Enantioselective Synthesis of Chromanones via a Peptidic Phosphane Catalyzed Rauhut-Currier Reaction.

The enantioselective intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction has been developed using a bifunctional dipeptidic phosphane catalyst, providing a direct access to biologically active α-methylene-δ-valerolactones in high yields and enantiomeric excesses. The novel catalyst is accessible in only four steps from commercial sources and exhibits unusual binding selectivities for a small molecule, suggesting the possibility for long-range interactions between the catalyst and the substrate.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of drug-like macrocyclic scaffolds using an orthogonal organo- and metal catalysis strategy.

Small-molecule modulators of biological targets play a crucial role in biology and medicine. In this context, diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) provides strategies toward generating small molecules with a broad range of unique scaffolds, and hence three-dimensionality, to target a broad area of biological space. In this study, an organocatalysis-derived DOS library of macrocycles was synthesized by exploiting the pluripotency of aldehydes. The orthogonal combination of multiple diversity-generating organocatalytic steps with alkene metathesis enabled the synthesis of 51 distinct macrocyclic structures bearing 48 unique scaffolds in only two to four steps without the need for protecting groups. Furthermore, merging organocatalysis and alkene metathesis in a one-pot protocol facilitated the synthesis of drug-like macrocycles with natural-product-like levels of shape diversity in a single step.

Asymmetric synthesis of pyrroloindolones by N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [2+3] annulation of α-chloroaldehydes with nitrovinylindoles.

NHC-enolate plus 3: N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) serve as organocatalysts for the [2+3] annulation of nitrovinylindoles with α-chloroaldehydes via an intermediate azolium enolate. The method provides trans-disubstituted pyrroloindolones with good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further transformations lead to tetracyclic pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles with potential psychotropic and other bioactivities.

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed synthesis of oxime esters.

A triazolium salt derived N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzes the redox esterification reaction between α-ß-unsaturated aldehydes and oximes. The resulting saturated oxime esters were obtained in very good yields for a broad range of aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic substrates.

Organocatalytic one-pot asymmetric synthesis of 4H,5H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles.

An efficient one pot asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles has been developed. This class of biologically active heterocycles can be obtained via a secondary amine catalyzed asymmetric Michael/Wittig/oxa-Michael reaction sequence. Remarkably, the title compounds were accessible in good to very good yields and very good to excellent enantioselectivities after a single purification step.

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed domino reactions.

While organocatalyzed domino reactions or "organocascade catalysis" developed into an important tool in synthetic chemistry during the past decade, the utility of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as catalysts in domino reactions has only received growing attention in the past three years. Taking into account the unique activation modes of the substrates by NHC catalysts, it is often difficult to distinguish between a single chemical transformation and a sequential one-pot transformation. Therefore, herein we present a critical consideration of domino, cascade, and tandem catalysis in the case of NHC catalysts and highlight recent publications in this area.

N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed asymmetric cross-benzoin reactions of heteroaromatic aldehydes with trifluoromethyl ketones.

A new triazolium salt derived N-heterocyclic carbene catalyses an asymmetric cross-benzoin-type reaction of heteroaromatic aldehydes and various trifluoromethyl ketones in good to excellent yields (69-96%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (ee = 39-85%). Up to 99% ee can be achieved by recrystallisation.