Enantioselective N-propargylation of indoles via Cu-catalyzed propargylic alkylation/dehydrogenation of indolines

Enantioselective Catalytic Synthesis of N-alkylated Indoles

During the past two decades, the interest in new methodologies for the synthesis of chiral N-functionalized indoles has grown rapidly. The review illustrates efficient applications of organocatalytic and organometallic strategies for the construction of chiral α-N-branched indoles. Both the direct functionalization of the indole core and indirect methods based on asymmetric N-alkylation of indolines, isatins and 4,7-dihydroindoles are discussed.

Direct asymmetric N-propargylation of indoles and carbazoles catalyzed by lithium SPINOL phosphate

Catalytic asymmetric functionalization of the N–H groups of indoles and carbazoles constitutes an important but less developed class of reactions. Herein, we describe a propargylation protocol involving the use of a lithium SPINOL phosphate as the chiral catalyst and our recently developed C-alkynyl N,O-acetals as propargylating reagents. The direct asymmetric N-propargylation of indoles and carbazoles provides hitherto inaccessible N-functionalized products. Notably, the efficiency of the system allows reactions to be run at a very low catalyst loading (as low as 0.1 mol%). Mechanistic information about the titled reaction is also disclosed. This study represents an advance in the direct asymmetric functionalization of the N–H bonds of indoles and carbazoles, and additionally expands on the application of chiral alkali metal salts of chiral phosphoric acids in asymmetric catalysis.

Asymmetric functionalization of N–H bonds constitutes an important but less developed class of reactions. Here, the authors report the asymmetric direct N-propargylation of indoles and carbazoles with a lithium SPINOL phosphate as the chiral catalyst and shed light on the reaction mechanism.

Transition Metal Vinylidene- and Allenylidene-Mediated Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

With their mechanistic novelty and various modalities of reactivity, transition metal unsaturated carbene (alkenylidene) complexes have emerged as versatile intermediates for new reaction discovery. In particular, the past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in the chemistry of metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, leading to the evolution of a diverse array of new catalytic transformations that are mechanistically distinct from those developed in the previous two decades. This review aims to provide a survey of the recent achievements in the development of organic reactions that make use of transition metal alkenylidenes as catalytic intermediates and their applications to organic synthesis.

Efficient Synthesis of N-Alkylated 4-Pyridones by Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Propargylic Amination

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric propargylic amination with 4-hydroxypyridines has been realized for the first time. In the presence of Cu complex derived from Pybox ligand, the N-propargylated 4-pyridones were obtained under mild reaction conditions with up to 99 % yield and 95 % ee. The Pybox ligand bearing a 4-F-phenyl substituent plays a key role for the high enantioselectivity. The products can be easily transformed to the core structure of quinolizidine alkaloids.

Copper-catalyzed propargylic [3+3] cycloaddition with 1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-ones: enantioselective access to optically active dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles

A copper-catalyzed propargylic [3+3] cycloaddition with 1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-ones as C,O-bisnucleophiles through the desilylation-activated strategy has been developed. With the support of a chiral tridentate P,N,N-ligand, the reaction gave rise to a variety of optically active dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles cyclohexadienone derivatives with up to 96% ee.

Scope and advances in the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction

Nucleophilic displacement of the propargylic alcohol is one of the sought-after methods in the current scenario. The highly nucleophilic alkyne functional moiety along with its considerably acidic terminal hydrogen atom allows the propargylic unit to play a crucial role in organic synthesis by offering a handle for further synthetic transformations. Until 2000, the most fundamental propargylic substitution reaction was the Nicolas reaction, a multi-step transformation, developed in 1972, which involved cobalt as a stoichiometric promoter. Therefore, the direct catalytic substitution of propargylic alcohols was a highly desirable method for development. The pioneering work on the Ru-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction in 2000 encouraged many researchers to develop several novel catalytic propargylic substitution reactions, which have made rapid progress since then. The purpose of this review is to emphasise the involvement of diverse types of Lewis acid, transition metal and Brønsted acid catalysts in the propargylic substitution reaction and provide an updated summary of the recent developments in this field. The selected examples presented here are the most significant and relevant ones and we believe that this will help the readers to comprehend the scope of the propargylic substitution reaction with diverse types of catalysts and will envisage the scientific community for the future developments in this field.

Direct nucleophilic displacement of the alpha-hydroxy of the propargylic alcohol is one of the sought-after methods in the current scenario. An updated summary of the recent developments in this field is presented here.

N-Propargylation of secondary amines directly using calcium carbide as an acetylene source

A one-pot N-propargylation of secondary amines has been achieved by heating the amine with formaldehyde and calcium carbide in DMSO in the presence of CuCl as a catalyst. Fifteen examples of propargylic tertiary amines, 12 of which are novel, were efficiently prepared in yields of 65–84%. The advantages of the method are broad substrate scope and a simple work-up procedure.

Cu-Catalyzed asymmetric Friedel–Crafts propargylic alkylation of phenol derivatives

A copper-catalyzed asymmetric Friedel–Crafts propargylic alkylation of electron-rich phenol derivatives with a variety of propargylic esters has been described. With Cu(OTf)₂ decorated with a chiral tridentate ketimine P,N,N-ligand as the catalyst, the reaction proceeded smoothly in high yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters with chiral ferrocenyl P,N,N-ligands

The Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters with chiral ferrocenyl P,N,N-ligands has been developed, providing the corresponding β-hydroxy esters in good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Highly diastereo-/enantioselective Cu-catalyzed propargylic alkylations of propargyl acetates with cyclic enamines

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective copper-catalyzed propargylic alkylations of morpholine-derived cyclic enamines have been developed by the employment of a less sterically hindered chiral tridentate P,N,N-ligand.

Tridentate P,N,N-ligand promoted copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of propargylic esters with β-enamino esters: synthesis of highly functionalized pyrroles

By employment of a newly developed tridentate P,N,N-ligand, a copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of propargylic esters with β-enamino esters for the construction of highly functionalized pyrroles has been developed.