Intramolecular, nucleophile-catalyzed aldol-lactonization (NCAL) reactions: catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of bicyclic beta-lactones

Probing Regio- and Enantioselectivity in the Formal [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of C(1)-Alkyl Ammonium Enolates with β- and α,β-Substituted Trifluoromethylenones

The isothiourea-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition of C(1)-alkyl and C(1)-unsubstituted ammonium enolates with β- and α,β-substituted trifluoromethylenones has been developed. In all cases, preferential [2 + 2]-cycloaddition over the alternative [4 + 2]-cycloaddition is observed, giving β-lactones with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity (34 examples, up to >95:5 dr, >99:1 er). The regioselectivity of the process was dictated by the nature of the substituents on both reaction components. Solely [2 + 2] cycloaddition products are observed when using α,β-substituted trifluoromethylenones or α-trialkylsilyl acetic acid derivatives; both [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition products are observed when using β-substituted trifluoromethylenones and α-alkyl-α-trialkylsilyl acetic acids as reactants, with the [2 + 2] cycloaddition as the major reaction product. The beneficial role of the α-silyl substituent within the acid component in this protocol has been demonstrated by control experiments.

Synthesis of functionalized 3-aryl-3H-benzofuranone derivatives from aryl acetate via [3 + 2] annulation of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid ester

A novel [3 + 2] cascade reaction of aryl acetate with 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid ester by cooperative catalysis of isothiourea and vanadium is developed. The key step of the reaction is that the C1-ammonium enolates generated from aryl acetate will cycloadduct to 1,4-naphthoquinone intermediates. 3-Aryl-3H-benzofuranone derivatives can be prepared in medium to good yields under mild conditions.

Isothiourea-Catalyzed [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of C(1)-Ammonium Enolates and N-Alkyl Isatins

Enantioselective [2 + 2] cycloaddition of C(1)-ammonium enolates generated catalytically using the isothiourea HyperBTM with N-alkyl isatins gives spirocyclic β-lactones. In situ ring opening with an amine nucleophile generates isolable highly enantioenriched products in up to 92:8 dr and in >99:1 er.

Generation and Reactivity of C(1)-Ammonium Enolates by Using Isothiourea Catalysis

C(1)-Ammonium enolates are powerful, catalytically generated synthetic intermediates applied in the enantioselective α-functionalisation of carboxylic acid derivatives. This minireview describes the recent developments in the generation and application of C(1)-ammonium enolates from various precursors (carboxylic acids, anhydrides, acyl imidazoles, aryl esters, α-diazoketones, alkyl halides) using isothiourea Lewis base organocatalysts. Their synthetic utility in intra- and intermolecular enantioselective C-C and C-X bond forming processes on reaction with various electrophiles will be showcased utilising two distinct catalyst turnover approaches.

A photoinduced arene–alkyne [3 + 2] cycloaddition cascade of 1-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols for tunable synthesis of skeletally diverse bridged hexacycles

Photoinduced solvent-dependent cyclodimerizations of 1-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols were developed for the first time, producing skeletally diverse bridged hexacyclic architectures with good yields and high stereoselectivities.

Oxetane Intermediate during a Direct Aldol Reaction: Stereoselective [5 + 1] Annulation Affording Tetralines

An oxetane intermediate during a direct aldol reaction was trapped with an internal aryl group to yield trans-tetraline products. The contribution of the oxetane intermediate was confirmed by ¹⁸O-isotope labeling experiments.

The oxazolomycin family: a review of current knowledge

Oxazolomycin A and neooxazolomycin were firstly isolated in 1985 by the group of Uemura et al. from the Streptomyces sp. bacteria.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of perfluoroalkyl-substituted β-lactones via a concerted asynchronous [2 + 2] cycloaddition: a synthetic and computational study

The enantioselective preparation of a range of perfluoroalkyl-substituted β-lactones through an isothiourea (HyperBTM) catalysed reaction using symmetric anhydrides as ammonium enolate precursors and perfluoroalkylketones (R_F = CF₃, C₂F₅, C₄F₉) is reported. Following optimisation, high diastereo- and enantioselectivity was observed for β-lactone formation using C₂F₅- and C₄F₉-substituted ketones at room temperature (26 examples, up to >95 : 5 dr and >99 : 1 er), whilst -78 °C was necessary for optimal dr and er with CF₃-substituted ketones (11 examples, up to >95 : 5 dr and >99 : 1 er). Derivatisation of the β-lactones through ring-opening, as well as a two-step conversion to give perfluoroalkyl-substituted oxetanes, is demonstrated without loss of stereochemical integrity. Density functional theory computations, alongside ¹³C natural abundance KIE studies, have been used to probe the reaction mechanism with a concerted asynchronous [2 + 2]-cycloaddition pathway favoured over a stepwise aldol-lactonisation process.

Selective Synthesis of (+)-Dysoline

Dysoline, a novel chromone alkaloid isolated from Dysoxylum binectariferum, was reported to have selective cytotoxicity for HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells (IC₅₀ of 0.21 μM). Given the scarcity of natural material, a concise synthesis of (+)-dysoline was developed, allowing for further biological evaluation. An enantioselective nucleophile-catalyzed aldol lactonization formed the piperidine ring with control of relative and absolute stereochemistry. Construction of the C6-chromone core with complete regioselectivity was achieved using a Danheiser benzannulation.

(-)-Homosalinosporamide A and Its Mode of Proteasome Inhibition: An X-ray Crystallographic Study

Upon acylation of the proteasome by the β-lactone inhibitor salinosporamide A (SalA), tetrahydrofuran formation occurs by intramolecular alkylation of the incipient alkoxide onto the choroethyl sidechain and irreversibly blocks the active site. Our previously described synthetic approach to SalA, utilizing a bioinspired, late-stage, aldol-β-lactonization strategy to construct the bicyclic β-lactone core, enabled synthesis of (⁻)-homosalinosporamide A (homoSalA). This homolog was targeted to determine whether an intramolecular tetrahydropyran is formed in a similar manner to SalA. Herein, we report the X-ray structure of the yeast 20S proteasome:homoSalA-complex which reveals that tetrahydropyran ring formation does not occur despite comparable potency at the chymotrypsin-like active site in a luminogenic enzyme assay. Thus, the natural product derivative homoSalA blocks the proteasome by a covalent reversible mode of action, opening the door for further fine-tuning of proteasome inhibition.

Intramolecular [2 + 2] Cycloadditions of Alkyl(phenylthio)ketenes: Total Synthesis of (+)-Sphaerodiol

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-sphaerodiol (2) has been achieved. A key step is an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkyl(phenylthio)ketene for rapid assembly of the decalin ring.

Multicomponent, Enantioselective Michael-Michael-Aldol-β-Lactonizations Delivering Complex β-Lactones

Optically active, tertiary amine Lewis bases react with unsaturated acid chlorides to deliver chiral, α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts. These intermediates participate in a catalytic, enantioselective, three-component process delivering bi- and tricyclic β-lactones through a Michael-Michael-aldol-β-lactonization. In a single operation, the described multicomponent, organocascade process forms complex bi- and tricyclic β-lactones by generating four new bonds, two rings, and up to four contiguous stereocenters. In the racemic series, yields of 22-75% were achieved using 4-pyrrolidinopyridine as Lewis base. In the enantioselective series employing isothiourea catalysts, a kinetic resolution of the initially formed racemic Michael adduct appears operative, providing yields of 46% to quantitative (based on 50% max) with up to 94:6 er. Some evidence for a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation for tricyclic-β-lactone 1d was obtained following optimization (yields up to 61%, 94:6 er) through a presumed reversible Michael.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized β-Lactones by NHC-Catalyzed Aldol Lactonization of Ketoacids

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed intramolecular aldol lactonization of readily available ketoacids leading to the enantioselective synthesis of cyclopentane-fused β-lactones is presented. The reaction proceeds via the generation of NHC-bound enolate intermediates formed from the ketoacids in the presence of the peptide coupling reagent HATU and NHC generated from the chiral triazolium salt. The functionalized β-lactones are formed under mild conditions in high yields and enantioselectivities.

Asymmetric Synthesis of cis-3,4-Dihydrocoumarins via [4 + 2] Cycloadditions Catalyzed by Amidine Derivatives

A highly efficient chiral amidine derivative-catalyzed tandem Michael addition/lactonization of carboxylic acids and o-quinone methides (o-QMs) has been developed that enables the asymmetric synthesis of cis-3,4-dihydrocoumarins bearing contiguous tertiary stereogenic centers in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

β-Functionalization of Indolin-2-one-Derived Aliphatic Acids for the Divergent Synthesis of Spirooxindole γ-Butyrolactones

β-Functionalization of indolin-2-one-derived aliphatic acids has been applied in formal [3 + 2] annualtions for catalyst-free and divergent synthesis of two series of structurally interesting 3,3'-spirooxindole γ-butyrolactones that may be attractive for potential drug discovery. These findings also pave the way for further diversity-oriented synthesis of spirooxindoles starting from indolin-2-one-derived aliphatic acids or their derivatives.

Construction of Fused Pyrrolidines and β-Lactones by Carbene-Catalyzed C-N, C-C, and C-O Bond Formations

A carbene-catalyzed intermolecular C-N bond formation, which initiates a highly selective cascade reaction for the synthesis of pyrrolidine fused β-lactones, is disclosed. The nitrogen-containing bicyclic β-lactone products are obtained with good yields and excellent stereoselectivities. Synthetic transformations of the reaction products into useful functional molecules, such as amino catalysts, can be efficiently realized under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistically, this study provides insights into modulating the reactivities of heteroatoms, such as nitrogen atoms, in challenging carbene-catalyzed asymmetric carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions.

6-exo-trig Michael addition-lactonizations for catalytic enantioselective chromenone synthesis

The catalytic enantioselective 6-exo-trig Michael addition-lactonization of enone-acid substrates to form cis-chromenones with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol was developed using the commercially available isothiourea tetramisole. An acidic workup proved necessary to minimize product epimerization and maximize product er, providing cis-chromenones in excellent yield, and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Enantioselective (4+2) Annulation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclobutanes by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

Herein we report the enantioselective (4+2) annulation of donor-acceptor cyclobutanes and unsaturated acyl fluorides using N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. The reaction allows a 3-step synthesis of cyclohexyl β-lactones (25 examples) in excellent chemical yield (most ≥90 %) and stereochemical integrity (all >20:1 d.r., most ≥97:3 e.r.). Mechanistic studies support ester enolate Claisen rearrangement, while derivatizations provide functionalized cyclohexenes and dihydroquinolinones.

Asymmetric Organocatalysis: The Emerging Utility of α,β-Unsaturated Acylammonium Salts

Although acylammonium salts are well-studied, chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts have received much less attention. While these intermediates are convenient synthons, which are readily available from several commodity unsaturated acids and acid chlorides, and possess three reactive sites, their application in organic synthesis has been limited because of the lack of appropriate chiral Lewis bases for their generation. In recent years, the utility of chiral, unsaturated acylammonium salts has expanded considerably, thus demonstrating the unique reactivity of this intermediate leading to the development of a diverse array of catalytic, asymmetric transformations including organocascade processes. This Minireview highlights the recent and growing interest in these intermediates which might spark further research into their untapped potential for asymmetric organocascade catalysis. A cursory comparison is made to related unsaturated iminium and acylazolium intermediates.

Isothiourea-catalysed enantioselective pyrrolizine synthesis: synthetic and computational studies

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a range of cis-pyrrolizine carboxylate derivatives with outstanding stereocontrol (14 examples, >95 : 5 dr, >98 : 2 er) through an isothiourea-catalyzed intramolecular Michael addition-lactonisation and ring-opening approach from the corresponding enone acid is reported. An optimised and straightforward three-step synthetic route to the enone acid starting materials from readily available pyrrole-2-carboxaldehydes is delineated, with benzotetramisole (5 mol%) proving the optimal catalyst for the enantioselective process. Ring-opening of the pyrrolizine dihydropyranone products with either MeOH or a range of amines leads to the desired products in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Computation has been used to probe the factors leading to high stereocontrol, with the formation of the observed cis-steroisomer predicted to be kinetically and thermodynamically favoured.

Enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed trans-dihydropyridinone synthesis using saccharin-derived ketimines: scope and limitations

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a range of trans-dihydropyridinones from aryl-, heteroaryl- and alkenylacetic acids and saccharin-derived ketimines with good to excellent stereocontrol (15 examples, up to >95 : 5 dr, up to >99 : 1 er) is reported. After extensive optimisation, HyperBTM proved the optimal isothiourea catalyst for this transformation at -78 °C, giving trans-dihydropyridones with generally excellent levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Isothiourea-Mediated Organocatalytic Michael Addition-Lactonization on a Surface: Modification of SAMs on Silicon Oxide Substrates

Tailoring the functionality of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) can be achieved either by depositing prefunctionalized molecules with the appropriate terminal groups or by chemical modification of an existing SAM in situ. The latter approach is particularly advantageous to allow for diversity of surface functionalization from a single SAM and if the incorporation of bulky groups is desired. In the present study an organocatalytic isothiourea-mediated Michael addition-lactonization process analogous to a previously reported study in solution is presented. An achiral isothiourea, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole (DHPB), promotes the intermolecular Michael addition-lactonization of a trifluoromethylenone terminated SAM and a variety of arylacetic acids affording C(6)-trifluoromethyldihydropyranones tethered to the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, and ellipsometry analysis were conducted to confirm the presence of the substituted dihydropyranone. A model study of this approach was also performed in solution to probe the reaction diastereoselectivity as it cannot be measured directly on the surface.

Organocatalytic Synthesis of Fused Bicyclic 2,3-Dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles through an Intramolecular Cascade Cyclization

Hydrazone-carboxylic acids undergo intramolecular cyclization in the presence of pivaloyl chloride, iPr(2)NEt, and catalytic DABCO to form a range of substituted fused tricyclic 2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles in high yields.

Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,5,6-Substituted Dihydropyranones and Dihydropyridinones using Isothiourea-Mediated Catalysis

The scope of dihydropyranone and dihydropyridinone products accessible by isothiourea-catalyzed processes has been expanded and explored through the use of 2-N-tosyliminoacrylates and 2-aroylacrylates in a Michael addition-lactonization/lactamization cascade reaction. Notably, to ensure reproducibility it is essential to use homoanhydrides as ammonium enolate precursors with 2-aroyl acrylates, while carboxylic acids can be used with 2-N-tosyliminoacrylates, delivering a range of 3,5,6-substituted dihydropyranones and dihydropyridinones with high enantioselectivity (typically >90 % ee). The derivatization of the heterocyclic core of a 3,5,6-substituted dihydropyranone through hydrogenation is also reported.

Nucleophilic β-Carbon Activation of Propionic Acid as a 3-Carbon Synthon by Carbene Organocatalysis

Direct β-carbon activation of propionic acid (C2H5CO2H) by carbene organocatalysis has been developed. This activation affords the smallest azolium homoenolate intermediate (without any substituent) as a 3-carbon nucleophile for enantioselective reactions. Propionic acid is an excellent raw material because it is cheap, stable, and safe. This approach provides a much better solution to azolium homoenolate synthesis than the previously established use of acrolein (enal without any substituent), which is expensive, unstable, and toxic.

Organocatalytic Lewis base functionalisation of carboxylic acids, esters and anhydrides via C1-ammonium or azolium enolates

This tutorial review highlights the organocatalytic Lewis base functionalisation of carboxylic acids, esters and anhydrides via C1-ammonium/azolium enolates. The generation and synthetic utility of these powerful intermediates is highlighted through their application in various methodologies including aldol-lactonisations, Michael-lactonisations/lactamisations and [2,3]-rearrangements.

An NHC-catalyzed in situ activation strategy to β-functionalize saturated carboxylic acid: an enantioselective formal [3+2] annulation for spirocyclic oxindolo-γ-butyrolactones

An in situ NHC-catalyzed activation strategy to β-functionalize saturated carboxylic acid was developed. This asymmetric formal [3+2] annulation could deliver spirocyclic oxindolo-γ-butyrolactones from saturated carboxylic acid and isatin in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The easy availability of the starting materials, direct installation of functional units at unreactive carbon atom and the convergent assembly make this protocol attractive in the field of organic synthesis.

Stereoselective Lewis base catalyzed formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine imines with mixed anhydrides

Stereoselective synthesis of pyrazolidinones via dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine imines with active esters under Lewis base catalysis is presented. The active esters are readily generated in situ from the corresponding acids. Products, which are obtained with excellent diastereocontrol and high enantioselectivity, contain along with the pyrazolidinone core also the tetrahydroisoquinoline structural motif. Theoretical studies give insight into the mechanism of the formal cycloaddition reaction.

Exploring the scope of the isothiourea-mediated synthesis of dihydropyridinones

The exploration and expansion of the scope of the isothiourea-mediated synthesis of dihydropyridinones is presented.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed cyclocondensation of 2-aryl carboxylic acids and enones: highly enantioselective synthesis of δ-lactones

The NHC-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclocondensation of 2-aryl carboxylic acids with enones was developed, giving δ-lactones in good yields with high enantioselectivities.