Divergent Synthesis of Enantioenriched β-Functional Amines via Desymmetrization of meso-Aziridines with Isocyanides

Asymmetric magnesium catalysis for important chiral scaffold synthesis

Magnesium catalysts are widely used in catalytic asymmetric reactions, and a series of catalytic strategies have been developed in recent years. Herein, in this review, we have tried to summarize asymmetric magnesium catalysis for the synthesis of important chiral scaffolds. Several important optically active motifs that are present in classic chiral ligands or natural products synthesized by Mg(II) catalytic methods are briefly discussed. Moreover, the representative mechanisms for different magnesium catalytic strategies, including in situ generated magnesium catalysts, are also shown in relation to synthetic routes for obtaining these important chiral scaffolds.

Dearomative Spirocyclization of Tryptamine-Derived Isocyanides via Iron-Catalyzed Carbene Transfer

Tryptamine-derived isocyanides are valuable building blocks in the construction of spirocyclic indolenines and indolines via dearomatization of the indole moiety. We report the Bu4N[Fe(CO)3NO]-catalyzed carbene transfer of α-diazo esters to 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles, leading to ketenimine intermediates that undergo spontaneous dearomative spirocyclization. The utility of this iron-catalyzed carbene transfer/spirocyclization cascade was demonstrated by its use as a key step in the formal total synthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (±)-aspidofractinine, (±)-limaspermidine, (±)-aspidospermidine, and (±)-17-demethoxy-N-acetylcylindrocarine.

Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Polycyclic Spiroindolines by Cascade Reaction of 3-(2-Isocyanoethyl)indoles with 1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A catalyst-free cascade reaction of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles and 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles was realized. This dearomative spirocyclization provided an efficient protocol to synthesize a series of polycyclic indolines bearing spiro-α-carboline in moderate to high yields in one step under thermal reaction conditions.

Catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of meso-aziridines

As a type of readily available small strained-ring heterocycle, meso-aziridines may undergo catalytic desymmetrizing transformations to empower the rapid construction of diverse nitrogen-containing structures bearing contiguous stereocenters, which have great relevance in natural product synthesis, drug development and the design and synthesis of chiral catalysts/ligands for asymmetric catalysis. This review outlines the advances achieved in the catalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of meso aziridines and highlights some promising avenues for further work in this realm.

Divergent Synthesis of Chromenoindoles and Spiroindolines via Domino Reaction of Indolyl-Substituted Isocyanides with Quinone Esters

A dearomative spirocyclization of tryptamine-derived isocyanides with quinone esters is developed for the divergent synthesis of structurally complex chromeno[2,3-b]indole and polycyclic spiroindoline scaffolds. This domino reaction features the formation and conversion of the six-membered dihydropyran ring with an amendable N,O-aminal moiety.

Zn(OTf)2-Promoted Isocyanide-Based Three-Component Reaction: Direct Access to 2-Oxazolines and β-Amino Amides

An efficient one-pot reaction of propargylamides, isocyanides, and water catalyzed by zinc was developed for the rapid construction of 2-oxazolines with a wide functional group tolerance. The methylene-3-oxazoline was proven to play a vitally important role to start the tandem cascade transformation through unfunctionalized alkynes with sequential nucleophilic addition approaches of isocyanide and water. Notably, with a slight alteration of the reaction temperature and the addition of one molecule of water, various β-amino amide derivatives were synthesized in good to excellent yields.

Synthesis of Azepinoindoles via Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Imidoylative Cyclization Reactions

An efficient and convenient method for the construction of diverse free (N-H)-benzazepinoindoles by Pd-catalyzed C(sp²)-H imidoylative cyclization of 3-(2-isocyanobenzyl)-1H-indoles was developed. The reaction shows a wide substrate scope and can be scaled up, providing a practical route to valuable bioactive azepinoindoles.

Synthesis of chiral pyridine-oxazolines via catalytic asymmetric Heine reaction of meso-N-(2-picolinoyl)-aziridines

An asymmetric Heine reaction of (meso)-N-(2-picolinoyl)-aziridines catalyzed by a chiral ytterbium(III)–N,N’-dioxide complex was established. A novel library of pyridine-oxazolines was obtained in decent yields and enantioselectivities, which show potential as...

Asymmetric synthesis of polycyclic spiroindolines via the Dy-catalyzed cascade reaction of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles with aziridines

An asymmetric cascade reaction catalyzed by a chiral N,N′-dioxide–Dy(iii) complex was realized to construct the valuable [6,5,5,6] tetracyclic spiroindolines with good yields and enantioselectivities by a concise and one-step protocol.

Synthesis of chiral β-substituted γ-amino-butyric acid derivatives via enantioconvergent ring opening of racemic 2-(hetero)aryl aziridines with ketene silyl acetals

Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioconvergent ring opening of racemic 2-(hetero)aryl-N-sulfonyl aziridines with ketene silyl acetals is developed.

One-pot synthesis of natural-product inspired spiroindolines with anti-cancer activities

A post-Ugi/diastereoselective cascade reaction was developed to construct the spiroindoline scaffold through a 5-exo-dig indole cyclization and the intramolecular trapping of the spiro intermediate forming a quaternary carbon center.

Palladium-Catalyzed, Enantioselective Desymmetrization of N-Acylaziridines with Indoles

Ring opening reactions of meso-aziridines generate chiral amine derivatives where the control of stereochemistry is possible through enantioselective catalysis. We report the use of a diphosphine-palladium(II) catalyst for the highly enantioselective desymmetrization of N-acylaziridines with indoles. The β-tryptamine products are isolated in moderate to high yield across a range of indole and aziridine substitution patterns. The synthetic utility of β-tryptamine products is demonstrated by conversion to the brominated pyrroloindoline derivative.

Palladium-catalysed imidoylative spirocyclization of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles

A palladium-catalysed construction of spiroindolines through dearomative spirocyclization of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles has been developed. 2'-Aryl-, vinyl-, and alkyl-substituted spiroindolines could be accessed under mild conditions with excellent functional group tolerance. C1-tethered oxindole- and indole-spiroindoline bisheterocycles were generated in high yields via alkene/allene insertion and an imidoylative spirocyclization cascade. Additionally, a tandem dearomatization of two different indoles was realized with N-(2-bromobenzoyl)indoles as the electrophilic coupling partner of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles, affording polyindoline - spiroindoline bisheterocyclic scaffolds conveniently. Under the catalysis of Pd(OAc)₂ and a spinol-derived phosphoramidite ligand, chiral spiroindolines were successfully accessed with up to 95% yield and 85% ee.

Catalytic asymmetric multicomponent reactions of isocyanide, isothiocyanate and alkylidene malonates

Several unique chiral 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-2-thiones were made readily available by carrying out, in each case, a chiral-Mg(OTf)₂/N,N'-dioxide-complex-promoted formal [2+1+2] cycloaddition in the presence of tetraethylenediamine. Control experiments revealed that in situ-generated ammonium thiocyanate was crucial for maintaining high enantioselectivity through its inhibition of the HNCS-induced racemization of the products.

Enantioselective Isocyanide-based Multicomponent Reaction with Alkylidene Malonates and Phenols

A highly enantioselective isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction catalyzed by a chiral N,N'-dioxide/Mg^II complex was reported. A wide range of substrates were tolerated in this reaction, including alkyl- and aryl-substituted isocyanides with alkylidene malonates and various phenols, affording the corresponding phenoxyimidate products in good to excellent yields (up to 94% yield) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95.5:4.5 er). A catalytic cycle and transition state were proposed to rationalize the reaction process and enantiocontrol.

Catalytic Enantioselective Isocyanide-Based Reactions: Beyond Passerini and Ugi Multicomponent Reactions

The development of catalytic enantioselective isocyanide-based reactions is currently of great interest because the resulting products are valuable in organic synthesis, pharmacological chemistry, and materials science. This review assembles and comprehensively summarizes the recent achievements in this rapidly growing area according to the reaction types. Special attention is paid to the advantages, limitations, possible mechanisms, and synthetic applications of each reaction. In addition, a personal outlook on the opportunities for further exploration is given at the end.

Aziridine used as a vinylidene unit in palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] domino annulation

A series of chromone fused methylenecyclopentanes are efficiently constructed in moderate to good yields by Pd-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, in which aziridine is used as a vinylidene unit by cleavage of two C–N bonds for the first time.

The Use of Domino Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Rings

This short review highlights the recent developments reported in the last four years on the asymmetric construction of chiral rings based on enantioselective domino reactions promoted by chiral metal catalysts.

1 Introduction

2 Formation of One Ring Containing One Nitrogen Atom

3 Formation of One Ring Containing One Oxygen/Sulfur Atom

4 Formation of One Ring Containing Several Heterocyclic Atoms

5 Formation of One Carbon Ring

6 Formation of Two Rings

7 Conclusion