Recent Advances in Synthesis of Chiral 1,2-Dihydropyridines

Comparison between 1,2-Dihydropyridine and 1,4-Dihydropyridine on Hydride-Donating Ability and Activity

In this paper, detailed comparisons of the driving force in thermodynamics and intrinsic force in the kinetics of 1,2-dihydropyridine and 1,4-dihydropyridine isomers of PNAH, HEH, and PYH in hydride transfer reactions are made. For 1,2-PNAH and 1,4-PNAH, the values of the thermodynamic driving forces, kinetic intrinsic barriers, and thermo-kinetic parameters are 60.50 and 61.90 kcal/mol, 27.92 and 26.34 kcal/mol, and 44.21 and 44.12 kcal/mol, respectively. For 1,2-HEH and 1,4-HEH, the values of the thermodynamic driving forces, kinetic intrinsic barriers, and thermo-kinetic parameters are 63.40 and 65.00 kcal/mol, 31.68 and 34.96 kcal/mol, and 47.54 and 49.98 kcal/mol, respectively. For 1,2-PYH and 1,4-PYH, the order of thermodynamic driving forces, kinetic intrinsic barriers, and thermo-kinetic parameters are 69.90 and 72.60 kcal/mol, 33.06 and 25.74 kcal/mol, and 51.48 and 49.17 kcal/mol, respectively. It is not difficult to find that thermodynamically favorable structures are not necessarily kinetically favorable. In addition, according to the analysis of thermo-kinetic parameters, 1,4-PNAH, 1,2-HEH, and 1,4-PYH have a strong hydride-donating ability in actual chemical reactions.

Enantioselective Dearomative [3 + 2] Umpolung Annulation of N-Heteroarenes with Alkynes

Enantioselective [3 + 2] annulation of N-heteroarenes with alkynes has been developed via a cobalt-catalyzed dearomative umpolung strategy in the presence of chiral ligand and reducing reagent. A variety of electron-deficient N-heteroarenes, including quinolines, isoquinolines, quinoxaline, and pyridines, and internal or terminal alkynes are employed in this reaction, showing a broad substrate scope and good functionality tolerance. Annulation of electron-rich indoles with alkynes is also developed. This protocol provides a straightforward access to a variety of N-spiroheterocyclic molecules in excellent enantioselectivities (76 examples, up to 99% ee).