Enantioselective Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters via Cooperative Photoredox/Fe/Chiral Primary Amine Triple Catalysis.

The catalytic and enantioselective construction of quaternary (all-carbon substituents) stereocenters poses a formidable challenge in organic synthesis due to the hindrance caused by steric factors. One conceptually viable and potentially versatile approach is the coupling of a C-C bond through an outer-sphere mechanism, accompanied by the realization of enantiocontrol through cooperative catalysis; however, examples of such processes are yet to be identified. Herein, we present such a method for creating different compounds with quaternary stereocenters by photoredox/Fe/chiral primary amine triple catalysis. This approach facilitates the connection of an unactivated alkyl source with a tertiary alkyl moiety, which is also rare. The scalable process exhibits mild conditions, does not necessitate the use of a base, and possesses a good functional-group tolerance. Preliminary investigations into the underlying mechanisms have provided valuable insights into the reaction pathway.

Ni-catalyzed enantioconvergent deoxygenative reductive cross-coupling of unactivated alkyl alcohols and aryl bromides.

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioconvergent cross-coupling of an alkyl precursor presents a promising method for producing enantioenriched C(sp3) molecules. Because alkyl alcohol is a ubiquitous and abundant family of feedstock in nature, the direct reductive coupling of alkyl alcohol and aryl halide enables efficient access to valuable compounds. Although several strategies have been developed to overcome the high bond dissociation energy of the C - O bond, the asymmetric pattern remains unknown. In this report, we describe the realization of an enantioconvergent deoxygenative reductive cross-coupling of unactivated alkyl alcohol (ß-hydroxy ketone) and aryl bromide in the presence of an NHC activating agent. The approach can accommodate substituents of various sizes and functional groups, and its synthetic potency is demonstrated through a gram scale reaction and derivatizations into other compound families. Finally, we apply our convergent method to the efficient asymmetric synthesis of four ß-aryl ketones that are natural products or bioactive compounds.

Iron-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles with Olefins.

In terms of its abundance and its minimal toxicity, iron has advantages relative to other transition metals. Although alkyl-alkyl bond construction is central to organic synthesis, examples of iron-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl couplings of alkyl electrophiles are relatively sparse. Herein we report an iron catalyst that achieves cross-coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles wherein olefins, in the presence of a hydrosilane, are used in place of alkylmetal reagents. Carbon-carbon bond formation proceeds at room temperature, and the method employs commercially available components (Fe(OAc)2 , Xantphos, and Mg(OEt)2 ); interestingly, this set of reagents can be applied directly to a distinct hydrofunctionalization of olefins, hydroboration. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the generation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl electrophile, as well as with reversibility for elementary steps that precede carbon-carbon bond formation (olefin binding to iron and ß-migratory insertion).

Asymmetric Synthesis of Protected Unnatural α-Amino Acids via Enantioconvergent Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling.

Interest in unnatural α-amino acids has increased rapidly in recent years in areas ranging from protein design to medicinal chemistry to materials science. Consequently, the development of efficient, versatile, and straightforward methods for their enantioselective synthesis is an important objective in reaction development. In this report, we establish that a chiral catalyst based on nickel, an earth-abundant metal, can achieve the enantioconvergent coupling of readily available racemic alkyl electrophiles with a wide variety of alkylzinc reagents (1:1.1 ratio) to afford protected unnatural α-amino acids in good yield and ee. This cross-coupling, which proceeds under mild conditions and is tolerant of air, moisture, and a broad array of functional groups, complements earlier approaches to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of this valuable family of molecules. We have applied our new method to the generation of several enantioenriched unnatural α-amino acids that have previously been shown to serve as useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds.

The Asymmetric Synthesis of Amines via Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Substitution Reactions.

Chiral dialkyl carbinamines are important in fields such as organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and biochemistry, serving for example as bioactive molecules, chiral ligands, and chiral catalysts. Unfortunately, most catalytic asymmetric methods for synthesizing dialkyl carbinamines do not provide general access to amines wherein the two alkyl groups are of similar size (e.g., CH2R versus CH2R1). Herein, we report two mild methods for the catalytic enantioconvergent synthesis of protected dialkyl carbinamines, both of which use a chiral nickel catalyst to couple an alkylzinc reagent (1.1-1.2 equiv) with a racemic partner, specifically, an α-phthalimido alkyl chloride or an N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) ester of a protected α-amino acid. The methods are versatile, providing dialkyl carbinamine derivatives that bear an array of functional groups. For couplings of NHP esters, we further describe a one-pot variant wherein the NHP ester is generated in situ, allowing the generation of enantioenriched protected dialkyl carbinamines in one step from commercially available amino acid derivatives; we demonstrate the utility of this method by applying it to the efficient catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a range of interesting target molecules.

Quaternary stereocentres via catalytic enantioconvergent nucleophilic substitution reactions of tertiary alkyl halides.

The development of efficient methods, particularly catalytic and enantioselective processes, for the construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocentres is an important (and difficult) challenge in organic synthesis due to the occurrence of this motif in a range of bioactive molecules. One conceptually straightforward and potentially versatile approach is the catalytic enantioconvergent substitution reaction of a readily available racemic tertiary alkyl electrophile by an organometallic nucleophile; however, examples of such processes are rare. Here we demonstrate that a nickel-based chiral catalyst achieves enantioconvergent couplings of a variety of tertiary electrophiles (cyclic and acyclic α-halocarbonyl compounds) with alkenylmetal nucleophiles to form quaternary stereocentres with good yield and enantioselectivity under mild conditions in the presence of a range of functional groups. These couplings, which probably proceed via a radical pathway, provide access to an array of useful families of organic compounds, including intermediates in the total synthesis of two natural products, (-)-eburnamonine and madindoline A.

Convergent Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Esters of Chiral Dialkyl Carbinols.

Because chiral dialkyl carbinols, as well as their derived esters, are significant as intermediates and end points in fields such as organic, pharmaceutical, and biological chemistry, the development of efficient approaches to their asymmetric synthesis is an important endeavor. In this report, we describe a method for the direct catalytic enantioselective synthesis of such esters, beginning with an alkyl halide (derived from an aldehyde and an acyl bromide), an olefin, and a hydrosilane, catalyzed by nickel, an earth-abundant metal. The method is versatile, tolerating substituents that vary in size and that bear a range of functional groups. We further describe a four-component variant of this process, wherein the alkyl halide is generated in situ, thus obviating the need to isolate either an alkyl electrophile or an alkylmetal, while still effecting an alkyl-alkyl coupling. Finally, we apply our convergent method to the efficient catalytic enantioselective synthesis of three esters that are bioactive themselves or that have been utilized in the synthesis of bioactive compounds.

Tandem Pd-Catalyzed Intermolecular Allylic Alkylation/Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Benzoylmethyl pyridines, Pyrazines, and Quinolines.

An efficient synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles via Pd-catalyzed tandem allylic alkylation and dearomatization reactions was reported. In this reaction design, heteroarenes such as pyridines, pyrazines, and quinolines serve as bis-nucleophiles by installing a benzoyl group at the C2 benzylic position. With but-2-ene-1,4-diyl dimethyl dicarbonate as the bis-electrophile, the tandem Pd-catalyzed intermolecular allylic alkylation/allylic dearomatization reaction of benzoylmethyl-substituted heteroarenes has been developed. 2,3-Dihydroindolizine, 6,7-dihydropyrrolo[1,2- a]pyrazine, and 1,2-dihydropyrrolo[1,2- a]quinolin derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields.

Iridium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization of Benzene Derivatives.

Guided by the mechanistic insights from computational studies, we have developed an Ir-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular allylic dearomatization reaction of benzene derivatives. Under the optimized conditions consisting of a readily available Ir catalyst, a series of spiro[4.5]cyclohexadiene compounds were delivered in reasonable yields (up to 79 %) with good enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). The introduction of a malonate diester-type substituent serves as a key strategy to guide the nucleophilic reactivity of the benzene ring.

Efficient Synthesis of N-Alkylated 4-Pyridones by Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Propargylic Amination.

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric propargylic amination with 4-hydroxypyridines has been realized for the first time. In the presence of Cu complex derived from Pybox ligand, the N-propargylated 4-pyridones were obtained under mild reaction conditions with up to 99 % yield and 95 % ee. The Pybox ligand bearing a 4-F-phenyl substituent plays a key role for the high enantioselectivity. The products can be easily transformed to the core structure of quinolizidine alkaloids.

Iridium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Hydroxyquinolines: Simultaneous Weakening of the Aromaticity of Two Consecutive Aromatic Rings.

Intramolecular asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions of 5- and 7-hydroxyquinoline derivatives were realized by a chiral Ir/NHC catalyst. A series of functionalized cyclic enones were afforded in excellent yields (up to 99%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Theoretical computations revealed that the aromaticity of the two consecutive rings of hydroxyquinoline substrates is significantly weakened. A highly efficient formal synthesis of (-)-gephyrotoxin was accomplished based on this method.

Iridium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Benzoxazoles, Benzothiazoles, and Benzimidazoles.

An iridium-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction of benzoxazoles, benzothiazoles, and benzimidazoles was developed. The reaction was found to be compatible with a wide range of five-membered-ring electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds and furnished the corresponding dearomatized heterocycles in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity.

[Flux Characteristics of CO2, CH4, and N2 O and their Influencing Factors in Different Types of Ditches on the Chengdu Plain].

In order to study the flux characteristics of CH4, CO2 and N2O in different ditches and their influencing factors, three types of ditches (an agricultural ditch, agricultural-living compound ditch, and living ditch) were monitored once a month from March 2014 to February 2015 using static floating chambers in the Chengdu Plain. The results showed that:① Affected by human activities, CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were high in ditches and ranged from -2.26-1504.40 mg·(m2·h)-1, 0.69-40.00 mg·(m2·h)-1, and -2.27-70.35 µg·(m2·h)-1,respectively. All are higher in summer compared to autumn and spring, and are lowest in winter. ② The flux of CO2 in agricultural-living compound ditches was significantly higher than that in agricultural ditches and living ditches (P<0.05), and the fluxes of CH4 and N2O in living ditches were significantly higher than those in agricultural ditches and agricultural-living compound ditches (P<0.05). ③ Water temperature and rainfall were the main environmental factors affecting CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes, and DO (dissolved oxygen) and TN (total nitrogen) were the main environmental factors affecting CO2 and N2O fluxes. NH4+-N (ammonium nitrogen) and DO were the main water quality parameters affecting the CH4 flux.

Iridium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Pyridines, Pyrazines, Quinolines, and Isoquinolines.

The first Ir-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction of pyridines, pyrazines, quinolines, and isoquinolines has been developed. Enabled by in situ formed chiral Ir-catalyst, the dearomatized products were isolated in high levels of yield (up to 99% yield) and enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). It is worth noting that the Me-THQphos ligand is much more efficient than other tested ligands for the dearomatization of pyrazines and certain quinolines. Mechanistic studies of the dearomatization reaction were carried out, and the results suggest the feasibility of an alternative process which features the formation of a quinolinium as the key intermediate. The mechanistic findings render this reaction a yet unknown type in the chemistry of Reissert-type reactions. In addition, the utility of this method was showcased by a large-scale reaction and formal synthesis of (+)-gephyrotoxin.

Highly regio- and enantioselective synthesis of N-substituted 2-pyridones: iridium-catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric allylic amination.

The first iridium-catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric allylic amination reaction with 2-hydroxypyridines has been developed, thus providing a highly efficient synthesis of enantioenriched N-substituted 2-pyridone derivatives from readily available starting materials. This protocol features a good tolerance of functional groups in both the allylic carbonates and 2-hydroxypyridines, thereby delivering multifunctionalized heterocyclic products with up to 98% yield and 99% ee.

Catalytic asymmetric reactions by metal and chiral phosphoric acid sequential catalysis.

Catalytic asymmetric reactions promoted by metal catalysts and chiral phosphoric acids have become useful processes for the preparation of structurally diverse and complex organic compounds. This JOCSynopsis provides an overview of the most recent developments made in studies of these reactions. The paper focuses mainly on sequential catalysis and relay catalysis, which are accomplished by employing a combination of metal complexes and chiral phosphoric acids.

Direct asymmetric dearomatization of pyridines and pyrazines by iridium-catalyzed allylic amination reactions.

The first iridium-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic dearomatization reaction of pyridines and pyrazines has been realized. 2,3-Dihydroindolizine and 6,7-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives were obtained with excellent yields and enantioselectivity. This methodology features dearomatization by direct N-allylic alkylation of pyridines or pyrazines under mild reaction conditions.