Enantioselective Formal 1,2-Diamination of Ketenes with Iminosulfinamides: Asymmetric Synthesis of Unnatural α,α-Disubstituted α-Amino Acid Derivatives

A method was developed for the enantioselective formal 1,2-diamination of disubstituted ketenes using iminosulfinamides as nitrogen sources. The protocol involves the addition of lithium iminosulfinamides to ketenes to form N-iminosulfinyl amide metalloenolates. These metalloenolates then undergo a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to yield unnatural α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid derivatives with high enantiopurity. The chirality present at the sulfur atom in the iminosulfinamides is effectively transferred to α carbon of the resulting products, facilitating the highly enantioselective amination of ketenes.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Less Accessible α-Tertiary Amino Ketimines via Electrophilic Amination of α-Branched N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Ketimines

A stereocontrolled electrophilic amination of α-branched N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines was developed to construct α-aminoketone derivatives containing less accessible α-tetrasubstituted stereocenters. Stereospecific α-deprotonation of ketimines with potassium tert-butoxide gave stereodefined metalloenamine intermediates that could act as nucleophiles to attack azodicarboxylic derivatives, affording α-aminated products in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

Exploiting Coordination Effects for the Regioselective Zincation of Diazines Using TMPZnX⋅LiX (X=Cl, Br)

A new method for regioselective zincations of challenging N-heterocyclic substrates such as pyrimidines and pyridazine was reported using bimetallic bases TMPZnX⋅LiX (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl; X=Cl, Br). Reactions occurred under mild conditions (25-70 °C, using 1.75 equivalents of base without additives), furnishing 2-zincated pyrimidines and 3-zincated pyridazine, which were then trapped with a variety of electrophiles. Contrasting with other s-block metalating systems, which lack selectivity in their reactions even when operating at low temperatures, these mixed Li/Zn bases enabled unprecedented regioselectivities that cannot be replicated by either LiTMP nor Zn(TMP)2 on their own. Spectroscopic and structural interrogations of organometallic intermediates involved in these reactions have shed light on the complex constitution of reaction mixtures and the origins of their special reactivities.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Cα-Tetrasubstituted N-Hydroxyl-α-amino Nitriles via Cyanation of Ketonitrones Using Me2(CH2Cl)SiCN

Here, we report an unprecedented catalytic enantioselective cyanation of ketonitrones enabled by the bifunctional cyanating reagent Me₂(CH₂Cl)SiCN. This approach allows facile access to optically active N-hydroxyl-α-amino nitriles that are of high synthetic value but difficult to acquire by other methods. The use of bifunctional cyanating reagent Me₂(CH₂Cl)SiCN not only achieves an enantioselectivity higher than that with TMSCN but also enables various diversification reactions of the resulting silylated adducts. This represents the first enantioselective catalytic nucleophilic addition reaction of unactivated ketone-derived nitrones, exhibiting the potential of such tetrasubstituted C═N bonds for asymmetric synthesis of N-hydroxy α-amino acids and other N-hydroxy tertiary amines.

Direct N-O bond formation via oxidation of amines with benzoyl peroxide

Herein, we report a general and efficient method for direct N-O bond formation without undesirable C-N bond (amide) formation starting from commercially available amines and benzoyl peroxide. The oxidation of 1,2-diamines to furnish bis-(benzoyloxy)-1,2-diamines is reported for the first time. We found that a significant amount of water (BPO : water = 3 : 1) in combination with Cs2CO3 is necessary to achieve high selectivity and yield. The reaction conditions are applicable to a wide range of 1,2-diamine and 1,2-disubstituted-1,2-diamine substrates. Additionally this method is highly applicable to primary and secondary amines. Further, the present method can access chiral bis-hydroxamic acids and bis-hydroxyl amines in just two steps from 1,2-diamines. The reaction conditions are simple, mild and inert atmosphere free. The synthetic potential of this methodology is further demonstrated in the short synthesis of a chiral BHA ligand.

Efficient Catalytic Enantioselective Hydroxyamination of α-Aryl-α-Cyanoacetates with 2-Nitrosopyridines

The highly enantioselective totally N-selective hydroxyamination reaction of α-aryl-α-cyanoacetates with 2-nitrosopyridines was realized by using a chiral N,N'-dioxide/Mg(OTf)₂ complex as catalyst, which enriches the nitroso chemistry. A variety of 2-cyano-2-[hydroxyl(pyrydin-2-yl)amino]acetates with quaternary stereocenters and potential antibacterial activities were obtained in excellent yields with good to excellent ee values under as low as 0.05 mol % catalyst loading. The products could be easily transformed to useful α-amino amides and 1,2-diamines. Besides, a possible transition state model was proposed to elucidate the origin of the chirality induction.

Cross-Aldol Reaction of Activated Carbonyls with Nitrosocarbonyl Intermediates: Stereoselective Synthesis toward α-Hydroxy-β-amino Esters and Amides

A practical and flexible strategy toward α-hydroxy-β-amino esters and amides, which are important biological motifs, based on an organocatalytic cross-aldol reaction of in situ-generated nitrosocarbonyl intermediates followed by hydrogenation is presented. The protocol features operational simplicity, high yields, a wide substrate scope, and high regio- and diastereoselectivity profiles. The utility of this method was showcased through the synthesis of bestatin analogues and indole formation.

Generation and Trapping of Nitrosocarbonyl Intermediates

The nitrosocarbonyls (R-CONO) are highly reactive species and remarkable intermediates toward different synthetic targets. This review will cover a research area whose impact in current organic synthesis is constantly increasing in the chemical community. This review represents the first and comprehensive picture on the generation and trapping of nitrosocarbonyls and is solidly built on more than 380 papers. Six different classes of key starting materials such as hydroxamic acids, N-hydroxy carbamates, N-hydroxyureas, nitrile oxides, and 1,2,4-oxadiazole-4-oxides were highlighted. The content of the review surveys all the methods to generate the nitrosocarbonyls through different approaches (oxidative, thermal, photochemical, catalytic, aerobic, and the less common ones) in the light of efficiency, yields, and mildness. The most successful trapping agents employed to catch these fleeting intermediates are reviewed, exploiting their superior dienophilic, enophilic, and electrophilic power. The work is completed by paragraphs dedicated to the detection of the intermediates, theoretical studies, and insights about the challenges and future directions for the field.

Enantioselective magnesium-catalyzed transformations

This review updates the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral magnesium catalysts, covering the literature since 2007, illustrating the power of these green catalysts to promote many types of reactions.

Brønsted acid mediated N–O bond cleavage for α-amination of ketones through the aromatic nitroso aldol reaction

A Brønsted acid mediated N–O bond cleavage for α-amination of ketones has been developed through the nitroso aldol reaction of less-reactive aromatic nitroso compounds and silyl enol ethers having a disilane (–SiMe₂TMS) backbone.

Iron complexes of tetramine ligands catalyse allylic hydroxyamination via a nitroso-ene mechanism

Iron(II) complexes of the tetradentate amines tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) and N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (BPMEN) are established catalysts of C-O bond formation, oxidising hydrocarbon substrates via hydroxylation, epoxidation and dihydroxylation pathways. Herein we report the capacity of these catalysts to promote C-N bond formation, via allylic amination of alkenes. The combination of N-Boc-hydroxylamine with either FeTPA (1 mol %) or FeBPMEN (10 mol %) converts cyclohexene to the allylic hydroxylamine (tert-butyl cyclohex-2-en-1-yl(hydroxy)carbamate) in moderate yields. Spectroscopic studies and trapping experiments suggest the reaction proceeds via a nitroso-ene mechanism, with involvement of a free N-Boc-nitroso intermediate. Asymmetric induction is not observed using the chiral tetramine ligand (+)-(2R,2'R)-1,1'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyrrolidine ((R,R')-PDP).

The Mukaiyama aldol reaction of in situ generated nitrosocarbonyl compounds: selective C-N bond formation and N-O bond cleavage in one-pot for α-amination of ketones

A practical protocol for the α-amination of ketones (up to 99% yield) has been developed via the Mukaiyama aldol reaction of in situ generated nitrosocarbonyl compounds. The reaction with silyl enol ethers having a disilane (-SiMe2TMS) backbone proceeded not only with perfect N-selectivity but concomitant N-O bond cleavage was also accomplished. Such a cascade of C-N bond formation and N-O bond cleavage in a single step was heretofore unknown in the field of nitrosocarbonyl chemistry. A very high diastereoselectivity (dr = 19 : 1) was accomplished using (-)-menthol derived chiral nitrosocarbonyl compounds.

A Nucleophilic Strategy for Enantioselective Intermolecular α-Amination: Access to Enantioenriched α-Arylamino Ketones

The enantioselective addition of anilines to azoalkenes was accomplished through the use of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The resulting α-arylamino hydrazones were obtained in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities and provide access to enantioenriched α-arylamino ketones. A serendipitous kinetic resolution of racemic α-arylamino hydrazones is also described.