A Stereodivergent Approach to (−)-α-Kainic Acid and (+)-α-Allokainic Acid Utilizing the Complementarity of Alkyne and Allene Cyclizations

Ligand Effects in Carboxylic Ester- and Aldehyde-Assisted β-C-H Activation in Regiodivergent and Enantioselective Cycloisomerization-Hydroalkenylation and Cycloisomerization-Hydroarylation, and [2 + 2 + 2]-Cycloadditions of 1,6-Enynes

Herein, we report room temperature, atom-economic protocols for high regio- and enantioselective tandem cycloisomerization-hydroarylation and cycloisomerization-hydroalkenylation of 1,6-enynes leading to vicinal carba-functionalized pyrrolidines, tetrahydrofurans, and cyclopentanes. The latter steps in these processes involve carbonyl-coordination-assisted ortho-C-H activation of aromatic aldehydes and esters, and, a similar, yet rarely seen, β-C-H activation in the case of the acrylates. Synthetically useful enantioselective versions of such reactions are rare and are limited to the C2-H activation of indoles and pyrroles. A similar reaction is also observed with N-vinylphthalimide, which also has a carbonyl group suitable for C-H activation. A dibenzooxaphosphole ligand, (2S,2S',3S,3S')-MeO-BIBOP was uniquely identified as crucial to achieving the challenging regio- and enantioselectivity. This methodology gives access to substituted five-membered carbo- and heterocyclic compounds in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities under a low catalyst loading. A primary KIE of 3.5 is observed in an intermolecular competition experiment with methyl benzoate and d5-methyl benzoate, which indicates that the C-H cleavage is the turnover-limiting step of this process. Unlike the acrylates, which undergoes exclusive hydroalkenylation, a β, γ-unsaturated ester, methyl but-3-enoate, undergoes the highly enantioselective cycloisomerization-coupling sequence with a 1,6-enyne giving either a [2 + 2 + 2]-cycloaddition with (S, S)-BDPP or hydroalkenylation with (2S,2'S,3S,3'S)-MeO-BIBOP depending on the ligand employed. The (E)-configuration of the newly formed double bond at the terminal alkynyl carbon (of the starting enyne) in the hydroalkenylation product of β,γ-unsaturated ester suggests a more classical migratory insertion-β-hydride elimination route for the formation of this product.

Ni-catalyzed arylation of alkynes with organoboronic acids and aldehydes to access stereodefined allylic alcohols

A new, efficient and practical method for the three-component arylative coupling of aldehydes, alkynes and arylboronic acids has been developed through nickel catalysis. This transformation provides diverse Z-selective tetrasubstituted allylic alcohols without the use of any aggressive oragnometallic nucleophiles or reductants. Moreover, benzylalcohols are viable coupling partners via oxidation state manipulation and arylative coupling in one single catalytic cycle. This reaction features a direct and flexible approach for the preparation of stereodefined arylated allylic alcohols with broad substrate scope under mild conditions. The utility of this protocol is demonstrated through the synthesis of diverse biologically active molecular derivatives.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid and (+)-acromelic acid C via Rh(i)-catalyzed asymmetric enyne cycloisomerization

A diversity-oriented synthetic strategy was developed for the total synthesis of kainoid amino acids, which led to the enantioselective synthesis of (-)-kainic acid and the first total synthesis of (+)-acromelic acid C. Rh(i)-catalyzed asymmetric enyne cycloisomerization served as the key reaction in this strategy for the rapid construction of highly functionalized lactam, and the resulting vinyl acetate moiety was further utilized as a versatile building block for the installation of both isopropylidene and 2-pyridone units existing in natural kainoids.

Enantioselective nickel-catalyzed arylative intramolecular 1,4-allylations

The enantioselective desymmetrization of allenyl cyclohexa-2,5-dienones by nickel-catalyzed arylative intramolecular 1,4-allylations is described.

Two-step synthesis of chiral fused tricyclic scaffolds from phenols via desymmetrization on nickel

Tricyclic furan derivatives with multiple chiral centers are ubiquitous in natural products. Construction of such tricyclic scaffolds in a stereocontrolled, step-economic, and atom-economic manner is a key challenge. Here we show a nickel-catalyzed highly enantioselective synthesis of hydronaphtho[1,8-bc]furans with five contiguous chiral centers via desymmetrization of alkynyl-cyclohexadienone by oxidative cyclization and following formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition processes. Alkynyl-cyclohexadienone was synthesized in one step from easily accessible phenols. This reaction represents excellent chemo-selectivity, regio-selectivity, diastereo-selectivity, and enantio-selectivity (single diastereomer, up to 99% ee). An extraordinary regioselectivity in the formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition step with enones revealed the diverse reactivity of the nickelacycle intermediate. Desymmetrization of alkynyl-cyclohexadienones via oxidative cyclization on nickel was supported by the isolation of a nickelacycle from a stoichiometric reaction. Enantioenriched tricyclic products contain various functional groups such as C=O and C=C. The synthetic utility of these products was demonstrated by derivatization of these functional groups.

Tricyclic furanic compounds with multiple chiral centers are found in a variety of natural products. Here, the authors show a highly enantioselective nickel-catalyzed procedure to access tricyclic oxygen-containing scaffolds with five contiguous chiral centers.

Total syntheses of isodomoic acids G and H: an exercise in tetrasubstituted alkene synthesis

A unified approach to the pyrrolidine triacid natural products isodomoic acids G and H has been developed. Total syntheses of both natural products were completed, and determination of the correct stereostructure of isodomoic acid G was established by comparing 5'-(R) and 5'-(S) isomers to a sample of authentic material. A nickel-catalyzed cyclization constructs the pyrrolidine ring while simultaneously establishing either the E or Z stereochemistry of an exocyclic tetrasubstituted alkene. Stereoselective assembly of both the E- and Z-alkenes of the natural products is made possible by a predictable strategy that alters the timing of substituent introduction to control alkene stereochemistry.

anti-Aminoallylation of aldehydes via ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenative coupling of sulfonamido allenes: 1,2-aminoalcohols

Ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of N-sulfonamido allene 1e in the presence of aromatic aldehydes 2a-f, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes 2g-i, and aliphatic aldehydes 2j-l results in reductive coupling to furnish the corresponding anti-aminoallylation products 3a-l. Reductive coupling of allenamide 1e to aldehyde 2a conducted using 2-propanol-d(8) as the terminal reductant delivers deuterio-3a. The observed pattern of deuterium incorporation suggests reversible allene hydrometalation with incomplete regioselectivity in advance of carbonyl addition. A survey of monosubstituted allenes 1f-i was conducted. High levels of anti-diastereoselectivity were observed only when tert-butyl allene 1f was used. This protocol represents an alternative to the use of amino-substituted allylborane reagents in carbonyl aminoallylation and avoids the use of stoichiometric metallic reagents.

Chameleon Reactivity of the Allene Bond of 4-Vinylidene-2-oxazolidinone: Novel Through-Space Conjugative Nucleophilic Addition of Electron-Rich Alkenes and Hetero-Nucleophiles

The Calpha==Cbeta double bond of allene carbamates 1 serves as an electron acceptor similar to the double bond of conjugated enones by means of a through-space interaction with the N--SO2 bond; the carbamate double bond is thus subject to nucleophilic addition for a wide variety of nucleophiles, which proceeds under mild conditions by heating at 70-100 degrees C. Depending on the kind of nucleophiles, 1 displays three different reaction modes: 1) Typically enol ethers and allylsilanes promote 1,3-sulfonyl migration of 1 and undergo the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction with the 1-aza-1,3-butadiene intermediates II thus formed to furnish bicyclic 2-alkoxy-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 2 and 2-silylmethyl-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 3, respectively, with high regio- and stereoselectivity and retention of configuration of the double bonds of these electron-rich alkenes; 2) silanes (RnSiH4-n, n=1-3) and thiols deliver the hydride and the thiolate at the Cbeta carbon and promote the 1,3-sulfonyl migration, followed by protonation of the thus-formed carbamate anion (Z)-III to provide, for example, (Z)-4 a and (Z)-4 j, respectively; 3) alcohols simply add to the Calpha==Cbeta double bond and provide (E)-6. Usually, the reaction with alcohols is accompanied by the second pathway, giving rise to, for example, (Z)-4 b in addition to (E)-6 b. Phenol engages in the third pathway and provides (E)-6 g exclusively. Heteroaromatics, such as furans and benzofurans follow the first pathway, however, in a different regioselectivity from enol ethers and allylsilanes, delivering the oxygen atom at the 3-position of 5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines (2 g and 2 h). Indoles, on the other hand, show a dichotomy, equally enjoying the first and the third pathways and provide mixtures of (E)-7 and (E)-8, respectively.

Synthesis of a bis-azido analogue of acromelic acid for radioisotope-free photoaffinity labeling and biochemical studies

A novel acromelic acid analogue containing a phenyl group possessing two different types of azido functional groups, of which one is the aromatic N3 acting as a photoaffinity group to bind to a target protein by photoirradiation and the other is alkyl N3 group which survives photolysis acting as a detecting group through the Staudinger-Bertozzi reaction to identify the ligated product, was designed and synthesized as a radioisotope-free biochemical probe potentially for studies on kainoid receptors.

From allene to allene: a palladium-catalyzed approach to β-allenyl butenolides and their application to the synthesis of polysubstituted benzene derivatives

An allene to allene protocol for the synthesis of beta-allenyl butenolides in moderate to high yields from 2,3-allenoic acids and propargylic carbonates catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2-TFP has been developed; the products were applied successfully to the Diels-Alder reaction with electron-deficient alkynes to afford polysubstituted benzene derivatives with an excellent regioselectivity.

Hydrogen-mediated reductive coupling of conjugated alkynes with ethyl (N-Sulfinyl)iminoacetates: synthesis of unnatural alpha-amino acids via rhodium-catalyzed C-C bond forming hydrogenation

Rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes 1a-8a and 1,3-diynes 9a-13a at ambient temperature and pressure in the presence of ethyl (N-tert-butanesulfinyl)iminoacetate and ethyl (N-2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfinyl)iminoacetates, respectively, results in reductive coupling to afford unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters 1b-13b in good to excellent yields with exceptional levels of regio- and stereocontrol. Further hydrogenation of the diene containing alpha-amino acid esters 1b-8b using Wilkinson's catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure results in regioselective reduction to afford the beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters 1c-8c in good to excellent yields. Exhaustive hydrogenation of the unsaturated side chains of the Boc- and Fmoc-protected derivatives of enyne and diyne coupling products 14b-16b occurs in excellent yield using Crabtree's catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure providing the alpha-amino acid esters 14d-16d, which possess saturated side chains. Finally, cross-metathesis of the Boc-protected reductive coupling product 14b with cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene proceeds readily to afford the allylic acetate 14e. Isotopic labeling studies that involve reductive coupling of enyne 1a and diyne 9a under an atmosphere of elemental deuterium corroborate a catalytic mechanism in which oxidative coupling of the alkyne and imine residues is followed by hydrogenolytic cleavage of the resulting metallacycle. A stereochemical model accounting for the observed sense of asymmetric induction is provided. These studies represent the first use of imines as electrophilic partners in hydrogen-mediated reductive carbon-carbon bond formation.

Use of Allyl, 2-Tetrahydrofuryl, and 2-Tetrahydropyranyl Ethers as Useful C3-, C4-, and C5-Carbon Sources: Palladium-Catalyzed Allylation of Aldehydes

Palladium-diethylzinc or palladium-triethylborane catalytically promotes self-allylation of 2-(allyloxy)tetrahydrofurans, 2-(allyloxy)tetrahydropyrans, and their hydroxy derivatives on the rings (ribose, glucose, mannose, deoxyribose, deoxyglucose). All the reactions proceed at room temperature and provide polyhydroxyl products, sharing a structural motif of a homoallyl alcohol, in good to excellent yields with high levels of stereoselectivity. Useful C3-unit elongation, which makes the best use of an allyl ether as a protecting group and a nucleophilic allylation agent, is demonstrated. Mechanisms for the umpolung reaction (of an allyl ether into an allylic anion) and stereoselectivity associated with allylation of aldehydes are discussed.