Preparation of Azetidines by 4-endo trig Cyclizations ofN-Cinnamyl Tosylamides

Nickel-Catalyzed Chemo- and Enantioselective Hydrogenation and Deuteration of α,β-Unsaturated Ketimines Using Alcohols: Synthesis of Deuterated Chiral Allylic Amines

A nickel-catalyzed chemoselective asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketimines using ethanol as a hydrogen donor under mild conditions that avoid using high-pressure hydrogen gas was developed. With this catalyst, C1-selective deuterated chiral allylic amines were efficiently synthesized using only stoichiometric 2-propanol-d8. Mechanism studies demonstrated the formation of a nickel hydride intermediate.

Fluorocyclization of Allyl Alcohols and Amines to Access 3-Functionalized Oxetanes and Azetidines

An efficient method to prepare 3-functionalized oxetanes and azetidines has been realized by fluorocyclization of readily available 2-azidoallyl/2-alkoxyallyl alcohols and amines. Notably, this is the first example applying the fluorocyclization strategy to construct four-membered heterocycles. The pendant electron-donating group (-N₃ or -OR) plays a crucial role in polarizing the C═C double bond and facilitating the cyclization process, as verified by DFT and experimental studies.

A novel and environmental friendly synthetic route for hydroxypyrrolidines using zeolites

A critical step in the synthesis of the hydroxypyrrolidines, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-lyxitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-lyxitol, from the corresponding d-sugars is the synthesis of O-methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidenepentofuranoses. Instead of applying homogeneous catalysis process with conventional inorganic acid catalysts like HCl and HClO₄, it was found that heterogeneous catalysis using zeolites could be used for the one-pot synthesis of O-methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidenepentofuranoses directly from d-sugars, MeOH and acetone at mild condition. The best catalyst was H-beta zeolite containing a Si/Al molar ratio of 150, where a yield of >83% was obtained. The overall yields of the five-step procedure to 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-lyxitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-lyxitol were 57% and 50%, respectively. This synthetic procedure has several advantages such as competitive overall yield, reduced number of steps, and mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the zeolite catalyst can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused with no loss of activity.

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of α-difluoromethyl amines from N-tert-butylsulfinyl ketimines and difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone

The first highly efficient and stereoselective difluoromethylation of structurally diverse N-tert-butylsulfinyl ketimines has been achieved with an in situ generated PhSO(2)CF(2)(-) anion, which provides a powerful synthetic method for the preparation of a variety of structurally diverse homochiral α-difluoromethyl tertiary carbinamines, including α-difluoromethyl allylic amines and α-difluoromethyl propargylamines. The stereocontrol mode of the present diastereoselective difluoromethylation of ketimines was found to be different from that of other known fluoroalkylations of N-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines, which suggests that a cyclic six-membered transition state may be involved in the reaction.

An "anti-Baldwin" 3-exo-dig cyclization: preparation of vinylidene cyclopropanes from electron-poor alkenes

Stabilized carbanions undergo an uncommon 3-exodig cyclization onto propargyl halides through an SN2' substitution. Propargyl iodides as electrophiles are necessary to achieve good yields (36-95%) for most substrates, although the usefulness of chlorides and bromides is documented. A variety of monocyclic and bicyclic vinylidene cyclopropanes can be prepared. These products are not available by standard carbene methodology.

Lewis acid-mediated unprecedented ring-opening rearrangement of 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines to enantiopure (E)-allylamines

A highly efficient strategy for Cu(OTf)2-mediated ring-opening of 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines in polar and coordinating solvents followed by an unprecedented rearrangement to substituted achiral and chiral (E)-allylamines (ee >99%) is reported. The methodology has been applied for the synthesis of gamma-unsaturated-beta-amino acids. A plausible mechanism for the rearrangement is also described.

Bis(pyridine)-based bromonium ions. Molecular structures of bis(2,4,6-collidine)bromonium perchlorate and bis(pyridine)bromonium triflate and the mechanism of the reactions of 1,2-bis(2'-pyridylethynyl)benzenebrominum triflate and bis(pyridine)bromonium triflate with acceptor olefins

1,2-Bis(2'-pyridylethynyl)benzenebromonium triflate (4) and bis(pyridine)bromonium triflate (5) have been prepared and the mechanism of their reaction with various acceptors including eight alkenes of various structure, collidine, and Br(-) are reported. The reaction of 4 with neutral acceptors is second-order overall and involves a preequilibrium dissociation of the bidentate-bound Br(+) to form an unstable monodentate open form (4-op), which reacts with all neutral acceptors at or near the diffusion limit. Br(-) reacts with 4 by a different mechanism involving a direct nucleophilic attack on the Br(+). The reaction of 5 with acceptors proceeds by a dissociative mechanism to reversibly form an unstable intermediate (pyr-Br(+)), which reacts with 4-penten-1-ol, 4-pentenoic acid adamantylidineadamantane and cyclohexene with nearly the same selectivity. The crystal and molecular structures of bis(2,4,6-collidine)bromonium perchlorate (2-ClO(4)) and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography.