Cu(I)/DTBM-BIPHEP-catalyzed exo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with cis-trifluorocrotonate for asymmetric construction of trifluoromethylated pyrrolidines

Chiral π-Cu(ii)-catalyzed site-, exo/endo-, and enantioselective dearomative (3 + 2) cycloadditions of isoquinolinium ylides with enamides, dienamides, and a trienamide

Here, we report a highly effective dearomative (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction between isoquinolinium ylides and α,β-enamides, α,β-γ,δ-dienamides, or an α,β-γ,δ-ε,ζ-trienamide, which is catalyzed by a chiral π-Cu(ii) complex (1-10 mol%) and proceeds in a site-selective, exo/endo-selective, and enantioselective manner. The (3 + 2) cycloaddition involving the α,β-enamides proceeds with high exo-selectivity and enantioselectivity. This method is applicable to various substrates including α-substituted, α,β-disubstituted, or β,β-disubstituted α,β-enamides, which are compounds with an intrinsically low reactivity. This method provides synthetic access to pyrroloisoquinoline derivatives with up to three chiral carbon centers, including those featuring fluorine and trifluoromethyl groups, as well as quaternary carbon centers. The (3 + 2) cycloaddition involving α,β-γ,δ-dienamides proceeds with high γ,δ-site-selectivity and enantioselectivity, whereby the exo/endo-selectivity depends on the substrates and ligands. Remarkably, the (3 + 2) cycloaddition of δ-phenyl-α,β-γ,δ-dienamide proceeds with high α,β-site-selectivity, exo-selectivity, and enantioselectivity. In a manner similar to the reaction with the α,β-γ,δ-dienamides, α,β-γ,δ-ε,ζ-trienamide furnishes a (3 + 2) cycloadduct with good ε,ζ-site-selectivity, endo-selectivity, and enantioselectivity.

Tungsten catalysed decarboxylative [3 + 2] cycloaddition aromatization: one-pot synthesis of trifluoromethyl-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines with visible light irradiation

Trifluoromethyl-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines, which are difficult to prepare via traditional methods, could be readily prepared via a tungsten-catalysed decarboxylative [3 + 2] cycloaddition aromatization process.

The Regiocontrollable Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Trifluoromethyl-Containing Spiro-Pyrrolidine-Pyrazolone Compounds via Amino-Regulated 1,3-Proton Migration Reaction

An amino-controlled regiodivergent asymmetric synthesis of CF₃-containing spiro-pyrrolidine-pyrazolone compounds is described. With alkaloid-derived squaramide as catalyst, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated pyrazolone with diethyl 2-((2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)imino) malonate offered adducts in excellent yields, dr, and ee. While the cyclohexanediamine-derived squaramide was employed, the reaction afforded a series of structure isomers through a switched umpolung reaction.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed asymmetric exo-selective synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

An (R)-DM-BINAP/Cu(CH3CN)4BF4 complex catalyzed exo-selective asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DCA) reaction of imino esters with α,β-unsaturated pyrazoleamides has been developed. A series of highly functionalized pyrrolidines with multiple stereogenic centers were obtained with good yields and diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions with N-Metallated Azomethine Ylides

Optically active nitrogen-containing compounds have attracted substantial attention due to their ubiquity in the cores of natural products and bioactive molecules. Among the various synthetic approaches to nitrogenous frameworks, catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions are one of the most attractive methods because of their powerful ability to rapidly construct various chiral N-heterocycles. In particular, N-metallated azomethine ylides, common and readily available 1,3-dipoles, have been extensively applied in dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Despite the fact that asymmetric transformations of azomethine ylides have been investigated for decades, most of the efforts have been directed toward the preparation of pyrrolidines using glycinate-derived α-unsubstituted aldimine esters as the precursors of the azomethine ylides. While α-substituted azomethine ylides derived from amino esters other than glycinate have seldom been harnessed, the construction of non-five-membered chiral N-heterocycles via 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions remains underexplored. In addition, the asymmetric α-functionalization of aldimine esters to prepare acyclic nitrogenous compounds such as α-amino acids, in which an in situ-generated N-metallated azomethine ylide serves as the nucleophile, has not been sufficiently described.In this Account, we mainly discuss the achievements we have made in the past decade toward broadening the applications of N-metallated azomethine ylides for the preparation of nitrogen-containing compounds. We began our investigation with the design and synthesis of a new type of chiral ligand, TF-BiphamPhos, which not only coordinates with Lewis acids to activate dipolar species but also serves as an H-bond donor to increase the reactivity of dipolarophiles with significantly enhanced stereochemical control. Using the Cu(I) or Ag(I)/TF-BiphamPhos complex as the catalyst, we achieved highly stereoselective (3+2) cycloadditions of glycinate and non-glycinate-derived azomethine ylides with diverse dipolarophiles, producing a variety of enantioenriched pyrrolidines with multiple stereocenters in a single step. To further expand the synthetic utility of N-metallated azomethine ylides, we successfully developed higher order cycloadditions with fulvenes, tropone, 2-acyl cycloheptatrienes, and pyrazolidinium ylides serving as the reaction partner, and this reaction provides straightforward access to enantioenriched fused piperidines, bridged azabicyclic frameworks, and triazines via (3+6)- and (3+3)-type cycloadditions. Using N-metallated azomethine ylides as the nucleophile, we realized Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-Michael additions with α,β-unsaturated bisphosphates/Morita-Baylis-Hillman products, furnishing an array of structurally diverse unnatural α-amino acids. Based on the strategy of synergistic activation, we achieved highly efficient dual Cu/Pd and Cu/Ir catalysis for the α-functionalization of aldimine esters via the asymmetric allylic/allenylic alkylation of N-metallated azomethine ylides. Notably, Cu/Ir catalysis allowed the stereodivergent synthesis of α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids via a branched allylic alkylation reaction, in which the two distinct chiral metal catalysts independently have full stereochemical control over the corresponding nucleophile and electrophile. Furthermore, an expedient and stereodivergent preparation of biologically important tetrahydro-γ-carbolines was realized through a Cu/Ir-catalyzed cascade allylation/iso-Pictet-Spengler cyclization. In addition, when the steric congestion in the allylation intermediates was increased, the combined Cu/Ir catalysts provided an asymmetric cascade allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement, producing various optically active homoallylic amines with impressive results.

Stereochemical diversity in pyrrolidine synthesis by catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The pyrrolidine ring is a privileged structural motif in synthetic and medicinal chemisty. This review aims to highlight the high versatility of the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides for access to different types of stereochemical patterns in enantioselective pyrrolidine synthesis. Special attention will be paid to stereodivergent procedures giving rise to different stereoisomers from the same starting materials.

Diastereodivergent Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides and β-Fluoroalkyl Vinylsulfones: Low Copper(II) Catalyst Loading and Theoretical Studies

A Cu^II -catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition using β-fluoroalkyl alkenyl arylsulfones as dipolarophiles and glycine/alanine iminoesters as azomethine ylide precursors has been developed. Remarkably, a catalyst loading as low as 0.5 mol % is highly efficient. Accordingly, a wide range of enantioenriched 3-fluoroalkyl pyrrolidines, as well as Δ² -pyrroline and pyrrole derivatives, are generated in good to excellent yields with high asymmetric induction. This synthetic approach is diastereodivergent in that exo-adducts could be converted into the corresponding exo'-adducts by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene mediated epimerization at C2 of the pyrrolidine core. The free-energy profiles from DFT calculations suggest the Michael addition of the 1,3-dipole to be the rate- and enantiodetermining step, and the origin of stereoselectivity is studied by means of the noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis.

Asymmetric synthesis of CF3-containing tetrahydroquinoline via a thiourea-catalyzed cascade reaction

The first example of the asymmetric introduction of CF₃ into the 2-position of tetrahydroquinolines was described by using β-CF₃-nitroalkene as the building block.

Squaramide-catalyzed domino Michael/aza-Henry [3 + 2] cycloaddition: asymmetric synthesis of functionalized 5-trifluoromethyl and 3-nitro substituted pyrrolidines

The diastereo- and enantioselective Michael/aza-Henry [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of trifluoromethyl-substituted iminomalonate and nitroalkenes has been developed employing 10 mol% of a quinine-squaramide catalyst.

Efficient Synthesis of Fully Substituted Pyrrolidine-Fused 3-Spirooxindoles via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Aziridine and 3-Ylideneoxindole

Drug-like spirocyclic scaffolds have been prepared by fusing fully functionalized pyrrolidine with oxindoles in an approach based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Reaction between aziridine and 3-ylideneoxindole generated diverse spirooxindole-pyrrolidines in good yield (up to 95%) with high diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1). The reaction also proceeded smoothly with several other synthetically useful activated trisubstituted olefins. The mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, and high tolerance for various substitutions make this approach attractive for constructing pharmacologically interesting spiro-architectures.

Stereoselective Ag-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Activated Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Azomethine Ylides

A silver-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of fluorinated azomethine ylides and activated olefins is reported. The reaction offers a straightforward and atom-economical procedure for the preparation of fluorinated pyrrolidines. Broad scope and high levels of diastereoselectivity have been achieved simply by using AgOAc/PPh3 as the catalyst system. The high efficiency of the cycloaddition relies on the presence of a metal-coordinating group on the imine moiety, such as an ester or heteroaryl group. The asymmetric version of the cycloaddition has been developed by using Taniaphos as a chiral ligand.

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrrolidines via an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition

The asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidine derivatives with three contiguous stereogenic centers and bearing a trifluoromethyl group has been developed through an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition sequence.

First efficient synthesis of SF5-substituted pyrrolidines using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with pentafluorosulfanyl-substituted acrylic esters and amides

Di-, tri- and tetrasubstituted pentafluorosulfanylated pyrrolidines have been efficiently synthetized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides.

Trisubstituted 2-trifluoromethyl pyrrolidines via catalytic asymmetric Michael addition/reductive cyclization

The stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted 2-trifluoromethyl pyrrolidines by asymmetric Michael addition/hydrogenative cyclization is described. The direct organocatalytic addition of 1,1,1-trifluoromethylketones to nitroolefins proceeds under mild reaction conditions and low catalyst loadings to provide Michael adducts in high yield with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Catalytic hydrogenation of the Michael adducts stereoselectively generates 2-trifluoromethylated pyrrolidines bearing three contiguous stereocenters. A stereospecific route to epimeric 2-trifluoromethyl pyrrolidines from a common intermediate is described.

Selective synthesis of functionalized trifluoromethylated pyrrolidines, piperidines, and azepanes starting from 1-tosyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)aziridine

This paper reports on the generation and alkylation of the 1-tosyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)aziridin-2-yl anion with ω,ω'-dihaloalkanes, followed by a novel ring-expansion protocol toward 2-CF3-pyrrolidines, 2-CF3-piperidines, and 3-CF3-azepanes. A variety of halogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon nucleophiles was used to trigger this ring rearrangement, resulting in CF3-azaheterocycles bearing different types of functionalized side chains.

A rapid and divergent access to chiral azacyclic nucleoside analogues via highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of β-nucleobase substituted acrylates

A rapid and divergent access to chiral azacyclic nucleoside analogues was developed via enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of β-nucleobase substituted acrylates.

Cu(i)/TF–BiphamPhos-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dimethyl itaconate and 2-methyleneglutarate

Catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dimethyl itaconate and 2-methyleneglutarate was realized with Cu(i)/TF–BiphamPhos complex as the catalyst for the efficient construction of pyrrolidine derivatives bearing one unique all carbon-quaternary and two tertiary stereogenic centers.

Recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The scope of the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides has been greatly expanded by the incorporation of novel types of dipolarophiles and dipole precursors. This feature article summarizes the recent development in this area.

Synthesis of sulfur containing dihydro-pyrrolo derivatives and their biological evaluation as antioxidants

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to N-phenylmaleimide of azomethine ylides, generated in situ from sulfanyl-substituted imines of glycine esters, yields 5H-dihydro-pyrrolo products with syn diastereoselectivity. The syn (major) and anti (minor) products were isolated chromatographically and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and in two cases also by X-ray analysis. The diastereomeric cycloadducts were tested for their antioxidant activity with good results.