Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Tertiary Trifluoromethyl Carbinols through a Vinylogous Aldol Reaction of Alkylidenepyrazolones with Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

A diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic aldol reaction between alkylidenepyrazolones and trifluoromethyl ketones leading to chiral tertiary alcohols bearing a trifluoromethyl group is presented. The methodology is based on the use of a bifunctional organocatalyst in order to activate the γ-hydrogen atoms of the alkylidenepyrazolone nucleophile and the carbonyl group of the trifluoromethylarylketone providing highly functionalized trifluoromethyl alcohols with moderate yields, excellent diastereoselectivity, and moderate to good enantioselectivity. Experiments monitoring the conversion by 1H NMR and the enantiomeric excess by HPLC with the reaction time showed that full conversion of the starting materials is not achieved and that the enantiomeric excess decreases upon extended times, probably due to the reversibility of the reaction.

Organocatalytic enantioselective aminoalkylation of pyrazol-3-ones with aldimines generated in situ from α-amido sulfones.

Herein, an efficient asymmetric aminoalkylation of pyrazolones with α-amido sulfones catalyzed by a quinine-derived squaramide in dichloromethane/aqueous media has been established. A variety of chiral amines were obtained with high yields (up to 98%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The corresponding products are transformed into optically active acetylated pyrazoles after treatment with Ac2O/Et3N, because of the instability of some adducts. The reaction tolerates a wide range of α-amido sulfones and different pyrazolones.

Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Vinylogous Mannich Reaction of Alkylidenepyrazolones to Isatin-Derived Ketimines.

A valuable organocatalytic vinylogous Mannich reaction between alkylidenepyrazolones and isatin-derived ketimines has been successfully established. Squaramide organocatalyst, prepared from quinine, catalyzed the diastereo- and enantioselective vinylogous Mannich addition, affording a range of aminooxindole-pyrazolone adducts (24 examples) with excellent outcomes: up to 98% yield with complete diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). Additionally, different synthetic transformations were performed with the chiral pyrazolone-oxindole adducts.