Zwitterionic Acridinium Amidate: A Nitrogen-Centered Radical Catalyst for Photoinduced Direct Hydrogen Atom Transfer.

The development of small organic molecules that can convert light energy into chemical energy to directly promote molecular transformation is of fundamental importance in chemical science. Herein, we report a zwitterionic acridinium amidate as a catalyst for the direct functionalization of aliphatic C-H bonds. This organic zwitterion absorbs visible light to generate the corresponding amidyl radical in the form of excited-state triplet diradical with prominent reactivity for hydrogen atom transfer to facilitate C-H alkylation with a high turnover number. The experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the noncovalent interactions between the anionic amidate nitrogen and a pertinent hydrogen-bond donor, such as hexafluoroisopropanol, are crucial for ensuring the efficient generation of catalytically active species, thereby fully eliciting the distinct reactivity of the acridinium amidate as a photoinduced direct hydrogen atom transfer catalyst.

Catalytic 1,1-Cyanoalkylation of Electron-Deficient Olefins.

A catalytic 1,1-dicarbofunctionalization of electron-deficient olefins was effected on the basis of the three-component coupling reactions involving olefins bearing vicinal electron-withdrawing groups, potassium cyanide, and an alkyl halide, which afforded geminally cyanoalkylated products in high yields via conjugate cyanation, 1,2-proton transfer, and enolate alkylation. The use of suitable chiral phase-transfer catalysts enabled asymmetric induction in this transformation.

Zwitterionic Diphenylphosphinyl Amidate as a Powerful Photoinduced Hydrogen-Atom-Transfer Catalyst for C-H Alkylation of Simple Alkanes.

The chemical and physical properties of amides change substantially when the electron-withdrawing groups attached to the nitrogen are varied. Herein, we report the superior performance of N-diphenylphosphinyl 1,2,3-triazolium amidate as a photoinduced hydrogen-atom transfer catalyst compared to its N-benzoyl analog. A binary catalyst system of the phosphinyl amidate and an Ir-based photocatalyst enables the alkylation of unbiased C-H bonds.

Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Catalysis for C-H Alkylation of Benzylic Fluorides.

A photoinduced catalytic C(sp3)-H alkylation of benzylic fluorides is developed. The use of zwitterionic 1,2,3-triazolium amidate as a hydrogen-atom transfer catalyst is uniquely effective for promoting this transformation. The combination of C-H alkylation with subsequent displacement of the C-F bond enables 1,1-difunctionalization of benzylic fluorides, providing rapid access to an array of functionalized molecular entities.

In Silico Analysis and Synthesis of Nafamostat Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity.

Inhibition of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) is expected to block the spike protein-mediated fusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nafamostat, a potent TMPRSS2 inhibitor as well as a candidate for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug, possesses the same acyl substructure as camostat, but is known to have a greater antiviral effect. A unique aspect of the molecular binding of nafamostat has been recently reported to be the formation of a covalent bond between its acyl substructure and Ser441 in TMPRSS2. In this study, we investigated crucial elements that cause the difference in anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of nafamostat and camostat. In silico analysis showed that Asp435 significantly contributes to the binding of nafamostat and camostat to TMPRSS2, while Glu299 interacts strongly only with nafamostat. The estimated binding affinity for each compound with TMPRSS2 was actually consistent with the higher activity of nafamostat; however, the evaluation of the newly synthesized nafamostat derivatives revealed that the predicted binding affinity did not correlate with their anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity measured by the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay. It was further shown that the substitution of the ester bond with amide bond in nafamostat resulted in significantly weakened anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. These results strongly indicate that the ease of covalent bond formation with Ser441 in TMPRSS2 possibly plays a major role in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of nafamostat and its derivatives.

Catalytic Asymmetric Cyanoalkylation of Electron-Deficient Olefins with Potassium Cyanide and Alkyl Halides.

The stereoselective cyanoalkylation of electron-deficient olefins with potassium cyanide and alkyl halides was developed based on the utilization of modular chiral 1,2,3-triazolium salts featuring a hydrogen bond-donor ability as catalysts. The reaction involving multiple carbon-carbon bond formations proceeds via the enantioselective conjugate addition of a cyanide ion and the consecutive catalyst-controlled diastereoselective alkylation of intermediary chiral triazolium enolates. Control experiments revealed that the use of a properly tuned chiral triazolium ion as a catalyst and the presence of the cyano functionality in the intermediary enolate are of crucial importance for achieving high levels of acyclic absolute and relative stereocontrol.

Exploiting Transient Radical Cations as Brønsted Acids for Allylic C-H Heteroarylation of Enol Silyl Ethers.

Intermediary radical cations, generated through single-electron oxidation of enol silyl ethers by excited Ir-based photocatalysts, can be exploited as Brønsted acids for the activation of heteroarylcyanides. This strategy enables the direct allylic C-H heteroarylation of enol silyl ethers under visible-light irradiation.

Mannich-type allylic C-H functionalization of enol silyl ethers under photoredox-thiol hybrid catalysis.

The synergy of an Ir-based photosensitizer with mild oxidizing ability and a thiol catalyst enables efficient allylic C-H functionalization of enol silyl ethers with imines under visible light irradiation. Subsequent transformations of the aminoalkylated enol silyl ethers allow for the facile construction of unique molecular frameworks such as functionalized octahydroisoindol-4-one.

Cationic Organic Catalysts or Ligands in Concert with Metal Catalysts.

Cooperative dual catalysis and bifunctional catalysis have emerged as reliable strategies for the development of hitherto difficult asymmetric transformations because they could deliver new reactivity and selectivity, and allow for the employment of substrates not amenable to reaction systems relying on a single, monofunctional catalysts. Furthermore, these modes of catalysis often improve yields and stereoselectivities via the precise recognition and simultaneous activation of nucleophiles and electrophiles. Efforts towards utilizing chiral cationic organic catalysts for asymmetric cooperative catalysis with metal complexes have provided a unique platform to address the challenging issues associated with reaction development. Chiral onium ions, such as tetraalkylammonium, guanidinium, and azolium ions, are employed mainly to control the reactivity and stereochemistry of anionic intermediates through electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Metal complexes complement the synergy of the catalysis by activating the substrates via the formation of electrophilic π-allyl complexes, Lewis acid-base adducts, nucleophilic ate complexes, etc. The electrostatic interactions between cations and anions also offer a means to construct complex molecular assemblies, and, thus, onium ions are useful not only for controlling pairing with anionic species, but also for the design of supramolecular catalysts. The combination of onium ions and metal complexes leads to the introduction of novel concepts and powerful strategies for the development of catalysts and chemical transformations.

Direct allylic C-H alkylation of enol silyl ethers enabled by photoredox-Brønsted base hybrid catalysis.

Strategies for altering the reaction pathway of reactive intermediates are of significant importance in diversifying organic synthesis. Enol silyl ethers, versatile enolate equivalents, are known to undergo one-electron oxidation to generate the radical cations that spontaneously form electrophilic α-carbonyl radicals via elimination of the silyl groups. Here, we demonstrate that close scrutiny of the property of the radical cations as strong C-H acids enables the identification of a catalyst system consisting of an iridium-based photosensitizer and 2,4,6-collidine for the generation of nucleophilic allylic radicals from enol silyl ethers through one-electron oxidation-deprotonation sequence under light irradiation without the desilylation of the radical cation intermediates. The resultant allylic radicals engage in the addition to electron-deficient olefins, establishing the selective allylic C-H alkylation of enol silyl ethers. This strategy is broadly applicable, and the alkylated enol silyl ethers can be transformed into highly functionalized carbonyl compounds by exploiting their common polar reactivity.

Diastereo- and enantioselective phase-transfer alkylation of 3-substituted oxindoles with racemic secondary alkyl halides.

A catalytic asymmetric alkylation of fully substituted enolates with racemic, non-activated secondary alkyl halides is described. The chiral 1,2,3-triazolium ion enables excellent diastereo- and enantiocontrol via enantiofacial discrimination of prochiral enolates and kinetic resolution of secondary halides.

Determination of the absolute configuration of compounds bearing chiral quaternary carbon centers using the crystalline sponge method.

Determination of the absolute configuration of chiral tetra-substituted carbon centers is one of the most taxing steps in the enantioselective construction of this structural motif in asymmetric synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that the crystalline sponge method provides an effective way to crystallographically determine the absolute configuration of organic compounds bearing chiral quaternary carbons (including tetra-substituted ones) that are synthesized by recently developed enantioselective catalytic reactions.

Ligand-controlled E/Z selectivity and enantioselectivity in palladium-catalyzed allylation of benzofuranones with 1,2-disubstituted allylic carbonates.

The first highly E- and enantioselective allylic alkylation of prochiral carbon nucleophiles with 1,2-disubstituted allylic carbonates is reported. The key to the successful development of this protocol is the ability of modular ion-paired chiral ligands to simultaneously control the E/Z selectivity and enantioselectivity.

Ligand-enabled multiple absolute stereocontrol in metal-catalysed cycloaddition for construction of contiguous all-carbon quaternary stereocentres.

The development of a general catalytic method for the direct and stereoselective construction of contiguous all-carbon quaternary stereocentres remains a formidable challenge in chemical synthesis. Here, we report a highly enantio- and diastereoselective [3+2] annulation reaction of 5-vinyloxazolidinones and activated trisubstituted alkenes catalysed by a palladium complex bearing a newly devised phosphine ligand with a chiral ammonium salt component, which enables the single-step construction of three contiguous stereocentres, including vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocentres, in a five-membered heterocyclic framework. This stereoselective cycloaddition protocol relies on the remarkable ability of the chiral ligand to rigorously control the absolute stereochemistry of each chiral centre associated with the multiple bond-forming events, and provides a reliable catalytic process for the asymmetric synthesis of densely functionalized pyrrolidines.

Asymmetric substitution at the tetrasubstituted chiral carbon: catalytic ring-opening alkylation of racemic 2,2-disubstituted aziridines with 3-substituted oxindoles.

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective ring-opening alkylation of racemic 2,2-disubstituted aziridines with 3-substituted oxindoles is achieved under the catalysis of a chiral 1,2,3-triazolium salt. This reaction represents a hitherto unknown, catalytic stereoselective carbon-carbon bond formation through direct substitution at the tetrasubstituted chiral carbon.

Carbene transfer from triazolylidene gold complexes as a potent strategy for inducing high catalytic activity.

A series of gold(I) complexes [AuCl(trz)] were synthesized that contain 1,2,3-triazolylidene (trz) ligands with variable wingtip groups. In the presence of AgBF4, these complexes undergo ligand redistribution to yield cationic complexes [Au(trz)2]BF4 in high yields as a result of efficient carbene transfer. Identical reactivity patterns were detected for carbene gold complexes comprised of Arduengo-type IMes ligands (IMes = N,N'-dimesityl-imidazol-2-ylidene). Reaction of cationic complexes [Au(trz)2](+) with [AuCl(trz')] afforded the heteroleptic complex [Au(trz)(trz')](+) and [AuCl(trz)] (trz, trz' = triazolylidene ligands with different wingtip groups). Carbene transfer occurs spontaneously, yet is markeldy rate-enhanced in the presence of Ag(+). The facile carbene transfer was exploited as a catalyst activation process to form active gold species for the aldol condensation of isocyanides and aldehydes to form oxazolines. The catalytic activity is strongly dependent on the presence of Ag(+) ions to initiate catalyst activation. High turnovers (10(5)) and turnover frequencies (10(4) h(-1)) were accomplished. Structural analysis at early stages of the reaction support the critical role of triazolylidene dissociation to activate the precatalyst and dynamic light scattering revealed the presence of nanoparticles (±100 nm diameter) as potential catalytically active species. Furthermore, the triazolylidene scaffold had no impact on the diastereoselectivity of the oxazoline formation, and chiral triazolylidenes did not induce any asymmetry in the product. The facile dissociation of carbenes from [AuCl(carbene)] in the presence of Ag(+) ions suggests a less stable Au-Ccarbene interaction than often assumed, with potential implications for gold-catalyzed reactions that employ a silver salt as (putative) halide scavenger.

Exploiting the modularity of ion-paired chiral ligands for palladium-catalyzed enantioselective allylation of benzofuran-2(3H)-ones.

A highly enantioselective allylation of benzofuran-2(3H)-ones is achieved under Pd catalysis by taking full advantage of the structural modularity of ion-paired chiral ligands.

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of α-cyano α-sulfonyl carbanions.

An efficient asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of α-cyano α-sulfonyl carbanions has been achieved by exploiting the structural modularity and anion-recognition ability of chiral 1,2,3-triazolium ions. This protocol has proven to be applicable to a variety of N-Boc imines and cyanosulfones, affording ß-amino α-cyanosulfones in excellent yields with high stereoselectivities.

Catalytic asymmetric ring openings of meso and terminal aziridines with halides mediated by chiral 1,2,3-triazolium silicates.

Catalytic asymmetric chloride and bromide ring openings of meso aziridines with trimethylsilyl halides have been developed using modular chiral 1,2,3-triazolium chlorides as catalysts. Control experiments suggest the reaction pathway involving hypervalent silicate ions as reactive intermediates. The application of this system to the efficient kinetic resolution of terminal aziridines is also reported.

Ion-paired chiral ligands for asymmetric palladium catalysis.

Conventional chiral ligands rely on the use of a covalently constructed, single chiral molecule embedded with coordinative functional groups. Here, we report a new strategy for the design of a chiral ligand for asymmetric transition-metal catalysis; our approach is based on the development of an achiral cationic ammonium-phosphine hybrid ligand paired with a chiral binaphtholate anion. This ion-paired chiral ligand imparts a remarkable stereocontrolling ability to its palladium complex, which catalyses a highly enantioselective allylic alkylation of α-nitrocarboxylates. By exploiting the possible combinations of the achiral onium entities with suitable coordinative functionalities and readily available chiral acids, this approach should contribute to the development of a broad range of metal-catalysed, stereoselective chemical transformations.