A Convenient Synthesis of Novel Isoxazolidine and Isoxazole Isoquinolinones Fused Hybrids

Isoxazolidine, isoxazole, and isoquinolinone rings are present in the structure of several natural products and/or pharmaceutically interesting compounds. In this work, facile and efficient pathways have been developed for the preparation of fused frameworks bearing those heterocycles. The successful approaches for both isoxazolidine/isoquinolinone and isoxazole/isoquinolinone hybrid syntheses relied initially on 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones and nitrile oxides to indenone and 2-propargylbenzamide, respectively. The construction of the isoquinolinone lactam system followed by performing a selective Schmidt reaction for isoxazolidine derivatives (two steps overall), whereas the isoxazole lactams were reached via an Ullmann-type cyclisation (three steps overall). Key observations were made regarding the stereo- and regioselectivities of the reactions employed, and small libraries of the targeted hybrids were prepared, demonstrating the general applicability of these strategies.

Dimerization and ring-opening in bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropenylidene (BAC) mediated by [U(NR2)3(CCPh)] (R = SiMe3)

Addition of 2 equiv. of bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropenylidene (BAC) to [U(NR2)3(CCPh)] (1, R = SiMe3), in Et2O, results in formation of [cyclo-N(iPr)C(Me)2CH(NiPr2)C{CHC3(NiPr2)2}][U(NR2)2(N(SiMe3)SiMe2CH2)(CCPh)] (2) in moderate isolated yield. Complex 2 is the result of coupling and protonation of two BAC molecules, where complex 1 contributes the required proton. It was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography and represents a new mode of reactivity of the cyclopropenylidene fragment.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction of Isatins with Vinyl Sulfones

The organocatalytic asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of isatin derivatives with various vinyl sulfones is disclosed. Chiral sulfone-containing 3-hydroxyoxindoles were produced in good to high yields and with good to high ee's. This report displays an unprecedented example to apply activated alkenes with sulfone moiety other than carbonyl groups in asymmetric MBH reactions and provides an efficient strategy to incorporate the sulfone functional group for the synthesis of chiral 3-hydroxyoxindoles.

HFIP Mediates a Direct C-C Coupling between Michael Acceptors and Eschenmoser's salt

A direct C-C coupling process merging Michael acceptors and Eschenmoser's salt is presented. Albeit reminiscent of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction, this process requires no Lewis base catalyst. The underlying mechanism could be unveiled by a combination of kinetic, isotopic labelling experiments as well as computational investigations, showcasing the critical role of HFIP as a superior mediator for proton transfer events as well as the decisive role of the halide counterion.

Enantioselective Stetter Reactions Catalyzed by Bis(amino)cyclopropenylidenes: Important Role for Water as an Additive

The first highly enantioselective intermolecular Stetter reaction using simple enones is reported. A series of novel chiral BAC structures were designed and prepared. They were tested in the Stetter reaction with simple aldehydes and enones. The products were generated in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). Surprisingly, a substoichiometric amount of water was crucial to obtain high enantioselectivities. Chiral BACs were also shown to catalyze 1,6-conjugate addition reactions with paraquinone methides enantioselectively.

Bis-aminocyclopropenylidene carbene borane catalyzed imine hydrogenation

Certain borenium cations supported by carbenes can function as hydrogenation catalysts for imines. While many carbenes have been explored, variation of the other groups on boron has been less common. We have investigated several carbene-borane adducts in an attempt to understand the ability of a bis-amino cyclopropenylidene (BAC) carbene dicyclohexylborane adduct to hydrogenate relatively sterically unhindered benzyl imines. As an additional variant, a BAC carbene adduct of diphenylborane was prepared. A convenient preparation of diphenylboron fluoride via a potassium fluoroborinate salt was employed in this chemistry. Reaction of diphenylboron fluoride with a BAC carbene afforded a modest yield of a carbene-fluoroborane adduct. Reaction between the fluoroborinate salt and a lithium tetrafluoroborate adduct of the carbene provided the adduct in much improved yield and cleanliness, and the product was structurally characterized. The fluoroborate could be converted to a boron hydride through fluoride-hydride exchange with dimethylchlorosilane. The boron hydride adduct was also structurally characterized. Unlike the BAC carbene dicyclohexylborane adduct, the BAC carbene diphenylborane adduct showed essentially no activity in hydrogenation of imines or enamines.

One-Pot Synthesis of Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts via Zinc-Mediated Allylation of 4-Bromocrotonates and Imines

An approach to the synthetically valuable β-substituted aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) type products, through zinc-mediated allylation of imines with 4-bromocrotonates followed by subsequent isomerization of the double bond, was developed. Complementary to classical MBH reaction, this reaction utilizes easily available 4-bromocrotonates as the reaction partners, providing a rapid alternative to the traditional use of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The short reaction time, one-pot operation, broad substrate scopes, gram-scale synthesis, and synthetic application exemplified the utility and practicability of this method.