Cu(I)-Photosensitizer-Catalyzed Olefin-α-Amino Radical Metathesis/Demethylenative Cyclization of 1,7-Enynes.

A demethylenative En-Yne radical cyclization of 1,7-enynes has been successfully developed to chemoselectively afford 3,4-dihyroquinolin-2-ones or quinolin-2-ones under the catalysis of Cu(I) photosensitizers PS3 and PS6 with different redox potentials. The preliminary mechanistic experiments revealed that the reaction underwent an unprecedented olefin-α-amino radical metathesis-type process. A reasonable mechanism was proposed to illustrate the catalyst-controlled chemoselectivity of the reaction based on preliminary mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 3-Ethoxycarbonyl Quinolin-2-ones and Coumarins.

A protocol of iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 4-alkyl substituted 3-ethoxycarbonyl quinolin-2-ones and coumarins has been reported, providing a wide range of chiral dihydroquinolin-2-ones and dihydrocoumarins in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and high turnover numbers (up to 28 000). This efficient protocol was successfully applied for the synthesis of MPR3160 and the key chiral intermediate of R-106578.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ- and δ-Ketoacids for Enantioselective Synthesis of γ- and δ-Lactones.

A highly efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of γ- and δ-ketoacids was developed by using a chiral spiro iridium catalyst (S)-1a, affording the optically active γ- and δ-hydroxy acids/lactones in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and turnover numbers (TON up to 100000). This protocol provides an efficient and practical method for enantioselective synthesis of Ezetimibe.

Direct asymmetric hydrogenation of α-keto acids by using the highly efficient chiral spiro iridium catalysts.

A new efficient and highly enantioselective direct asymmetric hydrogenation of α-keto acids employing the Ir/SpiroPAP catalyst under mild reaction conditions has been developed. This method might be feasible for the preparation of a series of chiral α-hydroxy acids on a large scale.

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic enamines.

The first highly enantioselective iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of cyclic enamines has been developed. This new reaction provided an efficient method for the synthesis of optically active cyclic tertiary amines including natural product crispine A.