Nitrogen- and Phosphorus-Containing Lewis Base Catalyzed [4+2] and [3+2] Annulation Reactions of Isatins with But-3-yn-2-one

Conceptual advances in nucleophilic organophosphine-promoted transformations

Catalysis by trivalent nucleophilic organophosphines has emerged as an essential tool in organic synthesis. Several new organic transformations promoted by phosphines substantiate and complement the existing synthetic chemistry tools. Mere design of the substrate and reagent combinations has introduced new modes of reactivity patterns, which are otherwise difficult to achieve. These design considerations have led to the rapid build-up of complex molecular entities and laid a solid foundation to synthesise bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. This article presents an overview of some of the conceptual advances, including our contributions to nucleophilic organophosphine chemistry. The scope, limitations, mechanistic insights, and applications of these metal-free transformations are discussed elaborately.

Phosphine-catalysed denitrative rearomatising (3 + 2) annulation of α,β-ynones and 3-nitroindoles

We describe a metal-free strategy to access various α-arylidene cyclopenta[b]indoles via phosphine-catalysed (3 + 2) annulation of α,β-ynones and 3-nitroindoles. For the first time, the rearomatisation of the indole nucleus was observed in such an annulative transformation. The method was extended to the synthesis of an antimalarial natural product, bruceolline E.

Phosphine-catalyzed divergent reactivity of alkynoates with acid anhydrides: chemo- and stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted olefins and dienes

Unprecedented phosphine-catalyzed chemoselective acylesterification, tandem addition and Michael type reaction between alkynoates and acid anhydrides have been developed, enabling efficient synthesis of either the polysubstituted olefins or the multifunctional dienes.

Cooperative Palladium-Catalyzed and P(NEt2)3-Mediated (4+1) Annulation of Isatins with 2-Hydroxymethylallylcarbonates

P(NR2)3-promoted transformations of isatins with electron-withdrawing alkenes have received consistently attention over the last decades. However, no example involving chemical transformations of nonactivated or weakly activated alkenes is discovered in...

Regiodivergent Organocatalytic Reactions

Organocatalysts are abundantly used for various transformations, particularly to obtain highly enantio- and diastereomeric pure products by controlling the stereochemistry. These applications of organocatalysts have been the topic of several reviews. Organocatalysts have emerged as one of the very essential areas of research due to their mild reaction conditions, cost-effective nature, non-toxicity, and environmentally benign approach that obviates the need for transition metal catalysts and other toxic reagents. Various types of organocatalysts including amine catalysts, Brønsted acids, and Lewis bases such as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts, cinchona alkaloids, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and hydrogen bond-donating catalysts, have gained renewed interest because of their regioselectivity. In this review, we present recent advances in regiodivergent reactions that are governed by organocatalysts. Additionally, we briefly discuss the reaction pathways of achieving regiodivergent products by changes in conditions such as solvents, additives, or the temperature.

Synthesis of Spirotetrahydrofuran Oxindoles via Palladium-Catalyzed [4 + 1] Cycloaddition of Diphenyl 2-Oxoindolin-3-yl Phosphates and 2-Methylidenetrimethylene Carbonate

A novel palladium-catalyzed [4 + 1] cycloaddition to give spirotetrahydrofuran oxindoles has been developed, in which diphenyl 2-oxoindolin-3-yl phosphates were used as the both electrophilic and nucleophilic C₁ synthons at C-3 of the oxindole unit and 2-methylidenetrimethylene carbonate was used as the 1,4-dipole. The cycloannulation was performed at room temperature and provided the corresponding spirotetrahydrofuran oxindoles in good to excellent yields. The present method affords a new strategy for the construction of spirooxindole derivatives with unique three-dimensional structures.

Conjugated ynones in catalytic enantioselective reactions

Conjugated ynones are easily accessible feedstock and the existence of an alkyne bond endows ynones with different attractive reactivities, thus making them unique substrates for catalytic asymmetric reactions. Their compatibility under organocatalytic, metal-catalyzed as well as cooperative catalytic conditions has resulted in numerous enantioselective transformations. Importantly, conjugated ynones can act as nucleophiles or electrophiles, and serve as easily accessed synthons for different cyclization pathways. This review summarizes the recent literature examples of the catalytic reactions of conjugated ynones and related compounds such as alkyne conjugated α-ketoesters, and classifies these reaction types alongside mechanistic insights whenever possible. We aim to trigger more intensive research in the future to render the asymmetric transformation of ynones as a common and reliable tool for asymmetric synthesis.

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds through nucleophilic phosphine catalysis

Nucleophilic phosphine catalysis is a practical and powerful tool for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds with the advantages of environmentally friendly, metal-free, and mild reaction conditions. The present report summarizes the construction of four to eight-membered heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur atoms through phosphine-catalyzed intramolecular annulations and intermolecular [2+2], [3+2], [4+1], [3+1+1], [5+1], [4+2], [2+2+2], [3+3], [4+3] and [3+2+3] annulations of electron-deficient alkenes, allenes, alkynes and Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates.

Phosphine-Catalyzed α-Umpolung-Aldol Reaction for the Synthesis of Benzo[ b]azapin-3-ones

A novel phosphine-catalyzed intermolecular cyclization between 2-sulfonamidobenzaldehyes and ynones is reported. This methodology serves as a conduit for the construction of benzo[ b]azepin-3-ones in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The resulting 2-benzylidene moieties are formed exclusively in the E-configuration. Mechanistically, this unusual annulation occurs through a phosphine-catalyzed α-umpolung addition, followed by an aldol reaction. One of the benzo[ b]azepin-3-one products was converted to the core structure of 3-amino-[ a]benzazepin-2-one-1-alkanoic acids, many of which function as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Mechanisms of phosphine-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition of ynones and azomethine imines: a DFT study

Mechanisms of PPh₃-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition between a ynone and an azomethine imine.

Phosphine- and water-promoted pentannulative aldol reaction

An intramolecular aldol reaction promoted by tributylphosphine and water is described. Thereby, metal-free access to highly functionalised cyclopenta-fused arenes and heteroarenes is achieved.

Phosphine Organocatalysis

The hallmark of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis is the initial nucleophilic addition of a phosphine to an electrophilic starting material, producing a reactive zwitterionic intermediate, generally under mild conditions. In this Review, we classify nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions in terms of their electrophilic components. In the majority of cases, these electrophiles possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds: alkenes (section 2), allenes (section 3), alkynes (section 4), and Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) alcohol derivatives (MBHADs; section 5). Within each of these sections, the reactions are compiled based on the nature of the second starting material-nucleophiles, dinucleophiles, electrophiles, and electrophile-nucleophiles. Nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions that occur via the initial addition to starting materials that do not possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds are collated in section 6. Although not catalytic in the phosphine, the formation of ylides through the nucleophilic addition of phosphines to carbon-carbon multiple bond-containing compounds is intimately related to the catalysis and is discussed in section 7. Finally, section 8 compiles miscellaneous topics, including annulations of the Hüisgen zwitterion, phosphine-mediated reductions, iminophosphorane organocatalysis, and catalytic variants of classical phosphine oxide-generating reactions.

Organocatalytic umpolung annulative dimerization of ynones for the synthesis of 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones

A novel phosphine-catalyzed umpolung [3 + 2]-annulative dimerization of ynones was developed to furnish functionally rich 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones. In this protocol, ynone acts as both C2 and C3 synthons, which undergo [3 + 2]-annulative dimerization.

Phosphine catalyzed δ-carbon addition and isomerization of alkynones to ketimines: the preparation of 1,3-diene substituted dihydroquinazolinones and 3-aminooxindoles

A novel strategy of the phosphine catalyzed addition of alkynones to ketimines for the synthesis of α-amino diene derivatives has been developed for the first time, thus providing diene incorporating α-amino products in moderate to excellent yields.

Phosphine-mediated partial reduction of alkynes to form both (E)- and (Z)-alkenes

A mild, tunable method to form both (E)- and (Z)-alkenes from alkynes is reported using PPh₃ as a reductant.

Green Method To Preparing Oxindole-Fused Spirotetrahydrofuran Scaffolds through Methanesulfonic Acid-Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions of 3-Allyl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindole in Water

Water is an ideal solvent for chemical transformations in environmentally friendly and sustainable processes. An operationally simple, metal-free, and green approach to the synthesis of oxindole-fused spirotetrahydrofurans from 3-allyl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles in water is described. This method requires only cheap methanesulfonic acid as a catalyst and eliminates the need of complicated reagents. This atom- and step-economical transformation is highly efficient, which provides a new approach for the construction of oxindole-fused spirotetrahydrofuran molecules with potential pharmaceutical interest.

Phosphine catalysed (5 + 1) annulation of ynone/cinnamates with primary amines

The (5 + 1) annulation of ynone/cinnamates with protected primary amines gives rise to various heterocycles in good to excellent yields under phosphine catalysis.

Phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] and [4 + 2] annulation reactions of ynones with barbiturate-derived alkenes

The phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation reaction of ynones and barbiturate-derived alkenes has been developed with the assistance of a weak acid, giving functionalized spirobarbiturate-cyclopentanones.

Tunable regiodivergent phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynones and trifluoroacetyl phenylamides

The regiodivergent phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)phenylamides and alkynones have been achieved through adjusting the acidities of substrates, changing reaction temperature and addition of protic additive H₂O. The detailed mechanism was systematically studied.

Co-catalysis between DABCO and a Brønsted acid in the catalytic [4 + 2] annulation of isatin with but-3-yn-2-one and mechanistic investigations

Catalytic amounts of the base catalyst DABCO in cooperation with a proton source afford the [4 + 2] cycloadducts of isatins with but-3-yn-2-one in moderate to good yields. Moreover, related plausible mechanisms have been proposed in detail based on control and deuterium labeling experiments.