Asymmetric [4 + 2], [6 + 2], and [6 + 4] Cycloadditions of Isomeric Formyl Cycloheptatrienes Catalyzed by a Chiral Diamine Catalyst.

Novel asymmetric aminocatalytic cycloadditions are described between formyl cycloheptatrienes and 6,6-dimethylfulvene that lead to [4 + 2], [6 + 2], and [4 + 6] cycloadducts. The unprecedented reaction course is dependent on the position of the formyl functionality in the cycloheptatriene core, and each formyl cycloheptatriene isomer displays a distinct reactivity pattern. The formyl cycloheptatriene isomers are activated by a chiral primary diamine catalyst, and the activation mode is dependent on the position of the formyl functionality relative to the cycloheptatriene core. The [4 + 2] and [6 + 2] cycloadducts are formed via rare iminocatalytic inverse electron-demand cycloadditions, while the [4 + 6] cycloadduct is formed by a normal electron-demand cycloaddition. The reactivity displayed by the different formyl cycloheptatrienes was investigated by DFT calculations. These computational studies account for the different reaction paths for the three isomeric formyl cycloheptatrienes. The aminocatalytic [4 + 2], [6 + 2], and [4 + 6] cycloadditions proceed by stepwise processes, and the interplay between conjugation, substrate distortion, and dispersive interactions between the fulvene and aminocatalyst mainly defines the outcome of each cycloaddition.

Enantioconvergent 6π Electrocyclization Enabled by Photoredox Racemization.

This study presents a novel photoredox-enabled enantioconvergent catalytic strategy used to construct chiral 2H-1,3-benzoxazines via an unprecedented oxa-6π electrocyclization utilizing racemic α-substituted glycinates as substrates. The approach leverages a cobalt-based chiral Lewis acid catalyst, which promotes the transformation under thermal or photoredox conditions. While the thermal reaction selectively converts only the (S)-configured glycinates into enantioenriched 2H-1,3-benzoxazines (up to 96:4 e.r.), the addition of 0.5 mol % of a commercially available iridium photocatalyst under visible light irradiation transforms the reaction into an enantioconvergent process. Detailed mechanistic and time course studies of optically pure α-deuterated substrates revealed the presence of an enantiospecific kinetic isotope effect, which helped to clarify the role of both the photo- and chiral Lewis acid catalyst in the reaction sequence. In this dual catalytic system, the photocatalyst promotes a dynamic interconversion between the substrate enantiomers─a process not accessible via ground-state chemistry─while the chiral Lewis acid selectively transforms only the (S)-configured substrates. Further mechanistic evidence for the proposed mechanism is provided by linear free energy relationship analysis, which suggests that the stereodetermining step involves a 6π electrocyclization under both thermal and photoredox conditions.

Synthesis of Optically and Redox Active Polyenaminones from Diamines and α,α'-Bis[(dimethylamino)methylidene]cyclohexanediones.

New oligo- and polyenaminones with Mw ~ 7-50 KDa were prepared in high yields by transaminative amino-enaminone polymerization of regioisomeric bis[(dimethylamino)methylidene]cyclohexanediones with alkylene and phenylenediamines. The polymers obtained are practically insoluble in aqueous and organic solvents and exhibit film-forming properties, UV light absorption at wavelengths below 500 nm, and redox activity. These properties indicate a promising application potential of these polymers, which could find use in optical and optoelectronic applications and in energy storage devices.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Construction of Conformationally Stable C(sp2)-C(sp3) Atropisomers.

Nonbiaryl atropisomers are molecules defined by a stereogenic axis featuring at least one nonarene moiety. Among these, scaffolds bearing a conformationally stable C(sp2)-C(sp3) stereogenic axis have been observed in natural compounds; however, their enantioselective synthesis remains almost completely unexplored. Herein we disclose a new class of chiral C(sp2)-C(sp3) atropisomers obtained with high levels of stereoselectivity (up to 99% ee) by means of an organocatalytic asymmetric methodology. Multiple molecular motifs could be embedded in this class of C(sp2)-C(sp3) atropisomers, showing a broad and general protocol. Experimental data provide strong evidence of the conformational stability of the C(sp2)-C(sp3) stereogenic axis (up to t1/225 °C >1000 y) in the obtained compounds and show kinetic control over this rare stereogenic element. This, coupled with density functional theory calculations, suggests that the observed stereoselectivity arises from a Curtin-Hammett scenario establishing an equilibrium of intermediates. Furthermore, the experimental investigation led to evidence of the operating principle of central-to-axial chirality conversions.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent Cascade Reaction for the Synthesis of Contiguously Substituted Tetrahydronaphthols.

Isobenzopyrylium ions are unique, highly reactive, aromatic intermediates which are largely unexplored in asymmetric catalysis despite their high potential synthetic utility. In this study, an organocatalytic asymmetric multicomponent cascade via dienamine catalysis, involving a cycloaddition, a nucleophilic addition, and a ring-opening reaction, is disclosed. The reaction furnishes chiral tetrahydronaphthols containing four contiguous stereocenters in good to high yield, high diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1), and excellent enantioselectivity (93-98% ee). The obtained products are important synthetic intermediates, and it is demonstrated that they can be used for the generation of frameworks such as octahydrobenzo[h]isoquinoline and [2.2.2]octane scaffolds. Furthermore, mechanistic experiments involving oxygen-18-labeling studies and density functional theory calculations provide a vivid picture of the reaction mechanism. Finally, the bioactivity of 16 representative tetrahydronaphthol compounds has been evaluated in U-2OS cancer cells with some compounds showing a unique profile and a clear morphological change.

Insights on the Pseudo-Enantiomeric Properties of Bifunctional Cinchona Alkaloid Squaramide-Derived Organocatalyst.

The use of pseudo enantiomers is a well-known method of achieving products of complementary stereochemistry. Only rarely can different enantiomers of a product be accessed without modulation of the catalyst. Recently, a system was reported wherein two different enantiomers of spirocycles were obtained by a cascade reaction of unsaturated pyrrolin-4-ones with mercaptoacetaldehyde catalyzed by a single optimized cinchona alkaloid squaramide-derived organocatalyst. It was originally proposed that the E/Z geometry of the unsaturated pyrrolin-4-one dictated the stereochemistry of the spirocycle product, but this was not investigated further. In the present work, we have investigated the nature of a pseudo-enantiomeric organocatalyst conformation applying density functional theory calculations for investigating the transition states for the reaction. Furthermore, the influence of the double-bond geometry of the pyrrolin-4-one has been studied beyond what is possible to test experimentally. The results provide a greater understanding for this class of reactions that may be applicable in future methodology development.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Camphor-Derived Diamines and Their Application as Thiourea Organocatalysts.

A series of 18 regio- and stereo-chemically diverse chiral non-racemic 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-diamines have been synthesized from commercial (1S)-(+)-ketopinic acid and (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid. The structures of the diamines are all based on the d-(+)-camphor scaffold and feature isomeric diversity in terms of regioisomeric attachment of the primary and the tertiary amine function and the exo/endo-isomerism. Diamines were transformed into the corresponding noncovalent bifunctional thiourea organocatalysts, which have been evaluated for catalytic activity in the conjugative addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl nucleophiles (dimethyl malonate, acetylacetone, and dibenzoylmethane) to trans-ß-nitrostyrene. The highest enantioselectivity was achieved in the reaction with acetylacetone as nucleophile using endo-1,3-diamine derived catalyst 52 (91.5:8.5 er). All new organocatalysts 48-63 have been fully characterized. The structures and the absolute configurations of eight intermediates and thiourea derivative 52 were also determined by X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis and Reduction of 10-Phthalimidocamphor Oxime.

10-Phthalimidocamphor oxime was prepared from easily available 10-iodocamphor in two steps. Reduction of the oxime functionality resulted in the formation of two novel polycyclic isoindolinone heterocycles, the attempted preparation of the primary amine failed. The structures of novel heterocycles were unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction as well as NMR techniques.

Synthesis of Novel 3D-Rich α-Amino Acid-Derived 3-Pyrazolidinones.

Synthetic approaches towards novel 3-pyrazolidinone derivatives functionalized at positions N(1) and/or C(5) were studied. 5-Aminoalkyl-3-pyrazolidinones were prepared in four steps from N-protected glycines via Masamune-Claisen homologation, reduction, O-mesylation, and cyclisation with a hydrazine derivative. The free amines were prepared by acidolytic deprotection. Title compound was also prepared by 'ring switching' transformation of N-Boc-pyrrolin-2(5H)-one with hydrazine hydrate. Hydrogenolytic deprotection of 5-(N-alkyl-N-Cbz-aminomethyl)pyrazolidine-3-ones followed by cyclisation with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) gave two novel representatives of perhydroimidazo[1,5-b] pyrazole, which is an almost unexplored heterocyclic system. Amidation of 3-oxopyrazolidine-5-carboxylic acid gave the corresponding carboxamides in moderate yields. Diastereomeric non-racemic carboxamides obtained from (S)-AlaOMe and (S)-ProOMe were separated by MPLC.

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluations of (+)-isocampholenic acid-derived amides.

The synthesis of two novel (+)-isocampholenic acid-derived amines has been realized starting from commercially available (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid. The novel amines as well as (+)-isocampholenic acid have been used as building blocks in the construction of a library of amides using various aliphatic, aromatic, and amino acid-derived coupling partners using BPC and CDI as activating agents. Amide derivatives have been assayed against several enzymes that hold potential for the development of new drugs to battle bacterial infections and Alzheimer's disease. Compounds 20c and 20e showed promising selective sub-micromolar inhibition of human butyrylcholinesterase [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] values [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively).

Synthesis of novel camphor-derived bifunctional thiourea organocatalysts.

Synthesis and catalyst performance of 2,3- (types and ) and 2,8-disubstituted (type ) thiourea bifunctional organocatalysts was attempted. The synthesis of catalyst of type has, so far, not been realized, while catalysts of type , i.e., the 2,3-exo- and the 2-endo-3-exo-thiourea catalysts, were prepared in six steps starting from (+)-camphor. The catalysts of type were prepared from (+)-camphor in eight steps. All the potential catalysts as well as most of the intermediate products were carefully structurally characterized. The thiourea bifunctional organocatalysts were tested in a model reaction of Michael addition of dimethyl malonate to trans-ß-nitrostyrene.

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel camphor-derived amines.

Two novel 4-substituted camphidine derivatives 10a,b have been prepared from (+)-camphor (1) in five steps, the Beckmann rearrangement being the bottleneck of the synthesis. Isoborneol derivative 5b, formed as a side product during the hydrogenation of arylidene ketone 3b, under Beckmann rearrangement conditions yielded interesting novel rearrangement products 11 and 12. (1S)-(+)-Camphorquinone (13) was transformed into diamines 15 and 16 in two steps, the former being cyclized into an imidazoline salt 17, an N-heterocyclic carbene precursor. The structures of all novel compounds have been meticulously characterized using NMR techniques and/or single crystal X-ray analysis.