Diastereoselective Synthesis of 4-Hydroxy-2-quinolinones via Formal [2 + 4] Cycloaddition Reactions Using α-Diazo Pyrazoleamides as C2 Synthons

A rhodium-catalyzed highly stereoselective formal [2 + 4]-cycloaddition reaction of α-diazo pyrazoleamides and 2-aminophenyl ketones that produces 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinones in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities has been developed. A pyrazolium ylide species that is generated from α-diazo pyrazoleamides is used as a C2 synthon for this cycloaddition. This protocol offers an efficient approach to a variety of 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinones featuring sequential quaternary centers.

Rh-Catalyzed Chemodivergent [3+3] Annulations of Diazoenals and α-Aminoketones: Direct Synthesis of Functionalized 1,2-Dihydropyridines and Fused 1,4-Oxazines

Novel rhodium-catalyzed [3+3] annulations of diazoenals and α-amino ketones has been disclosed here. The reactivity of diazoenals has been switched from carbenoid to vinylogous NH-insertion by altering acyclic to cyclic α-amino ketones. In this direction, we report an efficient strategy to synthesize 1,2-dihydropyridines (DHPs) and fused 1,4-oxazines. Mechanistic investigation revealed that the formyl group is necessary for carbenoid [3+3] annulation and the cyclohexyl group is the dictating factor for vinylogous NH- insertion. The synthetic utility of 1,2-dihydropyridines was demonstrated by synthesizing piperidine, pyrido[1,2-a]indole, and 2-pyridone scaffolds. Further, structural diversification of fused 1,4-oxazines resulted in the short synthesis of hexahydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones, hexahydro quinolines and tetrahydroquinolinones via ring opening rearrangement and a new oxidative deformylation, respectively.

Lewis Base-Catalyzed Intramolecular Vinylogous Aldol Reaction and Chemoselective Syntheses of 3-Hydroxy-2,3-Disubstituted Dihydrobenzofurans and Indolines

A Lewis base-catalyzed intramolecular vinylogous aldol reaction of o-(allyloxy)phenyl ketoesters or o-(allylamino)phenyl ketoesters has been developed. This reaction provides ready access to 3-hydroxy-2,3-disubstituted dihydrobenzofurans and indolines in high yields with excellent chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity. An acid-promoted dehydration of such products further extends the utility of the reaction to the synthesis of 2-alkenyl benzofurans and indoles.

Copper-catalyzed [4+1] cycloannulation of 2-aminochalcones with ethyl diazophenylacetates via ester rearrangement

Copper-catalyzed [4+1] cycloannulation of 2-aminochalcones with ethyl diazophenylacetates was developed, exhibiting a wide range of substrates and good tolerance of functional groups.

Blue Light-Promoted Formal [4+1]-Annulation of Diazoacetates with o-Aminoacetophenones: Synthesis of Polysubstituted Indolines and Computational Study

A blue light-promoted formal [4+1]-annulation of diazoacetates with o-aminoacetophenones has been reported, which provides an environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of polysubstituted indoline derivatives in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. Detailed mechanistic studies through density functional theory calculations reveal that the (E)-enol species is the key intermediate in this transformation, and the excellent diastereoselectivity is enabled via H-bonding in the intramolecular Aldol-type addition.

Tandem Carbenoid C-H Functionalization/Conia-ene Cyclization of N-Propargyl Indoles Generates Pyrroloindoles under Cooperative Rh(II)/Zn(II) Catalysis

The decomposition of diazodicarbonyl compounds in the presence of various metal catalysts has become a reliable method for the functionalization of indoles via carbenoid intermediates. Exploiting the nucleophilic reactivity of the in situ generated malonic ester product formed, we herein report a tandem C-H functionalization/Conia-ene cyclization of N-alkyne tethered indoles. This double functionalization of diazodicarbonyls generates a range of pyrrolo[1,2-a]-, pyrido[1,2-a]-, and azepino[1,2-a]indole products with good synthetic efficiency.

Copper-catalyzed [4+1]-annulation of 2-alkenylindoles with diazoacetates: a facile access to dihydrocyclopenta[b]indoles

A copper-catalyzed [4+1]-annulation of 2-vinylindoles with diazoacetates: a facile access to the dihydrocyclopenta[b]indoles bearing two contiguous all-carbon quaternary centers.

A highly diastereoselective [5+1] annulation to 2,2,3-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinoxalines via intramolecular Mannich-type trapping of ammonium ylides

A highly diastereoselective [5+1] annulation to 2,2,3-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinoxalines was developed by us.

Interception of Secondary Amide Ylide with Sulfonamides: Catalyst-Controlled Synthesis of N-Sulfonylamidine Derivatives

A novel, secondary amide activation strategy has been developed through the in situ generation of ylides from amides and diazoacetates. Under the developed reaction conditions, Mn-catalyzed ylide formation and interception reaction by sulfonamide delivered a variety of N-sulfonylamidines. Notably, when highly active Zn(OTf)₂ was used as the catalyst, further N-H insertion products were obtained. In contrast with traditional methods, our amide activation strategy is distinguished by accessible starting material, inexpensive catalyst, and broad substrate scope.

Rh(II)-mediated domino [4 + 1]-annulation of α-cyanothioacetamides using diazoesters: A new entry for the synthesis of multisubstituted thiophenes

A new approach towards the synthesis of multisubstituted thiophenes is elaborated based on Rh(II)-catalyzed domino reactions of acyclic diazoesters with α-cyanothioacetamides. It provides a way for the preparation of 5-amino-3-(alkoxycarbonylamino)thiophene-2-carboxylates, 2-(5-amino-2-methoxycarbonylthiophene-3-yl)aminomalonates and (2-cyano-5-aminothiophene-3-yl)carbamates with the preparative yields of up to 67%. It was also shown that α-cyanothioacetamides easily interact with dirhodium carboxylates to give rather stable 2:1 complexes, resulting in an evident decrease in the efficiency of the catalytic process at moderate temperatures (20–30 °C).

A serendipitous cascade of rhodium vinylcarbenoids with aminochalcones for the synthesis of functionalized quinolines

A convergent 5-step cascade approach for the stereoselective synthesis of functionalized quinolines.

A Rh(ii)-catalyzed three-component reaction of 3-diazooxindoles with N,N-disubstituted anilines and glyoxylates for the synthesis of 3-aryl-3-substituted oxindoles

A simple and effective method for the synthesis of 3-aryl-3-substituted oxindole derivatives via a [Rh]-catalyzed three-component reaction of 3-diazooxindoles with N,N-disubstituted anilines and glyoxylates is developed. This transformation is proposed to proceed through an intermolecular aldol-type trapping of zwitterionic intermediates.

Unusual reactions of diazocarbonyl compounds with α,β-unsaturated δ-amino esters: Rh(II)-catalyzed Wolff rearrangement and oxidative cleavage of N–H-insertion products

Rh(II)-сatalyzed reactions of aroyldiazomethanes, diazoketoesters and diazodiketones with α,β-unsaturated δ-aminoesters, in contrast to reactions of diazomalonates and other diazoesters, give rise to the Wolff rearrangement and/or oxidative cleavage of the initially formed N–H-insertion products. These oxidation processes are mediated by Rh(II) catalysts possessing perfluorinated ligands. The formation of pyrrolidine structures, characteristic for catalytic reactions of diazoesters, was not observed in these processes at all.

Rhodium catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of 2,2,3,3-tetrasubstituted indolines from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles and ortho-vinylanilines

An efficient diastereoselective rhodium catalyzed synthesis of indolines possessing two contiguous tetrasubstituted carbon centers has been achieved with good to excellent yields using ortho-vinylanilines and iminocarbenes derived from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles.

An efficient diastereoselective rhodium catalyzed synthesis of indolines possessing two contiguous tetrasubstituted carbon centers has been achieved with good to excellent yields using ortho-vinylanilines and iminocarbenes derived from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The reaction affords excellent cis-diastereoselectivity through the initial formation of a N-ylide followed by intramolecular trapping with unactivated alkenes via an ene-type reaction with a well-organized transition state, namely intramolecular carbenylative amination of alkenes. The developed transformation was further extended to the successful synthesis of tricyclic compounds, imidazoindolines, through reduction and hypervalent iodine mediated oxidative cyclization.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrrolidines by the Diverted N-H Insertion Reaction of Metallocarbenes with β-Aminoketone Derivatives

A highly stereoselective route to functionalized pyrrolidines by the metal-catalyzed diverted N-H insertion of a range of diazocarbonyl compounds with β-aminoketone derivatives is described. A number of catalysts (rhodium(II) carboxylate dimers, copper(I) triflate, and an iron(III) porphyrin) are shown to promote the process under mild conditions to give a wide range of highly substituted proline derivatives. The reaction starts as a metallocarbene N-H insertion but is diverted by an intermolecular aldol reaction.