Acetate Assistance in Regioselective Hydroamination of Allenamides: A Combined Experimental and Density Functional Theory Study

A key factor in the development of selective nucleophilic addition to allenamides is controlling the reactivity of electrophilic intermediates, which is generally achieved using an electrophilic activator via conjugated iminium intermediates. In this combined experimental and computational study, we show that a general and highly chemoselective hydroamination of allenamides can be accomplished using a combination of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) and NaOAc. Experimental mechanistic studies revealed that HFIP mediates proton transfer to activate the allenamide, while the acetate additive significantly contributes to N-selective interception. This strategy enables a general hydroamination of allenamides without the use of metals. We demonstrated that various functionalized 1,3-diamines could be readily synthesized and diversified into value-added structural motifs. Detailed mechanistic investigations using the density functional theory revealed the role of NaOAc in the formation of reactive electrophilic intermediates, which ultimately governed the selective formation of 1,3-diamine products. Critically, calculations of the potential energy surface around the proton-transfer transition state revealed that two different reactive electrophilic intermediates were formed when NaOAc was added.

Investigating Substituent Interactions with Cationic Catalysts

Rates of isothiourea catalyzed silylation and acylation reactions were measured for substrates with various electronic substituents at the aryl group. Through these measurements, the intermolecular interactions between cationic catalyst intermediates and different aryl groups were explored. These studies were performed to understand how changes in the catalyst structure affected electrostatic intermolecular interactions. Three different catalysts (N-methylimidazole and two isothioureas) were employed that varied in their ability to delocalize their cationic nature. The results show that more delocalization on the catalyst reduces the sensitivity to the electronics on the aryl group. Surprisingly, the isothiourea with a fused benzene ring provided additional points of interaction with groups that contained lone-pairs, significantly affecting the overall rate. This work helps explore the interactions that dominate in these types of catalytic systems, to aid in future organocatalysis development. Density functional theory (DFT) studies further confirmed isothiourea/aryl ring interaction with the alcohol substrate in the acylation process, which confirmed these hypotheses. Electron rich or lone-pair bearing functional groups stabilize the cationic catalyst core, thereby stabilizing the transition states and accelerating the reaction. It was also discovered that in one case, the formation of a stable substrate dimer was responsible for its lower reactivity.

General Hydroamination of Allenamides: Mechanistic Insights with an Acetate Adduct and 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol

The 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol-assisted allenamide activation enables metal-free regioselective intermolecular interception of amines, constituting a general C-N bond formation process for accessing value-added 1,3-diamines. Exclusive N-chemoselectivity (vs C for anilines) and regioselectivity were achieved for a broad range of substrates. Late-stage modification and further transformations of the 1,3-diamine products showcased the practicability and benefits of this strategy. Experimental mechanistic studies revealed that 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol mediates the proton transfer for activation of the allenamide. Density functional theory computations revealed the role of NaOAc in the formation of the reactive electrophilic intermediate, which ultimately governs the selective formation of the 1,3-diamine product.

Stereospecific Acylative Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling: General Access to Optically Active α-Aryl Carbonyl Compounds

A novel strategy for the stereospecific Pd-catalyzed acylative cross-coupling of enantiomerically enriched alkylboron compounds has been developed. The protocol features an extremely high level of enantiospecificity to allow facile access to synthetically challenging and valuable chiral ketones and carboxylic acid derivatives. The use of a sterically encumbered and electron-rich phosphine ligand proved to be crucial for the success of the reaction. Furthermore, on the basis of experimental and computational studies, a unique mechanism for the transmetalation, assisted by the noncovalent interactions of the C(sp³)-based organoboron reagent, has been identified.

Serendipitous synthesis of cross-conjugated dienes by cascade deconstructive esterification of thiomorpholinone-tethered alkenoic acids

Functionalized 1,3-dienes are ubiquitous structural motifs in biologically pertinent molecules. They are frequently employed as precursors for a broad range of chemical transformations, including Diels-Alder reactions. The stereoselective construction of highly decorated 1,3-dienes therefore represents an important research objective. Medicinal chemists are becoming increasingly interested in synthetic methodologies that not only achieve expedient construction and peripheral editing of heterocycles, but also seek to modify their core framework in order to achieve skeletal remodeling. In a succinct manifestation of this 'scaffold hopping' concept, we herein describe a cascade reaction, which converts thiomorpholinone-tethered alkenoic acids to 1,1-disubstituted amino-1,3-dienes. This domino process involves esterification of the acid, base-assisted ring-opening, and concomitant 1,2-migration of the α-amino alkenyl group. Several control experiments have revealed that the alkenyl substituent is necessary for deconstruction to occur. Inherently more activated N-aryl-substituted thiomorpholinone acids react significantly faster than their less activated N-alkyl congeners.

Light-Driven Carbene Catalysis for the Synthesis of Aliphatic and α-Amino Ketones

Single-electron N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has gained attention recently for the synthesis of C-C bonds. Guided by density functional theory and mechanistic analyses, we report the light-driven synthesis of aliphatic and α-amino ketones using single-electron NHC operators. Computational and experimental results reveal that the reactivity of the key radical intermediate is substrate-dependent and can be modulated through steric and electronic parameters of the NHC. Catalyst potential is harnessed in the visible-light driven generation of an acyl azolium radical species that undergoes selective coupling with various radical partners to afford diverse ketone products. This methodology is showcased in the direct late-stage functionalization of amino acids and pharmaceutical compounds, highlighting the utility of single-electron NHC operators.

Transition metal-free domino acyl substitution/Michael addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to lactam esters: synthesis of lactam-bearing homoallylic ketones

A solvent-controlled protocol for the direct and transition metal-free addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to vicinally functionalized sp³-rich morpholinones has been developed, leading to the chemo and regioselective synthesis of lactam-bearing homoallylic ketones. The addition of lithium chloride proved to be essential. In cases where a new stereocenter is generated, the doubly branched homoallylic ketones are obtained in unexpectedly high diastereoselectivities. Efforts to extend the methodology to other heterosubstituted lactams revealed some important reactivity and selectivity differences.

A solvent-controlled and heteroatom-dictated protocol for the transition metal-free addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to lactam esters has been developed, leading to the chemo- and regioselective synthesis of lactam-tethered homoallylic ketones.

Modular synthesis and transition metal-free alkynylation/alkenylation of Castagnoli–Cushman-derived N,O- and N,S-heterocyclic vinyl chlorides

A modular and functional group-tolerant protocol for the transition metal-free coupling of novel N,O- and N,S-heterocyclic vinyl chlorides with terminal acetylenes and styrenes has been developed, leading to the epimerization-free synthesis of fully carbofunctionalized dihydro-1,4-oxazines/thiazines. Bicyclic morpholines have also been prepared through the interrogation of newly synthesized cross-conjugated dienes in Diels–Alder reactions. The use of environmentally benign reaction media endows the current strategy with a practical advantage.

A functional group-tolerant and transition metal-free coupling of novel N,O- and N,S-heterocyclic vinyl chlorides, which affords fully carbosubstituted dihydro-1,4-oxazines/thiazines as well as bicyclic morpholines, is described.

One-shot access to isoquinolone and (hetero)izidinone architectures using cyclic α-chloro eneformamides and cyclic anhydrides

A site-selective annulation reaction between cyclic α-chloro eneformamides and cyclic anhydrides which provides direct and modular access to pharmaceutically pertinent izidinones and isoquinolones, is presented.