Synthesis of bridgehead-azacycles via dual C-N/C-C annulation of α-amino acids, aminals and maleimides

The synthesis of various bridged azacyclic adducts has recently become a reemerging topic due to their bioactive and natural product mimic profiles. Accordingly, herein, we report a method for easy access to succinamide-bridged azacyclic derivatives through the metal-free polarization-controlled dual C-N/C-C annulation of readily available α-amino acids, 2-amino benzaldehydes or pyrrole/indole-2-aldehyde and maleimide substrates. This cascade features a rare dipolarophile-induced diastereo-selective amidative annulation, followed by 3 + 2 cycloaddition as key steps.

Synthesis of pyrrolizidines and indolizidines by multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Different multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (1,3-DC) of cyclic α-amino acid derivatives with aldehydes and dipolarophiles have been described as efficient and simple methodologies for the synthesis of the pyrrolidine unit of pyrrolizidines and indolizidines. When free cyclic α-amino acids are used, a thermal promoted decarboxylative process generates in situ the corresponding non-stabilized azomethine ylides, which afforded the corresponding pyrrolizidines and indolizidines with a hydrogen in the bicyclic units. This methodology has been employed to the synthesis of complex systems including spiro derivatives when ketones are used as carbonyl component. In addition, working with cyclic α-amino acid derived esters, the three-component 1,3-DC takes place under milder reaction conditions giving the corresponding pyrrolizidines and indolizidines with an alkoxycarbonyl group in the bridge adjacent carbon to the nitrogen. This methodology can be carried out by a double consecutive or stepwise 1,3-DC to provide pyrrolizidines via the precursor prolinates. The conformation of the azomethine ylide controls the endo/exo diastereoselectivity of the 1,3-DC.

(R)-DM-SEGPHOS-Ag(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrolidines and Pyrrolizidines via (1,3)- and Double (1,3)-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

An efficient diastereo- and enantioselective route to access a wide range of highly substituted pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives has been described via (1,3)- and double (1,3)-dipolar cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by the (R)-DM-SEGPHOS-Ag(I) complex. The reactions proceed smoothly at ambient temperature, affording a variety of pyrrolidines and pyrrolizidines in high yields (up to 93%) with up to 99:1 dr and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) without any additives. The newly synthesized pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives contain four and seven contiguous stereogenic centers, respectively. Moreover, the synthetic utility of enantioenriched products has been demonstrated by transforming them into various synthetically useful advanced intermediates.

Diastereoselective [3 + 2] vs [4 + 2] Cycloadditions of Nitroprolinates with α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Electrophilic Alkenes: An Example of Total Periselectivity

Diastereoselective multicomponent reactions of enantioenriched 4-nitroprolinates, obtained by enantiocatalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) of imino esters and nitroalkenes, with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and electrophilic alkenes proceed with total periselectivity depending on the structure of the aldehyde employed. This process evolves through a [3 + 2] 1,3-DC when cinnamaldehyde is used in the presence of an azomethine ylide, giving the corresponding highly substituted pyrrolizidines with endo selectivity. However, in the case of the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, which contains a hydrogen atom at the γ position, an amine-aldehyde-dienophile (AAD) [4 + 2] cycloaddition takes place by formation of an intermediate 1-amino-1,3-diene, affording highly functionalized cyclohexenes with high endo diastereoselectivity. This AAD process only occurred when a nitro group is bonded to the 4-position of the initial enantiomerically enriched pyrrolidine ring. DFT calculations have been carried out with the aim of explaining this different behavior between pyrrolidines with or without a nitro group, demonstrating the strong nitro-group-dependent periselectivity. The results of these computational studies also support the experimentally obtained absolute configuration of the final adducts.

Molecular diversity of the three-component reaction of α-amino acids, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and N-substituted maleimides

The one-pot three-component reaction of secondary α-amino acids with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate and N-substituted maleimides afforded functionalized pyrrolo[3,4-a]pyrrolizines, pyrrolo[3′,4′:3,4]pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles, pyrrolo[3,4-a]indolizines and octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles.

Ni(0)–Cu(i): a powerful combo catalyst for simultaneous coupling and cleavage of the C–N bond with cyclization to valuable amide-based pyrroles and 4-pyridones

We demonstrate unprecedented Ni(0)–Cu(i) combo catalysis for sequential bond activated domino N–C/C–C coupled annulation with N–C bond cleavage to afford valuable amide-based polysubstituted pyrroles and 4-pyridones selectively from β-ketoanilides.

General base-tuned unorthodox synthesis of amides and ketoesters with water

We discovered a highly reactive λ³-hypervalent iodane species using an inorganic/organic base for the unorthodox synthesis of amides and ketoesters through grafting terminal alkynes. In contrast to the metal-catalyzed dehydrative approaches the in situ generated nonmetallic reagent efficiently created C–N/C–O and CO bonds with amines/alkynes and water at rt.