Catalytic asymmetric dearomatizing redox cross coupling of ketones with aryl hydrazines giving 1,4-diketones

Recent Developments on Photochemical Synthesis of 1,n-Dicarbonyls

1,n-dicarbonyls are one of the most fascinating chemical feedstocks finding abundant usage in the field of pharmaceuticals. Besides, they are utilized in a plethora of synthesis in general synthetic organic chemistry. A number of 'conventional' methods are available for their synthesis, such as the Stetter reaction, Baker-Venkatraman rearrangement, oxidation of vicinal diols, and oxidation of deoxybenzoins, synonymous with unfriendly reagents and conditions. In the last 15 years or so, photocatalysis has taken the world of synthetic organic chemistry by a remarkable renaissance. It is fair to say now that everybody loves the light and photoredox chemistry has opened a new gateway to organic chemists towards milder, more simpler alternatives to the previously available methods, allowing access to many sensitive reactions and products. In this review, we present the readers with the photochemical synthesis of a variety of 1,n-dicarbonyls. Diverse photocatalytic pathways to these fascinating molecules have been discussed, placing special emphasis on the mechanisms, giving the reader an opportunity to find all these significant developments in one place.

Copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of α-imino-esters

Asymmetric alkylation of enolates is one of the most direct and important reactions to prepare α-chiral carbonyl compounds. Except for the classical methods that rely on the use of chiral auxiliaries, asymmetric catalysis emerged as a powerful tool, especially asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis. However, in the field of transition metal catalysis, only limited success with asymmetric alkylation of enolates was achieved. Hereby, we disclose a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of α-imino-esters with various alkyl halides, including allyl bromides, propargyl bromide, benzyl bromides, α-bromo carbonyl compounds, and alkyl iodides. Both linear and cyclic α-imino-esters serve as competent pronucleophiles in the alkylation, which affords α-amino acid derivatives bearing either a trisubstituted or a tetrasubstituted stereogenic carbon center in high to excellent enantioselectivity. Control experiments indicate that the α-imino-ester is activated by a chiral copper(I)-phosphine complex through coordination, thus enabling facile deprotonation to provide a stabilized copper(I)-enolate in the presence of a mild base. Finally, the mildly basic nature allows the asymmetric alkylation of chiral dipeptides with excellent both chemo- and enantioselectivities.

Diethylzinc-Mediated Cross-Coupling Reactions between Dibromoketones and Monobromo Carbonyl Compounds

A novel route to synthesize 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds is described. α,α-Dibromoketones generate zinc enolates through a diethylzinc-mediated halogen-metal exchange and react with α-bromocarbonyl compounds to furnish 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds via a second generation of zinc enolates. This cross-coupling reaction is enabled by the chemoselective formation of zinc enolates from α,α-dibromoketones in the presence of α-bromocarbonyl compounds. Chiral 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds can be obtained via the enantioselective bromination of aldehydes using a chiral secondary amine catalyst and a subsequent cross-coupling reaction between the resulting chiral α-bromoaldehydes and α,α-dibromoacetophenones.

Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Dicarbonylative Cyclization of Alkenes with Alkyl Bromides via Radical Cascade Process

Herein, we developed a new procedure on 1,2-dicarbonylative cyclization of 4-aryl-1-butenes with alkyl bromides. Using simple copper catalyst, two molecules of carbon monoxide were introduced into the double bond with the formation of four new C-C bonds and a new ring. Various α-tetralones and 2,3-dihydroquinolin-4-ones were formed in moderate to good yields.

Dearomative di- and trifunctionalization of aryl sulfoxides via [5,5]-rearrangement

Aromatic [5,5]-rearrangement can in principle be an ideal protocol to access dearomative compounds. However, the lack of competent [5,5]-rearrangement impedes the advance of the protocol. In this Article, we showcase the power of [5,5]-rearrangement recently developed in our laboratory for constructing an intriguing dearomative sulfonium specie which features versatile and unique reactivities to perform nucleophilic 1,2- and 1,4-addition and cyclization, thus achieving dearomative di- and trifunctionalization of easily accessible aryl sulfoxides. Impressively, the dearomatization products can be readily converted to sulfur-removed cyclohexenones, naphthalenones, bicyclic cyclohexadienones, and multi-substituted benzenes. Mechanistic studies shed light on the key intermediates and the remarkable chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities of the reactions.

Divergent synthesis of benzazepines and bridged polycycloalkanones via dearomative rearrangement

The dearomative functionalization of aromatic compounds represents a fascinating but challenging transformation, as it typically needs to overcome a great kinetic barrier. Here, a catalyst-free dearomative rearrangement of o-nitrophenyl alkyne is successfully established by leveraging the remote oxygen transposition and a weak N-O bond acceleration. This reaction features high atom-, step- and redox-economy, which provides a divergent entry to a series of biologically important benzazepines and bridged polycycloalkanones. The reaction is proposed to proceed through a tandem oxygen transfer cyclization/(3 + 2) cycloaddition/(homo-)hetero-Claisen rearrangement reaction. The resulting polycyclic system is richly decorated with transformable functionalities, such as carbonyl, imine and diene, which enables diversity-oriented synthesis of alkaloid-like polycyclic framework.

The dearomative functionalization of aromatic compounds represents a challenging transformation, as it typically needs to overcome a great kinetic barrier. Here, the authors disclose a weak-bond-accelerated, catalyst-free dearomative [3,3]-rearrangement of o-nitrophenyl alkyne for the divergent synthesis of benzazepines and bridged polycycloalkanones via remote oxygen transposition.

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.

Statistical evaluation of simulated NMR data of flexible molecules

A new probability score-named χ-probability-is introduced for evaluating the fit of mixed NMR datasets to calculate molecular model ensembles, in order to answer challenging structural questions such as the determination of stereochemical configurations. Similar to the DP4 parameter, the χ-probability is based on Bayes theorem and expresses the probability that an experimental NMR dataset fits to a given individual within a finite set of candidate structures or configurations. Here, the χ-probability is applied to single out the correct configuration in four example cases, with increasing complexity and conformational mobility. The NMR data (which include RDCs, NOE distances and ³J couplings) are calculated from MDOC (Molecular Dynamics with Orientational Constraints) trajectories and are investigated against experimentally measured data. It is demonstrated that this approach singles out the correct stereochemical configuration with probabilities more than 98%, even for highly mobile molecules. In more demanding cases, a decisive χ-probability test requires that the datasets include high-quality NOE distances in addition to RDC values.

TBAI-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Benzyl Ketones to Synthesize 2,3-Diaryl-1,4-Diketones in Water

An efficient and green route of C-C bond formation was disclosed to construct 2,3-diaryl-1,4-diketones from α-methylene ketones by the catalysis of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant in water. This reaction affords the desired products in good to excellent yields from readily available materials, with a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, tetrasubstituted furan and pyrrole were smoothly constructed from α-methylene ketones in one pot with 96 and 90% yields, respectively.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Dearomatization by Intramolecular Hydroalkoxylation/Claisen Rearrangement: Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Spirolactams

Described herein is a novel Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular hydroalkoxylation/Claisen rearrangement, allowing the practical and atom-economic synthesis of a range of valuable spirolactams from readily available ynamides in generally good to excellent yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and broad substrate scope. Importantly, an unexpected dearomatization of nonactivated arenes and heteroaromatic compounds is involved in this tandem sequence. Moreover, an asymmetric version of this tandem cyclization was also achieved by efficient kinetic resolution by chiral phosphoric acid catalysis. In addition, the [3,3]-rearrangement is shown to be kinetically preferred over the related [1,3]-rearrangement by theoretical calculations.

Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Reactions of α-Ketoaldehyde, 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compound, and Organic Boronic Acid in Water: A Route to 1,4-Diketones

A novel three-component reaction of α-ketoaldehydes, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and organic boronic acids catalyzed by CuO in water has been developed to give a wide range of products containing 1,3/1,4-diketones. The method has some advantages such as the use of readily available starting materials, wide substrate scopes, excellent yields, gram-scale synthesis, and mild reaction conditions.

Carbene-catalyzed enantioselective annulation of dinucleophilic hydrazones and bromoenals for access to aryl-dihydropyridazinones and related drugs

4,5-Dihydropyridazinones bearing an aryl substituent at the C6-position are important motifs in drug molecules. Herein, we developed an efficient protocol to access aryl-dihydropyridazinone molecules via carbene-catalyzed asymmetric annulation between dinucleophilic arylidene hydrazones and bromoenals. Key steps in this reaction include polarity-inversion of aryl aldehyde-derived hydrazones followed by chemo-selective reaction with enal-derived α,β-unsaturated acyl azolium intermediates. The aryl-dihydropyridazinone products accessed by our protocol can be readily transformed into drugs and bioactive molecules.

Polarity inversion of arylidene hydrazones to react with bromoenals via carbene organic catalysis is disclosed. The reaction enantioselectively affords 6-aryl-4,5-dihydropyridazinones and related drugs with proven commercial applications.

De Novo and Divergent Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Furans by Cascade Reactions of 2-Hydroxy-1,4-diones with Nucleophiles

Herein, a divergent synthesis of a variety of 2α- and 5α-substituted furan derivatives from 2-hydroxy-1,4-diones is reported. By using appropriate substrates and an acid catalyst, the reactions occurred selectively through cyclization/1,6-conjugate addition or cyclization/Friedel-Crafts-type cascade reactions. A broad range of nucleophilic reagents (>10 types for the 1,6-conjugate addition for 5α substitution and >20 types for the Friedel-Crafts-type cascade reaction for 2α substitution), including alcohols, amides, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, indole, phenols, and many others, can successfully participate in the reactions, providing a universal strategy for a diversity-oriented synthesis of α-substituted furan derivatives. Deuteriation experiments and DFT calculations were carried out to support the proposed reaction mechanisms. Antifungal activity experiments revealed that products with an indole or 4-hydroxycoumarin core substituted at the 2α position showed moderate activities against Rhizoctorzia solani and Botrytis cinerea, respectively.

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.

Synthesis of a Novel 1,4-Dicarbonyl Scaffold – Ethyl 3-Formyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylate – and Its Application to the Synthesis of Pyridazines

The 1,4-dicarbonyl scaffold ethyl 3-formyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylate was obtained through the rearrangement of the parent ethyl 2-(4,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)-2-oxoacetate and applied to the synthesis of a series of 7-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-d]pyridazines. Twelve pyridazines­ were obtained in yields of up to 70%.

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric dearomatization reactions

We summarize in this review the recent development of chiral phosphoric acid (CPA)-catalyzed asymmetric dearomatization reactions.

Conformational Investigations in Flexible Molecules Using Orientational NMR Constraints in Combination with 3J-Couplings and NOE Distances

The downscaling of NMR tensorial interactions, such as dipolar couplings, from tens of kilohertz to a few hertz in low-order media is the result of dynamics spanning several orders of magnitudes, including vibrational modes (~ns-fs), whole-molecule reorientation (~ns) and higher barrier internal conformational exchange (<ms). In this work, we propose to employ these dynamically averaged interactions to drive an “alignment-tensor-free” molecular dynamic simulation with orientation constraints (MDOC) in order to efficiently access the conformational space sampled by flexible small molecules such as natural products. Key to this approach is the application of tensorial pseudo-force restraints which simultaneously guide the overall reorientation and conformational fluctuations based on defined memory function over the running trajectory. With the molecular mechanics force-field, which includes bond polarization theory (BPT), and complemented with other available NMR parameters such as NOEs and scalar J-couplings, MDOC efficiently arrives at dynamic ensembles that reproduce the entire NMR dataset with exquisite accuracy and theoretically reveal the systems conformational space and equilibrium. The method as well as its potential towards configurational elucidation is presented on diastereomeric pairs of flexible molecules: a small 1,4-diketone 1 with a single rotatable bond as well as a 24-ring macrolide related to the natural product mandelalide A 2.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds from Aldehydes by Hydrogen Atom Transfer Photocatalysis and Chiral Lewis Acid Catalysis

Enantioenriched 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds are versatile synthons in natural product and pharmaceutical drug synthesis. We herein report a mild pathway for the efficient enantioselective synthesis of these compounds directly from aldehydes through synergistic cooperation between a neutral eosin Y hydrogen atom transfer photocatalyst and a chiral rhodium Lewis acid catalyst. This method is distinguished by its operational simplicity, abundant feedstocks, atom economy, and ability to generate products in high yields (up to 99 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,4-Keto-Alkenylboronate Esters and 1,4-Dicarbonyls

A catalytic enantioselective method for the synthesis of 1,4-keto-alkenylboronate esters by a rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition pathway is disclosed. A variety of novel, bench-stable alkenyl gem-diboronate esters are synthesized. These easily accessible reagents react smoothly with a collection of cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones, generating a new C-C bond and stereocenter. Products are isolated in up to 99 % yield with greater than 20:1 E/Z and greater than 99:1 e.r. Mechanistic studies show the site-selectivity of transmetalation and reactivity is ligand dependent. The utility of the approach is highlighted by gram-scale synthesis of enantioenriched cyclic 1,4-diketones, and stereoselective transformations of the products by hydrogenation, allylation, and isomerization.

Intramolecular Phosphacyclization: Polyaromatic Phosphonium P-Heterocycles with Wide-Tuning Optical Properties

Rationally designed cationic phospha-polyaromatic fluorophores were prepared through intramolecular cyclization of the tertiary ortho-(acene)phenylene-phosphines mediated by Cu^II triflate. As a result of phosphorus quaternization, heterocyclic phosphonium salts 1 c-3 c, derived from naphthalene, phenanthrene, and anthracene cores, exhibited very intense blue to green fluorescence (Φ_em =0.38-0.99) and high photostability in aqueous medium. The structure-emission relationship was further investigated by tailoring the electron-donating functions to the anthracene moiety to give dyes 4 c-6 c with charge-transfer character. The latter significantly decreases the emission energy to reach near-IR region. Thus, the intramolecular phosphacyclization renders an ultra-wide tuning of fluorescence from 420 nm (1 c) to 780 nm (6 c) in solution, extended to 825 nm for 6 c in the solid state with quantum efficiency of approximately 0.07. The physical behavior of these new dyes was studied spectroscopically, crystallographically, and electrochemically, whereas computational analysis was used to correlate the experimental data with molecular electronic structures. The excellent stability, water solubility, and attractive photophysical characteristics make these phosphonium heterocycles powerful tools in cell imaging.

Structural Diversity in Supramolecular Organization of Anionic Phosphate Monoesters: Role of Cations

Syntheses and structures of anionic arylphosphate monoesters [ArOP(O)₂(OH)]^- (Ar = 2,6-CHPh₂-4-R-C₆H₂; R = Me/Et/iPr/tBu) with different counter cations are reported. The counter cations were varied systematically: imidazolium cation, 2-methyl imidazolium cation, N-methyl imidazolium cation, N,N'-alkyl substituted imidazolium cation, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium cation, 4,4'-bipyridinium dication, and magnesium(II) dication. The objective was to examine if the supramolecular structure of anionic arylphosphate monoesters could be modulated by varying the cation. It was found that an eight-membered P₂O₄H₂-hydrogen-bonded dimeric motif involving intermolecular H-bonding between the [P(O)(OH)] unit of the anionic phosphate monoester along with the counter cation is formed with 2-methyl imidazolium cation, N-methyl imidazolium cation, N,N'-alkyl substituted imidazolium cation, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium cation, and magnesium(II) dication; both discrete and polymeric H-bonded structures are observed. In the case of imidazolium cations and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium cation, the formation of one-dimensional polymers (single lane/double lane) was observed. On the other hand, two types of phosphate motifs, intermolecular H-bonded dimer and an open-form, were observed in the case of 4,4'-bipyridinium dication.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds by Photochemical Organocatalytic Acyl Radical Addition to Enals

We report a visible‐light‐mediated organocatalytic strategy for the enantioselective acyl radical conjugate addition to enals, leading to valuable 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds. The process capitalizes upon the excited‐state reactivity of 4‐acyl‐1,4‐dihydropyridines that, upon visible‐light absorption, can trigger the generation of acyl radicals. By means of a chiral amine catalyst, iminium ion activation of enals ensures a stereoselective radical trap. We also demonstrate how the combination of this acylation process with a second catalyst‐controlled bond‐forming event allows to selectively access the full matrix of all possible stereoisomers of the resulting 2,3‐substituted 1,4‐dicarbonyl products.

Stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyls by traceless charge-accelerated sulfonium rearrangement

The chemistry of the carbonyl group is essential to modern organic synthesis. The preparation of substituted, enantioenriched 1,3- or 1,5-dicarbonyls is well developed, as their disconnection naturally follows from the intrinsic polarity of the carbonyl group. By contrast, a general enantioselective access to quaternary stereocenters in acyclic 1,4-dicarbonyl systems remains an unresolved problem, despite the tremendous importance of 2,3-substituted 1,4-dicarbonyl motifs in natural products and drug scaffolds. Here we present a broad enantioselective and stereodivergent strategy to access acyclic, polysubstituted 1,4-dicarbonyls via acid-catalyzed [3,3]-sulfonium rearrangement starting from vinyl sulfoxides and ynamides. The stereochemistry at sulfur governs the absolute sense of chiral induction, whereas the double bond geometry dictates the relative configuration of the final products.

Computational Study on N-N Homolytic Bond Dissociation Enthalpies of Hydrazine Derivatives

The hydrazine derivatives have been regarded as the important building blocks in organic chemistry for the synthesis of organic N-containing compounds. It is important to understand the structure-activity relationship of the thermodynamics of N-N bonds, in particular, their strength as measured by using the homolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs). We calculated the N-N BDEs of 13 organonitrogen compounds by eight composite high-level ab initio methods including G3, G3B3, G4, G4MP2, CBS-QB3, ROCBS-QB3, CBS-Q, and CBS-APNO. Then 25 density functional theory (DFT) methods were selected for calculating the N-N BDEs of 58 organonitrogen compounds. The M05-2X method can provide the most accurate results with the smallest root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 8.9 kJ/mol. Subsequently, the N-N BDE predictions of different hydrazine derivatives including cycloalkylhydrazines, N-heterocyclic hydrazines, arylhydrazines, and hydrazides as well as the substituent effects were investigated in detail by using the M05-2X method. In addition, the analysis including the natural bond orbital (NBO) as well as the energies of frontier orbitals were performed in order to further understand the essence of the N-N BDE change patterns.

Dearomatization of naphthols using oxy-allyl cations: efficient construction of α-all-carbon quaternary center-containing 2-(2-oxocycloalkyl)cycloalkyl diketones

An efficient strategy for the dearomatization of both α- and β-naphthols using in situ generated oxy-allyl cations is reported.

Development and application of chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acids in asymmetric catalysis

This review describes the synthetic methods for the preparation of chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acids (SPAs), and their dynamically developing application for catalytic enantioselective transformations.