Benzoimidazole–pyrrolidine (BIP), a highly reactive chiral organocatalyst for aldol process

Total Synthesis of (+)-Coriamyrtin via a Desymmetrizing Strategy Involving a 1,3-Cyclopentanedione Moiety

We describe the total synthesis of (+)-coriamyrtin, which bears a highly functionalized cis-hydrindane skeleton and is a widely known neurotoxin of the Coriariaceae family. Our synthetic strategy involves the highly stereoselective construction of the cis-hydrindane skeleton via a desymmetrizing strategy involving a 1,3-cyclopentanedione moiety using an intramolecular aldol reaction and the formation of the 1,3-diepoxide moiety of coriamyrtin through the elaborate functionalization of the cyclopentane ring in the bicyclic structure.

Novel chiral proline-based organocatalysts with amide and thiourea–amine units for highly efficient asymmetric aldol reaction in saturated brine without additives

A series of novel proline-based organocatalysts with amide and thiourea-amine units (7a–7f) were developed and evaluated in the asymmetric aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone. The organocatalyst (7c or 7d, 5 mol%) exhibited efficient catalytic activity to afford aldol products in high diastereoselectivity (up to >99:1), enantioselectivity (up to >99%), and yield (up to >96%) at 0 °C in saturated brine without adding an acid. Aldol products of benzaldehyde derivatives almost universally provide high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity.

Highly efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric aldol reaction

A new class of bifunctional organocatalysts containing both thiazolidine/pyrrolidine and imidazole cycles was prepared via a readily available synthetic route.

From alternating to selective distributions in chromium-catalysed ethylene oligomerisation with asymmetric BIMA ligands

The oligomerisation of ethylene with chromium-based catalysts containing asymmetric BIMA (bis(benzimidazole)methylamine) ligands produces linear alpha olefins (LAOs) that follow an alternating distribution.

Development of domino processes by using 7-silylcycloheptatrienes and its analogues

7-Silyl- and 7-silylmethylcycloheptatrienes were shown to react with acylnitroso reagents at room temperature, through their norcaradiene forms, to generate the corresponding cycloadducts 5 a-b and 6 a-b as single diastereomers. The course of the reaction was dramatically modified by changing the reaction conditions. Using a polar medium, functionalized cyclohexa-1,3-dienes 7 a-b and bicyclic compounds 13 a-b were instead generated, incorporating one or two amino groups. Similar behavior was observed by using other dienophiles, including triazolinedione, but also activated aldehydes and ketones. A tentative mechanism has been proposed to rationalize the formation of both classes of products that relies on a domino process involving four consecutive elementary steps, in this order: 1) electrocyclic process, 2) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction, 3) cyclopropane ring opening, and 4) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. Trapping of the cationic intermediate and isolation of the primary cycloadduct provide support for this hypothesis. An enantioselective version of the cascade using cycloheptatriene 4 b and aldehydes and ketones, under copper(II) catalysis was also carried out, leading to cyclohexa-1,3-dienes 21, 28, and 30 with enantioselectivities up to 93 % ee. Finally, elaboration of the intermediates above has been carried out, opening a straightforward access to sugar mimics 42-43 and complex polycyclic systems 36 and 39.

Enamine catalysis

The reversible reaction of primary or secondary amines with enolizable aldehydes or ketones affords nucleophilic intermediates, enamines. With chiral amines, catalytic enantioselective reactions via enamine intermediates become possible. In this review, structure-activity relationships and the scope as well as current limitations of enamine catalysis are discussed.

Imidazolidinone intermediates in prolinamide-catalyzed aldol reactions

The reaction between acetone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde catalyzed by aniline prolinamide 1 was studied in depth. Working in different solvents with equimolar amounts of reagents and monitoring the reaction by 1H NMR, we detected and identified several imidazolidinones, such as those of the acetone 4, the aldol products 5a and 5b, and aldehydes 10a and 10b. According to our results, these compounds could influence the reaction rate and diminish product enantioselectivity. Furthermore, acetone imidazolidinone 4 was seen to react with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde to furnish the aldol product 3. This reaction can be catalyzed by different nucleophiles and acids. In fact, strong acids such as camphorsulfonic or trifluoroacetic acid, convert imidazolidinones into iminium salts and afford more enantioselective aldol reactions when different aromatic prolinamides are used. Enantiomeric excesses of ca. 82% are reached.

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction

Asymmetric aldol reactions are a powerful method for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds in an enantioselective fashion. Historically this reaction has been performed in a stoichiometric fashion to control the various aspects of chemo-, diastereo-, regio- and enantioselectivity, however, a more atom economical approach would unite high selectivity with the use of only a catalytic amount of a chiral promoter. This critical review documents the development of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol methodologies, including organocatalytic and metal-based strategies. New methods have improved the reactivity, selectivity and substrate scope of the direct aldol reaction and enabled the synthesis of complex molecular targets (357 references).

Brønsted Acids as Additives for the Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reaction Catalyzed by l-Prolinethioamides. Direct Evidence for Enamine−Iminium Catalysis

The use of protonated l-prolinethioamide instead of the free base derivative 1 as the organocatalyst for the direct aldol addition has a profound and appreciable effect on both the yield and the stereochemical course of the reaction. 4-Nitrobenzaldehyde (2) reacts with acetone in the presence of the protonated catalyst 1.TFA, affording aldol product 3 with a yield up to 99% and an ee up to 98%. The catalyst loading can be lowered to 2.5 mol %. More than 20 different acids were investigated as an additive, and its role as cocatalyst has been discussed. Furthermore, reactions of l-prolinethioamide salts with acetone have been monitored using ESI-MS and 1H NMR techniques, giving insight into the mechanism of the direct aldol reaction. The presumed formation of the iminium salt 10 has been unambiguously confirmed.

Protonated N′-benzyl-N′-prolyl proline hydrazide as highly enantioselective catalyst for direct asymmetric aldol reaction

Protonated N'-benzyl-N'-l-prolyl-l-proline hydrazide has been developed as a highly enantioselective catalyst for the asymmetric direct aldol reaction of aromatic aldehydes with ketones.