Organocatalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of Ketones with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters: An Efficient Access to Chiral Tertiary Alcohol Skeletons

This update describes a highly efficient organocatalytic aldol reaction of ketones and β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters for constructing the chiral tertiary alcohol motif. With the application of 9‐amino(9‐deoxy)epi‐Cinchona alkaloid and an acidic additive as catalysts, both acyclic and cyclic ketones react with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters smoothly to afford aldol adducts in good to excellent yields and asymmetric induction. This protocol offers a new pathway for the construction of adjacent chiral carbon centers and the synthesis of chiral β‐hydroxy carbonyl compounds.     

Chiral Amino Diol Derivatives as New Modular Organocatalysts for the Enantioselective α‐Chlorination of Cyclic β‐Keto Esters

Highly modular chiral amino diol derivatives have been used as organocatalysts in the enantioselective α‐chlorination of cyclic β‐keto esters. Optimization of the catalyst structure and the reaction conditions has allowed the synthesis of optically active α‐chlorinated products with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) using inexpensive commercially available N‐chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as the chlorine source under mild conditions.     

Chiral Lewis Base‐Catalyzed,Enantioselective Reduction of Unprotected β‐Enamino Esters with Trichlorosilane

Catalytic asymmetric reduction of N‐unsubstituted β‐enamino esters represents a major challenge for asymmetric catalysis. In this paper, the first organocatalytic system that could be used for the asymmetric hydrosilylation of N‐unsubstituted β‐enamino esters has been developed. Using N‐tert‐butylsulfinyl‐L ‐proline‐derived amides and L ‐pipecolinic acid‐derived formamides as catalyst, a broad range of β‐aryl‐ and β‐alkyl‐substituted free β‐amino esters could be prepared with high yields and enantioselectivities. The practicality was illustrated by the gram‐scale asymmetric synthesis of ethyl (R)‐3‐amino‐3‐phenylpropanoate and isopropyl (S)‐3‐amino‐4‐(2,3,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoate. The resulting product can be smoothly transformed to the FDA approved medicines dapoxetine and sitagliptin in a short synthetic route.

     

Cascade Reactions: Sequential Homobimetallic Catalysis Leading to Benzofurans and β,γ‐Unsaturated Esters

The concatenation between a Pd(0)‐promoted deallylation catalytic cycle and a Pd(II)‐promoted heterocyclization catalytic cycle (an example of what we have named “sequential homobimetallic catalysis”) has been shown to occur starting from 1‐(2‐allyloxyphenyl)‐2‐yn‐1‐ols 1 to afford 2‐benzofuran‐2‐ylacetic esters 2 and β,γ‐unsaturated esters in high yields under carbonylative conditions. In view of the conceptual as well as the synthetic importance of the process, the mechanistic aspects and the synthetic scope of the reaction have been investigated in detail. All the experimental evidence is in agreement with the sequential homobimetallic mechanism, and the reaction has proven to be of general synthetic applicability.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Aldehydes to α,β‐Unsaturated Thiol Esters

The first example of an organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to α,β‐unsaturated thiol esters promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol silyl ether is presented. The reaction occurs with good yields, diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of α‐Substituted Cyano Ketones to β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters using Bifunctional Thiourea‐Tertiary Amine Catalysts: An Easy Access to Chiral Dihydropyrans

An asymmetric Michael addition of α‐substituted cyano ketones to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters to form chiral dihydropyrans catalyzed by a series of α‐amino acid‐derived thiourea‐tertiary amines is presented. A novel tyrosine‐derived thiourea catalyst was identified as the optimal catalyst providing the desired product in 91–95% yields and with 90–96% ee at a low catalyst loading of 2.0 mol%. The utility of the reaction was exemplified by facile conversion of the dihydropyran product into pharmaceutically useful dihydropyridine.     

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.     

Synthesis of γ‐Fluoro‐α, β‐unsaturated Carboxylic Esters from Saturated α‐Fluoro Aldehydes

γ‐Fluoro‐α, β‐unsaturated carboxylic esters 7a, 7b and 7d and 4‐fluoro‐4‐phenylbut‐3‐enoic ester ( 8 ) are obtained by two alternative pathways from 2‐fluoro aldehydes 5a—d , either by Horner—Wadsworth—Emmons reaction or by Wittig reaction. The aldehydes 5a—d are prepared by Swern oxidation of the corresponding fluorohydrins 4a—d . These are available from α‐olefins by bromofluorination, bromineby‐acetate replacement and subsequent hydrolysis.     

Catalytic Hydrogenation of Chiral α‐Amino and α‐Hydroxy Esters at Room Temperature with Nishimura Catalyst without Racemization

The hydrogenation of carboxylic acid derivatives at room temperature was investigated. With a mixed Rh/Pt oxide (Nishimura catalyst), low to medium activity was observed for various α‐amino and α‐hydroxy esters. At 100 bar hydrogen pressure and 10% catalysts loading, high yields of the desired amino alcohols and diols were obtained without racemization. The most suitable α‐substituents were NH₂, NHR, and OH, whereas β‐NH₂ were less effective. Usually, aromatic rings were also hydrogenated, but with the free bases of amino acids as substrates, some selectivity was observed. No reaction was found for α‐NR₂, α‐OR, and unfunctionalized esters; acids and amides were also not reduced under these conditions. A working hypothesis for the mode of action of the catalyst is presented.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Perhydroindolic Acids and their Application in Asymmetric Domino Reactions of Aldehyde Esters with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

(2S,3aR,7aS)‐Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans‐isomers, were readily prepared. These proline‐like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi‐substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans (possessing a multi‐substituted bicyclic backbone).     

Access to Both Enantiomers of α‐Chloro‐β‐keto Esters with a Single Chiral Ligand: Highly Efficient Enantioselective Chlorination of Cyclic β‐Keto Esters Catalyzed by Chiral Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes of a Spiro‐2,2′‐bischroman‐Based Bisoxazoline Ligand

The spiro‐2,2′‐bichroman‐based chiral bisoxazoline ligands (SPANbox) were found to be highly efficient in copper(II)‐ and zinc(II)‐catalyzed asymmetric chlorinations of cyclic β‐keto esters with N‐chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as the chlorination reagent, to give the corresponding α‐chloro‐β‐keto esters in excellent yields in 5–30 min with ee values up to 97%. The copper(II) triflate and zinc(II) triflate complexes of a single SPANbox ligand demonstrated complementary results to each other with respect to the enantioselection, affording both antipodes of the chlorinated product enantiomers with good to excellent optical purities.     

One‐Pot Quinine‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Chiral γ‐Keto Esters: Enantioenriched Precursors of cis‐α,γ‐Substituted‐γ‐Butyrolactones

A highly enantioselective one‐pot synthesis of important building blocks, α‐chiral γ‐keto esters, has been developed by combining a quinine‐catalyzed Michael addition of malononitrile to trans‐enones followed by magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (MMPP) oxidation. These synthons proved to be useful reagents for a simple access to challenging cis‐α,γ‐disubstituted γ‐butyrolactones in good diastereoselectivity and high enantiocontrol.

     

Copper‐Catalyzed Difunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes with Diazo Esters and Amines to Construct β‐Enamino Esters

An operationally simple and efficient copper‐catalyzed three‐component tandem reaction of terminal alkynes, diazo compounds and amines to yield β‐enamino esters is described. This straightforward protocol takes place rapidly with a wide range of substrates and gives the desired β‐enamino esters in good to excellent yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction probably proceeds through Cu‐catalyzed formal C–H insertion to produce an alkynoate intermediate, which was then trapped by amines to give the β‐enamino esters.

     

Asymmetric α‐Hydroxylation of β‐Indanone Esters and β‐Indanone Amides Catalyzed by C‐2′ Substituted Cinchona Alkaloid Derivatives

The highly catalytic asymmetric α‐hydroxylation of β‐indanone esters and β‐indanone amides using peroxide as the oxidant was realized with a new C‐2′ substituted Cinchona alkaloid derivatives. The two enantiomers of α‐hydroxy‐β‐indanone esters could be obtained by simply changing the oxidant. This protocol allows a convenient access to the corresponding α‐hydroxy‐β‐indanone esters and α‐hydroxy‐β‐indanone amides with up to 99% yield and 98% ee.

     

An efficient Synthesis of Acetylenic γ- and δ-Hydroxy Ketones, γ- and δ-keto acids,and γ- diketones via addition of 1-alkinyllithium compounds to γ- and δ-lactones

2-Hydroxy-6-alkyn-5-ones 3 , 1-hydroxy-5-alkyn-4-ones 4 , and 1-hydroxy-6-alkyn-5-ones 5 are conveniently obtained in excellent yields through a highly selective monoaddition of an 1-alkynyllithium compound 2 to γ-valerolactone (1a) , γ-butyrolactone (1b) or δ-valerolactone (1c) . They are oxidized by pyridinium dichromate or Jones reagent to the corresponding acetylenic 1,4-diketones 6 , 4-oxo carboxylic acids 7 , and 5-oxo carboxylic acids 8 , respectively.     

The Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Ethyl Esters with Vinylmagnesium Chloride

While the reaction of linear α,β-unsaturated ethyl esters with vinylmagnesium chloride yields vinyl ketones as the main product, the reaction of substituted α,β-unsaturated ethyl esters yields triethylenic carbinols.     

Preparation of polyethylene oxide/LixV2‐δO4‐δ nanocomposites

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)/LixV_2‐δO_4‐δ nanocomposites were prepared in aqueous solution. Characterization of the nanocomposites using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) shows that polymer chains intercalate inorganic host lamella and exhibit lattice expansion along the stacking direction of 4.2 Å. A possible model for the structure of the nanocomposite is also provided. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2162–2166, 2001     

Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α‐Dehydroamino Acid Esters Catalyzed by Rhodium Complexes with Chiral Bisaminophosphine Ligands

A highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of a series of chiral bisaminophosphine ligands was well established with several remarkable features. The synthetic utility of these ligands was explored for rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of α‐dehydroamino acid esters. Up to 98% ee values were achieved for the enantioselective synthesis of aminocarboxylic acids and their derivatives, which are very important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of a variety of natural products and biologically active molecules.     

Cyclisierungsreaktionen β,γ-ungesättigter Kohlensäurederivate. XI [1] Untersuchungen zur Stereochemie der Cyclofunktionalisierung β,γ-ungesättigter Carbamidsäureester

Cyclization Reactions of β,γ-Unsaturated Derivatives of Carbonic Acid. XI. Investigation of Stereochemistry of the Cyclofunctionalization of β,γ-Unsaturated Carbamic Acid Esters N, N-Disubstituted β,γ-unsaturated urethanes 1 have been cyclized to 3,5-disubstituted oxazolidine-2-ones 3 by aromatic sulfenyl chlorides 2 . The stereochemistry of the products and the cyclofunctionalization reaction were investigated.