Novel cinchona alkaloid-derived bifunctional organocatalysts containing sulfonamide groups were utilized to promote Michael addition of bicyclic alpha-substituted beta-ketoesters to nitroolefins. The desired Michael adducts with all-carbon quaternary centers were constructed in high yield and with excellent enantioselectivity, demonstrating the great potential of cinchona alkaloid-derived sulfo...

Optically active 2,5-disubstituted-cyclohexen-2-one derivatives have been prepared in a one-pot process consisting of five reaction steps: an organocatalytic asymmetric conjugated addition of beta-ketoesters to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes that proceeds in aqueous solutions or under solvent-free conditions has been implemented in a multi-step process.

[reaction: see text] Eco-friendly direct solvent-free synthesis of flavones is achieved by microwave irradiation of phloroglucinol and beta-ketoesters. Heating with microwaves versus under classical conditions was shown to be higher yielding, cleaner, and faster. The reaction goes through a cycloaddition of an alpha-oxo ketene intermediate followed by an uncatalyzed thermal Fries rearrangement.

We discovered a highly reactive λ(3)-hypervalent iodane species using an inorganic/organic base for the unorthodox synthesis of amides and ketoesters through grafting terminal alkynes. In contrast to the metal-catalyzed dehydrative approaches the in situ generated nonmetallic reagent efficiently created C-N/C-O and C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bonds with amines/alkynes and water at rt.

Chiral C3-symmetric trisoxazolines are highly efficient stereodirecting ligands in enantioselective Cu(II) Lewis acid catalysis which is based on the concept of a stereoelectronic hemilability of the divalent copper; in direct comparison with the analogous bisoxazoline systems they are more efficient in the enantioselective alpha-amination as well as the enantioselective Mannich reaction of pro...

The intramolecular addition of beta-ketoesters to unactivated alkynes under neutral conditions and at room temperature is described. The method employs triphenylphosphinegold(I) cation as a catalyst for the formation of exo-methylenecycloalkanes. Both monocyclic and bicyclic cyclopentanes and cyclohexanes can be formed in excellent yields and with good diastereoselectivity.