Metal-promoted allylation, propargylation, or allenylation of azetidine-2,3-diones in aqueous and anhydrous media. Application to the asymmetric synthesis of densely functionalized 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams

Iron-mediated highly diastereoselective allylation of carbonyl compounds with cyclic allylic halides

An efficient iron-mediated highly diastereoselective allylation reaction of carbonyl compounds with cyclic allylic halides using a catalytic amount of bismuth(iii) chloride is reported.

Synthesis, characterization of active Sn(0), and its application in selective propargylation of aldehyde at room temperature in water

Active Sn(0) particles are synthesized in high yields by the chemical reduction of the blue–black stannous oxide using freshly prepared sodium stannite solution as reducing agent at 40 °C and 60 °C. The Sn(0) particles are characterized using powder XRD, SEM, and DSC. The as-synthesized Sn(0) particles are applied as reagent for the regioselective synthesis of homopropargyl alcohols from propargyl bromide and aldehydes in distilled water at room temperature (in 50%–84% yields). No assistance of heat, microwave, ultrasound, organic co-solvent, co-reagent, or inert atmosphere is required for this reaction. The propargylation reaction is highly chemoselective towards aldehyde over other less electrophilic carbonyl functional groups such as ketone, amide, and carboxylic acid. Our in-house synthesized homopropargyl alcohols can be used to synthesize conjugated 1,3-diynes.

A Computational Investigation of the Ligand-Controlled Cu-Catalyzed Site-Selective Propargylation and Allenylation of Carbonyl Compounds

A copper-catalyzed site-selective propargylation/allenylation reaction toward carbonyl compounds has been mechanistically investigated using a computational approach. Different reaction pathways and catalytic cycles were investigated. Control of the site selectivity arises from a destabilizing interaction introduced by the phenyl-substituted ligand.

Stereoselective synthesis of activated 2-arylazetidines via imino-aldol reaction

A highly stereoselective synthesis ofN-sulfinyl andN-sulfonyl azetidines have been developed involving imino-aldol reaction of ester enolates with aldimines.

NHC-Cu-catalyzed addition of propargylboron reagents to phosphinoylimines. Enantioselective synthesis of trimethylsilyl-substituted homoallenylamides and application to the synthesis of S-(-)-cyclooroidin

A catalytic method for the efficient and enantioselective addition of a 1-trimethylsilyl-substituted allene moiety to phosphinoylimines is presented. Transformations are promoted by 5.0 mol % of a copper complex of an N-heterocyclic carbene in the presence of a propargylboron reagent that can be readily prepared in multigram quantities. Within 10 min of reaction, products are obtained in up to 91% yield, 98% allene (vs propargyl) selectivity, and 98:2 enantiomeric ratio. An assortment of aldimines serve as suitable substrates. The phosphinoyl and silyl groups can be removed efficiently and orthogonally. The silylallene moiety may be transformed to versatile derivatives that are difficult to access via nonsilylated allenes. The special features and utility of the approach are highlighted through a succinct enantioselective synthesis of marine alkaloid S-(-)-cyclooroidin.

Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of β-lactam-triazole hybrids via Passerini/CuAAC sequence

Passerini (P-3CR) and Passerini-Smiles reactions were investigated in azetidine-2,3-diones, affording the corresponding 3,3-disubstituted-β-lactams with complete diastereoselectivity in high yields. The study has been carried out using different isocyanides, carboxylic acids, and phenols showing the scope of both reactions. In addition, the regioselective synthesis of highly functionalized β-lactam-triazole hybrids has been developed via a Passerini/CuAAC sequence. Interestingly, the use of dialkynes/diazides or trialkynes/triazides as linkers in the CuAAC step has allowed the synthesis of C(2) and C(3) symmetric β-lactam-triazole hybrids, respectively.

Zinc-catalyzed allenylations of aldehydes and ketones

The general zinc-catalyzed allenylation of aldehydes and ketones with an allenyl boronate is presented. Preliminary mechanistic studies support a kinetically controlled process wherein, after a site-selective B/Zn exchange to generate a propargyl zinc intermediate, the addition to the electrophile effectively competes with propargyl-allenyl zinc equilibration. The utility of the methodology was demonstrated by application to a rhodium-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition.

B-allenyl- and B-(gamma-trimethylsilylpropargyl)-10-phenyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes: asymmetric synthesis of propargyl and alpha-allenyl 3-degree-carbinols from ketones

Simple and efficient Grignard procedures are reported for the syntheses of B-allenyl-10-(phenyl)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decane (1) and its B-(gamma-trimethylsilylpropargyl) counterpart (2) in both enantiomeric forms. Both add selectively to ketones, providing propargyl- and alpha-silylallenyl 3-degree-carbinols, respectively (i.e., 6 (61-93% ee) and 9 (64-98% ee)). The air-stable boron byproduct is efficiently recovered and recycled back to either 1 or 2. The ozonolysis and bromination of 9 provide nonracemic alpha-hydroxy acids and gamma-bromopropynyl carbinols, respectively.

Domino metal-free allene-β-lactam-based access to functionalized pyrroles

A novel transition metal-free domino reaction sequence in allene-beta-lactams, leading to the biologically relevant pyrrole frame has been developed using a sodium methoxide-methanol system.

Pd-Cu Bimetallic Catalyzed Domino Cyclization of α-Allenols Followed by a Coupling Reaction: New Sequence Leading to Functionalized Spirolactams

A novel regioselective metal-catalyzed spirocyclization of alpha-allenols-cross coupling (Heck, Sonogashira, and Suzuki) reaction sequence, leading to potentially bioactive spirocyclic lactam derivatives has been developed. Precursors for the tandem spirocyclization-coupling reaction, alpha-allenols 2 a-d were obtained starting from alpha-oxolactams 1 a-c via indium-mediated Barbier-type carbonyl-allenylation reaction in aqueous media by using our previously described methodologies.