Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroalkoxylation of Alkoxyallenes with Phenol for Construction of Acyclic O,O-Acetals

Synthesis of Sterically Hindered Dialkyl Ethers via Palladium-Catalyzed Fluoro-alkoxylation of gem-Difluoroalkenes

Organofluorine compounds are of high value in medicinal and agricultural chemistry. Herein, we report a palladium-catalyzed fluoro-alkoxylation of gem-difluoroalkenes for the synthesis of much more challenging sterically hindered ethers. This reaction represents a direct synthesis method for α-trifluoromethyl ethers with a broad functional group tolerance and excellent regioselectivity. This system employs N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as an electrophilic fluorine source and alcohols as nucleophilic donors, including but not limited to sterically hindered tert-substituted alcohols.

Regio- and Stereoselective Hexafluoroisopropoxylation and Trifluoroethoxylation of Allenamides

Incorporating fluorinated moieties into organic molecules is an attractive strategy to enhance drug-like properties. Herein, we have developed a simple and self-promoted protocol for hexafluoroisopropoxylation and trifluoroethoxylation of allenamides with fluorinated alcohols such as HFIP and TFE. The reaction provided the fluoroalkoxylated products in a regio- and stereoselective manner in good to moderate yields under mild conditions.

Access to Chiral O,O-Acetals Enabled by Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Oximes to Alkoxyallenes

Enantiomerically pure acyclic O,O-acetal compounds (up to 97 % ee) have been accessed through chemo-, regio- and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed addition of oximes to alkoxyallenes. DFT calculations support that a protonative hydropalladation pathway is favourable, in which the hydrogen bonding interaction between the amide group of the diphosphine ligand and the alkoxyallene is critical for the highly stereoselective formation of the dioxygenated stereogenic center.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkoxylation and Formal Hydration and Hydroaminoxylation of Conjugated Dienes

The straightforward construction of stereogenic centers bearing unprotected functional groups, as in nature, has been a persistent pursuit in synthetic chemistry. Abundant applications of free enantioenriched allyl alcohol and allyl hydroxylamine motifs have made the asymmetric hydration and hydroaminoxylation of conjugated dienes from water and hydroxylamine, respectively, intriguing and efficient routes that have, however, been unachievable thus far. A fundamental challenge is the failure to realize transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective C-O bond constructions via hydrofunctionalization of conjugated dienes. Here, we perform a comprehensive study toward the stereoselective formal hydration and hydroaminoxylation of conjugated dienes by synthesizing a set of new P,N-ligands and identifying an aryl-derived oxime as a surrogate for both water and hydroxylamine. Asymmetric hydroalkoxylation with new P,N-ligands is also elucidated. Furthermore, versatile derivatizations following hydration provide indirect but concise routes to formal hydrophenoxylation, hydrofluoroalkoxylation, and hydrocarboxylation of conjugated dienes that have been unreported thus far. Finally, a ligand-to-ligand hydrogen transfer process is proposed based on the results of preliminary mechanistic experiments.

Enantioselective Hydroalkoxylation of 1,3-Dienes via Ni-Catalysis

As an advance in hydrofunctionalization, we herein report that alcohols add to 1,3-dienes with high regio- and enantioselectivity. Using Ni-DuPhos, we access enantioenriched allylic ethers. Through the choice of solvent-free conditions, we control the reversibility of C-O bond formation. This work showcases a rare example of methanol as a reagent in asymmetric synthesis.

A Pd-H/Isothiourea Cooperative Catalysis Approach to anti-Aldol Motifs: Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Esters with Oxyallenes

The biological and therapeutic significance of natural products is a powerful impetus for the development of efficient methods to facilitate their construction. Accordingly, and reflecting the prevalence of β-oxy-carbonyl motifs, a sophisticated arsenal of aldol-based strategies has evolved that is contingent on the generation of single enolate isomers. Since this has the potential to compromise efficiency in reagent-based paradigms, direct catalysis-based solutions would be enabling. To complement the array of substrate-based strategies, and regulate enolate geometry at the catalyst level, a direct catalytic alkylation of esters with oxyallenes has been developed. Synergizing metal hydride reactivity with Lewis base catalysis has resulted in a broad reaction scope with useful levels of stereocontrol (up to >99 % ee). Facile derivatization of these ambiphilic linchpins is demonstrated, providing access to high-value vicinal stereocenter-containing motifs, including 1,2-amino alcohols.

AlCl3-catalyzed regioselective intermolecular α or γ mono- or α,γ bis-hydroalkoxylation of allenamides with alcohols

Regioselective intermolecular mono- or bis-hydroalkoxylation of allenamides with alcohols using simple aluminum-catalyzed reaction conditions is reported. When the reaction was carried out with 1.1 equivalents of alcohol at 50 °C, N,O-acetals were generated by 1,2-addition of an alcohol. An increase in temperature to 80 °C leads to γ-substituted ethers by an intermolecular isomerization process. Treatment with an excess of alcohol (3 equiv.) at 50 °C gave 1,3-bis(alkoxy)propanamines. The reactions exhibited good functional group tolerance and efficiency, affording the products in moderate to good yields.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkoxylation of C-C Multiple Bonds

Asymmetric hydroalkoxylation of alkenes constitutes a redox-neutral and 100% atom-economical strategy toward enantioenriched oxygenated building blocks from readily available starting materials. Despite their great potential, catalytic enantioselective additions of alcohols across a C-C multiple bond are particularly underdeveloped, especially compared to other hydrofunctionalization methods such as hydroamination. However, driven by some recent innovations, e.g., asymmetric MHAT methods, asymmetric photocatalytic methods, and the development of extremely strong chiral Brønsted acids, there has been a gratifying surge of reports in this burgeoning field. The goal of this review is to survey the growing landscape of asymmetric hydroalkoxylation by highlighting exciting new advances, deconstructing mechanistic underpinnings, and drawing insight from related asymmetric hydroacyloxylation and hydration. A deep appreciation of the underlying principles informs an understanding of the various selectivity parameters and activation modes in the realm of asymmetric alkene hydrofunctionalization while simultaneously evoking the outstanding challenges to the field moving forward. Overall, we aim to lay a foundation for cross-fertilization among various catalytic fields and spur further innovation in asymmetric hydroalkoxylations of C-C multiple bonds.

Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrophosphinylation of Allenes with Phosphine Oxides: Access to Chiral Allylic Phosphine Oxides

A Pd-catalyzed hydrophosphinylation of alkyl and aryl-oxyallenes with phosphine oxides has been developed for the efficient and rapid construction of a family of chiral allylic phosphine oxides with a diverse range of functional groups. This methodology was further applied in the facile construction of chiral 2H-chromene and later stage functionalization of cholesterol.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Hexahydro-furofuran-3-ol and Its Pyran Derivatives

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of hexahydro-furofuran-3-ol, a key fragment of HIV protease inhibitors, is reported. A signature event is represented by the sequential metal catalysis that combines the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydroalkoxylation of ene-alkoxyallene and ring-closing metathesis (RCM). Notably, this unprecedented and highly chemoselective approach allows for a unified access to pyranofuranol and furopyranol derivatives.

Synthesis of α-CF3-substituted E-dehydroornithine derivatives via copper(i)-catalyzed hydroamination of allenes

Novel α-CF₃-substituted E-dehydroornithine derivatives have been synthesized via the Cu(i)-catalyzed hydroamination of α-CF₃-α-allenyl-α-aminocarboxylates/phosphonates with different amines.

Asymmetric synthesis of allylic compounds via hydrofunctionalisation and difunctionalisation of dienes, allenes, and alkynes

This review article provides an overview of progress in asymmetric synthesis of allylic compounds via hydrofunctionalisation and difunctionalisation of dienes, allenes, and alkynes.

The Current Status of O-Heterocycles: A Synthetic and Medicinal Overview

O-Heterocycles have been explored in the field of medicinal chemistry for a long time, but their significance has not been duly recognised and they are often shunned in favour of N-heterocycles. The design of bioactive molecules for nearly every pathophysiological condition is primarily focused on novel N-heterocycles. The main reasons for such bias include the ease of synthesis and possible mimicking of physiological molecules by N-heterocycles. But considering only this criterion rarely provides breakthrough molecules for a given disease condition, and instead the risks of toxicity or side effects are increased with such molecules. On the other hand, owing to improved synthetic feasibility, O-heterocycles have established themselves as equally potent lead molecules for a wide range of pathophysiological conditions. In the last decade there have been hundreds of reports validating the fact that equally potent molecules can be designed and developed by using O-heterocycles, and these are also expected to have comparably low toxicity. Even so, researchers tend to remain biased toward the use of N-heterocycles over O-heterocycles. Thus, this review provides a critical analysis of the synthesis and medicinal attributes of O-heterocycles, such as pyrones, oxazolones, furanones, oxetanes, oxazolidinones, and dioxolonones, and others, reported in the last five years, underlining the need for and the advantages guiding researchers toward them.

Regio- and Stereoselective Copper-Catalyzed Allylation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds with Terminal Allenes

Simple ligand-free copper systems were found as efficient catalysts for the addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to N-allenyl derivatives. This highly regio- and stereoselective reaction has been accomplished in the presence of malonates, 1,3-ketoesters, and 1,3-diketones with good to excellent yields under mild conditions. This methodology represents the first allylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with allenes catalyzed by copper.

Enantioselective indium(i)-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of alkoxyallenes and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters

An indium(i)–chiral phosphoric acid complex was found to catalyze the enantioselective [4 + 2] annulation reaction of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters with alkoxyallenes, affording cyclic O,O-acetals in good yields and with high regio- and stereo-selectivities.

Enantioselective Terminal Addition to Allenes by Dual Chiral Primary Amine/Palladium Catalysis

We herein describe a synergistic chiral primary amine/achiral palladium catalyzed enantioselective terminal addition to allenes with α-branched β-ketocarbonyls and aldehydes. The reactions afford allylic adducts bearing acyclic all-carbon quaternary centers with high regio- and enantioselectivity. A wide range of allenes including those aliphatic or 1,1'-disubstituted could be employed, thus expanding the scope of typical asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions.

From Palladium to Brønsted Acid Catalysis: Highly Enantioselective Regiodivergent Addition of Alkoxyallenes to Pyrazolones

A highly enantioselective regiodivergent addition of alkoxyallenes to pyrazolones was developed to afford multiply functionalized alkylated products bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities. One approach is enabled by palladium catalysis, thus leading to branched allylic pyrazol-5-ones under mild reaction conditions. The other is catalyzed by a chiral Brønsted acid to give linear products exclusively. Moreover, the usefulness of this new method was highlighted by converting the allylic products into other interesting multifunctionalized pyrazolone derivatives which would be of great potential for the exploitation of pharmaceutically important molecules.