Phosphine-Catalyzed Chemo- and Diastereoselective [2 + 2 + 2] and [3 + 2] Annulations of γ-Methyl Allenoates with Doubly Activated Olefins: Syntheses of Highly Substituted Cyclohexanes and Cyclopentenes.

Phosphine-catalyzed chemoselective [2 + 2 + 2] and [3 + 2] annulations of γ-methyl allenoates with doubly activated olefins have been developed, which afford highly substituted cyclohexanes bearing five continuous stereogenic centers and cyclopentenes bearing three continuous stereogenic centers, respectively, in generally high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity. The [2 + 2 + 2] annulation represents an unprecedented reactivity pattern of γ-methyl allenoates with activated C═C bonds to access six-membered carbocycles. In addition, the study herein also evidences that the acidic protic additives such as benzoic acid can exert influence on chemoselectivity of phosphine-catalyzed annulation reactions involving allenoates.

Phosphine-Catalyzed (4 + 1) Annulation of o-Hydroxyphenyl and o-Aminophenyl Ketones with Allylic Carbonates: Syntheses and Transformations of 3-Hydroxy-2,3-Disubstituted Dihydrobenzofurans and Indolines.

A phosphine-catalyzed (4 + 1) annulation reaction of o-hydroxyphenyl and o-aminophenyl ketones with ester-modified allylic carbonates has been developed, providing a facile and efficient method to synthesize functionalized 2,3-disubstituted dihydrobenzofurans and indolines. Under mild conditions and in the catalysis of PPh3 (20 mol %), the reactions of o-hydroxyphenyl or o-aminophenyl ketones readily furnish highly functionalized 3-hydroxy-2,3-disubstituted dihydrobenzofurans or 3-hydroxy-2,3-disubstituted indolines in 40-99% yields with generally high diastereoselectivity. To further expand the utility of this annulation reaction to the synthesis of functionalized benzofurans and indoles, the CuSO4-promoted chemical transformations of the annulation products have also been studied.

Divergent amine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman allylic acetates with electron-deficient alkenes.

An amine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman allylic acetates 2 with electron-deficient alkenes or diazenes has been developed for efficient syntheses of highly functionalized cyclohexenes, tetrahydropyridazines, and important spirocycles. This reaction unveils a new reactivity pattern of the intensely studied allylic compounds 2 acting as a C(4) synthon in Lewis base catalyzed annulation reactions and also showcases divergent catalysis between tertiary amines and phosphines.