TiIV-Catalyzed Asymmetric Sulfenylation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Investigating the efficacy of green solvents and solvent-free conditions in hydrogen-bonding mediated organocatalyzed model reactions

In this study, we have delved into various reactions conducted using green solvents or under solvent-free conditions, employing hydrogen bonding organocatalysis to advance more sustainable practices in chemical synthesis. The outcomes suggest that cyclopentyl methyl ether could potentially replace non-polar organic solvents such as hexane and toluene with comparable enantioselectivity and yields. The non-polar nature of liquefied or supercritical CO2 restricts its application to reactions that require non-polar solvents. Furthermore, pursuing solvent-free conditions, even without liquid substrates, might result in similar conversion rates with reduced catalyst loading. These findings highlight the potential of exploring solvent-free conditions when enantioselectivity is not of concern. Based on the results, solvent-free conditions and bio-based solvents can serve as viable alternatives to conventional organic solvents without compromising performance. This is expected to influence the way chemists approach reaction optimisation within method development in the field, fostering a broader adoption of environmentally friendly approaches.

Asymmetric organocatalytic sulfenylation for the construction of a diheteroatom-bearing tetrasubstituted carbon centre

Catalytic enantioselective sulfenylation to construct diheteroatom-bearing carbon centres was achieved by employing chiral guanidine organocatalysts. This protocol provided a facile route towards the synthesis of α-fluoro-α-sulfenyl-β-ketoamides, azlactone adducts and α-sulfur-substituted amino acid derivatives in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. A possible working mode was proposed to elucidate the chiral control of the process.

Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Electrophilic Sulfenylation of Cyclic Imino Esters

Herein we report an enantioselective sulfenylation of cyclic imino esters with the efficient and versatile sulfenylation reagent S-alkyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonothioates. By utilizing the Cu/^tBu-Phosferrox catalytic system, we can assemble diverse S-alkyl groups into the cyclic imino esters under mild conditions in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. Remarkably, this method demonstrates a high tolerance of diverse functional groups and proves to be applicable in the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals.

Assessing Methodologies to Synthesize α-Sulfenylated Carbonyl Compounds by Green Chemistry Metrics

α-Sulfenylated carbonyl compounds are important both as active pharmaceutical ingredients and as intermediates in organic synthesis. Owing to their relevance in synthetic organic chemistry, this Minireview focuses on assessing the most relevant synthetic procedures based on green chemistry metrics. The Minireview starts with the traditional routes and then focuses on more recently developed methodologies. These routes include sulfenylating reagents using organocatalysis, cross-dehydrogenative couplings using in situ halogenations to prevent reactive intermediates in high concentrations, oxidative couplings using terminal oxidants such as DDQ or TEMPO, and redox-neutral couplings using transition metal catalysis. These methodologies have been evaluated on the basis of atom economy, E factor, and the safety and toxicity of the transformations and the solvents used. Besides using green metrics to evaluate these novel methodologies, the synthetic utility is also assessed with regard to the availability of starting materials and the generality of the reactions. This Minireview aims to inspire researchers to apply green assessments to other methodologies and also for them to take measures to increase the greenness of their developed transformations.

Asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by rare-earth metal amides RE[N(SiMe3)2]3 with chiral TADDOL ligands

The first application of rare-earth metal catalyst combined with TADDOLs in the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones is disclosed.

Asymmetric catalytic construction of fully substituted carbon stereocenters using acyclic α-branched β-ketocarbonyls: the “Methyl Rule” widely exists

This review illustrates the recent advances in catalytic asymmetric α-functionalization of acyclic β-ketocarbonyls. A thorough survey of all these reactions indicates the existance of a general principle which is called the “Methyl Rule”.

Synthesis of α-arylthioacetones using TEMPO as the C3 synthon via a reaction cascade of sequential oxidation, skeletal rearrangement and C-S bond formation

Here, we present an unprecedented pathway to α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from commercially available thiols and universally employed TEMPO and its analogues, which act as C3 synthons through skeletal rearrangement under simple and metal-free conditions. Mechanism studies suggest that this reaction involves a consecutive radical oxidation and cation coupling process. TEMPO analogues and thiols serve as oxidants and reductive reagents, respectively, along the radical process, while in the coupling process, the former ones afford C3 synthons to couple with related sulfur sources.

KI-catalyzed C-S bond formation via an oxidation relay strategy: efficient access to various α-thio-β-dicarbonyl compounds

An efficient and practical methodology to obtain α-thio-β-dicarbonyl compounds was presented under alkaline conditions via potassium iodide (KI) catalysis; various symmetrical/unsymmetrical 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were obtained under an aerobic atmosphere in moderate to excellent yields, with good functional group tolerance. Notably, a widely used anti-inflammatory drug butazodine could be modified with our protocol, even on a gram scale.

Diastereoselective α-Sulfenylation of N- tert-Butanesulfinyl Imidates

A diastereoselective α-sulfenylation of chiral α-aryl/alkyl N- tert-butanesulfinyl imidates has been developed. Suitable sulfur electrophiles can be used as sulfenylating reagents to intercept aza-enolates generated from imidate deprotonation, giving α-thiofunctionalized imidates in good yields with high diastereocontrol. This protocol for C-S bond formation can efficiently synthesize enantioenriched 1,2-sulfanyl amine derivatives such as sulconazole.

Catalytic enantioselective α-sulfenylation of β-ketocarbonyls by chiral primary amines

A simple chiral primary amine catalyst was identified to enable effective catalysis in direct α-sulfenylation of acyclic and cyclic β-ketocarbonyls with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis in the asymmetric α-heterofunctionalization of prochiral nucleophiles

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis is one of the major catalytic principles in asymmetric catalysis. A broad variety of different catalysts and their use for challenging applications have been reported over the last decades. Besides asymmetric C–C bond forming reactions the use of chiral phase-transfer catalysts for enantioselective α-heterofunctionalization reactions of prochiral nucleophiles became one of the most important field of application of this catalytic principle. Based on several highly spectacular recent reports, we thus wish to discuss some of the most important achievements in this field within the context of this review.

Cs2CO3-promoted cross-dehydrogenative coupling of thiophenols with active methylene compounds

α-Sulfenylation of carbonyl compounds has been achieved via Cs₂CO₃-promoted aerobic cross-dehydrogenative coupling of thiophenols with active methylene compounds.

Catalytic asymmetric sulfenylation to structurally diverse dithioketals

We report the first example of highly enantioselective synthesis of structurally diverse chiral dithioketals via asymmetric sulfenylation of various types of S-based nucleophiles, catalyzed by a cheap cinchona alkaloid derivative, dihydroquinine.

Catalytic, enantioselective sulfenylation of ketone-derived enoxysilanes

A catalytic, enantioselective, Lewis base-catalyzed α-sulfenylation of silyl enol ethers has been developed. To avoid acidic hydrolysis of the silyl enol ether substrates, a sulfenylating agent that did not require additional Brønsted acid activation, namely N-phenylthiosaccharin, was developed. Three classes of Lewis bases-tertiary amines, sulfides, and selenophosphoramides-were identified as active catalysts for the α-sulfenylation reaction. Among a wide variety of chiral Lewis bases in all three classes, only chiral selenophosphoramides afforded α-phenylthio ketones in generally high yield and with good enantioselectivity. The selectivity of the reaction does not depend on the size of the silyl group but is highly sensitive to the double bond geometry and the bulk of the substituents on the double bond. The most selective substrates are those containing a geminal bulky substituent on the enoxysilane. Computational analysis revealed that the enantioselectivity arises from an intriguing interplay among sterically guided approach, distortion energy, and orbital interactions.

Atom-efficient gold(I)-chloride-catalyzed synthesis of α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols: substrate scope and experimental and theoretical mechanistic investigation

Gold(I)-chloride-catalyzed synthesis of α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols showed a wide substrate scope with respect to both propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols. Primary and secondary aromatic propargylic alcohols generated α-sulfenylated aldehydes and ketones in 60-97% yield. Secondary aliphatic propargylic alcohols generated α-sulfenylated ketones in yields of 47-71%. Different gold sources and ligand effects were studied, and it was shown that gold(I) chloride gave the highest product yields. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the reaction proceeds in two separate steps. A sulfenylated allylic alcohol, generated by initial regioselective attack of the aryl thiol on the triple bond of the propargylic alcohol, was isolated, evaluated, and found to be an intermediate in the reaction. Deuterium labeling experiments showed that the protons from the propargylic alcohol and aryl thiol were transferred to the 3-position, and that the hydride from the alcohol was transferred to the 2-position of the product. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the observed regioselectivity of the aryl thiol attack towards the 2-position of propargylic alcohol was determined by a low-energy, five-membered cyclic protodeauration transition state instead of the strained, four-membered cyclic transition state found for attack at the 3-position. Experimental data and DFT calculations supported that the second step of the reaction is initiated by protonation of the double bond of the sulfenylated allylic alcohol with a proton donor coordinated to gold(I) chloride. This in turn allows for a 1,2-hydride shift, generating the final product of the reaction.

Highly enantioselective chlorination of β-keto esters and subsequent S(N)2 displacement of tertiary chlorides: a flexible method for the construction of quaternary stereogenic centers

Highly enantioselective chlorination of β-oxo esters and subsequent stereospecific substitution of tertiary chlorides are described. Enantioselective chlorination of β-keto esters and malonates was performed using a chiral Lewis acid catalyst prepared from Cu(OTf)(2) and the newly developed spirooxazoline ligand 2 to yield the desired α-chlorinated products with high enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). Nucleophilic substitution of the resulting chlorides proceeded smoothly to afford a variety of chiral molecules such as α-amino, α-alkylthio, and α-fluoro esters, without loss of enantiopurity. The results of X-ray crystallographic analysis proved that Walden inversion occurs at the chlorinated tertiary carbon center. These results supported the fact that the substitution proceeds via an S(N)2 mechanism.

Enantioselective gem-chlorofluorination of active methylene compounds using a chiral spiro oxazoline ligand

Highly enantioselective gem-chlorofluorination of active methylene compounds was carried out by using a copper(II) complex of a chiral spiro pyridyl monooxazoline ligand. This reaction yielded α-chloro-α-fluoro-β-keto esters and α-chloro-α-fluoro-β-keto phosphonates with up to 92% ee. The resulting dihalo β-keto ester was converted into various α-fluoro-α-heteroatom-substituted carbonyl compounds via nucleophilic substitution without loss of optical purity. A fully protected β-amino acid with a gem-chlorofluoromethylene function was also synthesized.

Aromatic rings in chemical and biological recognition: energetics and structures

This review describes a multidimensional treatment of molecular recognition phenomena involving aromatic rings in chemical and biological systems. It summarizes new results reported since the appearance of an earlier review in 2003 in host-guest chemistry, biological affinity assays and biostructural analysis, data base mining in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and the Protein Data Bank (PDB), and advanced computational studies. Topics addressed are arene-arene, perfluoroarene-arene, S⋅⋅⋅aromatic, cation-π, and anion-π interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding to π systems. The generated knowledge benefits, in particular, structure-based hit-to-lead development and lead optimization both in the pharmaceutical and in the crop protection industry. It equally facilitates the development of new advanced materials and supramolecular systems, and should inspire further utilization of interactions with aromatic rings to control the stereochemical outcome of synthetic transformations.

Fluorine & chirality: how to create a nonracemic stereogenic carbon-fluorine centre?

Enantiopure organofluorine compounds are at the forefront of innovation in the field of fluorine chemistry. The significant progress in modern fluoroorganic chemistry parallels the tremendous achievements in organocatalysis and organometallic catalysis that have permitted the asymmetric synthesis of chiral chemicals featuring a fluorinated stereogenic carbon centre. This tutorial review provides an overview of the current state of the art in asymmetric construction of stereogenic carbon-fluorine centres, not only by direct fluorination, but also by asymmetric reaction of fluorinated substrates.