Catalytic asymmetric de novo construction of 4-pyrrolin-2-ones via intermolecular formal [3+2] cycloaddition of azoalkenes with azlactones

The chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular formal [3+2] cycloaddition of azoalkenes with azlactones has been established. This convergent protocol leads to a facile and enantioselective de novo construction of a wide range of fully substituted 4-pyrrolin-2-ones bearing a fully substituted carbon atom in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (26 examples, 72-95% yields and 87-99% ee).

Exploring the regioselectivity of the cyanoalkylation of 3-aza-1,5-dienes: photoinduced synthesis of 3-cyanoalkyl-4-pyrrolin-2-ones

Regioselective cyanoalkylalkenylation of 3-aza-1,5-dienes with oxime esters induced by visible light.

Construction of poly-N-heterocyclic scaffolds via the controlled reactivity of Cu-allenylidene intermediates

Controlling the sequence of the three consecutive reactive carbon centres of Cu-allenylidene remains a challenge. One of the impressive achievements in this area is the Cu-catalyzed annulation of 4-ethynyl benzoxazinanones, which are transformed into zwitterionic Cu-stabilized allenylidenes that are trapped by interceptors to provide the annulation products. In principle, the reaction proceeds via a preferential γ-attack, while annulation reactions via an α- or β-attack are infrequent. Herein, we describe a method for controlling the annulation mode, by the manipulation of a CF₃ or CH₃ substituent, to make it proceed via either a γ-attack or an α- or β-attack. The annulation of CF₃-substituted substrates with sulfamate-imines furnished densely functionalized N-heterocycles with excellent enantioselectivity via a cascade of an internal β-attack and an external α-attack. CH₃-variants were transformed into different heterocycles that possess a spiral skeleton, via a cascade of an internal β-attack and a hydride α-migration followed by a Diels-Alder reaction.

Access to benzo-fused nine-membered heterocyclic alkenes with a trifluoromethyl carbinol moiety via a double decarboxylative formal ring-expansion process under palladium catalysis

Direct access to pharmaceutically attractive benzo-fused nine-membered heterocyclic alkenes 3 with a trifluoromethyl carbinol moiety was achieved via a palladium-catalyzed double-decarboxylative formal ring-expansion process from six-membered trifluoromethyl benzo[d][1,3]oxazinones 1 to nine-membered trifluoromethyl benzo[c][1,5]oxazonines 3 in the presence of vinylethylene carbonates 2. Generation of a Pd-π-allyl zwitterionic intermediate was proposed in the catalytic cycle. The trifluoromethyl group in the benzoxazinanones 1 plays an important role throughout the transformation. Diastereoselective chemical transformations of products 3 were also demonstrated.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric methylation of fluoroalkylated pyruvates with dimethylzinc

The catalytic asymmetric methylation of fluoroalkylated pyruvates is shown with dimethylzinc as a methylating reagent in the presence of a copper catalyst bearing a chiral phosphine ligand. This is the first catalytic asymmetric methylation to synthesize various α-fluoroalkylated tertiary alcohols with CF₃, CF₂H, CF₂Br, and n-C _n F_2n+1 (n = 2, 3, 8) groups in good-to-high yields and enantioselectivities. Axial backbones and substituents on phosphorus atoms of chiral phosphine ligands critically influence the enantioselectivity. Moreover, the methylation of simple perfluoroalkylated ketones is found to be facilitated by only chiral phosphines without copper.

Synthesis of Sulfur Perfluorophenyl Compounds Using a Pentafluorobenzenesulfonyl Hypervalent Iodonium Ylide

A novel pentafluorobenzenesulfonyl hypervalent iodonium ylide 3 was designed and synthesized as a useful tool for the preparation of sulfur pentafluorophenyl compounds containing a C₆F₅S or C₆F₅SO₂ unit. Electrophilic pentafluorophenylthiolation of enamines, formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of nitriles and alkynes, and intramolecular S_NAr cyclization were achieved using iodonium ylide 3. The fluoro-click reaction was also demonstrated using one of the products via an intermolecular S_NAr reaction with heterocentered nucleophiles.

Short Total Synthesis of (±)-γ-Lycorane by a Sequential Intramolecular Acylal Cyclisation (IAC) and Intramolecular Heck Addition Reaction

An intramolecular acylal cyclisation (IAC) approach to the synthesis of a range of bicyclic heterocycles is reported. As an example of the utility of the IAC reaction, the methodology was applied in a protecting-group-free five-step total synthesis of (±)-γ-lycorane, incorporating a new intramolecular Heck addition reaction to generate the pentacyclic core structure of the natural product in good yield.

Synthesis of 3-fluoroalkenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-2-oxindoles by the reaction of indoline-2,3-diones with difluoromethylene phosphabetaine

An unprecedent reaction of indoline-2,3-diones and (triphenylphosphonio)difluoroacetate (PDFA) afforded novel 3-fluoroalkenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-2-oxindoles in moderate to excellent yields. These products could be transformed into other trifluoromethylated oxindole derivatives.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Tertiary Alcohols and Oxetenes Bearing a Difluoromethyl Group

The catalytic asymmetric ene reaction with difluoropyruvate as an electrophile in the presence of a dicationic palladium complex is shown. This is the reliable and practical catalytic asymmetric synthesis for various α-CF2H tertiary alcohols in high yields and enantioselectivities. The reaction with isobutene can be catalyzed efficiently under solvent-free conditions with low catalyst loading (up to S/C 2000). Furthermore, difluoropyruvate is applicable to the [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction in high yields and enantioselectivities.

Asymmetric synthesis of (3S,1'S)-3-(1-amino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1-(alkyl)-indolin-2-one derivatives by addition of (S)-N-t-butylsulfinyl-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimine to 1-(alkyl)-indolin-2-ones

This paper presents the first study of the addition reactions between amide-derived nucleophiles and chiral CF3-containing N-sulfinyl-imines. We demonstrate that enolates of 1-(alkyl)-indolin-2-ones cleanly react with (S)-N-t-butylsulfinyl-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimine affording 3-(1-amino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1-(alkyl)-indolin-2-ones of (3S,1'S) absolute configuration as the major reaction products with synthetically meaningful diastereoselectivity and chemical yields. The reactions were shown to be of general practical application for preparation of various oxindole derivatives in a diastereomerically pure form.

A highly efficient Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction of N-Boc isatin ketimines and other active cyclic ketimines using difluoroenol silyl ethers catalyzed by Ph3PAuOTf

A Ph₃PAuOTf catalyzed highly efficient reaction of difluoroenoxysilanes and active ketimines is reported, which represents the first Au(i)-catalyzed Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction.

Trifluoromethanesulfonyl hypervalent iodonium ylide for copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation of enamines, indoles, and β-keto esters

A novel electrophilic-type trifluoromethylthiolation reagent, a trifluoromethanesulfonyl hypervalent iodonium ylide, was designed and reacted well with various nucleophiles to afford the desired CF3S-substituted products. In situ reduction of the trifluoromethanesulfonyl group to give the trifluoromethylthio group, which is the key step in this process, was realized in the presence of copper(I) chloride.

Regioselective synthesis of heteroaryl triflones by LDA (lithium diisopropylamide)-mediated anionic thia-Fries rearrangement

Novel heteroaryl triflones including oxindole, pyrazolone, pyridine, and quinoline derivatives have been regioselectively synthesized by LDA-mediated thia-Fries rearrangement for the first time. These reactions are also the first examples of the application of anionic thia-Fries rearrangement in heteroaromatic compounds.

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-difluoroalkyl 3-hydroxyoxindoles

We report the first example of highly enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of 3-difluoroalkyl substituted 3-hydroxyoxindoles. The total synthesis of the difluoro analogue of convolutamydine E was achieved by this method.