Phosphine-mediated Highly Enantioselective Spirocyclization with Ketimines as Substrates

Rational Design of Axially Chiral Styrene-Based Organocatalysts and Their Application in Catalytic Asymmetric (2+4) Cyclizations

A new class of axially chiral styrene-based thiourea tertiary amine catalysts, which have unique characteristics such as an efficient synthetic route, multiple chiral elements, and multiple activating groups, has been rationally designed. These new chiral catalysts have proven to be efficient organocatalysts, enabling the chemo-, diastereo-, and enantioselective (2+4) cyclization of 2-benzothiazolimines with homophthalic anhydrides in good yields (up to 96 %) with excellent stereoselectivities (all >95:5 dr, up to 98 % ee). More importantly, theoretical calculations elucidated the important role of an axially chiral styrene moiety in controlling both the reactivity and enantioselectivity. This work not only represents the first design of styrene-based chiral thiourea tertiary amine catalysts and the first catalytic asymmetric (2+4) cyclization of 2-benzothiazolimines, but also gives an in-depth understanding of axially chiral styrene-based organocatalysts.

Phosphine-Catalyzed (4+1) Annulation: Rearrangement of Allenylic Carbamates to 3-Pyrrolines through Phosphonium Diene Intermediates

We have developed a phosphine-catalyzed (4+1) annulative rearrangement for the preparation of 3-pyrrolines from allenylic carbamates via phosphonium diene intermediates. We employed this methodology to synthesize an array of 1,3-disubstituted- and 1,2,3-trisubstituted-3-pyrrolines, including the often difficult to prepare 2-alkyl variants. A mechanistic investigation employing allenylic acetates and mononucleophiles unexpectedly unveiled that a phosphine-catalyzed (4+1) reaction for the construction of cyclopentene products, previously reported by Tong, might not occur through a phosphonium diene, as had been proposed, but rather through multiple mechanisms working in concert. Consequently, our phosphine-catalyzed rearrangement is most likely the first transformation to involve the unequivocal formation of a phosphonium diene intermediate along the reaction pathway. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of this newly developed reaction, we have completed concise formal syntheses of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (±)-trachelanthamidine and (±)-supinidine.

Phosphine-Catalyzed [4+1] Cycloadditions of Allenes with Methyl Ketimines, Enamines, and a Primary Amine

Unprecedented phosphine-catalyzed [4+1] cycloadditions of allenyl imides have been discovered using various N-based substrates including methyl ketimines, enamines, and a primary amine. These transformations provide a one-pot access to cyclopentenoyl enamines and imines, or (chiral) γ-lactams through two geminal C-C bond or two C-N bond formations, respectively. Several P-based key intermediates including a 1,4-(bis)electrophilic α,β-unsaturated ketenyl phosphonium species have been detected by ³¹ P NMR and HRMS analyses, which shed light on the postulated catalytic cycle. The synthetic utility of this new chemistry has been demonstrated through a gram-scaling up of the catalytic reaction as well as regioselective hydrogenation and double condensation to form cyclopentanoyl enamines and fused pyrazole building blocks, respectively.

Enantioselective Dearomatization of Indoles by an Azoalkene-Enabled (3+2) Reaction: Access to Pyrroloindolines

The enantioselective dearomatization of indoles by an organocatalytic (3+2) reaction has been established. The reaction makes use of simple indole derivatives as substrates, and employs azoalkenes reaction partners. A wide range of pyrroloindolines containing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center were readily prepared in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.

Phosphine-Catalyzed Difunctionalization of β-Fluoroalkyl α,β-Enones: A Direct Approach to β-Amino α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds

An efficient and practical phosphine-catalyzed vicinal difunctionalization of β-fluoroalkyl α,β-enones with TMSN₃ has been developed. Using dppb as the catalyst, the reaction worked efficiently to yield various β-amino α-diazocarbonyl compounds in high yields (up to 94 %). This work marks the first efficient construction of α-diazocarbonyl compounds by phosphine catalysis. Meanwhile, the asymmetric variant induced by the nucleophilic bifunctional phosphine P4 led to various chiral fluoroalkylated β-amino α-diazocarbonyl compounds in high yields and enantioselectivity. NMR and ESI-MS studies support the existence of the key reaction intermediates. In contrast, β-azide carbonyl compounds would be furnished in good yields from β-fluoroalkylated β,β-disubstituted enones.

Syntheses of Highly Functionalized Spirocyclohexenes by Formal [4+2] Annulation of Arylidene Azlactones with Allenoates

A straightforward phosphine-catalyzed formal [4+2] annulation between α-branched allenoates and arylidene azlactones has been developed to access highly functionalized spirocyclohexenes. This cyclization favors the γ-addition of the phosphine-activated allenoates over a β'-addition pathway. Detailed computational studies support the proposed mechanism and provide a reasonable explanation for the observed regioselectivity and the noted effect of the catalyst.

Catalytic synthesis of 3-aminooxindoles via addition to isatin imine: an update

3-Substituted-3-aminooxindoles have attracted the attention of organic chemist to develop different synthetic methodologies for their synthesis using catalysts. This review covers the recent developments.

Ferrocene Derived Bifunctional Phosphine-Catalyzed Asymmetric Oxa-[4+2] Cycloaddition of α-Substituted Allenones with Enones

An efficient ferrocene-derived bifunctional phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective oxa-[4+2] cycloaddition of α-substituted allenones with a broad range of enones is investigated for the preparation of stereodefined dihydropyrans in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Furthermore, a series of valuable chiral polyheterocyclic frameworks can be efficiently achieved in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.

Chiral Primary Amine Catalysis for Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of Aldehydes with Ketimines: Stereoselectivity and Reactivity

The application potential of primary amine catalysts in the context of Mannich reactions of aldehydes with ketimines is exemplified by isatin-derived ketimines and cyclic trifluoromethyl ketimines. Primary amine catalysts exhibit either unusual stereoselectivity or reactivity, which is not observable with secondary amine catalysts. Moreover, reversal of diastereofacial selectivity between primary and secondary amine catalysts is disclosed. These new reactions provide useful methods for the syntheses of chiral 3-substituted 3-amino-2-oxindoles and dihydroquinazolinones bearing a trifluoromethylated quaternary stereocenter. The synthetic utility of the reactions is demonstrated through the formal synthesis of AG-041R and DPC 083 and the total synthesis of (-)-psychotriasine.