Carbene and Acid Cooperative Catalytic Reactions of Aldehydes and o-Hydroxybenzhydryl Amines for Highly Enantioselective Access to Dihydrocoumarins

Elucidating the mechanism and origin of stereoselectivity in the activation/transformation of an acetic ester catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene

The activation of an ester by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis is an efficient and important approach for generating an NHC-bound enolate intermediate, an important active intermediate in the transformation of carbonyl compounds. Herein, we perform a theoretical study on the NHC-catalyzed activation and transformation reaction of an acetic ester in which the NHC-bound enolate intermediate is a key intermediate. Multiple activation and transformation pathways are proposed and analyzed to identify an energetically favorable pathway. The use of different substrates for the reaction is considered. When a chalcone substrate is used, [4+2] cycloaddition between the enolate intermediate and the chalcone is identified to be both the rate- and stereoselectivity-determining step for the reaction, with the R-configured product being generated as the major isomer. Noncovalent interaction (NCI) and atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analyses are performed to identify the origin of the stereoselectivity of the reaction, and a local reactivity analysis is conducted to explore substrate and catalyst effects on the reaction.

Phosphine-catalysed transformations of ortho- and para-quinone methides

Organocatalytic methodologies for the derivatization of o-QM, p-QM and the analogous aza-QM have been recently developed and involve different catalytic systems such as phosphoric acids, thioureas, squaramides, NHC carbenes or chiral ammonium salts. Besides, phosphines, commonly used as ligands in metal-catalysed reactions, can be also used as organocatalysts. In this case, they are mainly involved as nucleophilic catalysts in reactions such as the Rauhut-Currier (RC) reaction. In this review, an analysis of the recent developments in racemic and enantioselective phosphine-catalysed transformations of o-QM, p-QM and aza-o-QM has been carried out.

One-Pot Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydrocoumarins via C-H Oxidation/Conjugate Addition/Cyclization Cascade Reaction

The 3,4-dihydrocoumarin derivatives were obtained from 2-alkyl phenols and oxazolones via C-H oxidation and cyclization cascade in the presence of silver oxide (Ag2O) and p-toluenesulfonic acid as a Brønsted acid catalyst. This approach provides a one-pot strategy to synthesize the multisubstituted 3,4-dihydrocoumarins with moderate to high yields (64-81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (>20:1).

NHC-Activations on α-, β-, γ-, and Beyond

Over the recent decades, due to the special electronic characteristics and diverse reactivities, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has received significant interest in organocatalyzed reactions. The formation of Breslow intermediates by NHC can convert into acyl anion equivalent, enolates, homoenolate, acyl azolium, and vinyl enolate etc., and the cycloaddition reactions of these species has attracted lots of attention. In this review, we focus on the summry of the development of NHC-activation of carbonyl carbon (or imine carbon) in situ, α-, β-, γ-, and beyond, and the cycloaddition reaction of these species.

Facile Approach for the Oxidative Enolate Activation of Aliphatic Aldehydes

A proline/N-heterocyclic carbene relay catalytic strategy is developed for the oxidative enolate activation of aliphatic aldehydes. A broad scope of electrophiles including oxindole-derived pyrazolones, oxindole-derived α,β-unsaturated esters, and α,β-unsaturated imines are effective as the reactants in the asymmetric [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction with the alkyl aldehydes bearing different substitution patterns. Structural complex multicyclic chiral products can be afforded in generally excellent yields and enantio- and diastereoselectivities through this approach under similar reaction conditions. Several of the optical pure products afforded from this protocol exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against plant pathogens and are promising in the development of novel pesticides for plant protection.

Oxidant free synthesis of α-pyrones via an NHC-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation of bromoenals with 2-chloro-1,3-diketones

An NHC-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation reaction between α-bromo enals and 2-chlorocyclohexane-1,3-diones was developed for the rapid and efficient synthesis of various 4,5,6-trisubstituted α-pyrones, which are core structures in numerous natural products and synthetic bioactive molecules, in generally good to excellent yields.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Structurally Sophisticated Spirocyclic Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole Derivatives Bearing a Chiral Quaternary Carbon Center

A carbene-catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction is developed for quick and efficient access to structurally complex multicyclic pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole molecules. The reaction tolerates a broad scope of substrates bearing various substitution patterns, with the multicyclic pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole products afforded in generally good to excellent yields and optical purities. The chiral molecules obtained from this approach has found promising applications in the development of novel bacteriacides for plant protection.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Transformations Involving Azolium Enolates

The recent advances in the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-organocatalyzed generation of azolium enolate intermediates and their subsequent interception with electrophiles are highlighted. The NHC-bound azolium intermediates are generated by the addition of NHCs to suitably substituted aldehydes, acid derivatives or ketenes. A broad range of coupling partners can intercept the azolium enolates to form [2+n] cycloadducts (n=2,3,4) and various α-functionalized compounds. The enantioselective synthesis of the target compounds are achieved with the use of chiral NHCs. Herein, we summarized the development that occurred in this subclass of NHC catalysis.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Promoted [4+2] Annulation of α-Chloro Hydrazones with α-Chloro Aliphatic Aldehydes to Access Enantioenriched Dihydropyridazinones

An expeditious protocol for the assembly of chiral 4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-ones from α-chloro hydrazones and α-chloro aliphatic aldehydes via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis is outlined. These in situ-generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes undergo asymmetric [4+2] annulation with NHC-bound enolates to afford the desired products bearing a stereogenic center at the C4 position. The notable features of this approach include good to excellent enantioselectivities, high functional group tolerance, mild reaction conditions, simple operating procedures, and compatibility with gram-scale synthesis.

Synthesis of Enantioenriched 3,4-Disubstituted Chromans through Lewis Base Catalyzed Carbosulfenylation

A method for the catalytic, enantioselective, carbosulfenylation of alkenes to construct 3,4-disubstituted chromans is described. Alkene activation proceeds through the intermediacy of enantioenriched, configurationally stable thiiranium ions generated from catalytic, Lewis base activation of an electrophilic sulfenylating agent. The transformation affords difficult-to-generate, enantioenriched, 3,4-disubstituted chromans in moderate to high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. A variety of substituents are compatible including electronically diverse functional groups as well as several functional handles such as aryl halides, esters, anilines, and phenols. The resulting thioether moiety is amenable to a number of functional group manipulations and transformations. Notably, the pendant sulfide was successfully cleaved to furnish a free thiol which readily provides access to most sulfur-containing functional groups which are present in natural products and pharmaceuticals.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Dihydrocoumarins via [1,2]-Phospha-Brook Rearrangement in Three-Component Coupling Reaction of α-Ketoesters, o-Quinone Methides, and Dialkyl Phosphites

A highly regio- and diastereoselective approach for the synthesis of phosphate substituted dihydrocoumarins via Brønsted base catalyzed [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement is reported. The two-step, one-pot Michael addition of α-phosphonyloxy enolates proceeds by coupling of dialkyl phosphite and α-ketoesters to o-quinone methides, followed by an intramolecular cyclization, providing 3,4-dihydrocoumarin frameworks.

Synthesis and Antioxidant Capacity of Some Derivatives of Sesamol at the C-6 Position

Several synthetic approaches (aminomethylation, alkylation, condensation, etc.) have been used to synthesize derivatives based on the sesamol (1), natural phenol. The set of methods, including the study of antioxidant activity (AOA) by the ability to inhibit the initiated oxidation of animal lipids, radical scavenging activity, Fe²⁺ -chelation ability, as well as a comparative assessment of membrane-protective activity under the conditions of H₂ O₂ -induced hemolysis of mice red blood cells (RBCs), was used to analyze the antioxidant potential of the synthesized compounds. The synthesized derivatives have demonstrated different activity in the listed test systems, and we have identified compounds which appear to be most promising for a detailed study of their pharmacological properties.

Tale of the Breslow intermediate, a central player in N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis: then and now

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) belong to the popular family of organocatalysts used in a wide range of reactions, including that for the synthesis of complex natural products and biologically active compounds. In their organocatalytic manifestation, NHCs are known to impart umpolung reactivity to aldehydes and ketones, which are then exploited in the generation of homoenolate, acyl anion, and enolate equivalents suitable for a plethora of reactions such as annulation, benzoin, Stetter, Claisen rearrangement, cycloaddition, and C-C and C-H bond functionalization reactions and so on. A common thread that runs through these NHC catalyzed reactions is the proposed involvement of an enaminol, also known as the Breslow intermediate, formed by the nucleophilic addition of an NHC to a carbonyl group of a suitable electrophile. In the emerging years of NHC catalysis, enaminol remained elusive and was largely considered a putative intermediate owing to the difficulties encountered in its isolation and characterization. However, in the last decade, synergistic efforts utilizing an array of computational and experimental techniques have helped in gaining important insights into the formation and characterization of Breslow intermediates. Computational studies have suggested that a direct 1,2-proton transfer within the initial zwitterionic intermediate, generated by the action of an NHC on the carbonyl carbon, is energetically prohibitive and hence the participation of other species capable of promoting an assisted proton transfer is more likely. The proton transfer assisted by additives (such as acids, bases, other species, or even a solvent) was found to ease the kinetics of formation of Breslow intermediates. These important details on the formation, in situ detection, isolation, and characterization of the Breslow intermediate are scattered over a series of reports spanning well over a decade, and we intend to consolidate them in this review and provide a critical assessment of these developments. Given the central role of the Breslow intermediate in organocatalytic reactions, this treatise is expected to serve as a valuable source of knowledge on the same.

Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of trans-3,4-diaryldihydrocoumarins via metal-free [4+2] annulation of ynamides with o-hydroxybenzyl alcohols

An efficient regio- and diastereoselective method for the construction of valuable trans-3,4-diaryldihydrocoumarins via metal-free [4+2] annulation of ynamides with o-hydroxybenzyl alcohols has been developed. Ynamides are first treated as 2-π partners to react with o-hydroxybenzyl alcohols via traceless sulfonamide directing groups, affording trans-3,4-diaryldihydrocoumarins in good yields with high regio- and diastereoselectivities. This metal-free methodology is also characterized by a wide substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and efficiency on a gram scale.

A tandem dearomatization/rearomatization strategy: enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed α-arylation

In this study, the first example of carbene-catalyzed tandem dearomatization/rearomatization reaction of azonaphthalenes with α-chloroaldehydes is described.

In this study, the first example of the carbene-catalyzed tandem dearomatization/rearomatization reaction of azonaphthalenes with α-chloroaldehydes is described. This protocol enables the efficient assembly of chiral dihydrocinnolinone derivatives in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Moreover, this strategy enables not only the highly enantioselective NHC-catalyzed nucleophilic aromatic substitution, but also a formal Csp²–Csp³ bond formation.

Recent advances in the application of Diels–Alder reactions involving o-quinodimethanes, aza-o-quinone methides and o-quinone methides in natural product total synthesis

This review summarizes recent advances in Diels–Alder reactions involving o-QDMs, o-QMs and aza-o-QMs. The power and potential of this strategy in organic synthesis and natural product total synthesis is highlighted.

Hydride transfer initiated ring expansion of pyrrolidines toward highly functionalized tetrahydro-1-benzazepines

The first example of ring expansion from a five-membered nitrogen-containing ring to a seven-membered heterocyclic ring has been developed.