Asymmetric organocatalytic cascade Michael/acyl transfer reaction of 2-hydroxychalcones with α-nitroketones

Cascade Synthesis in Water: Michael Addition/Hemiketalization/Retro-Claisen Fragmentation Catalyzed by CatAnionic Vesicular Nanoreactor from Dithiocarbamate

N,N-didodecylammonium N,N-didodecyldithiocarbamate (AmDTC-C12C12) underwent self-assembly to form a CatAnionic vesicular nanoreactor in water. AmDTC-C12C12 can be readily prepared by condensation between N,N-didodecylamine and carbon disulfide. Previously, the cascade Michael addition/hemiketalization/retro-Claisen fragmentation was reported, but it required petroleum-based organic solvents as reaction media. Herein, the application of AmDTC-C12C12 in aqueous cascade synthesis is investigated. Initially, we explored the catalytic activity of AmDTC-C12C12 (10 mol %) in the synthesis of 4H-chromene through a double-cascade Michael addition/hemiketalization. The reaction occurred in water at room temperature using 2-hydroxy-trans-β-nitrostyrene as Michael acceptor and acetylacetone as Michael donor, yielding 2-chromanol intermediates. Subsequent acidic dehydration of 2-chromanols produced 4H-chromenes with moderate yields (34-60 %) and phenyl acetates of γ-nitro ketone as co-products (13-31 %), deriving from retro-Claisen fragmentation. Surprisingly, using Michael donors with aromatic moieties on the 1,3-dicarbonyls resulted in spontaneous triple-cascade Michael addition/hemiketalization/retro-Claisen fragmentation in water without the need for acidic dehydration. The γ-nitro ketones were obtained as sole products, with no detection of 4H-chromenes, in moderate to high yields (24-84 %) for symmetrical 1,3-dicarbonyl containing two aromatic groups. Unsymmetrical 1,3-dicarbonyl bearing aromatic/aliphatic or aromatic/aromatic groups afforded γ-nitro ketones in favorable yields (73-97 %).

Squaramide-Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich/Hemiketalization Retro-Henry Cascade Reaction of o-Hydroxy-α-Aminosulfones with α-Nitroketones

A concise and efficient asymmetric Mannich/hemiketalization/retro-Henry cascade reaction between o-hydroxy-α-aminosulfones and α-nitroketones was developed by utilizing a cinchona-derived bifunctional squaramide catalyst. This methodology provided access to β-nitro-substituted amino compounds with up to 95% yield and >99% ee. The practicality was demonstrated by scale-up and diverse derivatizations, including the synthesis of imidazolidinone and amino acid analogs. This is the first report of α-nitroketones in such a cascade reaction, offering a valuable approach for the synthesis of chiral β-nitro amino compounds.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cascade Michael-Acyl Transfer Reaction between 2-Fluoro-1,3-diketones and 2-Hydroxynitrostyrenes

An organocatalytic asymmetric cascade Michael-acyl transfer reaction of 2-hydroxynitrostyrenes and monofluorinated β-diketones has been developed employing a cooperative catalytic system. A combination of quinine-derived bifunctional squaramide catalyst and achiral hydrogen bond donor cocatalyst was found to be the most effective for this reaction and provided the fluorinated acyl transfer products in high yields with good diastereo- and excellent enantioselectivities. Synthetic transformations have been demonstrated, including the synthesis of functionalized 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and 1-pyrroline.

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael/acyl transfer reaction between α-nitroketones and 4-arylidenepyrrolidine-2,3-diones

An organocatalytic asymmetric Michael/acyl transfer reaction between α-nitroketones and 4-arylidenepyrrolidine-2,3-diones is reported. A bifunctional thiourea catalyst was found to be effective for this reaction. With 10 mol % of the catalyst, good results were attained for a variety of 1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones under mild reaction conditions.

Enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethyl substituted cyclohexanones via an organocatalytic cascade Michael/aldol reaction

An enantioselective (92-99% ee) Michael/aldol cascade reaction between 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetates and α,β-unsaturated enones was established in the presence of cinchona alkaloid-based primary amines. Various β-CF3-cyclohexanones were constructed in high yields (81-99%) as a couple of separable diastereomers. This tandem reaction was sensitive to acidic co-catalysts, with a Michael/aldol condensation process favorably occurring to generate β-CF3-cyclohexenones (42-69% yield, 84-96% ee) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid.

Organocatalytic asymmetric cascade 1,6-addition/hemiketalization/retro-Henry reaction of ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted p-QMs with α-nitroketones

Novel organocatalytic asymmetric cascade 1,6-addition/hemiketalization/retro-Henry reaction is developed to give new chiral 2-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)phenols with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions.

Employment of α-nitroketones in organic synthesis

This review summarizes the recent developments of the reactions of α-nitroketones and the consequent formation of a variety of structural frameworks is discussed.