Asymmetric Organocatalysis Under Mechanochemical Conditions.

Asymmetric organocatalysis is a robust methodology providing access to numerous valuable compounds while having green chemistry principles in mind. The realization of organocatalytic transformation under solvent-free mechanochemical conditions brings additional benefits in terms of yields, selectivities, and, last but not least overall improved sustainability. This overview describes developments in the use of mechanochemistry as a vehicle for asymmetric organocatalytic transformations. The material is organized according to main catalytic activation modes, starting with covalent activation and proceeding to non-covalent activation modes. The advantages of mechanochemical organocatalytic reactions are particularly highlighted, but in some cases also, limitations are mentioned. Possibilities for target compound synthesis are also discussed.

Derivatives of benzo-1,4-thiazine-3-carboxylic acid and the corresponding amino acid conjugates.

Herein, we present the synthesis and utilization of derivatives of 4H-benzo[b][1,4]thiazine-3-carboxylic acid. These benzothiazine compounds were assembled via the coupling of aminothiols and bromopyruvates. Oxidative dimerization of these starting materials was also observed and the corresponding benzothiazine dimers were isolated. Moreover, the coupling of benzothiazines with amino acids was realized. In doing so, an enantioselective synthesis of the nonproteinogenic amino acid 2-amino-3-propylhexanoic acid was accomplished.

Organocatalytic Diastereodivergent Enantioselective Formal oxa-Diels-Alder Reaction of Unsaturated Ketones with Enoates Under Liquid-Assisted Grinding Conditions.

Chiral heterocycles occur in many compounds of interest, but their efficient synthesis is challenging. This study concerns the enantioselective and diastereoselective synthesis of densely substituted chiral pyran derivatives. Diastereodivergence of the oxa-Diels-Alder reaction is achieved by using either a bifunctional amino-thiourea or a monofunctional quinine organocatalyst under ball-milling conditions. Liquid-assisted grinding proves a highly efficient means of affording pyrans in high yield, with high enantiomeric purities and short reaction times.

N-Sulfinylpyrrolidine-containing ureas and thioureas as bifunctional organocatalysts.

The synthesis of bifunctional N-sulfinylureas and thioureas with an appended pyrrolidine unit is presented. These organocatalysts were evaluated in Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes both under solvent-free conditions and in solution. The N-sulfinylurea catalyst was more efficient than the corresponding thiourea. For some substrates, enantioselectivities reached 98% ee. The stereogenic center on the sulfur did not have a considerable influence on the catalytic reactions. Under ball-milling conditions, the Michael adducts were obtained in good yields but with slightly lower enantiomeric purities than in solution. DFT calculations elucidated its mode of action and confirmed a dual activation mode, which combines enamine activation of aldehydes and hydrogen-bond activation of nitroalkenes.

Green Asymmetric Organocatalysis.

Asymmetric organocatalysis is becoming one of the main tools for the synthesis of chiral compounds that are needed as medicines, crop protection agents, and other bioactive molecules. It can be effectively combined with various green chemistry methodologies. Intensification techniques, such as ball milling, flow, high pressure, or light, bring not only higher yields, faster reactions, and easier product isolation, but also new reactivities. More sustainable reaction media, such as ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, green solvent alternatives, and water, also considerably enhance the sustainability profile of many organocatalytic reactions.

Why do thioureas and squaramides slow down the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement?

A range of chiral hydrogen-bond-donating organocatalysts was tested in the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of silyl ketene acetals. None of these organocatalysts was able to impart any enantioselectivity on the rearrangements. Furthermore, these organocatalysts slowed down the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement in comparison to an uncatalyzed reaction. The catalyst-free reaction proceeded well in green solvents or without any solvent. DFT calculations showed that the activation barriers are higher for reactions involving hydrogen-donating organocatalysts and kinetic experiments suggest that the catalysts bind stronger to the starting silyl ketene acetals than to transition structures thus leading to inefficient rearrangement reactions.

Bifunctional Amine-Squaramides as Organocatalysts in Michael/Hemiketalization Reactions of ß,γ-Unsaturated α-Ketoesters and α,ß-Unsaturated Ketones with 4-Hydroxycoumarins.

The catalytic efficiency of various amine-squaramides was tested in Michael/hemiketalization reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarines with two types of enones. Tertiary amine-squaramide organocatalysts afforded the best results regarding both activity and enantioselectivity when ß,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters were used as the Michael acceptors (yields up to 98%, enantioselectivities up to 90% ee). On the other hand, the primary amine-squaramides are the best choice for related reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarins with enones. The corresponding pyrano[3,2- c]chromen-5-on products were obtained in high enantiomeric purities (up to 96%). The Michael addition of 4-hydroxycoumarin to 4-phenylbut-3-en-2-on directly produced chiral anticoagulant drug ( S)-warfarin in 92% ee when green solvent 2-MeTHF and catalyst ( S, S)-C8 were used. Moreover, an enantiomeric catalyst ( R, R)-C8 gave ( R)-warfarin in >99% ee.

Ferrocene phosphane-heteroatom/carbon bidentate ligands in asymmetric catalysis.

Chiral ferrocene derivatives belong to privileged ligand classes for asymmetric transition metal catalysed reactions. Hetero-bidentate phosphane ligands are hybrid ligands, which combine the properties of phosphorus with those of other donor atoms. This feature creates further asymmetry around the metal centre, which may be helpful for increasing the stereoinduction. Therefore, hetero-bidentate ligands are useful alternatives to homo-bidentate ligands. Ligands featuring phosphorus and nitrogen or sulphur are quite common. From among ferrocene catalysts, ferrocenyl amino phosphanes and phosphane oxazolines serve as excellent examples. Fesulphos and ThioClickFerrophos are notable P,S-ligand examples. On the other hand, combinations of phosphorus with oxygen or carbon are only beginning to show their potential in asymmetric catalysis. Another useful feature in ligands of this type is the markedly different coordination properties of donor atoms, resulting in interesting opportunities for catalysis. Ferrocenyl MOP-analogues or a fascinating combination of phosphane and secondary phosphane-oxide would represent this ligand class. The last section of the review focuses on phosphanes combined with carbon-based donor atoms that are phosphane-alkene and phosphane-carbene ligands. This review focuses on the applications of these hetero-bidentate ferrocene ligands in asymmetric catalysis with a special emphasis on the most recent and influential literature reports.

Asymmetric organocatalytic SOMO reactions of enol silanes and silyl ketene (thio)acetals.

Organocatalytic SOMO reactions can provide access to various α-functionalized carbonyl compounds. Chiral imidazolidinones catalysed the organo-SOMO reactions of aldehydes and ketones with cyclic and acyclic enol silanes. The resulting chiral dicarbonyl compounds were obtained in yields of up to 80% and enantiomeric purities of up to 90% ee. Under the SOMO conditions, silyl ketene acetals did not afford the desired products. However, silyl ketene thioacetal could be employed, and the corresponding product was isolated with useful enantiomeric purity of 82% ee.

Michael additions of methylene active compounds to chalcone in ionic liquids without any catalyst: the peculiar properties of ionic liquids.

Michael additions of malonodinitrile as well as several other reagents to chalcone have been found to proceed well in pure ionic liquids, without the addition of any catalyst. The catalytic effect of the residual acidity caused by hydrolysis of ionic liquids anions was excluded because HCl in dichloromethane did not catalyse the Michael addition of malonodinitrile. Piperidine was tested as the catalyst and was found to be a much better catalyst in ionic liquids than in dichloromethane. Therefore, the following question arose: what is the effect of ionic liquids on the dissociation constants of C--H acids?

Michael addition of thiols to alpha-enones in ionic liquids with and without organocatalysts.

Seventeen organocatalyts were tested for their ability to catalyst the addition of thiophenols to chalcones in [bmim]PF6. The products were isolated in high yield after a short reaction time, but no stereoselectivity was observed. The reactions also proceeded (without any stereoselectivity) in four other ionic liquids. In contrast, 16% and 26% ee were observed when L-proline and cinchonine, respectively, were used as the catalysts in CH2Cl2. Addition of thiophenols is also catalysed by HCl, as well as D-mandelic and L-tartaric acids. Addition of thiophenols to chalcones also occurred in neat ionic liquids, without any additional catalyst, but the rate of the reaction depended considerably on the structure of ionic liquid. The scope of the non-catalysed reaction in ionic liquids was tested by the reactions of 5 different thiols and 3 different alpha-enones.

The sonochemical arylation of active methylene compounds.

The sonochemical arylation of active methylene compounds with haloarenes have been studied. The reaction course was found to be dependent on the electron-withdrawing properties of substituent and the leaving group of haloarenes as well as of the character of active methylene compounds. The results of the sonochemical experiments were just slightly better than in the classical ones's, exception being reactions with phenylsulfonylacetonitrile.

Ultrasound effect on the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions on some haloarenes.

The sonochemical nucleophilic aromatic substitutions on haloarenes with different amines have been studied. A beneficial ultrasound effect was observed and high yields of the products were obtained after 15-30 min sonication. The reaction course of the nucleophilic aromatic substitution was found to be strongly dependent on nucleophilicity, bulkiness, and boiling point of amines as well as on the electron-withdrawing property of the substituents on the haloarenes.