Cooperative Coexistence: Effective Interplay of Two Brønsted Acids in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Isoquinuclidines

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective reactions of functionalized propargylic alcohols

Chiral phosphoric acid has been utilized for covalent activation of propargylic alcohols to act as pre-catalyst. With this activation mode, a range of highly regio- and enantioenriched heterocyclic products could be generated efficiently from racemic propargylic alcohols.

Design of primary amine-functionalized polymer containing chiral isosorbide in the main chain for the asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidine derivatives

A novel isosorbide containing primary amine-functionalized chiral polymer was synthesized and used as the catalyst for the asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidines.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Bridged N-Heterocycles with Tertiary Carbon Center through Barbas Dienamine-Catalysis: Scope and Applications

A direct aza-Diels-Alder reaction between 2-aryl-3H-indolin-3-ones and cyclic-enones has been developed to access chiral indolin-3-one fused polycyclic bridged compounds. This method proceeds via proline-catalyzed Barbas-dienamine intermediate formation from various cyclic-enones such as 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-cyclohexene-1-one, and 2-cycloheptene-1-one, followed by a reaction with 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones. Several indolin-3-ones fusing [2.2.2], [2.2.1], and [3.2.1] skeletons decorated with a tertiary carbon chiral center have been prepared. Computational studies (DFT) supported the observed stereoselectivity in the method. The synthesized compounds have shown exciting photophysical activities and selective sensing of Pd²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions through the fluorescence quenching "switch-off" mode.

Two Decades of Progress in the Asymmetric Intramolecular aza-Michael Reaction

The asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reaction (IMAMR) is a very convenient strategy for the generation of heterocycles bearing nitrogen-substituted stereocenters. Due to the ubiquitous presence of these skeletons in natural products, the IMAMR has found widespread applications in the total synthesis of alkaloids and biologically relevant compounds. The development of asymmetric versions of the IMAMR are quite recent, most of them reported in this century. The fundamental advances in this field involve the use of organocatalysts. Chiral imidazolidinones, diaryl prolinol derivatives, Cinchone-derived primary amines and quaternary ammonium salts, and BINOL-derived phosphoric acids account for the success of those methodologies. Moreover, the use of N-sulfinyl imines with a dual role, as nitrogen nucleophiles and as chiral auxiliaries, appeared as a versatile mode of performing the asymmetric IMAMR.

Direct Amine-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Pentacyclic Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine/Thiazepine-Fused Isoquinuclidines along with DFT Calculations

A direct protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of dibenzoxazepine/thiazepine-fused [2.2.2] isoquinuclidines is developed. The reaction proceeds through a proline-catalyzed direct Mannich reaction followed by an intramolecular aza-Michael cascade sequence between 2-cyclohexene-1-one and various tricyclic imines, like dibenzoxazepines/thiazepines, as an overall [4 + 2] aza-Diels-Alder reaction. A series of pentacyclic isoquinuclidines have been prepared, with complete endo-selectivity, in good to high yields and excellent enantioselectivity (>99:1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further support the observed high stereochemical outcome of the reaction.

The endo-aza-Michael addition in the synthesis of piperidines and pyrrolidines

Intramolecular endo-aza-Michael additions are categorised in various ways.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Two-Pot Synthesis of Isoquinuclidines from Glutaraldehyde and N-Aryl Imines with DFT Calculations

A pot-economic method for the enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of a [2.2.2] azabicyclic isoquinuclidine system is developed. This protocol involves the proline-catalyzed direct Mannich reaction-cyclization/IBX-mediated site-selective oxidation/NaBH₄-reduction sequence between glutaraldehyde and imines to generate in situ chiral 1,2-DHPs, followed by the diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction with N-aryl maleimides furnishing isoquinuclidines in overall five steps. A variety of isoquinuclidines having five-contiguous chiral centers, including an all-carbon quaternary, were prepared with high yields (up to 78%) and excellent stereoselectivity (>50:1 dr, and up to >99:1 er). DFT calculations support the observed high stereoselective reaction outcome.

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective construction of structurally diverse benzothiazolopyrimidines

A highly efficient catalytic enantioselective [4+2] cycloaddition was developed between 2-benzothiazolimines and enecarbamates. A wide range of benzothiazolopyrimidines bearing three contiguous stereogenic centers was obtained in high to excellent yields and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (d.r. > 98 : 2 and up to >99% ee). Furthermore, this chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed strategy was scalable and enabled access to a new class of optically pure Lewis base isothiourea derivatives.

Deeper Insight into the Six-Step Domino Reaction of Aldehydes with Malononitrile and Evaluation of Antiviral and Antimalarial Activities of the Obtained Bicyclic Products

The straightforward and efficient synthesis of complex aza‐ and carbobicyclic compounds, which are of importance for medicinal chemistry, is a challenge for modern chemical methodology. An unprecedented metal‐free six‐step domino reaction of aldehydes with malononitrile was presented in our previous study to provide, in a single operation, these bicyclic nitrogen‐containing molecules. Presented here is a deeper investigation of this atom‐economical domino process by extending the scope of aldehydes, performing post‐modifications of domino products, applying bifunctional organocatalysts and comprehensive NMR studies of selected domino products. The thermodynamic aspects of the overall reaction are also demonstrated using DFT methods in conjunction with a semi‐empirical treatment of van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, biological studies of seven highly functionalized and artemisinin‐containing domino products against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 are presented. Remarkably, in vitro tests against HCMV revealed five domino products to be highly active compounds (EC₅₀ 0.071–1.8 μm), outperforming the clinical reference drug ganciclovir (EC₅₀ 2.6 μm). Against P. falciparum 3D7, three of the investigated artemisinin‐derived domino products (EC₅₀ 0.72–1.8 nm) were more potent than the clinical drug chloroquine (EC₅₀ 9.1 nm).

Fluorine effects in organocatalysis - asymmetric Brønsted acid assisted Lewis base catalysis for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated heterocycles exploiting the negative hyperconjugation of the CF3-group

An efficient Brønsted acid assisted Lewis base catalysis protocol for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure trifluoromethylated dihydropyridazines starting from readily available hydrazones and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The reaction exhibits high tolerance towards many functional groups and is applicable to various aliphatic, aromatic and hetero-aromatic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, and provides the products in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.

Catalytic asymmetric dearomatizing redox cross coupling of ketones with aryl hydrazines giving 1,4-diketones

An asymmetric Brønsted acid catalyzed dearomatizing redox cross coupling reaction has been realized, in which aryl hydrazines react with ketones to deliver 1,4-diketones, bearing an all-carbon quarternary stereocenter in high enantiopurity.

Adaptation of a small-molecule hydrogen-bond donor catalyst to an enantioselective hetero-Diels-Alder reaction hypothesized for brevianamide biosynthesis

Chiral diamine-derived hydrogen-bond donors were evaluated for their ability to effect stereocontrol in an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction hypothesized in the biosynthesis of brevianamides A and B. Collectively, these results provide proof of principle that small-molecule hydrogen-bond catalysis, if even based on a hypothetical biosynthesis construct, holds significant potential within enantioselective natural product synthesis.

A new type of ferrocene-based phosphine-tert-butylsulfinamide ligand: synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis

The first example of P,S-bidentate ligands containing both a planar chiral scaffold and a chiral sulfinamide moiety were reported.

Theoretical study of the BINOL–zinc complex-catalyzed asymmetric inverse-electron-demand imino Diels–Alder reaction: mechanism and stereochemistry

The enantioselectivity originates from the hindrance of a BINOL ligand, and the exo-selectivity is achieved by the favored electrophilic/nucleophilic interaction.

Organocatalytic asymmetric reaction of indol-2-yl carbinols with enamides: synthesis of chiral 2-indole-substituted 1,1-diarylalkanes

The chiral phosphoramide-catalyzed asymmetric reaction of indol-2-yl carbinols with enamides is presented.

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydropyrans via a one-pot organocatalytic Michael/Henry/ketalization sequence

A diastereo- and enantioselective Michael/Henry/ketalization sequence to functionalized tetrahydropyrans is described. The multicomponent cascade reaction uses acetylacetone or β-keto esters, β-nitrostyrenes, and alkynyl aldehydes as substrates affording tetrahydropyrans with five contiguous stereocenters. Employing a bifunctional quinine-based squaramide organocatalyst, the title compounds are obtained in moderate to good yields (27-80%), excellent enantiomeric excesses (93-99% ee), and high diastereomeric ratios (dr > 20:1) after one crystallization.

Conjugate-base-stabilized Brønsted acids: catalytic enantioselective Pictet-Spengler reactions with unmodified tryptamine

A conjugate-base-stabilized Brønsted acid facilitates catalytic enantioselective Pictet-Spengler reactions with unmodified tryptamine. The chiral carboxylic acid catalyst is readily assembled in just two steps and enables the formation of β-carbolines with up to 92% ee. Achiral acid additives or in situ Boc-protection facilitate catalyst turnover.

A general overview of the organocatalytic intramolecular aza-Michael reaction

The organocatalytic intramolecular aza-Michael reaction: a useful strategy to generate enantiomerically enriched nitrogen-containing heterocycles.

Single-operation deracemization of 3H-indolines and tetrahydroquinolines enabled by phase separation

The single-operation deracemization of 3H indolines and tetrahydroquinolines is described. An asymmetric redox approach was employed, in which a phosphoric acid catalyst, oxidant, and reductant are present in the reaction mixture. The simultaneous presence of both oxidant and reductant was enabled by phase separation and resulted in the isolation of highly enantioenriched starting materials in high yields.