Diastereoselective Passerini reactions using p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) as the isonitrile component

The 100 facets of the Passerini reaction

This perspective aims at celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Passerini three component reaction. After being nearly neglected for many years, now this reaction has become quite popular, thanks to the achievements of the last 30 years, which have revealed several chances of exploitation in organic synthesis. Though not being comprehensive, this review means to show the various ways that have been used in order to expand the utility of the Passerini reaction. Post-MCR transformations to give heterocycles or peptidomimetics, variants through single component replacement, stereochemical issues, and applications in total syntheses will be especially covered.

Synthesis of d-glycopyranosyl depsipeptides using Passerini reaction

A protocol based on Passerini multi-component reaction has been developed for facile, efficient and atom economical synthesis of a small library of twenty potential bioactive (2R)-2-(d-glycopyranosyl)-2-acyloxyacetamides using perbenzylated d-glycopyranosyl aldehydes, substituted isocyanides and different aliphatic/aromatic carboxylic acids. All twenty synthesized d-glycopyranosyl α-acyloxy amides, commonly known as depsipeptides were unambiguously identified on the basis of their spectral (IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HSQC, NOESY and HRMS) data analysis.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Bicyclic Scaffolds by Passerini 3-Center-2-Component Reactions of Cyclic Ketoacids

We report the use of bifunctional starting materials (ketoacids) in a diastereoselective Passerini three-center-two-component reaction. Study of the reaction scope revealed the required structural features for stereoselectivity in the isocyanide addition. In this system, an interesting isomerization of the primary Passerini product - the α-carboxamido lactone - into an atypical product, an α-hydroxy imide, was found to occur under acidic conditions. Furthermore, enantioenriched Passerini products can be generated from an enantioenriched ketoacid obtained by chemoenzymatic synthesis.

A N,N'-dioxide/Mg(OTf)2 complex catalyzed enantioselective α-addition of isocyanides to alkylidene malonates

A simple and efficient catalytic asymmetric α-addition of isocyanides to alkylidene malonates was realized using a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Mg^II catalyst. A variety of 2-alkyl-5-aminoxazoles were obtained in up to 99% yield and 96% ee, and could be converted to imides and dipeptides.

A highly efficient catalytic asymmetric α-addition of isocyanides to alkylidene malonates was accomplished. The process was based on the utilization of a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Mg^II catalyst, delivering a variety of 2-alkyl-5-aminooxazoles in up to 99% yield and 96% ee under mild reaction conditions. Besides, a chiral imide and dipeptide could be easily obtained by ring-opening of the oxazole product, both of which are important structural motifs for many biologically active compounds. Based on the experimental investigations and previous work, a possible transition state model was proposed.

Facile One-Pot Green Synthesis of Some New Annulated Polyfunctionalised 2-Amino-4H-Pyrans

The reaction of cyclic CH-acids such as 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, 1,3-cyclohexanedione, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2 H-pyran-2-one, or 4-hydroxycumarin with dialkyl acetylene dicarboxylates in the presence of tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) in polyethylene glycol (PEG-300) leads to new annulated highly functionalised 2-amino-4 H-pyrans at room temperature in good yields.

Efficient synthesis of boron-containing α-acyloxyamide analogs via microwave irradiation

In this report, a Passerini three-component reaction utilizing boron-containing carboxylic acids or aldehydes is discussed. The reaction was carried out in water and facilitated by the use of microwave irradiation. This methodology allowed for the efficient formation of a broad range of boron-containing α-acyloxyamides under mild conditions within a short time. Two series of boron-containing α-acyloxyamides were synthesized and subsequently screened for cytotoxicity using the MTT cell viability assay. Two potential lead compounds were found to have potent activity against the HepG2 cancer cell line, demonstrating the potential of this methodology for use in the development of novel pharmaceuticals.

Recent developments in asymmetric multicomponent reactions

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) receive increasing attention because they address both diversity and complexity in organic synthesis. Thus, in principle diverse sets of relatively complex structures can be generated from simple starting materials in a single reaction step. The ever increasing need for optically pure compounds for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications as well as for catalysis promotes the development of asymmetric multicomponent reactions. In recent years, asymmetric multicomponent reactions have been applied to the total synthesis of various enantiopure natural products and commercial drugs, reducing the number of required reaction steps significantly. Although many developments in diastereoselective MCRs have been reported, the field of catalytic enantioselective MCRs has just started to blossom. This critical review describes developments in both diastereoselective and catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions since 2004. Significantly broadened scopes, new techniques, more environmentally benign methods and entirely novel MCRs reflect the increasingly inventive paths that synthetic chemist follow in this field. Until recently, enantioselective transition metal-catalyzed MCRs represented the majority of catalytic enantioselective MCRs. However, metal contamination is highly undesirable for drug synthesis. The emergence of organocatalysis greatly influences the quest for new asymmetric MCRs.