Optically Active Allenes from an Allylic Substitution/Isomerization Sequence

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Coupling of Allenyl Radicals with Terminal Alkynes to Access Tetrasubstituted Allenes

In contrast to the wealth of asymmetric transformations for generating central chirality from alkyl radicals, the enantiocontrol over the allenyl radicals for forging axial chirality represents an uncharted domain. The challenge arises from the unique elongated linear configuration of the allenyl radicals that necessitates the stereo-differentiation of remote motifs away from the radical reaction site. We herein describe a copper-catalyzed asymmetric radical 1,4-carboalkynylation of 1,3-enynes via the coupling of allenyl radicals with terminal alkynes, providing diverse synthetically challenging tetrasubstituted chiral allenes. A chiral N,N,P-ligand is crucial for both the reaction initiation and the enantiocontrol over the highly reactive allenyl radicals. The reaction features a broad substrate scope, covering a variety of (hetero)aryl and alkyl alkynes and 1,3-enynes as well as radical precursors with excellent functional group tolerance.

Organocascade Synthesis of Annulated (Z)-2-Methylenepyrans: Nucleophilic Conjugate Addition of Hydroxycoumarins and Pyranone to Branched Nitro Enynes via Allene Formation/Oxa-Michael Cyclization/Alkene Isomerization Sequence

An efficient organocatalytic reaction using 1,3-nitro enynes with 4-hydroxycoumarin and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone to afford pyrano-annulated scaffolds in high yield (up to 88% yield) and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr and >99% ee) is described. The reaction proceeded through sequential conjugate addition, allene formation, intramolecular oxa-Michael 6-endo-dig cyclization and DABCO-catalyzed olefin isomerization. A kinetic profile for isomerization was established. The mechanism for the organocascade reaction was proposed according to requisite computational and mechanistic experimental studies.