One-Pot Tandem 1,4-1,2-Addition of Phosphites to α,β-Unsaturated Imines for the Synthesis of Glutamic Acid Analogues

Ene-Reductase: A Multifaceted Biocatalyst in Organic Synthesis

Biocatalysis integrate microbiologists, enzymologists, and organic chemists to access the repertoire of pharmaceutical and agrochemicals with high chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and enantioselectivity. The saturation of carbon-carbon double bonds by biocatalysts challenges the conventional chemical methodology as it bypasses the use of precious metals (in combination with chiral ligands and molecular hydrogen) or organocatalysts. In this line, Ene-reductases (ERs) from the Old Yellow Enzymes (OYEs) family are found to be a prominent asymmetric biocatalyst that is increasingly used in academia and industries towards unparalleled stereoselective trans-hydrogenations of activated C=C bonds. ERs gained prominence as they were used as individual catalysts, multi-enzyme cascades, and in conjugation with chemical reagents (chemoenzymatic approach). Besides, ERs' participation in the photoelectrochemical and radical-mediated process helps to unlock many scopes outside traditional biocatalysis. These up-and-coming methodologies entice the enzymologists and chemists to explore, expand and harness the chemistries displayed by ERs for industrial settings. Herein, we reviewed the last five year's exploration of organic transformations using ERs.

Hydroelementation of diynes

This review highlights the hydroelementation reactions of conjugated and separated diynes, which depending on the process conditions, catalytic system, as well as the type of reagents, leads to the formation of various products: enynes, dienes, allenes, polymers, or cyclic compounds. The presence of two triple bonds in the diyne structure makes these compounds important reagents but selective product formation is often difficult owing to problems associated with maintaining appropriate reaction regio- and stereoselectivity. Herein we review this topic to gain knowledge on the reactivity of diynes and to systematise the range of information relating to their use in hydroelementation reactions. The review is divided according to the addition of the E-H (E = Mg, B, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, N, P, O, S, Se, Te) bond to the triple bond(s) in the diyne, as well as to the type of the reagent used, and the product formed. Not only are the hydroelementation reactions comprehensively discussed, but the synthetic potential of the obtained products is also presented. The majority of published research is included within this review, illustrating the potential as well as limitations of these processes, with the intent to showcase the power of these transformations and the obtained products in synthesis and materials chemistry.

Study of reaction between triphenylphosphine and activated acetylenic esters in the presence of benzanilide and some its derivatives

Triphenylphosphine reacts with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of NH-acids, such as benzanilide, 2-cyanobenzanilide, N-(2-acetylphenyl)benzamide, 3-nitrobenzanilide and methyl 2-benzamidobenzoate to generate stable phosphorus ylides. These stable ylides exist in solution as a mixture of two geometrical isomers as a result of restricted rotation around the carbon-carbon partial double bond resulting from conjugation of the ylide moiety with the adjacent carbonyl group.

Stable phosphorus ylides and heterocyclic phosphonate esters derivatives synthesised from stereoselective reactions between triphenyl phosphite and activated acetylenic esters

One-pot synthesis of stable heterocyclic phosphorus ylides 4a–j is reported in fairly good yields by the reaction between dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and triphenyl phosphite in the presence of strong NH-acids such as 2-benzoxazolinone, 2-indolinone and 2-mercaptobenzoxazole in aqueous media as an environmentally friendly solvent. The hydrolysis of compounds 4a–f led to stable phosphonate ester derivatives 5h–l. The configuration of compounds 5h–l (2S*,3R*) was determined on the basis of coupling constant predicted from the Karplus equation.

Double nucleophilic 1,2-addition of silylated dialkyl phosphites to 4-phosphono-1-aza-1,3-dienes: synthesis of gamma-phosphono-alpha-aminobisphosphonates

gamma-Phosphono-alpha-aminobisphosphonates were synthesized from a new class of 4-phosphono-1-aza-1,3-dienes by the addition of dialkyl trimethylsilyl phosphites to these azadienes in the presence of acid. Depending on the steric demand of the group on nitrogen, double 1,2-addition or tandem 1,4-1,2-addition occurred.

Synthesis of α-Phosphorylated α,β-Unsaturated Imines and Their Selective Reduction to Vinylogous and Saturated α-Aminophosphonates

An efficient synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines derived from alpha-aminophosphonates is achieved through aza-Wittig reaction of P-trimethyl phosphazenes with beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-ketophosphonates. Selective 1,2-reduction of such 1-azadienes affords beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-aminophosphonates, phosphorylated analogs of vinylglycines, which are hydrogenated to yield saturated alpha-aminophosphonate derivatives.

Lanthanide Triflate-Catalyzed Preparation of β,β-Difluorohomopropargyl Alcohols in Aqueous Media. Application to the Synthesis of 4,4-Difluoroisochromans

An indium-mediated Barbier-type reaction of difluoropropargyl bromide with several aldehydes in aqueous media was enhanced by a catalytic amount of a lanthanide triflate (5 mol %). The reaction gave the corresponding beta,beta-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols with high regioselectivity. The [2 + 2 + 2] alkyne cyclotrimerization of beta,beta-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols with monosubstituted acetylenes produced 4,4-difluoroisochromans in good yields with moderate regioselectivity.

Enyne Metathesis-Oxidation Sequence for the Synthesis of 2-Phosphono Pyrroles: Proof of the “Yne-then-Ene” Pathway

A new tandem reaction sequence has been developed for the synthesis of 2-phosphono pyrroles. The sequence consists of ring-closing enyne metathesis of a substituted aminophosphonate, containing a terminal alkyne and an internal alkene, in combination with in situ oxidation of the produced 3-pyrrolines using tetrachloroquinone. By analyzing the formation of the end and certain byproducts, taking into account the difference in reactivity of different substrates and carefully studying spectroscopic data, it was found that the reaction proceeds by means of the "yne-then-ene" pathway. During the initiation phase, a new ruthenium carbene is formed which continues the propagation cycle.

Tandem Addition of Trialkyl Phosphites to α,β-Unsaturated Imines: A Comparison with Silylated Phosphites

Trialkyl phosphites were evaluated for addition reactions to alpha,beta-unsaturated imines. An acidic medium is required to allow consecutive 1,4- and 1,2-addition to occur. In this manner, 3-phosphonyl-1-aminophosphonates, phosphonic acid analogues of glutamate, are obtained in good yields (32-90%). The reaction is mainly influenced by the steric bulk of the nitrogen substituent: less steric N-substituents lead to better yields of the tandem adducts.

Synthesis of 2-Phosphonopyrroles via a One-Pot RCM/Oxidation Sequence

A four-step synthesis of 2-phosphonopyrroles is presented starting from suitable aldehydes. The key step in the synthesis involves a one-pot ring-closing metathesis/oxidation sequence of a functionalized alpha-aminoalkenyl phosphonate. Notwithstanding the presence of a nucleophilic nitrogen atom and high substitution patterns in the substrate, the results of the RCM reaction are excellent using mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, a synergism is observed between the RCM catalyst and the oxidizing agent, causing higher oxidation rates and allowing reaction for substrates that normally fail to ring close under standard RCM conditions.

Highly Regioselective Synthesis of gem-Difluoroallenes through Magnesium Organocuprate SN2‘ Substitution

[reaction: see text]. The reaction of gem-difluoropropargyl electrophiles with Grignard reagents is complicated by the inherent difficulty of executing nucleophilic substitutions on a CF2 group, and the facile formation of carbenoid intermediates arising from alpha-elimination of fluoride. In the presence of an excess amount of a copper salt, a Grignard reagent reacts with gem-difluoropropargyl bromide via an S(N)2' mechanism to produce gem-difluoroallene in high yield. If desired, the resulting difluoroallene can undergo a second nucleophilic attack on the CF2 terminus to yield a trisubstituted monofluoroallene through an addition-elimination mechanism.