Zinc-Catalyzed Enantioselective [3 + 3] Annulation for Synthesis of Chiral Spiro[indoline-3,4'-thiopyrano[2,3-b]indole] Derivatives

With a dinuclear zinc-ProPhenol complex as a catalyst, an efficient and novel [3 + 3] annulation of indoline-2-thiones and isatylidene malononitriles has been successfully developed via the Brønsted base and Lewis acid cooperative activation model. This practical methodology gives access to a broad range of chiral spiro[indoline-3,4'-thiopyrano[2,3-b]indole] derivatives in good yields with excellent levels of enantioselectivities (up to 88% yield and 99% ee).

Fe-BPsalan Complex-Catalyzed Asymmetric [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of Cyclopentadiene with α,β-Unsaturated Heterocycles

An efficient iron-catalyzed asymmetric [4 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene with α,β-unsaturated acyl imidazoles or 2-cinnamoylisoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives was developed to afford the addition products in high yield and selectivity. Interestingly, the absolute structures of the addition products were controlled by the auxiliaries via different coordination modes with the same type of catalyst.

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of functionalized and fused heterocycles from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts of dicyclopentadienone

An efficient protocol for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of dicyclopentadienone using CTAB has been developed. The MBH adduct was subsequently transformed to its acetate and bromide derivatives. The 1,3-bielectrophilic character of the MBH acetate and bromide was further explored with various 1,3-binucleophiles to construct various oxa-, thia- and aza-heterocycles. These reactions proceed through a cascade double Michael addition of 1,3-binucleophiles to the MBH acetate/bromide under basic conditions. Amenability of these reactions to scale-up and applications of the products in the synthesis of cyclopentenone-fused chromenones and thiopyranoindoles have been demonstrated.

Asymmetric sequential annulation/aldol process of 4-isothiocyanato pyrazolones and allenones: access to novel spiro[pyrrole-pyrazolones] and spiro[thiopyranopyrrole-pyrazolones]

A catalytic asymmetric sequential annulation/aldol reaction of 4-isothiocyanato pyrazolones and allenyl ketones has been developed, which furnished a series of spiro[pyrrole-pyrazolone] heterocycles and structurally novel spiro[thiopyranopyrrole-pyrazolone] derivatives in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities. Notably, parallel resolution of racemic spiro[pyrrole-pyrazolones] was achieved by a catalyst-controlled asymmetric intramolecular vinylogous aldol process. Structure diversity of the product was further enhanced by ready transformations.

Synthesis of tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3-b]indoles via [3+3] annulation of nitroallylic acetates with indoline-2-thiones

[3+3] annulation of 1,3-binucleophilic indolin-2-thione with 1,3-bielectrophilic nitroallylic acetate via an S_N2-reaction-6-endo-trig cyclization takes place with high regio- and stereoselectivity to afford tetrahydrothiopyranoindoles.

The Shape of the Archetypical Oxocarbon Squaric Acid and Its Water Clusters

Herein, a full structural description is presented for the archetypical supramolecular synthone squaric acid (3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione), placed in the gas phase by laser ablation and characterized by chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave technique. Free from natural environmental disturbances, two different anti-anti and syn-anti planar forms and the corresponding water clusters have been revealed in a supersonic expansion. The substitution structure of the most stable anti-anti conformer has also been extracted from the analysis of the rotational spectra of the ¹³ C and ¹⁸ O isotopic species in their natural abundance. The interplay between inter- and intramolecular interactions involving hydroxy and carbonyl groups has been analyzed by QTAIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecules) methods for squaric acid and its water clusters to understand their chemical behavior and further rationalize their role in the stabilization of these molecular systems.

Enantioselective photoredox dehalogenative protonation

We report an enantioselective photoredox dehalogenative protonation as a new type of asymmetric protonation. As a paradigm, with a cooperative catalytic system consisting of a chiral H-bonding catalyst and a dicyanopyrazine-derived chromophore (DPZ) photosensitizer that is irradiated with visible light, a range of cyclic and acyclic ketones with labile chiral secondary C-F, C-Cl and C-Br bonds at the α-position were obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) by using a secondary amine as the terminal reductant. Given the ready accessibility of halides, the success of this work should provide inspiration for constructing diverse chiral α-tertiary carbonyls and their variants.

Synthesis of Functionalized Thieno[2,3-b]indoles via One-Pot Reaction of Indoline-2-thiones with Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier Adducts of Nitroalkenes

A straightforward protocol for the synthesis of functionalized thieno[2,3-b]indoles by base-mediated [3 + 2]-annulation of indoline-2-thione with Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier adducts of nitroalkenes is described. Complete regioselectivity, broad substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions make this strategy very valuable. Moreover, the thieno[2,3-b]indoles comprising functional groups such as hydrazine and ketoalkyl moieties are amenable for further synthetic elaboration.

Organocatalysis: A Brief Overview on Its Evolution and Applications

The use of small organic molecules as catalysts has gained increasing importance recently. These substances, the so-called organocatalysts, present a lot of advantages, like being less toxic, less polluting, and more economically viable than the organometallic catalysts that dominate asymmetric synthesis. This work intends to briefly show some classic works and recent publications, explaining the advantages of organocatalysis and the different types of compounds used in this field, as well as their course of action.

Supported and Unsupported Chiral Squaramides as Organocatalysts for Stereoselective Michael Additions: Synthesis of Enantiopure Chromenes and Spirochromanes

Novel supported chiral bifunctional squaramides have been easily prepared starting from diamines derived from natural amino acids and commercially available aminoalkyl polystyrene resins. These squaramides behave as excellent stereoselective recoverable organocatalysts in different Michael additions, in neat conditions at room temperature. The reaction on 2-(2-nitrovinyl) phenol as electrophile lead, in excellent yields and enantioselectivities, to intermediates that can be easily transformed into 4H-chromenes, and spirochromanones.

Access to thiopyrano[2,3-b]indole via tertiary amine-catalyzed formal (3+3) annulations of β′-acetoxy allenoates with indoline-2-thiones

Amine-catalyzed formal (3+3) annulations of β′-acetoxy allenoates with indoline-2-thiones are described, which provide facile access to thiopyrano[2,3-b]indole.

The squaramide-catalyzed asymmetric Michael/cyclization tandem reaction for the synthesis of chiral trifluoromethylated hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones

An enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones has been developed. 1,3-Dicarbonyl carbocyclic compounds react with β-CF3-β-disubstituted nitroalkenes in the presence of a chiral squaramide catalyst, providing efficient access to diverse hydroxyimino tetrahydrobenzofuranones featuring a trifluoromethyl group at the C3-position of an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with good yields (up to 81%) and enantioselectivities (up to 89% ee).

Organocatalyzed enantioselective [3 + 3] annulation for the direct synthesis of conformationally constrained cyclic tryptophan derivatives

Synthesis of optically active conformationally strained β-branched cyclic tryptophan derivatives has been realized via chiral squaramide catalyzed enantioselective formal [3 + 3] annulation of indolin-2-thiones and 4-arylmethylideneoxazolin-5(4H)-ones.

Organocatalyzed asymmetric tandem Michael-cyclization reaction of 4-benzylidene-3-methylpyrazol-5-ones and malononitrile: stereocontrolled construction of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole scaffold

Stereocontrolled construction of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole scaffold has been realized via chiral squaramide catalyzed asymmetric tandem Michael addition/cyclization reaction of 4-benzylidenepyrazol-5(4H)-ones and malononitrile.

Organocatalytic multicomponent synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from 1,2-diones, aldehydes and arylamines

We have developed an organocatalyzed three-component reaction of 1,2-diones, aldehydes and arylamines, which provides an efficient approach to access polysubstituted pyrroles.

Stereocontrolled construction of 3H-furo[3,4-b]chromen-1(9H)-one scaffolds via organocatalyzed Michael addition and the following intramolecular dehydration

Stereocontrolled construction of 3H-furo[3,4-b]chromen-1(9H)-one scaffolds has been realized via chiral squaramide catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of tetronic acid to 2-((E)-2-nitrovinyl)phenols and the subsequent intramolecular dehydration.