Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Reactions of N-(Heteroarylsulfonyl)-1-aza-1,3-dienes Catalyzed by Chiral Lewis Acids

Reactivity of Steroidal 1-Azadienes toward Carbonyl Compounds under Enamine Catalysis: Chiral Penta- and Hexacyclic Steroids

The synthesis and reactivity of a steroidal N-sulfonyl-1-azadiene, derived from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate, toward carbonyl compounds under enamine catalysis is disclosed. An unexpected annulation reaction was observed involving an initial stereoselective conjugate addition of the in situ generated enamine to the steroidal 1-azadiene. The developed diastereoselective synthetic methodology is a novel approach to a new class of chiral pentacyclic and hexacyclic steroids.

An air-stable bisboron complex: a practical bidentate Lewis acid catalyst

We report an air-stable bisboron complex as an efficient catalyst for the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 1,2-diazine as well as 1,2,4,5-tetrazine. Its stability towards air and moisture was demonstrated by NMR studies enabling its application in organic transformations without glovebox. A one-pot procedure for its synthesis was developed starting from 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene greatly enhancing its practicality. Comparative reactions were carried out to evaluate its catalytic activity in IEDDA reactions of diazine including phthalazine as well as 1,2,4,5-tetrazine.