Sequential Organocatalytic Stetter and Michael-Aldol Condensation Reaction: Asymmetric Synthesis of Fully Substituted Cyclopentenes via a [1 + 2 + 2] Annulation Strategy

Triethylamine-Promoted Henry Reaction/Elimination of HNO2/Cyclization Sequence of Functionalized Nitroalkanes and 2-Oxoaldehydes: Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Oxacycles

The triethylamine-promoted cascade Henry reaction/elimination of HNO₂/cyclization reaction of 2-oxoaldehydes with nitroalkanes bearing various remote functionalities is described. Both chiral and achiral nitroalkanes were applicable to this protocol, leading to a variety of oxacycles, such as chromenes, chromanes, cyclic hemiacetals, and polycyclic acetals. An unexpected regioselective photooxygenation occurred without sensitizer during derivatization to convert a derived diene product into a dioxetane by reaction with singlet oxygen, which provided chromen-2-one and benzaldehyde after fragmentation.

Pot and time economies in the total synthesis of Corey lactone

The Corey lactone is a highly versatile intermediate for the synthesis of a variety of prostaglandin hormones that natively control a multitude of important physiological processes. Starting from commercially available compounds, we herein disclose a time-economical, one-pot enantioselective preparation of the Corey lactone by virtue of a new diphenylprolinol silyl ether-mediated domino Michael/Michael reaction to afford the substituted cyclopentanone core in a formal (3 + 2) cycloadditive fashion. More broadly, this work advances the on-demand, gram-scale synthesis of high-value targets involving chemically orthogonal transformations, whereby distinct reactions of acids, bases, organometalics, reductants and oxidants can be carried out in a single reaction vessel in a sequential fashion.

Synthesis of Polysubstituted Cyclopentene and Cyclopenta[ b]carbazole Analogues from Unsymmetrical 4-Arylidene-3,6-diarylhex-2-en-5-ynal and Indole Derivatives via an Iodine Mediated Electrocyclization Reaction

An efficient method for the synthesis of polysubstituted cyclopentene and cyclopenta[ b]carbazole derivatives through the iodine-promoted electrocyclization of substituted indoles and 4-arylidene-3,6-diarylhex-2-en-5-ynal derivatives is reported. Polysubstituted cyclopentene derivatives were produced through 4π electrocyclization reactions with indole, 7-methylindole, and 5-bromoindole as coupling partners, whereas cyclopenta[ b]carbazole derivatives were produced via 6π electrocyclization in the case of methoxy (-OMe)-substituted indoles. The methods reported herein diastereo- and regioselectively proceed under straightforward and mild conditions.

Catalytic cross-benzoin/Michael/acetalization cascade for asymmetric synthesis of trifluoromethylated γ-butyrolactones

A sequential NHC-amine catalytic cascade reaction has been developed. This approach incorporates a highly chemoselective intermolecular cross-benzoin reaction and a highly regioselective Michael-acetalization cascade.

Synthesis of functionalized γ-lactones via a three-component cascade reaction catalyzed by consecutive N-heterocyclic carbene systems

Two consecutive N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalytic systems were combined in a one-pot cascade reaction for the assembly of aromatic aldehydes and 2-haloenals into a structurally complex γ-lactone backbone.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines via N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed cascade sequence

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed stereoselective Michael-Mannich-lactamization cascade reaction of tosyl-protected o-amino aromatic aldimines and 2-bromoenals for the construction of functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines with three consecutive stereocenters was achieved in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Access to oxoquinoline heterocycles by N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed ester activation for selective reaction with an enone

Organocatalytic ester activation is developed for a highly selective cascade reaction between saturated esters and amino enones. The reaction involves activation of the β-carbon atom of the ester as a key step. This method allows a single-step access to multicyclic oxoquinoline-type heterocycles with high enantiomeric ratios.

Enantioselective sulfonation of enones with sulfonyl imines by cooperative N-heterocyclic-carbene/thiourea/tertiary-amine multicatalysis

Many hands make light work: In an organocatalytic asymmetric sulfonation of enones, the activation of a sulfonyl imine by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst led to the release of a sulfinic anion, which underwent nucleophilic addition to the enone. The enantioselectivity of the process was controlled by a chiral thiourea/amine co-catalyst through anion recognition and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Tol=p-tolyl.

Organocatalytic umpolung: N-heterocyclic carbenes and beyond

The umpolung strategy encompasses all the methods that make organic molecules react in an inverse manner compared to their innate polarity-driven reactivity. This concept entered the field of organocatalysis when it was recognized that N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can provide catalytic access to acyl anion equivalents. Since then, tremendous efforts have followed to develop a broad variety of NHC-catalyzed reactions. In addition to this, more recent research developments have shown that other families of organocatalysts are also able to mediate transformations in which inversion of polarity is involved. This tutorial review aims at offering a didactic overview of organocatalytic umpolung and should serve as an inspiration for further progress in this field.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-galbulin via organocatalytic domino Michael-Michael-aldol condensation

A concise and practical enantioselective synthesis of (+)-galbulin has been achieved using organocatalytic domino Michael-Michael-aldol condensation and organocatalytic kinetic resolution as the key steps.

Enamine/Carbene Cascade Catalysis in the Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclopentanones

Herein we report an enantioselective synthesis of complex cyclopentanones using aliphatic aldehydes and activated enones. With the combination of a chiral secondary amine and a chiral triazolium catalyst, high diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity can be achieved. We present evidence of a clear cooperative effect when these two catalysts are present simultaneously in the system.

A general organocatalyzed Michael-Michael cascade reaction generates functionalized cyclohexenes

Although β-dicarbonyl compounds are regularly employed as Michael donors, intermediates arising from the Michael addition of unsaturated β-ketoesters to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes are susceptible to multiple subsequent reaction pathways. We designed cyclic unsaturated β-ketoester substrates that enabled the development of the first diphenyl prolinol silyl ether catalyzed Michael-Michael cascade reaction initiated by a β-dicarbonyl Michael donor to form cyclohexene products. The reaction conditions we developed for this Michael-Michael cascade reaction were also amenable to a variety of linear unsaturated β-ketoester substrates, including some of the same linear unsaturated β-ketoester substrates that were previously ineffective in Michael-Michael cascade reactions. These studies thus revealed that a change in simple reaction conditions, such as solvent and additives, enables the same substrate to undergo different cascade reactions, thereby accessing different molecular scaffolds. These studies also culminated in the development of a general organocatalyzed Michael-Michael cascade reaction that generates highly functionalized cyclohexenes with up to four stereocenters, in up to 97% yield, 32:1 dr, and 99% ee, in a single step from a variety of unsaturated β-ketoesters.