Iron-Catalyzed Borylation of Propargylic Acetates for the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenylboronates.

A novel iron-catalyzed borylation of propargylic acetates leading to allenylboronates has been developed. The method allows the preparation of a variety of di-, tri- and tetrasubstituted allenylboronates at room temperature with good functional group compatibility. Stereochemical studies show that an anti-SN 2' displacement of acetate by boron occurs; this also allows transfer of chirality to yield enantiomerically enriched allenylboronates. The synthetic utility of this protocol was further substantiated by transformations of the obtained allenylboronates including oxidation and propargylation.

Efficient Heterogeneous Copper-Catalyzed Alder-Ene Reaction of Allenynamides to Pyrrolines.

Herein, we describe an efficient nanocopper-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction of allenynamides. The copper nanoparticles were immobilized on amino-functionalized microcrystalline cellulose. A solvent-controlled chemoselectivity of the reaction was observed, leading to the chemodivergent synthesis of pyrrolines (2,5-dihydropyrroles) and pyrroles. The heterogeneous copper catalyst exhibits high efficiency and good recyclability in the Alder-ene reaction, constituting a highly attractive catalytic system from an economical and environmental point of view.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of ß-Hydroxyketones.

Herein we report on the development and application of chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) of α-substituted ß-hydroxyketones (ß-HKs), using Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) as transesterification catalyst and a ruthenium complex as epimerization catalyst. An operationally simple protocol allows for an efficient preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched α-substituted ß-oxoacetates. The products were obtained in yields up to 95 % with good diastereomeric ratios.

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Propargyl Ethers with Grignard Reagents for the Synthesis of Functionalized Allenes and Allenols.

Herein we disclose an iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of propargyl ethers with Grignard reagents. The reaction was demonstrated to be stereospecific and allows for a facile preparation of optically active allenes via efficient chirality transfer. Various tri- and tetrasubstituted fluoroalkyl allenes can be obtained in good to excellent yields. In addition, an iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of Grignard reagents with α-alkynyl oxetanes and tetrahydrofurans is disclosed herein, which constitutes a straightforward approach towards fully substituted ß- or γ-allenols, respectively.

Highly Diastereoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Cascade Carbonylative Carbocyclization of Enallenols.

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative cascade carbonylative carbocyclization of enallenols was developed. Under mild reaction conditions, a range of cis-fused [5,5] bicyclic γ-lactones and γ-lactams with a 1,3-diene motif were obtained in good yields with high diastereoselectivity. The obtained lactone/lactam products are viable substrates for a stereoselective Diels-Alder reaction with N-phenylmaleimide, providing polycyclic compounds with increased molecular complexity.

Efficient Heterogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Cascade Reactions of Enallenols to Furan and Oxaborole Derivatives.

A heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of enallenols has been developed for the construction of highly substituted furan and oxaborole derivatives. The heterogeneous catalyst (Pd-AmP-MCF) exhibits high activity, high site- and stereoselectivity, and efficient palladium recyclability in the transformations.

Diastereoselective Cyclobutenol Synthesis: A Heterogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbocyclization-Borylation of Enallenols.

A highly selective and efficient oxidative carbocyclization/borylation of enallenols catalyzed by palladium immobilized on amino-functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd-AmP-MCF) was developed for diastereoselective cyclobutenol synthesis. The heterogeneous palladium catalyst can be recovered and recycled without any observed loss of activity or selectivity. The high diastereoselectivity of the reaction is proposed to originate from a directing effect of the enallenol hydroxyl group. Optically pure cyclobutenol synthesis was achieved by the heterogeneous strategy by using chiral enallenol obtained from kinetic resolution.

Chemodivergent and Diastereoselective Synthesis of γ-Lactones and γ-Lactams: A Heterogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Tandem Process.

A palladium-catalyzed oxidative tandem process of enallenols was accomplished within a homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysis manifold, setting the stage for the highly chemodivergent and diastereoselective synthesis of γ-lactones and γ-lactams under mild conditions.

Highly Diastereoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbocyclization of Enallenes Assisted by a Weakly Coordinating Hydroxyl Group.

A highly diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbocyclization-borylation of enallenes assisted by a weakly coordinating hydroxyl group was developed. The reaction afforded functionalized cyclohexenol derivatives, in which the 1,3-relative stereochemistry is controlled (d.r. > 50:1). Other weakly coordinating oxygen-containing groups (ketone, alkoxide, acetate) also assisted the carbocyclization toward cyclohexenes. The reaction proceeds via a ligand exchange on Pd of the weakly coordinating group with a distant olefin group. The high diastereoselectivity of the hydroxyl-directed reaction could be rationalized by a face-selective coordination of the distant olefin. It was demonstrated that the primary coordination of the close-by oxygen-containing functionality was necessary for the reaction to occur and removal of this functionality shut down the reaction.

Mechanistic Insight into Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbocyclization-Borylation of Enallenes.

The asymmetric palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbocyclization-borylation of enallenes, employing a chiral phosphoric acid as co-catalyst, constitutes an efficient and convenient entry into functionalized building blocks with cyclopentene scaffolds in high enantiopurity. Up till now there has been a lack of knowledge concerning the origin of enantioselectivity of this reaction as well as the absolute configuration of the product. Herein, we report the crystal structure of one of the compounds generated via this carbocyclization, providing the link between the configuration of the products and the configuration of the chiral phosphoric acid used in the reaction. Furthermore, the origin of the enantioselectivity is thoroughly investigated with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By careful examination of different possible coordination modes, it is shown that the chiral phosphoric acid and the corresponding phosphate anion serve as ligands for palladium during the key stereoselectivity-determining cyclization step. In addition, we examine reactions wherein an extra chiral reagent, a p-benzoquinone containing a chiral sulfoxide, is used. The combined experimental and theoretical studies provide insight into the details of complexation of palladium with various species present in the reaction mixture, furnishing a general understanding of the factors governing the stereoselectivity of this and related catalytic reactions.

Selective Palladium-Catalyzed Allenic C-H Bond Oxidation for the Synthesis of [3]Dendralenes.

A highly selective palladium-catalyzed allenic C-H bond oxidation was developed, and it provides a novel and straightforward synthesis of [3]dendralene derivatives. A variety of [3]dendralenes with diverse substitution patterns are accessible with good efficiency and high stereoselectivity. The reaction tolerates a broad substrate scope containing various functional groups on the allene moiety, including ketone, aldehyde, ester, and phenyl groups. Also, a wide range of olefins with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing aryls, acrylate, sulfone, and phosphonate groups are tolerated.

Highly Selective Olefin-Assisted PdII -Catalyzed Oxidative Alkynylation of Enallenes.

An olefin-assisted, palladium-catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of enallenes for regio- and stereoselective synthesis of substituted trienynes has been developed. The reaction shows a broad substrate scope and good tolerance for various functional groups on the allene moiety, including carboxylic acid esters, free hydroxyls, imides, and alkyl groups. Also, a wide range of terminal alkynes with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls, trimethylsilyl, and free hydroxyl groups are tolerated.

Selective Cascade Reaction of Bisallenes via Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Carbocyclization-Borylation and Aldehyde Trapping.

A cascade reaction, consisting of a palladium-catalyzed regioselective aerobic oxidative carbocyclization-borylation of bisallenes and a final aldehyde trapping, afforded triene alcohols with high diastereoselectivity. The cascade reaction occurs under mild reaction conditions and proceeds via an allylboron intermediate that is trapped by the aldehyde in a stereoselective manner.

Crystal structures of two (±)-exo-N-isobornyl-acetamides.

The title compounds consist of a bornane skeleton with attached acetamide, C12H21NO (±)-(1) {systematic name: (±)-N-[(1RS,2RS,4RS)-1,7,7-tri-methylbi-cyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]acetamide}, and chloro-acetamide, C12H20ClNO (±)-(2) {systematic name: (±)-2-chloro-N-[(1RS,2RS,4RS)-1,7,7-tri-methylbi-cyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]-acetamide}, functionalities to the 2-exo-position. The crystal structure of the first monoclinic polymorph of (±)-(1) has been reported previously [Ung et al. (2014 ▸). Monatsh. Chem. 145, 983-992]. Compound (±)-(1) crystallizes in the space group P21/n with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, in contrast to the above-mentioned polymorph which crystallized in the space group C2/c with one mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit. In the title compounds, the bicyclic bornane moieties have normal geometries. In the crystals of both compounds, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, reinforced by C-H⋯O contacts, forming trans-amide chains propagating along the a-axis direction. In the case of compound (±)-(1), neighbouring chains are linked by further C-H⋯O contacts, forming double-chain ribbons along [100].