Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Alkynyl Carbene Insertion into N-H Bonds.

The first insertion of an alkynyl carbene into N-H bonds under Rh-catalysis is developed. Alkynyl hydrazone carboxylates are used as donor-acceptor carbene precursors and are exquisitely inserted into the N-H bonds of various amines, amides, and 1,2-diamines. A wide variety of 3-alkynyl 3,4-dihydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones and densely functionalized α-alkynyl α-amino esters are obtained in good to excellent yields. Further, chemoselective N-H insertion reactions, mechanistic studies, and various synthetic transformations for obtaining valuable heterocycles are demonstrated.

Chiral Spirophosphoric-Acid-Catalyzed Divergent Vinylogous Mannich and aza-Friedel-Crafts Reactions of 2-Methoxyfuran.

The first enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction is developed using 2-methoxyfuran under chiral spirophosphoric acid catalysis. The strategy involves 4-isoxazoline derivatives as cyclic ketimine surrogates and provides γ-butenolide scaffolds (up to 97% ee and >20:1 dr). The mechanistic investigations suggest that an in situ generated water molecule plays a crucial role in delivering γ-butenolide, while the use of molecular sieves delivers aza-Friedel-Crafts products. The synthetic utility of γ-butenolide is shown toward obtaining piperidone skeleton via a lactone-lactam rearrangement.

Doyle-Kirmse Reaction on Alkynyl Hydrazone Carboxylates: Synthesis of 1,4-Allenyne and 1,5-Enyne Thioaryl Carboxylates.

The first Doyle-Kirmse reaction on alkynyl diazoacetates using allyl/propargyl sulfides is reported. The development provides diversified 1,5-enyne and 1,4-allenyne thioaryl carboxylates in good yields under ligand-/additive-free AuCl and Rh2(OAc)4 catalysis, respectively (48 examples, up to 96% yield). The study demonstrated the dual role of allyl sulfide as a ligand and substrate. Also, we have exemplified various synthetic modifications of the products to showcase the utility of different functional groups.

Decomposition of Alkynyl Hydrazones: Synthesis of Allenoates, Dihaloallenoates, and Angularly Fused Tricyclic Azepines.

An unprecedented decomposition of unprotected alkynyl hydrazones is attempted that has provided allenoates, tetrasubstituted α,γ-dihaloallenoates, and functionalized tricyclic azepines. A reaction of alkynyl hydrazones with N-halosuccinimides captures the electrophile in 2-fold that delivers fully substituted dibromo- and diiodoallenoates in good yields. In addition, a DABCO-promoted Wolff-Kishner reduction of hydrazones, followed by isomerization, provides versatile allenoates under mild conditions. In contrast, a similar decomposition with ambiphilic DBU furnishes a completely different tricyclic azepine scaffold in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity.

Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted 1,4-Dicarbonyl (Z)-2,3-Dihaloalkenes via Electrophilic Halogenation of Alkynyl Hydrazones.

A highly practical and stereoselective route to 1,4-dicarbonyl 2,3-dihaloalkenes is presented. The strategy involves bench-stable unprotected alkynyl hydrazones and commercially available N-halosuccinimides that provide γ-oxo-α,ß-(Z)-dihaloenoates in excellent yields with complete Z-selectivity. The protocol also furnishes vicinal dihaloalkenes with two different halogen atoms. Also, a straightforward one-pot synthesis of dihaloenoates from readily accessible 2-oxo-3-butynoate is demonstrated. In addition, potential synthetic transformations of 4-oxo-2,3-dibromoenoates are explored, which include the synthesis of valuable five- and six-membered heterocycles.

Synthesis of Alkynyl Hydrazones from Unprotected Hydrazine and Their Reactivity as Diazo Precursors.

Alkynyl hydrazones are synthesized conveniently from 2-oxo-3-butynoates and hydrazine by suppressing the susceptible formation of pyrazoles. The resultant hydrazones are transformed into alkynyl diazoacetates under metal-free and mild oxidative conditions in excellent yields. Further, the alkynyl cyclopropane and propargyl silane carboxylates are synthesized in good yields by developing an unprecedented copper-catalyzed alkynyl carbene transfer reaction.

Organocatalytic Diastereoselective Synthesis of Diazoaryl-benzo[b]azepine Derivatives.

To construct multisubstituted seven-membered nitrogenous heterocyclic scaffolds, an efficient method, employing 2-aminoaryl N-monosubstituted hydrazones and 2-oxo-3-butenoates under Brønsted acid catalysis, has been developed. This strategy highlights the umpolung reactivity of 2-aminobenzaldehyde arylhydrazones toward 2-oxo-3-butenoates to afford (E)-diazoaryl-benzo[b]azepine derivatives in excellent yields (89-99%) and with high diastereoselectivities (>19:1 dr).

Organocatalytic synthesis of densely functionalized oxa-bridged 2,6-epoxybenzo[b][1,5]oxazocine heterocycles.

Metal-free addition of salicylhydrazones to electron deficient internal alkynes catalyzed by 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) to yield oxa-bridged 2,6-epoxybenzo[b][1,5]oxazocine heterocycles was achieved. The demonstrated protocol proceeds through an o-quinone methide formation, aza-Michael addition, stereoselective protonation, enamine promoted aromatization, O,O-acetalization and O,N-aminalization sequence to provide privileged heterocycles in good yields with high diastereoselectivities.

Synthesis of Phenols and Aryl Silyl Ethers via Arylation of Complementary Hydroxide Surrogates.

Two transition-metal-free methods to access substituted phenols via the arylation of silanols or hydrogen peroxide with diaryliodonium salts are presented. The complementary reactivity of the two nucleophiles allows synthesis of a broad range of phenols without competing aryne formation, as illustrated by the synthesis of the anesthetic Propofol. Furthermore, silyl-protected phenols can easily be obtained, which are suitable for further transformations.

Dihydrooxazine N-Oxide Intermediates as Resting States in Organocatalytic Kinetic Resolution of Functionalized Nitroallylic Amines with Aldehydes.

Kinetic resolution of nitroallylic amines was established using chiral α,α-l-diphenylprolinol silyl ether auxiliary through isolation of the dihydrooxazine N-oxide intermediates. Further hydrolyzing the resting states provided tetrahydropyridines in high chemical yields and high to excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr and 98% ee). A detailed mechanistic explanation for stereoselective protonation in the dihydrooxazine was probed computationally. In addition, the probable intermediates in α-halogenation of aldehydes (masked with enamines) were isolated to provide crystallographic evidence.

Organocascade Synthesis of Annulated (Z)-2-Methylenepyrans: Nucleophilic Conjugate Addition of Hydroxycoumarins and Pyranone to Branched Nitro Enynes via Allene Formation/Oxa-Michael Cyclization/Alkene Isomerization Sequence.

An efficient organocatalytic reaction using 1,3-nitro enynes with 4-hydroxycoumarin and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone to afford pyrano-annulated scaffolds in high yield (up to 88% yield) and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr and >99% ee) is described. The reaction proceeded through sequential conjugate addition, allene formation, intramolecular oxa-Michael 6-endo-dig cyclization and DABCO-catalyzed olefin isomerization. A kinetic profile for isomerization was established. The mechanism for the organocascade reaction was proposed according to requisite computational and mechanistic experimental studies.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Polycarbocycles via a Three-Component Organocascade Quadruple Reaction.

An efficient organocascade quadruple reaction was conducted to synthesize a functionalized spiropolycyclic scaffold in high chemical yields (43-80%) and excellent levels of stereoselectivity (up to >19:1 dr and 99% ee). The quadruple reaction proceeded smoothly between 1,3-indanedione and aromatic aldehydes with concomitant desymmetrization of prochiral 4-substituted cyclohexanones through the Knoevenagel/Michael/aldol/aldol reaction sequence catalyzed by a bifunctional thiourea catalyst. Two of the formed products were transformed into spirocyclic epoxides containing four contiguous quaternary centers.

Control of five contiguous stereogenic centers in an organocatalytic kinetic resolution via Michael/acetalization sequence: synthesis of fully substituted tetrahydropyranols.

An organocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary nitroallylic alcohols via Michael/acetalization sequence to give fully substituted tetrahydropyranols is described. The process affords the products with high to excellent stereoselectivities (up to 19.9:1.5:1 dr and 98% ee). The highly enantioenriched, less reactive (S)-nitroallylic alcohols 3 were isolated with good to high chemical yields (30-44%). The synthetic application of the resolved substrate is shown toward the synthesis of enantioenriched (+)-(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid.

Organocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary nitroallylic alcohols combined with simultaneous desymmetrization of prochiral cyclic anhydrides.

This study describes an organocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary nitroallylic alcohols (2) combined with simultaneous desymmetrization of prochiral cyclic anhydrides (1). The experimental results revealed that enantioselective alcoholysis of 3-substituted glutaric anhydrides afforded hemiesters (3) with high levels of enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in the presence of cinchonidine-derived thiourea catalyst (IV). The highly optical enrichment (up to 95% ee) of (S)-nitroallylic alcohols (2) was recovered.

Convenient methods for the synthesis of chiral amino alcohols and amines.

Simple, convenient methods have been developed using readily available, easy-to-handle reagents to access a variety of chiral amino alcohols and amines, which have considerable potential for applications in asymmetric organic transformations. Scholars from this laboratory in India have made significant contributions to this field, which is the subject of the current review.

Copper(I) halide promoted diastereoselective synthesis of chiral propargylamines and chiral allenes using 2-dialkylaminomethylpyrrolidine, aldehydes, and 1-alkynes.

Copper bromide promoted reactions of aldehydes, 1-alkynes, and chiral 2-dialkylaminomethylpyrrolidine at 25 °C give the corresponding chiral propargylamine derivatives in up to 96% yield and 99:1 dr that are readily converted to the corresponding disubstitued chiral allenes in up to 81% yield and 99% ee upon reaction with CuI in dioxane at 100 °C.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral allenes by sequential creation of stereogenic center and chirality transfer in a single pot operation.

Chiral allenes are readily accessed in a single pot operation in the reaction of terminal alkynes, aldehydes, chiral secondary amines, and zinc halides in good yields (up to 77% yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in toluene at 120 °C. The reaction proceeds through initial formation of chiral propargylamine intermediates with creation of a new stereogenic center and subsequent chirality transfer via an intramolecular hydride shift to produce chiral allenes with high enantiomeric purities.