Main Group-Catalyzed Cationic Claisen Rearrangements via Vinyl Carbocations.

We report a catalytic C-O coupling/Claisen cascade reaction enabled by interception of vinyl carbocations with allyl ethers. The reaction utilizes commercially available borate salts as catalysts and is effective at constructing sterically hindered C-C bonds. The reaction mechanism is studied experimentally and computationally to support a charge-accelerated [3,3] rearrangement of a silyloxonium cation. Our reaction is also applied to the highly stereoselective synthesis of fully substituted vinyl ethers.

α-Vinylation of Ester Equivalents via Main Group Catalysis for the Construction of Quaternary Centers.

A methodology for the construction of sterically congested quaternary centers via the trapping of vinyl carbocations with silyl ketene acetals is disclosed. This main group-catalyzed α-vinylation reaction is advantageous as methods to access these congested motifs are limited. Moreover, ß,γ-unsaturated carbonyl moieties and tetrasubstituted alkenes are present in various bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals, and this catalytic platform offers a means of accessing them using simple and inexpensive materials.

Catalytic asymmetric C-H insertion reactions of vinyl carbocations.

From the preparation of pharmaceuticals to enzymatic construction of natural products, carbocations are central to molecular synthesis. Although these reactive intermediates are engaged in stereoselective processes in nature, exerting enantiocontrol over carbocations with synthetic catalysts remains challenging. Many resonance-stabilized tricoordinated carbocations, such as iminium and oxocarbenium ions, have been applied in catalytic enantioselective reactions. However, their dicoordinated counterparts (aryl and vinyl carbocations) have not, despite their emerging utility in chemical synthesis. We report the discovery of a highly enantioselective vinyl carbocation carbon-hydrogen (C-H) insertion reaction enabled by imidodiphosphorimidate organocatalysts. Active site confinement featured in this catalyst class not only enables effective enantiocontrol but also expands the scope of vinyl cation C-H insertion chemistry, which broadens the utility of this transition metal-free C(sp3)-H functionalization platform.

Vinyl Carbocations Generated under Basic Conditions and Their Intramolecular C-H Insertion Reactions.

Here we report the surprising discovery that high-energy vinyl carbocations can be generated under strongly basic conditions, and that they engage in intramolecular sp3 C-H insertion reactions through the catalysis of weakly coordinating anion salts. This approach relies on the unconventional combination of lithium hexamethyldisilazide base and the commercially available catalyst, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate. These reagents form a catalytically active lithium species that enables the application of vinyl cation C-H insertion reactions to heteroatom-containing substrates.

Gold-Catalyzed Dearomative Spirocyclization of N-Aryl Alkynamides for the Synthesis of Spirolactams.

A catalytic redox-neutral method for the synthesis of spirolactams proceeding through the dearomative spirocyclization of N-aryl alkynamides is reported. In contrast to stoichiometric activating agents employed for related transformations, we show that the use of 5 mol % of Au(PPh3)Cl and AgOTf in dichloroethane at 50-80 °C leads to selective spirocyclization, furnishing the products in yields of 35-87%. The substrate scope of the reaction is good, with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups being tolerated around the arene ring, as well as substitution at the amide nitrogen. The identity of the para-alkoxy group on the arene ring is key to achieving selectivity for spirocyclization over alternative mechanistic pathways. While the presence of a para-methoxy group leads to trace amounts of the desired spirolactams, the para-tert-butoxy or para-hydroxy substrate analogues furnish the spirolactams in good yield with high selectivity.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of N-Aryl Alkynamides for the Synthesis of 2-Quinolinones.

A mild method for the synthesis of 2-quinolinones via hydroarylation of N-aryl alkynamides is reported. While traditional methods have relied on the use of strong Brønsted or Lewis acids, this report describes the development of mild reaction conditions that yield 2-quinolinones in good to excellent yield using a commercially available gold catalyst. Substrates bearing a variety of functional groups are presented, with N-substitution proving to be key to the reactivity of several substrates.