Asymmetric Alkynylation of Tertiary Carbon-Centered Radical via Copper-Catalyzed Radical Relay

Alkynes are frequently found in a high proportion of natural products and bioactive moleculars,as well as a common synthon in organic synthesis,which can be easily transformed to an alkenyl,alkyl,heteroaryl,or carboxylic acid group.The enantioselective construction of alkyne substituted all carbon quaternary stereocenters is rarely reported and still a big challenge.As part of our continuous effort on developing asymmetric radical transformations,we found introducing an amidyl group(CONHAr)adjacent to the tertiary carbon radical could enable the asymmetric radical coupling with alkyne reagents.The amidyl group may stabilize the tertiary carbon radical or coordination with the chiral copper catalyst.Herein,we communicate a copper-catalyzed asymmetric trifluoromethyl-alkynylation ofα-aryl substituted acrylamides,which provides a straightforward and efficient access to chiral quaternary all-carbon centers bearing alkynyl groups in good yields and enantioselectivities.This reaction was also applied for the synthesis of chiral functionalized dipeptide.

Construction of three stereocenters via hydrogenative desymmetrization of 2,2,5-trisubstituted cyclohexane-1,3-diones

A Ru-catalyzed hydrogenative desymmetrization of 2,2,5-trisubstituted cyclohexane-1,3-diones was developed for construction of three stereocenters including two coherent and discontiguous chiral centers and a chiral quaternary carbon with excellent enantio-and diastereoselectivities.Stereodivergent synthesis of four stereoisomers could be conducted with high enantioselectivities.The desymmetrization could be achieved at gram scale without loss of reactivity and optical purity,and a formal synthesis of bioactive molecule(-)-isocelorbicol was completed.

Organophosphine bearing multiple hydrogen-bond donors for asymmetric Michael addition reaction of 1-oxoindane-2-carboxylic acid ester via dual-reagent catalysis

Multiple hydrogen bonds containing nucleophilic phosphines derived from dipeptide dual-reagents catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition reactions between indene esters and activated olefins in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions.The success of current highly selective reactions should provide inspiration for expansion to other reactions and would open up new paradigms for the synthesis of indanone derivatives bearing chiral quaternary carbon centers.

A Formal Synthesis of (+)-Cassiol Exploiting Meyers' Bicyclic Lactam Methodology

A formal synthesis of (+)-cassiol using (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol as chiral auxiliary is reported. The quaternary chiral center in the molecule was constructed by sequential alkylation of a bicyclic lactam (prepared from the aforementioned auxiliary and 5-oxo-heptanoic acid) with methyl iodide and benzyloxymethyl chloride.