Origin of Enantioselectivity in Chiral Phosphoric-Acid-Catalyzed Azlactone Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Theoretical calculations, associated with control experiments, were carried out to gain insights into the mechanism and origin of enantioselectivity in the phosphoric-acid-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of azlactones. The results revealed a Münchnone intermediate as the key species involved in the isomerization of azlactone rings. The developed model was successfully employed in the comprehension and prediction of enantioselectivity under diverse of reaction conditions, including alcoholysis and aminolysis protocols.

The kinetic resolution of oxazinones by alcoholysis: access to orthogonally protected β-amino acids

The catalytic, alcoholytic kinetic resolution of oxazinones is reported. A novel, stereochemically dense cinchona alkaloid-based catalyst can facilitate the highly enantiodiscriminatory (S up to 101) ring-opening of oxazinones equipped with electrophilic aryl units to generate orthogonally protected β-amino acids for the first time.

Catalytic asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition of isatogens with azlactones to construct indolin-3-one derivatives

A number of enantioenriched indolin-3-one derivatives were readily obtained by chiral guanidine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of isatogens with azlactones.

Rational Design of 2-Substituted DMAP-N-oxides as Acyl Transfer Catalysts: Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Azlactones

A novel concept that conversion of chiral 2-substituted DMAP into its DMAP-N-oxide could significantly enhance the catalytic activity and still be used as an acyl transfer catalyst is presented. A new type of chiral 2-substituted DMAP-N-oxides, derived from l-prolinamides, has been rationally designed, facilely synthesized, and applied in the dynamic kinetic resolution of azlactones. Using simple MeOH as the nucleophile, various l-amino acid derivatives were produced in high yields (up to 98% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee). Furthermore, α-deuterium labeled l-phenylalanine derivative was also obtained. Experiments and DFT calculations revealed that in 2-substituted DMAP-N-oxide, the oxygen atom acted as the nucleophilic site and the N-H bond functioned as the H-bond donor. High enantioselectivity of the reaction was governed by steric factors, and the addition of benzoic acid reduced the activation energy by participating in the construction of a H-bond bridge. The theoretical chemical study indicated that only when attack directions of the chiral catalyst were fully considered could the correct calculation results be obtained. This work paves the way for the utilization of the C2 position of the pyridine ring and the development of chiral 2-substituted DMAP-N-oxides as efficient acyl transfer catalysts.

Cooperative Catalysis of Chiral Guanidine and Rh2(OAc)4 in Asymmetric O-H Insertion of Carboxylic Acid: A Theoretical Investigation

We reported a mechanistic study on asymmetric O-H insertion reaction of α-diazoester with carboxylic acid using Rh₂(OAc)₄/chiral guanidine-amide as the cocatalyst by density functional theory [B3LYP-D3(BJ)/def2-TZVP//B3LYP-D3(BJ)/[6-31G**, SDD] (SMD, Et₂O)]. The catalytic reaction included two stages: (i) formation of Rh-carbene species, subsequently by the construction of C-O bond forming enol and (ii) chiral guanidinium salt-assisted H-transfer to the enol. In cooperative catalysis, Rh₂(OAc)₄ helped to form an enol intermediate via high-reactivity Rh-carbene species, while the in situ-formed guanidium carboxylate acted as a chiral proton shuttle to construct a hydrogen bonding net for the stereo-determinant protonation. The repulsions between the phenyl group of the enol intermediate and the cyclohexyl as well as the ortho-substituted isopropyl group of chiral guanidine played important roles in controlling stereoselectivity. A disadvantageous steric arrangement in si-face attack weakened the stabilizing electrostatic and orbital interaction of reacting species in the H-transfer step, enhancing the pathway to form a predominant product with R-configuration in the two competing pathways. A model was proposed to explain the asymmetric induction of chiral guanidine-amide in protonation.

Bifunctional Brønsted base catalyzed inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels–Alder reactions of saccharin-derived 1-azadienes with azlactones

An enantioselective inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels–Alder reaction of saccharin-derived 1-azadienes and azlactones was developed using a phenylalanine-derived bifunctional Brønsted base-squaramide catalyst.

Asymmetric construction of dihydrobenzofuran-2,5-dione derivatives via desymmetrization of p-quinols with azlactones

3-Amino-benzofuran-2,5-diones containing a chiral amino acid residue were achieved through BG-1·HBPh₄ catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition/lactonization cascade reaction of p-quinols with azlactones.

Theoretical Study on the Epimerization of Azlactone Rings: Keto-Enol Tautomerism or Base-Mediated Racemization?

Azlactones are versatile heterocycles employed in a diversity of transformations; the main drawback of these cycles consists in the epimerization of the α-carbonyl stereocenter during its preparation. We hereby present a theoretical study to explain how the racemization occurs. Two hypotheses were investigated: the keto-enol tautomerism and the base-mediated racemization, through an enolate intermediate. The results showed that the latter is consistent with the experimental data and can spontaneously occur at room temperature. The same pathway was evaluated for 2-alcoxy azlactone, showing a slower epimerization ratio, consistent with the literature data.

Asymmetric Catalytic Double Michael Additions for the Synthesis of Spirooxindoles

Asymmetric cascade double Michael additions to construct 2'-substituted 3,3'-spirooxindoles by using a chiral guanidine organocatalyst has been developed. A series of spirooxindole derivatives containing dihydrofuran or pyrrolidine subunits were obtained with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The method showed great tolerance of a number of aromatic and aliphatic alkynones. The strategy gave access to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-salacin for the first time.

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-aminodihydrocoumarins via the chiral guanidine catalyzed cascade reaction of azlactones

A new asymmetric preparative method of 3-aminodihydrocoumarins via reactions of azlactones and 2-nitrovinylphenols using chiral bifunctional guanidine catalysts.

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Epimerization-Free Preparation of Dual-Protected Amino Acid Derivatives

An organocatalytic protocol, employing the commercially available EDC as coupling agent, has been developed for the preparation of dual-protected amino acid derivatives without epimerization. This methodology was then applied to different Boc-amino acid and amine derivatives in moderate to excellent isolated yields. In addition, racemization-free Boc deprotection was also demonstrated. Mechanism investigation through electrospray ionization (+)-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry revealed an acyclic intermediate (no azlactone formation) activated by the camphorsulfonic acid as an organocatalyst as a key step for the sequential attack of the nucleophile.

Sustainable Synthesis of Oximes, Hydrazones, and Thiosemicarbazones under Mild Organocatalyzed Reaction Conditions

Pyrrolidine catalyzes very efficiently, presumably via iminium activation, the formation of acyloximes, acylhydrazones, and thiosemicarbazones derived from aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using equimolar amounts of reagents and green solvents. Experimental simplicity and excellent yields after a simple filtration are the main advantages of the method, being an alternative to those currently available especially for the acyl derivatives, which do not work under uncatalyzed conditions. Its application to the synthesis of acyloximes by direct condensation between aldehydes and acylhydroxylamines is unprecedented.

Azlactone Reaction Developments

Azlactones (also known as oxazolones) are heterocycles usually employed in the stereoselective synthesis of α,α-amino acids, heterocycles and natural products. The versatility of the azlactone scaffold arises from the numerous reactive sites, allowing its application in a diversity of transformations. This review aims to cover classical and recent applications of oxazolones, especially those involving stereoselective processes. After a short introduction on their structures and intrinsic reactivities, dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) processes as well as reactions involving stereoselective formation of a new σ C-C bond, such as alkylation/allylation/arylation, aldol, ene, Michael and Mannich reactions will be exposed. Additionally, cycloadditions, Steglich rearrangement and sulfenylation reactions will also be discussed. Recent developments of the well-known Erlenmeyer azlactones will be described. For the most examples, the proposed mechanism, activation modes and/or key reaction intermediates will be exposed to rationalize both the final product and the observed stereochemistry. Finally, this review gives an overview of the synthetic utility of oxazolones.