Enantioselective Aza‐Henry Reaction of Imines Bearing a Benzothiazole Moiety Catalyzed by a Cinchona‐Based Squaramide

An efficient enantioselective aza‐Henry reaction of nitroalkanes to imines bearing a benzothiazole moiety catalyzed by a Cinchona‐based squaramide has been developed. In the reaction of imines, the corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) for most of the aromatic substituted imines. The imines with electron‐withdrawing groups gave better yields than those bearing electron‐donating groups in the aza‐Henry reaction. Moreover, a one‐pot three‐component enantioselective aza‐Henry reaction using 2‐aminobenzothiazoles, aldehydes, and nitromethane was also developed. Moderate to good yields and high enantioselectivities were obtained in the one‐pot cases (up to 98% ee).     

Polymer‐Supported Hantzsch 1,4‐Dihydropyridine Ester: An Efficient Biomimetic Hydrogen Source

An efficient synthesis of a polymer‐supported Hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridine ester has been developed and its use in a variety of reduction reactions was studied using α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, imines and an activated benzoquinone as substrates. Reductive amination using the polymer‐supported Hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridine ester and a catalytic amount of 1.5 M HCl was found to proceed rapidly and with good yields.     

Enantioselective Construction of Cyclic Enaminone‐Based 3‐Substituted 3‐Amino‐2‐oxindole Scaffolds via Catalytic Asymmetric Additions of Isatin‐Derived Imines

The first catalytic asymmetric construction of the cyclic enaminone‐based 3‐substituted 3‐amino‐2‐oxindole scaffold with potential bioactivity has been developed via chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed enantioselective addition reactions of cyclic enaminones to isatin‐derived imines, which afforded a series of cyclic enaminone‐based 3‐substituted 3‐amino‐2‐oxindoles in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 97% ee). The investigation of the reaction mechanism suggested that it was facilitated by a dual hydrogen‐bonding activation mode between the two substrates and the chiral phosphoric acid. Besides, this method could be utilized for a large‐scale synthesis with maintained enantioselectivity. This approach will not only offer a useful method for enantioselective construction of the cyclic enaminone‐based 3‐substituted 3‐amino‐2‐oxindole scaffold, but also enrich the research on catalytic asymmetric addition reactions of isatin‐derived imines by using electron‐rich olefins as nucleophiles. More importantly, a preliminary evaluation on the cytotoxicity of some selected products revealed that two of the enantio‐pure compounds exhibited moderate to strong cytotoxicity to A549, 786‐0, ECA109 and BT474 cancer cell lines.

     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed [3+2] and [4+3] Annulation Reactions of C,N‐Cyclic Azomethine Imines with Allenoates

Phosphine‐catalyzed [3+2] and [4+3] annulation reactions of C,N‐cyclic azomethine imines with allenoates have been developed to give a variety of pharmaceutically attractive tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in moderate to excellent yields. The two distinct reaction pathways, [3+2] and [4+3] cyclization, depend on the nature of the nucleophilic phosphine and the allenoate. Generally, for α‐alkylallenoates, the reactions always proceed with [3+2] cyclization as the major pathway no matter what phosphine was used; for α‐ArCH₂‐substituted allenoates, the reaction pathway was controlled by the phosphine catalyst used.     

Mannich‐Type Reactions Catalyzed by Neutral Salts in Water

Mannich‐type reactions of imines with silicon enolates were found to be catalyzed by neutral salts such as sodium triflate in water as a suspension medium. Unusual kinetic behavior indicates that the presence of the Mannich adduct facilitates the rate of its formation.     

Organocatalytic anti‐Mannich Reactions with Dihydroxyacetone and Acyclic Dihydroxyacetone Derivatives: A Facile Route to Amino Sugars

The first primary amine‐containing amino acid‐catalyzed anti‐Mannich reactions of dihydroxyacetone and acyclic dihydroxyacetone derivatives with a variety of imines have been developed. This approach complements proline‐based strategies in the preparation of amino sugars.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Protected α,β‐Diamino Acids

In the presence of the readily available quinine‐derived catalyst 4d , highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective Mannich reactions of tosyl‐protected imines and α‐isothiocyanato imides proceeded to afford the protected α,β‐diamino acids, useful building blocks for natural products and biologically active compounds, in good to excellent yields.     

Silver‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization of o‐(1‐Alkynyl)benzamides: Efficient Synthesis of (1H)‐Isochromen‐1‐imines

An efficient avenue for the facile and atom‐economic synthesis of (1H)‐isochromen‐1‐imines has been developed, and a broad spectrum of substrates can participate in the process effectively to produce the desired products in good yields. Significantly, this is the first report of the synthesis of (1H)‐isochromen‐1‐imines that involves a silver(I)‐catalyzed, regiocontrolled intramolecular addition of the carbonyl group of the amide moiety towards an alkyne.     

Chiral Brønsted Acid‐Mediated Enantioselective Organocatalytic Three‐Component Reaction for the Construction of Trifluoromethyl‐Containing Molecules

In combination with the advantages of organocatalysis, we have developed a highly enantioselective Friedel–Crafts aminoalkylation of indoles with imines generated in situ from trifluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal and aniline. Novel chiral trifluoromethyl‐containing compounds were obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This methodology was further extended to difluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal to demonstrate the broad scope of substrates.     

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.     

Transition Metal‐Catalyzed Reactions of Methylenecyclopropanes

The transition metal‐catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition of methylenecyclopropanes with unsaturated compounds X=Y, such as alkenes, aldehydes, and imines, gives five‐membered carbocycles or heterocycles. The Heck‐type reaction of R‐Pd‐X with the exomethylene part of methylenecyclopropanes gives the corresponding cyclopropylcarbinylpalladium complexes which undergo further transformations through typical palladium reactions such as β‐hydride elimination or reductive elimination of Pd(0). Hydrostannation, hydrosilylation, hydrocarbonation, hydroamination, and hydroalkoxylation of methylenecyclopropanes proceed through the addition of the metal hydrides (H‐M) and pronucleophiles (H‐Nu) to the olefinic part, and the resulting intermediates are converted to the allylic products in which the homologation by three carbon atoms takes place from M and Nu, respectively. Bismetallation produces 1,3‐bimetallic derivatives through metallacyclobutane intermediates.     

Asymmetric Brønsted Acid‐Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Reactions of Indoles with Cyclic Imines ‐ Efficient Generation of Nitrogen‐Substituted Quaternary Carbon Centers

A new enantioselective Brønsted acid‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction of indole with cyclic imines has been develeoped. This organocatalytic reaction provides for the first time optically active indolindolinone derivatives in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) under mild reaction conditions.     

Iminium Salts in Solid‐State Syntheses Giving 100% Yield

Numerous reaction types in the field of iminium salts are performed in the gas‐solid and solid‐solid techniques in order to reach 100% yield. The stoichiometric runs are waste‐free and do not require costly workup. Frequently, iminium salts were avoided, as acid catalysis was dispensable. Thioureas and α‐halogenated ketones give a variety of 2‐aminothiazoles via thiuronium salts in quantitative yield. A new intramolecular solid‐state thermal condensation is reported. Enaminoketones are synthesized quantitatively from anilines and 1,3‐diketones without catalysis and those can be used for quantitative solid‐state 4‐cascade reactions. Solid paraformaldehyde is used to produce methylene imines and internally trapped methylene iminium salts. Benzoylhydrazones are produced again without catalysis in the solid state. Vacuum and ball‐mill techniques are particularly useful in the production of highly sensitive iminium salts. Hexahydro‐1,3,5‐triazines cyclorevert upon exposure to HCl gas to give solid arylmethylene iminium chlorides as new versatile reagents. These are used in arylaminomethylations of β‐naphthol and of themselves to give Troeger's bases in 3‐cascades. More direct are 4‐cascade Troeger's base syntheses by dissolving hexahydro‐1,3,5‐triaryltriazines in trifluoroacetic acid. Alkylations of imines with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate and triphenylmethyl cation give highly sensitive quaternary iminium salts in the ball‐mill. The products are characterized by spectroscopic techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP 6‐31G* level. Molecular movements in the crystal and surface passivation are investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques.     

Doubly Stereocontrolled Asymmetric Aza‐Henry Reaction with in situ Generation of N‐Boc‐Imines Catalyzed by Novel Rosin‐Derived Amine Thiourea Catalysts

The doubly stereocontrolled organocatalytic aza‐Henry reaction of nitroalkanes to N‐Boc‐imines generated in situ from a variety of substituted α‐amido sulfones was investigated for the first time, in general, affording the corresponding products with high to excellent yields (up to 93% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee), and satisfactory diastereoselectivies (anti/syn up to 98:2). Furthermore, these organocatalysts based on rosin have been proved to be the very effective promoters for this catalytic asymmetric process along side the Cinchona alkaloid‐derived catalysts.     

Oxidation of Acceptor‐substituted Isothiazolium‐2‐imines to Stable Cyclic Sulfin‐ and Sulfonamides with 3‐Hydroperoxy Function

The oxidation of isothiazolium 2‐imines 3,5 and their salts 4 to stable 3‐hydroperoxy‐2,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro‐1,2‐benzisothiazole 1‐oxides 7 and 1,1‐dioxides 8 and 9 as a new class of cyclic sultims and sultams is described. The formation of 3‐hydroxysultams 10 and isothiazol‐3(2H)one 1,1‐dioxides 11 is presented.     

Cationic Gold‐ and Silver‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerizations of Propargylic Ureas: A Selective Entry to Oxazolidin‐2‐imines and Imidazolidin‐2‐ones

A comparative study on transition metal‐catalyzed cycloisomerizations of propargylic ureas derived in situ from secondary propargylic amines and tosyl isocyanate was performed. The influence of catalytic system on the reaction outcome was thoroughly studied on two model examples resulting in the establishment of two selective protocols for both O‐ and N‐cyclizations. The application of cationic gold(I) catalysis generally resulted in a formation of oxazolidin‐2‐imines as major products while the application of silver(I) triflate selectively provided the corresponding imidazolidin‐2‐ones. An attempt to rationalize the observed chemoselectivity is described. The scope of both processes was demonstrated through the use of variously substituted secondary propargylic amines.     

Improved Palladium and Nickel Catalysts Heterogenised on Oxidic Supports (Silica,MCM‐41, ITQ‐2, ITQ‐6)

Two series of solid catalysts in which a chiral palladium or nickel complex with Schiff bases as ligands have been immobilized on ordered mesoporous silica supports (MCM‐41), delaminated ITQ‐2, ITQ‐6 zeolites and amorphous silica have been prepared. Hydrogenation of alkenes and imines was studied with the homogeneous as well as with the counterpart heterogenized catalysts. The high accessibility introduced by the structure of the supports allows the preparation of highly efficient immobilized catalysts with TOFs of 1,000,000 h⁻¹. A moderate acidity in the support increases the catalytic activity considerably, and the easy recoverable immobilized catalysts can duplicate the activity of the homogeneous analogues. No deactivation of the catalysts was observed after repeated recycling.     

Chiral Thiourea‐Phosphine Organocatalysts in the Asymmetric Aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction

A new kind of bifunctional (thio)urea‐phosphine catalyst was synthesized and applied to the aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of N‐sulfonated imines with methyl vinyl ketone, phenyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone or acrolein. Moderate to excellent ee and yields of the products were obtained under mild reaction conditions.     

1,2,3,4‐Tetrachloro‐5,5‐dimethoxy‐cyclopenta‐1,3‐diene: Diels Alder Reactions and Applications of the Products Formed

Readily available 1,2,3,4‐tetrachloro‐5,5‐dimethoxy‐ cyclopenta‐1,3‐diene ( 2 ) is an excellent cyclic diene for Diels—Alder reaction with a vast variety of dienophiles. The products so formed (norbornene derivatives) constitute important building blocks for the synthesis of diverse complex natural as well as non‐natural products. Apart from very high endo selectivity associated with Diels—Alder reactions, there are several other fascinating features associated with these bicyclic products which make them convenient entities in the synthesis of complex molecules. The most important is the rigid framework that act as a powerful template to provide high degree of selectivity and directional nature to various substituents. The proposed article is intended to focus on Diels‐Alder reactions of 2 and the applications of norbornene derivatives in organic synthesis.     

Diethyl ketone‐based imine as efficient latent hardener for epoxy resin

Several imines were synthesized and evaluated as water‐initiated hardener for epoxy resin. Imines with a lower electron density on the C=N carbon showed a faster hydrolysis rate. Diethyl ketone‐based imines were the most efficiently hydrolyzed among the imines examined, and the adhesive properties of epoxy resin with diimines used as the hardeners were evaluated. A novel diethyl ketone‐based diimine, N,N′‐di(1‐ethylpropylidene)‐m‐xylylenediamine (10), served as an efficient latent hardener of epoxy resin. Epikote 828 containing 10, filler, and dryer increased the adhesive strength faster than Epikote 828 containing filler and dryer with methyl isobutyl ketone‐based imine. The mixed system of epoxy resin and 10 showed good storage stability at room temperature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1744–1749, 2002