Investigation of the Organocatalytic Chlorination of 2-Phenylpropanal.

Results of an examination of the organocatalytic enantioselective α-chlorination of 2-phenylpropanal are described. Synthetic investigation including the screening of primary and secondary aminocatalysts, many different reaction conditions, and other α-branched aldehydes show that especially primary aminocatalysts can catalyze the formation of the α-chloro branched aldehydes in good yields, but only with moderate enantioselectivities. In order to try to understand the challenge in obtaining high enantioselectivity for the aminocatalytic α-chlorination of α-branched aldehydes a series of experimental investigations were performed employing 2-phenylpropanal as a model system. These investigations have been coupled with computational investigations, which provided important insight into the moderate enantioselectivity of this chlorination reaction. Analysis of the reaction showed, that the lack of control over the selectivity of formation of the (E)- and (Z)-enamine intermediate, and the clustering of reaction barriers of possible reaction pathways help to rationalize difficulties in producing high enantioselectivity.

Umpolung Strategy for α-Functionalization of Aldehydes for the Addition of Thiols and other Nucleophiles.

Nucleophile-nucleophile coupling is a challenging transformation in organic chemistry. Herein we present a novel umpolung strategy for α-functionalization of aldehydes with nucleophiles. The strategy uses organocatalytic enamine activation and quinone-promoted oxidation to access O-bound quinol-intermediates that undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions. These quinol-intermediates react with different classes of nucleophiles. The focus is on an unprecedented organocatalytic oxidative α-thiolation of aldehydes. The reaction scope is demonstrated for a broad range of thiols and extended to chemoselective bioconjugation, and applicable to a large variety of aldehydes. This strategy can also encompass organocatalytic enantioselective coupling of α-branched aldehydes with thiols forming quaternary thioethers. Studies indicate a stereoselective formation of the intermediate followed by a stereospecific nucleophilic substitution reaction at a quaternary stereocenter, with inversion of configuration.

Synergistic Catalysis for the Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Aziridines with α,ß-Unsaturated Aldehydes.

The first asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of vinyl aziridines with α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes, based on synergistic catalysis, is disclosed. This methodology allows the formation of attractive pyrrolidine structures in good yields (up to 84 %), moderate diastereoselectivity, and high enantioselectivity values (up to >99 % ee). Additionally, a tricyclic pyrrolidine core structure found in biologically active molecules was synthesized in a one-pot fashion by using the presented reaction concept. Finally, a mechanistic proposal is outlined.

Directing the Activation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes Towards Stereoselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions by Brønsted Base Catalysis.

The first stereoselective organocatalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes is presented. It is demonstrated that by applying an optically active bifunctional Brønsted base catalyst, racemic di-cyano cyclopropylketones can be activated to undergo a stereoselective 1,3-dipolar reaction with mono- and polysubstituted nitroolefins. The reaction affords functionalized cyclopentanes with three consecutive stereocenters in high yield and stereoselectivity. Based on the stereochemical outcome, a mechanism in which the organocatalyst activates both the donor-acceptor cyclopropane and nitroolefin is proposed. Finally, chemoselective transformations of the cycloaddition products are demonstrated.

Asymmetric Brønsted Base Catalyzed and Directed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2-Acyl Cycloheptatrienes with Azomethine Ylides.

Conjugated cyclic trienes have the potential for different types of cycloaddition reactions. In the present work, we will, in a novel asymmetric cycloaddition reaction, demonstrate that the organocatalytic reaction of 2-acyl cycloheptatrienes with azomethine ylides proceeds as a [3+2] cycloaddition, which is in contrast to the Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction, in which a [3+6] cycloaddition takes place. In the presence of a chiral organosuperbase, 2-acyl cycloheptatrienes react in a highly enantioselective manner in the [3+2] cycloaddition with azomethine ylides, providing the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition product in high yields and up to 99 % ee. It is also shown that the diene formed by the reaction can undergo stereoselective dihydroxylation, bromination, and cycloaddition reactions. Finally, based on experimental observations, some mechanistic considerations are discussed.

Dynamic resolution of 2-cyclohexylidene acetaldehydes through organocatalytic dienamine [4+2] cycloaddition.

Organocatalytic formed dienamines are shown to be involved in dynamic resolution of 2-cyclohexylidene acetaldehydes. By reaction of racemic 2-cyclohexylidene acetaldehydes with benzoquinones in the presence of a diarylprolinol-silyl ether catalyst, tricyclic products are formed in good to high yield and excellent enantioselectivity, while the diastereoselectivity depends on the substituent in the 2-cyclohexylidene acetaldehydes. Studies based on experimental observations and DFT-calculations point to a dynamic thermodynamic resolution-directed pathway. Some transformations of the optically active products are also presented.