Enantioselective synthesis of bicylco[3.2.1]octan-8-ones using a tandem Michael-Henry reaction

Anion-π catalysis: bicyclic products with four contiguous stereogenic centers from otherwise elusive diastereospecific domino reactions on π-acidic surfaces

Anion-π interactions have been introduced recently to catalysis. The idea of stabilizing anionic intermediates and transition states on π-acidic surfaces is a new fundamental concept. By now, examples exist for asymmetric enolate, enamine, iminium and transamination chemistry, and the first anion-π enzyme has been created. Delocalized over large aromatic planes, anion-π interactions appear particularly attractive to stabilize extensive long-distance charge displacements during domino processes. Moving on from the formation of cyclohexane rings with five stereogenic centers in one step on a π-acidic surface, we here focus on asymmetric anion-π catalysis of domino reactions that afford bicyclic products with quaternary stereogenic centers. Catalyst screening includes a newly synthesized, better performing anion-π version of classical organocatalysts from cinchona alkaloids, and anion-π enzymes. We find stereoselectivities that are clearly better than the best ones reported with conventional catalysts, culminating in unprecedented diastereospecificity. Moreover, we describe achiral salts as supramolecular chirality enhancers and report the first artificial enzyme that operates in neutral water with anion-π interactions, i.e., interactions that are essentially new to enzymes. Evidence in support of contributions of anion-π interactions to asymmetric catalysis include increasing diastereo- and enantioselectivity with increasing rates, i.e., asymmetric transition-state stabilization in the presence of π-acidic surfaces and inhibition with the anion selectivity sequence NO3- > Br- > BF4- > PF6-.

(Thio)urea-mediated synthesis of functionalized six-membered rings with multiple chiral centers

Organocatalysis, now running its second decade of life, is being considered one of the main tools a synthetic chemist has to perform asymmetric catalysis. In this review the synthesis of six-membered rings, that contain multiple chiral centers, either by a ring closing process or by a functionalization reaction on an already existing six-membered ring, utilizing bifunctional (thio)ureas will be summarized. Initially, the use of primary amine-thioureas as organocatalysts for the above transformation is being discussed, followed by the examples employing secondary amine-thioureas. Finally, the use of tertiary amine-thioureas and miscellaneous examples are presented.

Enantioselective synthesis of bicyclo[3.n.1]alkanes by chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed desymmetrizing Michael cyclizations

2,2-Disubstituted cyclic 1,3-diketones containing a tethered electron-deficient alkene undergo chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed desymmetrizing Michael cyclizations to give bridged bicyclic products in high enantioselectivities. Both bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes are accessible using this methodology.

Organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction of β-aryl-α-ketophosphonates and nitroalkenes

The first enantioselective Michael reaction of β-aryl-α-ketophosphonates and nitroalkenes has been brealized by using a new bifunctional Takemoto-type thiourea catalyst. The primary Michael adducts obtained were converted in situ to the corresponding amides through the aminolysis. High yields, excellent diastereoselectivities (>95:5 dr), and good enantioselectivities (up to 81% ee) have been achieved for the corresponding α ,β-disubstituted γ-nitroamides. This reaction againdemon strated that α-ketophosphonates are interesting pronucleophiles that can be used as amide surrogates in organocatalyzed reactions.

One-pot sequential organocatalysis: highly stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted cyclohexanols

A highly diastereoselective (d.r. >99:1) and enantioselective (ee value up to 96%) synthesis of trisubstituted cyclohexanols was achieved by using a one-pot sequential organocatalysis that involved a quinidine thiourea-catalyzed tandem Henry-Michael reaction between nitromethane and 7-oxo-hept-5-en-1-als followed by a tetramethyl guanidine (TMG)-catalyzed tandem retro-Henry-Henry reaction on the reaction products of the tandem Henry-Michael reaction. Through a mechanistic study, it has also been demonstrated that similar results may also be achieved with this one-pot sequential organocatalysis by using the racemic Henry product as the substrate.

Asymmetric transformations involving 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds as pronucleophiles

This article concentrates on the versatile nucleophilic reactivity of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds in various asymmetric transformations. Although underexploited in comparison to their 1,3-dicarbonyl homologues, the presence of adjacent multiple reactive centres allows the selection of specific activation modes for enhancing the reactivity of these important ambident pronucleophiles. They can be involved in selective formation of C-C, C-O or C-N bonds leading to various optically active targets in the acyclic and cyclic series including three- to seven-membered ring systems. Recent contributions in the field of biochemical, organometallic and organic catalytic transformations as well as some relevant stoichiometric approaches are discussed from synthetic and mechanistic point of views highlighting some important stereochemical issues.

Thiazolium-catalyzed intermolecular Stetter reaction of linear and cyclic alkyl α-diketones

An efficient method for the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed conjugate addition of acetyl anions to various α,β-unsaturated acceptors (Stetter reaction) has been optimized by using 2,3-butandione (biacetyl) as an alternative surrogate of acetaldehyde. The disclosed procedure proved to be compatible with microwave dielectric heating for reaction time reduction and with the use of different linear α-diketones as acyl anion donors (e.g. 3,4-hexanedione for propionyl anion additions). Moreover, the unprecedented umpolung reactivity of cyclic α-diketones in the atom economic nucleophilic acylation of chalcones is herein presented. Mechanistic aspects of the thiazolium-based catalysis involving linear and cyclic α-diketone substrates are also discussed.

Organocatalytic enantioselective tandem aldol-cyclization reaction of α-isothiocyanato imides and activated carbonyl compounds

The organocatalytic enantioselective tandem aldol-cyclization reactions of α-isothiocyanato imides and activated carbonyl compounds, such as isatins, an α-ketolactone and a 1,2-dione, have been studied with cinchona alkaloid-derived thiourea-catalysts. This methodology provided an easy way to access enantiomerically enriched spirobicyclic thiocarbamates with high yields and good to excellent stereoselectivity, which have been demonstrated to be useful precursors for the synthesis of biologically active molecules.

Chiral indane skeleton based thiourea catalyzed highly stereoselective cascade Michael-enolation-cyclization reaction

An efficient asymmetric cascade reaction catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional indane amine-thiourea catalyst has been developed. From a broad substrate scope, chiral dihydro-2H-pyran complexes that contained two stereogenic centers were obtained in a one-pot manner in good to excellent yields (72-97%) and high to excellent stereoselectivities (92-97% ee).

Developing novel organocatalyzed aldol reactions for the enantioselective synthesis of biologically active molecules

Aldol reaction is one of the most important methods for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds. Because of its significance and usefulness, asymmetric versions of this reaction have been realized with different approaches in the past. Over the last decade, the area of organocatalysis has made significant progresses. As one of most studied reactions in organocatalyses, organocatalyzed aldol reaction has emerged as a powerful tool for the synthesis of a large number of useful products in optically enriched forms. In this review, we summarize our efforts on the development of novel organocatalyzed aldol reactions for the enantioselective synthesis of biological active molecules. Literatures closely related to our studies are also covered.