Synthesis of Nitrones and Nitroalkanes via Chiral Cyclic Imines

A series of structurally chiral cyclic imines efficiently yields chiral nitrones and nitroalkanes. This is the first report of the synthesis of nitro groups by C═N bond cleavage of imines through a nitrone intermediate.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric O-1,5-Addition with Oximes via Hydroximation of Unsaturated Esters

Different from electronically matched 1,4- and 1,6-additions, herein, we disclose an electronically mismatched 1,5-conjugate addition process with oximes as the nucleophiles. By this design, the oxime moieties are readily introduced to the γ-position of the electron-deficient substrates in good yields, excellent regioselectivities, and high enantioselectivities. The corresponding allyl oximes are also conveniently transformed into a series of valuable enantioenriched skeletons.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylic Addition as an Atom-Efficient Approach in Total Synthesis

ConspectusFinding efficient synthetic methods for the asymmetric synthesis of complex molecules has always been of interest to organic chemists. Creating and controlling the stereochemistry of stereogenic centers bearing branched allylic moieties in organic molecules using a catalytic process is an attractive and successful method for the synthesis of several natural products and medicinally important compounds. Remarkable progress toward their synthesis has been achieved via transition-metal catalysis, especially in the case of allylic substitution and allylic C-H oxidation chemistry. However, for allylic substitution the preinstallation of a leaving group is essential, and for allylic C-H oxidation, stoichiometric amounts of oxidant are required. Besides that, the control of regioselectivity with these methods is often problematic because the linear product can be produced as a major isomer. Our research group has developed a regioselective, enantioselective, and atom economic route toward the more valuable branched product via a Rh-catalyzed coupling of easily accessible alkynes or the double-bond isomeric allenes with pronucleophiles. It was demonstrated that, using this new approach, it is possible to add different pronucleophiles to alkynes or allenes to form branched allylic moieties through C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation. Since new organic reactions offer new opportunities in chemical synthesis and the benchmark for new synthetic methods is their application in target-oriented synthesis, we have demonstrated several successful syntheses of natural products and medicinally relevant targets. For example, in the total syntheses of Quercuslactones, Helicascolides A-C, Epothilone D, Homolargazole, and Thailandepsin B, the Rh-catalyzed hydro-oxycarbonylation of allenes was used as key step via C-O bond formation. Remarkably, the Rh-catalyzed C2-symmetric dimerization strategy was used to synthesize the complex molecules Clavosolide A and Vermiculine, leading to an extreme increase in structural complexity within a single step. For the total syntheses of Centrolobine, Pitavastatin, and Rosuvastatin, C-O bond formation was achieved through the addition of a hydroxy function to the allene moiety. The potential of the addition of nitrogen pronucleophiles to allenes was demonstrated in the total syntheses of Cusparein, Angusterein, Cermicin C, Senepodin G, Homoproline, Pipecolinol, Coniceine, Coniine, Ruxolitinib, Sitagliptin, Abacavir, Glucokinase activators, and Chaetominine. All of these examples testify to the wide applicability of the Rh-catalyzed addition of pronucleophiles to allenes or alkynes in target-oriented synthesis, and in this Account we summarize our contribution.

Bisphospholane Josiphos-type Ligands in Rhodium Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric catalysis has become a universal and powerful method for constructing chiral compounds. In rhodium asymmetric catalysis, bisphospholane Josiphos-type ligands and their rhodium complexes are receiving increasing attention. This review provides comprehensive information on the bisphospholane Josiphos-type ligands in rhodium asymmetric catalysis. The scope of the literature covers from 2013 to now. The application of bisphospholane Josiphos-type ligands in rhodium asymmetric catalysis is summarized as follows: (i) asymmetric addition to C(sp2 )-C(sp2 ) bonds, (ii) asymmetric addition to C(sp2 )-C(sp) bonds of allenes, (iii) asymmetric hydrogenation of C(sp2 )-N bonds, C(sp2 )-O bonds and pyridinium salts, and (iv) asymmetric silanization of C-H and O-H bonds.

Access to Chiral O,O-Acetals Enabled by Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Oximes to Alkoxyallenes

Enantiomerically pure acyclic O,O-acetal compounds (up to 97 % ee) have been accessed through chemo-, regio- and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed addition of oximes to alkoxyallenes. DFT calculations support that a protonative hydropalladation pathway is favourable, in which the hydrogen bonding interaction between the amide group of the diphosphine ligand and the alkoxyallene is critical for the highly stereoselective formation of the dioxygenated stereogenic center.

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.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkoxylation and Formal Hydration and Hydroaminoxylation of Conjugated Dienes

The straightforward construction of stereogenic centers bearing unprotected functional groups, as in nature, has been a persistent pursuit in synthetic chemistry. Abundant applications of free enantioenriched allyl alcohol and allyl hydroxylamine motifs have made the asymmetric hydration and hydroaminoxylation of conjugated dienes from water and hydroxylamine, respectively, intriguing and efficient routes that have, however, been unachievable thus far. A fundamental challenge is the failure to realize transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective C-O bond constructions via hydrofunctionalization of conjugated dienes. Here, we perform a comprehensive study toward the stereoselective formal hydration and hydroaminoxylation of conjugated dienes by synthesizing a set of new P,N-ligands and identifying an aryl-derived oxime as a surrogate for both water and hydroxylamine. Asymmetric hydroalkoxylation with new P,N-ligands is also elucidated. Furthermore, versatile derivatizations following hydration provide indirect but concise routes to formal hydrophenoxylation, hydrofluoroalkoxylation, and hydrocarboxylation of conjugated dienes that have been unreported thus far. Finally, a ligand-to-ligand hydrogen transfer process is proposed based on the results of preliminary mechanistic experiments.

Palladium-Catalyzed Access to Benzocyclobutenone-Derived Ketonitrones via C(sp2)-H Functionalization

The palladium-catalyzed C(sp2)-H functionalization of bromoaryl aldonitrones leading to benzocyclobutenone-derived ketonitrones is described. This method allows for the preparation of a wide range of strained, four-membered ketonitrones with broad functional group tolerance. Downstream transformations of the formed products were readily demonstrated, illustrating the synthetic utility of the obtained benzocyclobutenone-derived nitrones for the construction of polycyclic nitrogen-containing scaffolds.

Rhodium-catalyzed regioselective addition of thioacids to terminal allenes: enantioselective access to branched allylic thioesters

Rhodium-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective hydrothiolation of terminal allenes with thioacids is reported for the atom-economic synthesis of chiral branched allylic thioesters. By using a rhodium(I) catalyst system, diversities of terminal allenes and thioacids afforded the corresponding branched thioesters in excellent regioselectivity, high yield, and good enantioselectivity. This method was also explored for Fmoc-protected aminothioacids for diastereoselective synthesis of the corresponding thioesters.

Stereodivergent Palladium- and Rhodium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Addition of Tosylureas to Allenes: Diastereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydropyrimidinones

The intramolecular addition of tosylureas to allenes is highly syn-/anti-diastereoselective when employing a palladium or rhodium-based catalytic system and affords 1,3-cyclic ureas. Under palladium catalysis a range of thermodynamic anti-tetrahydropyrimidinones are accessible, while rhodium catalysis allows synthesis of the kinetic syn-tetrahydropyrimidinones. For a representative scope of substrates both cyclic ureas were obtained in excellent yields and diastereoselectivities. The obtained tetrahydropyrimidinones were shown to be easily deprotected and modified to demonstrate the synthetic value.

Synergistic Copper/Enamine Catalysis for the Regio-, Stereo-, and Enantioselective Intermolecular α-Addition of Aldehydes to Allenamides

We herein describe an intermolecular enantioselective α-addition of aldehydes to allenamides using a dual copper/enamine catalytic system. Highly enantioselective addition of aldehydes was obtained thanks to secondary amine catalysts. The process was found to be highly regio-, stereo-, and enantioselective under mild conditions.

Reducing Challenges in Organic Synthesis with Stereoselective Hydrogenation and Tandem Catalysis

Tandem catalysis enables the rapid construction of complex architectures from simple building blocks. This Perspective shares our interest in combining stereoselective hydrogenation with transformations such as isomerization, oxidation, and epimerization to solve diverse challenges. We highlight the use of tandem hydrogenation for preparing complex natural products from simple prochiral building blocks and present tandem catalysis involving transfer hydrogenation and dynamic kinetic resolution. Finally, we underline recent breakthroughs and opportunities for asymmetric hydrogenation.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic Nitrones by Chemoselective Intramolecular Allylic Alkylation of Oximes

The enantio- and chemoselective iridium-catalyzed N-allylation of oximes is described for the first time. Intramolecular kinetic resolution provides access to cyclic nitrones and enantioenriched aliphatic allylic alcohols. Salient features of this transformation are its ability to employ E/Z-isomeric mixtures of oxime starting materials convergently and high functional group tolerance. The implementation of N-allylation/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction sequences furnishes tricyclic isoxazolidines in highly enantio- and diastereoselective fashion. The synthetic utility of the approach is demonstrated by the efficient, formal synthesis of the marine natural product (+)-halichlorine.

Ambient access to a new family of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles

The chemo-, regio- and stereoselective synthesis of pyrrole-fused pyrazine nitrones via the direct reaction of 2-carbonyl-N-allenylpyrroles (readily accessible from the corresponding NH-pyrroles) with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride has been developed.