One Step Selective Counterion Dependent Formation of Conjugated Chiral N-Sulfinylimines from Aldehydes.

We report a detailed study on the synthesis and aldehyde vinylogation applications of chiral N-sulfinyl imine phosphonate reagents. Two complementary scalable reagent routes, from trialkyl phosphites and methyl phosphonates, respectively, are presented. This reagent class enables significant streamlining in synthesis of conjugated Ellman imines from aldehydes, which can now be accomplished in a single step compared to a more classic 4-step redox-based approach. Aldehyde vinylogation optimizations have revealed significant counterion effects and unexpected competing reaction challenges that needed to be addressed to achieve high yields.

Dienolate Annulation Approach for Assembly of Densely Substituted Aromatic Architectures.

The efficient assembly of complex aromatic structures from simple acyclic building blocks is reported. An anion-cascade union of an enoate and a conjugated imine affords cyclohexenone products, which are readily aromatized to phenols. By engaging the intermediate cyclohexenones with Grignard reagents, a facile addition/elimination proceeds yielding chiral cyclohexadienes, which are then aromatized. In a complementary approach, the cyclohexenone products are converted into enol triflates, which provides a gateway to diverse aromatic architectures following cross-couplings and aromatization steps.