO)2MeSiH proved to be the best hydrogen donor of choice. tert-Butyl (E)-beta-methylcinnamate and beta-isopropylcinnamate could also be reduced to the corresponding dihydrocinnamate derivatives up to 98 % ee.