Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Addition/Cyclization Reactions of the C-N Multiple Bonds Containing Species

Efficient synthesis of α-amino-vinylphosphine oxides from alkyl nitriles via manganese-catalyzed phosphinoenamination

A protocol for the synthesis of α-amino-vinylphosphine oxides by phosphinoenamination reaction between alkyl nitriles and phosphine oxides was developed. The combination of Mn(OAc)2 as a Lewis acid and guanidine as a Lewis base was found to be an efficient catalytic system for this reaction. A series of alkyl nitriles and phosphine oxides are compatible with this conversion, furnishing the desired products in up to 95% yield under mild conditions. Furthermore, this method demonstrates the capability of gram-scale synthesis.

Two distinct protocols for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted maleimides based on transition-metal catalysts

Two tandem catalytic systems are described for the synthesis of novel 3,4-disubstituted maleimides using the same Ugi adducts as starting materials. 4-Aryl-3-pyrrolyl- and 4-aryl-3-indolyl-maleimides were successfully obtained via a Pd(OAc)2/PPh3 based protocol. In contrast, maleimide-fused pyrrolo and indolo[1,2-a]quinolines were obtained in a complementary methodology using CuI/L-proline. These strategies involved a combination of benzylic amine oxidation, trans-amidation, intramolecular Knoevenagel condensation, and N-arylation reactions. Computational investigations provide further insights into this reaction sequence.

Nickel-Catalyzed Intramolecular Dual Annulation Reaction of Aryl Nitrile-Containing 1,2,3-Benzotriazin-4(3H)-ones: A Pathway To Synthesize Luotonin A and Related Polycyclic Pyrroloquinazolinones

Herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed intramolecular denitrogenative dual annulation reaction of aryl nitrile-containing 1,2,3-benzotriazine-4(3H)-ones to synthesize polycyclic pyrroloquinazolinones with a tolerance of a wide diversity of substituents. This catalytic reaction is the first denitrogenative transannulation of 1,2,3-benzotriazine-4(3H)-one with nitrile, which can be applied as the critical step to synthesize luotonin A with a high step economy.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade 5-endo-dig Cyclization of Ynamides to Form 4-Alkynyloxazolones

The selective synthesis of 4-alkynyloxazolones and their further applications as substrates to electrophile-promoted nucleophilic cyclization have been developed. The reaction of ynamides with terminal alkynes proceeded smoothly to give 4-alkynyloxazolones in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate. The products were obtained with the sequential formation of new C-C and C-O bonds via a cascade procedure. The first step involved a carbon-oxygen bond formation, via a 5-endo-dig closure, which was confirmed by X-ray analyses of the crystalline sample. Subsequently, the reaction of 4-alkynyloxazolones with an electrophilic selenium source gave 3-phenylselanyl benzofuran derivatives via an electrophile-promoted nucleophilic cyclization.

Iridium-catalyzed stereoselective [3+2] annulation of α-oxocarboxylic acids with 1,3-dienes

The stereoselective annulation of α-oxocarboxylic acids with 1,3-dienes proceeded in the presence of a hydroxoiridium catalyst to give α-hydroxy-γ-lactones in good yields with high 3,5-trans relative stereochemistry. The use of a chiral diene ligand for a cationic iridium complex enabled asymmetric annulation with high enantioselectivity.