Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Hydroxyketones through a Friedel−Crafts Reaction of Naphthols and Activated Phenols with Aryl- and Alkylglyoxal Hydrates

An efficient organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-hydroxyketones has been developed. Quinine-derived thiourea catalyzed the enantioselective Friedel−Crafts alkylation of naphthols and activated phenols with aryl- and alkylglyoxal hydrates, providing the corresponding chiral α-hydroxyketones with high yields (up to 97%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee)

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of 3-Pyrazolylidene-2-oxindole Compounds by Nucleophilic Vinylic Substitution of (E)-3-(Nitromethylene)indolin-2-one

A highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 3-alkylidene-2-oxindoles has been described through a nucleophilic vinylic substitution (SNV) of (E)-3-(nitromethylene)indolin-2-one using pyrazol-3-ones as nucleophiles and Et3N as a base. The reaction affords selectively the Z-isomer when pyrazol-3-ones without substituents at the 4 position are used. While the reaction is E-selective with 4-substituted pyrazolones. The stereoselectivity (up to >20:1) and the yields (up to 98%) are very high under mild reaction conditions

Organocatalytic enantioselective functionalization of indoles in the carbocyclic ring with cyclic imines

An organocatalytic enantioselective functionalization in the carbocyclic ring of indoles with benzoxathiazine 2,2-dioxides is described using a quinine-derived bifunctional organocatalyst. This aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction provides 4-indolyl, 5-indolyl and 7-indolyl sulfamidate derivatives in good yields (up to 99%) and with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 86% ee)

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Alkylation of Pyrazol-3-ones with Isatin-Derived Ketimines: Stereocontrolled Construction of Vicinal Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters

A quinine‐derived thiourea catalysed the enantioselective addition of 4‐substituted pyrazolones to isatin‐derived ketimines, providing a variety of aminooxindole‐pyrazolone adducts containing congested vicinal tetrasubstituted stereocentres with excellent outcomes (up to 98% yield, >20:1 dr and 98% ee)

A Combination of Visible-Light Organophotoredox Catalysis and Asymmetric Organocatalysis for the Enantioselective Mannich Reaction of Dihydroquinoxalinones with Ketones

An enantioselective photooxidative Mannich reaction of dihydroquinoxalinones with ketones by the merger of organophotoredox and asymmetric organocatalysis is described. This protocol features very mild reaction conditions using simple and cheap catalysts (Eosin Y and (S)-Proline) for the synthesis of chiral quinoxaline derivatives with good to high yields (up to 94%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee)

Catalytic Diastereo- and enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction of alkylidenepyrazolones to isatin-derived ketimines

A valuable organocatalytic vinylogous Mannich reaction between alkylidenepyrazolones and isatin-derived ketimines has been successfully established. Squaramide organocatalyst, prepared from quinine, catalyzed the diastereo- and enantioselective vinylogous Mannich addition, affording a range of aminooxindole-pyrazolone adducts (24 examples) with excellent outcomes: up to 98% yield with complete diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). Additionally, different synthetic transformations were performed with the chiral pyrazolone-oxindole adducts

Catalytic Asymmetric Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2-Isocyanatomalonate Esters and Unsaturated Imines: Synthesis of Highly Substituted Chiral γ‐Lactams

Unlike their isocyano and isothiocyanato analogues, isocyanato esters remain almost unexplored as formal 1,3-dipoles in asymmetric catalytic reactions. The first asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition involving isocyanato esters and electrophilic alkenes is reported. Diisopropyl 2-isocyanatomalonate reacts with a,b-unsaturated N-(o-anisidyl) imines in the presence of aMg(OTf)2-BOX complex to give highly substituted chiral pyrrolidinones featuring a conjugate exocyclic double bond with excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 99 %. Several transformations of the resulting heterocycles, including the synthesis of a pyroglutamic acid derivative, have been carried out

Metal-Free Diastereo- and Enantioselective Dearomative Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of 2-Nitrobenzofurans and Isocyanoacetate Esters

The diastereo- and enantioselective dearomative formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-nitrobenzofurans and α-aryl-α-isocyanoacetate esters provides tricyclic compounds bearing the 3a,8b-dihydro-1H-benzofuro[2,3-c]pyrrole framework with three consecutive stereogenic centers. The reaction was enabled by a cupreine-ether organocatalyst. The reaction products were obtained with almost full diastereoselectivity and with excellent enantiomeric excesses for a number of substituted 2-nitrobenzofurans and isocyanoacetates

Organocatalytic enantioselective 1,6-aza-Michael addition of isoxazolin-5-ones to p-quinone methides

A thiourea-Brønsted base bifunctional catalyst allowed the enantioselective 1,6-aza-Michael addition of isoxazolin-5-ones to p-quinone methides to give isoxazolin-5-ones having a chiral diarylmethyl moiety attached to the N atom with fair to good yields and enantiomeric excesses. To the best of our knowledge this reaction represents the first example of enantioselective N-alkylation of isoxazolin-5-ones as well as the first example of enantioselective 1,6-aza-Michael reaction involving p-quinone methides