Thermodynamic Controlled Regioselective C1-Functionalization of Indolizines with 3-Hydroxyisoindolinones via Brønsted Acid Catalyzed aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction.

A Brønsted acid catalyzed aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of indolizines with 3-hydroxyisoindolinones has been established, which constructs isoindolinone derivatives bearing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter in good to high yields and enantioselectivities. Notably, this strategy provides a new access to C1-functionalization of indolizines with excellent regioselectivities. Moreover, this intriguing C1-regioselective transformation was induced under thermodynamic control.

Diastereoselective and E/Z-Selective Synthesis of Functionalized Quinolizine Scaffolds via the Dearomative Annulation of 2-Pyridylacetates with Nitroenynes.

An organocatalytic Michael/aza-Michael cascade reaction was developed to build the functionalized quinolizine scaffolds in 60-82% yields, excellent diastereoselectivities, and E/Z selectivities. This protocol involves the [3 + 3] annulations of 2-pyridylacetates with nitroenynes through the dearomative strategy in the presence of an organic base under mild conditions. The versatile late-stage derivatizations further demonstrated the synthetic utility of this methodology.

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of 3-methylenetetrahydropyrans by palladium-catalyzed oxa-[4 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-alkenylbenzothiazoles.

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of 3-methylenetetrahydropyrans via palladium-catalyzed oxa-[4 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-alkenylbenzothiazoles with allyl carbonates bearing a nucleophilic alcohol side chain is presented. This synthetic methodology tolerates a wide variety of 2-alkenylbenzothiazoles and afforded the desired 3-methylenetetrahydropyrans in good yields and excellent dr. In addition, further derivatizations resulted in new scaffolds, making them useful synthetic precursors.

NHC-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized Succinimides from Enals and α-Ketoamides.

The efficient asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted succinimides from α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes and α-ketoamides via NHC-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition has been developed. The new scalable protocol significantly expands the utility of NHC catalysis for the synthesis of heterocycles and provides easy access to assemble a wide range of succinimides from simple starting materials.

Organocatalytic regio- and enantioselective C1-arylation of ß,γ-alkynyl-α-imino esters with pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines.

We herein report regio- and enantioselective arylation of ß,γ-alkynyl-α-imino esters with pyrroloisoquinolines. Using chiral phosphoric acid catalysts, a wide range of novel axially chiral tetrasubstituted α-amino allenoates were accessed in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. Notably, this transformation occurred preferentially at the sterically more hindered C1-position of pyrroloisoquinolines. The potential scalability and late-stage functionalization demonstrated the utility of the current protocol.

Asymmetric synthesis of pyrroloindolones by N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [2+3] annulation of α-chloroaldehydes with nitrovinylindoles.

NHC-enolate plus 3: N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) serve as organocatalysts for the [2+3] annulation of nitrovinylindoles with α-chloroaldehydes via an intermediate azolium enolate. The method provides trans-disubstituted pyrroloindolones with good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further transformations lead to tetracyclic pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles with potential psychotropic and other bioactivities.

Bifunctional Squaramide-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Reaction of Benzothiazoles with 2-Nitroallylic Acetates or Nitroenynes.

We describe here an organocatalytic asymmetric cascade formal [3 + 3] cycloaddition of benzothiazoles with 2-nitroallylic acetates and nitroenynes. This dearomative methodology provided a facile and efficient strategy for the construction of a broad range of valuable benzothiazolopyridines bearing two adjacent stereogenic centers in moderate to good yields with good to excellent stereocontrol.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Asymmetric Arylation of Indolizines: Atroposelective Access to Axially Chiral 3-Arylindolizines.

We report herein a highly straightforward strategy for the synthesis of a new axially chiral 3-arylindolizine scaffold via organocatalytic asymmetric arylation reactions of indolizines and p-quinone esters. Using the chiral phosphoric acid catalyst, a series of axially chiral 3-arylindolizines were accessed in good to excellent yields and atropo-enantioselectivities. This approach features a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, good scalability, and facile derivatization. Moreover, preliminary investigations based on nonlinear effects and a thermal racemization study demonstrated the intrinsic pathway for the formation of axial chirality and its potential utility.

Oxygen-promoted PdCl2-catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki reaction in aqueous media.

A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for the PdCl(2)-catalyzed ligand-free and aerobic Suzuki reaction of aryl bromides or nitrogen-based heteroaryl bromides with arylboronic acids in good to excellent yields in aqueous ethanol. A systematic investigation on the effect of different atmospheres on the reactivity of the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki reaction has been carried out, the results show that an aerobic atmosphere demonstrates a positive effect on the reactivity of the Suzuki reaction in an aqueous media and a negative effect in a pure organic solvent, which exhibits that the water plays a crucial role for the function of the atmosphere on the palladium-catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki reaction.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Cyclopentendiones via Friedel-Crafts Conjugate Addition of Indolizines.

An organocatalytic highly diastero- and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts conjugate addition of indolizines to prochiral cyclopentenediones has been successfully developed. This desymmetric transformation provides a direct access to the desired indolizine-substituted cyclopentanediones in yields of 62-91% and excellent stereoselectivities. The utility of the approach was demonstrated by diverse late-stage functionalizations through reduction or oxidation. Importantly, the direct sp2 C-H functionalization with nitromethane in one-pot process resulted in the indolizine-linked axially chiral styrene bearing a remote chiral center.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Aza-Spirooxindoles via Michael/Friedel-Crafts Cascade Reaction of 1,3-Nitroenynes and 3-Pyrrolyloxindoles.

An asymmetric [3+3] cyclization of nitroenynes and 3-pyrrolyloxindoles has been realized with a chiral bifunctional squaramide catalyst. This Michael/Friedel-Crafts cascade strategy provides a facile and efficient access to enantioenriched polycyclic aza-spirooxindoles with 32-95% isolated yields and excellent stereocontrol under mild reaction conditions.

Organocatalytic asymmetric [4+2] cyclization of 2-benzothiazolimines with azlactones: access to chiral benzothiazolopyrimidine derivatives.

An organocatalytic asymmetric domino Mannich/cyclization reaction between 2-benzothiazolimines with azlactones has been successfully developed. With the bifunctional squaramide catalyst, this formal [4+2] cyclization occurs with good to high yields and excellent stereoselectivities (up to 99% ee, >20 : 1 dr), providing an efficient and mild access to chiral benzothiazolopyrimidines bearing adjacent tertiary and quaternary stereogenic centers.

Access to substituted cyclobutenes by tandem [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/[2 + 2] cycloaddition of dipropargylphosphonates under Ag/Co relay catalysis.

We present herein an unconventional tandem [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/[2 + 2] cycloaddition of simple dipropargylphosphonates to deliver a range of bicyclic polysubstituted cyclobutenes and cyclobutanes under Ag/Co relay catalysis. An interesting switch from allene-allene to allene-alkyne cycloaddition was observed based on the substitution of the substrates, which further diversified the range of compounds accessible from this practical method. Significantly, preliminary biological screening of these new compounds identified promising candidates as suppressors of cellular proliferation.

Catalyst-Enabled Scaffold Diversity: Highly Chemo- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Tricyclic Ketals and Triarylmethanes.

The first catalytic cascade reaction of activated isocyanides with para-quinone methide-aryl esters is presented. Catalyst-enabled divergent pathways have also been achieved to deliver skeletally diverse products. While Ag catalysis leads to an unprecedented highly diastereoselective synthesis of tricyclic ketals, a simple procedure employing Cu catalysis produces oxazole-containing triarylmethanes in high efficiency through an unexpected C-C bond cleavage.

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclopentanes bearing four contiguous stereocenters via an NHC-catalyzed Michael/Michael/esterification domino reaction.

An NHC-catalyzed Michael/Michael/esterification domino reaction via homoenolate/enolate intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes bearing four contiguous stereocenters is described. A variety of α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes and 2-nitroallylic acetates react well with good domino yields and high stereoselectivities.

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of benzothiazolo-pyrimidinones via an NHC-catalyzed Mannich/lactamization domino reaction.

An NHC-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective Mannich/lactamization domino reaction of N-(benzothiazolyl)imines with α-chloroaldehydes has been developed. This new protocol provides a facile approach for the asymmetric synthesis of benzothiazolo-pyrimidinones and a pyrrolo[1,2-a]indolone in moderate to good yields (34-78%) and excellent stereoselectivities (87-99% ee, up to >20 : 1 d.r.).

NHC-catalyzed activation of α,ß-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles: an easy access to dihydropyranones.

An N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed activation of α,ß-unsaturated N-acyltriazoles is described. The in situ generated α,ß-unsaturated acylazolium intermediates allowed an enantioselective formal [3+3] cycloaddition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The resulting dihydropyranones are formed in good to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Enantioselective Annulation of Benzothiazolyl Ethyl Acetates with 2-Bromoenals.

An N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed enantioselective [3+3] annulation of benzothiazolyl acetates with 2-bromoenals has been developed. The protocol provides a direct asymmetric synthesis of dihydro-1H-benzothiazolopyridinones in good to very good yields and medium ee values. In many cases, the virtually enantiopure heterocycles are available through a single recrystallization (99% ee).

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed enantioselective annulation of indolin-3-ones with bromoenals.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed reactions of indolin-3-ones with 2-bromoenals opened an asymmetric access to 3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-b]indol-2(5 H)-ones in good yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities. This protocol tolerates a broad substrate scope. In addition, a possible mechanism for the annulation reaction is presented.