Highly Selective Nucleophilic 4‐Aryl ‐2,3‐allenylation of Malonates †

Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Creation of All-Carbon Quaternary Center with 2,3-Allenylic Carbonates

Enantioselective construction of all-carbon quaternary centers has been achieved via the palladium-catalyzed highly enantioselective allenylation of oxindoles with 2,3-allenylic carbonates to afford a variety of optically active allene products, which contain oxindole units with different functional groups, in high ee. The corresponding synthetic applications have also been demonstrated.

Core Structure-Oriented Asymmetric α-Allenylic Alkylation of Amino Acid Esters Enabled by Chiral Aldehyde/Palladium Catalysis

Aiming at the reported chiral synthons leading to manzacidins A and D, here we report a highly efficient catalytic asymmetric α-allenylic alkylation reaction of NH2-unprotected amino acid esters that is promoted by combined chiral aldehyde/palladium catalysis. Fifty examples of unnatural α,α-disubstituted amino acid esters are reported with good-to-excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Based on this methodology, a key intermediate leading to manzacidin C and its other three stereoisomers is prepared accordingly.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Dienyl Sulfoxide

Sulfoxides are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and as ligands in asymmetric catalysis. However, the efficient asymmetric synthesis of this structural motif remains limited. In this study, we disclosed a Ni-catalyzed enantioconvergent reaction that utilizes both racemic allenyl carbonates and β-sulfinyl esters. Our method employs cheap and more sustainable Ni(II) as a precatalyst and successfully overcomes the challenging poisoning effect and instability of sulfenate generated in situ. This enables the synthesis of a series of dienyl sulfoxides with enantioselectivity of up to 98 % ee. The product exhibits tremendous potential in various applications, including diastereoselective Diels-Alder reactions, coordination with transition metals, and incorporation into medicinal compounds, among others. Using a combination of experimental and computational methods, we have uncovered an interesting associated outersphere mechanism that contrasts with conventional mechanisms commonly observed in asymmetric transition metal catalysis.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allenylic alkylation: construction of multiple chiral thiochromanone derivatives

The development of a new strategy for the construction of chiral cyclic sulfide-containing multiple stereogenic centers is highly desirable. Herein, by the combination of base-promoted retro-sulfa-Michael addition and palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allenylic alkylation, the streamlined synthesis of chiral thiochromanones containing two central chiralities (including a quaternary stereogenic center) and an axial chirality (allene unit) was successfully realized with up to 98% yield, 49.0 : 1 dr and >99% ee.

Modular and Selective Access to Functionalized Alkynes and Allenes via the Intermediacy of Propargylic Acetates

We report an efficient one-pot, two-step procedure for the modular synthesis of α-difunctionalized alkynes and trisubstituted allenes by sequential cross-coupling of benzal gem-diacetates with organozinc or -copper reagents in the absence of external transition metals. The intermediacy of propargylic acetates enables the divergent and selective synthesis of these valuable products. This method features its readily accessible substrates, relatively mild conditions, wide scope, and scalability in practical synthesis.

Palladium-Catalyzed Stereoselective Construction of 1,3-Stereocenters Displaying Axial and Central Chirality via Asymmetric Alkylations

The concurrent construction of 1,3-stereocenters remains a challenge. Herein, we report the development of stereoselective union of a point chiral center with allenyl axial chirality in 1,3-position by Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allenylic alkylation between racemic allenyl carbonates and indanone-derived β-ketoesters. Various target products bearing a broad range of functional groups were afforded in high yield (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and good diastereoselectivities (up to 13:1 dr).

Reactivity of vinylidene-π-allyl palladium(II) species

The reactivity of a new type of organometallic intermediate, vinylidene-π-allyl palladium species, has been demonstrated: the reaction between 4-alken-2-ynyl carbonates and stabilized carbon nucleophiles afforded functionalized 1,2,3,-butatriene compounds in moderate to high yields and excellent regioselectivities.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Allenes with α,β-Adjacent Central Chiralities Empowered by Synergistic Pd/Cu Catalysis

The stereodivergent synthesis of allene compounds bearing α,β-adjacent central chiralities has been realized via the Pd/Cu-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric alkylation of racemic allenylic esters. The matched reactivity of bimetallic catalytic system enables the challenging reaction of racemic aryl-substituted allenylic acetates with sterically crowded aldimine esters smoothly under mild reaction conditions. Various chiral non-natural amino acids bearing a terminal allenyl group are easily synthesized in high yields and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >20 : 1 dr, >99 % ee). Importantly, all four stereoisomers of the product can be readily accessed by switching the configurations of the two chiral metal catalysts. Furthermore, the easy interconversion between the uncommon η³ -butadienyl palladium intermediate featuring a weak C=C/Pd coordination bond and a stable Csp² -Pd bond is beneficial for the dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation process (DyKAT).

Recent advances in the metal-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral allenes

Recent advances in the metal-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral allenes are summarized. This review is categorized based on the starting material, including alkynes, racemic allenes, and conjugated dienes.

Enantio- and Diastereodivergent Construction of 1,3-Nonadjacent Stereocenters Bearing Axial and Central Chirality through Synergistic Pd/Cu Catalysis

In contrast to the widely explored methods for the asymmetric synthesis of molecules bearing a single stereocenter or adjacent stereocenters, the concurrent construction of 1,3-stereogenic centers in an enantio- and diastereoselective manner remains a challenge, especially in acyclic systems. Herein, we report an enantio- and diastereodivergent construction of 1,3-nonadjacent stereocenters bearing allenyl axial and central chirality through synergistic Pd/Cu-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric allenylation with racemic allenylic esters. The protocol is suitable for a wide range of substrates including the challenging allenylic esters with less sterically bulky substituents and provided chiral allenylic products bearing 1,3-nonadjacent stereocenters with high levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr and >99% ee). Furthermore, several representative transformations involving axial-to-central chirality transfer were conducted, affording useful structural motifs containing nonadjacent stereocenters in a diastereodivergent manner.

A palladium-catalyzed approach to allenic aromatic ethers and first total synthesis of terricollene A

A palladium-catalyzed C-O bond formation reaction between phenols and allenylic carbonates to give 2,3-allenic aromatic ethers with decent to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions has been described. A variety of synthetically useful functional groups are tolerated and the synthetic utility of this method has been demonstrated through a series of transformations of the allene moiety. By applying this reaction as the key step, the total syntheses of naturally occurring allenic aromatic ethers, eucalyptene and terricollene A (first synthesis; 4.5 g gram scale), have been accomplished.

Deciphering the Chameleonic Chemistry of Allenols: Breaking the Taboo of a Onetime Esoteric Functionality

The allene functionality has participated in one of the most exciting voyages in organic chemistry, from chemical curiosities to a recurring building block in modern organic chemistry. In the last decades, a special kind of allene, namely, allenol, has emerged. Allenols, formed by an allene moiety and a hydroxyl functional group with diverse connectivity, have become common building blocks for the synthesis of a wide range of structures and frequent motif in naturally occurring systems. The synergistic effect of the allene and hydroxyl functional groups enables allenols to be considered as a unique and sole functionality exhibiting a special reactivity. This Review summarizes the most significant contributions to the chemistry of allenols that appeared during the past decade, with emphasis on their synthesis, reactivity, and occurrence in natural products.