Scalable Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Spirocyclic Pyrrolidines

Synthesis of Spirocyclic Pyrrolidine Compounds via Silver-Catalyzed Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction of Imino Esters with α-Alkylidene Succinimides

In this study, the AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) complex was used to successfully catalyze asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition between glycine imino esters and CO2Me-appended α-alkylidene succinimides to afford spiropyrrolidines in good yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). The silver/TCF afforded endo-(2,5-cis) cycloadducts in contrast to the previous exo'-(2,5-trans) selective reaction with ylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidine. A wide variety of imino esters bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on the phenyl groups and heteroaryl substrates were utilized in this reaction. The scope of α-alkylidene succinimides was investigated, which revealed that substituents on α-benzylidene derivatives had negligible effect on the product yield and stereoselectivity, and α-alkylidene derivatives could be efficiently used as dipolarophiles.

Towards a General Access to 1-Azaspirocyclic Systems via Photoinduced, Reductive Decarboxylative Radical Cyclizations

A convenient and versatile approach to important 1-azaspirocyclic systems relevant to medicinal chemistry and natural products is reported herein. The main strategy relies on a reductive decarboxylative cyclization of redox-active esters which can be rapidly assembled from abundant cyclic azaacids and tailored acceptor sidechains, with a focus on alkyne acceptors enabling the generation of useful exo-alkene moieties. Diastereoconvergent variants were studied and could be achieved either through remote stereocontrol or conformational restriction in bicyclic carbamate substrates. Two sets of metal-free photocatalytic conditions employing inexpensive eosin Y were disclosed and studied experimentally to highlight key mechanistic divergences.

Modular Synthesis of Polar Spirocyclic Scaffolds Enabled by Radical Chemistry

Herein, we report a highly modular strategy to access spirocyclic scaffolds from abundant starting materials, i.e., cyclic ketones and α-amino or oxamic acids. The sequence proceeds through a straightforward Knoevenagel condensation, followed by a domino Giese-type reaction/base-mediated cyclization process, to deliver a broad scope of polar spirocyclic scaffolds in good to excellent yields. The products can be readily diversified, thus increasing the versatility of our method to gain rapid access to libraries of potential druglike molecules.

Multicomponent Direct Assembly of N-Heterospirocycles Facilitated by Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis

N-heterospirocycles are interesting structural units found in both natural products and medicinal compounds but have relatively few reliable methods for their synthesis. Here, we enlist the photocatalytic generation of N-centered radicals to construct β-spirocyclic pyrrolidines from N-allylsulfonamides and alkenes. A variety of β-spirocyclic pyrrolidines have been constructed, including drug derivatives, in moderate to very good yields. Further derivatization of the products has also been demonstrated as has a viable scale-up procedure, making use of flow chemistry techniques.

Cyclopropane-Fused N-Heterocycles via Aza-Heck-Triggered C(sp3)-H Functionalization Cascades

Unique examples of aza-Heck-based C(sp³)–H functionalization cascades are described. Under Pd(0)-catalyzed conditions, the aza-Heck-type cyclization of N-(pentafluorobenzoyloxy)carbamates generates alkyl–Pd(II) intermediates that effect C(sp³)–H palladation en route to cyclopropanes. Key factors that control the site selectivity of the cyclopropanation process have been elucidated such that selective access to a wide range of ring- or spiro-fused systems can be achieved.

exo'-Selective Construction of Spirobipyrrolidines by the Silver-catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Imino Esters with 4-Benzylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines

The unprecedented Ag-catalyzed exo ' -selective [3+2] cycloaddition of imino esters with 4-benzylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines is described. The reaction was efficiently catalyzed by AgOAc/( R , S p )-ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) leading to the construction of the corresponding spirobipyrrolidine scaffolds in excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities. This reaction is the first example of a silver-catalyzed exo ' -selective asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition, as well as the first exo ' -selective spirobipyrrolidine construction via a [3+2] cycloaddition process using imino esters. The wide substrate scope of this reaction enabled the preparation of structurally diverse spirobipyrrolidine derivatives, which are attracting attention as targets for drug discovery. Mechanistic studies suggested that the unusual exo ' -selectivity of this reaction is not due to epimerization following the common exo - or endo -selective cycloaddition, but instead is due to a stepwise Michael addition/Mannich sequence with bond rotation.

A biomimetic SH2 cross-coupling mechanism for quaternary sp3-carbon formation

Bimolecular homolytic substitution (SH2) is an open-shell mechanism that is implicated across a host of biochemical alkylation pathways. Surprisingly, however, this radical substitution manifold has not been generally deployed as a design element in synthetic C–C bond formation. We found that the SH2 mechanism can be leveraged to enable a biomimetic sp3-sp3 cross-coupling platform that furnishes quaternary sp3-carbon centers, a long-standing challenge in organic molecule construction. This heteroselective radical-radical coupling uses the capacity of iron porphyrin to readily distinguish between the SH2 bond-forming roles of open-shell primary and tertiary carbons, combined with photocatalysis to generate both radical classes simultaneously from widely abundant functional groups. Mechanistic studies confirm the intermediacy of a primary alkyl–Fe(III) species prior to coupling and provide evidence for the SH2 displacement pathway in the critical quaternary sp3-carbon bond formation step.

Construction of NH-Unprotected Spiropyrrolidines and Spiroisoindolines by [4+1] Cyclizations of γ-Azidoboronic Acids with Cyclic N-Sulfonylhydrazones

The reactions of N‐sulfonylhydrazones derived from cyclic ketones with γ‐azidopropylboronic acid and 2‐(azidomethyl)phenylboronic acid give rise to spirocyclic pyrrolidines and spiroisoindolines, respectively. The reactions proceed without the need of any transition‐metal catalyst through a domino process that comprises the formation of a Csp³‐C and a Csp³‐N bond of the former hydrazonic carbon. The scope of the reaction has been explored by the preparation of over 50 examples of NH‐unprotected spirocyclic derivatives. Importantly, this methodology could be applied for the preparation of alkaloid steroids from steroid N‐tosylhydrazones.

One-Pot Transformation of Furans into 1-Azaspirocyclic Alkaloid Frameworks Induced by Visible Light

High-value 1-azaspirocyclic scaffolds have been made from simple and readily accessible furan precursors in a single operation. The protocol is a one-pot sequence using highly sustainable conditions (oxygen, visible light, and a favored green solvent) that leads to a dramatic increase in molecular complexity. The initial substrates can include functionalities that are suitable for further elaboration; in this way, the pruned polycyclic skeletons of the stemonamine, cylindricine, and lepadiformine natural products were rapidly accessed.

Selective α-Methylation of Ketones

The convenient and scalable preparative approach for the two-step α-methylation of ketones is described. The optimized protocols for regioselective preparation of enaminones with further diastereoselective and functional groups tolerant hydrogenation to α-methylketones are developed. The scope and limitations of the proposed methodology are discussed. The advantages compared to known procedures are demonstrated. The unexpected role of acetone in the hydrogenation is suggested. The evaluation of the method for both early building block synthesis and late-stage CH-functionalization is shown. The elaborate procedures' preparability and scalability are demonstrated by the synthesis of several α-methyl ketones up to 100 g amount.

Scalable Preparation of 4,4-Disubstituted Six-Membered Cyclic Sulfones

We provide an account of synthetic strategies aimed at the efficient preparation of 4-amino-4-methyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran 1,1-dioxide (3), an important cyclic sulfone building block for medicinal chemistry. A practical and scalable protocol has been developed that readily gives access to the title compound from commercially available and inexpensive starting materials. In addition, this novel approach has enabled the synthesis of various related 4,4-disubstituted cyclic sulfone derivatives that serve as valuable structural motifs for drug discovery.

Photocatalytic α-Tertiary Amine Synthesis via C-H Alkylation of Unmasked Primary Amines

A practical, catalytic entry to α,α,α-trisubstituted (α-tertiary) primary amines by C-H functionalisation has long been recognised as a critical gap in the synthetic toolbox. We report a simple and scalable solution to this problem that does not require any in situ protection of the amino group and proceeds with 100 % atom-economy. Our strategy, which uses an organic photocatalyst in combination with azide ion as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst, provides a direct synthesis of α-tertiary amines, or their corresponding γ-lactams. We anticipate that this methodology will inspire new retrosynthetic disconnections for substituted amine derivatives in organic synthesis, and particularly for challenging α-tertiary primary amines.

Cycloaddition Strategies for the Synthesis of Diverse Heterocyclic Spirocycles for Fragment-Based Drug Discovery

In recent years the pharmaceutical industry has benefited from the advances made in fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) with more than 30 fragment-derived drugs currently marketed or progressing through clinical trials. The success of fragment-based drug discovery is entirely dependent upon the composition of the fragment screening libraries used. Heterocycles are prevalent within marketed drugs due to the role they play in providing binding interactions; consequently, heterocyclic fragments are important components of FBDD libraries. Current screening libraries are dominated by flat, sp2-rich compounds, primarily owing to their synthetic tractability, despite the superior physicochemical properties displayed by more three-dimensional scaffolds. Herein, we report step-efficient routes to a number of biologically relevant, fragment-like heterocyclic spirocycles. The use of both electron-deficient and electron-rich 2-atom donors was explored in complexity-generating [3+2]-cycloadditions to furnish products in 3 steps from commercially available starting materials. The resulting compounds were primed for further fragment elaboration through the inclusion of synthetic handles from the outset of the syntheses.