Chiral Brønsted Base Activation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes toward Diastereo- and Enantioselective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition with Isatin-Derived Ketimines

Organocatalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes with isatin-derived ketimines are presented. Different from well-developed Lewis acid activation protocols which promote the reactivity of D-A cyclopropanes through coordinating to the acceptor group, in this reaction, dicyanocyclopropylmethyl ketones can be activated through nucleophilic activation of the donor group by using dihydroquinine-derived squaramide as Brønsted base catalyst. The reaction affords functionalized spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidines] with two nonadjacent tetra- and tri-substituted stereocenters in 83-99% yields, moderate to excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 diastereomeric ratio (dr)), and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% enantiomeric excess (ee)) under mild conditions.

Recent advances in spirocyclization of maleimides via transition-metal catalyzed C-H activation

In recent years, the maleimide scaffold has received a great deal of attention in C-H activation. Several types of products can be constructed using maleimides as a coupling partner. Alkylation, alkenylation, annulation, dehydrogenative annulation and spirocyclization are various reactions shown by maleimides in C-H activation. Thus, the maleimide scaffold has been extensively studied in the last few years in C-H activation owing to its unique reactivity. Among the diverse class of reactions of maleimides, spirocyclization is a less explored reaction. The spirocycles, in particular the spirosuccinimides are interesting candidates in drug discovery and materials chemistry. Therefore the method of spirocyclization of maleimides via C-H activation becomes an important strategy for the synthesis of a diverse array of spirosuccinimides. This review summarizes the reports available in this field from 2015-2023 and also highlights the scopes and prospects of this method.

Construction of 3,4-Dihydroquinolone Derivatives through Pd-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Benzoxazinanones with α-Alkylidene Succinimides

The construction of 3,4-dihydroquinolone derivatives has attracted a considerable amount of attention due to their extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. In this study, we present the Pd-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of vinyl benzoxazinanones with α-alkylidene succinimides for the efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinolones. This approach presents numerous advantages, including the ready availability of starting materials, mild reaction conditions without the use of additional bases, and a wide range of substrates. In particular, all of the desired products can be easily afforded in high yields (≤99%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1). The practicality and reliability of this strategy were demonstrated by the successful scale-up synthesis and subsequent straightforward synthetic transformations.

Spirocyclization and Michael addition of 3-benzylidene succinimides: route to spirocyclopentapyrrolidine-tetraones and benzylidene N-arylpyrrolidine-diones

Reactions of 3-benzylidene succinimides with 2-substituted 2-hydroxy-indane-1,3-diones and unsaturated pyrazolones are carried out under basic conditions to afford spirocyclized derivatives and Michael adducts, respectively, with high regio- and stereo-selectivities. The most notable aspect of the reaction is the ability of highly reactive benzylidene succinimide to act as both an electrophile and a nucleophile causing spirocyclization. The reaction proceeded under mild and metal-free conditions and products were isolated in good to high yields. The current strategy utilizes simple and easily accessible precursors, and provides functionally rich products of medicinal interest with two to four contiguous stereogenic centres and complete regioselectivity with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Recent synthetic strategies of spiro-azetidin-2-one, -pyrrolidine, -indol(one) and -pyran derivatives-a review

Spiro-heterocycles have received special attention in medicinal chemistry because of their promising biological activity. Over the years, many synthetic methodologies have been established for the construction of spirocyclic compounds. Spiro heterocycles such as spiro-azetidin-2-one, -pyrrolidine, -indol(one) and -pyran derivatives have been found to exhibit diversified biological and pharmacological activity in addition to their therapeutic properties. In view of these facts, we decided in this review to present representative synthetic approaches of the aforementioned spiro heterocycles, especially in the past 20 years.

Chiral Phosphine Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of Benzylidene Succinimides with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates

Owing to their unique chemical properties, α-alkylidene succinimides generally act as versatile synthons in organic synthesis. Compared with well-established annulations, nucleophilic alkylations of α-alkylidene succinimides are very limited. Accordingly, an organocatalytic allylic alkylation of α-benzylidene succinimides with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates was established. In the presence of a chiral phosphine catalyst, α-benzylidene succinimides reacted smoothly with MBH carbonates under mild conditions to furnish a series of optical active succinimides in high yields and enantioselectivities. Different from the reported results, the organocatalytic enantioselective construction of pyrrolidine-2,5-dione frameworks bearing contiguous chiral tertiary carbon centers was achieved via this synthetic strategy. Scaling up the reaction indicated that it is a practical strategy for the organocatalytic enantioselective alkylation of α-alkylidene succinimides. A possible reaction mechanism was also proposed.

Selective Construction of Spiro or Fused Heterocyclic Scaffolds via One-pot Cascade Reactions of 1-Arylpyrazolidinones with Maleimides

Presented herein is a controllable selective construction of spiro or fused heterocyclic scaffolds through the one-pot cascade reactions of 1-phenylpyrazolidinones with maleimides. To be specific, succinimide spiro pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazolones were effectively formed via [4 + 1] spiroannulation of 1-phenylpyrazolidinones with maleimides through simultaneous C(sp²)-H bond activation/functionalization and intramolecular cyclization along with the traceless fusion of the pyrazolidinonyl unit into the final product. In this reaction, air acts as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable oxidant to assist the regeneration of the Rh(III) catalyst. Alternatively, succinimide-fused pyrazolidinonylcinnolines were formed from the same starting materials through an initial [4 + 1] spiroannulation followed by base-promoted skeleton rearrangement of the in situ formed spiro product without isolation. Notable features of these protocols include easily tunable selectivity, broad substrate scope, cost-effective and sustainable oxidant, excellent atom economy, and facile scalability.

Ag2O/squaramide cocatalyzed asymmetric interrupted Barton-Zard reaction of 8-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are present in numerous biologically active compounds as the core structural motif. Herein, we report an asymmetric interrupted Barton-Zard reaction of electron-deficient imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with α-substituted isocyanoacetates. The reaction enables the dearomatization of 8-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and hence offers straightforward access to an array of optically active highly functionalized imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives that possess three contiguous stereogenic centers in good yields (up to 98%) with high stereoselectivities (>19:1 dr, >99% ee). It is worth noting that the catalytic system consisting of a chiral squaramide and silver oxide displays remarkable reactivity and stereoselectivity, and a gram-scale reaction is compatible with the catalyst loading of 0.5 mol%. In addition, the synthetic potential of this method was showcased by versatile transformations of the product.

Simultaneous Construction of C-N Axial and Central Chirality via Silver-Catalyzed Desymmetrizative [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Prochiral N-Aryl Maleimides with Activated Isocyanides

Herein, we report an unprecedented strategy for the simultaneous construction of a remote C-N stereogenic axis and three contiguous stereogenic carbon centers via silver-catalyzed desymmetrizative [3 + 2] cycloaddition of prochiral N-aryl maleimides with activated isocyanides. This method features operational simplicity, wide substrate scope, high efficiency, and good to excellent stereoselectivity. Notably, it represents the first example of catalytic enantioselective synthesis of C-N atropisomers with the use of activated isocyanides.

Recent Progress in the Synthesis of Heterocycles Based on 1,3-Diketones

N,O-heterocycles containing the dicarbonyl ring play a significant role in heterocyclic and therapeutic chemistry. Since the discovery of 1,3-diketones, numerous research works have been achieved regarding the synthesis and its chemical reactivity. In this review, we have described the most relevant publications involving β-diketone compounds published during the period between 2018 to date. In addition, we include the 1,3-diketones-based heterocyclic compounds prepared by various synthetic methodologies.

Organocatalytic asymmetric formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of isocyanoacetates with saccharin-derived 1-azadienes

An efficient organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of α-isocyanoacetates with saccharin-derived 1-azadienes catalyzed by a dihydroquinine derived squaramide catalyst has been investigated, and it furnished the corresponding directly linked benzo[d]isothiazole 1,1-dioxide-dihydropyrroles with two adjacent tertiary-quaternary stereocenters in high yields (up to 98%), with moderate to excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20 : 1 dr and 97% ee) under mild conditions.

Catalytic Enantioselective Isocyanide-Based Reactions: Beyond Passerini and Ugi Multicomponent Reactions

The development of catalytic enantioselective isocyanide-based reactions is currently of great interest because the resulting products are valuable in organic synthesis, pharmacological chemistry, and materials science. This review assembles and comprehensively summarizes the recent achievements in this rapidly growing area according to the reaction types. Special attention is paid to the advantages, limitations, possible mechanisms, and synthetic applications of each reaction. In addition, a personal outlook on the opportunities for further exploration is given at the end.

Enantioselective [3 + 2] annulation of 3-hydroxymaleimides with quinone monoimines

Enantioselective [3 + 2] annulation of 3-hydroxymaleimides with quinone monoimines provided a large variety of succinimide fused indolines in moderate to good yields with moderate to good enantioselectivities.

A base-catalyzed domino reaction between isoindigos and α-alkylidene succinimides-convenient preparation of highly steric bispirooxindoles

A new base promoted Michael-Michael domino cycloaddition between isoindigos and α-alkylidene succinimides has been developed for highly efficient and one-step convenient preparation of highly steric bispiroxindoles with two adjacent quaternary carbon centers and four consecutive cycles in excellent yields (up to 96%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >20 : 1) under mild conditions within a few minutes. A series of bisprooxindoles were obtained and the synthetic potential of the protocol was evaluated in a scale-up preparation.

Asymmetric synthesis of dihydrocoumarins via catalytic sequential 1,6-addition/transesterification of α-isocyanoacetates with para-quinone methides

Dihydroquinidine-derived aminophosphine/AgNO₃ catalyzed asymmetric tandem 1,6-addition/transesterification of α-isocyanoacetates with o-hydroxyphenyl-substituted p-QMs was developed.