Organocatalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Prochiral 2,2‐Disubstituted Cyclic 1,3‐Diones

Ag(I)-catalyzed diastereoselective oxidative cyclopropanation of prochiral alkyne-tethered 1,3-dicarbonitriles

Herein, we developed a highly diastereoselective silver-catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation of prochiral alkyne-tethered 1,3-dicarbonitriles using perchloric acid as an effective oxidizing agent. This method facilitates the construction of densely functionalized complex [6.6.5.3] frameworks having three all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in high yields. The significance of the reaction was demonstrated by a gram-scale reaction and post-synthetic modifications of the product.

Chiral Bisphosphine-Catalyzed Asymmetric Staudinger/aza-Wittig Reaction: An Enantioselective Desymmetrizing Approach to Crinine-Type Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

An unprecedented chiral bisphosphine-catalyzed asymmetric Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction of 2,2-disubstituted cyclohexane-1,3-diones is reported, enabling the facile access of a broad range of cis-3a-arylhydroindoles in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The key to the success of this work relies on the first application of chiral bisphosphine DuanPhos to the asymmetric Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction. An effective reductive system has been established to address the challenging PV═O/PIII redox cycle associated with the chiral bisphosphine catalyst. In addition, comprehensive experimental and computational investigations were carried out to elucidate the mechanism of the asymmetric reaction. Leveraging the newly developed chemistry, the enantioselective total syntheses of several crinine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, including (+)-powelline, (+)-buphanamine, (+)-vittatine, and (+)-crinane, have been accomplished with remarkable conciseness and efficiency.

Catalytic Asymmetric Desymmetrization of Cyclic 1,3-Diketones Using Chiral Boro-phosphates

Herein, we report a chiral boro-phosphate-catalyzed reductive amination for the desymmetrization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-cyclopentadiones with pinacolborane as the reducing agent, delivering chiral β-amino ketones with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in good yields (≤94%), high enantioselectivities (≤97% ee), and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr). This reaction has a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The importance of the chiral products was also demonstrated through the preparation of multifunctional building blocks and heterocycles.

Silver-Catalyzed Asymmetric Double Desymmetrization via Vinylogous Michael Addition of Prochiral α,α-Dicyanoalkenes to Cyclopentendiones

An asymmetric double desymmetrization methodology has been developed for synthesizing densely functionalized chiral cyclopentylcyclohexane scaffolds. We have constructed four chiral centers, including an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in a single C-C bond formation event. The methodology has high functional-group tolerance and delivers a broad range of enantioenriched products. This vinylogous Michael addition reaction of prochiral α,α-dicyanocyclohexane to 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-dione is catalyzed by a chiral Ag-(R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS catalyst.

Organocatalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of enal-tethered cyclohexane-1,3-diones

Organocatalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexane-1,3-diones has been demonstrated through the merging of iminium and enamine activation. The tandem annulation reaction proceeds through a sequential oxa-Michael addition/intramolecular aldol reaction/[1,3]-amino oxetane rearrangement pathway. Mechanistic study using an 18O-water experiment suggests oxetane rearrangement instead of direct dehydration. The formation of other competing Rauhut-Currier products via alkoxy-elimination was not observed.

Dinuclear Zinc-Catalyzed Asymmetric Desymmetrization of Cyclopentendiones: Access to Functional Cyclopentanediones Bearing an All-carbon Quaternary Stereocenter

The success in the identification of the two enantioisomeric surfaces of electrophiles by dinuclear zinc catalysts is disclosed. This protocol realizes a dinuclear zinc-cocatalyzed desymmetrization of cyclopentendiones using α-hydroxy aryl ketones as nucleophiles through Michael addition reaction. Under mild conditions, a series of functional cyclopentanediones bearing multiple stereogenic centers including an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter, were obtained in moderate to good yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

Robust Synthesis of Terpenoid Scaffolds under Mn(I)-Catalysis

The 6/6/5-fused tricyclic scaffold is a central feature of structurally complex terpenoid natural products. A step-economical cascade transformation that leads to a complex molecular skeleton is regarded as a sustainable methodology. Therefore, we report the first Mn(I)-catalyzed C(sp²)-H chemoselective in situ dienylation and diastereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction using iso-pentadienyl carbonate to access 6/6/5-fused tricyclic scaffolds. To the best of our knowledge, there is no such report thus far to utilize iso-pentadienyl carbonate as a substrate in C-H activation catalysis. Extensive mechanistic studies, such as the isolation of catalytically active organo-manganese(I) complexes, 1,3-dienyl-intermediates, and isotopic labeling experiments have supported the proposed mechanism of this cascade reaction.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetric Protosilylation of Prochiral Diynes: Access to Optically Functionalized Tertiary Alcohols

In this protocol, a copper-catalyzed desymmetric protosilylation of prochiral diynes was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in moderate to high yields and enantiomeric ratios. This approach provides a simple method for synthesizing functionalized chiral tertiary alcohols in the presence of a chiral pyridine-bisimidazoline (Pybim) ligand.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Coriamyrtin via a Desymmetrizing Strategy Involving a 1,3-Cyclopentanedione Moiety

We describe the total synthesis of (+)-coriamyrtin, which bears a highly functionalized cis-hydrindane skeleton and is a widely known neurotoxin of the Coriariaceae family. Our synthetic strategy involves the highly stereoselective construction of the cis-hydrindane skeleton via a desymmetrizing strategy involving a 1,3-cyclopentanedione moiety using an intramolecular aldol reaction and the formation of the 1,3-diepoxide moiety of coriamyrtin through the elaborate functionalization of the cyclopentane ring in the bicyclic structure.

Organocatalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective isomerization of prochiral 1,3-cyclohexanediones into nonalactones bearing distant stereocenters

The lactonization of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,3-cyclohexanediones containing an alcohol side chain and up to three distant prochiral elements is reported by isomerization under the mediation of simple organocatalysts such as quinidine. Through a process of ring expansion, strained nonalactones and decalactone are produced with up to three stereocenters in high er and dr (up to 99 : 1). Distant groups, including alkyl, aryl, carboxylate and carboxamide moieties, were examined.

Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-Trifluoroethylisatin Ketimines Enables the Desymmetrization of N-Arylmaleimides: Access to Enantioenriched F3C-Containing Octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles

With a Cu(OTf)₂/chiral ferrocenyl P,N-ligand complex as a catalyst, the enantioselective desymmetrization of N-arylmaleimides was successfully realized by taking advantage of the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A series of structurally diverse F₃C-containing octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles, bearing four contiguous carbon stereocenters and one stereogenic chiral C-N axial bond, were obtained with excellent results (≤99% yield, >20:1 dr, and 99% ee).

Metal-Free Oxidative Formal C(sp2)-H Arylation of Cyclopentene-1,3-diones with β-Naphthols

An efficient, mild, and transition-metal free formal C(sp2)−H arylation of prochiral 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-diones is reported. This oxidative arylation with β-naphthols proceeds via base-mediated C-Michael addition followed by aerial oxygen insertion...

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Cyclopentendiones via Friedel-Crafts Conjugate Addition of Indolizines

An organocatalytic highly diastero- and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts conjugate addition of indolizines to prochiral cyclopentenediones has been successfully developed. This desymmetric transformation provides a direct access to the desired indolizine-substituted cyclopentanediones in yields of 62-91% and excellent stereoselectivities. The utility of the approach was demonstrated by diverse late-stage functionalizations through reduction or oxidation. Importantly, the direct sp² C-H functionalization with nitromethane in one-pot process resulted in the indolizine-linked axially chiral styrene bearing a remote chiral center.

Diastereoselective desymmetrization reactions of prochiral para-quinamines with cyclopropenes generated in situ: access to fused hydroindol-5-one scaffolds

Interesting desymmetric [3 + 2] annulation reactions between p-quinamines as prochiral N-donors and 2-aroyl-1-chlorocyclopropanecarboxylates facilitated by a base are reported. This successive double Michael reaction delivered a unique class of cyclopropane-fused hydoindol-5-one frameworks, each having four contiguous stereogenic centers, with three of them being fully substituted. Moreover, this method was found to provide acceptable chemical yields with promising diastereoselectivities (dr of up to ≤95 : 5) and to work with a variety of substrates. Importantly, a polycyclic tacrine analogue used to treat Alzheimer's disease was synthesized using our developed method.