Enantioselective organocatalytic asymmetric allylic alkylation. Bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane addition to MBH carbonates

Nickel-catalyzed regio- and enantio-selective Markovnikov hydromonofluoroalkylation of 1,3-dienes

A highly enantio- and regio-selective Markovnikov hydromonofluoro(methyl)alkylation of 1,3-dienes was developed using redox-neutral nickel catalysis. It provided a facile strategy to construct diverse monofluoromethyl- or monofluoroalkyl-containing chiral allylic molecules. Notably, this represents the first catalytic asymmetric Markovnikov hydrofluoroalkylation of olefins. The practicability of this methodology is further highlighted by its broad substrate scope, mild base-free conditions, excellent enantio- and regio-selectivity, and diversified product elaborations to access useful fluorinated building blocks.

We report a highly enantio- and regio-selective Markovnikov hydromonofluoro(methyl)alkylation of 1,3-dienes using chiral Ni catalysis, allowing access to chiral allylic compounds bearing a CH₂F, CD₂F or monofluoroalkyl group at the stereocenter.

Studying the reactivity of alkyl substituted BODIPYs: first enantioselective addition of BODIPY to MBH carbonates

The first enantioselective addition of alkyl BODIPYs to Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates is reported. This is the first reported enantioselective methodology using the methylene position of BODIPYs as a nucleophile. The reaction is efficiently catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids, achieving high enantioselectivities and total diastereoselectivity. The use of cinchona alkaloid pseudo enantiomers (chinine/cinchonine) allows us to obtain both pairs of enantiomers in similar yields and enantioselectivities, a common issue in this type of reaction. The photophysical study of these dyes (absorption and fluorescence) has been performed in order to determine their parameters and explore future possible application in bioimaging. In addition, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) studies supported by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were also performed.

Reagents for Selective Fluoromethylation: A Challenge in Organofluorine Chemistry

The introduction of a monofluoromethyl moiety has undoubtedly become a very important area of research in recent years. Owing to the beneficial properties of organofluorine compounds, such as their metabolic stability, the incorporation of the CH2 F group as a bioisosteric substitute for various functional groups is an attractive strategy for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the monofluoromethyl unit is also widely used in agrochemistry, in pharmaceutical chemistry, and in fine chemicals. The problems associated with climate change and the growing need for environmentally friendly industrial processes mean that alternatives to the frequently used CFC and HFBC fluoromethylating agents (CH2 FCl and CH2 FBr) are urgently needed and also required by the Montreal Protocol. This has recently prompted many researchers to develop alternative fluoromethylation agents. This Minireview summarizes both the classical and new generation of fluoromethylating agents. Reagents that act via electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical pathways are discussed, in addition to their precursors.

Light-Triggered Catalytic Asymmetric Allylic Benzylation with Photogenerated C-Nucleophiles

Herein is reported the asymmetric allylic benzylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates with 2-methylbenzophenone (MBP) derivatives as nonstabilized photogenerated C-nucleophiles. The dual activation of both reaction partners, chiral Lewis-base activation of the electrophile and light activation of the nucleophile, enables the stereoselective installation of benzyl groups at the allylic position to forge tertiary and quaternary carbon centers.

Construction of unique SCF3-containing building blocks via allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts

Lewis base-catalyzed allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts with α-SCF3 ketones has been demonstrated. The developed strategy provides efficient access to a series of highly functionalized scaffolds featuring trifluoromethanesufinyl motif on a stereogenic carbon.

Sulfones as Chemical Chameleons: Versatile Synthetic Equivalents of Small-Molecule Synthons

Sulfones are flexible functional groups that can act as nucleophiles, electrophiles, or even radicals. Changing the reaction conditions can completely alter the reactivity of a sulfonyl group, and as a result, molecules bearing multiple sulfones are versatile building blocks. This Review highlights the unique ability of 1,1- and 1,2-bis(sulfones) to masquerade as a vast array of reactive synthons including methane polyanions, vinyl cations, and all-carbon dipoles that would be difficult or impossible to access directly.

Enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated branched allylic compounds via Ir-catalyzed allylations of functionalized fluorinated methylene derivatives

Introduction of the functionalized monofluorinated methylenes into the allylic fragment under Ir catalysis gave the fluorinated branched allyl products in good to high yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities.

Expanding the scope of Metal-Free enantioselective allylic substitutions: Anthrones

The highly enantioselective asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with anthrones is presented. The reaction is simply catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives affording the final alkylated products in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

Synergistic catalysis: highly diastereoselective benzoxazole addition to Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

An expedited method has been developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized alkyl-azaarene systems with good yields and high diastereoselectivities (>15 : 1 dr). The methodology includes a synergistic catalysis event involving organometallic (10 mol% AgOAc) activation of an alkyl azaarene and Lewis base (10 mol% DABCO) activation of a Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonate. The structure and relative configuration of a representative product were confirmed by X-ray analysis.

A [3 + 2]-annulation approach to tetrasubstituted furans from MBH-carbonates of acetylenic aldehydes via sequential substitution/cycloisomerization

A new organo base-mediated cascade reaction has been developed for the synthesis of uniquely substituted tetrasubstituted furans, 2-furan-3-yl acrylates, starting from MBH-carbonates of acetylenic aldehydes and keto-methylenes.

Kinetic resolution of allyl fluorides by enantioselective allylic trifluoromethylation based on silicon-assisted C-F bond cleavage

Two birds, one stone! The first kinetic resolution of allyl fluorides was achieved by the development of an organocatalyzed enantioselective allylic trifluoromethylation. Two kinds of chiral fluorinated compounds, which incorporate C*F and C*CF3 units, respectively, can thus be accessed by a single transformation.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with α-fluoro-β-keto esters

In the presence of a commercially available Cinchona alkaloid as catalyst, the asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates, with α-fluoro-β-keto esters as nucleophiles, have been successfully developed. A series of important fluorinated adducts, with chiral quaternary carbon centres containing a fluorine atom, was achieved in good yields (up to 93%), with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) and moderate diastereoselectivities (up to 4:1 dr).

Catalytic diastereoselective tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman C adducts by C-C bond cleavage

Through the cleavage of the C-C bond, the first catalytic tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman C adducts has been presented. Various S(N)2'-like C-, S-, and P-allylic compounds could be obtained with exclusive E configuration in good to excellent yields. The Michael product could also be easily prepared by tuning the β-C-substituent group of the α-methylene ester under the same reaction conditions. Calculated relative energies of various transition states by DFT methods strongly support the observed chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity.