Highly Enantioselective Construction of Sterically Hindered α-Allyl-α-Aryl Lactones via Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

The Detection of Trace Metal Contaminants in Organic Products Using Ion Current Rectifying Quartz Nanopipettes

While ion current rectification (ICR) in aprotic solvent has been fundamentally studied, its application in sensing devices lacks exploration. The development of sensors operable in these solvents is highly beneficial to the chemical industry, where polar aprotic solvents, such as acetonitrile, are widely used. Currently, this industry relies on the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for the detection of metal contamination in organic products. Herein, we present the detection of trace amounts of Pd2+ and Co2+ using ion current rectification, in cyclam-functionalized quartz nanopipettes, with tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEATFB) in MeCN as supporting electrolyte. This methodology is employed to determine the concentration of Pd in organic products, before and after purification by Celite filtration and column chromatography, obtaining comparable results to ICP-MS within minutes and without complex sample preparation. Finite element simulations are used to support our experimental findings, which reveal that the formation of double-junction diodes in the nanopore enables trace detection of these metals, with a significant response from baseline even at picomolar concentrations.

The Catalytic Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Acyclic Enolates for the Construction of Quaternary and Tetrasubstituted Stereogenic Centres

To facilitate the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals, the demand for novel stereofunctionalised building blocks has never been greater. Whilst molecules bearing quaternary and tetrasubstituted stereogenic centres are ideally suited to explore untapped areas of chemical space, the asymmetric construction ofsterically congested carbon centres remains a longstanding challenge in organic synthesis. The enantioselective assembly of acyclic stereogenic centres is even more demanding due to the need to restrict a much wider range of geometries and conformations of the intermediates involved. In this context, the catalytic asymmetric allylicalkylation (AAA) of acyclic prochiral nucleophiles, namely enolates, has become an indispensable tool to access a range of linearα-quaternary andα-tetrasubstituted carbonyl compounds. However, unlike the AAA of cyclic enolates with a fixed enolate geometry, to achieve high levels of stereocontrol in the AAA of acyclic enolates, the stereoselectivity of enolisation must be considered. The aim of this review is to offer acomprehensivediscussion of catalytic AAA reactions of acyclic prochiral enolates and their analogues to generate congested quaternary and tetrasubstituted chiral centres using metal, non-metal and dual catalysis, with particular focus given to the control of enolate geometry and its impact on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.

Pd-Catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of heterocycles: a user's guide

This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advances and strategies employed in the Pd-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation (Pd-AAA) of nucleophilic prochiral heterocycles. The review is divided into sections each focused on a specific family of heterocycle, where optimisation data and reaction scope have been carefully analysed in order to bring forward specific reactivity and selectivity trends. The review eventually opens on how computer-based technologies could be used to predict an ideally matched catalytic system for any given substrate. This user-guide targets chemists from all horizons interested in running a Pd-AAA reaction for the preparation of highly enantioenriched heterocyclic compounds.

Development of an Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation of Acyclic α-Fluoro-β-ketoesters for Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Fluoropiperidines

The first useful enantioselective Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters has been achieved using the Trost family of chiral ligands yielding products in up to 92 % ee. This work provides new insights regarding the typically modest selectivities associated with acyclic α-fluoroenolates and shows experimental evidence that the typically poor levels of enantiocontrol associated with these systems are not necessarily due to the presence of E/Z enolate mixtures. Finally, this methodology allows the easy preparation of useful 3-fluoropiperidine intermediates, and it is demonstrated that these systems are applicable to a range of functionalization reactions leading to new building blocks for the discovery of bioactive products.

Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Enables Synthesis of Chiral γ-Lactones Bearing Vicinal Tertiary and Quaternary Stereocenters

The synthesis of enantioenriched α-aryl-α'-allyl-γ-butyrolactones bearing vicinal tertiary and quaternary stereocenters through organocatalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation is reported. The process demonstrated that weakly stabilized enolates derived from α-aryl-γ-butyrolactones can undergo regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective allylation using the proper activation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates.

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Difunctionalized Cyclic Sulfones

As saturated heterocyclic building blocks become increasingly popular in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery programs, expansion of the synthetic toolkit to novel stereofunctionalized heterocycles is a priority. Herein, we report the development of a palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction to access a broad range of enantioenriched α-difunctionalized 5- and 6-membered sulfones from easily accessible racemic starting materials. The allylic alkylation step was found to occur with high levels of enantioselectivity as a result of a palladium-mediated dynamic kinetic resolution of E/Z enolate intermediates. This methodology paves the way to hitherto unexplored stereodefined cyclic sulfones for medicinal chemistry applications.

The catalytic decarboxylative allylation of enol carbonates: the synthesis of enantioenriched 3-allyl-3'-aryl 2-oxindoles and the core structure of azonazine

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-allyl-3'-aryl 2-oxindoles has been shown via the Pd(0)-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of allylenol carbonates. This methodology provides access to a variety of 2-oxindole substrates (5a-v) with all-carbon quaternary stereocenters (up to 94% ee) at the pseudobenzylic position under additive-free and mild conditions. The synthetic potential of this method was shown by the asymmetric synthesis of the tetracyclic core of the diketopiparazine-based alkaloid azonazine (11).

Lambert Salt-Initiated Development of Friedel-Crafts Reaction on Isatin to Access Distinct Derivatives of Oxindoles

Herein, a mild metal-free and efficacious route for the synthesis of biologically important 3-aryl oxindole derivatives is described. Using Lambert salt-initiated hydroarylation of isatin, a diverse array of monoarylated products, symmetrical/unsymmetrical double-arylated products, and deoxygenated hydroarylated products could be synthesized from the single starting substrate in good to excellent yields. A preliminary mechanistic study revealed that the reaction proceeds via a monoarylated product followed by a nucleophilic attack by another electron-rich arene nucleophile under mild conditions. The potential of newly synthesized symmetric/unsymmetric 3,3-disubstituted oxindole, 3-substituted 3-hydroxy oxindoles, 3,3-di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones, and α-aryl oxindoles as valuable building blocks is further illustrated.

Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Thietane 1,1-Dioxides

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of thietane 1,1-dioxides via linear enolate intermediates from racemic starting materials has been developed. This process installs an α-sulfonyl tetrasubstituted stereogenic center with high enantioselectivity. The potential to transform the alkylated products to novel types of enantioenriched spirocycles for medicinal chemistry applications has also been demonstrated.

Enantioselective Tertiary Electrophile (Hetero)Benzylation: Pd-Catalyzed Substitution of Isoprene Monoxide with Arylacetates*

The enantioselective generation of quaternary carbon centers remains challenging but is of growing importance for the preparation of functional molecules. Metal catalyzed allylic alkylations of tertiary electrophiles can provide access to these substructures but remain generally incompatible with organometallic benzyl nucleophiles. Here we demonstrate that electron-deficient arylacetates can serve as benzyl nucleophile surrogates to generate enantioenriched acyclic molecules containing a quaternary carbon center via a two-step substitution-decarboxylation process using isoprene monoxide. Products are often obtained in >90 % ee using a commercially available catalyst. An array of electron-withdrawing functional groups on the arylacetate moiety are tolerated. The lactone generated by the initial substitution reaction can be used in further stereoselective transformations to prepare molecules with acyclic vicinal quaternary stereocenters.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Decarboxylative Addition of β-Keto Acids to Heteroatom-Substituted Allenes

The Pd-catalyzed asymmetric addition reaction of β-keto acids to heteroatom-substituted allene is reported. This reaction generates β-substituted ketones in an asymmetric manner through a branch-selective decarboxylative allylation pathway. The reaction accommodates various alkoxyallenes as well as amidoallenes.

Palladium-Catalyzed Regiospecific Decarboxylative Allylation of (Cyclohexadienylidene)malononitriles: Access to α-Allyl-α-aryl Malononitriles

A palladium-catalyzed regiospecific decarboxylative ε-allylation of (cyclohexadienylidene)malononitriles is presented for the synthesis of functionalized α-allyl-α-aryl malononitriles. This reaction proceeds via a resonance-stabilized α-aryl malononitrile anion, resulting in a wide range of α-allyl-α-aryl malononitriles in high yields with excellent linear product selectivity. We have also shown that the resulting products can be transformed into valuable synthetic intermediates by decyanation and Mizoroki-Heck arylation. In addition, an enantioselective decarboxylative allylation reaction is also presented.

Catalytic Enantioselective Alkylation of Prochiral Enolates

The asymmetric alkylation of enolates is a particularly versatile method for the construction of α-stereogenic carbonyl motifs, which are ubiquitous in synthetic chemistry. Over the past several decades, the focus has shifted to the development of new catalytic methods that depart from classical stoichiometric stereoinduction strategies (e.g., chiral auxiliaries, chiral alkali metal amide bases, chiral electrophiles, etc.). In this way, the enantioselective alkylation of prochiral enolates greatly improves the step- and redox-economy of this process, in addition to enhancing the scope and selectivity of these reactions. In this review, we summarize the origin and advancement of catalytic enantioselective enolate alkylation methods, with a directed emphasis on the union of prochiral nucleophiles with carbon-centered electrophiles for the construction of α-stereogenic carbonyl derivatives. Hence, the transformative developments for each distinct class of nucleophile (e.g., ketone enolates, ester enolates, amide enolates, etc.) are presented in a modular format to highlight the state-of-the-art methods and current limitations in each area.

Recent Advances in Enantioselective Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: From Design to Applications

This Review compiles the evolution, mechanistic understanding, and more recent advances in enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and decarboxylative and oxidative allylic substitutions. For each reaction, the catalytic data, as well as examples of their application to the synthesis of more complex molecules, are collected. Sections in which we discuss key mechanistic aspects for high selectivity and a comparison with other metals (with advantages and disadvantages) are also included. For Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution, the catalytic data are grouped according to the type of nucleophile employed. Because of the prominent position of the use of stabilized carbon nucleophiles and heteronucleophiles, many chiral ligands have been developed. To better compare the results, they are presented grouped by ligand types. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative reactions are mainly promoted by PHOX or Trost ligands, which justifies organizing this section in chronological order. For asymmetric oxidative allylic substitution the results are grouped according to the type of nucleophile used.

Organocatalytic enantioselective allylic alkylation of α-aryl γ-lactones: an approach to densely functionalized quaternary stereocentres

The asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of α-aryl γ-lactones involving the activation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates by an original chiral Lewis base is reported. A wide range of γ-lactones bearing a quaternary stereocentre was thus obtained in both high yields and high enantiomeric ratios. The direct alkylation by MBH alcohol using in situ activation has been also established. Additionally synthetically useful functional transformations of groups surrounding the quaternary stereocentre have been performed.

Probing Trends in Enantioinduction via Substrate Design: Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylic Alkylation of α-Enaminones

Herein, we report the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of α-enaminones. In addition to serving as valuable synthetic building blocks, we exploit the α-enaminone scaffold and its derivatives as probes to highlight structural and electronic factors that govern enantioselectivity in this asymmetric alkylation reaction. Utilizing the (S)-t-BuPHOX ligand in a variety of nonpolar solvents, the alkylated products are obtained in up to 99% yield and 99% enantiomeric excess.

Synthesis of α-Aryl Oxindoles by Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Arenes

α-Aryl oxindoles are accessed from isatin via a two-step procedure involving a phospha-Brook rearrangement and a Friedel-Crafts alkylation in a one-pot procedure. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as solvent significantly extended the reaction substrate scope to include relatively less electron-rich arenes including benzene. This new alkylation method is fast and straightforward and allows for the direct introduction of the oxindole moiety onto a range of aromatic compounds including phenols. Additionally, the application of arylated products was shown in decarboxylative asymmetric allylation and protonation.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation with a γ-Butyrolactone-Derived Silyl Ketene Acetal

Herein, we report a Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation using a γ-butyrolactone-derived silyl ketene acetal. Critical to the development of this work was the identification of a novel mono-picolinamide ligand with the appropriate steric and electronic properties to afford the desired products in high yield (up to 96 %) and high ee (up to 95 %). Aryl, aliphatic, and unsubstituted allylic chlorides bearing a broad range of functionality are well-tolerated. Spectroscopic studies reveal that a Cu^I species is likely the active catalyst, and DFT calculations suggest ligand sterics play an important role in determining Cu coordination and thus catalyst geometry.

A Sequential Pd-AAA/Cross-Metathesis/Cope Rearrangement Strategy for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Butenolides

A practical and highly enantio- (up to 94:6 er) and diastereoselective (up to >20:1 dr) synthesis of γ-butenolides bearing two adjacent stereogenic centers is reported featuring a sequential direct palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation/( E)-selective cross-metathesis/[3,3]-sigmatropic Cope rearrangement from readily available α-substituted (5 H)-furan-2-ones.

Cu-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of tertiary benzylic copper complexes and their in situ addition to carbonyl compounds

Catalytic chemo- and enantioselective generation of tertiary benzylic copper complexes from Cu-B(pin) (pin = pinacolato) additions to 1,1-disubstituted alkenes followed by in situ reactions with ketones and carboxylic acid phenol esters to construct multifunctional alkylboron compounds that contain quaternary stereogenic centers is presented. The method is distinguished by the unprecedented reaction mode of tertiary benzylic Cu complexes, allowing reaction with a wide range of carbonyl electrophiles in good yields and with high chemo-, site-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The catalytic protocol was performed with easily accessible chiral ligands and copper salts at ambient temperature. Functionalization of multifunctional alkylboron products provides useful building blocks that are otherwise difficult to access.

Nickel-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of lactones and lactams with unactivated allylic alcohols

Reported is the first nickel-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of lactones and lactams to provide products bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter.

The first nickel-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of lactone and lactam substrates to deliver products bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter is reported. The reaction, which utilizes a commercially available chiral bisphosphine ligand, proceeds in good yield with a high level of enantioselectivity (up to 90% ee) on a range of unactivated allylic alcohols for both lactone and lactam nucleophiles. The utility of this method is further highlighted via a number of synthetically useful product transformations.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with Diethyl 2-Aminomalonate Assisted by In Situ Protection

With the aid of in situ protection by N-(2-formylphenyl)-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide, enantioselective allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with diethyl 2-aminomalonate was successfully realized. The corresponding adducts can be obtained in up to 99% yield with up to 98% ee as well as excellent regioselectivity. Besides, the adducts with opposite configurations were readily prepared by utilizing easily available and inexpensive quinine or quinidine as organocatalyst. Facile deprotection of the resulting adduct provides straightforward access to enantiopure α-methylene-γ-lactam.

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitution of Aliphatic Esters with Silyl Ketene Acetals as the Ester Enolates

Enantioselective allylic substitution with enolates derived from aliphatic esters under mild conditions remains challenging. Herein we report iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylation reactions of silyl ketene acetals, the silicon enolates of esters, to form products containing a quaternary carbon atom at the nucleophile moiety and a tertiary carbon atom at the electrophile moiety. Under relatively neutral conditions, the allylated aliphatic esters were obtained with excellent regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. These products were readily converted into primary alcohols, carboxylic acids, amides, isocyanates, and carbamates, as well as tetrahydrofuran and γ-butyrolactone derivatives, without erosion of enantiomeric purity.

Diastereoselective and Catalytic α-Alkylation of Chiral N-Acyl Thiazolidinethiones with Stable Carbocationic Salts

Direct nickel-catalyzed alkylation of chiral N-acyl-4-isopropyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thiones using a commercially available nickel(II) complex, (Me₃P)₂NiCl₂, has been developed for tropylium and trityl tetrafluoroborate salts. The reaction provides a single diastereomer of the corresponding adducts in good to high yields, which, in turn, can be easily converted into a wide array of enantiomerically pure compounds that are difficult to obtain by other asymmetric procedures.

A catalytic asymmetric construction of a tetrahydroquinoline-based spirooxindole framework via a diastereo- and enantioselective decarboxylative [4+2] cycloaddition

A catalytic asymmetric decarboxylative [4+2] cycloaddition of vinyl benzoxazinanones with methyleneindolinones has been established, affording chiral tetrahydroquinoline-based 3,3′-spirooxindoles with excellent enantioselectivities.

Enantioselective synthesis of sterically hindered α-allyl–α-aryl oxindoles via palladium-catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation

The highly enantioselective synthesis of sterically hindered α-allyl–α-aryl oxindoles possessing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter at the oxindole 3-position has been developed.