C–H alkylation of pyridines with olefins catalyzed by imidazolin-2-iminato-ligated rare-earth alkyl complexes

An array of rare-earth bis(aminobenzyl)complexes supported by imidazolin-2-iminato ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized.These complexes showed high activity towards ortho-Csp^(2)–H alkylation of 2-alkylpyridines and benzylic Csp^(3)–H alkylation of 2,6-dialkylpyridines with alkenes.A wide range of alkyl or aryl substituted olefin substrates are compatible,providing an atom-economical route to linear or branched alkylated pyridine derivatives in moderate to high yields(45 examples,up to 99%yield).The primary study suggested that the asymmetric version of Csp^(3)–H alkylation of 2,4,6-collidine with allylbenzene was feasible with chiral imidazolin-2-iminato-ligated scandium(III)complexes,and good yield with moderate enantioselectivity was obtained(84%yield,84:16 er).Mechanistic investigations including kinetic isotope effect(KIE)experiments and density functional theory(DFT)calculations shed light on the catalytic cycle and the origin of enantiocontrol.

Enantioselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted allenes via addition/arylation tandem reaction of 2-activated 1,3-enynes

We report the development of a new class of multifunctional chiral guanidine/Pd(0)catalyst system for 1,4-addition/arylation tandem reaction.A variety of tetra-substituted allenes were readily accessible from three-component“one-pot”transformations of acyclic or cyclic 2-activated 1,3-enynes,malonates and halobenzenes under mild reaction conditions.High levels of yield and enantioselectivity were achieved in the construction of stereogenic center and axis using readily available acyclic guanidineamides.The mechanistic studies suggest that the guanidine/Pd(0)collaboration has obvious synergism to both base-dominated conjugate addition,and Pd(0)-dominated Heck-type reaction.

Asymmetric catalytic alkylation of vinyl azides with 3-bromo oxindoles: water-assisted chemo-and enantiocontrol

A highly chemo-and enantioselective alkylation of vinyl azides with 3-bromo-3-substituted oxindoles was achieved through a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Ni(OTf)2-mediated conjugate addition/water addition/elimination tandem process. Water was critical to the chemo-and enantioselectivity. The hydrated Na3PO4 acted as both a base and a reservoir to regulate the amount of water in solution. A wide range of enantioenriched oxindoles having α-carbonyl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereocenters were achieved in good yields and good ee values(51 examples, up to 90% yield, 97% ee). Easy transformations of products to analogues of(+)-physovenine and(+)-desoxyeseroline enhanced the synthetic value. Mechanistic studies including control experiments, kinetic studies, and density functional theory(DFT) calculations, enabled a proposition of a possible catalytic cycle along with transition states to elucidate the reaction process and chiral induction.