Main Group Metal-Mediated Transformations of Imines

Main-group-metal-mediated transformations of imines have earned a valued place in the synthetic chemist's toolbox. Their versatility allows the simple preparation of various nitrogen containing compounds. This review will outline the early discoveries including metallation, addition/cyclisation and metathesis pathways, followed by the modern-day use of imines in synthetic methodology. Recent advances in imine C-F activation protocols are discussed, alongside revisiting "classic" imine reactivity from a sustainable perspective. Developments in catalytic methods for hydroelementation of imines have been reviewed, highlighting the importance of s-block metals in the catalytic arena. Whilst stoichiometric transformations in alternative reaction media such as deep eutectic solvents or water have been summarised. The incorporation of imines into flow chemistry has received recent attention and is summarised within.

Synthesis and Use of Trifluoromethylthiolated Ketenimines

The synthesis of trifluoromethylthiolated ketenimines is herein described. They are easily synthesized from the corresponding α-trifluoromethylthiolated oximes upon activation with triflic anhydride and a base. The presumed nitrilium ion resulting from the Beckmann rearrangement is deprotonated to lead to the key intermediate, whose stability brought by the fluorinated substituent was unforeseeable. The reaction of these new building blocks with a variety of nucleophiles affords a vast array of cyclic and acyclic products bearing the valuable SCF₃ moiety.

Reductive C-C Coupling from α,β-Unsaturated Nitriles by Intercepting Keteniminates

We present an atom-economic strategy to catalytically generate and intercept nitrile anion equivalents using hydrogen transfer catalysis. Addition of α,β-unsaturated nitriles to a pincer-based Ru-H complex affords structurally characterized κ-N-coordinated keteniminates by selective 1,4-hydride transfer. When generated in situ under catalytic hydrogenation conditions, electrophilic addition to the keteniminate was achieved using anhydrides to provide α-cyanoacetates in high yields. This work represents a new application of hydrogen transfer catalysis using α,β-unsaturated nitriles for reductive C-C coupling reactions.

Indium Tribromide Catalyzed Coupling Reaction of Enol Ethers with Silyl Ketene Imines toward the Synthesis of β,γ-Unsaturated Nitriles

Herein, a coupling reaction of enol ethers with silyl ketene imines in the presence of catalytic amounts of InBr3 and Me3 SiBr is described. Kinetic studies have revealed that an indium catalyst and Me3 SiBr accelerated the coupling process and the regeneration of the catalyst, respectively. Various types of enol ethers and silyl ketene imines are applicable. In addition, a formal synthesis of verapamil was achieved by using this novel coupling reaction.

Enantioselective construction of quaternary stereogenic carbon atoms by the Lewis base catalyzed additions of silyl ketene imines to aldehydes

Silyl ketene imines derived from a variety of α-branched nitriles have been developed as highly useful reagents for the construction of quaternary stereogenic centers via the aldol addition reaction. In the presence of SiCl4 and the catalytic action of a chiral phosphoramide, silyl ketene imines undergo extremely rapid and high yielding addition to a wide variety of aromatic aldehydes with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Of particular note are the high yields and selectivities obtained from electron-rich, electron-poor, and hindered aldehydes. Linear aliphatic aldehydes did react with good diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the presence of nBu4N(+)I(-), but branched aldehydes were much less reactive. Semiempirical calculations provided a rationalization of the observed diastereo- and enantioselectivity via open transitions states.

Generation of stereochemically defined tetrasubstituted enolborinates by 1,4-hydroboration of α,β-unsaturated morpholine carboxamides with (diisopinocampheyl)borane

On all fours: The title reaction with (Ipc)2 BH provides tetrasubstituted enolborinates which undergo aldol reactions with aldehydes to form products with all-carbon quaternary centers with exceptional diastereo- and enantioselectivity. A change to the substitution pattern of the starting amide leads to either diastereomer of the α-methyl-α-ethyl-β-hydroxy carboxamide (1 or 2).

Lewis base catalysis of the Mukaiyama directed aldol reaction: 40 years of inspiration and advances

Since the landmark publications of the first directed aldol addition reaction in 1973, the site, diastereo-, and enantioselective aldol reaction has been elevated to the rarefied status of being both a named and a strategy-level reaction (the Mukaiyama directed aldol reaction). The importance of this reaction in the stereoselective synthesis of untold numbers of organic compounds, both natural and unnatural, cannot be overstated. However, its impact on the field extends beyond the impressive applications in synthesis. The directed aldol reaction has served as a fertile proving ground for new concepts and new methods for stereocontrol and catalysis. This Minireview provides a case history of how the challenges of merging site selectivity, diastereoselectivity, enantioselectivity, and catalysis into a unified reaction manifold stimulated the development of Lewis base catalyzed aldol addition reactions. The evolution of this process is chronicled from the authors' laboratories as well as in those of Professor Teruaki Mukaiyama.