Construction of Diverse Pyrrolidine-Based Skeletons through the Ag-Catalyzed Stereoselective Addition-Elimination Reaction of Azomethine Ylides with Nitroallyl Acetates.

Because scaffold diversity has a pronounced impact on biological screening, the efficient and expedient construction of skeletally diverse compound collections is a fundamental demand in drug discovery. In this regard, we report here an asymmetric tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction of pyrroline esters with nitroallyl acetates and its application to the construction of various types of fused or spirocyclic pyrrolidines. A AgOAc/(R,Sp)-ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) catalyst efficiently promotes the addition-elimination reaction, setting vicinal chiral stereocenters featuring a tetrasubstituted carbon with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity while leaving the versatile nitroolefin moiety. The broad substrate scope of this reaction and the transformability of the resulting nitroolefin, imine, and ester moieties allow for the construction of diverse pyrrolidine-based fused or spiro bicyclic skeletons in optically active forms by various intramolecular cyclization processes.

Synthesis of Spirocyclic Pyrrolidine Compounds via Silver-Catalyzed Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction of Imino Esters with α-Alkylidene Succinimides.

In this study, the AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) complex was used to successfully catalyze asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition between glycine imino esters and CO2Me-appended α-alkylidene succinimides to afford spiropyrrolidines in good yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). The silver/TCF afforded endo-(2,5-cis) cycloadducts in contrast to the previous exo'-(2,5-trans) selective reaction with ylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidine. A wide variety of imino esters bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on the phenyl groups and heteroaryl substrates were utilized in this reaction. The scope of α-alkylidene succinimides was investigated, which revealed that substituents on α-benzylidene derivatives had negligible effect on the product yield and stereoselectivity, and α-alkylidene derivatives could be efficiently used as dipolarophiles.

Dipolarophile-Steered Formal Stereodivergent Synthesis of 2,5-cis/trans-Pyrrolidines Based on Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Imino Lactones.

The stereodivergent asymmetric synthesis of 2,5-trans/cis pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition using two different types of activated alkenes is described. When ylidene-isoxazolones were employed as dipolarophiles, the Ag/(S,Sp )-iPr-FcPHOX-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of imino lactones proceeded with 2,5-trans selectivity. Subsequent decarboxylation of the isoxazolone rings produced pyrrolidines with 2,5-trans stereoretention. In the reaction using acyclic enones as activated alkenes, the Ag/(R,Sp )-ThioClickFerrophos complex-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition afforded 2,5-cis substituted pyrrolidines in high yields and enantioselectivities. Therefore, these methods can be considered as a formal stereodivergent synthesis of 2,5-cis/trans pyrrolidines.

N-(Morpholine-4-dithio)phthalimide: A Shelf-Stable, Bilateral Platform Molecule Enabling Access to Diverse Unsymmetrical Disulfides.

Synthetic methods for unsymmetrical disulfides are greatly needed owing to their applications in drug discovery, linker chemistry, and materials sciences. In this study, a new shelf-stable and easy-to-prepare bilateral disulfurating platform molecule, N-(morpholine-4-dithio)phthalimide, has been developed for the divergent synthesis of unsymmetrical disulfides. The amino and imide leaving groups of this reagent can be orthogonally transformed. Under acidic conditions, the amino moiety undergoes selective protonation and thus can be displaced by various carbon nucleophiles, such as allyl trimethylsilanes, alkynyl silanes, and electron-rich arenes, leaving the phthalimide moiety untouched. Meanwhile, the phthalimide leaving group is amenable to substitution under basic or neutral conditions. The combination of these transformations provides rapid access to diverse unsymmetrical disulfides through two C-S bond-forming reactions.

Chiral Silver Complex-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of 1-Pyrroline-5-Carbonitrile to α-Enones.

The conjugated addition reaction of 1-pyrroline-5-carbonitrile to α-enones was effectively catalyzed by AgF/ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) in diethyl ether in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), and nearly single diastereomers of adducts with good enantiomeric excesses (up to 97% ee) were obtained in high yields. The reduction of the nitrile group with H2/Raney Ni in ethanol successfully transformed the conjugate adduct to the corresponding spirocyclic piperidine (60% yield) as a single stereoisomer.

exo'-Selective Construction of Spirobipyrrolidines by the Silver-catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Imino Esters with 4-Benzylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines.

An unprecedented Ag-catalyzed exo'-selective [3+2] cycloaddition of imino esters with 4-benzylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines is described. The reaction was efficiently catalyzed by Ag/(R, Sp )-ThioClickFerrophos (TCF) leading to the construction of the corresponding spirobipyrrolidine scaffolds in excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities. This reaction is the first example of a silver-catalyzed exo'-selective asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition, as well as the first exo'-selective spirobipyrrolidine construction via a [3+2] cycloaddition process using imino esters. The wide substrate scope of this reaction enabled the preparation of structurally diverse spirobipyrrolidine derivatives, which are attracting attention as targets for drug discovery. Mechanistic studies suggested that the unusual exo'-selectivity of this reaction is not due to epimerization following the common exo- or endo-selective cycloaddition, but instead is due to a stepwise Michael addition/Mannich sequence with bond rotation.

Silver/ThioClickFerrophos-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition and Tandem Addition-Elimination Reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts.

The asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of glycine imino esters to Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts or acetylated MBH adducts is described. The reaction was efficiently catalyzed by AgOAc/(R,Sp)-ThioClickFerrophos at room temperature to afford pyrrolidine derivatives bearing a quaternary carbon as a single diastereomer with excellent enantioselectivity. When a cyclic pyrroline ester was used as the nucleophile instead of a glycine imino ester, the enantioselective tandem addition-elimination reaction with an acetylated MBH adduct proceeded with an excellent yield and enantioselectivity, resulting in the formation of an exo-olefin. The wide substrate scope of these reactions and the transformability of the products enable expeditious access to divergent multifunctionalized pyrrolidines in an optically pure fashion.

Copper-Catalyzed Single C-H Amination of 8-Aminoquinoline-Directed Ferrocenes.

An unprecedented copper-catalyzed C-H monoamination of ferrocenes directed by an 8-aminoquinoline amide directing group is described. This reaction proceeds in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper catalyst with both cyclic and acyclic amines to afford the various aminoferrocenes. The C-H amination of ortho-substituted ferroceneamides was also achieved, enabling rapid access to multisubstituted ferrocenes that are useful for developing new functional molecules.

Acid-Mediated Sulfonylthiolation of Arenes via Selective Activation of SS-Morpholino Dithiosulfonate.

A trifluoroacetic-acid-mediated desulfurilative sulfonylthiolation of arenes using SS-morpholino dithiosulfonate is described. This system is based on selective activation of the morpholino group over the tosyl group of the doubly transformable sulfur surrogate. Mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeds through electrophilic aromatic substitution followed by sulfur extrusion. The wide substrate scope of this reaction and the transformability of the resulting thiosulfonates enable expeditious access to divergent multifunctionalized sulfides.

Planar-chiral ferrocene-based triazolylidene copper complexes: synthesis, characterization, and catalysis in asymmetric borylation of α,ß-unsaturated ester.

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidenes have recently attracted considerable attention as versatile ligands because of their strong electron-donating properties and structural diversities. While some efforts have been devoted to the development of chiral triazolylidene-metal complexes, there is no example achieving asymmetric induction by base-metal complexes with triazolylidene ligands. Herein, we synthesized planar-chiral ferrocene-based triazolylidene copper complexes, which enabled the asymmetric borylation of methyl cinnamate with bis(pinacolato)diboron with good enantioselectivity.

Lewis acid-base synergistic catalysis of cationic halogen-bonding-donors with nucleophilic counter anions.

Cationic halogen-bonding-donors with little or non-coordinating counter anions have attracted great attention as new Lewis acid type organocatalysts. However, these anions cannot function as nucleophilic activation sites due to their low Lewis basicity. In this study, 1,3,4-triaryl-5-iodotriazolium iodides have been developed as bifunctional catalysts for simultaneous activation of nucleophiles and electrophiles. Computational and experimental studies indicated that the nucleophilicity of the counter anions plays an important role in achieving high catalytic efficiency for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes. In addition, the first report on carbon dioxide fixation by XB-donors is described.

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Imino Esters to Unsaturated Sultones.

The asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of glycine imino esters to 1-propene-1,3-sultone or sulfocoumarins is described. The reaction was efficiently catalyzed by Cu(MeCN)4BF4/DTBM-Segphos or Cu(MeCN)4BF4/tBu-FcPhox at room temperature to afford fused pyrrolidines as single regioisomers with excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. The broad substrate scope of this reaction provides convenient access to structurally diverse multisubstituted pyrrolidines in an optically pure fashion.

Silver-Catalyzed Diastereo- and Enantioselective Michael Addition and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Imino Esters to 3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles.

The AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos complex catalyzed conjugate additions and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles with 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylates and glycine imino esters to give the corresponding Michael adducts and cycloadducts, respectively, in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. These reactions can provide pyrroline- or pyrrolidine-containing isoxazole hybrid molecules that have potential biological and pharmaceutical activities.

Bulky iodotriazolium tetrafluoroborates as highly active halogen-bonding-donor catalysts.

Steric bulk around catalytic centers is one of the most important factors determining catalytic reactivities and selectivities. This paper reports the synthesis of structurally diverse 5-iodo-3-methyl-1,2,3-triazolium salts and the evaluation of their catalytic activities as halogen-bonding donors for the aza-Diels-Alder reaction of 2-siloxy-1,3-butadiene with imines. We found that steric hindrance around an iodide atom in halogen-bonding donors significantly impacted catalytic efficiency.

Transition-Metal-Free Formylation of Allylzinc Reagents Leading to α-Quaternary Aldehydes.

The first example of formylation of allylzinc reagents using S-phenyl thioformate is presented. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions without any transition-metal catalyst, forming quaternary carbon centers with reactive functionalities, such as formyl and vinyl groups. Moreover, Barbier-type formylation of an allylic bromide with a sterically demanding thioformate was achieved. As a preliminary result, asymmetric formylation was conducted using a menthol-derived chiral thioformate.

Chiral triazolylidene-Pd-PEPPSI: synthesis, characterization, and application in asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

A chiral triazolylidene-Pd-PEPPSI (PEPPSI = pyridine, enhanced, precatalyst, preparation, stabilization, initiation) complex with ferrocene-based planar chirality has been synthesized and characterized. Investigation of the electronic and steric nature of this complex revealed its powerful electron-donating ability (TEP 2044 cm-1) and high steric bulk (%Vbur = 42.2). These unique properties allow the complex to exhibit very high catalytic activity (TON = 420) for asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, providing the coupling product with good enantioselectivity (75% ee).

Metal Complex-Controlled Regio-, Diastero- and Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Benzo[b]thiophene Sulfones.

The Cu(MeCN)4 PF6 /DTBM-Segphos complex catalyzed the highly diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with benzo[b]thiophene sulfones with the usual regiochemistry to give single isomers of the exo-cycloadducts in good yields. In contrast, the AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos complex catalyzed the reaction with atypical regiochemistry to give the endo-cycloadducts as major products with excellent enantioselectivities. Thus, the choice of chiral metal complex enabled the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of chiral fused sulfolanes.

Intra- and intermolecular interaction of anthracene moieties in 7,8-disilabicyclo[3.3.0]octadienyl-bridged bisanthracenes.

Ruthenium-catalyzed dimerization of 9-anthrylarylsilanes afforded air-stable V-shaped bisanthracenes bridged by a 7,8-disilabicyclo[3.3.0]octadiene moiety. The intra- and intermolecular proximity of the anthracene moieties were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Absorption and emission maxima of the disilabicyclo[3.3.0]octadienyl-bridged bisanthracenes in the solution state were observed at longer wavelengths than those of 9-anthryldimethylsilane and bis(9-anthryl)dimethylsilane. The V-shaped bisacenes in the solid state showed excimer emissions with moderate quantum yields.

Chiral Silver Complex-Catalyzed Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Michael Addition of 1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylates to α-Enones.

A AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos complex-catalyzed the highly diastereo- and enantioselective reaction between 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylates (1) and acyclic α-enones (2) in MeOH, in the presence of DBU, to give the single isomer Michael adducts (3) in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivies (up to 99% ee). Subsequent reduction of the Michael adducts with sodium cyanoborohydride successfully produced the fused pyrrolizidine ester as an almost pure single stereoisomer.

Palladium-Catalyzed Formylation of Arylzinc Reagents with S-Phenyl Thioformate.

The first example of palladium-catalyzed direct formylation of arylzinc reagents using S-phenyl thioformate is reported. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions, allowing high functional group tolerance. In addition, the developed formylation method was used to prepare deuterated and 13C-labeled aryl aldehydes from isotope-labeled S-phenyl thioformates. Moreover, this procedure was applied to an alkenylzinc halide, affording the corresponding enal.