Managing highly coordinative substrates in asymmetric catalysis: a catalytic asymmetric amination with a lanthanum-based ternary catalyst

Enantioselective and Chemoselective Phosphine Oxide-catalyzed Aldol Reactions of N-Unprotected Cyclic Carboxyimides

Asymmetric catalytic transformations of N-unprotected cyclic carboxyimides such as succinimides, hydantoins, oxazolidinediones, and glitazones, is a powerful way of directly accessing variety of biologically valuable chiral compounds. Herein, a bis(trichlorosilyl) nucleophilic intermediate formed from cyclic carboxyimides was reacted with aldehydes via (S)-SEGPHOS dioxide (SEGPHOSO), proceeding the aldol reaction in highly enantioselective fashion through a cyclic transition state. Furthermore, N-unprotected carboxyimides were chemoselectively activated, even in the presence of N-alkylated carboxyimides, to undergo stereoselective and chemoselective aldol reactions via in situ silicon tetrachloride activation. The functionalized cyclic carboxyimides is readily derived to the several synthetic units derivatization to various chiral building blocks without unnecessary protection/deprotection steps.

Pd-Catalysed oxidative carbonylation of α-amino amides to hydantoins under mild conditions

The first example of palladium-catalysed oxidative carbonylation of unprotected α-amino amides to hydantoins is described here. The selective synthesis of the target compounds was achieved under mild conditions (1 atm of CO), without ligands and bases. The catalytic system overrode the common reaction pathway that usually leads instead to the formation of symmetrical ureas.

Electrophilic Aminating Agents in Total Synthesis

Classical amination methods involve the reaction of a nitrogen nucleophile with an electrophilic carbon center; however, in recent years, umpoled strategies have gained traction where the nitrogen source acts as an electrophile. A wide range of electrophilic aminating agents are now available, and these underpin a range of powerful C-N bond-forming processes. In this Review, we highlight the strategic use of electrophilic aminating agents in total synthesis.

Sc(OTf)3-Catalyzed Iodocyclization/Ritter-Type Amidation of N-Alkoxypropiolamides: A Synthetic Strategy for Isoxazol-3(2H)-ones

A Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed iodocyclization/Ritter-type amidation of N-alkoxypropiolamides for the synthesis of 4-iodoisoxazol-3(2H)-ones bearing an amide group has been developed. This domino protocol allows the construction of a valuable heterocycle, isoxazol-3(2H)-one, as well as the introduction of two functional groups. The reaction has a broad substrate scope and can be carried out on a large scale. Control experiments suggest that Sc(OTf)₃ acts as a dual activator for both the iodocyclization and amidation steps. In addition, the N-alkoxy group in the substrate suppresses some of the side reactions.

Chiral Imidazolium Prolinate Salts as Efficient Synzymatic Organocatalysts for the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

Chiral imidazolium l-prolinate salts, providing a complex network of supramolecular interaction in a chiral environment, have been studied as synzymatic catalytic systems. They are demonstrated to be green and efficient chiral organocatalysts for direct asymmetric aldol reactions at room temperature. The corresponding aldol products were obtained with moderate to good enantioselectivities. The influence of the presence of chirality in both the imidazolium cation and the prolinate anion on the transfer of chirality from the organocatalyst to the aldol product has been studied. Moreover, interesting match/mismatch situations have been observed regarding configuration of chirality of the two components through the analysis of results for organocatalysts derived from both enantiomers of prolinate (R/S) and the trans/cis isomers for the chiral fragment of the cation. This is associated with differences in the corresponding reaction rates but also to the different tendencies for the formation of aggregates, as evidenced by nonlinear effects studies (NLE). Excellent activities, selectivities, and enantioselectivities could be achieved by an appropriate selection of the structural elements at the cation and anion.

Regio- and enantioselective amination of acyclic branched α-alkynyl ketones: asymmetric construction of N-containing quaternary stereocenters

Direct regio- and enantioselective amination of acyclic α-branched ketones enabled by the α-alkynyl group.

Enantioselective amination of 4-alkylisoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-dione derivatives

A mild and efficient enantioselective amination of 4-alkylisoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-dione derivatives was established, which is compatible with a broad range of substrates and delivers the final products in excellent yields (up to 99%) and ee values (up to 99%) with low catalyst loading (down to 1 mol%). The synthetic potential of this methodology was also demonstrated in the gram scale level.

Enantioselective α-Amination of Acyclic 1,3-Dicarbonyls Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbene

Herein, we describe a method for the catalytic enantioselective α-amination of α-substituted acyclic 1,3-ketoamides and 1,3-amidoesters that affords the products possessing N-substituted quaternary stereocenters with a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). The reaction is based on the utilization of an intrinsic Brønsted base characteristic of NHC that enables the catalytic formation of a chiral ion pair comprising the enolate and the azolium ion. A series of challenging open-chain α-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyls are aminated via this method with ee's of ≤99%.

Cyclotrimerization of alkynes catalyzed by a self-supported cyclic tri-nuclear nickel(0) complex with α-diimine ligands

The cyclic tri-nickel(0) complex [{Ni(μ-L^Me-2,4)}₃] (L^Me-2,4 = [(2,4-Me₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂) self-supported by the α-diimines catalyzes cyclotrimerization of alkynes to form substituted benzenes.

Direct catalytic enantioselective amination of ketones for the formation of tri- and tetrasubstituted stereocenters

Herein, we report a Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed direct asymmetric amination reaction of unactivated aryl and vinyl ketones using di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate as a cheap and practical electrophilic nitrogen source. Importantly, this methodology works with both α-branched and unbranched ketones for the construction of tri- and tetrasubstituted N-containing stereocenters. The reaction can be run at gram-scale with low catalyst loadings and features a recoverable and reusable ligand. Finally, the enantioenriched hydrazine products can be readily converted into versatile building blocks such as α-amino carbonyl compounds and β-amino alcohols.

Readily Available Chiral Benzimidazoles-Derived Guanidines as Organocatalysts in the Asymmetric α-Amination of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

The synthesis and the evaluation as organocatalysts of new chiral guanidines derived from benzimidazoles in the enantioselective α-amination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using di-t-butylazodicarboxylate as aminating agent is herein disclosed. The catalysts are readily synthesized through the reaction of 2-chlorobezimidazole and a chiral amine in moderate-to-good yields. Among all of them, those derived from (R)-1-phenylethan-1-amine (1) and (S)-1-(2-naphthyl)ethan-1-amine (3) turned out to be the most efficient for such asymmetric transformation, rendering good-to-high yields and moderate-to-good enantioselectivities for the amination products.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Hydantoins: The State of the Art of a Valuable Scaffold

The review highlights the hydantoin syntheses presented from the point of view of the preparation methods. Novel synthetic routes to various hydantoin structures, the advances brought to the classical methods in the aim of producing more sustainable and environmentally friendly procedures for the preparation of these biomolecules, and a critical comparison of the different synthetic approaches developed in the last twelve years are also described. The review is composed of 95 schemes, 8 figures and 528 references for the last 12 years and includes the description of the hydantoin-based marketed drugs and clinical candidates.

Catalytic asymmetric α-amination of β-keto esters and β-keto amides with a chiral N,N′-dioxide–copper(i) complex

The highly efficient asymmetric α-amination of β-keto esters and β-keto amides was realized by using a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Cu(i) complex. Under mild reaction conditions, a series of chiral α-amino dicarbonyl compounds were obtained in good result.

Direct asymmetric dearomatization of 2-naphthols by scandium-catalyzed electrophilic amination

Catalytic asymmetric aminative dearomatization of 1-substituted 2-naphthols was successfully implemented with electrophilic azodicarboxylates under the catalysis of chiral Sc(III)/pybox complexes. This intermolecular reaction represents a hitherto unknown enantioselective C-N bond-forming process through direct dearomatization of phenolic compounds to generate chiral nitrogen-containing quaternary carbon stereocenters.

Recyclable BINOL–quinine–squaramide as a highly efficient organocatalyst for α-amination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and α-cyanoacetates

An efficient organocatalytic asymmetric α-amination of 1,3-dicarbonyl and α-cyanoacetates compounds towards chiral α-amino acid precursors is reported.

Enantioselective α-Amination Enabled by a BINAM-Derived Phase-Transfer Catalyst

The enantioselective amination of carbonyl derivatives is achieved via phase-transfer of aryldiazonium salts by BINAM-derived phosphoric acids.

Chiral anion phase-transfer of aryldiazonium cations was utilized to achieve highly enantioselective α-amination of carbonyl compounds. A broad scope of indanone- and benzosuberone-derived substrates was amenable to this strategy. Critical to obtaining high levels of enantioselectivity was the use of BINAM-derived phosphoric acids. The utility of this transformation was demonstrated through facile conversion of diazene products to valuable α-amino acid derivatives.

Asymmetric construction of quaternary stereocenters by magnesium catalysed direct amination of β-ketoesters using in situ generated nitrosocarbonyl compounds as nitrogen sources

An oxophilic magnesium salt in combination with a chiral N,N′-dioxide ligand switches the chemoselectivity of an ambident nitrosocarbonyl species to nitrogen for the highly enantioselective α-amination of β-ketoesters.

Selective α-amination and α-acylation of esters and amides via dual reactivity of O-acylhydroxylamines toward zinc enolates

α-Amination and α-acylation of esters and amides have been developed, employing O-acylhydroxylamines as a dually reactive aminating and acylating reagent.

Highly enantioselective γ-amination by N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [4+2] annulation of oxidized enals and azodicarboxylates

γ-Amination: The title reaction was developed to give the corresponding dihydropyridazinones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (see scheme; Mes=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl). The annulation reaction worked well for γ-aryl, γ-alkyl, or γ-alkenyl oxidized enals. Highly enantiopure tetrahydropyridazinones and γ-amino acid derivatives could be easily prepared by chemical transformations of the resulting dihydropyridazinones.