Ti-direct, powerful, stereoselective aldol-type additions of esters and thioesters to carbonyl compounds: application to the synthesis and evaluation of lactone analogs of jasmone perfumes

A catalytic enantioselective stereodivergent aldol reaction

The aldol reaction is among the most powerful and strategically important carbon-carbon bond-forming transformations in organic chemistry. The importance of the aldol reaction in constructing chiral building blocks for complex small-molecule synthesis has spurred continuous efforts toward the development of direct catalytic variants. The realization of a general catalytic aldol reaction with control over both the relative and absolute configurations of the newly formed stereogenic centers has been a longstanding goal in the field. Here, we report a decarboxylative aldol reaction that provides access to all four possible stereoisomers of the aldol product in one step from identical reactants. The mild reaction can be carried out on a large scale in an open flask, and generates CO₂ as the only by-product. The method tolerates a broad substrate scope and generates chiral β-hydroxy thioester products with substantial downstream utility.

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydrocarbazoles via an inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction of 2,3-indole-dienes with enals

A novel 2,3-indole-diene synthon was designed and first applied to an inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction to construct tetrahydrocarbazoles with excellent stereoselectivities.

TiCl4/DMAP mediated Z-selective knovenagel condensation of isatins with nitroacetates and related compounds

A Z-selective Knovenagel condensation reaction of isatins with nitroacetates and related compounds mediated by TiCl₄ and DMAP was described.

Condensation of beta-diester titanium enolates with carbonyl substrates: a combined DFT and experimental investigation

The condensation of dialkyl beta-diesters with various aldehydes promoted by TiCl4 has been studied by DFT approaches and experimental methods, including NMR, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Various possible reaction pathways have been investigated and their energy profiles evaluated to find out a plausible mechanism of the reaction. Theoretical results and experimental evidence point to a three-step mechanism: 1) Ti-induced formation of the enolate ion; 2) aldol reaction between the enolate ion and the aldehyde, both coordinated to titanium; and 3) intramolecular elimination that leads to a titanyl complex. The presented mechanistic hypothesis allows one to better understand the pivotal role of titanium(IV) in the reaction.

General, regiodefined access to alpha-substituted butenolides through metal-halogen exchange of 3-bromo-2-silyloxyfurans. Efficient synthesis of an anti-inflammatory gorgonian lipid

A variety of alpha-substituted butenolides were efficiently prepared from 3-bromo-2-triisopropylsilyloxyfuran via lithium-bromine exchange and in situ quench with carbon or heteroatom electrophiles. The inherent flexibility of this methodology is illustrated by a short and efficient synthesis of an anti-inflammatory marine natural product.

Mild and Efficient Pentafluorophenylammonium Triflate (PFPAT)-Catalyzed C-Acylations of Enol Silyl Ethers or Ketene Silyl (Thio)Acetals with Acid Chlorides

A pentafluorophenylammonium triflate (PFPAT) catalyst (5 mol %) successfully promoted C-acylation of enol silyl ethers with acid chloride to produce various beta-diketones (12 examples; 62-92% yield). Similarly, C-acylation of ketene silyl acetals or ketene silyl thioacetals (i.e., crossed Claisen condensation) proceeded smoothly to provide not only alpha-monoalkylated beta-keto (thio)esters but also thermodynamically unfavorable (less accessible) alpha,alpha-dialkylated beta-keto (thio)esters in good to excellent yield (38 examples; 60-92% yield).