New glycosyl-α-aminotetrazole-based catalysts for highly enantioselective aldol reactions

One-Pot Catalytic Synthesis of α-Tetrasubstituted Amino Acid Derivatives via In Situ Generation of N-Unsubstituted Ketimines

A one-pot catalytic synthesis of α-tetrasubstituted amino acid derivatives via in situ generation of N-unsubstituted ketimines is reported. Because of the irreversible formation of N-unsubstituted ketimines, the yields were higher than those generated under the conventional one-pot reaction conditions. This process prevents the need to isolate unstable N-unsubstituted ketimines with alkyl substituents and streamlines the synthesis of highly congested α-amino acid derivatives.

Organo-catalysis as emerging tools in organic synthesis: aldol and Michael reactions

Organocatalysis has occupied sustainable position in organic synthesis as a powerful tool for the synthesis of enantiomeric-rich compounds with multiple stereogenic centers. Among the various organic molecules for organocatalysis, the formation of carbon–carbon is viewed as a challenging issue in organic synthesis. The asymmetric aldol and Michael addition reactions are the most significant methods for C–C bond forming reactions. These protocols deliver a valuable path to access chiral molecules, which are useful synthetic hybrids in biologically potent candidates and desirable versatile pharmaceutical intermediates. This work highlighted the impact of organocatalytic aldol and Michael addition reactions in abundant solvent media. It focused on the crucial methods to construct valuable molecules with high enantio- and diastereo-selectivity.

Synthesis and Applications of Carbohydrate-Based Organocatalysts

Organocatalysis is a very useful tool for the asymmetric synthesis of biologically or pharmacologically active compounds because it avoids the use of noxious metals, which are difficult to eliminate from the target products. Moreover, in many cases, the organocatalysed reactions can be performed in benign solvents and do not require anhydrous conditions. It is well-known that most of the above-mentioned reactions are promoted by a simple aminoacid, l-proline, or, to a lesser extent, by the more complex cinchona alkaloids. However, during the past three decades, other enantiopure natural compounds, the carbohydrates, have been employed as organocatalysts. In the present exhaustive review, the detailed preparation of all the sugar-based organocatalysts as well as their catalytic properties are described.

Designed Synthesis of Diversely Substituted Hydantoins and Hydantoin-Based Hybrid Molecules: A Personal Account

Hydantoin and its analogues such as thiohydantoin and iminohydantoin have received substantial attention from both a chemical and a biological point of view. Several compounds of this class have shown useful pharmacological activities such as anticonvulsant, antitumor, antiarrhythmic, and herbicidal properties that have led, in some cases, to clinical applications. Because of these broad-spectrum activities, intensive research efforts have been dedicated in industry and academia to the synthesis and structural modifications of hydantoin and its derivatives. Realizing the importance of hydantoin in organic and medicinal chemistry, we also initiated a research program that successfully designed and developed new routes and methods for the formation of hydantoin, thiohydantoin, and iminohydantoin substituted at various positions, particularly at the N-1 position without following a protection–deprotection strategy. Because combinations of two or more pharmacophoric groups can lead to hybrid molecules that display a mixed mechanism of action on biological targets, we extended our developed strategy to the syntheses of new types of hydantoin-based hybrid molecules by combining hydantoin with a triazole, isoxazoline, or phosphate scaffold as a second pharmacophore to exploit their diverse biological functions.

1 Introduction

2 Chemistry and Properties

2.1 Physical Properties

2.2 Chemical Properties

2.3 Biological Properties

3 General Synthetic Methods

4 Synthesis of Diversely Substituted Hydantoins

5 Synthesis of Diversely Substituted Thiohydantoins

6 Synthesis of Diversely Substituted Iminohydantoins

7 Fused or Bicyclic (Thio)hydantoins

8 Di- or Multivalent (Thio)hydantoins

9 Hydantoin-Based Hybrid Molecules

9.1 Hydantoin–Isooxazoline Hybrids

9.2 Hydantoin–Triazole Hybrids

9.3 Hydantoin–Phosphate Hybrids: Phosphorylated Hydantoins

10 Summary and Outlook

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Hydantoins: The State of the Art of a Valuable Scaffold

The review highlights the hydantoin syntheses presented from the point of view of the preparation methods. Novel synthetic routes to various hydantoin structures, the advances brought to the classical methods in the aim of producing more sustainable and environmentally friendly procedures for the preparation of these biomolecules, and a critical comparison of the different synthetic approaches developed in the last twelve years are also described. The review is composed of 95 schemes, 8 figures and 528 references for the last 12 years and includes the description of the hydantoin-based marketed drugs and clinical candidates.

Carbohydrates as enantioinduction components in stereoselective catalysis

Carbohydrate derivatives are readily available chiral molecules, yet they are infrequently employed as enantioinduction components in stereoselective catalysis. In this review, synthetic approaches to carbohydrate-based ligands and catalysts are outlined, along with example applications in enantioselective catalysis. A wide range of carbohydrate-based functionality is covered, and key trends and future opportunities are identified.

Highly modular dipeptide-like organocatalysts for direct asymmetric aldol reactions in brine

The dipeptide-like organocatalysts have been developed for asymmetric aldol reactions in brine to achieve high yields and enantioselectivities with 1 mol% catalyst-loading.