Enantioselective Synthesis of 4-Hydroxy-dihydrocoumarins via Catalytic Ring Opening/Cycloaddition of Cyclobutenones

Carbene-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition of Cyclobutenones and Isatins for Quick Access to Chiral Chlorine-Containing Spirocyclic δ-Lactones

Here we report a carbene-catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of cyclobutenones with isatins for the quick and efficient synthesis of spirocyclic δ-lactones bearing a chiral chlorine. A broad range of substrates with various substitution patterns proceed smoothly in this reaction, with the spirooxindole δ-lactone products afforded in generally good to excellent yields and optical purities under mild reaction conditions.

Synergistic Effect of Cerium in Dual Photoinduced Ligand-to-Metal Charge Transfer and Lewis Acid Catalysis: Diastereoselective Alkylation of Coumarins

We report the dual role of cerium to promote the photoinduced ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) process for the generation of the alkyl radical and subsequent Lewis acid catalysis to construct stereodefined C-C bonds. This paradigm utilized ubiquitous carboxylic acids as alkyl radical surrogates and offers excellent diastereoselectivity for the formation of C-4 alkylated coumarins in good to excellent yield. UV-vis spectroscopy studies in combination with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are consistent with the proposed mechanism, supporting the participation of the Ce^IV-carboxylate complex in photoinduced LMCT and its subsequent homolysis to generate the alkyl radial through the exclusion of CO₂. Finally, the oxophilicity of cerium enables a two-point complexation with the in situ generated enolate intermediate and facilitates the diastereoselective protonation to form the desired product. Furthermore, this mild and atom-economical catalytic manifolds allow the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals.

Asymmetric [4 + 2] Annulation of Cyclobutenones and Pyrazolone 4,5-Diones: Access to Novel δ-Lactone-Fused Spiropyrazolones

Although numerous chiral pyrazolones with a six-membered spirocyclic center at the C4 position have been developed, the asymmetric construction of six-membered oxa-spiropyrazolones is still a challenging task in organic synthesis. Herein, we describe the [4 + 2] annulation of cyclobutanones and pyrazoline-4,5-diones for the efficient synthesis of δ-lactone-fused spiropyrazolone derivatives with generally high yields and good enantioselectivities under mild conditions. The successful scale-up synthesis and further transformation of the final product highlight the practicality and reliability of this reaction.

Diastereoselective formation of β-lactams via a three-component reaction

A highly diastereoselective three-component reaction of N-hydroxyanilines, diazo compounds and cyclobutenones to form densely functionalized β-lactams has been realized.

[4+3]-Cycloaddition Reaction of Sulfilimines with Cyclobutenones: Access to Benzazepinones

A catalyst-free [4+3]-cycloaddition reaction of N-aryl sulfilimines with cyclobutenones is described, which provides a straightforward protocol for synthesizing 1,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[b]azepin-2-ones under mild reaction conditions. This reaction features a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance and does not require catalysts or additives. Moreover, using N-pyridinyl sulfilimine as the substrate, a series of pyridoazepinones have also been prepared.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 3-Ethoxycarbonyl Quinolin-2-ones and Coumarins

A protocol of iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 4-alkyl substituted 3-ethoxycarbonyl quinolin-2-ones and coumarins has been reported, providing a wide range of chiral dihydroquinolin-2-ones and dihydrocoumarins in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and high turnover numbers (up to 28 000). This efficient protocol was successfully applied for the synthesis of MPR3160 and the key chiral intermediate of R-106578.

Chiral Tertiary Amine Catalyzed Asymmetric [4 + 2] Cyclization of 3-Aroylcoumarines with 2,3-Butadienoate

Coumarins and 2H-pyran derivatives are among the most commonly found structural units in natural products. Therefore, the introduction of 2H-pyran moiety into the coumarin structural unit, i.e., dihydrocoumarin-fused dihydropyranones, is a potentially successful route for the identification of novel bioactive structures, and the synthesis of these structures has attracted continuing research interest. Herein, a chiral tertiary amine catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclization of 3-aroylcoumarines with benzyl 2,3-butadienoate was reported. In the presence of Kumar’s 6’-(4-biphenyl)-β-iso-cinchonine, the desired dihydrocoumarin-fused dihydropyranone products could be obtained in up to 97% yield and 90% ee values.

Enantioselective Construction of Chiral Cyclopropa[c]coumarins via Lewis Base-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation

The first highly enantioselective construction of chiral cyclopropa[c]coumarins was described. Using commercially available (bis)cinchona alkaloid (DHQ)₂PYR as the chiral Lewis base catalyst, together with Cs₂CO₃ as the achiral base, the reaction of a series of coumarin-3-carboxylate and 3-benzoyl coumarins with tert-butyl 2-bromoacetate could give rise to the corresponding cyclopropa[c]coumarins bearing three continuous chiral stereocenters in 83-93% ee and 90-97% ee, respectively. The reaction is proposed to proceed via an in situ generated ammonium ylide intermediate.

Cleavage of Carbon-Carbon σ-Bonds of Four-Membered Rings

This article reviews synthetic transformations involving cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of a four-membered ring, with a particular focus on the examples reported during the period from 2011 to the end of 2019. Most significant is the progress of catalytic reactions involving oxidative addition of carbon-carbon bonds onto transition metals or β-carbon elimination of transition metal alkoxides. When they are looked at from synthetic perspectives, they offer unique and efficient methods to build complex natural products and structures that are difficult to construct by conventional methods. On the other hand, β-scission of radical intermediates has also attracted increasing attention as an alternative elementary step to cleave carbon-carbon bonds. Its site-selectivity is often complementary to that of transition metal-catalyzed reactions. In addition, Lewis acid-mediated and thermally induced ring-opening of cyclobutanone derivatives has garnered renewed attention. On the whole, these examples demonstrate unique synthetic potentials of structurally strained four-membered ring compounds for the construction of organic skeletons.

Asymmetric Catalytic Diverse Ring Opening/Cycloadditions of Cyclobutenones with (E)-Alkenyloxindoles and (E)-Dioxopyrrolidines

Highly enantioselective ring-opening/cycloaddition reactions of cyclobutenones were achieved by employing chiral N,N'-dioxide/metal complexes as the catalysts. The Diels-Alder type cycloaddition with (E)-alkenyloxindoles yielded spirocyclohexaneoxindoles with excellent results. Meanwhile, a hetero-Diels-Alder process occurred with (E)-dioxopyrrolidines to afford spiropyrrolidinone-dihydropyranone derivatives.

Copper-catalyzed cascade cyclization reaction of 3-aminocyclobutenones with electron-deficient internal alkynes: synthesis of fully substituted indoles

A novel copper-catalyzed cascade cyclization reaction of 3-aminocyclobutenones with electron-deficient internal alkynes has been developed. This reaction provides a new method for the synthesis of fully substituted indoles by formation of four new bonds and two rings in a single step.

Modified cinchona alkaloid-catalysed enantioselective [4+4] annulations of cyclobutenones and 1-azadienes

An asymmetric [4+4] annulation reaction between β-substituted cyclobutenones and diverse 1-azadienes is developed under the catalysis of modified cinchona alkaloids.