Copper-Catalysed Rearrangement of Cyclic Ethynylethylene Carbonates: Synthetic Applications and Mechanistic Studies

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Formal [4 + 1] and [3 + 3] Cycloaddition of Ethynylethylene Carbonates

Herein we employed ethynylethylene carbonates (EECs) to achieve formal [4 + 1] and [3 + 3] cycloaddition with cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. On one hand, EECs with styryl substitution could undergo a remotely controlled enantioselective [4 + 1] cycloaddition reaction. This reaction exhibits good chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and enantioselectivity. In addition, a [3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of EECs with cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was also achieved, leading to a series of 4H-pyrans with impressive chemoselectivity and enantioselectivity.

Copper-Catalyzed Umpolung Reactivity of Propargylic Carbonates in the Presence of Diboronates: One Stone Four Birds

Allylation and propargylation are two powerful synthetic strategies for making new substances that have been of significant importance in chemistry, medicine, and material fields. Conventional tactics employ various preformed allylation and propargylation reagents. In this study, a conceptually novel copper-catalyzed and B2pin2-mediated Umpolung reactivity of propargylic carbonates has been achieved for the first time, realizing both allylation and propargylation of aldehydes and ketones without additional reductants. Three types of allylation products and one type of propargylation product are generated efficiently, and all allylation products are formed with syn-configurations predominantly. The choice of ligands plays a vital role in modulating the Umpolung modes. The synthetic applications have been demonstrated in a myriad of further transformations including natural product synthesis, and systematic mechanistic studies have been conducted to reveal detailed insights into the Umpolung processes.