Recent Advances in the Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydropyran-2-Ones Organocatalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

In recent years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have gained recognition as versatile molecules capable of acting as organocatalysts in various reactions, particularly through the activation of aldehydes via Breslow-type adducts. This organocatalytic activation has enabled the production of numerous 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and related derivatives. In this review, we provide an overview of the production of 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and derivatives via organocatalytic processes involving NHCs over the past eight years. These processes involve the use of a diverse range of substrates, catalysts, and reaction conditions, which can be classified into [4+2]-and [3+3]-type cycloadditions, primarily aimed at synthesizing this skeleton due to its biological activity and multiple stereocenters. These processes are scaled up to the gram scale, and the resulting products are often directed towards epimerization and functionalization to produce more complex molecules with potential applications in the biological field. Finally, we provide a perspective and the future directions of this topic in organic synthesis.

Revealing the Similarities of α,β-Unsaturated Iminiums and Acylazoliums in Organocatalysis

The secondary amine-catalyzed reactions proceeding via α,β-unsaturated iminiums and the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed transformations taking place via α,β-unsaturated acylazoliums are the two widely used electrophilic intermediates in organocatalysis. Over the last two decades, these two intermediates are extensively utilized for the enantioselective construction of valuable molecules. Both intermediates are generated by the covalent binding of catalysts to the substrates leading to LUMO activation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. A variety of soft nucleophiles are known to add to the α,β-unsaturated iminiums and acylazoliums in a conjugate fashion, and in many cases, striking similarity in reactivity has been observed. Having said this, there are few cases where these intermediates exhibit difference in reactivity. This Minireview is aimed at highlighting the resemblances in reactivity between α,β-unsaturated iminiums and acylazoliums thereby shedding light on the unnoticed parallels of the two intermediates in organocatalysis.

NHC-catalyzed regiodivergent syntheses of difunctionalized 3-pyrazolidinones from α-bromoenal and monosubstituted hydrazine

A formal [3 + 2] annulation of α-bromoenal with monosubstituted hydrazine could give 1,5 or 2,5-difunctionalized 3-pyrazolidinone regiodivergently by tuning the structure of the N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) catalyst. Moderate to high yields, mild reaction conditions, good regioselectivity and potential biological significance of the final product have made this protocol attractive for the assembly of 3-pyrazolidinone.

Enantioselective intermolecular all-carbon [4+2] annulation via N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis

The challenge of asymmetric intermolecular all-carbon [4+2] annulation via α,β-unsaturated acyl azoliums was addressed with 2-acyloxy-3-butenones as suitable dienolate precursors, and a variety of highly functionalized cyclohexene products were delivered at a high level of enantioselectivity.

O, Divakar K, Paplal B, Kashinath D. “On water” synthesis of dibenzo-[1,4]-diazepin-1-ones using l-proline as an organocatalyst and under catalyst-free conditions, and their evaluation as α-glucosidase inhibitors

Functionalized dibenzo-[1,4]-diazepin-1-ones are synthesized using the “on-water” concept in the presence of l-proline (organocatalyst; 20 mol%) and under catalyst free conditions (sealed tube) in an aqueous medium.

Asymmetric aerobic oxidative NHC-catalysed synthesis of dihydropyranones utilising a system of electron transfer mediators

In the context of green chemistry, the replacement of high molecular weight stoichiometric oxidants with O2 is most desirable but difficult. Here, we report the asymmetric aerobic oxidative synthesis of dihydropyranones. The oxidation is aided by a system of electron transfer mediators and is selective toward the homoenolate. The dihydropyranones can be isolated in high to excellent yields, with high ee (up to 95%).

Enantioselective Construction of Tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-Based Spirooxindole Scaffold via an Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent [3 + 3] Cyclization

The first catalytic enantioselective construction of biologically important tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole has been developed via a chiral cinchona alkaloid catalyzed asymmetric three-component [3 + 3] cyclization of cyclic enaminone, isatin, and malononitrile, which afforded a series of tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 97:3 er). This reaction could be applicable to large-scale synthesis of enantioenriched tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles. This synthetic methodology will not only provide a unique approach for the construction of chiral tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole scaffolds but also increase our understanding of catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclization of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids bearing γ-H with isatins: an enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic oxindole–dihydropyranones

An NHC-catalyzed asymmetric [4 + 2] annulation of isatins and α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids bearing γ-H gave spirocyclic oxindole–dihydropyranones successfully via an in situ activation strategy.