Asymmetric N-Hydroxyalkylation of Indoles with Ethyl Glyoxalates Catalyzed by a Chiral Phosphoric Acid: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral N,O-Aminal Indole Derivatives

Asymmetric N-Alkylation of 1H-Indoles via Carbene Insertion Reaction

An intermolecular enantioselective N-alkylation reaction of 1H-indoles has been developed by cooperative rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed N-H bond insertion reaction. N-Alkyl indoles with newly formed stereocenter adjacent to the indole nitrogen atom are produced in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Importantly, both α-aryl and α-alkyl diazoacetates are tolerated, which is extremely rare in asymmetric X-H (X=N, O, S et al.) and C-H insertion reactions. With this method, only 0.1 mol % of rhodium catalyst and 2.5 mol % of chiral phosphoric acid are required to complete the conversion as well as achieve the high enantioselectivity. Computational studies reveal the cooperative relay of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid, and the origin of the chemo and stereoselectivity.

An Axially Chiral Styrene-Phosphine Ligand for Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric N-Alkylation of Indoles

An efficient palladium-catalyzed enantioselective direct N-alkylation of indoles using a novel type of axially chiral styrene-phosphine ligand SJTU-PHOS-1 was developed. This reaction demonstrated good functional group compatibility and a wide range scope of substrates in mild conditions. Moreover, the DFT calculations expounded the coordination mode of the metal catalyst and the axially chiral styrene-phosphine ligand in the enantioselectivity control.

Construction of chiral N,O-hemiaminals via a copper-catalyzed enantioselective Michael/N-hemiacetalization cascade reaction

An efficient Michael/N-hemiacetalization cascade reaction of 5-aminoisoxazoles with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters was developed under the catalysis of a chiral copper complex. A series of optically pure six-membered ring N,O-hemiaminals were obtained with excellent yields (up to 96% yield) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The possible transition state was supported by DFT calculations and thereby the corresponding mechanism was proposed.

Solvent-Mediated Tunable Regiodivergent C6- and N1-Alkylations of 2,3-Disubstituted Indoles with p-Quinone Methides

Indium-catalyzed, solvent-enabled regioselective C6- or N1-alkylations of 2,3-disubstituted indoles with para-quinone methides are developed under mild conditions. Notably, highly selective and switchable alkylations were selectively achieved by adjusting the reaction conditions. Moreover, scalability and further transformations of the alkylation products are demonstrated, and this operationally simple methodology is amenable to the late-stage C6-functionalization of the indomethacin drug. The reaction pathways were explained with the support of experimental and density functional theory studies.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of α/β-(N-Indolyl) Acrylates

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of α/β-(N-indolyl) acrylates to access highly enantioenriched chiral N-alkylindoles promoted by chiral diene or sulfur-olefin ligands under mild reaction conditions has been developed, which provides an efficient and practical approach for constructing carbon stereocenters adjacent to the indole nitrogen. The reaction can be applied to various N-indolyl-substituted α,β-unstaturated esters and arylboron reagents, providing access to a wide range of α- and β-(N-indolyl) propionate derivatives in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (≤99% ee).

Electrochemical collective synthesis of labeled pyrroloindoline alkaloids with Freon-type methanes as functional C1 synthons

Utilization of Freon-type methanes as functional one-carbon synthons in the synthesis of various deuterated indoline alkaloids was demonstrated here. A series of halomethyl radicals were generated from electro-reductive C-X cleavage of Freon-type methanes and captured efficiently by acrylamides to provide various halogenated oxindoles via radical cyclization. This reaction features good functional group tolerance, and deuterium and fluorine atoms could be introduced facilely from Freon-type methanes. Further transformation of halogenated oxindoles enabled the synthesis of many (labeled) bioactive drug molecules and skeletons, such as deuterated (±)-physostigmine, deuterated (±)-esermethole and deuterated (±)-lansai B.

An overview of the applications of chiral phosphoric acid organocatalysts in enantioselective additions to CO and CN bonds

Since 2004, chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) have emerged as highyl efficient organocatalysts, providing excellent results in a wide reaction scope. In this review, the applications of CPA for enantioselective additions to CO and CN bonds are covered.

Dearomatization of 2,3-Disubstituted Indoles via 1,8-Addition of Propargylic (Aza)-para-Quinone Methides

Dearomatization of indole is a useful strategy to access indolimines: a motif widely exists in biologically active molecules and natural products. Herein, an efficient method for the dearomatization of 2,3-disubstituted indoles to generate diverse indolimines with tetrasubstituted allenes is described. This work accomplishes dearomatization of 2,3-disubstituted indoles through 1,8-addition of (aza)-para-quinone methides, which are generated in situ from propargylic alcohols. A series of synthetically useful indolimines containing quaternary carbon centers and tetrasubstituted allenes can be accessed in good yields (up to 99%). Additionally, the separability of product isomers, diversified product transformations, and easy scale-up of the reaction demonstrate the potential application of this method.

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Michael Addition to Unsaturated Indolyl Ketones

An efficient enantioselective organocatalytic method for the synthesis of N-alkylated indoles with α-branched alkyl substituents from the corresponding unsaturated indolyl ketones via a Michael addition has been developed. The resulting products were obtained in high enantioselectivities and in good yields. Various nucleophiles (nitroalkanes, malononitrile, malonic esters) can be used. The substitution pattern of the indole ring had no significant impact on the reaction outcome. Both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents in any position of the heteroaromatic ring were well-tolerated.

Imine Amidation Catalyzed by a Chiral VAPOL Calcium Phosphate

Over the last 16 years, chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) have been shown to be excellent asymmetric catalysts, very effectively used in constructing chiral molecules with high enantiocontrol. In 2010, Ishihara et al. discovered that chiral metal phosphate complexes (or salts) could be found in substantial quantities, as contaminates, in some reported CPA-catalyzed reactions (Hatano, M.; Moriyama, K.; Maki, T.; Ishihara, K. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 3823-3826). These metal phosphates were shown to actually catalyze the reactions in addition to CPAs. In this work, we have investigated in depth a reaction first reported to be catalyzed by CPAs based on a vaulted bis-phenanthrol (VAPOL) backbone. We have found that VAPOL metal phosphates were, in fact, superior catalysts for this reaction. Upon optimization, a wide substrate scope, low catalyst loading, and mild conditions could provide intermolecular imine amidation reactions producing chiral N,N'-aminal products in high yields and with excellent ee values (up to >99% yield, >99% ee).

Enantioselective Catalytic Synthesis of N-alkylated Indoles

During the past two decades, the interest in new methodologies for the synthesis of chiral N-functionalized indoles has grown rapidly. The review illustrates efficient applications of organocatalytic and organometallic strategies for the construction of chiral α-N-branched indoles. Both the direct functionalization of the indole core and indirect methods based on asymmetric N-alkylation of indolines, isatins and 4,7-dihydroindoles are discussed.

Fe-Catalyzed Sequential C(sp3)-H/N-H Annulation of 2-Methylindoles with Ethyl Trifluoropyruvate at Room Temperature: Construction of Pyrrolo[1,2-α]indoles

An efficient and benign iron-catalyzed room-temperature method was developed for direct sequential C(sp³)-H/N-H annulation to construct pyrroloindole scaffolds. This strategy features cheap and readily available raw materials and mild room-temperature reaction conditions and provides a green and practical method for the one-pot rapid synthesis of a wide range of diversely functionalized pyrrolo[1,2-α]indoles.

Highly Chemo-, Site-, and Enantioseletive para C-H Aminoalkylation of N-Monosubstituted Aniline Derivatives Affording 3-Amino-2-oxindoles

In general, enantioselective C-H functionalization of N-monosubstituted anilines is a highly challenging task owing to the competitive chemoselective N-H bond insertion reactions. In this paper, we reported a direct highly chemo-, site-, and enantioselective para C-H aminoalkylation of N-monosubstituted aniline derivatives with isatin-derived ketimines in the presence of chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) and offered a practical strategy for para asymmetric C-H functionalization of anilines containing N-H bonds.

Asymmetric N-alkylation of indoles with isatins catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbene: efficient synthesis of functionalized cyclic N,O-aminal indole derivatives

Enantioselective N-alkylation of indole-2-formaldehydes with isatins catalyzed by NHCs is described for efficient synthesis of functionalized cyclic N,O-aminal indole derivatives.

Asymmetric N-aminoalkylation of 3-substituted indoles by N-protected N,O-acetals: an access to chiral propargyl aminals

A direct enantioselective N1 aminoalkylation of 3-substituted indoles is efficiently catalyzed by a phosphoric acid catalyst under mild conditions, which could be applied to the modification of tryptophan containing oligopeptides.

Carbene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Aromatic N-Nucleophilic Addition of Heteroarenes to Ketones

The aromatic nitrogen atoms of heteroarylaldehydes are activated by carbene catalysts to react with ketone electrophiles. Multi-functionalized cyclic N,O-acetal products are afforded in good to excellent yields and optical purities. Our reaction involves the formation of an unprecedented aza-fulvene-type acylazolium intermediate. A broad range of N-heteroaromatic aldehydes and electron-deficient ketone substrates works effectively in this transformation. Several of the chiral N,O-acetal products afforded through this protocol exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) and are valuable in the development of novel agrichemicals for plant protection.

Rhodium(iii)-catalysed cascade [3 + 2] annulation of N-aryloxyacetamides with 3-(hetero)arylpropiolic acids: synthesis of benzofuran-2(3H)-ones

Herein, a cascade [3 + 2] annulation of N-aryloxyacetamides with 3-(hetero)arylpropiolic acids affording benzofuran-2(3H)-ones via rhodium(iii)-catalyzed redox-neutral C-H functionalization/isomerization/lactonization using an internal oxidative directing group O-NHAc was achieved. This catalytic system provides a regio- and stereoselective approach to synthesize (Z)-3-(amino(aryl)methylene)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones with exclusive Z configuration selectivity, acceptable yields and good functional group tolerance. Preliminary investigations on ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence behaviors reveal that the annulation products may be applied as a promising fluorescent probe for sensing metal cations, especially for cerium (Ce3+).