Asymmetric synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentane-oxindoles through an organocatalytic triple Michael domino reaction

Catalysts’ evolution in the asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to electron-poor alkenes

This review provides a journey of the catalyst usage for the enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to electron-poor olefins from the early attempts to the latest achievements. Selected applications are also reported.

Enantioselective Construction of Spirooxindole-Fused Cyclopentanes

The present study reports an asymmetric organocatalytic cascade reaction of oxindole derivates with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes efficiently catalyzed by simple chiral secondary amine. Spirooxindole-fused cyclopentanes were produced in excellent isolated yields (up to 98%) with excellent enantiopurities (up to 99% ee) and moderate to high diastereoselectivities. The synthetic utility of the protocol was exemplified on a set of additional transformations of the corresponding spiro compounds. In addition, a study showing the promising biological activity of selected enantioenriched products was accomplished.

Stereocontrolled construction of six vicinal stereogenic centers on a hexahydroxanthone framework through a formal [2+1+3] annulation

The first example of a bifunctional donor–donor 3C synthon formed in situ from an activated methine with nitromethane through a [2+1] Michael addition, further directing a one-pot organocascade Michael/Henry cycloaddition was developed.

Direct construction of benzimidazo[l,2-c]quinazolin-6-ones via metal-free oxidative C–C bond cleavage

A highly regioselective protocol has been developed for the synthesis of benzimidazo[l,2-c]quinazolin-6-ones via C–C bond cleavage and triple C–N bond formation.

Achieving Molecular Complexity via Stereoselective Multiple Domino Reactions Promoted by a Secondary Amine Organocatalyst

In the last two decades, organocatalysis has emerged as an intensively investigated and rapidly growing area of research facilitating many known and many new transformations to provide efficient novel entries to complex molecules of high stereochemical purity. The organocatalysts have not only shown their efficiency for catalyzing the reactions in which one bond is formed, but they have also been effectively exploited in various versions of one-pot reactions. Domino reactions are one of the most important classes of one-pot reactions, where the target structure can be obtained in one pot without changing any reaction conditions while each reaction occurs as a consequence of the intermediates generated in previous steps. Owing to the synthetic importance and operational advantages associated with the use of organocatalysts and the development of domino reactions, various asymmetric transformations leading to a complex structure of choice have been explored. The early era of organocatalysis exhibits a limited growth in the development of asymmetric domino reactions with special emphasis on two reactions occurring one after the other. In 2006, our group made a step forward to develop more complex domino reactions catalyzed by a secondary amine organocatalyst, wherein three reactions take place in one pot to provide cyclohexene carbaldehydes bearing four stereogenic centers with excellent stereocontrol. This triggered our interest to develop new organocatalytic domino sequences, especially for multiple domino reactions. After our seminal contribution, domino reactions catalyzed by secondary amine organocatalysts not only became more popular, but they also could be catalyzed by other classes of organocatalysts, such as bifunctional hydrogen bonding catalysts, chiral Brønsted acids, and N-heterocyclic carbenes. The mode of activation in this triple domino reaction relied on the sequential generation of enamine and iminium intermediates using a proline-based chiral secondary amine organocatalyst. By employing this strategy, we have developed several triple domino reactions leading to the formation of carbo- and heterocyclic structures bearing multiple stereogenic centers with excellent levels of stereoselectivities. The applications of the secondary amine organocatalysts have been further extended to more complex quadruple domino sequences. Moreover, these multiple domino sequences have been combined successfully with other transformations in one pot to create densely functionalized polycyclic compounds. This Account gives an overview of our research in the area of organocatalytic asymmetric multiple domino reactions with special emphasis on the secondary amine catalyzed triple and quadruple domino reactions via a sequential generation of enamine and iminium intermediates. The multiple cascade reactions assisted by di- and tri-iminium and -enamine species as well as other types of organocatalysts have been excluded from the scope of this Account.

Enantioselective Construction of Tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-Based Spirooxindole Scaffold via an Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent [3 + 3] Cyclization

The first catalytic enantioselective construction of biologically important tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole has been developed via a chiral cinchona alkaloid catalyzed asymmetric three-component [3 + 3] cyclization of cyclic enaminone, isatin, and malononitrile, which afforded a series of tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 97:3 er). This reaction could be applicable to large-scale synthesis of enantioenriched tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles. This synthetic methodology will not only provide a unique approach for the construction of chiral tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole scaffolds but also increase our understanding of catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions.

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclopentanes bearing four contiguous stereocenters via an NHC-catalyzed Michael/Michael/esterification domino reaction

An NHC-catalyzed Michael/Michael/esterification domino reaction via homoenolate/enolate intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes bearing four contiguous stereocenters is described. A variety of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 2-nitroallylic acetates react well with good domino yields and high stereoselectivities.

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrrolidines via an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition

The asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidine derivatives with three contiguous stereogenic centers and bearing a trifluoromethyl group has been developed through an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition sequence.

Constructing densely functionalized Hajos–Parrish-type ketones with six contiguous stereogenic centers and two quaternary carbons in a formal [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition cascade

Efficient construction of Hajos–Parrish-type ketones with six contiguous stereogenic centers in a formal [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition cascade. The spontaneous resolution of racemic product without the need for chiral agent has been achieved.

Stereoselective synthesis and molecular modeling of chiral cyclopentanes

The reaction of 3-methyseleno-2-methylselenomethyl-propene with benzyl 2,3-anhydro-4-O-triflyl-β-L-ribopyranoside provides a major convenient enantiomeric product of 1-methylene-(benzyl3,4-dideoxy-α-D-arabinopyranoso)-[3,4-c]-cyclopentane, with benzyl-2,3-anhydro-4-deoxy-4-C-(2-methyl- propen-3-yl)-α-D-lyxopyranoside as a minor product. While the reaction of 3-methyseleno-2-[methylselenomethyl]-propene with benzyl 2,3-anhydro-4-O-triflyl-α-D-ribopyranoside produces a good yield of benzyl-2,3-anhydro-4-deoxy-4-C-(2-methylpropen-3-yl)-α-D-lyxo-pyranoside. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the intermediate in the reaction of the β-L sugar frequently occupies an optimal conformation that leads to the formation of cyclopentane, while the intermediate in the reaction of the α-D sugar has a very small probability. The results point to the dominant role of the β-L sugar intermediate in controlling the cyclopentane formation.

An Asymmetric Organocatalytic Quadruple Domino Reaction Employing a Vinylogous Friedel-Crafts/Michael/Michael/Aldol Condensation Sequence

An organocatalytic quadruple cascade initiated by a Friedel-Crafts-type reaction is described. The (S)-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether catalyzed reaction yields highly functionalized cyclohexenecarbaldehydes bearing a 1,1-bis[4-(dialkylamino)phenyl]ethene moiety and three contiguous stereogenic centers. The reaction tolerates various functional groups and all products are obtained with very good diastereoselectivity and with virtually complete enantiomeric excess.