Organocatalytic enantioselective reactions involving prochiral carbocationic intermediates

Asymmetric dearomatization of benzyl 1-naphthyl ethers via [1,3] O-to-C rearrangement

A catalytic asymmetric dearomatization reaction of benzyl 1-naphthyl ethers accelerated by a chiral N,N'-dioxide/Co(II) complex is disclosed. The reaction proceeds via an enantioselective [1,3] O-to-C rearrangement through a tight ion-pair pathway, providing a wide array of α-naphthalenone derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary center in high yields with excellent ee values.

Photoredox and NHC Enabled Deoxygenative Alcohol Homologation via Formal 1,2-Addition

A highly efficient photoinduced iron-catalyzed method has been developed for the direct use of alcohols as surrogates for organometallic reagents in the synthesis of tertiary alcohols. This method can be applied to both primary and secondary alcohols with diverse structures, enabling their reaction with aryl ketones under mild conditions. A variety of functional groups, including those that are typically reactive under conventional tertiary alcohol synthesis conditions, are compatible. Mechanistically, this reaction proceeds through the direct addition of the radical to the carbonyl pathway.

Mechanism of a Dually Catalyzed Enantioselective Oxa-Pictet-Spengler Reaction and the Development of a Stereodivergent Variant

Enantioselective oxa-Pictet-Spengler reactions of tryptophol with aldehydes proceed under weakly acidic conditions utilizing a combination of two catalysts, an indoline HCl salt and a bisthiourea compound. Mechanistic investigations revealed the roles of both catalysts and confirmed the involvement of oxocarbenium ion intermediates, ruling out alternative scenarios. A stereochemical model was derived from density functional theory calculations, which provided the basis for the development of a highly enantioselective stereodivergent variant with racemic tryptophol derivatives.

Role of Noncovalent Interactions in Inducing High Enantioselectivity in an Alcohol Reductive Deoxygenation Reaction Involving a Planar Carbocationic Intermediate

The involvement of planar carbocation intermediates is generally considered undesirable in asymmetric catalysis due to the difficulty in gaining facial control and their intrinsic stability issues. Recently, suitably designed chiral catalyst(s) have enabled a guided approach of nucleophiles to one of the prochiral faces of carbocations affording high enantiocontrol. Herein, we present the vital mechanistic insights from our comprehensive density functional theory (B3LYP-D3) study on a chiral Ir-phosphoramidite-catalyzed asymmetric reductive deoxygenation of racemic tertiary α-substituted allenylic alcohols. The catalytic transformation relies on the synergistic action of a phosphoramidite-modified Ir catalyst and Bi(OTf)₃, first leading to the formation of an Ir-π-allenyl carbocation intermediate through a turn-over-determining S_N1 ionization, followed by a face-selective hydride transfer from a Hantzsch ester analogue to yield an enantioenriched product. Bi(OTf)₃ was found to promote a significant number of ionic interactions as well as noncovalent interactions (NCIs) with the catalyst and the substrates (allenylic alcohol and Hantzsch ester), thus providing access to a lower energy route as compared to the pathways devoid of Bi(OTf)₃. In the nucleophilic addition, the chiral induction was found to depend on the number and efficacy of such key NCIs. The curious case of reversal of enantioselectivity, when the α-substituent of the allenyl alcohol is changed from methyl to cyclopropyl, was identified to originate from a change in mechanism from an enantioconvergent pathway (α-methyl) to a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (α-cyclopropyl). These molecular insights could lead to newer strategies to tame tertiary carbocations in enantioselective reactions using suitable combinations of catalysts and additives.

Chiral Aziridine Phosphines as Highly Effective Promoters of Asymmetric Rauhut–Currier Reaction

A series of chiral enantiomerically pure aziridines containing a phosphine moiety were synthesized and successfully applied as organocatalysts in asymmetric intramolecular Rauhut–Currier reactions of p-quinone derivatives. The desired chiral phenols were achieved in high chemical yields and with satisfactory values of enantiomeric excess (up to 98% ee, in some cases). The stereochemical course of the title reaction may be controlled by the use of an appropriate enantiomer of the catalyst. The individual enantiomers of the organocatalyst led to the formation of specific enantiomers of the chiral product.

Chiral Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Indoles with Primary Alcohols

Herein, chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic alkylation of indoles with allylic primary alcohols is described. The allyl alcohols were directly employed as the allylic precursors in this metal-free protocol, without preactivation or any additional activating reagents. This method provides the convenient synthesis of a broad range of functionalized tetrahydrocarbazoles in excellent yields (≤97%) with good enantioselectivity (≤93% ee). The optimal conditions are compatible for gram-scale reaction.

Chiral N-Triflylphosphoramide-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroamination of Unactivated Alkenes: A Hetero-Ene Reaction Mechanism

A highly enantioselective intramolecular hydroamination reaction catalyzed by chiral N-triflylphosphoramide (NTPA) that covers an exceptionally broad substrate scope of isolated unactivated alkenes was recently reported by some of us. Herein...