Stereochemistry of the Base-Promoted Michael Addition Reaction

Mechanochemistry and Eco-Bases for Sustainable Michael Addition Reactions

The Michael addition reaction was revisited with a full focus on sustainability combined with efficiency, using mechanochemistry in mild conditions. First, the synthesis of cyclopentenone derivatives was chosen as a model reaction to find optimal conditions in mechanochemistry while using classical but weak bases. The reaction was efficient (84–95% yields), fast (2–6 h), solvent free, and required 0.1 equivalent of base. Aiming to reach greener conditions, classical bases were then replaced using new bio-sourced bases, called Eco-bases, that were easily prepared from plants and led to heterogeneous catalysts. The composition and structure of Eco-bases were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, EBSD/EDS, HRTEM/EDX and ion chromatography. Interestingly, a high ratio of potassium was observed with the presence of K₂Ca(CO₃)₂ for the most effective Eco-base. The new Eco-bases were used for the mechanical-assisted construction of functionalized alkenone derivatives. The versatility of the method has been successfully applied with good to excellent yields to different Michael donors and acceptors. Eco-bases were recycled and reused four times with the same performances. Combining Eco-bases and mechanochemistry in Michael addition reactions allowed reaching a maximum degree of sustainability (efficient, rapid, low catalyst loading, solvent-free reactions with bio-sourced catalysts) and participating in the development of mechanochemistry in sustainable chemistry.

Total Synthesis of Dolabriferol C by a Highly Stereoselective One-Pot Coupling of a meso-3,7-Diketone with Two Chiral Aldehydes

Total synthesis of the noncontiguous polypropionate dolabriferol C was achieved by retro-Claisen fragmentation of its putative contiguous precursor under mild conditions, thus establishing the former as a plausible isolation artifact. The precursor was prepared by a novel one-pot three-component bisaldol coupling of a meso (Z,Z)-bisenolate (generated in situ from a 3,7-diketone) with two enantioenriched aldehydes to set the absolute configuration of seven stereocenters in one step. The first aldol reaction proceeded with enantioselective desymmetrization of the bisenolate to produce an enantiomerically pure enolate-aldolate. Quenching at this stage enabled a streamlined synthesis of dolabriferol. Addition of a racemic aldehyde to the enolate-aldolate resulted in aldol coupling with kinetic resolution of the "matched" aldehyde; overall, a sequential enantiotopic-group-selective (SEGS) bisaldol reaction. Because the desired adduct results from the "mismatched" aldol reaction, use of enantioenriched aldehyde was required.

Mechanistic Studies of the Deslongchamps Annulation

The Cs₂CO₃-mediated annulations ("Deslongchamps annulations") of three spirocyclic benzoquinone monoketals 5b-d with an ester or acyl substituent at C-2 to two tert-butyl esters of γ,δ-unsaturated β-ketocarboxyl acids ("Nazarov reagents"; 2a,b) were monitored ¹H NMR spectroscopically. This revealed that a primary product, by all likelihood the Michael adduct, forms fast and prior to the appearance of the Deslongchamps adduct. These primary products form reversibly. This was proved by two crossover and four scavenging experiments. Therein, components already incorporated in one of the mentioned primary products ended up in Deslongchamps adducts different from the one, which would have resulted if the respective primary product had reacted alone. However, these experiments leave open whether our primary products are intermediates en route to Deslongchamps products or whether they represent dead ends.

Enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed trans-dihydropyridinone synthesis using saccharin-derived ketimines: scope and limitations

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a range of trans-dihydropyridinones from aryl-, heteroaryl- and alkenylacetic acids and saccharin-derived ketimines with good to excellent stereocontrol (15 examples, up to >95 : 5 dr, up to >99 : 1 er) is reported. After extensive optimisation, HyperBTM proved the optimal isothiourea catalyst for this transformation at -78 °C, giving trans-dihydropyridones with generally excellent levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Highly functionalized and potent antiviral cyclopentane derivatives formed by a tandem process consisting of organometallic, transition-metal-catalyzed, and radical reaction steps

A simple modular tandem approach to multiply substituted cyclopentane derivatives is reported, which succeeds by joining organometallic addition, conjugate addition, radical cyclization, and oxygenation steps. The key steps enabling this tandem process are the thus far rarely used isomerization of allylic alkoxides to enolates and single-electron transfer to merge the organometallic step with the radical and oxygenation chemistry. This controlled lineup of multiple electronically contrasting reactive intermediates provides versatile access to highly functionalized cyclopentane derivatives from very simple and readily available commodity precursors. The antiviral activity of the synthesized compounds was screened and a number of compounds showed potent activity against hepatitis C and dengue viruses.

Strategies towards the synthesis of calyciphylline A-type Daphniphyllum alkaloids

The Daphniphyllum alkaloids are a diverse family of natural products rich in number and structural diversity that have been known for many decades. However, the structurally unique subclass of calyciphylline A-type alkaloids has only recently been discovered and is relatively unexplored. Several noteworthy core syntheses and the development of a wide range of novel synthetic strategies have been achieved. This includes strategies based on intramolecular Michael addition, Pd-catalysis, cycloaddition, and Mannich-type reactions. This review will provide an overview of these synthetic studies.

Silyl ketene imines: highly versatile nucleophiles for catalytic, asymmetric synthesis

This Minireview provides an overview on the development of silyl ketene imines and their recent applications in catalytic, enantioselective reactions. The unique structure of the ketene imine allows a diverse range of reactivity patterns and provides solutions to existing challenges in the enantioselective construction of quaternary stereogenic carbon centers and cross-benzoin adducts. A variety of reactions for which silyl ketene imines have been applied are presented with an overall goal of inspiring new uses for these underutilized nucleophiles.

The thiopyran route to polypropionates

The strategic use of thiopyran templates to facilitate polypropionate synthesis was first demonstrated in Woodward's landmark total synthesis of erythromycin A in 1981 where the topology of a fused bicyclic system was exploited. In the ensuing three decades, various alternative strategic applications of thiopyran motifs to achieve key stereoselective transformations have emerged including, inter alia, unique substrates for chemoenzymatic syntheses, surrogates for 3-pentanone in enantioselective aldol reactions, and templates for enantiotopic group selective reactions. This review summarizes these developments.

Properties of the Michael's adducts of the substituted 2-amino-5-oxonitriles

A series of five substituted 2-amino-5-oxonitriles, obtained by the Michael reaction have been designed, synthesised, isolated and spectroscopically and structurally elucidated by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction, linear-polarized infrared (IR-LD) and UV-spectroscopy, (1)H NMR, mass spectrometry and thermal methods. Theoretical quantum chemical calculations were carried out, thus supporting the experimental optical properties and electronic structure of compounds studied.

Development of a general, enantioselective organocatalytic Mukaiyama-Michael reaction with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

LUMO-lowering organocatalysis has been extended to promote the conjugate addition of S-alkyl and -pyrrolyl silylketene acetals to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, yielding both, syn and anti Mukaiyama-Michael products with high levels of enantioselectivity. This strategy allows for the generation of chemically useful 1,5-dicarbonyl systems and again highlights the utility of organocatalysis.

New auxiliaries for copper-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reactions: generation of quaternary stereocenters at room temperature

Dialkyl amides of L-valine, L-isoleucine, and L-tert-leucine (2) are excellent chiral auxiliaries for the construction of quaternary stereocenters at ambient temperature. Enaminoesters 3, prepared from these auxiliaries 2 and Michael donors 1, undergo a copper-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK, 4) to afford products 5 in 70-90% yield and 90-99% ee (enantiomeric excess). The exclusion of moisture or oxygen is not necessary. The auxiliaries 2 are readily available by standard procedures. After workup they can be recovered almost quantitatively.