Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective Indole Aza-Claisen Rearrangement Mediated by an Arene CH–O Interaction

Enantioselective Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Desymmetrizative Coupling of 7-Azabenzonorbornadienes with Alkynylanilines

A PdII -catalyzed, domino enantioselective desymmetrizative coupling of 7-azabenzonorbornadienes with alkynylanilines is disclosed herein. This operationally simple transformation generates three covalent bonds and two contiguous stereocenters with excellent enantio- and diastereo-selectivity. The resulting functionalized indole-dihydronaphthalene-amine conjugates served as an appealing platform to streamline the diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) of other valuable enantioenriched compounds. DFT calculations revealed that the two stabilizing non-covalent interactions contributed to the observed enantioselectivity.

Asymmetric (4+n) Cycloadditions of Indolyldimethanols for the Synthesis of Enantioenriched Indole-Fused Rings

Catalytic asymmetric construction of chiral indole-fused rings has become an important issue in the chemical community because of the significance of such scaffolds. In this work, we have accomplished the first catalytic asymmetric (4+2) and (4+3) cycloadditions of 2,3-indolyldimethanols by using indoles and 2-naphthols as suitable reaction partners under the catalysis of chiral phosphoric acids, constructing enantioenriched indole-fused six-membered and seven-membered rings in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, this approach is used to realize the first enantioselective construction of challenging tetrahydroindolocarbazole scaffolds, which are found to show promising anticancer activity. More importantly, theoretical calculations of the reaction pathways and activation mode offer an in-depth understanding of this class of indolylmethanols. This work not only settles the challenges in realizing catalytic asymmetric cycloadditions of indolyldimethanols but also provides a powerful strategy for the construction of enantioenriched indole-fused rings.

Rapid Access to 2,2-Disubstituted Indolines via Dearomative Indolic-Claisen Rearrangement: Concise, Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Hinckdentine A

The construction of 2,2-disubstituted indolines has long presented a synthetic challenge without any general solutions. Herein, we report a robust protocol for the dearomative Meerwein-Eschenmoser-Claisen rearrangement of 3-indolyl alcohols that provides efficient access to 2-substituted and 2,2-disubstituted indolines. These versatile subunits are useful for natural product synthesis and medicinal chemistry. The title [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement proceeds in generally excellent yield and transfers the C3-indolic alcohol chirality to the C2 position with high fidelity, thus providing a reliable method for the construction of enantioenriched 2,2-disubstituted indolines. The power of this methodology is demonstrated through the concise and strategically unique total synthesis of the marine natural product hinckdentine A, which features a dearomative Claisen rearrangement, a diastereocontrolled hydrogenation of the alkene product, a one-pot amide-to-oxime conversion using Vaska's complex, and a regioselective late-stage tribromination.

Reshuffle Bonds by Ball Milling: A Mechanochemical Protocol for Charge-Accelerated Aza-Claisen Rearrangements

This study presents the development of a mechanochemical protocol for a charge-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement. The protocol waives the use of commonly applied transition metals, ligands, or pyrophoric Lewis acids, e.g., AlMe₃. Based on (heterocyclic) tertiary allylamines and acyl chlorides, the desired tertiary amides were prepared in yields ranging from 17% to 84%. Moreover, the same protocol was applied for a Belluš-Claisen-type rearrangement resulting in the synthesis of a 9-membered lactam without further optimization.

Recent advances in metal-catalysed asymmetric sigmatropic rearrangements

Asymmetric sigmatropic rearrangement is a powerful organic transformation via substrate-reorganization to efficiently increase molecular complexity from readily accessible starting materials. In particular, a high level of diastereo- and enantioselectivity can be readily accessed through well-defined and predictable transition states in [3,3], [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements, which have been widely applied in the synthesis of various chiral building blocks, natural products, and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, catalytic asymmetric sigmatropic rearrangements involving chiral metal complexes to induce stereocontrol have been intensively studied. This review presents an overview of metal-catalysed enantioselective versions of sigmatropic rearrangements in the past two decades, mainly focusing on [3,3], [2,3], and [1,3]-rearrangements, to show the development of substrate design, new catalyst exploitation, and novel cascade processes. In addition, their application in the asymmetric synthesis of complex natural products is also exemplified.

DyKAT by DiCat: Stereoconvergent Dienamine-Catalyzed Claisen Rearrangements

This Claisen rearrangement establishes the feasibility of DyKAT of γ-epimeric enals via dienamine formation to afford enantioenriched products. γ-Aryl and -alkyl enals, and exocyclic enals that introduce quaternary centers, are all amenable substrates. Products are readily converted into pyrrolidines or cyclopentenols. Notably, a reactive dienamine intermediate has been isolated from a catalytic reaction, fully characterized, and converted to product upon reexposure to reaction conditions. Product configuration arises from a directing C-H···π interaction in the transition state.

Diastereoselective Indole-Dearomative Cope Rearrangements by Compounding Minor Driving Forces

Reported herein is the discovery of a diastereoselective indole-dearomative Cope rearrangement. A suite of minor driving forces promote dearomatization: (i) steric congestion in the starting material, (ii) alkylidene malononitrile and stilbene conjugation events in the product, and (iii) an unexpected intramolecular π-π* stack on the product side of the equilibrium. The key substrates are rapidly assembled from simple starting materials, resulting in many successful examples. The products are structurally complex and bear vicinal stereocenters generated by the dearomative Cope rearrangement. They also contain a variety of functional groups for interconversion to complex architectures.

Nazarov Cyclizations Catalyzed by BINOL Phosphoric Acid Derivatives: Quantum Chemistry Struggles To Predict the Enantioselectivity

Quantum chemical calculations have successfully predicted the stereoselectivities of many BINOL phosphoric acid catalyzed reactions over the past 10-15 years. Herein we report a contrasting example: a reaction for which standard quantum chemistry techniques have proven unexpectedly ineffective at explaining the stereoselectivity. The Nazarov cyclizations of a divinyl ketone catalyzed by a BINOL phosphoric acid or H₈-BINOL dithiophosphoric acid were studied with a conventional contemporary quantum chemical approach, consisting of transition state optimizations with B3LYP-D3(BJ) and single-point calculations with several functionals in implicit solvent. Unexpectedly, different functionals gave widely different predictions of the level of enantioselectivity and were unable even to agree on which enantiomer of the product would predominate. Molecular dynamics simulations with the OPLS-AA force field provided evidence that the transition state geometries optimized with DFT in the gas phase or in implicit solvent are not good representations of the true transition states of these reactions in solution. One possible reason for this, which may also explain the failure of quantum chemical techniques to reliably predict the enantioselectivity, is the fact that the transition states contain ion pairs which are not highly organized and do not contain any strongly directional noncovalent interactions between the substrate and the catalyst.

Asymmetric C-H and N-H functionalization of Indoles involving Central Chirality via Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalysis

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The C-H and N-H functionalization of indoles is an interesting area of research that has a useful impact on organic synthesis due to the availability of chiral indole scaffolds in the discovery of drugs, synthetic bioactive compounds, and natural products. The chiral phosphoric acid catalysts (CPAs) have proven to be a powerful and versatile class of enantioselective organocatalysts. Many asymmetric syntheses of organic compounds have been carried out with these catalysts in C–C and C-N bond formation reactions, and great progress has been reported. By 2011, several reviews were published covering some important topics and recent achievements in this field. Therefore, in this review, the most recent advances, research breakthroughs with key examples involving mechanisms of CPA-catalyzed C-H and N-H functionalization of indoles to form central chirality via Friedel Crafts, Michael type, and rearrangement reactions were reviewed and reported.

A one-pot "back-to-front" approach for the synthesis of benzene ring substituted indoles using allylboronic acids

Synthesis of only benzene ring functionalized indoles and poly-substituted carbazoles is reported via a one-pot triple cascade benzannulation protocol. Usage of differently substituted and readily accessible allylboronic acids as a 3-carbon annulating partner enables diverse aliphatic and aromatic substitution patterns, which is still a daunting task. This scalable synthetic protocol tolerates broad scope, thus enabling further downstream modifications. As an application, carbazole based natural products glycozoline and glycozolinol were synthesized.

Synthesis of C5-Allylindoles through an Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution/Oxidation Reaction Sequence of N-Alkyl Indolines

Iridium/Brønsted acid cooperative catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions at the C5 position of indolines have been reported for the first time. The highly efficient protocol allows rapid access to various C5-allylated products in good to high yields (48-97%) and enantioselectivities (82% to >99% ee) with wide functional group tolerance. The transformations allow not only the formation of C5-allylindoline derivatives but also the synthesis of C5-allylindole analogues in good yields and excellent stereoselectivities via an allylation/oxidation reaction sequence.

[1,3]-Claisen Rearrangement via Removable Functional Group Mediated Radical Stabilization

A thermal O-to-C [1,3]-rearrangement of α-hydroxy acid derived enol ethers was achieved under mild conditions. The 2-aminothiophenol protection of carboxylic acids facilitates formation of the [1,3] precursor and its thermal rearrangement via stabilization of a radical intermediate. Experimental and theoretical evidence for dissociative radical pair formation, its captodative stability via aminothiophenol, and a unique solvent effect are presented. The aminothiophenol was deprotected from rearrangement products as well as after derivatization to useful synthons.

Homologation of the Fischer Indolization: A Quinoline Synthesis via Homo-Diaza-Cope Rearrangement

We disclose a new Brønsted acid promoted quinoline synthesis, proceeding via homo-diaza-Cope rearrangement of N-aryl-N'-cyclopropyl hydrazines. Our strategy can be considered a homologation of Fischer's classical indole synthesis and delivers 6-membered N-heterocycles, including previously inaccessible pyridine derivatives. This approach can also be used as a pyridannulation methodology toward constructing polycyclic polyheteroaromatics. A computational analysis has been employed to probe plausible activation modes and to interrogate the role of the catalyst.

Multicomponent and multicatalytic asymmetric synthesis of furo[2,3-b]pyrrole derivatives: further insights into the mode of action of chiral phosphoric acid catalysts

Multicomponent and multicatalytic reactions are those processes that try to imitate the way the enzymatic machinery transforms simple building blocks into complex products. The development of asymmetric versions of these reactions is a step forward in our dream of mirroring the exquisite selectivity of biological processes. In this context, the present work describes a new reaction for the asymmetric synthesis of furo[2,3-b]pyrrole derivatives from simple 3-butynamines, glyoxylic acid and anilines in the presence of a dual catalytic system, formed from a gold complex and a chiral phosphoric acid. Computations, aimed to understand the exceptional performance of 9-anthracenyl-substituted BINOL-derived phosphoric acid catalyst, suggest a fundamental role of non-covalent interactions being established between the catalyst and the reagents for the outcome of the multicomponent process. The linear geometry of the anthracenyl substituent along with the presence of an electron-withdrawing group in the aniline and an aromatic substituent in the 3-butynamine derivative seem to be key structural factors to explain the experimental results and, particularly, the high stereoselectivity.

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intermolecular Indole C2-Allylation

The enantioselective intermolecular C2-allylation of 3-substituted indoles is reported for the first time. This directing group-free approach relies on a chiral Ir-(P, olefin) complex and Mg(ClO4 )2 Lewis acid catalyst system to promote allylic substitution, providing the C2-allylated products in typically high yields (40-99 %) and enantioselectivities (83-99 % ee) with excellent regiocontrol. Experimental studies and DFT calculations suggest that the reaction proceeds via direct C2-allylation, rather than C3-allylation followed by in situ migration. Steric congestion at the indole-C3 position and improved π-π stacking interactions have been identified as major contributors to the C2-selectivity.

Enantioselective Allenoate-Claisen Rearrangement Using Chiral Phosphate Catalysts

Herein we report the first highly enantioselective allenoate-Claisen rearrangement using doubly axially chiral phosphate sodium salts as catalysts. This synthetic method provides access to β-amino acid derivatives with vicinal stereocenters in up to 95% ee. We also investigated the mechanism of enantioinduction by transition state (TS) computations with DFT as well as statistical modeling of the relationship between selectivity and the molecular features of both the catalyst and substrate. The mutual interactions of charge-separated regions in both the zwitterionic intermediate generated by reaction of an amine to the allenoate and the Na⁺-salt of the chiral phosphate leads to an orientation of the TS in the catalytic pocket that maximizes favorable noncovalent interactions. Crucial arene-arene interactions at the periphery of the catalyst lead to a differentiation of the TS diastereomers. These interactions were interrogated using DFT calculations and validated through statistical modeling of parameters describing noncovalent interactions.

Weak Intermolecular CH···N Hydrogen Bonding: Determination of 13CH-15N Hydrogen-Bond Mediated J Couplings by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and First-Principles Calculations

Weak hydrogen bonds are increasingly hypothesized to play key roles in a wide range of chemistry from catalysis to gelation to polymer structure. Here, ¹⁵N/¹³C spin-echo magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are applied to "view" intermolecular CH···N hydrogen bonding in two selectively labeled organic compounds, 4-[¹⁵N] cyano-4'-[¹³C₂] ethynylbiphenyl (1) and [¹⁵N₃,¹³C₆]-2,4,6-triethynyl-1,3,5-triazine (2). The synthesis of 2-¹⁵N₃,¹³C₆ is reported here for the first time via a multistep procedure, where the key element is the reaction of [¹⁵N₃]-2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (5) with [¹³C₂]-[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]zinc chloride (8) to afford its immediate precursor [¹⁵N₃,¹³C₆]-2,4,6-tris[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]-1,3,5-triazine (9). Experimentally determined hydrogen-bond-mediated ^2hJ_CN couplings (4.7 ± 0.4 Hz (1) and 4.1 ± 0.3 Hz (2)) are compared with density functional theory (DFT) gauge-including projector augmented wave (GIPAW) calculations, whereby species-independent coupling values ^2hK_CN (29.0 × 10¹⁹ kg m^-2 s^-2 A^-2 (1) and 27.9 × 10¹⁹ kg m^-2 s^-2 A^-2 (2)) quantitatively demonstrate the J couplings for these "weak" CH···N hydrogen bonds to be of a similar magnitude to those for conventionally observed NH···O hydrogen-bonding interactions in uracil (^2hK_NO: 28.1 and 36.8 × 10¹⁹ kg m^-2 s^-2 A^-2). Moreover, the GIPAW calculations show a clear correlation between increasing ^2hJ_CN (and ^3hJ_CN) coupling and reducing C(H)···N and H···N hydrogen-bonding distances, with the Fermi contact term accounting for at least 98% of the isotropic ^2hJ_CN coupling.

Why do thioureas and squaramides slow down the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement?

A range of chiral hydrogen-bond-donating organocatalysts was tested in the Ireland–Claisen rearrangement of silyl ketene acetals. None of these organocatalysts was able to impart any enantioselectivity on the rearrangements. Furthermore, these organocatalysts slowed down the Ireland–Claisen rearrangement in comparison to an uncatalyzed reaction. The catalyst-free reaction proceeded well in green solvents or without any solvent. DFT calculations showed that the activation barriers are higher for reactions involving hydrogen-donating organocatalysts and kinetic experiments suggest that the catalysts bind stronger to the starting silyl ketene acetals than to transition structures thus leading to inefficient rearrangement reactions.

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.

Chiral cis-iron(ii) complexes with metal- and ligand-centered chirality for highly regio- and enantioselective alkylation of N-heteroaromatics

Iron-catalyzed highly regio- and enantioselective organic transformations with generality and broad substrate scope have profound applications in modern synthetic chemistry; an example is herein described based on cis-Fe^II complexes having metal- and ligand-centered chirality. The cis-β Fe^II(N₄) complex [Fe^II(L)(OTf)₂] (L = N,N′-bis(2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta-[b]quinoline-5-yl)-N,N′-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine) is an effective chiral catalyst for highly regio- and enantioselective alkylation of N-heteroaromatics with α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles, including asymmetric N1, C2, C3 alkylations of a broad range of indoles (34 examples) and alkylation of pyrroles and anilines (14 examples), all with high product yields (up to 98%), high enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee) and high regioselectivity. DFT calculations revealed that the “chiral-at-metal” cis-β configuration of the iron complex and a secondary π–π interaction are responsible for the high enantioselectivity.

A cis-β Fe^II complex having metal- and ligand-centered chirality catalyzes highly regio- and enantioselective alkylation of indoles (at the N1, C2, or C3 position), pyrroles and anilines with α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles (48 examples, up to 99% ee).

Site-selective acylation of natural products with BINOL-derived phosphoric acids

The site-selective acylation of a steroidal natural product 19-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone catalyzed by 1,1'-Bi(2-napthol)-derived (BINOL) chiral phosphoric acids (CPA's) is described. Systematic variation and multivariate linear regression analysis reveal that the same steric parameters typically needed for high enantioselectivity with this class of CPAs are also required for site-selectivity in this case. Density functional theory calculations identify additional weak CH-π interactions as contributors to site discrimination. We further report a rare example of site-selective acylation of phenols through the evaluation of naringenin, a flavonoid natural product, using CPA catalysis. These results suggest that BINOL-derived CPA's may have broader applications in site-selective catalysis.

Understanding the Reactivity and Selectivity of Fluxional Chiral DMAP-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolutions of Axially Chiral Biaryls

Fluxional chiral DMAP-catalyzed kinetic resolutions of axially chiral biaryls were examined using density functional theory. Computational analyses lead to a revised understanding of this reaction in which the interplay of numerous non-covalent interactions control the conformation and flexibility of the active catalyst, the preferred mechanism, and the stereoselectivity. Notably, while the DMAP catalyst itself is confirmed to be highly fluxional, electrostatically driven π⋅⋅⋅π⁺ interactions render the active, acylated form of the catalyst highly rigid, explaining its pronounced stereoselectivity.

F10BINOL-derived chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction: theoretical elucidation of stereochemical outcomes

An enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction of 1,1-disubstituted olefins with ethyl glyoxylate was accomplished using an F₁₀BINOL-derived chiral phosphoric acid of which the perfluoro-binaphthyl skeleton is beneficial not only for adopting high catalytic activity but also for creating an effective chiral environment.

An F₁₀BINOL-derived chiral phosphoric acid was shown to be an effective catalyst for an enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction of 1,1-disubstituted olefins with ethyl glyoxylate as the common enophile. The perfluoro-binaphthyl skeleton is beneficial not only for adopting high catalytic activity but also for creating an effective chiral environment for enantioselective transformations. Indeed, the reaction afforded enantio-enriched homoallylic alcohols in high yields with high enantioselectivities. Theoretical studies identified that the multi-point C–H···O hydrogen bonds and the π interactions between the substrates and the 6-methoxy-2-naphthyl substituents at the 3,3′-positions of the F₁₀BINOL skeleton play a crucial role in determining the stereochemical outcomes. The significance of the perfluoro-binaphthyl skeleton in achieving the high enantioselectivity was also evaluated through a structural analysis of the catalysts.

The control effects of different scaffolds in chiral phosphoric acids: a case study of enantioselective asymmetric arylation

DFT calculations disclosed that the sign of enantioselectivity in chiral-phosphoric-acid catalyzed reactions can be tuned by BINOL- or SPINOL-derived backbones.

Chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular SN2' reaction for enantioselective construction of a quaternary stereogenic center

Construction of a quaternary stereogenic center was accomplished through the enantioselective intramolecular allylic substitution reaction of bis-trichloroacetimidate catalyzed by a chiral phosphoramide derivative.

An enantioselective intramolecular anti-S_N2′ cyclization reaction for the construction of a quaternary stereogenic center was accomplished through the activation of the leaving group using a binaphthol-derived phosphoramide as the chiral Brønsted acid catalyst. The present allylic substitution reaction is beneficial not only for the regioselective nucleophilic substitution at the multi-substituted site of the double bond but also for controlling the stereochemical outcome because of using a geometrically defined double bond. Indeed, the reaction afforded synthetically useful amino alcohol derivatives having a tetra-substituted carbon center in a highly enantioselective manner in most cases, in which the modification of the sulfonamide unit of the phosphoramide catalyst was demonstrated to improve the enantioselectivity. Experimental and theoretical elucidation of the reaction mechanism suggested that the reaction proceeds through a synchronous anti-S_N2′ pathway, although NMR monitoring of the reaction indicated the formation of the phosphorimidate ester via the S_N2 reaction of the catalyst with the substrate, which results in catalyst deactivation. Further theoretical studies of the origin of the stereochemical outcome at the generated quaternary stereogenic center were performed. Structural analysis of the transition states at the enantio-determining step revealed that the distinct discrimination of the substituents attached to the geometrically defined double bond is achieved by the anthryl and sulfonamide substituents of the catalyst through the three-point hydrogen bonding interactions and the T-shaped C–H···π interactions.

Model molecules to classify CHO hydrogen-bonds

We developed a set of conformationally locked molecules each of which makes a single CHO H-bond/short contact and has different electron density at the acceptor oxygen atom. The downfield shift of the 1H NMR signals due to the hydrogen involved in the CHO H-bond varied from 0.93-1.6 ppm, and the magnitude of Δδ is in correlation with the hybridization state of the acceptor oxygen and with the CHO H-bond strengths quantified using a computational method.

Enantiocontrol by assembled attractive interactions in copper-catalyzed asymmetric direct alkynylation of α-ketoesters with terminal alkynes: OH···O/sp3-CH···O two-point hydrogen bonding combined with dispersive attractions

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric direct alkynylation of α-ketoesters with terminal alkynes with chiral prolinol-phosphine ligands, most preferably (αR,2S)-1-(2-dicyclohexylphosphinobenzyl)-α-neopentyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol, afforded various enantioenriched chiral propargylic tertiary alcohols. Quantum-chemical calculations using the BP86 density functional including Grimme's empirical dispersion correction [DF-BP86-D3(BJ)-PCM(tBuOH)/TZVPP//DF-BP86-D3(BJ)/SVP] show the occurrence of OH···O/sp3-CH···O two-point hydrogen bonding between the chiral ligand and the carbonyl group of the ketoester in the stereo-determining transition states. Combined with the hydrogen-bonding interactions orienting the ketoester substrate, dispersive attractions between the chiral ligand (P-cyclohexyl groups) and the ketoester in the favored transition states, rather than steric repulsions in the disfavored transition state explain the enantioselectivity of the asymmetric copper catalysis.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective Ring Expansion Reaction of 1,3-Dithiane Derivatives: Case Study of the Nature of Ion-Pairing Interaction

Chiral counterion controlled asymmetric catalysis via an ion-pairing interaction has attracted immense attention in recent years. Despite a number of successful studies, the mechanistic elucidation of the stereocontrolling element in the ion-pairing interaction is rarely conducted and hence its nature is still far from being well understood. Herein we report an in-depth mechanistic case study of a newly developed enantioselective ring expansion reaction of 1,3-dithiane derivatives catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). An unprecedented enantioselective 1,2-sulfur rearrangement/stereospecific nucleophilic addition sequence was proven to be the stereoselective pathway. More importantly, by thorough investigation of the intrinsic nature of the stereospecific nucleophilic addition to the cationic thionium intermediate, we discovered that the key interaction in this process is the nonclassical C-H···O hydrogen bonds formed between the conjugate base of the CPA catalyst and the cationic intermediate. These C-H···O hydrogen bonds not only bind the catalyst to the substrates to form energetically favored states throughout the overall processes but also firmly maintain the relative positions of these fragments as the "fixed" contact ion pair to sustain the chiral information generated at the initial sulfur rearrangement step. This mechanistic case study provides a very clear understanding of the nature of the ion-pairing interaction in organocatalysis. The conclusion encourages the further development of the research field with the focus to design new organocatalysts and cultivate novel organocatalytic transformations.

Using 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts to determine cyclic peptide conformations: a combined molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics approach

Conformational analysis from NMR and density-functional prediction of low-energy ensembles (CANDLE), a new approach for determining solution structures.

Chiral phosphoric acid catalysis: from numbers to insights

Chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) have emerged as powerful organocatalysts for asymmetric reactions, and applications of computational quantum chemistry have revealed important insights into the activity and selectivity of these catalysts.

Non-bonding 1,5-S···O interactions govern chemo- and enantioselectivity in isothiourea-catalyzed annulations of benzazoles

Isothiourea-catalyzed annulations between 2-acyl benzazoles and α,β-unsaturated acyl ammonium intermediates are selectively tuned to form either lactam or lactone heterocycles in good yields (up to 95%) and high ee (up to 99%) using benzothiazole or benzoxazole derivatives, respectively. Computation gives insight into the significant role of two 1,5-S···O interactions in controlling the structural preorganization and chemoselectivity observed within the lactam synthesis with benzothiazoles as nucleophiles. When using benzazoles the absence of a second stabilizing non-bonding 1,5-S···O interaction leads to a dominant C-H···O interaction in determining structural preorganization and lactone formation.

Computational Insights into the Central Role of Nonbonding Interactions in Modern Covalent Organocatalysis

The flexibility, complexity, and size of contemporary organocatalytic transformations pose interesting and powerful opportunities to computational and experimental chemists alike. In this Account, we disclose our recent computational investigations of three branches of organocatalysis in which nonbonding interactions, such as C-H···O/N interactions, play a crucial role in the organization of transition states, catalysis, and selectivity. We begin with two examples of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis, both collaborations with the Scheidt laboratory at Northwestern. In the first example, we discuss the discovery of an unusual diverging mechanism in a catalytic kinetic resolution of a dynamic racemate that depends on the stereochemistry of the product being formed. Specifically, the major product is formed through a concerted asynchronous [2 + 2] aldol-lactonization, while the minor products come from a stepwise spiro-lactonization pathway. Stereoselectivity and catalysis are the results of electrophilic activation from C-H···O interactions between the catalyst and the substrate and conjugative stabilization of the electrophile. In the second example, we show how knowledge and understanding of the computed transition states led to the development of a more enantioselective NHC catalyst for the butyrolactonization of acyl phosphonates. The identification of mutually exclusive C-H···O interactions in the computed major and minor TSs directly resulted in structural hypotheses that would lead to targeted destabilization of the minor TS, leading to enhanced stereoinduction. Synthesis and evaluation of the newly designed NHC catalyst validated our hypotheses. Next, we discuss two works related to Lewis base catalysis involving 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and its derivatives. In the first, we discuss our collaboration with the Smith laboratory at St Andrews, in which we discovered the origins of the regioselectivity in carboxyl transfer reactions. We disclose how different Lewis base catalysts (NHC or DMAP) can lead to different regiomeric products as a result of differing magnitudes of aromatic and C-H···O interactions present in the respective transition states. In the second example, we discuss the mechanism and origins of the stereoselectivity of a reaction catalyzed by a planar-chiral 4-(pyrrolidino)pyridine derivative, namely, the coupling of ketenes with cyanopyrrole. We discovered that the chiral base mechanism is operative, in contrast to the originally proposed Brønsted acid mechanism. The selectivity is determined by the ease with which the major and minor TSs can realize strong stabilizing C-H···N interactions between the pyrrole cyano group and the catalyst. These interactions induce increased catalyst distortion in the minor TS, thereby leading to enantioselectivity. Finally, we discuss our computations related to amine-based organocatalysis in collaboration with the Carter laboratory at Oregon State. We probed the mechanism and stereoselectivity of a bifunctional amine thiourea-catalyzed Michael reaction. Our computations led to the design of an improved catalyst. However, synthesis and tests revealed that this catalyst was prone to degradation to side products that also catalyze the reaction, ultimately reducing the observed enantioselectivity. Lastly, we discuss our study of the mechanism and stereoselectivity of a proline sulfonamide-catalyzed Robinson annulation, in which we discovered that the enantioselectivity is controlled by the first Michael step but the diastereoselectivity is controlled by the following Mannich step.