Synthesis of gamma,delta-didehydrohomoglutamates by the phosphine-catalyzed gamma-addition reaction to acetylenic esters

Phosphine-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Regioselective Addition of Cyclopropenones with Amides

A series of amides, including α-bromo hydroxamates, N-alkoxyamides, and N-aryloxyamides, were subjected to phosphine-catalyzed ring-opening O-selective addition with cyclopropenones, producing various special α,β-unsaturated esters containing oxime ether motif, in moderate to excellent yields, with high regioselectivity, and exclusive O-selectivity. The methodology is highly atom-economical, with simple operation procedures, and compatible with a wide substrate scope (more than 44 examples).

Phosphine-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of (Hetero)Aryl Alkynes with Pronucleophiles: Concise Total Synthesis of (±)-Esermethole

Allylic alkylations are valuable in the construction of versatile carbon-carbon bonds, which are mostly catalyzed by noble transition metals with additional waste byproduct generation. Here, we present the first organophosphine-catalyzed allylic alkylation of (hetero)aryl alkynes with various carbo-nucleophiles. The methodology is highly atom economical and compatible with a wide substrate scope (more than 38 examples). Moreover, the reaction could be easily scaled up, and deuterium labeling experiments have been conducted to elucidate the plausible mechanism. Finally, the protocol has been utilized to achieve the concise total synthesis of natural product (±)-esermethole.

NHC-Catalyzed [2 + 4] Annulation of Alkynyl Ester with Chalcone

An NHC-catalyzed [2 + 4] cyclization of alkynyl ester with α,β-unsaturated ketone to form a pyran scaffold was developed successfully. The cheap and easily available starting materials, mild reaction conditions, moderate to excellent yields, and high atom economy make this strategy attractive for the syntheses of highly substituted 4H-pyran derivatives.

Phosphine-Catalyzed (4+1) Annulation: Rearrangement of Allenylic Carbamates to 3-Pyrrolines through Phosphonium Diene Intermediates

We have developed a phosphine-catalyzed (4+1) annulative rearrangement for the preparation of 3-pyrrolines from allenylic carbamates via phosphonium diene intermediates. We employed this methodology to synthesize an array of 1,3-disubstituted- and 1,2,3-trisubstituted-3-pyrrolines, including the often difficult to prepare 2-alkyl variants. A mechanistic investigation employing allenylic acetates and mononucleophiles unexpectedly unveiled that a phosphine-catalyzed (4+1) reaction for the construction of cyclopentene products, previously reported by Tong, might not occur through a phosphonium diene, as had been proposed, but rather through multiple mechanisms working in concert. Consequently, our phosphine-catalyzed rearrangement is most likely the first transformation to involve the unequivocal formation of a phosphonium diene intermediate along the reaction pathway. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of this newly developed reaction, we have completed concise formal syntheses of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (±)-trachelanthamidine and (±)-supinidine.

Design, synthesis and application of a new type of bifunctional in highly enantioselective γ-addition reactions of N-centered nucleophiles to allenoates

A novel class of cyclic phosphine derived bifunctional catalysts (Le-Phos) is reported, which can be readily prepared from inexpensive and commercially available starting materials and exhibit good performances in enantioselective γ-addition reactions of N-centered nucleophiles and allenoates under mild conditions. The salient features of this reaction include high product yields, good enantioselectivity, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate scope and gram-scale scalability.

Phosphine-catalyzed (3+2)/(2+3) sequential annulation involving a triple nucleophilic addition reaction of γ-vinyl allenoates

A phosphine-catalyzed (3+2)/(2+3) sequential annulation involving a triple nucleophilic addition reaction of γ-vinyl allenoates was successfully developed. The reaction provided efficient and more practical access to functionalized hydropyrroloimidazolones with good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Notably, γ-vinyl allenoate served as a triple-electrophilic intermediate in this protocol.

Phosphine Organocatalysis

The hallmark of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis is the initial nucleophilic addition of a phosphine to an electrophilic starting material, producing a reactive zwitterionic intermediate, generally under mild conditions. In this Review, we classify nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions in terms of their electrophilic components. In the majority of cases, these electrophiles possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds: alkenes (section 2), allenes (section 3), alkynes (section 4), and Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) alcohol derivatives (MBHADs; section 5). Within each of these sections, the reactions are compiled based on the nature of the second starting material-nucleophiles, dinucleophiles, electrophiles, and electrophile-nucleophiles. Nucleophilic phosphine catalysis reactions that occur via the initial addition to starting materials that do not possess carbon-carbon multiple bonds are collated in section 6. Although not catalytic in the phosphine, the formation of ylides through the nucleophilic addition of phosphines to carbon-carbon multiple bond-containing compounds is intimately related to the catalysis and is discussed in section 7. Finally, section 8 compiles miscellaneous topics, including annulations of the Hüisgen zwitterion, phosphine-mediated reductions, iminophosphorane organocatalysis, and catalytic variants of classical phosphine oxide-generating reactions.

Highly Diastereoselective Michael Reactions Using β-Nitrocarbonyl Nucleophiles

We have discovered a highly diastereoselective Michael reaction of α-substituted, β-nitrocarbonyl compounds to deliver highly functionalized stereodiads containing fully substituted nitrogen-bearing centers. Good to excellent yields and diastereoselectivities are observed. This transformation is tolerant of various types of carbonyl groups on the nucleophilic partner, as well as a range of unsaturated electrophiles. Mechanistic investigations are consistent with internal hydrogen bonding in the nitroalkane tautomer as the major factor in the control of diastereoselectivity in these transformations.

Stereoselective Syntheses of α,β-Unsaturated γ-Amino Esters Through Phosphine-Catalyzed γ-Umpolung Additions of Sulfonamides to γ-Substituted Allenoates

α,β-Unsaturated γ-amino esters can be synthesized efficiently and stereoselectively through phosphine-catalyzed γ-umpolung additions of sulfonamides to γ-substituted allenoates. The structures of the sulfonamide and γ-substituted allenoate partners can be varied to achieve a range of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with potentially interesting chemical and biological properties.

Phosphine-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition of α-aminoalkylallenic esters: facile synthesis of 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines

An array of N-tosylated α-aminoalkylallenic esters was prepared and their cyclization under the influence of nucleophilic phosphine catalysts was explored. The α-aminoalkylallenic esters were prepared through aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions or novel DABCO-mediated decarboxylative rearrangements of allenylic carbamates. Conversion of these substrates to 3-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-3-pyrrolines was facilitated through Ph(3)P-catalyzed intramolecular γ-umpolung addition.

β-Olefination of 2-alkynoates leading to trisubstituted 1,3-dienes

A phosphine-mediated olefination of 2-alkynoates with aldehydes forming 1,3-dienes with high E-selectivity and up to 88% yield is described. Reaction conditions are optimized and reactions are demonstrated for various aryl, alkyl, and alkenyl aldehydes and for ethyl 2-alkynoates with different substituents in the δ-position. Proof of concept is shown for the generation of a β,γ-unsaturated lactone by intramolecular olefination, and furthermore the use of the generated 1,3-dienes in the Diels-Alder reaction has been demonstrated.

Phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung addition of nucleophiles to activated α-alkyl allenes

Highly functionalized alkenes can be prepared through phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung additions of nucleophiles (carbon-, oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-centered) to activated α-disubstituted allenes, providing many potentially useful synthetic intermediates in good to excellent yields, often with high levels of stereoselectivity for the product olefin geometry. Various substitution patterns around the allene are compatible with the process, showcasing the synthetic utility of allenes under the conditions of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis.

Asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation gamma to a carbonyl group: phosphine-catalyzed addition of nitromethane to allenes

A chiral phosphine catalyzes the addition of a carbon nucleophile to the gamma position of an electron-poor allene (amide-, ester-, or phosphonate-substituted), in preference to isomerization to a 1,3-diene, in good ee and yield. This strategy provides an attractive method for the catalytic asymmetric gamma functionalization of carbonyl (and related) compounds.

Phosphine-Catalyzed α-P-Addition on Activated Alkynes: A New Route to P−C−P Backbones

n-Tributylphosphine was found to efficiently catalyze the alpha-P addition of H-phosphonates, H-phosphinates, and H-phosphine oxide pronucleophiles on alkynes bearing phosphane oxide activating moieties. The reaction leads to 2-aryl-1-vinyl-1,1-diphosphane dioxide derivatives in good yields affording a new route to P-C-P backbones. The products of this reaction are easily converted to biologically important 1,1-bis-phosphonates analogues.

Copper- or Phosphine-Catalyzed Reaction of Alkynes with Isocyanides. Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Pyrroles Controlled by the Catalyst

The copper-catalyzed reaction of isocyanides (CNCH2EWG1) 1 with electron-deficient alkynes (RC[triple bond]CEWG2) 2 gave the 2,4-di-EWG-substituted pyrroles 3 selectively, whereas the phosphine-catalyzed reaction of 1 with 2 afforded the 2,3-di-EWG-subsituted pyrroles 4. Accordingly, regioselective synthesis of substituted pyrroles has been achieved by merely choosing the catalyst.

Phosphine-catalyzed annulation of thioamides and 2-alkynoates: a new synthesis of thiazolines

The annulation of thioamides with 2-alkynoates and 2,3-dienoates under the catalysis of tri-n-butylphosphine was described. The annulation reaction provided a new entry to thiazolines, particularly those with 2-aryl substituents.

Domino processes as a tool for recovering substandard reactions. Synthesis and use of nitroacetic acid esters and amides

[reaction: see text] Elusive nitroacetic acid esters and amides were obtained through a halogen exchange reaction of the corresponding bromoacetic acid derivatives with polymer-supported nitrite anion. The process is flawed by a side product catalyzed degradation of the products. Domino processes turned out to be a powerful tool for overcoming such drawbacks, converting a substandard reaction into an efficient multicomponent preparation of 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles.