Asymmetric Photoinduced Excited-State Nazarov Reaction

We report herein the first asymmetric photoinduced excited-state Nazarov reaction of non-aromatic dicyclic divinyl ketones by using hydrogen-bonding catalysis. The enantioselectivity of photoinduced electrocyclization is highly dependent on the structural features of the substrate and its interaction with chiral catalysts. For the simple dicyclic divinyl ketone substrates, there is no discernible selectivity of the hydrogen bond coordination between the thiourea and carbonyl groups of the substrates in the ground state. However, we found that the direction of the electrocyclization was well controlled in each coordination model and the N,N'-dimethylamine motif acts as a base in the regioselective deprotonation process, which leads to the formation of two stereoisomers with high enantioselectivity. Photolysis of dicyclic divinyl ketones bearing a 1,3-dioxolane motif in the presence of bifunctional hybrid peptide-thiourea chiral catalysts gave the tricyclic cis-hydrofluorenones with good enantioselectivity. Mechanistic and DFT studies suggested that the amide and thiourea groups in the bifunctional chiral catalysts play a key role as H-bond donors, which coordinate with both the carbonyl group and the 1,3-dioxolane motif to provide a more favorable chiral species, and control the direction of the electrocyclization. Due to the presence of the rigid 1,3-dioxolane ring, the deprotonation/protonation process occurs regiospecifically with high driving force. This photo-electrocyclization is mild (room temperature and neutral solution), which results a broad reaction scope and functional group tolerance and demonstrates its synthetic potential in organic synthesis.

Asymmetric Ketoalkylation/Rearrangement of Alkyenlfurans via Synergistic Photoredox/Brønsted Acid Catalysis

An enantioselective three-component rearrangement of alkenylfurans with various cycloalkyl silyl peroxides and anilines has been developed by merging photoredox catalysis with chiral Brønsted acid catalysis. This protocol provides expedient access to a broad spectrum of ketoalkyl-functionalized 4-aminocyclopentenones in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities. Diverse functional groups can be introduced via facile product derivations.

Asymmetric Gold(I)-Catalyzed Tandem Hydroarylation-Nazarov Cyclization: Enantioselective Access to Cyclopentenones

The asymmetric synthesis of cyclopentachromenones from gold-catalyzed reaction of readily available skipped alkenynones is described. This cascade reaction involves an initial anti-Michael hydroarylation of the ynone moiety to form a gold-functionalized dialkenylketone intermediate, followed by a Nazarov cyclization that proceeds in an unprecedented enantioselective manner. Excellent enantiomeric ratios and chemical yields are obtained under mild reaction conditions.

Enyne diketones as substrate in asymmetric Nazarov cyclization for construction of chiral allene cyclopentenones

The Nazarov cyclization is one of the most powerful tools for the stereoselective synthesis of various cyclopentenone scaffolds. Therefore, developing the new classes substrate of Nazarov reaction is an important endeavor in synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report enyne diketones, enables diastereo- and enantioselective construction of chiral allene cyclopentenones in moderate to good yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). Importantly, it is a typical example for asymmetric synthesis of cyclopentanones with allene moiety using Nazarov cyclisation. Mechanistic studies indicate that this metal-organo relay catalysis protocol involves a rhodium-catalyzed tandem oxonium ylide formation/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/reverse benzylic acid rearrangement, followed by organo-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov cyclization/alkyne-to-allene isomerization to give the final chiral allene cyclopentenones.

Enantioselective Silicon-Directed Nazarov Cyclization

The Nazarov electrocyclization reaction is a convenient, widely used method for construction of cyclopentenones. In the past few decades, catalytic asymmetric versions of the reaction have been extensively studied, but the strategies used to control the position of the double bond limit the substituent pattern of the products and thus the synthetic applications of the reaction. Herein, we report highly enantioselective silicon-directed Nazarov reactions which were cooperatively catalyzed by a Lewis acid and a chiral Brønsted acid. The chiral cyclopentenones we synthesized using this method generally cannot be obtained by means of other catalytic enantioselective reactions, including previously reported methods for enantioselective Nazarov cyclization. The silicon group in the dienone substrate stabilized the β-carbocation of the intermediate, thereby determining the position of the double bond in the product. Mechanistic studies suggested that the combination of Lewis and Brønsted acids synergistically activated the dienone substrate and that the enantioselectivity of the reaction originated from a chiral Brønsted acid promoted proton transfer reaction of the enol intermediate.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclopentenones

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed asymmetric construction of cyclopentenones using enals and α-diketones is achieved, furnishing a series of highly functionalized cyclopentenones in a highly diastereo- and enantioselective manner. The protocol tolerates substrates with both aromatic and aliphatic groups, and further transformations of the products delivered a range of value-added molecules.

Nickel/Copper Dual Catalysis for Sequential Nazarov Cyclization/Decarboxylative Aldol Reaction

A nickel/copper cocatalyzed sequential Nazarov cyclization/decarboxylative aldol reaction is reported. Various β-hydroxycyclopentenones containing three contiguous stereocenters were prepared in good yields with high diastereoselectivities. A gram-scale reaction and further derivatizations were easily achieved to highlight the synthetic utility of this transformation. Preliminary attempts for sequential asymmetric transformation were also conducted.

Versatile One-Pot Synthesis of Polysubstituted Cyclopent-2-enimines from α,β-Unsaturated Amides: Imino-Nazarov Reaction

The imino-Nazarov cyclization of the polysubstituted pentan-1,4-diene-3-imines was realized. To this aim, a one-pot procedure involving reductive alkenyliminylation of α,β-unsaturated secondary amides with potassium organotrifluoroborates, followed by acid-catalyzed imino-Nazarov cyclization of the polysubstituted pentan-1,4-diene-3-imine intermediates, was studied systematically. This mild, operationally simple, flexible, and high-yielding protocol efficiently affords polysubstituted pentan-1,4-diene-3-imines, cyclopentenimines, and α-amino cyclopentenones, which are useful scaffolds in organic synthesis. The substituent effect at the C2 position of the polysubstituted pentan-1,4-diene-3-imines was studied by means of density-functional theory calculations. Results suggested that the electron-donating group facilitates the imino-Nazarov cyclization process.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Cyclopent-2-enones by Nickel-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Malonate Esters

The enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized chiral cyclopent‐2‐enones by the reaction of alkynyl malonate esters with arylboronic acids is described. These desymmetrizing arylative cyclizations are catalyzed by a chiral phosphinooxazoline/nickel complex, and cyclization is enabled by the reversible E/Z isomerization of alkenylnickel species. The general methodology is also applicable to the synthesis of 1,6‐dihydropyridin‐3(2H)‐ones.

Nickel-catalyzed enantioselective sequential Nazarov cyclization/decarboxylation

The nickel-catalyzed enantioselective sequential Nazarov cyclization/decarboxylation has been developed.

Nazarov reaction: current trends and recent advances in the synthesis of natural compounds and their analogs

Recent applications of the Nazarov reaction to stereoselective synthesis of pharmacology-relevant cyclopentenone scaffolds are summarized.

The iso-Nazarov reaction

The acid-promoted cycloisomerization of conjugated dienals and linearly-conjugated dienones for the synthesis of five-membered ring systems is reviewed.

Triaryl-Substituted Divinyl Ketones Cyclization: Nazarov Reaction versus Friedel-Crafts Electrophilic Substitution

The acid-catalyzed cyclization of a wide range of triaryl-substituted divinyl ketones has been studied. It was found that the reaction pathway strongly depends on the nature of the aryl substituent at the α-position to the carbonyl group. An electron-rich aromatic substituent promotes the reaction to proceed through the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts electrophilic substitution giving dihydronaphthalene derivatives. In contrast, the presence of an electron-deficient substituent is favorable for the Nazarov 4π-conrotatory cyclization yielding triaryl-substituted cyclopentenones. The electrophilic substitution reaction was applied to thiophene and thiazole derivatives.