NHC-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetracyclic δ-Lactones by (4 + 2) Annulation of ortho-Quinodimethanes with Activated Ketones

A DFT Study on the NHC-Catalyzed Reaction of Enals with Aminoacrylates: Mechanism, Regioselectivity, and Stereoselectivity

DFT (M06-2X) calculations were used to study the NHC-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of enals with aminoacrylates. The catalytic cycle begins with the binding of the NHC to enal. Subsequent intramolecular proton transfer generates the Breslow intermediate. This intermediate undergoes an oxidative reaction, leading to the formation of an acyl azolium intermediate, which further reacts with the other substrate aminoacrylate via a new C-C bond formation. This step determines the stereoselectivity of the current reaction, and re-face addition mode leading to the formation of the intermediate with an S-configuration is predominant. Afterward, sequential protonation, deprotonation, and cyclization form the six-membered cyclic intermediate, which upon elimination of the NHC affords the final cycloaddition product dihydropyridinone. The computed enantiomeric excess (99.1% ee) is in very good agreement with the experimentally reported value (99% ee). The origin of enantioselectivity is traced to the stronger LP···π interactions between the acyl azolium intermediate and aminoacrylate in the favored S-congurational transition state.

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Polycyclic Dihydroisoquinolinones via NHC-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Annulations

The NHC-catalyzed enantioselective [4 + 2] annulation of 9H-fluorene-1-carbaldenydes with cyclic imines was successfully developed. A series of optically enriched polycyclic dihydroisoquinolinones were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, this efficient method could also be amenable to the synthesis of spirocyclic compounds by using isatin-derived ketimines as the electrophiles.

One-pot synthesis of functionalized dihydropyridin-2-ones via carbene-catalyzed base-controlled [3+3] annulation reaction

Herein, we have described a novel organocatalytic approach to access biologically important dihydropyridin-2-ones in a one-pot way with generally high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This reaction proceeded via a new dual activation mode, including in situ-generated α,β-unsaturated acylazoliums and 4-dimethylaminopyridinium salts that underwent a Michael addition/1,4-H migration/lactamization sequence. The base-triggered 4-dimethylaminopyridinium ylide formation pathway over the competing substitution reaction pathway of vicinal haloamines is noteworthy.

Mechanism and Origin of Stereoselectivity of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Transformation Reaction of Benzaldehyde with o-QDM as Key Intermediate: A DFT Study

N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-bound ortho-quinodimethane, served as a nucleophile, has occupied an important position for constructing various all-carbon or heterocyclic compounds and attracted increasing attention for the functionalization of benzylic carbon of aromatic aldehydes, whereas the mechanistic studies on the generation and transformations of dienolate intermediate are rare. In the present study, the mechanism of activation/transformation of aldehyde catalyzed by NHC was theoretically studied using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Based on the calculations, the nucleophilic addition process is the stereoselectivity-determining step with RS-configured product being generated preferentially. Furthermore, non-covalent index (NCI) and atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analyses have been performed to disclose the origin of stereoselectivity, by which the larger number and stronger weak interactions are the key for stabilizing the low-energy transition state and thus leading to the stereoselectivity inducing.

Chromium(III)-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of meso-Epoxides via Remote Stereocontrol: Synthesis of Chiral Fluorenes Bearing All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

An asymmetric desymmetrization of fluorene-derived meso-epoxides is disclosed for the construction of chiral fluorenes bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter at C9. This desymmetrization is catalyzed by a chiral (salen)CrIII complex via remote stereocontrol, producing diverse chiral fluorenes with excellent yields and stereoselectivity. The practicality of this protocol was demonstrated through the transformation of the obtained products to some intriguing enantioenriched polymerizable monomers.