Asymmetric synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted trifluoromethyl dihydropyranones from alpha-aroyloxyaldehydes via NHC redox catalysis

We thank the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship (A.D.S.), and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant Agreement No. 279850 (A.T.D.).The asymmetric synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted trifluoromethyl dihydropyranones via an NHC-catalyzed redox process, introducing methyl, benzyl, and aryl substituents to the C(5) position, is presented. Their substrate-controlled derivatization into δ-lactones and cyclic hemiacetals containing stereogenic trifluoromethyl groups is also described.PostprintPeer reviewe

Enantioselective NHC-catalysed redox [4+2]-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions using α-aroyloxyaldehydes and unsaturated ketoesters

The authors thank the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant Agreement No. 279850 (J.E.T. and A.T.D.) as well as the EPSRC, UK and AstraZeneca plc, UK (Case award to J.J.D.) for financial support. A.D.S. thanks the Royal Society, London, UK, for a Wolfson Merit Award.N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed redox [4+2]-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with either β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters or α,β-unsaturated γ-ketoesters generates substituted syn-dihydropyranones in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99:1 er). The product diastereoselectivity is markedly dependent upon the nature of the unsaturated enone substituent. The presence of either electron-neutral or electron-rich aryl substituents gives excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99:5 dr), while electron-deficient aryl substituents give reduced diastereoselectivity. In these cases, the syn-dihydropyranone products are more susceptible to base-promoted epimerisation at the C(4)-position under the reaction conditions, accounting for the lower diastereoselectivity obtained.PostprintPeer reviewe

Asymmetric synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted trifluoromethyl dihydropyranones from alpha-aroyloxyaldehydes via NHC redox catalysis

The asymmetric synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted trifluoromethyl dihydropyranones via an NHC-catalyzed redox process, introducing methyl, benzyl, and aryl substituents to the C(5) position, is presented. Their substrate-controlled derivatization into δ-lactones and cyclic hemiacetals containing stereogenic trifluoromethyl groups is also described.</p

Direct Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Synthesis of Sulfonamides

First introduced into medicines in the 1930s, the sulfonamide functional group continues to be present in a wide range of contemporary pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Despite their popularity in the design of modern bioactive molecules, the underpinning methods for sulfonamide synthesis are essentially unchanged since their introduction, and rely on the use of starting materials with preinstalled sulfur-functionality. Herein we report a direct single-step synthesis of sulfonamides that combines two of the largest monomer sets available in discovery chemistry, (hetero)­aryl boronic acids and amines, along with sulfur dioxide, using a Cu­(II) catalyst, to deliver a broad range of sulfonamides. Sulfur dioxide is provided by the surrogate reagent DABSO. The reaction tolerates broad variation in both coupling partners, including aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl boronic acids, as well as cyclic and acyclic alkyl secondary amines, and primary anilines. We validate the method by showing that a variety of drugs, and drug-fragments, can be incorporated into the process

Stereospecific Asymmetric N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Dihydropyranones and Mechanistic Insights

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of alpha-aroyloxyaldehydes with beta-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to &gt;95:5 dr and &gt;99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (E)- or (Z)-beta-trifluoromethyl enones forming syn- or anti-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor 1 and an achiral NHC precursor.</p

Stereospecific Asymmetric N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Dihydropyranones and Mechanistic Insights

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with β-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (E)- or (Z)-β-trifluoromethyl enones forming syn- or anti-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor 1 and an achiral NHC precursor

Hindered Dialkyl Ether Synthesis via Electrogenerated Carbocations

Hindered ethers represent an underexplored area of chemical space due to the difficulty and inoperability associated with conventional reactions, despite the high-value of such structural motifs in a variety of societal applications. Demonstrated herein is an exceptionally simple solution to this problem that leverages the power of electrochemical oxidation to liberate high-energy carbocations from simple carboxylic acids. The controlled formation of these reactive intermediates takes place with low electrochemical potentials under non-acidic conditions to capture an alcohol donor thereby producing a range (>80) of ethers that would be extremely difficult to otherwise access. Simple nucleophiles can also intercept such cations, leading to hindered alcohols and even alkyl fluorides. This method has been field tested to solve the synthetic bottlenecks encountered on twelve real-world chemical scaffolds with documented societal impact, resulting in a dramatic reduction in step-count and labor required, accompanied with a higher yield (average step-count, time, and yield = 6.3, ca. 100 h, 19% vs. 1.5, 9.8 h, 43%). Finally, the use of molecular probes coupled to kinetic studies support the proposed mechanism and role of additives in the conditions employed.</p

Stereospecific Asymmetric N‑Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Dihydropyranones and Mechanistic Insights

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with β-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (<i>E</i>)- or (<i>Z</i>)-β-trifluoromethyl enones forming <i>syn</i>- or <i>anti</i>-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor <b>1</b> and an achiral NHC precursor

Stereospecific Asymmetric N‑Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Dihydropyranones and Mechanistic Insights

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with β-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (<i>E</i>)- or (<i>Z</i>)-β-trifluoromethyl enones forming <i>syn</i>- or <i>anti</i>-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor <b>1</b> and an achiral NHC precursor