Chiral benzimidazoles as hydrogen bonding organocatalysts

Several bifunctional organocatalysts bearing the benzimidazole unit have been designed in order to act as bifunctional systems by hydrogen bonding. Chiral 2-aminobenzimidazoles are conformational rigid guanidines able to catalyze enantioselectively Michael reaction, direct SN1 of alcohols, and aldol reactions. Some of these organocatalysts can be easily recovered by simple isolation methods and reused without loss of catalytic activity. Related (2-aminoalkyl)benzimidazoles have been used as chiral organocatalysts in aldol and amination reactions of carbonyl compounds.The Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) (projects CTQ2010-20387, and Consolider Ingenio 2010, CSD2007-00006), the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) (projects CTQ2013-43446-P and CTQ2014-51912-REDC), FEDER – Spain, the Generalitat Valenciana – Spain (PROMETEO 2009/039 and PROMETEOII/2014/017), and the University of Alicante are gratefully acknowledged for financial support

Catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones: recent advances

In this review, we consider the main processes for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones from 2008 up today. The most effective organometallic compounds (derived from Ru, Rh, Ir, Fe, Os, Ni, Co, and Re) and chiral ligands (derived from amino alcohols, diamines, sulfur- and phosphorus-containing compounds, as well as heterocyclic systems) will be shown paying special attention to functionalized substrates, tandem reactions, processes under non-conventional conditions, supported catalysts, dynamic kinetic resolutions, the use of water as a green solvent, theoretical and experimental studies on reaction mechanisms, enzymatic processes, and finally applications to the total synthesis of biologically active organic molecules.We thank the continuous financial support from our Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) (projects CTQ2007-62771/BQU, CTQ2010-20387, CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010-CDS2007-00006, CTQ2011-24151, CTQ2011-24165), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (projects CTQ2013-43446-P, CTQ2014-51912-REDC, CTQ2014-53695-P), FEDER, the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO 2009/039, PROMETEOII/2014/017), and the University of Alicante

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine imines

Azomethine imines are considered 1,3-dipoles of the aza-allyl type which are transient intermediates and should be generated in situ but can also be stable and isolable compounds. They react with electron-rich and electron-poor olefins as well as with acetylenic compounds and allenoates mainly by a [3 + 2] cycloaddition but they can also take part in [3 + 3], [4 + 3], [3 + 2 + 2] and [5 + 3] with different dipolarophiles. These 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (1,3-DC) can be performed not only under thermal or microwave conditions but also using metallo- and organocatalytic systems. In recent years enantiocatalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions have been extensively considered and applied to the synthesis of a great variety of dinitrogenated heterocycles with biological activity. Acyclic azomethine imines derived from mono and disubstituted hydrazones could be generated by prototropy under heating or by using Lewis or Brønsted acids to give, after [3 + 2] cycloadditions, pyrazolidines and pyrazolines. Cyclic azomethine imines, incorporating a C–N bond in a ring, such as isoquinolinium imides are the most widely used dipoles in normal and inverse-electron demand 1,3-DC allowing the synthesis of tetrahydro-, dihydro- and unsaturated pyrazolo[1,5-a]isoquinolines in racemic and enantioenriched forms with interesting biological activity. Pyridinium and quinolinium imides give the corresponding pyrazolopyridines and indazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines, respectively. In the case of cyclic azomethine imines with an N–N bond incorporated into a ring, N-alkylidene-3-oxo-pyrazolidinium ylides are the most popular stable and isolated dipoles able to form dinitrogen-fused saturated and unsaturated pyrazolopyrazolones as racemic or enantiomerically enriched compounds present in many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and other useful chemicals.We acknowledge continued financial support from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) (projects CTQ2007-62771/BQU, CTQ2010-20387, CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010-CDS2007-00006, CTQ2011-24151, and CTQ2011-24165), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (projects CTQ2013-43446-P, CTQ2014-51912-REDC, and CTQ2014-53695-P), FEDER, the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO 2009/039 and PROMETEOII/2014/017), and the University of Alicante

Enantioselective alkylation of β-keto esters promoted by dimeric Cinchona-derived ammonium salts as recoverable organocatalysts

Dimeric anthracenyldimethyl-derived Cinchona ammonium salts are used as chiral organocatalysts in 5 mol% for the phase-transfer enantioselective alkylation reaction of 2-alkoxycarbonyl-1-indanones with activated bromides. The corresponding adducts bearing a new all-carbon quaternary center are obtained usually in high yield and with moderate and opposite enantioselectivity (up to 55%) when using ammonium salts derived from quinidine and its pseudoenantiomer quinine as organocatalysts. These catalysts can be almost quantitatively recovered by precipitation in ether and reused.Financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (projects CTQ2007-62771/BQU and Consolider Ingenio 2010, CSD2007-00006), the Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo/2009/039), FEDER and the University of Alicante

Metal-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Transformations

Enantioconvergent catalysis has expanded asymmetric synthesis to new methodologies able to convert racemic compounds into a single enantiomer. This review covers recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed transformations, such as radical-based cross-coupling of racemic alkyl electrophiles with nucleophiles or racemic alkylmetals with electrophiles and reductive cross-coupling of two electrophiles mainly under Ni/bis(oxazoline) catalysis. C–H functionalization of racemic electrophiles or nucleophiles can be performed in an enantioconvergent manner. Hydroalkylation of alkenes, allenes, and acetylenes is an alternative to cross-coupling reactions. Hydrogen autotransfer has been applied to amination of racemic alcohols and C–C bond forming reactions (Guerbet reaction). Other metal-catalyzed reactions involve addition of racemic allylic systems to carbonyl compounds, propargylation of alcohols and phenols, amination of racemic 3-bromooxindoles, allenylation of carbonyl compounds with racemic allenolates or propargyl bromides, and hydroxylation of racemic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (projects CTQ2016-81893REDT and RED2018-102387-T); the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, EU) (projects CTQ2016-76782-P, CTQ2016-80375-P, CTQ2017-82935-P, and PID2019-107268GB-I00); Generalitat Valenciana (CIDEGENT/2020/058); and the University of Alicante

Stereodivergent routes in organic synthesis: carbohydrates, amino acids, alkaloids and terpenes

The natural occurrence of enantiomers and diastereomers is often encountered. In addition, the synthesis of these stereoisomers is important for structure determination and for the study of structure–activity relationships. Stereodivergent routes simplify the access to these molecules starting from a common material. This review is focused on the synthesis of carbohydrates, amino acids, alkaloids and terpenes using this efficient strategy. In the case of carbohydrates, such as monosaccharides, carbasugars, aminosugars and azasugars, carbohydrates are usually employed as common starting materials. As a very common strategy, configurations of hydroxy groups are inverted by SN2 methods playing with protection and deprotection processes. For the synthesis of acyclic α-AAs, diastereoselective methods using mainly Garner's aldehyde have been described. Diastereodivergent routes allowed the synthesis of β-hydroxy- and β-amino-α-amino acids, as well as of β- and γ-amino acids. Heterocyclic and cyclic amino phosphonic acids were synthesized using diastereodivergent routes. Alkaloids containing five- and six-membered saturated azaheterocycles needed multistep stereodivergent routes and other alkaloids, such as enantiomers of balanol, vincamine, anatoxin and codeine, and diastereomeric isochaetominines C and galanthamines. In the terpene field, sesquiterpenes β-santalene, α-curcumene and α-cuparenone and the diterpene scopadulcic acid A have been synthesized using enantiodivergent routes.We thank the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, EU) (projects CTQ2016-76782-P, CTQ2016-81797-REDC, and CTQ2017-85093-P), the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/017) and the University of Alicante for financial support

Stereodivergent routes in organic synthesis: marine natural products, lactones, other natural products, heterocycles and unnatural compounds

Enantio- and diastereodivergent routes to marine-origin natural products with different sizes of cyclic ethers and lactones have been used in order to assign stereochemical features. Kainoid amino acids such as isodomoic acids have been synthesized using diastereodivergent routes. The bis(indole) alkaloid dragmacidin F has been prepared by enantiodivergent strategies as well as furanoterpenes and the tetracyclic agelastatin A. Natural products containing five-membered lactones like quercus lactones, muricatacins, goniofufuranones, methylenolactocins and frenolicin B have been synthesized using stereodivergent routes. Macrolides are very abundant lactones and have been mainly prepared from the corresponding seco-acids by lactonization, such as lasiodiplodin, zaeralanes, macrosphelides and haloprins, or by ring-closing metathesis, such as aspercyclides, microcarpalides, macrolides FD-891 and 892, and tetradic-5-en-9-olides. Other natural products including cyclic ethers (such as sesamin, asarinin, acetogenins, centrolobines and nabilones), alcohols (such as sulcatol), esters (such as methyl jasmonates), polycyclic precursors of fredericamycin, amino alcohols (such as ambroxol and sphingosines), isoprostanes, isofurans, polyketide precursors of anachelins, brevicomins, gummiferol, shikimic acid and the related compounds, and the pheromone disparlure have been synthesized stereodivergently. Heterocyclic systems such as epoxides, theobroxides and bromoxones, oxetan-3-ones, 5- to 8-membered cyclic ethers, azetidones, γ-lactams, oxazolidinones, bis(oxazolines), dihydropyridoisoindolines and octahydroisoquinolines have been prepared following stereodivergent routes. Stereodivergent routes to unnatural compounds such as alkenes, dienes, allenes, cyclopropanes, alcohols, aldols, amines, amino alcohols, β-amino acids, carboxylic acids, lactones, nitriles and α-amino nitriles have been considered as well.We thank the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER, EU) (projects CTQ2016-76782-P, CTQ2016-81797-REDC, and CTQ2017-85093-P), the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/017) and the Universidad de Alicante for financial support

Indium-Mediated Cleavage of the Trityl Group from Protected 1H-Tetrazoles

On treatment with indium metal in MeOH–THF, trityl groups undergo reductive removal from 1H-protected tetrazoles (including aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic substituents), affording the corresponding free tetrazoles in excellent yields, without any decomposition of the tetrazole ring or reduction of any other group.This work was financially supported by the A.N.D.R.S (Agence Nationale pour le Développement de la Recherche en Santé) (Algérie), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (CTQ2011-24165, Consolider Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00006), The Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2009/039, PROMETEOII/ 2014/017 and FEDER). We are very grateful to the Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación for a cooperation grant (AP/039112/11)

Zn/MeOH-Mediated Practical and Easy Detritylation of Protected 1-Trityltetrazoles

A practical and low-cost method for the detritylation of 1-titryltetrazoles using zinc and methanol is described. This procedure is versatile and efficient in the deprotection of several protected tetrazoles bearing aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic substituents, as well as some functional groups, without decomposition of the tetrazole ring.This work was financially supported by the Agence National pour le Développement de la Research en Santé (Algérie) and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CTQ2011-24155, CTQ2011-24165), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2013-43446-P, CTQ2014-51912-REDC, CTQ2014-53695-P), FEDER, the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO 2009/039, PROMETEOII/2014/017), and the University of Alicante. We also thank the Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación (AP/039112/11)

Insulinoma canino: revisión bibliográfica y un caso clínico

El insulinoma canino se describe como una neoplasia poco común en perros que afecta a las células beta del páncreas de, principalmente, razas medianas-grandes. Los signos clínicos más comunes son neurológicos, siendo la convulsión el más frecuente, y debidos a la hipoglucemia producida por la secreción excesiva de insulina por las células neoplásicas. Por tanto, el insulinoma debe estar incluido en cualquier diagnóstico diferencial de bajada de glucosa sanguínea. El principal método diagnóstico laboratorial es el de la determinación de insulina basal y glucosa, el cual detecta un exceso de insulina en pacientes hipoglucémicos. Respecto al diagnóstico por imagen, el método más efectivo detectando tumores secretores de insulina actualmente es la tomografía computerizada. En hipoglucemias agudas, con el fin de controlar los signos clínicos, se puede tratar mediante la administración de dextrosa. En casos crónicos, la terapia más aconsejada es la quirúrgica, concretamente la pancreatectomia parcial, seguida de un tratamiento médico con el fin de conseguir un mejor pronóstico y un tiempo de supervivencia y de normoglucemia más largo. Los pacientes en estadio I, es decir, sin metástasis, tienen un pronóstico más favorable pudiendo llegar a tener un tiempo de supervivencia medio de más de 600 días. Este trabajo se ha realizado mediante una revisión bibliográfica del insulinoma canino y, adicionalmente, se ha descrito un caso clínico del Hospital Veterinario de Zaragoza.<br /