A Polystyrene‐Supported,Highly Recyclable Squaramide Organocatalyst for the Enantioselective Michael Addition of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to β‐Nitrostyrenes

A chiral squaramide has been supported onto a polystyrene (PS) resin through a copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction and used as a very active, easily recoverable and highly reusable organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to β‐nitrostyrenes. The PS‐supported squaramide could be recycled up to 10 times.     

Synthesis of 2,3,4‐Trisubstituted Thiochromanes using an Organocatalytic Enantioselective Tandem Michael–Henry Reaction

Enantioenriched 2,3,4‐trisubstituted thiochromanes have been synthesized by using a cupreine‐catalyzed tandem Michael addition–Henry reaction between 2‐mercaptobenzaldehydes and β‐nitrostyrenes. Good diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities were obtained for the title compounds, which may be further improved through a single recrystallization (up to 98% de and>99% ee).     

Assembly of 4‐Substituted 3‐Nitro‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyridines via Organocatalytic Michael Addition

An organocatalytic Michael addition of protected 2‐amino‐1‐nitroethanes to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes followed by treatment with TFA afforded 4‐substituted 3‐nitro‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyridines with good diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity. Good yields were observed in the case of β‐aryl‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes as the substrates, while moderate yields were obtained when β‐alkyl‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes were used.     

Nickel(II)‐Magnesium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of 1,1‐Dibromo‐1‐alkenes with Diphenylphosphine Oxide: One‐Pot Synthesis of (E)‐1‐Alkenylphosphine Oxides or Bisphosphine Oxides

A novel nickel(II)‐magnesium‐mediated cross‐coupling of diphenylphosphine oxide with a variety of 1,1‐dibromo‐1‐alkenes has been developed, which provides a powerful and general methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of various (E)‐1‐alkenylphosphine oxides or bisphosphine oxides, with operational simplicity of the procedure, good to high yields and broad substrate applicability. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction might involve a Hirao reduction, cross‐coupling and Michael addition.     

A Convenient Synthesis of β‐Phenylselenocarbonyl Compounds by In‐TMSCl Promoted Cleavage of Diphenyl Diselenide and Subsequent Michael Addition

A simple and convenient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of β‐phenylselenocarbonyl compounds by a one‐pot reaction of diphenyl diselenide and α,β‐unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, esters and nitriles in the presence of indium metal‐trimethylsilyl chloride under sonication. Presumably, the In‐TMSCl reagent system reacts with diphenyl diselenide to form an intermediate, PhSeSiMe₃, which then undergoes Michael addition with the α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds to produce the products.     

Asymmetric Aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman‐Type Reactions: The Highly Enantioselective Reaction between Unmodified α,β‐ Unsaturated Aldehydes and N‐Acylimines by Organo‐co‐catalysis

The highly enantioselective organo‐co‐catalytic aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH)‐type reaction between N‐carbamate‐protected imines and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The organic co‐catalytic system of proline and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) enables the asymmetric synthesis of the corresponding N‐Boc‐ and N‐Cbz‐protected β‐amino‐α‐alkylidene‐aldehydes in good to high yields and up to 99% ee. In the case of aza‐MBH‐type addition of enals to phenylprop‐2‐ene‐1‐imines, the co‐catalytic reaction exhibits excellent 1,2‐selectivity. The organo‐co‐catalytic aza‐MBH‐type reaction can also be performed by the direct highly enantioselective addition of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes to bench‐stable N‐carbamate‐protected α‐amidosulfones to give the corresponding β‐amino‐α‐alkylidene‐aldehydes with up to 99% ee. The organo‐co‐catalytic aza‐MBH‐type reaction is also an expeditious entry to nearly enantiomerically pure β‐amino‐α‐alkylidene‐amino acids and β‐amino‐α‐alkylidene‐lactams (99% ee). The mechanism and stereochemistry of the chiral amine and DABCO co‐catalyzed aza‐MBH‐type reaction are also discussed.     

Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle‐Supported (S)‐Diphenyl‐ prolinol Trimethylsilyl Ether as a Recyclable Catalyst for Asymmetric Michael Addition in Water

A new superparamagnetic nanoparticle‐supported (S)‐diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether (Jørgensen–Hayashi catalyst) was synthesized and applied for the asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes in water, which gives products in moderate to good yields (up to 96%), good enantioselectivity (up to 90% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1). The immobilized catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction by an external magnet and recycled for four times without significant loss of catalytic efficiency.     

Base–Base Bifunctional Catalysis: A Practical Strategy for Asymmetric Michael Addition of Malonates to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

Lewis base–Brønsted base bifunctional catalysis is a novel and practical strategy for the asymmetric Michael addition. The addition of malonates to a series of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes can take place under base–base bifunctional catalytic conditions using 0.5–5 mol% of (S)‐2‐[diphenyl(trimethylsilyloxy)methyl]pyrrolidine as catalyst and 5–30 mol% of lithium 4‐fluorobenzoate as additive base with up to 99% ee.     

Michael Reaction of Nitroalkanes with β‐Nitroacrylates under a Solid Promoter: Advanced Regio‐ and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Nitro‐Functionalized α,β‐Unsaturated Esters and 1,3‐Butadiene‐2‐carboxylates

A new class of nitro‐functionalized α,β‐unsaturated esters has been prepared by a regio‐ and diastereoselective Michael addition of nitroalkanes to β‐nitroacrylates, performed at room temperature, under carbonate on polymer as promoter, and in the presence of ethyl acetate as eco‐friendly solvent. Moreover, by the modular choice of the reaction conditions the method allows the synthesis of 1,3‐butadiene‐2‐carboxylates.     

Organocatalysis in Natural Product Synthesis: A Simple One‐Pot Approach to Optically Active β‐Diols

Optically active β‐diols have been prepared using an organocatalytic one‐pot approach from α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes using (E)‐benzaldehyde oxime as nucleophile in an oxa‐Michael reaction with subsequent in situ reduction or Grignard addition. With this protocol at hand, two biologically active compounds, an insect sex pheromone and a glycerol kinase substrate have been synthesized.     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of Cyclic 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters catalyzed by amino acid‐derived thiourea‐tertiary‐amine catalysts is presented. Using 5 mol% of a novel tyrosine‐derived thiourea catalyst, a series of chiral coumarin derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with up to 96% ee under very mild conditions within a short reaction time.     

Boron Trifluoride‐Promoted Indium(III) Triflate‐Catalyzed Sequential One‐Pot Synthesis of (1,2‐Diaryl‐2‐oxoethyl)malonates from trans‐2‐Aryl‐3‐nitrocyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates and Activated Arenes

A sequential one‐pot synthesis of Michael adducts of aroylmethylidenemalonates with activated aromatics is described. The method involves treatment of trans‐2‐aryl‐3‐nitro‐cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates with boron trifluoride etherate to form aroylmethylidenemalonates in situ and then addition of activated aromatics such as indoles, carbazole, pyrrole, thiophenes, methoxybenzenes and benzodioxole followed by a catalytic amount of indium(III) triflate to the same reaction vessel. To prove the synthetic potential of the resulting Michael adducts, one of the adducts was transformed into a pharmaceutically interesting dihydropyridazinone derivative.

     

Improved Synthesis of Pyrroles and Indoles via Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Mukaiyama–Michael‐Type Addition/Heterocyclization of Enolsilyl Derivatives on 1,2‐Diaza‐1,3‐Butadienes. Role of the Catalyst in the Reaction Mechanism

The Mukaiyama–Michael‐type addition of various silyl ketene acetals or silyl enol ethers on some 1,2‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes proceeds at room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of Lewis acid affording by heterocyclization 1‐aminopyrrol‐2‐ones and 1‐aminopyrroles, respectively. 1‐Aminoindoles have been also obtained by the same addition of 2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)‐1,3‐cyclohexadiene on some 1,2‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes and subsequent aromatization. Mechanistic investigations indicate the coordination by Lewis acid of the enolsilyl derivative and its 1,4‐addition on the azo‐ene system of 1,2‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes. The migration of the silyl group from a hydrazonic to an amidic nitrogen, its acidic cleavage and the final internal heterocyclization give the final products. Based on NMR studies and ab initio calculations, a plausible explanation for the migration of the silyl protecting group is presented.     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition Reactions of 3‐Substituted Benzofuran‐2(3H)‐ones to Chalcones Catalyzed by a Chiral Alkyl‐Substituted Thiourea

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of 3‐substituted benzofuran‐2(3H)‐ones to chalcones catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional thiourea was developed. Several chiral 3,3′‐substituted benzofuran‐2(3H)‐ones derivatives, bearing adjacent quaternary‐tertiary stereocenters, were efficiently synthesized with excellent enantioselectivities.     

Aldehyde‐Catalyzed Transition Metal‐Free Dehydrative β‐Alkylation of Methyl Carbinols with Alcohols

Different to the borrowing hydrogen strategy in which alcohols were activated by transition metal‐catalyzed anaerobic dehydrogenation, the direct addition of aldehydes was found to be an effective but simpler way of alcohol activation that can lead to efficient and green aldehyde‐catalyzed transition metal‐free dehydrative C‐alkylation of methyl carbinols with alcohols. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via in situ formation of ketones by Oppenauer oxidation of the methyl carbinols by external aldehydes, aldol condensation, and Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV)‐type reduction of α,β‐unsatutated ketones by substrate alcohols, affording the useful long chain alcohols and generating aldehydes and ketones as the by‐products that will be recovered in the next condensation to finish the catalytic cycle.     

Highly Efficient Catalytic Asymmetric Sulfa‐Michael Addition of Thiols to trans‐4,4,4‐Trifluorocrotonoylpyrazole

A new protocol for the efficient construction of chiral trifluoromethylated building blocks was developed via organocatalyzed sulfa‐Michael addition of thiols to the cost‐efficient trans‐trifluorocrotonamide. Introducing the pyrazole moiety is crucial to providing H‐bond acceptor sites for better activation and hence affording comparable asymmetric induction with that obtained when employing the expensive cis‐4,4,4‐trifluorocrotonate as the Michael acceptor.     

A Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Domino Aza‐Michael/Aldol Reaction: One‐Pot Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,2‐Dihydroquinolidines

The highly enantioselective organocatalytic domino aza‐Michael/aldol reaction is presented. The unprecedented, chiral amine‐catalyzed asymmetric domino reactions between 2‐aminobenzaldehydes and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes proceed with excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding pharmaceutically valuable 1,2‐dihydroquinolines derivatives in high yields with 90 to >99 % ee.     

Amine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The direct organocatalytic enantioselective epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with different peroxides is presented. Proline, chiral pyrrolidine derivatives, and amino acid‐derived imidazolidinones catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. In particular, protected commercially available α,α‐diphenyl‐ and α,α‐di(β‐naphthyl)‐2‐prolinols catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation reactions of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities to furnish the corresponding 2‐epoxy aldehydes in high yield with up to 97:3 dr and 98 % ee. The use of non‐toxic catalysts, water and hydrogen peroxide, urea hydroperoxide or sodium percarbonate as the oxygen sources could make this reaction environmentally benign. In addition, one‐pot direct organocatalytic asymmetric tandem epoxidation‐Wittig reactions are described. The reactions were highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective and provide a rapid access to 2,4‐diepoxy aldehydes. Moreover, a highly stereoselective one‐pot organocatalytic asymmetric cascade epoxidation‐Mannich reaction, which proceeds via the combination of iminium and enamine activation, is presented. The mechanism and stereochemistry of the amino acid‐ and chiral pyrrolidine‐catalyzed direct asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes are also discussed.     

Kinetics of Michael addition polymerizations of n,n′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane with barbituric acid

With the addition of sufficient hydroquinone to completely suppress the free radical polymerization, the kinetics of Michael addition polymerizations of N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane (BMI) and barbituric acid (BTA) with BMI/BTA = 2/1 (mol/mol) in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone was investigated independently. A mechanistic model was developed to adequately predict the polymerization kinetics before a critical conversion (ca. 60%), at which point the diffusion‐controlled polymer reactions started to predominate in the latter stage of polymerization. The Michael addition polymerization rate constants and activation energy in the temperature range 383–423 K were determined accordingly. Beyond the critical conversion, a relatively stationary limiting conversion (ca. 69%) independent of the reaction temperature was achieved. A diffusion‐controlled polymerization model taken from the literature satisfactorily predicted the limiting conversion data. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A Novel Assembly of Substituted Pyrroles by Acid‐Catalyzed Sequential Three‐Component Reaction of Amines,Alkynoates, and 1,2‐Diaza‐1,3‐dienes

A novel protocol for the assembly of polysubstituted pyrroles has been developed through the acid‐catalyzed, sequential three‐component reaction of primary aliphatic amines, alkynoates and 1,2‐diaza‐1,3‐dienes (DDs). This methodology proceeds with complete chemo‐/regioselectivity involving first formation of an enamino ester intermediate, in situ Michael addition with azo‐ene compounds and subsequent intramolecular ring closure.