Direct Noncovalent Activation of α,ß-Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Stereodivergent Synthesis of Substituted Cyclohexenes.

HOMO-raising noncovalent activation of α-aryl α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes using a bifunctional Brønsted base catalyst is achieved. The catalytically generated dienolate intermediate undergoes all-carbon [4+2] cyclizations with nitroolefins, leading to chiral cyclohexenes with four contiguous stereocenters in high yields and with excellent enantioseletivity. Furthermore, the diastereodivergent synthesis of the products is realized by introducing a second steric control to the bifunctional catalyst; 4 isomers out of 16 possible stereoisomers of the products were selectively produced by simple use of two catalysts and their (pseudo)enantiomers. The results presented here provide new insights into the remote activation of the carbonyl functionality as well as the stereodivergent synthesis of complex chiral molecules with multiple stereocenters.

Synthesis of Spirocyclic Oxindole Dihydrothiophenes by DBU-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with Isothiocyanates.

A highly regioselective DBU-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with isothiocyanates was developed. This method allows rapid and efficient synthesis of spirocyclic oxindole dihydrothiophene products in moderate to high yields with excellent regioselectivities under simple conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed.

Dearomative Dienolate-Mediated Catalysis: A Remote Activation Strategy for Asymmetric Functionalization of Benzylic C-H Bonds of Heteroaryl Aldehydes.

A dearomative remote activation strategy for the asymmetric functionalization of benzylic C-H bonds of heteroaryl aldehydes under bifunctional Brønsted base catalysis has been developed. The in situ generated o-QDMs-type dienolate intermediates were efficiently and stereoselectively trapped by nitroolefins through an asymmetric Michael/nitro-aldol cascade reaction. Using this strategy, a wide variety of synthetically significant tetrahydrodibenzothiophene and tetrahydrodibenzofuran derivatives were synthesized in good yields with high enantioselectivities.

An organocatalytic Michael-cyclization cascade of 4-oxa-α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids with aldehydes: facile synthesis of chiral γ-lactols and trisubstituted γ-lactones.

An organocatalytic Michael-cyclization cascade of aldehydes with 4-oxa-α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed, giving functionalized γ-lactols with high yields and enantioselectivities. The products could be easily transformed into complex trisubstituted γ-lactones and γ-lactams.