Synthesis of Chiral N-Heterocyclic Allylboronates via the Enantioselective Borylative Dearomatization of Pyrroles.

The first enantioselective synthesis of five-membered N-heterocyclic allylboronates has been accomplished by a C-B bond-forming dearomatization of pyrroles using a copper(I) catalyst. This reaction involves the regio- and enantioselective addition of a borylcopper(I) species to pyrrole-2-carboxylates, followed by the diastereoselective protonation of the resulting copper(I) enolate to afford pyrrolidine-type allylboronates. The products are highly attractive reagents for the rapid construction of pyrrolidine derivatives that bear five consecutive stereocenters via subsequent allylboration/oxidation processes.

Transition-Metal- and Light-Free Directed Amination of Remote Unactivated C(sp3)-H Bonds of Alcohols.

Due to the great value of amino alcohols, new methods for their synthesis are in high demand. Abundant aliphatic alcohols represent the ideal feedstock for the method development toward this important motif. To date, transition-metal-catalyzed approaches for the directed remote amination of alcohols have been well established. Yet, they have certain disadvantages such as the use of expensive catalysts and limited scope. Very recently, transition-metal-free visible-light-induced radical approaches have emerged as new powerful tools for directed remote amination of alcohols. Relying on 1,5-HAT reactivity, these methods are limited to ß - or δ-amination only. Herein, we report a novel transition-metal- and visible-light-free room-temperature radical approach for remote ß -, γ-, and δ-C(sp3)-N bond formation in aliphatic alcohols using mild basic conditions and readily available diazonium salt reagents.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Stereo- and Chemoselective Borylative Radical Cyclization of Alkyl Halides Bearing an Alkene Moiety.

The stereoselective borylative radical cyclization of alkyl halides containing an alkene moiety was developed using a copper(I)/diboron catalyst system. The optimized reaction conditions allowed us to control the chemoselectivity between the allylic substitution and the borylative radical cyclization. The borylation products were subsequently converted to highly functionalized organic compounds by derivatization of the newly formed C-B bond. This borylative radical cyclization offers a novel methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Piperidines via the Stepwise Dearomatization/Borylation of Pyridines.

We have developed a novel approach for the synthesis of enantioenriched 3-boryl-tetrahydropyridines via the Cu(I)-catalyzed regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective protoborylation of 1,2-dihydropyridines, which were obtained by the partial reduction of the pyridine derivatives. This dearomatization/enantioselective borylation stepwise strategy provides facile access to chiral piperidines together with the stereospecific transformation of a stereogenic C-B bond from readily available starting materials. Furthermore, the utility of this method is demonstrated for the concise synthesis of the antidepressant drug (-)-paroxetine. A theoretical study of the reaction mechanism is also described.

Enantioselective Borylative Dearomatization of Indoles through Copper(I) Catalysis.

The enantioselective borylative dearomatization of a heteroaromatic compound has been achieved using a copper(I) catalyst and a diboron reagent. This reaction involves the regio- and enantioselective addition of active borylcopper(I) species to indole-2-carboxylates, followed by the diastereoselective protonation of the resulting copper(I) enolate to give the corresponding chiral indolines, which bear consecutive stereogenic centers.