Kinetic Resolution of Sulfinamides via Asymmetric N-Allylic Alkylation

An efficient kinetic resolution of sulfinamides via an asymmetric N-allylic alkylation reaction was realized using hydroquinine as a catalyst under mild conditions. The kinetic resolution of a range of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts and N-aryl tert-butylsulfinamides was highly effective. In addition, the synthetic utility of the protocol was demonstrated by a scaled-up reaction. Density functional theory calculations provide convincing evidence for the interpretation of stereoselection.

Extended Enolates: Versatile Intermediates for Asymmetric C-H Functionalization via Noncovalent Catalysis

Catalyst-controlled functionalization of unmodified carbonyl compounds is a relevant operation in organic synthesis, especially when high levels of site- and stereoselectivity can be attained. This objective is now within reach for some subsets of enolizable substrates using various types of activation mechanisms. Recent contributions to this area include enantioselective transformations that proceed via transiently generated noncovalent di(tri)enolate-catalyst coordination species. While relatively easier to form than simple enolate congeners, di(tri)enolates are ambifunctional in nature and so control of the reaction regioselectivity becomes an issue. This Minireview discusses in some detail this and other problems, and how noncovalent activation approaches based on metallic and metal free catalysts have been developed to advance the field.

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Dispiro-bisoxindoles via [3+2] Annulation Involving Nitroisatylidene as a Vinylogous Michael Donor

A cascade [3+2] annulation, involving a γ-selective vinylogous Michael addition of nitroalkylideneoxindoles to various electron deficient alkenes followed by an intramolecular Michael addition, provides access to dispiro-bis-oxindoles and spiro-oxindoles. Up to four contiguous chiral centers, including two quaternary spirocenters, are generated in this high-yield regio- and diastereoselective transformation that also provides a convenient entry into conformationally constrained γ-amino acid derivatives.

Phosphine-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Achiral MBH Carbonates with 3,3'-Bisindolines: Enantioselective Construction of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of achiral Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates with 3,3'-bisindolines under the catalysis of amino-acid-derived bifunctional phosphines was accomplished. With the AAA approach introduced herein, challenging 3,3'-bisindolines bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter (C3a) have been constructed in good yields with good to excellent enantioselectivties. In addition, the synthetic value of this protocol was demonstrated by the facile synthesis of the core skeleton of gliocladin C.

New Developments of the Principle of Vinylogy as Applied to π-Extended Enolate-Type Donor Systems

The principle of vinylogy states that the electronic effects of a functional group in a molecule are possibly transmitted to a distal position through interposed conjugated multiple bonds. As an emblematic case, the nucleophilic character of a π-extended enolate-type chain system may be relayed from the legitimate α-site to the vinylogous γ, ε, ..., ω remote carbon sites along the chain, provided that suitable HOMO-raising strategies are adopted to transform the unsaturated pronucleophilic precursors into the reactive polyenolate species. On the other hand, when "unnatural" carbonyl ipso-sites are activated as nucleophiles (umpolung), vinylogation extends the nucleophilic character to "unnatural" β, δ, ... remote sites. Merging the principle of vinylogy with activation modalities and concepts such as iminium ion/enamine organocatalysis, NHC-organocatalysis, cooperative organo/metal catalysis, bifunctional organocatalysis, dicyanoalkylidene activation, and organocascade reactions represents an impressive step forward for all vinylogous transformations. This review article celebrates this evolutionary progress, by collecting, comparing, and critically describing the achievements made over the nine year period 2010-2018, in the generation of vinylogous enolate-type donor substrates and their use in chemical synthesis.

Allylic-Allylic Alkylation with 3,5-Dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole: A Route to Dicarboxylic Acid Derivatives

In this work, the first application of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole as a vinylogous pronucleophile in the allylic–allylic alkylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates is described. The reaction has been realized under nucleophilic catalysis conditions with dimeric cinchona alkaloids, providing excellent enantiocontrol of the process. The usefulness of the products thus obtained has been confirmed in selected chemoselective reactions. The most important one involves the transformation of the isoxazole moiety into a carboxylic acid group, thus opening access to dicarboxylic acid derivatives.

Enantioselective [3+2] annulation of isatin-derived MBH-carbonates and 3-nitroindoles enabled by a bifunctional DMAP-thiourea

Highly enantioselective [3+2] annulation of isatin-derived MBH-carbonates and 3-nitroindoles was achieved by a chiral DMAP-thiourea bifunctional catalyst.

Highly enantioselective sequential vinylogous aldol reaction/transesterification of methyl-substituted olefinic butyrolactones with isatins for the construction of chiral spirocyclic oxindole-dihydropyranones

A highly stereoselective sequential vinylogous aldol reaction/transesterification of methyl-substituted olefinic butyrolactones and isatins was developed with 10 mol% Takemoto's amine–thiourea catalyst.

Atroposelective Catalytic Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Reaction for Axially Chiral Anilides with Achiral Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates

A highly efficient method to access axially chiral anilides through asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with achiral Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates by using a biscinchona alkaloid catalyst was reported. Through the atroposelective approach, a broad range of axially chiral anilide products with different acyl groups, such as substituted phenyl, naphthyl, alkyl, enyl, styryl, and benzyl, were generated with very good yields, moderate to excellent cis: trans ratios, and good to excellent enantioselectivities. The reaction can be scaled up, and the synthetic utility of axially chiral anilides was proved by transformations. Moreover, the linear free energy relationship analysis was introduced to investigate the reaction.

Asymmetric vinylogous aldol addition of alkylidene oxindoles on trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

A novel vinylogous aldol addition of alkylidene oxindole with 1-trifluoromethyl-3-alkylidene-propan-2-ones is presented. The reaction, catalyzed by a bifunctional tertiary amine, provides an efficient application of the vinylogous reactivity of oxindoles for the preparation of enantioenriched trifluoromethylated allylic alcohols.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylations of Colby Pro-Enolates with MBH Carbonates: Enantioselective Access to Quaternary C-F Oxindoles

Owing to the innovative applications of fluorinated compounds in many areas of technology and medicine, methods for the preparation of C-F quaternary fluorine containing compounds are in extremely high demand. Here, we report the discovery of a general procedure for an S_N 2 reaction catalyzed by Pd/Ding-SKP-type ligands, and that occurs between Colby pro-enolates with MBH carbonates to afford the corresponding products featuring two consecutive stereogenic carbons, including a C-F quaternary stereogenic center. The reactions readily occur at ambient temperatures with high chemical yields and in excellent chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselective manners. This practically attractive stereochemical outcome, coupled with the operational simplicity and structural generality, bodes well for the synthetic application of this process in the preparation of a novel class of biologically relevant fluorine-containing compounds.

Chemoselective SN2' Allylations of Detrifluoroacetylatively In Situ Generated 3-Fluoroindolin-2-one-Derived Tertiary Enolates with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates

The first example of the S_N2' reaction type of the detrifluoroacetylatively in situ generated tertiary fluoro-enolates in the uncatalyzed reactions with Morita-Baylis-Hillman derivatives has been described. The S_N2' substitution takes place in a highly chemoselective manner as no corresponding S_N2 products were observed in the reaction mixtures. Due to the excellent stereochemical outcome, the reactions seem to have an apparent synthetic value for the preparation of structurally new fluorinated oxindoles.

Catalyst-free synthesis of 3-alkenyloxindoles from isatin-derived Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates

A variety of biologically and synthetically useful 3-alkenyloxindoles were rapidly synthesised via an SN2′-type allylic substitution reaction of isatin-derived Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with sodium sulfinates. The syntheses were conducted under catalyst-free reaction conditions and good to excellent product yields (up to 96%) and Z/E selectivities (up to >20:1) were obtained.

An asymmetric assembly of spirooxindole dihydropyranones through a direct enantioselective organocatalytic vinylogous aldol-cyclization cascade reaction of 3-alkylidene oxindoles with isatins

An unexpected enantioselective organocatalytic vinylogous aldol-cyclization cascade reaction generating dihydropyranones in good to excellent yields with high enantioselectivities.

Asymmetric sequential Au(i)/chiral tertiary amine catalysis: an enone-formation/cyanosilylation sequence to synthesize optically active 3-alkenyloxindoles from diazooxindoles

A gold-catalyzed enone-formation and asymmetric cyanosilylation sequence is developed, providing enantioenriched 3-alkenyloxindoles from diazooxindoles, furans and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN).