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

Synthesis and Reactions of α-Hydroxyphosphonates

This review summarizes the main synthetic routes towards α-hydroxyphosphonates that are known as enzyme inhibitors, herbicides and antioxidants, moreover, a number of representatives express antibacterial or antifungal effect. Special attention is devoted to green chemical aspects. α-Hydroxyphosphonates are also versatile intermediates for other valuable derivatives. O-Alkylation and O-acylation are typical reactions to afford α-alkoxy-, or α-acyloxyphosphonates, respectively. The oxidation of hydroxyphosphonates leads to ketophosphonates. The hydroxy function at the α carbon atom of hydroxyphosphonates may be replaced by a halogen atom. α-Aminophosphonates formed in the nucleophilic substitution reaction of α-hydroxyphosphonates with primary or secondary amines are also potentially bioactive compounds. Another typical reaction is the base-catalyzed rearrangement of α-hydroxy-phosphonates to phosphates. Hydrolysis of the ester function of hydroxyphosphonates leads to the corresponding phosphonic acids.

Recent Advances in Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Conjugate Additions to Nitroalkenes

The asymmetric conjugate addition of carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles to nitroalkenes is a very interesting tool for the construction of highly functionalized synthetic building blocks. Thanks to the rapid development of asymmetric organocatalysis, significant progress has been made during the last years in achieving efficiently this process, concerning chiral organocatalysts, substrates and reaction conditions. This review surveys the advances in asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition reactions to α,β-unsaturated nitroalkenes developed between 2013 and early 2017.

Novel ferrocene-based bifunctional amine-thioureas for asymmetric Michael addition of acetylacetone to nitroolefins

An efficient method was developed to synthesize ferrocene-based bifunctional amine-thioureas bearing multiple hydrogen-bonding donors. Asymmetric Michael addition of acetylacetone to nitroolefins catalyzed by these novel bifunctional catalysts affords the Michael adducts in high yield and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities. Multiple hydrogen-bonds play an important role in accelerating the reaction.

Ferrocene as a scaffold for effective bifunctional amine–thiourea organocatalysts

This work demonstrates that ferrocene could be an excellent scaffold for chiral organocatalysts.