Gloria Hernández-Torres

Highly efficient hydrogen-bonding catalysis of the Diels-Alder reaction of 3-vinylindoles and methyleneindolinones provides carbazolespirooxindole skeletons.

Carbazolespirooxindole derivatives were synthesized in a high-yielding, atypically rapid, stereocontrolled Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by a C(2)-symmetric bisthiourea organocatalyst. Simple precursors and mild conditions were used to construct carbazolespirooxindole derivatives with high enantiopurity and structural diversity under H-bonding catalysis. The practical approach recycles the organocatalyst and solvent. This simple and efficient operational procedure will allow diversity-oriented syntheses of this intriguing class of compounds.

Highly Enantioselective Organocatalytic α-Amination Reactions of Aryl Oxindoles: Developing Designer Multifunctional Alkaloid Catalysts

An enantioselective α-amination of aryl oxindoles catalyzed by a dimeric quinidine has been developed. The reaction is general, broad in substrate scope, and affords the desired products in good yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. This study provides the first examples of a general organocatalytic method for the creation of nitrogen-containing, tetrasubstituted chiral centers at C(3) of various aryl oxindoles. Furthermore, new catalysts and insights into structural elements of the catalysts that significantly influence enantioselectivities are disclosed.

Organocatalytic asymmetric assembly reactions for the syntheses of carbohydrate derivatives by intermolecular Michael-Henry reactions

Given the significance of carbohydrates in life, medicine, and industry, the development of simple and efficient de novo methods to synthesize carbohydrates are highly desirable. Organocatalytic asymmetric assembly reactions are powerful tools to rapidly construct molecules with stereochemical complexity from simple precursors. Here, we present a simple and robust methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of pyranose derivatives with talo- and manno- configurations from simple achiral precursors through organocatalytic asymmetric intermolecular Michael–Henry reaction sequences. In this process, (tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)acetaldehyde 1 was successfully utilized in two ways: as a donor in a highly selective anti-Michael reaction and as an acceptor in a consecutive Henry reaction. Varied nitroolefins served as Michael acceptors and varied aldehydes substituted for 1 as Henry acceptors providing for the construction of a wide range of carbohydrates with up to 5 stereocenters. In these reactions, a catalyst-controlled Michael reaction followed by a substrate-controlled Henry reaction provided 3,4-dideoxytalose derivatives 6 in a highly stereoselective manner. The Henry reaction was affected by addition of a simple base such as triethylamine: A complex chiral base was not necessary. 3,4-Dideoxymannose derivatives 7 were produced by simply changing the base from triethylamine to 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. Extension of this methodology to a syn-Michael initiated sequence was also successful. A mechanistic discussion is provided to explain the unusual substrate-induced stereoselectivity of the Henry reaction.

Organocatalysis as a Safe Practical Method for the Stereospecific Dibromination of Unsaturated Compounds

Organocatalytic stereospecific dibromination of a wide variety of functionalized alkenes was achieved using a stable, inexpensive halogen source, 1,3-dibromo 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and a simple thiourea catalyst at room temperature. The presence of a tertiary amine enhanced the rate of the dibromination reaction, and yields were good in various solvents, including aqueous solvents. The procedure was extended to alkynes and aromatic rings and to dichlorination reactions by using the 1,3-dichloro hydantoin derivative.

Stereocontrolled Generation of the (2R) Chroman Core of Vitamin E: Total Synthesis of (2R,4′RS,8′RS)-α-Tocopherol

(2R,4RS,8RS)-alpha-tocopherol (1) was prepared using, as the two key steps, a novel diastereoselective TiCl(4)-promoted (S)-sulfoxide-directed allylation of ketal 2 with allyl trimethyl silane 3 to efficiently generate the challenging (2R) stereocenter of the chroman moiety and a cross-metathesis reaction with olefin 4 to efficiently join the lipophilic alkyl chain present in the final target.

Total synthesis of natural p-quinol cochinchinenone.

Cochinchinenone has been synthesized in only five steps and four pots and in 58% overall yield from commercially available 2,3-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and OPMB-protected p-hydroxy acetophenone, the key step being the oxone-mediated oxidative dearomatization of the corresponding ketone-containing p-substituted phenol.

Enantioselective total synthesis of the natural gamma-tocopherol metabolite (S)-gamma-CEHC [(S)-LLU-alpha].

The asymmetric synthesis of the natural gamma-tocopherol metabolite (S)-gamma-CEHC (1) is described in 10 steps and 18.4% overall yield starting from 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone. The key step is a stereoselective TiCl(4)-mediated homochiral sulfoxide-directed allylation of ketal (SS)-3 to efficiently generate the challenging C-2 stereogenic carbon of chroman (SS,S)-2 with the correct absolute configuration.

CCDC 742661: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mercedes Lecea, Gloria Hernandez-Torres, Antonio Urbano, M. Carmen Carreno, Francoise Colobert|2010|Org.Lett.|12|580|doi:10.1021/ol9027804