Practical Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation of Meldrum’s Acid-Derived Acceptors: Access to Chiral β-Alkynyl Acids

Ir-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Hydroalkynylation of Trisubstituted Alkene to Access All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The stereoselective construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters, especially acyclic ones, represents an important challenge in organic synthesis. In particular, homopropargyl amides with a quaternary stereocenter β to a nitrogen atom are valuable synthetic intermediates, which could be transformed to diverse chiral structures through alkyne transformations. However, highly enantioselective synthetic methods for homopropargyl amides with a β quaternary stereocenter are extremely rare. We report here unprecedented substrate-directed, iridium-catalyzed enantioselective hydroalkynylations of trisubstituted alkenes to form an acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenter β to a nitrogen atom. The hydroalkynylation of enamide occurred with unconventional selectivity, favoring the more hindered reaction site. Homopropargyl amides with β-stereocenters were prepared in high regio- and enantioselectivities. Combined experimental and computational studies revealed the origin of the regio- and enantioselectivities.

Iridium-catalysed conjugated alkynylation of α,β-unsaturated amide through alkene isomerization

We have developed an iridium-catalysed conjugated alkynylation of α,β-unsaturated amide.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Redox-Relay Heck Alkynylation of Alkenols To Access Propargylic Stereocenters

An enantioselective redox-relay Heck alkynylation of di- and trisubstituted alkenols to construct propargylic stereocenters is disclosed using a new pyridine oxazoline ligand. This strategy allows direct access to chiral β-alkynyl carbonyl compounds employing allylic alcohol substrates in contrast to more traditional conjugate addition methods.

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl carbonyl and sulfonyl derivatives via sequential palladium and copper catalysis

We present a full account detailing the development of a sequential catalysis strategy for the synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl carbonyl and sulfonyl derivatives. A palladium-catalyzed cross coupling of terminal alkyne donors with acetylenic ester, ketone, and sulfone acceptors generates stereodefined enynes in high yield. These compounds are engaged in an unprecedented, regio- and enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate reduction. The process exhibits a high functional group tolerance, and this enables the synthesis of a broad range of chiral products from simple, readily available alkyne precursors. The utility of the method is demonstrated through the elaboration of the chiral β-alkynyl products into a variety of different molecular scaffolds. Its value in complex molecule synthesis is further validated through a concise, enantioselective synthesis of AMG 837, a potent GPR40 receptor agonist.

Chiral chemistry of metal-camphorate frameworks

This critical review presents the various synthetic approaches and chiral chemistry of metal-camphorate frameworks (MCamFs), which are homochiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from a camphorate ligand. The interest in this unique subset of homochiral MOFs is derived from the many interesting chiral features for both materials and life sciences, such as asymmetrical synthesis or crystallization, homochiral structural design, chiral induction, absolute helical control and ligand handedness. Additionally, we discuss the potential applications of homochiral MCamFs. This review will be of interest to researchers attempting to design other homochiral MOFs and those engaged in the extension of MOFs for applications such as chiral recognition, enantiomer separation, asymmetric catalysis, nonlinear sensors and devices.

Highly enantioselective copper(i)-catalyzed conjugate addition of 1,3-diynes to α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones

The conjugate diynylation of α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones with terminal diynes is carried out. Pre-metalation of the terminal 1,3-diyne is not required. Diynes bearing a propargylic stereogenic center are obtained with good yields and ee's.

Asymmetric catalytic conjugate addition of acetaldehyde to nitrodienynes/nitroenynes: applications to the syntheses of (+)-α-lycorane and chiral β-alkynyl acids

The catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of acetaldehyde to polyconjugated substrates, nitrodienynes and nitroenynes, has been accomplished using organocatalysis. Various functionalized 1,3-enynes and propargylic compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields with high enantioselectivity. The synthetic utilities of the conjugate addition reactions have been highlighted in the concise total synthesis of (+)-α-lycorane and the metal-free synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl acids.

Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to β-trifluoromethyl α,β-enones

The first enantioselective conjugate alkynylation of β-trifluoromethyl α,β-enones using terminal alkynes and a taniaphos–Cu(i) complex as catalyst is described.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkynylation

No leaving group needed: With an Ir(P,olefin) complex as catalyst, the direct enantioselective allylic alkynylation of secondary allylic alcohols with potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates as alkynylating reagents has been achieved. High levels of enantioselectivity and high yields were achieved with this operationally easy and robust protocol, the use of which was demonstrated in the synthesis of GPR40 receptor agonist AMG 837. cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene.

Cu(II)-catalyzed aerobic hydroperoxidation of Meldrum's acid derivatives and application in intramolecular oxidation: a conceptual blueprint for O2/H2 dihydroxylation

Aerobic hydroperoxidation of Meldrum's acid derivatives via a Cu(II)-catalyzed process is presented. The mild reaction conditions are tolerant to pendant unsaturation allowing the formation of endoperoxides via electrophilic activation. Cleavage of the O-O bond provides 1,n-diols with differentiation of the hydroxy groups.

Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of (triisopropylsilyl)-acetylene to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Asymmetric addition of (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds took place in the presence of a cobalt/Duphos catalyst to give the 1,6-addition products in high yields with high regio- and enantioselectivity.

A new strategy for the synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl esters via sequential palladium and copper catalysis

A new strategy for the synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl esters which relies on sequential Pd and Cu catalysis is reported. Terminal alkynes bearing aryl, alkyl, and silyl groups can be employed without prior activation yielding a wide range of important chiral building blocks. The reaction sequence utilizes a robust Pd(II)-catalyzed hydroalkynylation of ynoates with terminal alkynes providing geometrically pure ynenoates which are readily reduced by CuH. In contrast to previous reports, where additions to ynenoates proceed with marginal preference for the 1,6-pathway, this conjugate reduction occurs with high 1,4-selectivity yielding β-alkynyl esters with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. Importantly, the method tolerates a wide range of functionality, including allylic carbonates and carbamates, and thus allows for rapid elaboration of the β-alkynyl esters into a variety of chiral, substituted heterocycles.

Cooperative activation of alkyne and thioamide functionalities; direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides

A detailed study of the direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst, comprising [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6), bisphosphine ligand, and Li(OC(6)H(4)-p-OMe) simultaneously activated both substrates to compensate for the low reactivity of copper alkynylide. A series of control experiments revealed that the intermediate copper-thioamide enolate functioned as a Brønsted base to generate copper alkynylide from the terminal alkyne, thus driving the catalytic cycle through an efficient proton transfer between substrates. These findings led to the identification of a more convenient catalyst using potassium hexamethyldisilazane (KHMDS) as the Brønsted base, which was particularly effective for the reaction of silylacetylenes. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality and a concise enantioselective synthesis of a GPR40 receptor agonist AMG-837 highlighted the synthetic utility of the present catalysis.

Enantioselective synthesis of alkyne-substituted quaternary carbon stereogenic centers through NHC-Cu-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions with (i-Bu)2(alkynyl)aluminum reagents

A catalytic enantioselective method for the formation of alkyne-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers is reported. Additions of alkynylaluminums to alkyl-, aryl-, carboxylic ester-, or silyl-substituted allylic phosphates are promoted by 1.0-5.0 mol % loadings of NHC-Cu complexes derived from air-stable and commercially available CuCl(2)·2H(2)O. The requisite Al-based reagents are prepared through treatment of the corresponding aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkyl-, or alkenyl-substituted terminal alkynes with diisobutylaluminum hydride in the presence of 5.0 mol % Et(3)N at ambient temperature. The desired 1,4-enynes are obtained in up to 98% yield and >99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Selected Au-catalyzed cyclizations involving the alkyne unit of the enantiomerically enriched products are presented as a demonstration of the method's utility in chemical synthesis.

Enantioselective synthesis of a GPR40 agonist AMG 837 via catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkyne to α,β-unsaturated thioamide

A concise enantioselective synthetic route to a potent GPR40 agonist AMG 837 is described. The crucial catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkyne was promoted by a soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst, allowing efficient construction of the requisite stereogenic center. The thioamide functional group is key to both activation in asymmetric alkynylation and facile transformation into carboxylic acid.