Lewis Base Assisted Brønsted Base Catalysis: Direct Regioselective Asymmetric Vinylogous Alkylation of Allylic Sulfones

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)-Assisted Catalyst-Free Sulfonation of Allylic Alcohols with Sulfinyl Amides

A highly regioselective and catalyst-free sulfonation of allylic alcohols with sulfinyl amides has been realized. Such a mix-and-go procedure provides a convenient approach to synthetically various allylic sulfones under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, this novel reaction shows ample substrate scope and outstanding functional group tolerance and could also be scaled-up. Meanwhile, it is the first example that sulfinyl amides act as a powerful sulfur nucleophile in the reactions. 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as a solvent plays a critical role in allylic sulfonation.

Extended Enolates: Versatile Intermediates for Asymmetric C-H Functionalization via Noncovalent Catalysis

Catalyst-controlled functionalization of unmodified carbonyl compounds is a relevant operation in organic synthesis, especially when high levels of site- and stereoselectivity can be attained. This objective is now within reach for some subsets of enolizable substrates using various types of activation mechanisms. Recent contributions to this area include enantioselective transformations that proceed via transiently generated noncovalent di(tri)enolate-catalyst coordination species. While relatively easier to form than simple enolate congeners, di(tri)enolates are ambifunctional in nature and so control of the reaction regioselectivity becomes an issue. This Minireview discusses in some detail this and other problems, and how noncovalent activation approaches based on metallic and metal free catalysts have been developed to advance the field.

Visible-light-induced sulfonylation of Baylis–Hillman acetates under metal- and oxidant-free conditions

A visible-light-driven metal- and oxidant-free procedure for the sulfonylation of Baylis–Hillman acetates with sulfonyl hydrazides under open-air conditions at room temperature is reported. The methods provide a green and facile synthetic route to access allylic sulfones.

New Developments of the Principle of Vinylogy as Applied to π-Extended Enolate-Type Donor Systems

The principle of vinylogy states that the electronic effects of a functional group in a molecule are possibly transmitted to a distal position through interposed conjugated multiple bonds. As an emblematic case, the nucleophilic character of a π-extended enolate-type chain system may be relayed from the legitimate α-site to the vinylogous γ, ε, ..., ω remote carbon sites along the chain, provided that suitable HOMO-raising strategies are adopted to transform the unsaturated pronucleophilic precursors into the reactive polyenolate species. On the other hand, when "unnatural" carbonyl ipso-sites are activated as nucleophiles (umpolung), vinylogation extends the nucleophilic character to "unnatural" β, δ, ... remote sites. Merging the principle of vinylogy with activation modalities and concepts such as iminium ion/enamine organocatalysis, NHC-organocatalysis, cooperative organo/metal catalysis, bifunctional organocatalysis, dicyanoalkylidene activation, and organocascade reactions represents an impressive step forward for all vinylogous transformations. This review article celebrates this evolutionary progress, by collecting, comparing, and critically describing the achievements made over the nine year period 2010-2018, in the generation of vinylogous enolate-type donor substrates and their use in chemical synthesis.

Allylic C-S Bond Construction through Metal-Free Direct Nitroalkene Sulfonation

A metal-free, open-flask protocol was developed for the preparation of allylic sulfones through direct condensation of sodium arylsulfinates and β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes. The key step of this process was the Lewis base-promoted equilibrium between nitroalkenes and allylic nitro compounds. Through this process, the readily available conjugated nitroalkenes can be easily converted into allylic nitro compounds, which contain more reactive C═C bonds toward the sulfonyl radical addition. As a result, allylic sulfones were prepared in excellent yields with a broad substrate scope under mild conditions.

DDQ-mediated regioselective C–S bond formation: efficient access to allylic sulfides

A novel metal-free dehydrocoupling approach for constructing allylic sulfides via oxidative allylic C–H functionalization with high atom- and step-economy has been developed.

A One-Pot Tandem Strategy in Catalytic Asymmetric Vinylogous Aldol Reaction of Homoallylic Alcohols

Reported is a rationally-designed one-pot sequential strategy that allows homoallylic alcohols to be employed in a catalytic, asymmetric, direct vinylogous aldol reaction with a series of activated acyclic ketones, including trifluoromethyl ketones, γ-ketoesters, and α-keto phosphonates, in high yields (up to 95%) with excellent regio- and enantio-selectivity (up to 99% ee). This modular combination, including Jones oxidation and asymmetric organocatalysis, has satisfactory compatibility and reliability even at a 20 mmol scale, albeit without intermediary purification.

A facile and mild synthesis of trisubstituted allylic sulfones from Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

An efficient and catalyst-free synthesis of trisubstituted allylic sulfones through an allylic sulfonylation reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates with sodium sulfinates has been developed. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a series of trisubstituted allylic sulfones were rapidly prepared in good to excellent yields (71%–99%) with good to high selectivity (Z/E from 79:21 to >99:1). Compared with known synthetic methods, the current protocol features mild reaction temperature, high efficiency and easily available reagents.

An asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction of 3-alkylidene oxindoles

An efficient asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with respect to 3-alkylidene oxindoles and racemic MBH carbonate has been achieved.

Highly enantioselective direct allylic alkylation of butenolides with Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates catalyzed by chiral squaramide-phosphine

Asymmetric vinylogous allylic alkylation of β,γ-butenolides with Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates has been developed to construct γ,γ-disubstituted butenolides containing adjacent quaternary and tertiary chiral centers.

Double-addition reaction of aryl methyl sulfones with N-tert-butylsulfinyl imines: diastereoselective and concise synthesis of 2-sulfonylated 1,3-diamines

We report a double-addition reaction of methyl phenyl sulfone and methyl 2-pyridyl sulfone with N-tert-butylsulfinyl imines. This method provides concise access to 2-sulfonylated 1,3-anti diamines with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. This protocol has the benefit of using readily accessible starting materials and is operationally simple.

Asymmetric organocatalytic allylic alkylation of Reissert compounds: a facile access to chiral 1,1-disubstituted 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines

The first asymmetric organocatalytic allylic alkylation of 1,2-dihydro-Reissert compounds and Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates has been developed, which provided a novel protocol to construct enantioenriched functionalized 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines bearing vicinal quaternary and tertiary chiral centers at C-1 position (up to 94% ee, dr > 20 : 1).

Catalytic asymmetric construction of spiro(γ-butyrolactam-γ-butyrolactone) moieties through sequential reactions of cyclic imino esters with Morita-Baylis-Hillman bromides

Spiro(γ-butyrolactam-γ-butyrolactone): a route to enantioenriched spiro(γ-butyrolactam-γ-butyrolactone) compounds, a valuable motif for drug discovery, was developed by use of a highly efficient copper(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed tandem Michael addition-elimination of homoserine lactone derived cyclic imino esters with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) bromides, followed by treatment with para-toluenesulfonic acid.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of isatin-derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with nitroalkanes

A stereoselective allylic alkylation of isatin-derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates with nitroalkanes has been developed. In the presence of 10 mol % β-isocupreidine (β-ICD), 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles were prepared with moderate diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities.

Catalytic diastereoselective tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman C adducts by C-C bond cleavage

Through the cleavage of the C-C bond, the first catalytic tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman C adducts has been presented. Various S(N)2'-like C-, S-, and P-allylic compounds could be obtained with exclusive E configuration in good to excellent yields. The Michael product could also be easily prepared by tuning the β-C-substituent group of the α-methylene ester under the same reaction conditions. Calculated relative energies of various transition states by DFT methods strongly support the observed chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity.