An Enantioselective Aminocatalytic Cascade Reaction Affording Bioactive Hexahydroazulene Scaffolds.

A novel cascade reaction initiated by an enantioselective aminocatalysed 1,3-dipolar [6+4] cycloaddition between catalytically generated trienamines and 3-oxidopyridinium betaines is presented. The [6+4] cycloadduct spontaneously undergoes an intramolecular enamine-mediated aldol, hydrolysis, and E1cb sequence, which ultimately affords a chiral hexahydroazulene framework. In this process, three new C-C bonds and three new stereocenters are formed, enabled by a formal unfolding of the pyridine moiety from the dipolar reagent. The hexahydroazulenes are formed with excellent diastereo-, regio- and periselectivity (>20 : 1), up to 96 % ee, and yields up to 52 %. Synthetic elaborations of this scaffold were performed, providing access to a variety of functionalised hydroazulene compounds, of which some were found to display biological activity in U-2OS osteosarcoma cells in cell painting assays.

Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Quaternary Isochromanes by Oxidative Aminocatalysis and Gold Catalysis.

A novel strategy that combines oxidative aminocatalysis and gold catalysis allows the preparation of chiral α-quaternary isochromanes, a motif that is prevalent in natural products and synthetic bioactive compounds. In the first step, α-branched aldehydes and propargylic alcohols are transformed into α-quaternary ethers with excellent optical purities (>90 % ee) via oxidative umpolung with DDQ and an amino acid-derived primary amine catalyst. Subsequent gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation affords the isochromane products with retention of the quaternary stereocenter. A second approach explores the use of allylic alcohols as reaction partners for the oxidative coupling to furnish α-quaternary ethers with generally lower enantiopurities. Stereoretentive cyclization to isochromane products is achieved via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts type alkylation with allylic acetates as a reactive handle. A number of synthetic elaborations and a biological study on these α-quaternary isochromanes highlight the potential applicability of the presented method.

Exploring Heterotropones and Examining Their Propensity to Undergo [4 + 2] Cycloadditions.

An efficient strategy to obtain a broad array of chiral and achiral heterotropones and their corresponding [4 + 2] cycloadducts is disclosed. This strategy enables access to unique heterotropones and intricate bicyclic structures in high yields and diastereoselectivities through a simple procedure and from easily accessible starting materials.

Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Cascade Reactions─Merging the pseudo-Halogen and Halogen Effect with Dienamine Catalysis.

The combination of asymmetric organocatalysis with the (pseudo)-halogen effect enables the formation of chiral norcarane scaffolds in high yields and selectivities (up to 92% yield, >99% ee, and >95:5 d.r.). This was achieved by reacting (pseudo)-halogenated 3-vinyl chromones with in situ generated chiral dienamines in an inverse electron demand [4 + 2] cycloaddition followed by an intramolecular SN2 reaction. These scaffolds could easily undergo photoinduced rearrangements or lactonization to form intricate chiral ring structures.