Stereocontrolled Microwave-Assisted Domino [3,3]-Sigmatropic Reactions: A Winstein-Overman Rearrangement for the Formation of Differentiated Contiguous C-N Bonds

A domino [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement sequence employing a sequential reversible allylic azide rearrangement followed by an irreversible Overman reaction provides a new route to the formation of two contiguous C-N bonds. The reaction occurs in a stereocontrolled fashion in two steps from readily available alkenyl epoxides via initial azide anion ring opening of the epoxides.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 5- and 6-Membered Aminocyclitols Starting with a Readily Available 2-Azetidinone

Stereoselective transformations of 4-vinyl-2-azetidinone derivative 4 into a variety of highly functionalized 6- and 5-membered carbocyclic compounds 7 and 9 were carried out using sequences involving sequential C1-N bond cleavage and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis. The derived carbocycles were further transformed into polyhydroxylated 6- and 5-membered aminocyclitols.

Recent advances in the Overman rearrangement: synthesis of natural products and valuable compounds

This review documents the reports since 2005 on the Overman rearrangement, an important C–N bond forming reaction that has been profoundly used in the synthesis of natural products, synthetic intermediates, building blocks and valuable compounds.

Heteromultimetallic catalysis for sustainable organic syntheses

Fully complementary bimetallic catalysis has been identified as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular transformations, which was largely inspired by early examples of sequential catalytic transformations.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reactions Using COP Catalysts

Allylic amides, amines, and esters are key synthetic building blocks. Their enantioselective syntheses under mild conditions is a continuing pursuit of organic synthesis methods development. One opportunity for the synthesis of these building blocks is by functionalization of prochiral double bonds using palladium(II) catalysis. In these reactions, nucleopalladation mediated by a chiral palladium(II) catalyst generates a new heteroatom-substituted chiral center. However, reactions where nucleopalladation occurs with antarafacial stereoselectivity are difficult to render enantioselective because of the challenge of transferring chiral ligand information across the square-planar palladium complex to the incoming nucleophile. In this Account, we describe the development and use of enantiopure palladium(II) catalysts of the COP (chiral cobalt oxazoline palladacyclic) family for the synthesis of enantioenriched products from starting materials derived from prochiral allylic alcohols. We begin with initial studies aimed at rendering catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements of allylic imidates enantioselective, which ultimately led to the identification of the significant utility of the COP family of Pd(II) catalysts. The first use of an enantioselective COP catalyst was reported by Richards' and our laboratories in 2003 for the enantioselective rearrangement of allylic N-arylimidates. Shortly thereafter, we discovered that the chloride-bridged COP dimer, [COP-Cl]₂, was an excellent enantioselective catalyst for the rearrangement of (E)-allylic trichloroacetimidates to enantioenriched allylic trichloroacetamides, this conversion being the most widely used of the allylic imidate rearrangements. We then turn to discuss S_N2' reactions catalyzed by the acetate-bridged COP dimer, [COP-OAc]₂, which proceed by a unique mechanism to provide branched allylic esters and allylic phenyl ethers in high enantioselectivity. Furthermore, because of the unique nucleopalladation/deoxypalladation mechanism of these S_N2' reactions, they provide exclusively the branched allylic product. Importantly, both enantiomers of the [COP-Cl]₂ and [COP-OAc]₂ catalysts are commercially available. We also briefly consider several other enantioselective reactions catalyzed by COP complexes. The mechanism of enantioselective COP-catalyzed allylic rearrangements and allylic substitutions is discussed in some detail. In both reactions, nucleopalladation is found to be the enantiodetermining step. The cyclobutadienyl "floor" of the COP catalyst is critical for transmitting chiral information across the palladium square plane in these reactions. This structural feature enables high enantioselection to be realized in spite of the nearly 180° angle between the catalyst, electrophile and nucleophile in the enantiodetermining step. Our discussion concludes by considering several uses of the COP family of catalysts by other researchers for the enantioselective synthesis of biologically active chiral molecules. We anticipate that additional uses for COP catalysts will emerge in the future. In addition, the structural features of these catalysts that we have identified as important for achieving high enantioselection should be useful in the future development of improved enantioselective Pd(II) catalysts.

Asymmetric synthesis of cis-aminocyclopentenols, building blocks for medicinal chemistry

A highly efficient one-pot multistep process involving an asymmetric Pd(II)-catalyzed Overman rearrangement and a Ru(II)-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction has been developed for the preparation of (R)- or (S)-aminocyclopenta-2-enes. The rapid strategy employed and the relatively mild conditions of the one-pot process allowed the multigram synthesis of the carbocycles in high enantiomeric excess (92% ee). The synthetic utility of these compounds was demonstrated by the stereoselective incorporation of hydroxyl groups, generating cis-4- and cis-5-aminocyclopenta-2-en-1-ols, important building blocks for medicinal chemistry.

Preparation of amino-substituted indenes and 1,4-dihydronaphthalenes using a one-pot multireaction approach: total synthesis of oxybenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids

Allylic trichloroacetimidates bearing a 2-vinyl or 2-allylaryl group have been designed as substrates for a one-pot, two-step multi-bond-forming process leading to the general preparation of aminoindenes and amino-substituted 1,4-dihydronaphthalenes. The synthetic utility of the privileged structures formed from this one-pot process was demonstrated with the total synthesis of four oxybenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, oxychelerythrine, oxysanguinarine, oxynitidine, and oxyavicine. An intramolecular biaryl Heck coupling reaction, catalyzed using the Hermann-Beller palladacycle was used to effect the key step during the synthesis of the natural products.

Enantioselective synthesis and application to the allylic imidate rearrangement of amine-coordinated palladacycle catalysts of cobalt sandwich complexes

The reaction of (η(5)-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadien-yl)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with sodium tetrachloropalladate and (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine gave planar chiral palladacycle di-μ-chloridebis[(η(5)-(Sp)-2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadienyl,1-C,3'-N)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt]dipalladium [(Sp )-Me2 -CAP-Cl] in 92% ee and 64% yield. Enantiopurity (>98% ee) was achieved by purification of the monomeric (R)-proline adducts and conversion back to the chloride dimer. Treatment with AgOAc gave (Sp)-Me2-CAP-OAc which was applied to asymmetric transcyclopalladation (up to 78% ee). The (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine mediated palladation methodology was applicable also to the corresponding N,N-diethyl (82% ee, 39% yield) and pyrrolidinyl (>98% ee, 43% yield) cobalt sandwich complexes. A combination of 5 mol % of the latter [(Sp)-Pyrr-CAP-Cl] and AgNO3 (3.8 equiv) is a catalyst for the allylic imidate rearrangement of an (E)-N-aryltrifluoroacetimidate (up to 83% ee), and this catalyst system is also applicable to the rearrangement of a range of (E)-trichloroacetimidates (up to 99% ee). This asymmetric efficiency combined with the simplicity of catalyst synthesis provides accessible solutions to the generation of non-racemic allylic amine derivatives.

Regioselectivity in the ring opening of epoxides for the synthesis of aminocyclitols from D-(-)-quinic acid

Efficient syntheses of four aminocyclitols are reported. Each synthesis is accomplished in eight steps starting from D-(−)-quinic acid. The key step involves a highly regioselective ring opening of epoxides by sodium azide.