Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Borylated 1-Benzo[ b]azepines

Recent Progress in Asymmetric Domino Intramolecular Cyclization/Cascade Reactions of Substituted Olefins

The domino cyclization/coupling strategy is one of the most effective methods to produce cyclized and multi-functionalized compounds from olefins, which has attracted huge attention from chemists and biochemists especially for its considerable potential of enantiocontrol. Nowadays, more and more studies are developed to achieve difunctionalization of substituted olefins through an asymmetric domino intramolecular cyclization/cascade reaction, which is still an elegant choice to accomplish several synthetic ideas such as complex natural products and drugs. This review surveys the recent advances in this field through reaction type classification. It might serve as useful knowledge desktop for the community and accelerate their research.

Copper-Catalyzed Diastereo- and Enantioselective Borylative Cyclization

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective borylative cyclization with various electrophiles via difunctionalization of unsaturated hydrocarbons is a powerful tool for the generation of interesting boron-containing carbocycles and heterocycles processes involving a chiral organocopper intermediate. Alkenes, allenes, and alkynes are versatile and easily accessible substrates that can be subjected to a wide range of reactions to produce densely functionalized, enantioenriched products. In this chapter, I discuss copper-catalyzed alkenes, allenes, and alkynes borofunctionalization and enantioselective cyclization via chiral organocopper intermediate. Copper-catalyzed enantioselective borylative cyclization and regiodivergent functionalization of alkenes, allenes, and alkynes, as well as the current mechanistic understanding of such processes, are given special attention in this review.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Construction of Functionalized Benzo[b]oxepines and Benzo[b]azepines via Recyclable Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclizations

The heterogeneous gold-catalyzed cyclization of (o-alkynyl)phenoxy- or N-(o-alkynylphenyl)tolylsulfonamidoacrylates with alcohols has been developed by using an MCM-41-anchored diphenylphosphine-Au(I) complex [MCM-41-Ph₂P-AuNTf₂] as the catalyst under mild reaction conditions, yielding diverse functionalized benzo[b]oxepines or benzo[b]azepines with good to high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. This heterogenized gold(I) catalyst exhibits a comparable activity to homogeneous Ph₃PAuNTf₂ and can be facilely recovered by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and reused more than seven times with almost a consistent catalytic efficiency.

Regio- and stereoselective copper-catalyzed α,β-protoboration of allenoates: access to Z-β,γ-unsaturated β-boryl esters

A highly efficient regio- and stereoselective method for allenoate borylation has been developed. Using CuCl and bis(pinacolato)diboron in methanol, a variety of allenoates underwent β-boration and α-protonation to afford the corresponding Z-β,γ-unsaturated β-boryl esters under mild conditions with up to 81% yields.

I2 -Promoted Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization of Butenyl Anilines: A Facile Route to Benzo[b]azepines

A metal-free approach for the synthesis of seven-membered N-heterocycles has been developed by the I₂ -promoted intramolecular cross-coupling/annulation of butenyl anilines. This cyclization reaction involves C-H activation and C-C bond formation and exhibits good functional group tolerance. A series of benzo[b]azepine derivatives are obtained in moderate to good yields.

Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Borylative Cyclization for the Synthesis of Quinazolinones

Quinazolinones are common substructures in molecules of medicinal importance. We report an enantioselective copper-catalyzed borylative cyclization for the assembly of privileged pyrroloquinazolinone motifs. The reaction proceeds with high enantio- and diastereocontrol, and can deliver products containing quaternary stereocenters. The utility of the products is demonstrated through further manipulations.

Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Carboboronation of Allenes Using Highly Strained Cyclic Ketimines as Electrophiles

A diastereoselective copper and NHC-ligand-catalyzed three-component difunctionalization of allenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron and 2H-azirines to afford borylated allylaziridines is described. The reaction exhibits complete diastereoselectivity and good yields, and the further chlorination of the corresponding borylated products was also performed. It is believed that the high ring-strain force of 2H-azirines facilitates the reaction. More chemical transformations of borylated allylaziridines are also reported.

Copper-Catalyzed Borylative Couplings with C-N Electrophiles

Copper-catalyzed borylative multicomponent reactions (MCRs) involving olefins and C-N electrophiles are a powerful tool to rapidly build up molecular complexity. The products from these reactions contain multiple functionalities, such as amino, cyano and boronate groups, that are ubiquitous in medicinal and process chemistry programs. Copper-catalyzed MCRs are particularly attractive because they use a relatively abundant and non-toxic catalyst to selectively deliver high-value products from simple feedstocks such as olefins. In this Minireview, we explore this rapidly emerging field and survey the borylative union of allenes, dienes, styrenes and other olefins, with imines, nitriles and related C-N electrophiles.

Copper and palladium co-catalyzed highly regio-selective 1,2-hydroarylation of terminal 1,3-dienes

A practical copper and palladium co-catalyzed highly regio-selective hydroarylation of terminal 1,3-dienes has been developed. This chemistry afforded the terminal alkenyl group containing products, which are a kind of versatile precursor for organic synthesis, from 1,3-dienes by a practical one-step reaction. With good functional group tolerance, this protocol could be used to make a series of bio-active compounds using readily accessible starting materials. The mechanism of this reaction was explored by control experiments and kinetics studies.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Homopropargyl Amines by Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of Imines, 1,3-Enynes, and Diborons

An efficient, enantio- and diastereoselective, copper-catalyzed coupling of imines, 1,3-enynes, and diborons is reported. The process shows broad substrate scope and delivers complex, chiral homopropargyl amines; useful building blocks on the way to biologically-relevant compounds. In particular, functionalized homopropargyl amines bearing up to three contiguous stereocenters can be prepared in a single step.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 1-Benzazepine Derivatives via Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Reductive Cyclization

An asymmetric construction of enantioenriched 2,3-substituted-1-benzazepine derivatives containing a cyclic tertiary amine moiety was developed by copper-catalyzed reductive intramolecular cyclization of (E)-dienyl arenes with a tethered ketimine. This protocol involves tandem chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective hydrocupration and asymmetric cyclization in the presence of a chiral bisphosphine-copper catalyst. Under mild conditions, a broad range of 1-benzazepine derivatives was obtained in good to high yields with high degrees of diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity.

Cu-Catalyzed highly selective reductive functionalization of 1,3-diene using H2O as a stoichiometric hydrogen atom donor

A copper-catalyzed highly regio- and diastereo-selective reductive reaction of terminal 1,3-diene with water and aldehyde has been developed. This chemistry afforded a product containing a terminal alkenyl group, which is a versatile kind of precursor for organic synthesis, with the scope for various substrates. The present reaction system could realize the catalytic transfer of hydrogen to diene using water as a stoichiometric H atom donor. In this transformation, B2Pin2, a mild and practical kind of reductant was used as the mediator. The reaction pathway of this practical strategy was illustrated by a control experiment.