Binaphthol-Derived Bisphosphoric Acids Serve as Efficient Organocatalysts for Highly Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides to Electron-Deficient Olefins

The Role of Aromatic Alcohol Additives on Asymmetric Organocatalysis Reactions: Insights from Theory

The presence of an aromatic additive has been seen to enhance, often significantly, the enantioselectivity and yield in asymmetric organocatalysis. Considering their success across a dizzying range of organocatalysts and organic transformations, it would seem unlikely that a common principle exists for their functioning. However, the current investigations with DFT suggest a general principle: the phenolic additive sandwiches itself, through hydrogen bonding and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking, between the organocatalyst coordinated electrophile and nucleophile. This is seen for a wide range of experimentally reported systems. That such complex formation leads to enhanced stereoselectivity is then demonstrated for two cases: the cinchona alkaloid complex (BzCPD), catalysing thiocyanation (2-naphthol additive employed), as well as for L-pipecolicacid catalysing the asymmetric nitroaldol reaction with a range of nitro-substituted phenol additives. These findings, indicating that dual catalysis takes place when phenolic additives are employed, are likely to have a significant impact on the field of asymmetric organocatalysis.

Multifunctional Organocatalysts - Singly-Linked and Macrocyclic Bisphosphoric Acids for Asymmetric Phase-Transfer and Brønsted-Acid Catalysis

The linking of phosphoric acids via covalent or mechanical bonds has proven to be a successful strategy for the design of novel organocatalysts. Here, we present the first systematic investigation of singly-linked and macrocyclic bisphosphoric acids, including their synthesis and their application in phase-transfer and Brønsted acid catalysis. We found that the novel bisphosphoric acids show dramatically increased enantioselectivities in comparison to their monophosphoric acid analogues. However, the nature, length and number of linkers has a profound influence on the enantioselectivities. In the asymmetric dearomative fluorination via phase-transfer catalysis, bisphosphoric acids with a single, rigid bisalkyne-linker give the best results with moderate to good enantiomeric excesses. In contrast, bisphosphoric acids with flexible linkers give excellent enantioselectivities in the transfer-hydrogenation of quinolines via cooperative Brønsted acid catalysis. In the latter case, sufficiently long linkers are needed for high stereoselectivities, as found experimentally and supported by DFT calculations.

Role of Chiral Skeleton in Chiral Phosphoric Acids Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation: A DFT Study

Chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) have received considerable attention due to their high activity for enantioselective transformations. However, the role of various chiral skeletons of CPAs in regulating the mechanism and enantioselectivity of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation has remained unclear. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to elucidate the role of chiral skeletons on the acidity, mechanism, enantioselectivity, and kinetic stabilities of transition states (TSs) in Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogen (ATH) reaction catalyzed by five CPAs. We found that the acidity of CPAs is strongly dependent on the chiral skeleton. The origin of enantioselectivity of ATH reaction arises from the differential noncovalent interactions between TSs and CPAs. Moreover, the shape and size of the catalyst pocket depending on chiral skeletons play key roles in the stability of TSs and the enantioselectivity of ATH. This study might facilitate to design and computationally screening of CPAs and guide the strategic choice of CPA skeletons to reduce the experimental workload.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Pyrrolidines via Oxetane Desymmetrization

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral pyrrolidines bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in the 3-position remains challenging. Herein we report two efficient protocols by means of oxetane desymmetrization, featuring the use of a readily available tert-butylsulfinamide chiral auxiliary and a catalytic system with chiral phosphoric acid as the source of chirality, respectively.

Metal-free, visible-light induced enantioselective three-component dicarbofunctionalization and oxytrifluoromethylation of enamines via chiral phosphoric acid catalysis

Using diverse carbon-centered radical precursors and electron-rich (hetero)aromatics and alcohols as nucleophiles, a visible-light driven chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular, three-component radical-initiated dicarbofunctionalization and oxytrifluoromethylation of enamines was developed, which provides a straightforward access to chiral arylmethylamines, aza-hemiacetals and γ-amino acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivity. As far as we know, this is the first example of constructing a chiral C–O bond using simple alcohols via visible-light photocatalysis. Chiral phosphoric acid played multiple roles in the reaction, including controlling the reaction stereoselectivity and promoting the generation of radical intermediates by activating Togni's reagent. Mechanistic studies also suggested the importance of the N–H bond of the enamine and indole for the reactions.

We have developed a metal-free, visible-light driven chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular, three-component radical-initiated dicarbofunctionalization and oxytrifluoromethylation of enamines.

Catalytic asymmetric construction of dispirotriheterocyclic structures through [3+2] cycloadditions of 4-amino pyrazolone-based azomethine ylides

An efficient and convenient catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of 4-amino pyrazolone-based azomethine ylides was developed, which delivers the multi-pharmacophore-containing dispirotriheterocyclic scaffolds with excellent stereoselectivities.

Green Chemistry Meets Asymmetric Organocatalysis: A Critical Overview on Catalysts Synthesis

Can green chemistry be the right reading key to let organocatalyst design take a step forward towards sustainable catalysis? What if the intriguing chemistry promoted by more engineered organocatalysts was carried on by using renewable and naturally occurring molecular scaffolds, or at least synthetic catalysts more respectful towards the principles of green chemistry? Within the frame of these questions, this Review will tackle the most commonly occurring organic chiral catalysts from the perspective of their synthesis rather than their employment in chemical methodologies or processes. A classification of the catalyst scaffolds based on their E factor will be provided, and the global E factor (EG factor) will be proposed as a new green chemistry metric to consider, also, the synthetic route to the catalyst within a given organocatalytic process.

An organocatalytic enantioselective ring-reorganization domino sequence of methyleneindolinones with 2-aminomalonates

Novel organocatalytic enantioselective ring-reorganization domino sequence was developed to efficiently construct polycyclic pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolinones in high yields (up to 92%) and stereoselectivity (up to >99% ee, >20 : 1 dr).

Enantioselective Aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction of Indoles and Pyrroles Catalyzed by Chiral C1-Symmetric Bis(phosphoric Acid)

A hydrogen bonding network in chiral Brønsted acid catalysts is important for the construction of a chiral cavity and the enhancement of catalytic activity. In this regard, we developed a highly enantioselective aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles and pyrroles with acyclic α-ketimino esters in the presence of a chiral C₁-symmetric BINOL-derived bis(phosphoric acid) catalyst. The desired alkylation products with chiral quaternary carbon centers were obtained in high yields with high enantioselectivities on up to a 1.2-g scale with 0.2 mol % catalyst loading. Interestingly, the absolute configurations of the products from indoles and pyrroles were opposite even with the use of the same chiral catalyst. Moreover, preliminary mechanistic considerations disclosed that a unique hydrogen bonding network with or without π-π interactions among the catalyst and substrates might partially play a pivotal role.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar [6+4] Cycloadditions of Tropone

A highly stereoselective 1,3-dipolar [6+4] cycloaddition towards bridged azabicyclo[4.3.1]decane scaffolds has been developed, reacting aldehydes, 2-aminomalonates and tropone under mild conditions in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The scope is demonstrated for a series of aldehydes and 2-aminomalonates, and the reaction proceeds in high yields, >95:5 d.r. and up to 99 % ee. A series of transformations, as well as a mechanistic proposal, are presented.

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted pyrrolidines bearing a stereogenic quaternary centre at the 3-position

An organocatalytic asymmetric cascade reaction has been developed for the synthesis of highly substituted pyrrolidines having a stereogenic quaternary centre at the 3-position. N-Tosyl aminomethyl enone and trans-α-cyano-α,β-unsaturated ketone were utilized as the reaction partners in this method. Cinchonidine derived bifunctional amino-squaramide catalysts were the best to obtain the products in high enantio- and diastereoselectivities.

Synthesis of Furan-Annelated BINOL Derivatives: Acid-Catalyzed Cyclization Induces Partial Racemization

In this account, we describe the synthesis of a series of BINOL-based bis- and trisphosphoric acids 11d/e/f, which commonly feature an unusual phosphoric acid monoester motif. This motif is generated by an acid-catalyzed 5- endo- dig cyclization of the 3-alkynyl-substituted BINOL precursors to give the corresponding Furan-annelated derivatives, followed by phosphorylation of the remaining phenolic alcohols. In the cyclization reaction, we observed an unexpected partial racemization in the bis- and tris-BINOL scaffolds, leading to mixtures of diastereomers that were separated and characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystal structure analyses. The cyclization and racemization processes were investigated both experimentally and by DFT-calculations, showing that although the cyclization proceeds faster, the barrier for the acid-catalyzed binaphthyl-racemization is only slightly higher.

2-Azaallyl Anions, 2-Azaallyl Cations, 2-Azaallyl Radicals, and Azomethine Ylides

This review covers the use of 2-azaallyl anions, 2-azaallyl cations, and 2-azaallyl radicals in organic synthesis up through June 2018. Particular attention is paid to both foundational studies and recent advances over the past decade involving semistabilized and nonstabilized 2-azaallyl anions as key intermediates in various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-forming processes. Both transition-metal-catalyzed and transition-metal-free transformations are covered. Azomethine ylides, which have received significant attention elsewhere, are discussed briefly with the primary focus on critical comparisons with 2-azaallyl anions in regard to generation and use.

Enantioselective aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of furan with α-ketimino esters induced by a conjugated double hydrogen bond network of chiral bis(phosphoric acid) catalysts

Chiral C₂- and C₁-symmetric BINOL-derived bis(phosphoric acid) catalysts facilitated the enantioselective aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction of 2-methoxyfuran with α-ketimino esters.

Chiral C₂- and C₁-symmetric BINOL-derived bis(phosphoric acid) catalysts, which have OP( Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> O)(OH)₂/OP( Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> O)(OH)(OR) moieties at the 2,2′-positions, were developed and used for the enantioselective aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction of 2-methoxyfuran with α-ketimino esters for the first time. The intramolecular conjugated double hydrogen bond network is a key to increasing the Brønsted acidity and preventing deactivation of the catalysts. Highly functionalized α-amino acid derivatives with a chiral quaternary carbon center could be transformed into versatile optically active N- and O-heterocycles and an α-aryl-substituted serine.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Annulation of α-Chloroaldehydes with γ-/δ-Amino-α,β-Unsaturated Ketones: Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrolidones and Piperidones

The N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [2+3] and [2+4] annulations of α-chloroaldehydes with γ-/δ-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketones were developed, giving the corresponding pyrrolidones and piperidones in good yields with exclusive trans-selectivities and excellent enantioselectivities.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond Activation: Thiourea-Organocatalyzed Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Salicylaldehyde-Derived Azomethine Ylides with Nitroalkenes

An organocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines with monoactivated azomethine ylides in high enantiomeric excess and excellent exo/endo selectivity is presented. The key to success is the intramolecular activation via hydrogen bonding through an o-hydroxy group, which allows the dipolar cycloaddition to take place in the presence of azomethine ylides bearing only one activating group. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in the azomethine ylide and the intermolecular hydrogen bond with the catalyst have been demonstrated by DFT calculations and mechanistic proofs to be crucial for the reaction to proceed.

Highly diastereoselective C → N acyl rearrangement in polysubstituted pyrrolidine 2,2-dicarboxylates. Stereocontrolled synthesis of densely functionalized prolines

A fully diastereoselective C–N acyl transfer reaction operates in enantiopure densely substituted pyrrolidine 2,2-dicarboxylates.

Organocatalytic diastereoselective synthesis of spirooxindoles via [3+2] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with α,β-unsaturated esters

Isatin-derived azomethine ylides react diastereoselectively with unsaturated esters to afford densely substituted spirooxindols.

Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azlactones

The first chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azlactones and methyleneindolinones was disclosed to yield 3,3′-pyrrolidonyl spirooxindole scaffolds.

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrrolidines via an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition

The asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidine derivatives with three contiguous stereogenic centers and bearing a trifluoromethyl group has been developed through an organocatalytic domino Michael/Mannich [3+2] cycloaddition sequence.