Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Nitrocyclopropanes via Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Bromomalonate to α,β-Unsaturated Nitroalkenes

α-Halocarbonyls as a Valuable Functionalized Tertiary Alkyl Source

This review introduces the synthetic organic chemical value of α-bromocarbonyl compounds with tertiary carbons. This α-bromocarbonyl compound with a tertiary carbon has been used primarily only as a radical initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions. However, with the recent development of photo-radical reactions (around 2010), research on the use of α-bromocarbonyl compounds as tertiary alkyl radical precursors became popular (around 2012). As more examples were reported, α-bromocarbonyl compounds were studied not only as radicals but also for their applications in organometallic and ionic reactions. That is, α-bromocarbonyl compounds act as nucleophiles as well as electrophiles. The carbonyl group of α-bromocarbonyl compounds is also attractive because it allows the skeleton to be converted after the reaction, and it is being applied to total synthesis. In our survey until 2022, α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used to perform a full range of reactions necessary for organic synthesis, including multi-component reactions, cross-coupling, substitution, cyclization, rearrangement, stereospecific reactions, asymmetric reactions. α-Bromocarbonyl compounds have created a new trend in tertiary alkylation, which until then had limited reaction patterns in organic synthesis. This review focuses on how α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Amberlyst-A26-Mediated Corey-Chaykovsky Cyclopropanation of 9-Alkylidene-9H-fluorene under Continuous Process

Herein, we have developed a continuous-process for the direct cyclopropanation of various alkenes nonconjugated with carbonyl using trimethylsulfoxonium iodide as a methylene source via the Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation reaction in the presence of Amberlyst-A26 as a heterogeneous base. Several 9-alkylidene-9H-fluorene derivatives successfully undergo Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation to afford spiro[cyclopropane-1,9'-fluorene] in excellent yields under the continuous-process module. Furthermore, continuous process for the cyclopropanation of 3-benzylideneindolin-2-one derivatives using Amberlyst-A26 as a heterogeneous base has been described, which afford spiro[cyclopropane-1,3'-indolin]-2'-one derivatives.

2-Nitro-cyclopropyl-1-carbonyl Compounds from Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds and Nitromethane via Enolonium Species

2-Nitrocyclopropanes bearing ketones, amides, esters, and carboxylic acids in the 1 position may be accessed as single diastereoisomers in one operation from the corresponding unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The source of the nitro-methylene component is nitromethane. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under mild conditions. The products may be converted into, e.g., cyclopropyl-amino acids in a single step. Both nitrocyclopropanes and amino-cyclopropanes are unique moieties found in biologically active compounds and natural products.

Key Mechanistic Features in Palladium-Catalyzed Methylcyclopropanation of Norbornenes With Vinyl Bromides: Insights From DFT Calculations

DFT calculations were performed to elucidate mechanistic details of an unusual palladium-catalyzed methylcyclopropanation from [2 + 1] cycloadditions of (Z)-2-bromovinylbenzene and endo-N-(p-tolyl)-norbornenesuccinimide. The reaction proceeds via oxidative addition (OA), intermolecular alkene insertion, deprotonation/protonation, intramolecular alkene insertion, β-H elimination and reductive elimination (RE). Protonation is the rate-limiting step and requires an overall barrier of 28.5 kcal/mol. The sources of two protons for protonation and exchange have also been clarified and the calculations agree with experimental observations.

Fluoronitroalkenes in tandem [4 + 1]/[3 + 2]-cycloaddition: one-pot three-component assembly of fluorinated bicyclic nitroso acetals

Novel fluorinated bicyclic nitroso acetals were obtained in a highly regio- and diastereo-selective manner via tandem [4 + 1]/[3 + 2]-cycloaddition of fluoronitroalkenes.

α-Halo Amides as Competent Latent Enolates: Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich-Type Reaction

α-Halogenated carbonyl compounds are susceptible to dehalogenation and thus largely neglected as enolate precursors in catalytic enantioselective C-C bond-forming reactions. By merging the increased stability of the α-C-halogen bond of amides and the direct enolization methodology of the designed amide, we explored a direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of α-halo 7-azaindoline amides with N-carbamoyl imines. All α-halo substituents, α-F, -Cl, -Br, -I amides, were tolerated to provide the Mannich-adducts in a highly stereoselective manner without undesirable dehalogenation. The diastereoselectivity switched intriguingly depending on the substitution pattern of the aromatic imines, which is ascribed to stereochemical differentiation based on the open transition-state model. Functional group interconversion of the 7-azaindoline amide moiety of the Mannich-adducts and further elaboration into a diamide without dehalogenation highlight the synthetic utility of the present protocol for accessing enantioenriched halogenated chemical entities.

Efficient Access to Chiral Trisubstituted Aziridines via Catalytic Enantioselective Aza-Darzens Reactions

Herein, we report a Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed aza-Darzens reaction using chlorinated aromatic ketones as nucleophilic partners for the efficient and enantioselective construction of complex trisubstituted aziridines. The α-chloro-β-aminoketone intermediates featuring a chlorinated tetrasubstituted stereocenter can be isolated in high yields and selectivities for further derivatization. Alternatively, they can be directly transformed to the corresponding aziridines in a one-pot fashion. Of note, the reaction can be run on gram-scale with low catalyst loading without impacting its efficiency. Moreover, this methodology was extended to α-bromoketones which are scarcely used in enantioselective catalysis because of their sensitivity and lack of accessibility.

Enantioselective formation of cyclopropane spiroindenes from benzofulvenes by phase transfer catalysis

The enantio- and diastereoselective formation of indenes spirofused to highly substituted cyclopropanes is described.

Enantioselective cyclopropanation of (Z)-3-substituted-2-(4-pyridyl)-acrylonitriles catalyzed by Cinchona ammonium salts

Cyclopropane esters holding two quaternary centres were prepared in high yields, complete diatereoselection and up to 83% ee, using a Chincona derived phase-tranfer catalyst.

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Methylcyclopropanation of Norbornenes with Vinyl Bromides and Mechanism Study

An unusual methylcyclopropanation from [2 + 1] cycloadditions of vinyl bromides to norbornenes catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2/PPh3 in the presence of CH3ONa and CH3OH has been established. A methylcyclopropane subunit was installed by a 3-fold domino procedure involving a key protonation course. Preliminary deuterium-labeling studies revealed that the proton came from methyl of CH3OH and also exposed an additional hydrogen/deuterium exchange process. These two proton-concerned reactions were fully chemoselective.

Cupreine grafted onto silica as an enantioselective and recyclable catalyst for the 1,4-addition of malonate to trans-β-nitrostyrene

First preparation of silica supported cupreine and its high catalytic performances for the asymmetric Michael addition in some biomass-derived solvents.

Tandem halogenation/Michael-initiated ring-closing reaction of α,β-unsaturated nitriles and activated methylene compounds: one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopropanes

An efficient one-pot synthetic route to highly substituted cyclopropanes has been developed from readily available α,β-unsaturated nitriles and doubly activated methylene compounds under very mild conditions in a highly diastereoselective manner, which involves halogenation, Michael addition and intramolecular ring-closing reaction sequences.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of benzyl bromides via C(sp3)–H bond activation

A novel Pd(0)-catalyzed domino cyclopropanation reaction was established. The process involves a Heck-type coupling reaction and a C(sp³)–H activation.

An efficient organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of spironitrocyclopropanes

An organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of spironitrocyclopropanes has been demonstrated starting from 2-arylidene-1,3-indandiones and bromonitroalkanes catalyzed by a cinchona-derived bifunctional organocatalyst. The products were obtained with excellent enantioselectivities, diastereoselectivities and with good yields.