Biphenyl-derived phosphepines as chiral nucleophilic catalysts: enantioselective [4+1] annulations to form functionalized cyclopentenes

Because of the frequent occurrence of cyclopentane subunits in bioactive compounds, the development of efficient catalytic asymmetric methods for their synthesis is an important objective. Introduced herein is a new family of chiral nucleophilic catalysts, biphenyl-derived phosphepines, and we apply them to an enantioselective variant of a useful [4+1] annulation. A range of one-carbon coupling partners can be employed, thereby generating cyclopentenes which bear a fully substituted stereocenter [either all-carbon or heteroatom-substituted (sulfur and phosphorus)]. Stereocenters at the other four positions of the cyclopentane ring can also be introduced with good stereoselectivity. An initial mechanistic study indicates that phosphine addition to the electrophilic four-carbon coupling partner is not the turnover-limiting step of the catalytic cycle.

Chiral phosphines in nucleophilic organocatalysis

This review discusses the tertiary phosphines possessing various chiral skeletons that have been used in asymmetric nucleophilic organocatalytic reactions, including annulations of allenes, alkynes, and Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) acetates, carbonates, and ketenes with activated alkenes and imines, allylic substitutions of MBH acetates and carbonates, Michael additions, γ-umpolung additions, and acylations of alcohols.

Hydroxyproline-derived pseudoenantiomeric [2.2.1] bicyclic phosphines: asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and (-)-pyrrolines

We have prepared two new diastereoisomeric 2-aza-5-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes from naturally occurring trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in six chemical operations. These syntheses are concise and highly efficient, with straightforward purification. When we used these chiral phosphines as catalysts for reactions of γ-substituted allenoates with imines, we obtained enantiomerically enriched pyrrolines in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. These two diastereoisomeric phosphines functioned as pseudoenantiomers, providing their chiral pyrrolines with opposite absolute configurations.

Phosphine-Initiated General-Base-Catalyzed Quinolone Synthesis

Phosphinocatalysis provides a new approach toward 3-substituted-4-quinolones. A simple procedure, which uses Ph3P as an inexpensive catalyst and S-phenyl 2-(N-tosylamido)benzothioates and activated alkynes as starting materials, provides direct access to several 3-aroyl-4-quinolones and methyl 4-quinolone-3-carboxylate esters. The reaction presumably occurs through general base catalysis, with the initial addition of Ph3P to the activated alkyne generating the phosphonium enoate zwitterion, which acts as the strong base that initiates the reaction.

Phosphine catalysis of allenes with electrophiles

Nucleophilic phosphine catalysis of allenes with electrophiles is one of the most powerful and straightforward synthetic strategies for the generation of highly functionalized carbocycle or heterocycle structural motifs, which are present in a wide range of bioactive natural products and medicinally important substances. The reaction topologies can be controlled through a judicious choice of the phosphine catalyst and the structural variations of starting materials. This Tutorial Review presents selected examples of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis using allenes and electrophiles.

Convenient synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofuran via Lewis base catalyzed [3 + 2] domino reactions

A DABCO catalyzed domino reaction between 3-oxo-4-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene) butanoates and allenoates furnished 2,3,5-substituted tetrahydrofuran furan derivatives bearing oxindole moiety and two exocyclic double bonds in high yield.

1,3-Carbon D–A strategy for [3 + 2] cycloadditions/annulations with imines: synthesis of functionalized pyrrolidines and related alkaloids

[3 + 2] Cycloaddition/annulation: this article summarize the recent developments in synthesis of pyrrolidines and related alkaloids through complementary [3 + 2] cycloaddition/annulation of 1,3-carbon D–A precursors with imines.