The scope of the NHC-redox amidation has been expanded to include a variety of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, including α-fluoro α,β-unsaturated aldehydes which give rise to enantioenriched α-fluoroamides in good to excellent yield and enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Enantioenriched amines may be elaborated to either diastereomer of the product in high diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1). Function...

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) promote the asymmetric formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkylarylketenes with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketocarboxylic esters and amides. Divergent diastereoselectivity is observed in this process, with γ-aryl-β,γ-unsaturated α-ketocarboxylic esters and amides giving preferentially syn-dihydropyranones (up to 68 : 32 dr syn : anti, up to 98% ee), while γ-alkyl-deriv...

α,β-Unsaturated acyl ammoniums generated from the reaction of α,β-unsaturated 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) esters bearing a pendent enone with an isothiourea organocatalyst are versatile intermediates in a range of enantioselective nucleophile-dependent domino processes to form complex products of diverse topology with excellent stereoselectivity. Use of either 1,3-dicarbonyls, acyl benzothiazol...

A general synthesis of γ-trifluoromethyl α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones is described. The fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of a trifluoromethyl (CF3) group generated from (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (CF3SiMe3, Ruppert-Prakash reagent) to a masked maleic anhydride 1 (cyclopentadiene-maleic anhydride adduct) provides the corresponding adducts 2 with high stereoselectivity. The γ-tr...

The first allylic carbonylation reaction of allylic acetates with aryl boronic acids under carbon monoxide has been developed. Using Pd-PCy3 as a catalyst, a wide spectrum of allylic acetates was carbonylated in the presence of various aryl boronic acids, affording α,β-unsaturated aryl ketones in good to excellent yields. Preliminary studies indicate that carbon monoxide always inserts at the l...

The Z-selective cross metathesis of allylic-substituted olefins is explored with recently developed ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts. The reaction proceeds with excellent stereoselectivity for the Z-isomer (typically >95%) and yields of up to 88% for a variety of allylic substituents. This includes the first synthesis of Z-α,β-unsaturated acetals by cross metathesis and their elaboration to...

β-Isocupreidine (β-ICD) catalyzed asymmetric [4 + 2] cycloaddition of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with allenic esters afforded ester-substituted functionalized dihydropyran derivatives in high yields along with high enantioselectivities under mild conditions.

The catalytic asymmetric phospha-Michael reaction of dialkyl phosphine oxides with β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was achieved. The products bearing tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters were obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

The increased activity of phase-II-detoxification enzymes, such as quinone reductase (QR) and glutation S-transferase (GST), correlates with protection against chemically induced carcinogenesis. Herein we studied 11 different chemotypes, pyrazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,5-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiazole, 1,3,4-oxathiazole, thienyl hydrazone, α,β-unsaturated-oxime, α,β-unsaturated-N...

A combination of in situ IR spectroscopy (ReactIR) and DFT calculations have been used to understand what factors govern the selectivity in the addition of primary amines to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, i.e., 1,2- versus 1,4-addition. It has been found that the 1,2-addition products (α,β-unsaturated imines following addition and elimination) usually predominate for most systems. Howev...