Highly Endo-Selective and Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylide with α-Enones Catalyzed by a Silver(I)/ThioClickFerrophos Complex

Zn(II)-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of acyclic enones with azomethine ylides

The Zn(II)/UCD-Imphanol-catalyzed highly endo-selective [3 + 2] asymmetric cycloaddition of acyclic enones and azomethine ylides has been developed. Moderate to high yields (up to 94%) with excellent endo/exo selectivities (99 : 1) and enantioselectivities up to 96.5 : 3.5 er were obtained.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed Transformations of Chalcones

Chalcones are a class of naturally occurring flavonoid compounds associated to a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. Several reviews have been published describing the synthesis and biological properties of a vast array of analogues. However, overviews on the reactivity of chalcones has only been explored in a few accounts. To fill this gap, a systematic survey on the most recent developments in the transition metal-catalyzed transformation of chalcones was performed. The chemistry of copper, palladium, zinc, iron, manganese, nickel, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, silver, indium, gold, titanium, platinum, among others, as versatile catalysts will be highlighted, covering the literature from year 2000 to 2023, in more than 380 publications.

Dipolarophile-Steered Formal Stereodivergent Synthesis of 2,5-cis/trans-Pyrrolidines Based on Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Imino Lactones

The stereodivergent asymmetric synthesis of 2,5-trans/cis pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition using two different types of activated alkenes is described. When ylidene-isoxazolones were employed as dipolarophiles, the Ag/(S,Sp )-iPr-FcPHOX-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of imino lactones proceeded with 2,5-trans selectivity. Subsequent decarboxylation of the isoxazolone rings produced pyrrolidines with 2,5-trans stereoretention. In the reaction using acyclic enones as activated alkenes, the Ag/(R,Sp )-ThioClickFerrophos complex-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition afforded 2,5-cis substituted pyrrolidines in high yields and enantioselectivities. Therefore, these methods can be considered as a formal stereodivergent synthesis of 2,5-cis/trans pyrrolidines.

Silver/ThioClickFerrophos-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition and Tandem Addition-Elimination Reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts

The asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of glycine imino esters to Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts or acetylated MBH adducts is described. The reaction was efficiently catalyzed by AgOAc/(R,S_p)-ThioClickFerrophos at room temperature to afford pyrrolidine derivatives bearing a quaternary carbon as a single diastereomer with excellent enantioselectivity. When a cyclic pyrroline ester was used as the nucleophile instead of a glycine imino ester, the enantioselective tandem addition-elimination reaction with an acetylated MBH adduct proceeded with an excellent yield and enantioselectivity, resulting in the formation of an exo-olefin. The wide substrate scope of these reactions and the transformability of the products enable expeditious access to divergent multifunctionalized pyrrolidines in an optically pure fashion.

Synthesis of homochiral sulfanyl- and sulfoxide-substituted naphthyltriazoles and study of the conformational stability

The preparation of a series of novel homochiral atropisomeric sulfanyl- and sulfoxide-substituted naphthyltriazoles is described. The triazolization methodology used presents a new way towards novel and highly stable 1,2,3-triazole-based atropisomers, and introduces a new and complementary synthetic pathway towards 4-sulfanyl substituted 1,2,3-triazoles. Starting from sulfanyl-substituted naphthyl ketones, enantiopure amines, and 4-nitrophenyl azide, a collection of 16 sulfanyl-substituted naphthyltriazoles were obtained via the triazolization reaction in which the homochiral diastereomers are readily isolated. Subsequent monooxidation results in the preparation of several sulfoxide-substituted naphthyltriazoles. The absolute configuration of a set of diastereomeric sulfanyl- and sulfoxide-appended naphthyltriazoles was deduced via X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, the conformational stability of the atropisomers was determined experimentally, and further confirmed and analyzed with the aid of computational DFT calculations.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed asymmetric exo-selective synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

An (R)-DM-BINAP/Cu(CH3CN)4BF4 complex catalyzed exo-selective asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DCA) reaction of imino esters with α,β-unsaturated pyrazoleamides has been developed. A series of highly functionalized pyrrolidines with multiple stereogenic centers were obtained with good yields and diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

Recent advances in organocatalytic asymmetric multicomponent cascade reactions for enantioselective synthesis of spirooxindoles

Catalytic asymmetric MCCRs for enantioselective synthesis of spirooxindoles by using chiral phosphoric acids, amines, bifunctional thiourea/squaramides and metal-based reagents as catalysts.

Evolution of phosphorus-thioether ligands for asymmetric catalysis

In the early 1990s chiral P-thiother ligands emerged as promising ligands in the field of asymmetric catalysis, with the development of many P-thioether ligand families. However, only a few of them have shown a broad reaction and substrate scope. So, compared with other heterodonor ligands such as the widely studied P-N ligands, their impact in asymmetric catalysis was not realised until recently. This has been mainly attributed to the difficulty of controlling the configuration at the sulfur atom when coordinated to the metal. More recently, it has been found that this problem could be solved by a rigorous choice of the ligand scaffold, a process usually aided by mechanistic studies. This allowed the recent discovery of new P-thioether ligand families with a broader versatility, both in reactions and in substrate/reagent scope. This feature article aims to highlight those new P-thioether ligand libraries and the relationship between the structure and catalytic performance.

Regioselective Synthesis of Diverse Thio-, Seleno-substituted 1,2,3-Triazoles

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Thio-, seleno-substituted triazoles are useful scaffolds employed in the fields of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and material science. A number of synthetic approaches to efficient formation of thio- and seleno-triazoles have been disclosed, including the interception of copper(I) triazolides generated in-situ, cycloaddition of internal alkynes (thio-, halo-, and metalated alkynes) to azides, and the coupling of azides and nonalkyne substrates. This mini-review intends to summarize the synthetic methods toward thio-, seleno-1,2,3-triazoles and the relative reaction mechanisms.

Relevant π-hole tetrel bonding interactions in ethyl 2-triazolyl-2-oxoacetate derivatives: Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT calculations

We report the synthesis and X-ray characterization of four triazole derivatives that include an α-ketoester functionality and two phenyl substituents. The compounds form self-assembled dimers in the solid state establishing two symmetrically equivalent O⋯π-hole interactions.

Stereochemical diversity in pyrrolidine synthesis by catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The pyrrolidine ring is a privileged structural motif in synthetic and medicinal chemisty. This review aims to highlight the high versatility of the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides for access to different types of stereochemical patterns in enantioselective pyrrolidine synthesis. Special attention will be paid to stereodivergent procedures giving rise to different stereoisomers from the same starting materials.

Ag/P-Stereogenic Phosphine-Catalyzed Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions: A Method to Optically Active Pyrrolidines

A Ag/P-stereogenic phosphine-complex-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with electron-deficient olefins is reported. In this reaction, highly functionalized pyrrolines with a spiro-quaternary stereogenic center were obtained in good yields (up to 99%) with excellent levels of diastereo- (up to >20:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The chirality of adducts was controlled predominantly by the P-stereogenic phosphines.

A AgOAc/quinine-derived aminophosphine complex as an efficient catalyst for diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated 7-azaindoline amides and azomethine ylides

The Dixon’s catalyst system is effective for the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Application of 1,3-Dipolar Reactions between Azomethine Ylides and Alkenes to the Synthesis of Catalysts and Biologically Active Compounds

The (3+2) cycloaddition between azomethine ylides and alkenes is an efficient, convergent and stereocontrolled method for the synthesis of unnatural pyrrolidine and proline scaffolds. In this review, the application of this reaction to the synthesis of enantiopure organometallic ligands for asymmetric catalysis is presented first. These new EhuPhos ligands can participate in a second generation of 1,3-dipolar reactions that generate an offspring of unnatural proline derivatives that behave as efficient organocatalysts. These densely substituted unnatural l-proline derivatives exhibit distinct features, different to those described for natural l-proline and its derivatives. Finally, several examples of biologically active proline derivatives obtained by means of (3+2) cycloadditions involving azomethine ylides are presented. These applications show the character of privileged structures of these polysubstituted pyrrolidine rings.

(R)-DM-SEGPHOS-Ag(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrolidines and Pyrrolizidines via (1,3)- and Double (1,3)-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

An efficient diastereo- and enantioselective route to access a wide range of highly substituted pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives has been described via (1,3)- and double (1,3)-dipolar cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by the (R)-DM-SEGPHOS-Ag(I) complex. The reactions proceed smoothly at ambient temperature, affording a variety of pyrrolidines and pyrrolizidines in high yields (up to 93%) with up to 99:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) without any additives. The newly synthesized pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives contain four and seven contiguous stereogenic centers, respectively. Moreover, the synthetic utility of enantioenriched products has been demonstrated by transforming them into various synthetically useful advanced intermediates.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative/Click Cascade Reaction: Regioselective Assembly of 5-Selenotriazole Anticancer Agents

A simple and efficient Cu-catalyzed decarboxylative/click reaction for the preparation of 1,4-disubstituted 5-arylselanyl-1,2,3-triazoles from propiolic acids, diselenides, and azides has been developed. The mechanistic study revealed that the intermolecular AAC reaction of an alkynyl selenium intermediate occurred. The resulting multisubstituted 5-seleno-1,2,3-triazoles were tested for in vitro anticancer activity by MTT assay, and compounds 4f, 4h, and 4p showed potent cancer cell-growth inhibition activities.

Highly diastereoselective C → N acyl rearrangement in polysubstituted pyrrolidine 2,2-dicarboxylates. Stereocontrolled synthesis of densely functionalized prolines

A fully diastereoselective C–N acyl transfer reaction operates in enantiopure densely substituted pyrrolidine 2,2-dicarboxylates.

Catalytic asymmetric construction of spiropyrrolidines via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

In this review, recent progress on the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chiral spiropyrrolidine derivatives via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides has been discussed.

Azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions in water via recyclable heterogeneous Cu catalysts: reverse phase silica gel and thermoresponsive hydrogels

Functionalized reverse phase silica gel and thermoresponsive hydrogels were synthesized as heterogeneous catalysts supports. Cu(i) and Cu(ii) catalysts immobilized onto two types of supports were prepared and characterized. The copper catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition was performed in water via a one-pot reaction and yielded good results. These catalysts are air stable and reusable over multiple uses.

Azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions were performed via copper catalysts immobilized onto two types of supports in water.

Facile and Green Synthesis of Saturated Cyclic Amines

Single-nitrogen containing saturated cyclic amines are an important part of both natural and synthetic bioactive compounds. A number of methodologies have been developed for the synthesis of aziridines, azetidines, pyrrolidines, piperidines, azepanes and azocanes. This review highlights some facile and green synthetic routes for the synthesis of unsubstituted, multisubstituted and highly functionalized saturated cyclic amines including one-pot, microwave assisted, metal-free, solvent-free and in aqueous media.

Enantioselective Silver-Catalyzed Transformations

This review collects the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral silver catalysts, covering the literature since 2008, well illustrating the power of these especially mild Lewis acid catalysts to provide novel asymmetric reactions.

Highly fluorescent 1,2-dihydropyrimido[1,6-α]indole: an efficient metal free synthesis and photophysical study

A metal free route to highly fluorescent 1,2-dihydropyrimido[1,6-α]indole derivatives has been developed via base catalyzed aldol followed by the Mannich reaction of indole-2-carboxaldehyde with ethyl N-arylideneglycinate at room temperature. This transformation consists of the sequential formation of two new bonds to afford highly functionalized pyrimidoindole derivatives under mild reaction conditions. Photophysical properties of the products have also been reported.