PPh3AuTFA Catalyzed in the Dearomatization of 2-Naphthols with Allenamides

Gold-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Alkenylation of Quinoline N-Oxides with Allenamides

A gold-catalyzed cycloaddition/ring opening of allenamides with quinoline N-oxides has been developed, which provides C2-alkenylated quinolines with high E selectivity in moderate to high yields. It is noted that quinoline N-oxides with a C8 or C7 substituent are crucial for this catalytic reaction.

Metal free regio - and stereoselective semireduction of CF3-substituted N-allenamides

We developed a chemoselective metal-free access for the 1,2- and 2,3-semireduction of CF3-N-allenamides. The enamide functionality of CF3-substituted N-allenamides could be efficiently reduced by Et3SiH/BF3·OEt2 in total regioselectivity and good stereoselectivity, whereas DBU promoted the isomerization of the resulting allyl amide leading exclusively to the E-configurated enamide.

Insights into Synergistic Effects of Counterion and Ligand on Diastereoselectivity Switch in Gold-Catalyzed Post-Ugi Ipso-Cyclization

The concept of diastereoselectivity switch in gold catalysis is investigated, which primarily depends on the effects of ligand and counterion. The origins of gold-catalyzed post-Ugi ipso-cyclization for the diastereoselective synthesis of spirocyclic pyrrol-2-one-dienone have been explored with density functional theory calculations. The reported mechanism emphasized the importance of the cooperation of ligand and counterion in diastereoselectivity switch, leading to the stereocontrolling transition states. Furthermore, the nonbonding interactions primarily between the catalyst and the substrate play a significant role in the cooperation of ligand and counterion. This work would be useful to further understand the reaction mechanism of gold-catalyzed cyclization and the effects of ligand and counterion.

Boosting Gold(I) Catalysis via Weak Interactions: New Fine-Tunable Impy Ligands

A series of modular ImPy-carbene-Au(I) complexes are synthesized and fully characterized both in the solid state and in solution. The presence of oligoaryl units (phenyl and thienyl rings) at the C5-position of the ImPy core (in close proximity to the gold center) imprints on the organometallic species fine-tunable and predictable catalytic properties. A marked accelerating effect was recorded in several [Au(I)]-catalyzed electrophilic activations of unsaturated hydrocarbons when a CF₃-containing aromatic ring was accommodated at the ImPy core.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Terminal vs. Fluorine-Substituted N-Allenamides via Addition of Diazo Compounds to Terminal Ynamides

A copper-mediated coupling reaction between ynamides and diazo-compounds to produce N-allenamides is reported for the first time. This method enables facile and rapid access to terminal N-allenamides by using commercially available TMS-diazomethane with wide functional group compatibility on the nitrogen. Furthermore, the ubiquity of molecules containing a fluorine moiety in medicine, in agricultural, and material science requires the continuous search of new building blocks, including this unique surrogate. The CuI/diazo protocol was successfully applied to the synthesis of fluorine-substituted N-allenamides. DFT calculations provided insights in the mechanism involved.

Enantioselective Au(I)-catalyzed dearomatization of 1-naphthols with allenamides through Tethered Counterion-Directed Catalysis

The Tethered Counterion-Directed Catalysis (TCDC) approach has been applied to the enantioselective Au(I) catalyzed dearomatizations of 1-naphthols with allenamides. Stereocontrol is ensured by the intramolecular ion-pairing between the chiral gold-tethered phosphate and an iminium unit, that provides a rigid, well-defined chiral environment to the key electrophilic intermediate.

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of hydroxyarenes with nitroenynes to access chiral heterocycles via sequential catalysis

Naphthols, hydroxyindoles and an activated phenol are reacted with differently substituted (E)-nitrobut-1-en-3-ynes using the commercially available Rawal's chiral squaramide. The corresponding β-nitroalkynes were obtained with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, dihydronaphthofurans can be accessed via silver catalysed cyclization in a tandem one-pot procedure, with high preservation of the optical purity.

Characterization and Utilization of the Elusive α,β-Unsaturated N-Tosyliminium: the Synthesis of Highly Functionalizable Skipped Halo Enynes

A formal haloalkynylation of allenamides has been described for the synthesis of highly stereo- and regioselective skipped halo enynes. Exclusive γ-regioselectivity is achieved through the intermediacy of a conjugated N-tosyliminium intermediate-direct evidence for the formation of which was validated by NMR and HRMS. Quantum mechanical computations reveal that the reactive intermediate geometry is key to controlling the 1,2- or 1,4-regioselectivity of alkyne interception. Divergent access to elusive unsaturated systems has also been reported.

Palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation dearomatization of β-naphthols and indoles with gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes

A palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation dearomatization of β-naphthols and indoles with gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes has been developed for the first time.

Assessing counterion effects in gold-catalyzed domino spirocyclization: an industrial perspective on hydrogen bonding

We herein report a computational study of the hydrogen bonding in gold-catalyzed ipso-cyclization to diverse polyheterocyclic frameworks. The different roles of these hydrogen bonds are analyzed for the different ipso-cyclization reactions. The fine-tunability of the electronic as well as steric properties of gold counterions contributed substantially to the popularity of the dearomatization reaction, with robust applications in total synthesis and gold catalysis. We have found correlation between the hydrogen bonding parameters and chemoselectivity in gold-catalyzed spirocyclization, playing critical roles in determining the reaction direction of counterion-based enantioselective gold catalysis. The expanded use of counterions via hydrogen bonding interaction can occupy an important role in the future concerning catalyst optimization in gold catalysis.

A complementary approach to conjugated N-acyliminium formation through photoredox-catalyzed intermolecular radical addition to allenamides and allencarbamates

An intermolecular radical addition, using photoredox catalysis, to allenamides and allencarbamates is reported. This transformation synthesizes N-acyl-N’-aryl-N,N’-allylaminals, and proceeds by a conjugated N-acyliminium intermediate that previously has principally been generated by electrophilic activation methods. The radical adds to the central carbon of the allene giving a conjugated N-acyliminium that undergoes nucleophilic addition by arylamines and alcohols.

Allylic and Allenylic Dearomatization of Indoles Promoted by Graphene Oxide by Covalent Grafting Activation Mode

The site-selective allylative and allenylative dearomatization of indoles with alcohols was performed under carbocatalytic regime in the presence of graphene oxide (GO, 10 wt % loading) as the promoter. Metal-free conditions, absence of stoichiometric additive, environmentally friendly conditions (H₂ O/CH₃ CN, 55 °C, 6 h), broad substrate scope (33 examples, yield up to 92 %) and excellent site- and stereoselectivity characterize the present methodology. Moreover, a covalent activation model exerted by GO functionalities was corroborated by spectroscopic, experimental and computational evidences. Recovering and regeneration of the GO catalyst through simple acidic treatment was also documented.

Gold-Catalyzed Intermolecular Formal [4 + 2 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Anthranils with Allenamides

The construction of eight-membered rings is a challenging issue due to unfavorable transannular strain and entropic barriers. We report herein a gold-catalyzed formal [4 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of anthranils with allenamides to deliver oxa-bridged eight-membered heterocycles in accepted yields with unique E/Z configuration. Moreover, the asymmetric [4 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition by using chiral phosphoramidite gold catalyst has also been conducted.

A.E.Favorskii’s scientific legacy in modern organic chemistry: prototropic acetylene – allene isomerization and the acetylene zipper reaction

Alexei Evgrafovich Favorskii was an outstanding organic chemist who left a great scientific legacy as a result of long time and fruitful work. Most of the theoretically and practically important discoveries of A.E.Favorskii were made in the chemistry of acetylene and its derivatives. Nowadays, the reactions discovered by him, which include acetylene – allene isomerization, the Favorskii and retro-Favorskii reactions, the Favorskii rearrangement and the vinylation reaction, are widely used in industry and in laboratory synthesis. This review summarizes the main scientific achievements of A.E.Favorskii, as well as their development in modern organic chemistry. Much consideration is given to acetylene – allene isomerization as a convenient method for the synthesis of methyl-substituted acetylenes and to the acetylene zipper reaction as a synthetic tool for obtaining terminal acetylenes. The review presents examples of the application of these reactions in modern organic synthesis of complex molecules, including natural compounds and their analogues.

The bibliography includes 266 references.

Gold-catalyzed domino cyclization enabling construction of diverse fused azaspiro tetracyclic scaffolds: a cascade catalysis mechanism due to a substrate and counterion

The detailed mechanism and origins of gold-catalyzed domino cyclization to diverse fused azaspiro tetracyclic scaffolds by cooperative dual catalysis and cascade catalysis are systematically studied.