Catalytic photochemical enantioselective α-alkylation with pyridinium salts

We have developed a chiral amine catalyzed enantioselective α-alkylation of aldehydes with amino acid derived pyridinium salts as alkylating reagents. The reaction proceeds in the presence of visible light and in the absence of a photocatalyst via a light activated charge-transfer complex. We apply this photochemical stereoconvergent process to the total synthesis of the lignan natural products (-)-enterolactone and (-)-enterodiol. Mechanistic studies support the ground-state complexation of the reactive components followed by divergent charge-transfer processes involving catalyst-controlled radical chain and in-cage radical combination steps.

Asymmetric catalytic nitrooxylation and azidation of β-keto amides/esters with hypervalent iodine reagents

Chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioselective nitrooxylation and azidation of cyclic and acyclic β-keto amides/esters with hypervalent iodine(iii) reagents.

Recent progress in the application of iodonium ylides in organic synthesis

This review summarizes the recent advances in the synthetic application of iodonium ylides covering 2017 to 2022.

Rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation/cyclization of aryl sulfoximines with iodonium ylides towards polycyclic 1,2-benzothiazines

The synthesis of 1,2-benzothiazine derivatives through rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation/cyclization of S-aryl sulfoximines with iodonium ylides was developed for the first time. In this report, C-H and N-H bond functionalization was realized towards a series of tricyclic and tetracyclic sulfoximine derivatives with moderate to excellent yields under simple reaction conditions.

Pd-catalyzed amidation of 1,3-diketones with CO and azides via a nitrene intermediate

An efficient Pd-catalyzed amidation of 1,3-diketones has been developed using carbon monoxide and organic azides. This reaction provides a step-economic approach to produce β-ketoamides from readily available compounds under mild ligand-, oxidant-, and base-free conditions. The mechanistic studies showed that the reaction occurred through an in situ generated isocyanate intermediate.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3,2'-pyrrolinyl spirooxindoles via conjugate addition/Schmidt-type rearrangement of vinyl azides and (E)-alkenyloxindoles

A catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition/Schmidt-type rearrangement of vinyl azides and (E)-alkenyloxindoles was realized. It afforded a variety of optically active 3,2'-pyrrolinyl spirooxindoles with high yields (up to 98%), and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee, >19 : 1 dr), even at the gram-scale in the presence of a chiral N,N'-dioxide-nickel(ii) complex. In addition, a possible catalytic cycle and transition state model were proposed to rationalize the stereoselectivity.

Copper-catalyzed (4+1) and (3+2) cyclizations of iodonium ylides with alkynes

The copper(ii)-catalyzed (4+1) cyclizations and copper(i)-catalyzed (3+2) cycloadditions of iodonium ylides and alkynes have been successfully developed. The corresponding highly functionalized heterocyclic products were prepared conveniently.