Acyclic stereocontrol in the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of alpha-branched esters

Asymmetric Construction of Ethenyl-Substituted Acyclic Quaternary Stereocenters at the α-Position of Carbonyl Surrogates via Stereoselective Sulfonylvinylation-Reductive Desulfonylation

N-Sulfinyl metalloenamines, derived from geometry-defined β,β-disubstituted enesulfinamides, undergo conjugate addition-elimination reaction with β-tosyl nitroolefin to afford α-sulfonylvinylated ketimines with high stereocontrol. Further desulfonylation using sodium naphthalenide gives carbonyl surrogates bearing a less-accessible acyclic quaternary α-stereocenters substituted with an ethenyl group and two sterically and electronically similar groups (e.g., methyl and ethyl). Synthetic application of the described protocol was demonstrated by enantioselective synthesis of (S)-bakuchiol.

Stereoselective Construction of Less-Accessible Acyclic α,α-Disubstituted β-Ketiminonitriles via Electrophilic Cyanation of β,β-Disubstituted Enesulfinamides

The metalloenamines, formed by NH-deprotonation of β,β-disubstituted enesulfinamides, can undergo reactions with commercially available electrophilic cyanating reagents such as tosyl cyanide (TsCN) or 3-oxo-1,2-benziodoxole-1(3H)-carbonitrile (CBX). Through the utilization of appropriate stereoisomers of enesulfinamides, this method enables the selective synthesis of any of the four stereoisomers of α,α-disubstituted β-sulfinylimino nitriles, which feature acyclic quaternary stereocenters and are typically more challenging to synthesize. These compounds can then undergo stereoselective nucleophilic addition, leading to the creation of valuable enantioenriched multisubstituted β-amino carbonyl surrogates with a high degree of structural diversity.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Less Accessible Fluorine-Containing Acyclic Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters via Electrophilic Fluorination of β,β-Disubstituted Metalloenamines

A stereocontrolled protocol was developed to construct less accessible fluorine-containing acyclic tetrasubstituted stereocenters bearing two sterically and electronically similar alkyl groups at the α-position of carbonyls. In this process, tBuOK-promoted stereospecific α-deprotonation of α,α-disubstituted N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines or NH deprotonation of β,β-disubstituted enesulfinamides generates geometry-defined multisubstituted metalloenamines, followed by stereoselective electrophilic fluorination with the N-fluoro ammonium salt of quinine, affording the acyclic α-fluorinated ketimines with excellent diastereoselectivities.

Stereoselective Electrophilic Chlorination of β,β-Disubstituted Enesulfinamides with Chloramine-T: Asymmetric Synthesis of Acyclic α,α-Disubstituted α-Chlorinated Carbonyl Surrogates

Enamine and iminium ion-mediated asymmetric organocatalysis was not successful in achieving highly stereoselective α-chlorination of acyclic α,α-disubstituted carbonyls. To address this limitation, an alternative method was developed, which involved the use of geometry-defined persubstituted enesulfinamides to intercept the electrophilic chlorinating reagent. This approach enables the asymmetric construction of challenging acyclic α,α-disubstituted α-chlorinated ketimines with a high degree of stereoselectivity. The use of chloramine-T, a cost-effective and stable chlorine source rarely utilized in asymmetric electrophilic chlorination, plays a crucial role in achieving superior stereocontrol.

Stereoselective Construction of Acyclic β,β-Disubstituted Enesulfinamides via Conjugate Addition of Organocuprates to α-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated N-Sulfinyl Ketimines

In the presence of boron trifluoride, conjugate addition of organocuprates to α-substituted α,β-unsaturated N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines provides facile access to acyclic β,β-disubstituted enesulfinamides with high ratios of geometric isomers. Diverse and challenging to synthesize, multisubstituted aza-enolates bearing two electronically and sterically similar β-substituents, which are important precursors for asymmetric construction of the less accessible acyclic quaternary or tetrasubstituted stereocenters at the α-position of ketimines, can be efficiently prepared in good yields with high stereocontrol.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Less Accessible α-Tertiary Amino Ketimines via Electrophilic Amination of α-Branched N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines

A stereocontrolled electrophilic amination of α-branched N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines was developed to construct α-aminoketone derivatives containing less accessible α-tetrasubstituted stereocenters. Stereospecific α-deprotonation of ketimines with potassium tert-butoxide gave stereodefined metalloenamine intermediates that could act as nucleophiles to attack azodicarboxylic derivatives, affording α-aminated products in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

Stereocontrolled α-Allylation of α-Branched N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines via a Michael-Wittig Cascade for the Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Stereocenters

A single-flask cascade of Michael addition and Wittig olefination was developed to allow the stereoselective α-allylic alkylation of α-branched N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines for the construction of acyclic quaternary stereocenters bearing two sterically and electronically similar substituents. In this process, tBuOK-promoted stereoselective α-deprotonation gives fully substituted aza-enolates with a stereodefined geometry, Michael addition with α,β-unsaturated phosphonates generates C-C bonds with exceptional stereocontrol, and finally paraformaldehyde trapping of the conjugate addition intermediate generates functionalized α-allylated imines.

Stereocontrolled Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Centers via α-Hydroxymethylation of α-Branched N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines

Hydroxymethylation of α-branched N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines with formaldehyde equivalents was developed to stereoselectively construct acyclic quaternary stereocenters bearing two sterically and electronically similar substituents. The stereoselective tBuOK-promoted α-deprotonation of acyclic ketimines allowed for the stereodefined formation of fully substituted aza-enolates, followed by facially selective C-C bond formation involving formaldehyde formed in situ, yielding α-hydroxymethylated products with precise stereocontrol.

Preparation of Distant Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters by Double Selective Ring-Opening of 1,1-Biscyclopropyl Methanol Derivatives

The diastereoselective double carbometalation reaction of cyclopropenes provides, in a single‐pot operation, two ω‐ene‐[1,1]‐bicyclopropyl ester derivatives. One regioisomer then undergoes a Pd‐catalyzed addition of aryl iodide to provide skipped dienes possessing several distant stereocenters including two congested quaternary carbon centers with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Stereocenters via Mannich-Type Addition of α,α-Disubstituted N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines to Isatin-Derived Ketimines

A Mannich reaction of deprotonated, highly enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines with isatin-derived ketimines was developed to prepare 3-amino-3-substituted oxindoles bearing an acyclic quaternary stereogenic carbon substituted with two sterically similar groups. The excellent stereocontrol of the deprotonation enabled the formation of metalloenamine intermediates with stereodefined geometry, while the precise facial selectivity of the C-C bond formation allowed the construction of contiguous quaternary and tetrasubstituted stereocenters with excellent stereoselectivity.

Stereospecific Construction of Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters from Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters

Organoaluminum species promote a smooth nucleophilic substitution at the quaternary carbon stereocenter of stereodefined polysubstituted cyclopropyl methyl phosphate with a complete inversion of configuration, even when more reactive functional groups are present. The regio- and diastereoselectivity of the substitution is attributed to the existence of a bicyclobutonium intermediate.

α-Hydroxylation of α,α-Disubstituted N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines with Molecular Oxygen: Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Tertiary Hydroxyimines

α-Tertiary hydroxyimines were stereoselectively synthesized from enantioenriched N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines using potassium tert-butoxide, molecular oxygen, and trimethyl phosphite. The stereoselective hydroxylation of acyclic ketimines bearing two sterically similar α-substituents was achieved by controlling the geometry of the metalloenamine intermediates and the facial selectivity of hydroxylation. The synthetic utility of the resulting α-tertiary hydroxyimines was demonstrated through the successful diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted β-amino alcohols.

Enantioselective Ni/N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Redox-Economical Coupling of Aldehydes, Alkynes, and Enones for Rapid Construction of Acyclic All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

Acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters exist widely in natural products and bioactive molecules, but their enantioselective construction remains a prominent challenge. In particular, multicomponent enantioselective couplings of simple precursors to acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenters are very rare. We describe herein an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Ni catalyzed redox-economical three-component reaction of aldehydes, alkynes, and enones that proceeds in a highly chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective manner. A wide variety of valuable acyclic α-quaternary chiral ketones were synthesized in a single step with 100% atom economy. This reaction proceeds through the formation of a transient cyclic enolate followed by an aldol reaction/ring-opening sequence. The strategy is expected to inspire new and efficient approaches to generate other acyclic quaternary stereocenters.

Unusual Rearrangement-Remercuration Reactions of Allylic Silanols

We present the first examples of rearrangement reactions of allylic silanol substrates into linear ketone and 5-membered cyclic silanediol organomercurial products. Both reactions are mediated by Hg(OTf)₂ but differ in the use of base, solvent, and temperature. The substrate scope of both transformations was explored, and the product organomercurials were shown to be valuable synthons. Mechanistic studies suggest that both products are the result of a series of transformations, cascading in one pot. DFT analysis provides a basis for understanding the rearrangement of a 6-endo intermediate into the 5-exo cyclic silanediol product.

Stereodivergent Construction of Vicinal Acyclic Quaternary-Tertiary Carbon Stereocenters by Michael-Type Alkylation of α,α-Disubstituted N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines

Vicinal quaternary-tertiary carbon stereocenters were constructed with excellent stereoselectivity via aza-enolization of enantioenriched acyclic N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines bearing two sterically similar α-linear alkyl substituents followed by conjugate addition to nitroalkenes. Further changes of the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group and/or the α-stereocenter in the ketimine allowed the facile stereodivergent synthesis of all four diastereomers of the Michael-type alkylation adducts. This reaction is a successful example of acyclic stereocontrol based on stereoselective α-deprotonation for the formation of fully substituted aza-enolates from ketone derivatives.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Revision of Absolute Stereochemistry for (+)-Taumycin A: An Approach that Exploits Orthogonally Protected Quasienantiomers

The first asymmetric total synthesis of C(9)-S-(+)-taumycin A is now reported using an approach that targeted both C(9) diastereomers concurrently. To facilitate this work, we called upon the symmetrical nature of a C(5)-C(13) side-chain intermediate and exploited orthogonal protecting groups as a tactic to access both stereoisomers from a single chiral, nonracemic intermediate. In addition to our successful approach, several minor detours that helped refine our strategy and a detailed analysis of ¹H NMR data will be discussed. Select compounds included in this work were screened against the NCI60 cell line panel and displayed modest growth inhibition activity.

Construction of Vicinal Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters Through Diastereo- and Enantioselective Oxidative 1,6-Conjugate Addition

The asymmetric construction of vicinal quaternary carbon stereocenters with at least one moiety in acyclic systems is a formidable challenge. We disclose a solution involving diastereo- and enantioselective oxidative 1,6-conjugate addition. The practical asymmetric cross-dehydrogenative coupling of 2,2-diarylacetonitriles and diverse α-substituted cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls proceeds, for vicinal quaternary carbon stereocenters with one center in acyclic systems, in excellent yields and stereoselectivities. The generality of the approach is further demonstrated by the stereoselective creation of vicinal quaternary carbon stereocenters with both centers in acyclic systems using acyclic β-ketoesters as coupling partners. Computational studies elucidate the origins of both diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

A Formal Rearrangement of Allylic Silanols

We show that 1M aqueous HCl/THF or NaBH₄/DMF allows for demercurative ring-opening of cyclic organomercurial synthons into secondary silanol products bearing terminal alkenes. We had previously demonstrated that primary allylic silanols are readily transformed into cyclic organomercurials using Hg(OTf)₂/NaHCO₃ in THF. Overall, this amounts to a facile two-step protocol for the rearrangement of primary allylic silanol substrates. Computational investigations suggest that this rearrangement is under thermodynamic control and that the di-tert-butylsilanol protecting group is essential for product selectivity.

Global Diastereoconvergence in the Ireland-Claisen Rearrangement of Isomeric Enolates: Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted α-Amino Acids

A dual experimental/theoretical investigation of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of tetrasubstituted α-phthalimido ester enolates to afford α-tetrasubstituted, β-trisubstituted α-amino acids (generally >20:1 dr) is described. For trans allylic olefins, the Z- and E-enol ethers proceed through chair and boat transition states, respectively. For cis allylic olefins, the trend is reversed. As a result, the diastereochemical outcome of the reaction is preserved regardless of the geometry of the enolate or the accompanying allylic olefin. We term this unique convergence of all possible olefin isomers global diastereoconvergence. This reaction manifold circumvents limitations in present-day technologies for the stereoselective enolization of α,α-disubstituted allyl esters. Density functional theory paired with state-of-the-art local coupled-cluster theory (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) was employed for the accurate determination of quantum mechanical energies.

Stereoselective Access to Fully Substituted Aldehyde-Derived Silyl Enol Ethers by Iridium-Catalyzed Alkene Isomerization

An in situ generated cationic Ir-catalyst isomerizes simple allylic silyl ethers into valuable, fully substituted aldehyde-derived silyl enol ethers. Importantly, by judicious choice of substrate, either of the two possible stereoisomers of a given enolate derivative is accessible with complete stereoselectivity. One-pot isomerization-aldol and isomerization-allylation processes illustrate the synthetic utility of this method.

Rearrangement of N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Enamines for Synthesis of Enantioenriched α-Hydroxy Ketone Derivatives

Treating chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines with potassium hexamethyldisilazide (or potassium tert-butoxide) and methyl triflate gives N-methylated N-tert-butanesulfinyl enamine intermediates that undergo stereoselective [2,3]-rearrangement to afford α-sulfenyloxy ketones with excellent enantiopurities. This cascade of enamination-N-methylation-rearrangement was even used to generate acyclic tertiary α-hydroxy ketones bearing two α-substituents showing negligible differences in bulkiness, such as methyl and ethyl groups.

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Fully Substituted Silyl Enol Ethers of Ketones and Aldehydes in Acyclic Systems

The regio- and stereoselective preparation of fully substituted and stereodefined silyl enol ethers of ketones and aldehydes through an allyl-Brook rearrangement is reported. This fast and efficient method proceeds from a mixture of E and Z isomers of easily accessible starting materials.

Addition-Rearrangement of Ketenes with Lithium N- tert-Butanesulfinamides: Enantioselective Synthesis of α,α-Disubstituted α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Derivatives

Addition of the lithium salts of chiral N-substituted tert-butanesulfinamides to ketenes and subsequent silylation initiates stereoselective [2,3]-rearrangement, which affords enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted α-sulfenyloxy carboxamides through a reaction that faithfully transfers the absolute stereochemistry of the lithiated sulfinylamides to the α-carbon of the amide products. This addition-rearrangement can be performed together with ketene formation from acyl chloride in a single flask, providing a new and practical synthetic route to α-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives.

Enantioselective Construction of Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters: Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylic Alkylation of Fully Substituted Amide Enolates

We report a divergent and modular protocol for the preparation of acyclic molecular frameworks containing newly created quaternary carbon stereocenters. Central to this approach is a sequence composed of a (1) regioselective and -retentive preparation of allyloxycarbonyl-trapped fully substituted stereodefined amide enolates and of a (2) enantioselective palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation reaction using a novel bisphosphine ligand.

A catalytic enantioselective approach to tetrol bearing vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers

The first highly enantioselective catalytic protocol for selective manipulation of tetrol benzylidene acetals through chiral phosphoric acid mediated oxidative desymmetrization is reported.

Chiral Lithium Amides: Tuning Asymmetric Synthesis on the Basis of Structural Parameters

An overview on the structural arrangements adopted by Chiral Lithium Amides (CLAs), alone or in mixed complexes, is presented. These species are important reagents for asymmetric synthesis and understanding their organization is essential to improve their design and the reaction conditions.

Enantioselective allylic alkylation of stereodefined polysubstituted copper enolates as an entry to acyclic quaternary carbon stereocentres

A sequence of regio- and stereoselective carbometalation followed by oxidation of ynamides leads to stereodefined fully substituted enolates that subsequently react with various functionalized allyl bromide reagents to provide the enantiomerically pure quaternary carbon stereocentre in the α-position to the carbonyl group.

A sequence of regio- and stereoselective carbometalation followed by oxidation of ynamides leads to stereodefined fully substituted enolates that subsequently react with various functionalized allyl bromide reagents to provide the expected products possessing an enantiomerically pure quaternary carbon stereocentre in the α-position to the carbonyl group in excellent yields and enantiomeric ratios after cleavage of the oxazolidinone moiety. Three new bonds are formed in a single-pot operation.

Stereoselective Formation of Fully Substituted Ketone Enolates

The application of stereochemically defined acyclic fully substituted enolates of ketones to the enantioselective synthesis of quaternary carbon stereocenters would be highly valuable. Herein, we describe an approach leading to the formation of several new stereogenic centers through a combined metalation-addition of a carbonyl-carbamoyl transfer to reveal in situ stereodefined α,α-disubstituted enolates of ketone as a single stereoisomer. This approach could produce a series of aldol and Mannich products from enol carbamate with excellent diastereomeric ratios.

Stereodefined Acyclic Polysubstituted Silyl Ketene Aminals: Asymmetric Formation of Aldol Products with Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters

The regio- and stereoselective formation of stereodefined polysubstituted silyl ketene aminals is easily achieved through selective combined carbometalation-oxidation-silylation reactions. These substrates are ideal candidates for Mukaiyama aldol reactions with aliphatic aldehydes as they give the aldol products with a quaternary carbon stereocenter α to the carbonyl groups in outstanding diastereoselectivities.

Synthesis and biology of cyclic imine toxins, an emerging class of potent, globally distributed marine toxins

From a small group of exotic compounds isolated only two decades ago, Cyclic Imine (CI) toxins have become a major class of marine toxins with global distribution. Their distinct chemical structure, biological mechanism of action, and intricate chemistry ensures that CI toxins will continue to be the subject of fascinating fundamental studies in the broad fields of chemistry, chemical biology, and toxicology. The worldwide occurrence of potent CI toxins in marine environments, their accumulation in shellfish, and chemical stability are important considerations in assessing risk factors for human health. This review article aims to provide an account of chemistry, biology, and toxicology of CI toxins from their discovery to the present day.

Direct construction of vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in natural product synthesis

Molecules containing vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocenters are found in many secondary metabolites, and they exhibit a variety of biological and pharmacological activities.

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.

All-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers in acyclic systems through the creation of several C-C bonds per chemical step

In the past few decades, it has become clear that asymmetric catalysis is one of the most powerful methods for the construction of carbon-carbon as well as carbon-heteroatom bonds in a stereoselective manner. However, when structural complexity increases (i.e., all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center), the difficulty in reaching the desired adducts through asymmetric catalytic reactions leads to a single carbon-carbon bond-forming event per chemical step between two components. Issues of efficiency and convergence should therefore be addressed to avoid extraneous chemical steps. In this Perspective, we present approaches that tackle the stimulating problem of efficiency while answering interesting synthetic challenges. Ideally, if one could create all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers via the creation of several new carbon-carbon bonds in an acyclic system and in a single-pot operation from simple precursors, it would certainly open new horizons toward solving the synthetic problems. Even more important for any further design, the presence of polyreactive intermediates in synthesis (bismetalated, carbenoid, and oxenoids species) becomes now an indispensable tool, as it creates consecutively the same number of carbon-carbon bonds as in a multi-step process, but in a single-pot operation.

Stereodefined acyclic trisubstituted metal enolates towards the asymmetric formation of quaternary carbon stereocentres

Formation of highly diastereo- and enantiomerically enriched quaternary stereocentres from stereodefined acyclic trisubstituted metal enolates.