Phosphine-Catalyzed Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Michael Adducts of the Sesquiterpene Lactone Arglabin

A general method for chemo- and diastereoselective modification of anticancer natural product arglabin with nitrogen- and carbon-centered pronucleophiles under the influence of nucleophilic phosphine catalysts was developed. The locked s-cis-geometry of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone moiety of arglabin favors for the additional stabilization of the zwitterionic intermediate by electrostatic interaction between phosphonium and enolate oxygen centers, leading to the unprecedentedly high efficiency of the phosphine-catalyzed Michael additions to this sesquiterpene lactone. Using n-Bu3P as the catalyst, pyrazole, phthalimide, 2-oxazolidinone, 4-quinazolinone, uracil, thymine, cytosine, and adenine adducts of arglabin were obtained. The n-Bu3P-catalyzed reaction of arglabin with active methylene compounds resulted in the predominant formation of bisadducts bearing a new quaternary carbon center. All synthesized Michael adducts and previously obtained phosphorylated arglabin derivatives were evaluated in vitro against eleven cancer and two normal cell lines, and the results were compared to those of natural arglabin and its dimethylamino hydrochloride salt currently used as anticancer drugs. 2-Oxazolidinone, uracil, diethyl malonate, dibenzyl phosphonate, and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate derivatives of arglabin exhibited more potent antiproliferative activity towards several cancer cell lines and lower cytotoxicity towards normal cell lines in comparison to the reference compounds, indicating the feasibility of the developed methodology for the design of novel anticancer drugs with better therapeutic potential.

Two-step synthesis of vicinal trifluoromethyl primary amines from α-(trifluoromethyl)styrenes and phthalimide

A novel two-step synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl primary amines from readily available α-(trifluoromethyl)styrenes and phthalimide is developed. The first step involves a hydroamination between α-(trifluoromethyl)styrenes and phthalimide (PhthNH) with the assistance of a base. Next, the hydrazinolysis of the resulting N-(β-trifluoromethyl-β-arylethyl)phthalimides with hydrazine hydrate affords the desired N-(β-trifluoromethyl-β-arylethyl)amines.

Base mediated aza-[2 + 1] annulation and regioselective aziridine ring-opening cascade: mild synthesis of functionalized β-amino ketones from cyclic N-sulfonyl aldimines and α-carbonyl sulfonium salts

Cyclic N-sulfonyl aldimines are well-known aza-[2C]-synthons for various [2 + n] annulation reactions. Herein we describe a novel base mediated [2 + 1] annulation and a regioselective aziridine ring-opening reaction cascade, which provides an efficient and distinct synthetic strategy from readily available cyclic N-sulfonyl aldimines and α-carbonyl sulfonium salts leading to β-amino ketone derivatives through the corresponding fused tri-substituted aziridines. This one-pot, two-step process involves formation of C-C and C-N bonds and subsequent cleavage of a C-N bond. The features of the developed reaction include the use of mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent yields. The synthetic utility of this approach was demonstrated by gram-scale operation and further product derivatizations.

Catalyst- and excess reagent recycling in aza-Michael additions

16α-Azolyl-pregnenolone derivatives were prepared via 2-butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (n-Bu-TMG) catalysed aza-Michael addition of 16-dehydropregnenolone (16-DHP) carried out in [bmim][BF4]. The application of the guanidine base and the imidazolium ionic liquid made it possible to recycle not only the catalyst/solvent mixture but also the excess of the N-heterocyclic reagent. By the introduction of CO2 at the end of the reaction, both the guanidine base and the unreacted (excess) reagent could be converted into ionic species that remained dissolved in the ionic liquid phase, while the steroid components were extracted with an apolar solvent. After the removal of CO2, the experiment could be repeated by the addition of the steroid substrate and only an equimolar amount of the N-heterocycle. The methodology was successfully applied to a number of N-heterocycles, such as imidazole, pyrazole, 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazoles, and benzimidazole. Indazole and indole could also be converted into the corresponding products, but a stronger base had to be used to obtain a recyclable system.

Green Light Promoted Iridium(III)/Copper(I)-Catalyzed Addition of Alkynes to Aziridinoquinoxalines Through the Intermediacy of Azomethine Ylides

This manuscript describes the development of alkyne addition to the aziridine moiety of aziridinoquinoxalines using dual Ir(III)/Cu(I) catalytic system under green light-emitting diode (LED) photolysis (λmax =525 nm). This mild method features high levels of chemo- and regioselectivity and was used to generate 30 highly functionalized substituted dihydroquinoxalines in 36-98 % yield. This transformation was also carried asymmetrically using phthalazinamine-based chiral ligand to provide 9 chiral addition products in 96 : 4 to 86 : 14 e.r. The experimental and quantum chemical explorations of this reaction suggest a mechanism that involves Ir(III)-catalyzed triplet energy transfer followed by a ring-opening reaction ultimately leading to the formation of azomethine ylide intermediates. These azomethine intermediates undergo sequential protonation/copper(I) acetylide addition to provide the products.

A Concise Enantioselective Synthesis of Fluorinated Pyrazolo-Piperidine GSK3901383A Enabled by an Organocatalytic Aza-Michael Addition

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic aza-Michael addition of 4-nitro-pyrazole to ethyl (E)-2,2-difluoro-5-oxopent-3-enoate has been developed. This reaction enabled a concise, four-step, stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized 3,3-difluoro-4-pyrazolo-piperidine GSK3901383A, a key intermediate for the synthesis of a leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 inhibitor API. Computational analysis provided insight into the steric requirements of the catalytic system, enabling rational selection of a highly selective catalyst.

Synthesis of Chiral Diarylmethylamides via Catalytic Asymmetric Aza-Michael Addition of Amides to ortho-Quinomethanes

Chiral diarylmethylamides are a privileged skeleton in many bioactive molecules. However, the enantioselective synthesis of such molecules remains a long-standing challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, we report a chiral bifunctional squaramide catalyzed asymmetric aza-Michael addition of amides to in situ generated ortho-quinomethanes, affording enantioenriched diarylmethylamides in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This work not only provides a new strategy for the construction of the diarylmethylamides but also represents the practicability of amides as nitrogen-nucleophiles in asymmetric organocatalysis.

From Conventional to Sustainable Catalytic Approaches for Heterocycles Synthesis

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is fundamental for all the research area in chemistry, from drug synthesis to material science. In this framework, catalysed synthetic methods are of great interest to effective reach such important building blocks. In this review, we will report on some selected examples from the last five years, of the major improvement in the field, focusing on the most important conventional catalytic systems, such as transition metals, organocatalysts, to more sustainable ones such as photocatalysts, iodine-catalysed reaction, electrochemical reactions and green innovative methods.

Synthesis of 10-Membered Azecines through Pd-Catalyzed Formal [6+4] Cycloaddition and Their Transannular Reaction to Polycyclic Compounds

Azecine fragments are frequently presented in natural products and bioactive compounds. However, minor efforts have been devoted to these 10-membered N-heterocycles, and their synthesis is still challenging. Reported herein is the first catalytic formal [6+4] cycloaddition for the synthesis of 10-membered azecines. Under palladium catalysis, the reaction of δ-vinylvalerolactones and benzofuran-derived azadienes proceeds smoothly to afford benzofuran-fused azecines with high diastereoselectivity in moderate to good yields. A unique transannular reaction of these 10-membered azecines for the construction of polycyclic compounds is also demonstrated.

Enantioselective Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Aziridine-Containing Quinoxalines via Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation

This article describes the asymmetric synthesis of chiral aziridinoquinoxalines using (R)-TRIP-catalyzed parallel kinetic resolution under transfer hydrogenation conditions. This resolution was successfully accomplished for 16 different substrates and led to highly enantioenriched diastereomers with the (R)-configuration of the newly formed stereocenter (32-61% yield and 64-99% ee for the (R,R,R)-diastereomers and 7-46% yield and 97-99% ee for the (S,S,R)-diastereomers). This process could be coupled to ring-opening of the (S,S,R)-diastereomer with thiophenol to produce chiral tetrahydroquinoxalines with three contiguous stereocenters.

Dearomative, aminocatalytic formal normal-electron-demand aza-Diels-Alder cycloaddition in the synthesis of tetrahydrofuropyridines

In the manuscript the application of dearomative formal normal-electron-demand aza-Diels-Alder cycloaddition in the synthesis of tetrahydrofuropyridines is described. The developed approach utilizes aminocatalytic activation of 2-alkyl-3-furfurals that proceeds via formation of the dearomatized dienamine intermediate. Initially obtained cycloadducts have been subjected to subsequent transformations providing access to tetrahydrofuropyridines or functionalized cinnamates. The mechanism of the process has been confirmed by DFT calculations.

Stereoelectronic Effect in the Reaction of α-Methylene Lactones with Tertiary Phosphines and Its Application in Organocatalysis

The kinetic data indicate that the addition of tertiary phosphines to α-methylene lactones in acetic acid is strongly accelerated in comparison to the reactions of related open-chain esters. Six-membered α-methylene-δ-valerolactone exhibited a more pronounced rate increase than five-membered α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone. The use of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactam as a nitrogen analogue of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone resulted in a total loss of the reaction acceleration. The observed reactivities were rationalized by DFT calculations at the RwB97XD/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, showing that the intramolecular interaction between phosphonium and enolate oxygen centers provided by the locked s-cis-geometry of the heterocycles plays an important role in the stabilization of intermediate zwitterions. The reactivity is also controlled by the conformational flexibility of the heterocycle. The geometries of five-membered and, especially, six-membered lactone cycles are slightly changed upon the nucleophilic attack of phosphine, leading to the stabilizing stereoelectronic effect by the Ρ···Ο interaction. The addition of phosphine to α-methylene-γ-butyrolactam significantly distorts the initial geometry of the heterocycle, making the nucleophilic attack unfavorable. The application of the stereoelectronic effect to enhance the efficiency of the phosphine-catalyzed Michael and Pudovik reactions of α-methylene lactones was demonstrated.

Tandem Allylic Amination/oxa-Michael Addition of Vinyl Methylene Cyclic Carbonates via Palladium-Organo Relay Catalysis

A tandem allylic amination/oxa-Michael addition of vinyl methylene cyclic carbonates (VMCCs) has been developed to construct heterocycles by single palladium catalysis or palladium-organo relay catalysis. In this process, the bisnucleophiles first underwent regioselective allylic amination, and then the second nucleophilic group further completed the hetero-Michael addition reaction to form a series of heterocycles. Among them, the chiral 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazines could be produced in medium to high yield with good enantioselectivity under a palladium-organo relay catalysis.

Optimization of the Poly(glycerol citraconate) Synthesis Using the Box-Behnken Design

This work aimed to obtain poly(glycerol citraconate) (PGCitrn) for biomedical applications, analyze the obtained polyester by spectroscopic methods, and optimize its preparation. Polycondensation reactions of glycerol and citraconic anhydride were carried out. It was provided that the results in the reaction are oligomers of poly(glycerol citraconate). Optimization studies were carried out based on the Box-Behnken design. The input variables in this plan were the ratio of functional groups, temperature, and time and occurrence in coded form: -1, 0, or 1. Three output variables were optimized: the degree of esterification, the percentage of Z-mers, and the degree of carboxyl group conversion; they were determined by titration and spectroscopic methods. The optimization criterion was to maximize the values of output variables. A mathematical model and an equation describing it were determined for each output variable. The models predicted the experimental results well. An experiment was conducted under determined optimal conditions. The experimental results were very close to the calculated values. Poly(glycerol citraconate) oligomers with an esterification degree of 55.2%, a Z-mer content of 79.0%, and a degree of rearrangement of carboxyl groups of 88.6% were obtained. The obtained PGCitrn can serve as a component of an injectable implant. The obtained material can be used to produce nonwoven fabrics (with the addition of PLLA, for example), which can be subjected to a cytotoxicity test which can then serve as a dressing material.

Synthesis of Isoindole N-Oxides by Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of Aldonitrones

A palladium-catalyzed strategy for isoindole N-oxide ring construction by C-H functionalization of aldonitrones is described. Our protocol is of general character, providing isoindole N-oxides with a variety of functional groups, including very sterically congested products. Further transformations into spirocyclic isoindolines, isoindoles, or a polycyclic isoquinolinium salt have been demonstrated as well. A mechanistic study suggests that the catalytic process proceeds via a Heck-type addition to the double C═N bond.

Redox-active molecules as organocatalysts for selective oxidative transformations - an unperceived organocatalysis field

Organocatalysis is widely recognized as a key synthetic methodology in organic chemistry. It allows chemists to avoid the use of precious and (or) toxic metals by taking advantage of the catalytic activity of small and synthetically available molecules. Today, the term organocatalysis is mainly associated with redox-neutral asymmetric catalysis of C-C bond-forming processes, such as aldol reactions, Michael reactions, cycloaddition reactions, etc. Organophotoredox catalysis has emerged recently as another important catalysis type which has gained much attention and has been quite well-reviewed. At the same time, there are a significant number of other processes, especially oxidative, catalyzed by redox-active organic molecules in the ground state (without light excitation). Unfortunately, many of such processes are not associated in the literature with the organocatalysis field and thus many achievements are not fully consolidated and systematized. The present article is aimed at overviewing the current state-of-art and perspectives of oxidative organocatalysis by redox-active molecules with the emphasis on challenging chemo-, regio- and stereoselective CH-functionalization processes. The catalytic systems based on N-oxyl radicals, amines, thiols, oxaziridines, ketone/peroxide, quinones, and iodine(I/III) compounds are the most developed catalyst types which are covered here.

Unexpected Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of 1,6-Enynes with Sulfoxonium Ylides

An unprecedented copper-catalyzed cascade reaction of 1,6-enynes with sulfoxonium ylides is reported, providing a series of structurally intriguing 2,3-disubstituted indolines bearing a conjugated dienone functionality at the 3-position in moderate to excellent yields with good chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivities under mild reaction conditions. Importantly, sulfoxonium-ylide-derived copper-carbene herein exhibits quite different reactivity from that of diazo copper-carbene. A rational mechanism, an initial ammonium ylide rather than allene formation, is proposed.

Enantioselective synthesis of isoxazole-containing spirooxindole tetrahydroquinolines via squaramide-catalysed cascade reactions

A class of o-sulfonylaminostyryl isoxazole synthons were designed and demonstrated to be useful building blocks in asymmetric cascade aza-Michael/Michael reaction with 3-olefinic oxindoles. This squaramide-catalysed cascade reaction afforded structurally complex isoxazole-containing spirooxindole tetrahydroquinolines bearing three contiguous stereocenters in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with high diastereoselectivities (up to >20 : 1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 88% ee). Moreover, the gram-scale synthesis and synthetic transformations were also demonstrated.

Cs2CO3 catalyzed direct aza-Michael addition of azoles to α,β-unsaturated malonates

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of azole derivatives via a direct aza-Michael addition of azoles to α,β-unsaturated malonates using Cs₂CO₃ as a catalyst, has been successfully developed. A series of azole derivatives have been obtained in up to 94% yield and the reaction could be amplified to gram scale in excellent yield in the presence of 10 mol% of Cs₂CO₃.

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of azole derivatives via a direct aza-Michael addition of azoles to α,β-unsaturated malonates has been successfully developed. A series of azole derivatives have been obtained in up to 94% yield.

Cascade synthetic strategies opening access to medicinal-relevant aliphatic 3- and 4-membered N-heterocyclic scaffolds

Cascade reactions are often 'employed' by nature to construct structurally diverse nitrogen-containing heterocycles in a highly stereoselective fashion, i.e., secondary metabolites important for pharmacy. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles of three- and four-membered rings, as standalone and bicyclic compounds, inhibit different enzymes and are pharmacophores of approved drugs or drug candidates considered in many therapies, e.g. anticancer, antibacterial or antiviral. Domino transformations are in most cases in line with modern green chemistry concepts due to atom economy, one-pot procedures often without use the protective groups, time-saving and at markedly lower costs than multistep transformations. The tandem approaches can help to obtain novel N-heterocyclic scaffolds, functionalized according to structural requirements of the target in cells, taking into account the nature of functional group and stereochemistry. On the other hand cascade strategies allow to modify small N-heterocyclic rings in a systematic way, which is beneficial for structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses. This review is focused on the biological relevance of the N-heterocyclic scaffolds with smaller 3- and 4-membered rings among approved drugs and leading structures of drug candidates. The cascade synthetic strategies offering N-heterocyclic scaffolds, at relatively good yields and high stereoselectivity, are discussed here. The review covers mainly years from 2015 to 2021.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade 5-endo-dig Cyclization of Ynamides to Form 4-Alkynyloxazolones

The selective synthesis of 4-alkynyloxazolones and their further applications as substrates to electrophile-promoted nucleophilic cyclization have been developed. The reaction of ynamides with terminal alkynes proceeded smoothly to give 4-alkynyloxazolones in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate. The products were obtained with the sequential formation of new C-C and C-O bonds via a cascade procedure. The first step involved a carbon-oxygen bond formation, via a 5-endo-dig closure, which was confirmed by X-ray analyses of the crystalline sample. Subsequently, the reaction of 4-alkynyloxazolones with an electrophilic selenium source gave 3-phenylselanyl benzofuran derivatives via an electrophile-promoted nucleophilic cyclization.

Acylative kinetic resolution of racemic methyl-substituted cyclic alkylamines with 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl (R)-2-phenoxypropanoate

The diastereoselective acylation of a number of racemic methyl-substituted cyclic alkylamines with active esters of 2-phenoxypropanoic acid was studied in detail. The ester of (R)-2-phenoxypropanoic acid and N-hydroxysuccinimide was found to be the most selective agent. The highest stereoselectivity was observed in the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-methylpiperidine in toluene at -40 °C (selectivity factor s = 73) with the predominant formation of (R,R)-amide (93.7% de). To explain the observed stereoselectivity, DFT modelling of the transition states in the reactions of the title acylating agent with 2-methylpiperidine and 2-methylpyrrolidine was performed. The calculated values were in good agreement with experimental data. It has been demonstrated that the acylation proceeds via a concerted mechanism, in which the addition of an amine occurs simultaneously with the elimination of the hydroxysuccinimide fragment. The high stereoselectivity of the (R,R)-amide formation is largely ensured by the lower steric hindrances in the transition states as compared to the formation of (R,S)-amide.

Synthesis of N-substituted quaternary carbon centers through KOt-Bu-catalyzed aza-Michael addition of pyrazoles to cyclic enones

This study reports an effective and mild protocol for the construction of N-substituted quaternary carbon centers via the KOt-Bu-catalyzed aza-Michael addition of pyrazoles with β-substituted cyclic enones.

Synthesis of indolo- and benzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines via POCl3 mediated tandem cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes derived from o-alkynyl-N-phenylformamides

A synthesis of indolo[3,2-c]quinolines and benzothieno[3,2-c]quinolines has been developed employing o-alkynyl-N-phenylformamide derivatives as the substrates. The reaction proceeded via a tandem process involving POCl3‒assisted intramolecular cyclization of the firstly formed...

Thermodynamic Understanding of an Aza-Michael Reaction Enables Five-Step Synthesis of the Potent Integrin Inhibitor MK-0429

We describe a general strategy for the aza-Michael addition of nucleophilic heterocycles into β-substituted acrylates using potassium tert-butoxide as catalyst. Demonstrating that the reaction is under thermodynamic control underpins optimization efforts and enables rapid exploration of the substrate scope, with yields ranging from 55% to 94%. We further leverage these lessons in a significantly shortened synthesis of MK-0429, a potent pan-integrin inhibitor previously taken into human clinical trials for the treatment of prostate cancer and osteoporosis.

Development of a DABCO-Succinic Acid Based Catalytic System for the Aza-Michael Addition and Aza-Michael/Knoevenagel Tandem Reaction of Thiazolidine-2,4-dione to Electron Deficient Alkenes

A DABCO catalyzed aza-Michael addition of thiazolidine-2,4-dione to a variety of electron deficient alkenes has been developed. Additionally, a DABCO/succinic acid salt system has been designed that allows for the one pot tandem aza-Michael/Knoevenagel reaction of thiazolidine-2,4-dione to give difunctionalized thiazolidine-2,4-dione products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a one-pot tandem aza-Michael/Knoevenagel reaction involving thiazolidine-2,4-dione.

Low catalyst loading enabled organocatalytic synthesis of chiral bis-heterocyclic frameworks containing pyrazole and isoxazole

The organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure bis-heterocyclic molecules containing pyrazole and isoxazole under mild reaction conditions has been reported via a low-catalyst loading Michael addition reaction of pyrazolyl nitroalkenes with 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives. 4-Substituted pyrazole derivatives were obtained in 60-87% yields and with 82-97% ee. These pyrazolyl derivatives are further transformed into chiral bis-heterocyclic derivatives in up to 82% yields and up to 99% ee. The synthesized pyrazole and isoxazole based bis-heterocyclic derivatives are potential bio-active molecules expected to have significant applications. Additionally, the synthesis of these bis-heterocycles can efficiently be carried out in one pot without any loss of enantiopurity, which further adds to its significance.

Development of a novel chromophore reaction-based fluorescent probe for biogenic amines detection

Biogenic amines (BAs) are important biomarkers to monitor meat spoilage. However, the design of efficient BA fluorescent probes with distinct colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent dual-channels is still a critical challenge because of similar chemical properties and basicity between BAs and other amines. Herein, pyrrolopyrrole cyanine (PPCy-1) is reported to display distinctly high reactivity toward BAs through an ultrasensitive irreversible chromophore reaction for the first time. The reaction mechanism is ascribed to synergistic aza-Michael addition and B-N detachment, followed by hydrolysis to produce low-conjugated diketopyrrolopyrrole and heteroaromatic acetonitrile compounds. As a result, colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent dual-channel (Δλ_ab = 188 nm and Δλ_em = 151 nm) signals and a limit of detection up to 62.1 nM level for BA solution are acquired. In addition, the colorimetric detection of volatile amine vapor using the PPCy-1-loaded filter paper, showing a color change from green to yellow, is feasible. A simple and cost-effective fluorescence "turn on" method using the filter paper or the CAD-40 resin loaded with PPCy-1 to detect TVB (total volatile bases) originating from shrimp spoilage is further demonstrated.

Double asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reaction: a convenient strategy for the synthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids

A new methodology to access the quinolizidine skeleton in an asymmetric fashion was devised. It involves two consecutive intramolecular aza-Michael reactions of sulfinyl amines bearing a bis-enone moiety, in turn generated by a monodirectional cross metathesis reaction. The sequence, which takes place with excellent yields and diastereocontrol, was applied to the total synthesis of alkaloids lasubine I and myrtine.

Recent advances in organocatalytic asymmetric aza-Michael reactions of amines and amides

Nitrogen-containing scaffolds are ubiquitous in nature and constitute an important class of building blocks in organic synthesis. The asymmetric aza-Michael reaction (aza-MR) alone or in tandem with other organic reaction(s) is an important synthetic tool to form new C-N bond(s) leading to developing new libraries of diverse types of bioactive nitrogen compounds. The synthesis and application of a variety of organocatalysts for accomplishing highly useful organic syntheses without causing environmental pollution in compliance with 'Green Chemistry" has been a landmark development in the recent past. Application of many of these organocatalysts has been extended to asymmetric aza-MR during the last two decades. The present article overviews the literature published during the last 10 years concerning the asymmetric aza-MR of amines and amides catalysed by organocatalysts. Both types of the organocatalysts, i.e., those acting through non-covalent interactions and those working through covalent bond formation have been applied for the asymmetric aza-MR. Thus, the review includes the examples wherein cinchona alkaloids, squaramides, chiral amines, phase-transfer catalysts and chiral bifunctional thioureas have been used, which activate the substrates through hydrogen bond formation. Most of these reactions are accompanied by high yields and enantiomeric excesses. On the other hand, N-heterocyclic carbenes and chiral pyrrolidine derivatives acting through covalent bond formation such as the iminium ions with the substrates have also been included. Wherever possible, a comparison has been made between the efficacies of various organocatalysts in asymmetric aza-MR.

Selective Transformation of Norbornadiene into Functionalized Azaheterocycles and β-Amino Esters with Stereo- and Regiocontrol

Novel functionalized azaheterocycles with multiple chiral centers have been accessed from readily available norbornene β-amino acids or β-lactams across a stereocontrolled synthetic route, based on ring-opening metathesis (ROM) of the staring unsaturated bicyclic amino esters, followed by selective cyclization through ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The RCM transformations have been studied under various experimental conditions to assess the scope of conversion, catalyst, yield, and substrate influence. The structure of the starting norbornene β-amino acids predetermined the structure of the new azaheterocycles, and the developed synthetic route took place with the conservation of the configuration of the chiral centers.

An umpolung-enabled copper-catalysed regioselective hydroamination approach to α-amino acids

A copper-catalysed regio- and stereoselective hydroamination of acrylates with hydrosilanes and hydroxylamines has been developed to afford the corresponding α-amino acids in good yields. The key to regioselectivity control is the use of hydroxylamine as an umpolung, electrophilic amination reagent. Additionally, a judicious choice of conditions involving the CsOPiv base and DTBM-dppbz ligand of remote steric hindrance enables the otherwise challenging C-N bond formation at the α position to the carbonyl. The point chirality at the β-position is successfully controlled by the Xyl-BINAP or DTBM-SEGPHOS chiral ligand with similarly remote steric bulkiness. The combination with the chiral auxiliary, (-)-8-phenylmenthol, also induces stereoselectivity at the α-position to form the optically active unnatural α-amino acids with two adjacent stereocentres.

Two Decades of Progress in the Asymmetric Intramolecular aza-Michael Reaction

The asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reaction (IMAMR) is a very convenient strategy for the generation of heterocycles bearing nitrogen-substituted stereocenters. Due to the ubiquitous presence of these skeletons in natural products, the IMAMR has found widespread applications in the total synthesis of alkaloids and biologically relevant compounds. The development of asymmetric versions of the IMAMR are quite recent, most of them reported in this century. The fundamental advances in this field involve the use of organocatalysts. Chiral imidazolidinones, diaryl prolinol derivatives, Cinchone-derived primary amines and quaternary ammonium salts, and BINOL-derived phosphoric acids account for the success of those methodologies. Moreover, the use of N-sulfinyl imines with a dual role, as nitrogen nucleophiles and as chiral auxiliaries, appeared as a versatile mode of performing the asymmetric IMAMR.

A noncovalent hybrid of [Pd(phen)(OAc)2] and st-DNA for the enantioselective hydroamination of β-nitrostyrene with methoxyamine

We developed a novel Pd-catalysed enantioselective synthesis of C-N bonds using the chiral scaffold of DNA. The non-covalently linked [Pd(phen)(OAc)2] with st-DNA catalysed the Markonicov hydroamination of β-nitrostyrene with methoxyamine for the first time with >75% enantiomeric excess (ee) in an aqueous buffer (pH 7.4) at room temperature.