Synthesis of Chiral Trispirocyclic Oxindoles via Organic-Base/Au(I)-Catalyzed Sequential Reactions

Catalytic (4+2) Annulation via Regio- and Enantioselective Interception of in-situ Generated Alkylgold Intermediate

A regio- and stereoselective stepwise (4+2) annulation of N-propargylamides and α,β-unsaturated imines/ketones has been accomplished with synergetic catalysis by a combination of a gold-complex and a chiral quinine-derived squaramide (QN-SQA), leading to highly functionalized chiral tetrahydropyridines/dihydropyrans in good to high yields with generally excellent enantioselectivity. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations indicate that the in situ formed alkylgold species is the key intermediate in this transformation, and the amide group served as a traceless directing group in this highly selective transformation. This method complements the enantioselective (4+2) annulation of allene reagents, providing the formal internal C-C π-bond cycloaddition products, which is challenging and remains elusive.

Gold-Catalyzed Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition as Access to Antitumor-Active Spirocyclic Oxindoles from Alkynes and Isatin-Derived Ketimines

Due to its excellent bioactivity profile, which is increasingly utilized in pharmaceutical and synthetic chemistry, spirooxindole is an important core scaffold. We herein describe an efficient method for the construction of highly functionalized new spirooxindolocarbamates via a gold-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes or ynamides with isatin-derived ketimines. This protocol has a good functional group compatibility, uses readily available starting materials, mild reaction conditions, low catalyst loadings and no additives. It enables the transformation of various functionalized alkyne groups into cyclic carbamates. Gram-scale synthesis was achieved and DFT calculations verify the feasibility of the mechanistic proposal. Some of the target products exhibit good to excellent antiproliferative activity on human tumor cell lines. In addition, one of the most active compounds displayed a remarkable selectivity towards tumor cells over normal ones.

Methodological Development and Applications of Tryptamine-Ynamide Cyclizations in Synthesizing Core Skeletons of Indole Alkaloids

Over the past two decades, synthetic strategies for synthesizing the skeletons of various indole alkaloids based on tryptamine-ynamide have been continuously developed and applied to the total syntheses or formal total syntheses of related molecules. In this synopsis, we summarized the cyclization pathways of tryptamine-ynamide under different catalytic conditions, emphasizing the reaction mechanism and applications in the syntheses of indole alkaloids.

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of oxazolidino spiropyrazolinones via N,O-acetalization/aza Michael addition domino reaction between N-Boc pyrazolinone ketimines and γ-hydroxyenones

A squaramide-catalyzed asymmetric N,O-acetalization/aza Michael addition domino reaction between N-Boc ketimines derived from pyrazolin-5-ones and γ-hydroxyenones has been developed for the construction of pyrazolinone embedded spirooxazolidines. A hydroquinine derived bifunctional squaramide catalyst was found to be the most effective for this cascade spiroannulation. This new protocol allows the generation of two stereocenters and the desired products are obtained in good yields with moderate to good diastereoselectivities (up to 3.3 : 1 dr) and high enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) from a range of substituted N-Boc pyrazolinone ketimines and γ-hydroxyenones. The developed protocol is amenable for a scale-up reaction.

Dinuclear zinc catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] spiroannulation for the synthesis of diverse bispirocyclic saccharines

A highly atom-economical and novel enantioselective [3 + 2] spiroannulation reaction of saccharine-derived cyclic 1-azadienes with α-hydroxy-1-indanones has been developed.

Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Bispiro[Oxindole-Pyrrolidine-Pyrazolone] Derivatives via Sequential and One-Pot Mannich/Hydroamination Reaction

The atom-economic method for the preparation of novel bispirocyclic compounds containing three fused heterocyclic scaffolds privileged in drug discovery was developed by using a chiral amine-squaramide Mannich reaction and Au(I)-catalyzed hydroamination. The developed synthetic strategy performed either stepwise or as a one-pot process allows the formation of chiral bispirocyclic [oxindole-pyrrolidine-pyrazolones] in high yields (up to 75%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%).

Palladium-catalysed oxidative nucleophilic allylation between alkenes and activated ketimines

A direct linear regioselective oxidative allylation reaction between alkenes and activated ketimines has been developed by using a Pd(OAc)2/2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone system.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chiral 4-hydroxy 4′-substituted pyrazolones by the vinylogous aldol reaction of pyrazole-4,5-diones with 3-alkylidene-2-oxindoles

Here, a bifunctional quinine-derived benzamide catalyzed direct enantioselective vinylogous aldol reaction between 3-alkylidene-2-oxindoles and pyrazole-4,5-diones has been developed.

Stereoselective synthesis and applications of spirocyclic oxindoles

This review summaries recent synthetic developments towards spirocyclic oxindoles and applications as valuable medicinal and synthetic targets.

Copper-catalyzed regioselective [3+2] annulation of malonate-tethered acyl oximes with isatins

A copper-catalyzed regioselective [3+2] annulation of malonate-tethered acyl oximes with isatins was developed, affording valuable 2,3-dihydrooxazole-spirooxindoles in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Recent Advances in Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrazolones with a Tetrasubstituted Stereogenic Center at the 4-Position

Pyrazolone [2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-4-one] represents one of the most important five-membered nitrogen heterocycles which is present in numerous pharmaceutical drugs and molecules with biological activity. Recently, many catalytic methodologies for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral pyrazolones have been established with great success, specially, for the synthesis of pyrazolones bearing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter at C-4. This review summarizes these excellent research studies since 2018, including representative examples and some mechanistic pathways explaining the observed stereochemistry.

1 Introduction

2 Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Pyrazolones with a Full Carbon Tetrasubstituted Stereocenter at C-4

3 Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Pyrazolones with a Quaternary Carbon Stereocenter at C-4 bearing a Heteroatom

4 Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Spiropyrazolones

5 Conclusion

A Rh-catalyzed three-component reaction for the diastereoselective synthesis of pyrazolone derivatives with contiguous quaternary stereocenters

A diastereoselective three-component reaction of diazo compounds with alcohols and pyrazolinone ketimines by utilizing rhodium(ii) catalysis via interception of transient oxonium ylides is reported. The reaction provides an efficient approach for the facile construction of polyfunctionalized pyrazolone derivatives bearing two contiguous quaternary stereocenters in good yields with high regioselectivities and excellent diastereoselectivities.

Enantioselective construction of dispirotriheterocycles featuring a 4-aminopyrazolone motif through a cascade Michael/cyclization process

A highly asymmetric approach to multicyclic dispiro [pyrazolone-pyrrolidinethione-oxindole] core structures bearing three contiguous stereogenic centers through a cascade Michael addition/cyclization reaction of 4-isothiocyanato pyrazolones with 3-ylideneoxindoles was developed.