Catalytic Generation of C1 Ammonium Enolates from Halides and CO for Asymmetric Cascade Reactions.

A general strategy for the design of asymmetric cascade reactions using readily available halides and carbon monoxide (CO) as substrates is developed. The key is the catalytic generation of C1-ammonium enolates for the subsequent asymmetric cascade reactions through the combination of palladium-catalyzed carbonylation and chiral Lewis base catalysis. Utilizing this strategy, we have established asymmetric formal [1+1+4] and [1+1+2] reactions to afford chiral dihydropyridones and ß-lactams with high yields and high enantio- and diastereoselectivities.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Isoquinolines: Merging Chiral-Phosphine and Gold Catalysis.

The highly enantioselective synthesis of dihydroisoquinoline derivatives from aromatic sulfonated imines tethered with an alkyne moiety, through a one-pot asymmetric relay catalysis of chiral-phosphine and gold catalysts, is reported. Enantiomerically enriched dihydroisoquinoline derivatives were afforded in good yields and good-to-excellent ee values under mild conditions, based on the asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. Dihydroisoquinoline derivatives containing two chiral centers were also synthesized through further transformations.