Acryl Activation by Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond: Morita Baylis Hillman Reaction of Acrylamide with Broad Substrate Scope

Fast Production of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Covalent Enzyme Immobilization with Boosted Enzymatic Catalysis by Solar-Driven Photothermal Effect

Developing new enzyme-immobilization systems to stabilize their dynamic structures and meanwhile enhance their catalytic activity is of great significance but very challenging. Herein, we design and fabricate a class of robust mesoporous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) via Michael addition-elimination reaction. It is found that highly crystalline COFs can be produced in 10 min, which is attributed to the promoting effect of the intramolecular hydrogen bond activation. The COFs rich in hydroxyl groups can be facilely post-modified by epibromohydrin to covalently immobilize enzymes with both high loading and activity. Furthermore, we create a solar-driven photothermal-promoted strategy by introducing photoactive azo groups to COF carriers, which can boost the enzyme catalytic performance (lipase) with much higher conversion of various racemic substrates and chiral resolution upon solar light irradiation. The heterogeneous biocatalysts also demonstrate exceptional reusability and stability. This work provides a green and energy-efficient approach to facilitate the scale application of enzyme-immobilized biocatalysts.

Domino Sequence of Ketimization and Electrophilic Amination for an Inverse Aza Intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adduct

Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction, typically catalyzed by a Lewis base, is a popular and useful method for C-C bond formation. Unfortunately, it is limited by a slow reaction rate and has sensitivity toward steric and electronic parameters. Despite tremendous efforts, the versatility of the reaction keeps the quest open for new mechanistic and catalytic pathways. Here, we have reported a Bro̷nsted acid-catalyzed, electrophilic amination (Umpolung of imine) as a method for an inverse Aza Intramolecular MBH adduct in the form of 2-acylindole. Umpolung of imine with nitrogen acting as an electrophilic center has been achieved. Interestingly, the reaction was also shown to occur under catalyst-free conditions also. The expected products of ketimine formation, 6π electrocyclization, or quinoline formation were least/not observed. A large number of examples have demonstrated the reaction strength. β-aryl-substituted acrylate and acrylamide (cinnamates and cinnamides), which are extremely sluggish in conventional MBH chemistry, are the highlights of the developed methodology. The annulated product exhibited keto-enol tautomerism, which was proven by 1H NMR integrals. As an application, another tandem reaction in the form of Michael addition on a highly complex amine was carried out to provide spiro-annulated indole.

Chemoselective Intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction; Acrylamide and Ketone as Sluggish Reacting Partners on a Labile Framework

Chemoselectivity is an important issue frequently encountered while working over labile precursors. Carbonyl compounds with a heteroatom at the β carbon are sensitive precursors because they are prone to elimination under different conditions. Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction, although a widespread method for C-C bond formation, has its own limitations. Acrylamide and ketone are such limitations of the MBH reaction. Using them together for an intramolecular MBH (IMBH) reaction on a labile framework prone to elimination is a significant 2-fold synthetic challenge. A highly chemoselective IMBH reaction on such precursors has been established using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a promoter. The protocol leads to quick access to a diversely substituted and functionalized piperidone framework in high yields. Various substitution patterns in the form of 34 successful examples have been studied. A diastereoselective version and tolerance to various functional and protecting groups are the added advantages of the developed methodology. A tertiary carbon at the β position of ketone, however, led to complete reversal of selectivity and gave only the elimination product. Control experiments toward a better understanding of the substitution pattern, role of catalyst, and mechanistic study have been carried out. As an application of the IMBH adduct, a one-step allylic rearrangement for the dihydropyridone framework has also been demonstrated.

Chemoselective and Highly Rate Accelerated Intramolecular Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction

Despite being a very useful C-C bond forming and highly applicative reaction, Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction has been limited by its excessive slow reaction rate, including its intramolecular version. In certain cases, reaction time may even go to weeks and months. A highly chemoselective and rate accelerated intramolecular MBH reaction of just 15 min has been developed. The product dihydroquinoline, being unstable, was converted to an important quinoline framework. In some cases IMBH adducts were isolable, thus confirming the reaction path. Control experiments toward mechanism investigation have been carried out. Use of sodium sulfide has emerged as a rate accelerating catalyst in DMF-EtOH solvent system. Reaction intermediate for IMBH pathway was isolated and characterized. Other aspects such as the application of IMBH adduct for Michael addition and amidation have also been carried out.