Zinc(II)-catalyzed intermolecular hydrative aldol reactions of 2-en-1-ynamides with aldehydes and water to form branched aldol products regio- and stereoselectively.

This work describes zinc(II)-catalyzed hydrative aldol reactions of 2-en-1-ynamides with aldehydes and water to afford branched aldol products regio- and stereoselectively. The anti and syn selectivity can be modulated by the sizes of sulfonamides to yield E- and Z-configured zinc(II) dienolates selectively. This new reaction leads to enantiopure aldol products by using a cheap chiral sulfonamide. The mechanistic analysis reveals that the sulfonamide amides of the substrates can trap a released proton to generate dual acidic sites to activate a carbonyl allylation reaction.

ZnII - and AuI-catalyzed regioselective hydrative oxidations of 3-en-1-ynes with Selectfluor: realization of 1,4-dioxo and 1,4-oxohydroxy functionalizations.

Catalytic 1,4-dioxo functionalizations of 3-en-1-ynes to (Z)- and (E)-2-en-1,4-dicarbonyl compounds are described. This regioselective difunctionalization was achieved in one-pot operation through initial alkyne hydration followed by in situ Selectfluor oxidation. The presence of pyridine alters the reaction chemoselectivity to give 4-hydroxy-2-en-1-carbonyl products instead. A cooperative action of pyridine and Zn(II) assists the hydrolysis of key oxonium intermediate.

Gold-catalyzed formal cycloaddition of 2-ethynylbenzyl ethers with organic oxides and α-diazoesters.

A world of possibilities: Gold-catalyzed reactions of 2-ethynylbenzyl ethers with organic oxides and α-diazoesters gave 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran and naphthalene derivatives, respectively (see scheme; EWG = electron-withdrawing group). Mechanisms for the formation of the formal cycloadducts were elucidated by isotope labeling.

Gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrosobenzenes with alkenylgold carbenoids.

We report two new formal cycloaddition reactions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenylgold carbenoids. We obtained quinoline oxides 3 in satisfactory yields from the gold-catalyzed [3 + 3]-cycloadditions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenyldiazo esters 1. For propargyl esters 5, its resulting gold carbenes react with nitrosobenzene to give alkenylimine 8, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with nitrosobenzene.

Gold-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of azacyclic compounds through a redox/[2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition cascade of nitroalkyne substrates.

We report a new redox/cycloaddition cascade on readily available 1-alkynyl-2-nitrobenzenes that produces complex azacyclic compounds stereoselectively. The core structures of the resulting products are constructed through a formal [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition among α-carbonyl carbenoids, nitroso species, and external alkenes.