N , N , N ′ , N ′ -Tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine as the catalyst of choice for the Baylis–Hillman reaction of cycloalkenone: rate acceleration by stabilizing the zwitterionic intermediate via the ion–dipole interaction

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.

Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction of β,β-Disubstituted Enones: An Enantioselective Organocatalytic Approach for the Synthesis of Cyclopenta[b]annulated Arenes and Heteroarenes

The first enantioselective organocatalytic intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of sterically highly demanding β,β-disubstituted enones is presented. The MBH reaction of β,β-disubstituted-α,β-unsaturated electron-withdrawing systems was previously considered to be unfeasible. Towards this end, designer substrates, which under simple and practical reaction conditions generate a variety of cyclopenta[b]annulated arenes and heteroarenes in excellent enantiopurities and near-quantitative yields in remarkably short reaction times, are described. The reason for the unusually facile nature of this reaction is attributed to the synergy guided and entropically favored intramolecular reaction. Further, this strategy provides easy access to a substantial number of bioactive natural products and pharmaceutically significant compounds.

The Baylis–Hillman reaction: a novel source of attraction, opportunities, and challenges in synthetic chemistry

The Baylis-Hillman reaction is a successful, useful, and atom-economical carbon-carbon bond forming reaction, which has grown from an obscure level to the level of high synthetic popularity due to its operational simplicity and also due to the enormous applications of the Baylis-Hillman adducts in organic synthesis. In this tutorial review, we briefly describe the way this reaction has grown to its present heights and the opportunities, attractions, and challenges the reaction offers with respect to its asymmetric and intramolecular versions, and mechanistic aspects.

Synthesis and anticancer activity studies of α-aminoalkylated conjugated nitroalkenes

Novel alpha-aminoalkylated conjugated nitroalkenes which inhibit human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell proliferation by binding to tubulin were synthesized by imidazole/LiCl-mediated reaction of conjugated nitroalkenes with N-tosylimines.