Synergistic Catalysis: Metal/Proton-Catalyzed Cyclization of Alkynones Toward Bicyclo[3.n.1]alkanones

Catalytic Asymmetric Desymmetrization of Cyclic 1,3-Diketones Using Chiral Boro-phosphates

Herein, we report a chiral boro-phosphate-catalyzed reductive amination for the desymmetrization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-cyclopentadiones with pinacolborane as the reducing agent, delivering chiral β-amino ketones with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in good yields (≤94%), high enantioselectivities (≤97% ee), and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr). This reaction has a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The importance of the chiral products was also demonstrated through the preparation of multifunctional building blocks and heterocycles.

Rh2(II)-Catalyzed Selective C(sp3)-H Bond Electrophilic Amination of Aryl Azide-Tethered 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Herein, we report the accomplishment of Rh2(II)-catalyzed intramolecular amination of aryl azide-tethered 1,3-dicarbonyls to access privileged heterocyclic scaffolds with exclusive diastereoselectivity under simple reaction conditions. This method also allows an unconventional direct α-amination at electron-deficient C(sp3)-H bonds of aryl azide-tethered 1,3-diketones to afford fused 2-azatricyclo[4.4.0.02,8]decanones and 2,2-disubstituted indolines, which are present in several biologically active alkaloids. Kinetic isotope experiments revealed that the nucleophilic addition of enol π-bonds on the transient electrophilic rhodium-nitrenoid intermediate enables C-N bond formation.

Catalytic asymmetric Nakamura reaction by gold(I)/chiral N,N'-dioxide-indium(III) or nickel(II) synergistic catalysis

Intermolecular addition of enols and enolates to unactivated alkynes was proved to be a simple and powerful method for carbon-carbon bond formation. Up to date, a catalytic asymmetric version of alkyne with 1,3-dicarbonyl compound has not been realized. Herein, we achieve the catalytic asymmetric intermolecular addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to unactivated 1-alkynes attributing to the synergistic activation of chiral N,N′-dioxide-indium(III) or nickel(II) Lewis acid and achiral gold(I) π-acid. A range of β-ketoamides, β-ketoesters and 1,3-diketones transform to the corresponding products with a tetra-substituted chiral center in good yields with good e.r. values. Besides, a possible catalytic cycle and a transition state model are proposed to illustrate the reaction process and the origin of chiral induction based on the experimental investigations.

Although enols and enolates addition to unactivated alkynes is used for carbon-carbon bond modification a catalytic asymmetric alkyne with 1,3-dicarbonyl compound has been elusive. Here, the authors achieve this using the synergistic activation of chiral N,N′-dioxide-indium(III) or nickel(II) Lewis acid and achiral gold(I) π-acid.”

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.n.1]alkenones

A series of highly strained bicyclo[3.n.1]alkenones have been successfully constructed in good-to-excellent enantioselectivities and moderate-to-good yields via copper-catalyzed formal [3+3] cycloaddition. The versatile chiral cycloadducts could be selectively converted into various valuable bridge systems, which hold considerable potential for the construction of natural and bioactive compounds containing a [3.n.1] moiety.

Synthetic applications of type II intramolecular cycloadditions

Type II intramolecular cycloadditions ([4+2], [4+3], [4+4] and [5+2]) have emerged recently as an efficient and powerful strategy for the construction of bridged ring systems. In general, type II cycloadditions provide access to a wide range of bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] ring systems with high regio- and diastereoselectivity in an easy and straightforward manner. In each section of this review, an overview of the corresponding type II cycloadditions is presented, which is followed by highlights of method development and synthetic applications in natural product synthesis. The goal of this review is to provide a survey of recent advances in the field covering literature up to 2020. The review will serve as a useful reference for organic chemists engaged in the total synthesis of natural products containing bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] ring systems and provide strong stimulus for invention and further advances in this exciting research field.

Constructing chiral bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes via palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem Heck/carbonylation desymmetrization of cyclopentenes

Transition-metal-catalyzed tandem Heck/carbonylation reaction has emerged as a powerful tool for the synthesis of structurally diverse carbonyl molecules, as well as natural products and pharmaceuticals. However, the asymmetric version was rarely reported, and remains a challenging topic. Herein, we describe a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem Heck/carbonylation desymmetrization of cyclopentenes. Alcohols, phenols and amines are employed as versatile coupling reagents for the construction of multifunctional chiral bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes with one all-carbon quaternary and two tertiary carbon stereogenic centers in high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. This study represents an important progress in both the asymmetric tandem Heck/carbonylation reactions and enantioselective difunctionalization of internal alkenes.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Conia-Ene-Type Carbocyclization of Ynamide Cyclohexanones: Regiodivergent Synthesis of Morphans and Normorphans

Described herein is an organocatalytic enantioselective desymmetrizing cycloisomerization of arylsulfonyl-protected ynamide cyclohexanones, representing the first metal-free asymmetric Conia-ene-type carbocyclization. This method allows the highly efficient and atom-economical construction of a range of valuable morphans with wide substrate scope and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). In addition, such a cycloisomerization of alkylsulfonyl-protected ynamide cyclohexanones can lead to the divergent synthesis of normorphans as the main products with high enantioselectivity (up to 90 % ee). Moreover, theoretical calculations are employed to elucidate the origins of regioselectivity and enantioselectivity.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Reductive Heck Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenes: Access to Chiral Bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric reductive Heck reaction of unactivated aliphatic alkenes, with eliminable β-hydrogen atoms, has been realized for the first time. A series of optically active bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes bearing chiral quaternary and tertiary carbon stereocenters were obtained in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities, exhibiting good functional-group tolerance and scalability. Moreover, deuterated optically active bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes were also obtained in high efficiency.

Gold-catalyzed generation of azafulvenium from an enyne sulfonamide: rapid access to fully substituted pyrroles

A one-pot gold-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of fully substituted pyrroles from enyne sulfonamides has been developed.

Catalytic [1,3] O-to-C Rearrangement: Rapid Access to Bridged Bicyclic Systems

A catalytic [1,3] O-to-C rearrangement from enyne-ethers was developed for the rapid synthesis of diverse bridged bicyclic systems. In this reaction, a vinyl oxonium intermediate, generated in situ from enyne-ether, was the precursor for the [1,3] O-to-C rearrangement. This versatile protocol represents the first example of catalytic [1,3] O-to-C rearrangement based on ring-expansion strategy, enabling efficient access to bridged bicyclic scaffolds.

Iron/zinc-catalyzed benzannulation reactions of 2-(2-oxo-alkyl)benzketones leading to naphthalene and isoquinoline derivatives

An efficient method for the synthesis of poly-substituted naphthalenes/isoquinolines via Fe(iii)/Zn(ii)-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-(2-oxo-alkyl)benzketones is described.

Selectivity-switchable construction of benzo-fused polycyclic compounds through a gold-catalyzed reaction of enyne-lactone

A gold-catalyzed selectivity-switchable reaction of enyne-lactone is reported. The choice of the gold complex is the key for the chemoselectivity.

Cu(i)-Catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted Z-enol esters via interrupting the 1,3-O-transposition reaction

An efficient Cu(i)-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted Z-enol esters via interrupting the 1,3-O-transposition process is reported, which provided a convenient approach to highly functionalized Z-enol esters.

Assembly of a Benzo-Fused Bridged Ketone Scaffold from 1,5,10-Enediynes through One-Pot Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cyclization/Iodine-Mediated Oxidative Ring Expansion

In the presence of a cationic Ru catalyst, 1,6-diynes bearing a terminal styryl moiety underwent [2+2+2] cyclization to produce dehydrobiphenylenes fused with a five-membered ring. Although the cycloadducts were unstable toward purification, their one-pot iodine-mediated ring expansion successfully afforded unprecedented bridged ketone products containing a benzo-fused bicyclo[3.2.1] framework.

An efficient approach to generate aryl carbenes: gold-catalyzed sequential activation of 1,6-diynes

An efficient approach to generate aryl gold carbenes has been developed.

Gold-catalyzed ring-expansion through acyl migration to afford furan-fused polycyclic compounds

A gold-catalyzed ring-expansion reaction of alkynones to access furan-fused polycyclic compounds is reported.

Carbonyl-assisted reverse regioselective cascade annulation of 2-acetylenic ketones triggered by Ru-catalyzed C-H activation

The first reverse regioselective intermolecular annulation of aryl substituted 2-acetylenic ketones with O-substituted N-hydroxybenzamides or acrylamides followed by tandem cyclization via ruthenium-catalyzed C-H activation, is reported. Excellent reverse selectivity of alkyne insertion was induced by the weak coordination between the carbonyl group and ruthenium complex. This highly efficient and practical reaction has a broad range of substrate scope with excellent functional-group tolerance. The tandem reaction provides a wide range of polycyclic products that have an indozilidine structural motif, and are found to potentially be synthetically and pharmaceutically valuable.

Synergistic chiral iminium and palladium catalysis: Highly regio- and enantioselective [3 + 2] annulation reaction of 2-vinylcyclopropanes with enals

A cooperative catalytic strategy of chiral iminium catalysis by regioselective activation of the C=C bond in enals and a transition metal promoting to open the 2-vinylcyclopropanes for highly regio- and enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 2-vinylcyclopropanes with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed.

Selectivity-switchable oxidation of tetraarylethylenes to fused polycyclic compounds

Selectivity-switchable oxidation of furan-containing tetraarylethylenes is reported.

Synthesis of highly strained bicyclic[3.n.1]alkenes by a metal-catalyzed Conia-ene reaction

A high yielding metal-catalysed Conia-ene reaction of 2-acetylenic ketones for the synthesis of bicyclo[3.n.1]alkenes has been developed.