Nickel-Catalysed Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Benzyl Bromides and Sulfonium Salts towards the Synthesis of Dihydrostilbenes.

A nickel-catalysed reductive cross-coupling reaction between benzyl sulfonium salts and benzyl bromides is reported. Simple, stable and readily available sulfonium salts have shown their ability as leaving groups in cross-electrophile coupling, allowing the formation of challenging sp3 -sp3 carbon-carbon bonds, towards the synthesis of interesting dihydrostilbene derivatives. In addition, benzyl tosyl derivatives have been demonstrated to be suitable substrates for reductive cross-coupling by in-situ formation of the corresponding sulfonium salt.

Organocatalytic Strategies for the Development of the Enantioselective Inverse-electron-demand Hetero-Diels-Alder Reaction.

Cycloaddition reactions, in particular Diels-Alder reactions, have attracted a lot of attention from organic chemists since they represent one of the most powerful methodologies for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds. In particular, inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reactions have been an important breakthrough for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. Among all their variants, the organocatalytic enantioselective version has been widely explored since the asymmetric construction of diversely functionalized scaffolds under reaction conditions encompassed within the green chemistry field is of great interest. In this review, a profound revision on the latest advances on the organocatalytic asymmetric inverse-electron demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction is shown.

Reformatsky Reaction to Alkynyl N- tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines: Lewis Acid Controlled Stereodivergent Synthesis of ß-Alkynyl-ß-Amino Acids.

A highly diastereoselective Refortmatsky reaction to N- tert-butanesulfinyl propargylaldimines and ketimines is presented. The reaction proceeded with excellent yields and diastereoselectivities provided by the sulfinyl group in the presence of Me3Al. The use of TBSOTf as a Lewis acid promoter switched the sense of the stereoinduction. Thus, this methodology allowed the stereodivergent asymmetric synthesis of ß-alkynyl ß-amino acid derivatives, from the same sulfinyl configuration, by simply changing the Lewis acid promoter.

An Interrupted Pummerer/Nickel-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Sequence.

An interrupted Pummerer/nickel-catalysed cross-coupling strategy has been developed and used in the elaboration of styrenes. The operationally simple method can be carried out as a one-pot process, involves the direct formation of stable alkenyl sulfonium salt intermediates, utilises a commercially available sulfoxide, catalyst, and ligand, operates at ambient temperature, accommodates sp-, sp2 -, and sp3 -hybridised organozinc coupling partners, and delivers functionalised styrene products in high yields over two steps. An interrupted Pummerer/cyclisation approach has also been used to access carbo- and heterocyclic alkenyl sulfonium salts for cross-coupling.

Synthesis of C2 Substituted Benzothiophenes via an Interrupted Pummerer/[3,3]-Sigmatropic/1,2-Migration Cascade of Benzothiophene S-Oxides.

Functionalized benzothiophenes are important scaffolds found in molecules with wide ranging biological activity and in organic materials. We describe an efficient, metal-free synthesis of C2 arylated, allylated, and propargylated benzothiophenes. The reaction utilizes synthetically unexplored yet readily accessible benzothiophene S-oxides and phenols, allyl-, or propargyl silanes in a unique cascade sequence. An interrupted Pummerer reaction between benzothiophene S-oxides and the coupling partners yields sulfonium salts that lack aromaticity and therefore allow facile [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. The subsequently generated benzothiophenium salts undergo a previously unexplored 1,2-migration to access C2 functionalized benzothiophenes.

Metal-Free CH-CH-Type Cross-Coupling of Arenes and Alkynes Directed by a Multifunctional Sulfoxide Group.

A metal-free CH-CH-type coupling of arenes and alkynes, mediated by a multifunctional sulfoxide directing group, exploits nonprefunctionalized coupling partners, proceeds under mild conditions, is operationally simple, and exhibits high functional group tolerance. The products of the CH-CH coupling are highly versatile, and the metal-free process can be used for the construction and late-stage modification of important molecular scaffolds.

From a decomposition product to an efficient and versatile catalyst: the [Ru(η5-indenyl)(PPh3)2Cl] story.

One of the most important challenges in catalyst design is the synthesis of stable promoters without compromising their activity. For this reason, it is important to understand the factors leading to decomposition of such catalysts, especially if side-products negatively affect the activity and selectivity of the starting complex. In this context, the understanding of termination and decomposition processes in olefin metathesis is receiving significant attention from the scientific community. For example, the decomposition of ruthenium olefin metathesis precatalysts in alcohol solutions can occur during either the catalyst synthesis or the metathesis process, and such decomposition has been found to be common for Grubbs-type precatalysts. These decomposition products are usually hydridocarbonyl complexes, which are well-known to be active in several transformations such as hydrogenation, terminal alkene isomerization, and C-H activation chemistry. The reactivity of these side products can be unwanted, and it is therefore important to understand how to avoid them and maybe also important to keep an open mind and think of ways to use these in other catalytic reactions. A showcase of these decomposition studies is reported in this Account. These reports analyze the stability of ruthenium phenylindenylidene complexes, highly active olefin metathesis precatalysts, in basic alcohol solutions. Several different decomposition processes can occur under these conditions depending on the starting complex and the alcohol used. These indenylidene-bearing metathesis complexes display a completely different behavior compared with that of other metathesis precatalysts and show an alternative competitive alcoholysis pathway, where rather than forming the expected hydrido carbonyl complexes, the indenylidene fragment is transformed into a η(1)-indenyl, which then rearranges to its η(5)-indenyl form. In particular, [RuCl(η(5)-(3-phenylindenylidene)(PPh3)2] has been found to be extremely active in numerous transformations (at least 20) as well as compatible with a broad range of reaction conditions, rendering it a versatile catalytic tool. It should be stated that the η(5)-phenyl indenyl ligand shows enhanced catalytic activity over related half-sandwich ruthenium complexes. The analogous half-sandwich (cyclopentadienyl and indenyl) ruthenium complexes show lower activity in transfer hydrogenation and allylic alcohol isomerization reactions. In addition, this catalyst allows access to new phenylindenyl ruthenium complexes, which can be achieved in a very straightforward manner and have been successfully used in catalysis. This Account provides an overview of how mechanistic insights into decomposition and stability of a well-known family of ruthenium metathesis precatalysts has resulted in a series of novel and versatile ruthenium complexes with unexpected reactivity.

General and mild Ni(0)-catalyzed α-arylation of ketones using aryl chlorides.

A general methodology for the α-arylation of ketones using a nickel catalyst has been developed. The new well-defined [Ni(IPr*)(cin)Cl] (1 c) pre-catalyst showed great efficiency for this transformation, allowing the coupling of a wide range of ketones, including acetophenone derivatives, with various functionalised aryl chlorides. This cinnamyl-based Ni-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex has demonstrated a different behaviour to previously reported NHC-Ni catalysts. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest a Ni(0)/Ni(II) catalytic cycle to be at play.

A cationic ruthenium complex for the dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.

A synthetic protocol making use of a well-defined cationic ruthenium complex 2 enabling the racemization of enantiomerically pure secondary alcohols in the presence of a weak base (K2CO3) is described. The compatibility of 2 with Candida Antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) allows the development of an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols in the absence of an additional strong base. This procedure involves the first example of a dynamic kinetic resolution of alcohols in the presence of a cationic ruthenium catalyst. In addition, we describe the conversion of ketones to the enantioenriched acetates in a one-pot reaction, probing the versatility of complex 2.

Regioselective ruthenium catalysed H-D exchange using D2O as the deuterium source.

An efficient and convenient ruthenium catalysed method for a regiospecific H/D exchange using D2O is described. Organic moieties such as pyridine, oxazole, imidazole, pyrazole, ester, ketone and carboxylic acid have been found effective directing groups in this transformation. In addition, the deuteration of the enantiopure (S)-Ketoprofen leads to the incorporation of three deuterium atoms with retention of molecular chirality.

Iridium(I) hydroxides in catalysis: rearrangement of allylic alcohols to ketones.

The iridium(I) hydroxide complex [Ir(OH)(COD)(I(i)Pr)] has been shown to be a competent catalyst for the rearrangement of allylic alcohols to ketones. Reactions proceed in short reaction times (1-1.5 h) with microwave heating, in the absence of additives.

Bicarbonate-binding catalysis for the enantioselective desymmetrization of keto sulfonium salts.

Herein, an enantioselective desymmetrization of cyclic keto sulfonium salts through enantioselective deprotonation/ring opening process by anion-binding catalysis is presented. We report a squaramide/HCO3- complex as catalytic active species which is able to stereo-differentiate two enantiomeric protons, triggering the ring opening event taking advantage of the great tendency of sulfonium salts to act as leaving groups. Thus, this desymmetrization methodology give rise to ß-methylsulfenylated sulfa-Michael addition type products with excellent yields and very good enantioselectivities. The bifunctional organocatalyst has been demonstrated to be capable of activating simultaneously the base and the keto sulfonium salt by DFT calculations and experimental proofs.

Isothiourea-catalysed enantioselective radical conjugate addition under batch and flow conditions.

The photocatalytic generation of α-amino radicals is combined with chiral isothiourea derived α,ß-unsaturated acyl ammonium intermediates. The reaction proceeds VIA a [3+2] radical-polar crossover mechanism to generate γ-lactams in good yields and enantioselectivities. The enantioselective radical conjugate addition was carried out under batch and flow conditions.

General electrochemical Minisci alkylation of N-heteroarenes with alkyl halides.

Herein, we report, a general, facile and environmentally friendly Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes under simple and straightforward electrochemical conditions using widely available alkyl halides as radical precursors. Primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals have been shown to be efficiently generated and coupled with a large variety of N-heteroarenes. The method presents a very high functional group tolerance, including various heterocyclic-based natural products, which highlights the robustness of the methodology. This applicability has been further proved in the synthesis of various interesting biologically valuable building blocks. In addition, we have proposed a mechanism based on different proofs and pieces of electrochemical evidence.

Enantioselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of α-ketoesters under bifunctional organocatalysis.

A highly enantioselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction to ketoesters catalysed by a hydrogen-bond-donor-based bifunctional organocatalyst is presented. The addition of silyloxy dienol ether gives rise to multifunctional chiral tertiary alcohols bearing a versatile α,ß-unsaturated aldehyde with excellent enantiocontrol.

Enantioselective Inverse-Electron Demand Aza-Diels-Alder Reaction: ipso,α-Selectivity of Silyl Dienol Ethers.

A highly efficient enantioselective inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels-Alder reaction between aza-sulfonyl-1-aza-1,3-butadienes and silyl (di)enol ethers has been developed. The presented methodology allows the synthesis of benzofuran-fused 2-piperidinol derivatives with three contiguous stereocenters in a highly selective manner, as even the hemiaminal center is completely stereocontrolled. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support that the hydrogen-bond donor-based bifunctional organocatalyst selectively triggers the reaction through the ipso,α-position of the dienophile, in contrast to the reactivity observed for dienolates in situ generated from ß,γ-unsaturated derivatives. Moreover, the calculations have clarified the mechanism of the reaction and the ability of the hydrogen-bond donor core to hydrolyze selectively the E isomer of the dienol ether. Furthermore, to demonstrate the applicability of silyl enol ethers as nucleophiles in the asymmetric synthesis of interesting benzofuran-fused derivatives, the catalytic system has also been implemented for the highly efficient installation of an aromatic ring in the piperidine adducts.

Enantioselective vinylogous-Mukaiyama-type dearomatisation by anion-binding catalysis.

The first enantioselective vinylogous Mukaiyama-type dearomatisation of heteroarenes under anion-binding catalysis is presented. A recyclable tetrakistriazole catalyst was used for the enantiocontrol of the remote vinylogous active position of silyl dienol ethers. This approach provided chiral heterocycles bearing α,ß-unsaturated chains with complete regioselectivity and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97.5 : 2.5 e.r.).

Remote stereocontrol mediated by a sulfinyl group: synthesis of allylic alcohols via chemoselective and diastereoselective reduction of gamma-methylene delta-ketosulfoxides.

The efficiency of the sulfinyl group as a remote controller of the chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity of the reduction of alpha, beta-unsaturated alpha-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl] substituted ketones 1 has been demonstrated in reactions carried out under NaBH4 in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 as the chelating agent. The starting unsaturated ketones have been prepared from the corresponding 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl) benzyl alkyl (and aryl) ketones 2 by insertion of the methylidene group under modified Mannich conditions, exploiting ultrasound irradiation to obtain the aminomethylation adducts and silica gel treatment to produce its complete elimination. Desulfinylation of the reduction products yielded the corresponding vinyl carbinols with high enantiomeric purity.

Nucleophilic halo-Michael addition under Lewis-base activation.

A simple and general conjugate nucleophilic halogenation is presented. The THTO/halosilane combination has shown the ability to act as a nucleophilic halide source in the conjugate addition to a variety of Michael acceptors. In addition, a straightforward diastereoselective halogen installation using α,ß-unsaturated acyloxazolidinones as platforms has been developed.

Asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of isatins under bifunctional organocatalysis: enantioselective synthesis of substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles.

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of silyloxy dienes and isatins under bifunctional organocatalysis is presented. Substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles are synthesised in good yields and enantioselectivities. These synthetic intermediates are used for the construction of more complex molecules with biological properties such as the formal synthesis of a CB2 agonist presented.