On the tandem Morita-Baylis-Hillman/transesterification processes. Mechanistic insights for the role of protic solvents

Discovery and structure-activity relationship of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts as larvicides against dengue mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have become a significant public health problem worldwide, notably the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever borne by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Thus, mosquito vector control measures remain essential in public health vector surveillance and control to combat Aedes-borne infections. Therefore, a series of MBH adducts were synthesized and assessed towards the fourth instar mosquito larvae, Aedes aegypti, along with the preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR). Noteworthy, this compound class might be synthetized by an efficient eco-friendly synthesismethod and a rapid route for the synthesis of commercial larvicide through a single synthetic step. The bioassays showed that this compound class is a promising larvicide to control Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae, mainly 3g, with an LC₅₀ of 41.35 µg/mL, which was higher than evaluated positive controls. Nevertheless, it is a viable larvicidalhit candidate for further hit-to-leadproperties optimization of its biphenyl backbone scaffold with enhanced insecticidalbioactivity. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis suggested a disruption of the osmoregulatory/ionoregulatory functions by the complete deterioration of the terminal exoskeleton hindgut and anal papillae. Therefore, this new study shows the larvicidal efficacy of the tested compounds against the Aedes aegypti larvae.

Acyl Transfer-Driven Rauhut-Currier Dimerization of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Ketones

A serendipitous Rauhut-Currier dimerization of 1,1-disubstituted activated olefins derived from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts was observed in the presence of DABCO. The reaction is driven by the migration of an acyl group and produces multifunctionalized enol esters in yields greater than 90% in most cases, without necessitating column chromatographic purification. The acyl transfer is thought to proceed via a transition state typical of a Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction, supported by a brief mechanistic study involving computational calculations.

Recent Contributions of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in Organocatalysis Mechanism Elucidation

Background:

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is one of the most employed techniques in structural elucidation of organic compounds. In addition to its use in structural characterization, it has been widely employed in the investigation of reaction mechanisms, especially those involving catalysis.

Objective:

In this review, we aim to provide recent examples of the interface of NMR and organocatalysis reaction mechanism.

Methods:

Selected examples of different approaches for mechanism elucidation will be presented, such as isotopic effect, catalyst labelling and online reaction monitoring. A discussion involving the use of solid-state NMR will also be disclosed.

Conclusion:

NMR consists of a non-destructive technique, extremely useful in the real-time identification of intermediates in crude reaction mixtures. With the advent of two-dimensional experiments and high field NMR spectrometers, the reports of studies involving mechanistic elucidation were greatly enhanced. In this context, nowadays NMR appears as a powerful tool for the comprehension of reaction mechanisms, including the possibility of the proposal of unknown reaction mechanisms within organocatalysis.

Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of a chiral aziridine aldehyde

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of (R)-1-((R)-1-phenylethyl)aziridine-2-carbaldehyde with alkyl acrylate was carried out under various conditions by changing solvents, bases, and alcohol additives. The reaction at room temperature under neat conditions (no solvent) with quinuclidine as an amine nucleophile, in the presence of benzyl alcohol as an additive, afforded a product, γ-(aziridin-2-yl)-β-hydroxy-α-methylene butanoate, in 97% yield with a diastereomeric ratio of anti and syn as 86 : 14.