N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis as a Tool for Gaining Access to the 3,4-Dihydropyran-2-one Skeleton

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydropyran-2-Ones Organocatalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

In recent years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have gained recognition as versatile molecules capable of acting as organocatalysts in various reactions, particularly through the activation of aldehydes via Breslow-type adducts. This organocatalytic activation has enabled the production of numerous 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and related derivatives. In this review, we provide an overview of the production of 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and derivatives via organocatalytic processes involving NHCs over the past eight years. These processes involve the use of a diverse range of substrates, catalysts, and reaction conditions, which can be classified into [4+2]-and [3+3]-type cycloadditions, primarily aimed at synthesizing this skeleton due to its biological activity and multiple stereocenters. These processes are scaled up to the gram scale, and the resulting products are often directed towards epimerization and functionalization to produce more complex molecules with potential applications in the biological field. Finally, we provide a perspective and the future directions of this topic in organic synthesis.

Iodine(III)-Mediated Contraction of 3,4-Dihydropyranones: Access to Polysubstituted γ-Butyrolactones

Functionalized γ-butyrolactones are privileged structures in the field of medicinal chemistry; they are found in numerous natural products and synthetic compounds with diverse biological activities. The oxidative ring contraction of 3,4-dihydropyran-2-one derivatives represents a promising yet underappreciated strategy to access these compounds. To the best of our knowledge, very few examples of this strategy have been reported, with limited investigation of the influence of stereogenic centers on the starting dihydropyranones. We investigated the iodine(III)-mediated contraction of a representative set of dihydropyranone derivatives. The method gives rapid access to functionalized γ-butyrolactones in good yields. The reaction scope was investigated, and the method was found to support various levels of substituents, even enabling access to sterically congested quaternary centers. The stereoselectivity was investigated using chiral substrates and a chiral iodine(III) reagent.

Direct and Enantioselective Synthesis of N-H-Free 1,5-Benzodiazepin-2-ones by an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed [3+4] Annulation Reaction

An NHC-catalyzed formal [3+4] annulation of α,β-unsaturated acylazoliums with protecting-group-free aryl 1,2-diamines was developed for a direct and highly enantioselective synthesis of 4-aryl N-H-free 1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones. This methodology offers an efficient and rapid access to a wide range of enantioenriched target compounds from easily accessible starting materials. The protocol is also scalable and the desired products can easily undergo subsequent N-functionalization to afford diverse N-substituted derivatives. Additionally, a mechanism was proposed to explain the high enantioselectivity in this process.

An uncommon multicomponent reaction involving nucleophilic heterocyclic carbenes: facile synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentanones

An unprecedented three component reaction involving arylidene oxazolone, enal and NHC, leading to the synthesis of fully substituted cyclopentanone derivatives with three contiguous stereocenters, is reported.

Synthesis of Succinimide Derivatives by NHC-Catalyzed Stetter Reaction of Aromatic Aldehydes with N-Substituted Itaconimides

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed intermolecular Stetter reaction of aromatic aldehydes with N-substituted itaconimides has been developed. A delicate balance between the Stetter reaction and the competing isomerization of the itaconimide double bond has been achieved in this operationally simple reaction to afford valuable new succinimide derivatives containing 1,4 and 1,5 dicarbonyl scaffolds in good to excellent yields. The reaction tolerates variable substituents on both aldehydes and N-substituted itaconimides.

Formal [3 + 4] Annulation of α,β-Unsaturated Acyl Azoliums: Access to Enantioenriched N-H-Free 1,5-Benzothiazepines

An unprecedented formal [3 + 4] annulation of α,β-unsaturated acyl azoliums with 2-aminobenzenethiols has been utilized to synthesize enantioenriched N-H-free 1,5-benzothiazepines, which are recognized as privileged structures in numerous biologically active scaffolds. This protocol offers a rapid and direct pathway to access the target compounds with high enantioselectivities and has been applied in the concise synthesis of chiral drug (R)-thiazesim.

Oxidative N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Dearomatization of Indoles to Spirocyclic Indolenines with a Quaternary Carbon Stereocenter

An efficient method for the asymmetric intramolecular dearomatization of indoles by using oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis is demonstrated. Valuable optically active spirocyclic indolenines bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter are obtained in excellent yields and with excellent enantioselectivity. The starting indoles are readily prepared and the reactions proceed through an intramolecular indole 3-acylation with an in situ generated acyl azolium intermediate to form a spirocyclic ketone moiety.

Organocatalytic C–C bond activation of cyclopropenones for ring-opening formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition with isatins

Cyclopropenones were first applied as potential 3C synthons in ring-opening formal cycloaddition with isatins via an organocatalytic C–C bond activation strategy.

A facile one-pot synthesis of 2,3-diarylated benzo[b]furans via relay NHC and palladium catalysis

An efficient one-pot synthesis of 2,3-diarylated benzo[b]furans was realized through the relay catalysis of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) and palladium from substituted 2'-bromodiphenylbromomethanes and aryl aldehydes. The easy availability of the starting materials, good compatibility of catalysts, convergent assembly and concomitant modification of the target scaffold, and potential utilization value of the products make this strategy attractive in organic synthesis.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-triggered transition-metal-free synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofuran derivatives

An NHC-triggered, transition-metal-free strategy for the efficient synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofuran derivatives in moderate to excellent yields from aryl or alkyl aldehydes and o-quinone methides has been developed.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclization of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids bearing γ-H with isatins: an enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic oxindole–dihydropyranones

An NHC-catalyzed asymmetric [4 + 2] annulation of isatins and α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids bearing γ-H gave spirocyclic oxindole–dihydropyranones successfully via an in situ activation strategy.

Formal [3 + 3] annulation of isatin-derived 2-bromoenals with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds enabled by Lewis acid/N-heterocyclic carbene cooperative catalysis

Several novel isatin-derived 2-bromoenals were applied for formal [3 + 3] annulation with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds enabled by NHC/Lewis acid cooperative catalysis.

Copper-catalyzed tandem trifluoromethylation–cyclization of olefinic carbonyls: synthesis of trifluoromethylated 2,3-dihydrofurans and 3,4-dihydropyrans

A copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation–cyclization of olefinic carbonyls was developed. With this method, a variety of 2,3-dihydrofuran and 3,4-dihydropyran derivatives containing a CF₃ group were selectively obtained in moderate to good yields.

Enantioselective annulation of enals with 2-naphthols by triazolium salts derived from l-phenylalanine

A series of chiral triazolium salts have been synthesized from methyl l-phenylalaninate hydrochloride. The NHCs derived from this class of novel triazolium salts were found to be highly efficient catalysts in the annulation reaction of enals and 2-naphthols. These reactions proceeded with high chemoselectivity and wide substrate scope affording enantioenriched β-arylsplitomicins in good yields with up to 96% ee.

An NHC-catalyzed in situ activation strategy to β-functionalize saturated carboxylic acid: an enantioselective formal [3+2] annulation for spirocyclic oxindolo-γ-butyrolactones

An in situ NHC-catalyzed activation strategy to β-functionalize saturated carboxylic acid was developed. This asymmetric formal [3+2] annulation could deliver spirocyclic oxindolo-γ-butyrolactones from saturated carboxylic acid and isatin in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The easy availability of the starting materials, direct installation of functional units at unreactive carbon atom and the convergent assembly make this protocol attractive in the field of organic synthesis.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation of cyclic β-enamino esters with enals: access to functionalized indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines

A novel synthetic approach to functionalized indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidines is developed via an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation of cyclic β-enamino esters with enals.