Pd(II)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization/Dipolar Cycloaddition Cascade of N-Arylnitrone Alkynes with Olefins.

A cycloisomerization/dipolar cycloaddition tandem reaction of nitrone alkynes and electron-deficient olefins was described by employing a simple palladium catalyst. N-Arylnitrone alkynes, which were not well tolerated in previously reported methodologies, were successfully incorporated in the tandem reaction with generally good yields and moderate diastereoselectivities.

Chiral gold phosphate catalyzed tandem hydroamination/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation enables access to chiral tetrahydroquinolines.

A highly efficient chiral gold phosphate-catalyzed tandem hydroamination/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction is described. A series of chiral tetrahydroquinolines were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. In this reaction, the gold catalyst enables both the hydroamination step as a π-Lewis acid and the asymmetric hydrogen-transfer process as an effective chiral Lewis acid.

Organocatalytic asymmetric selenofunctionalization of tryptamine for the synthesis of hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole derivatives.

A chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed selenofunctionalization of tryptamine derivatives provides access to 3a-(phenylselenyl)-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole derivatives in high yields and with synthetically useful levels of enantioselectivity (up to 89% ee).