Hongchao Guo

Phosphine-Catalyzed Annulations of Azomethine Imines: Allene-Dependent [3 + 2], [3 + 3], [4 + 3], and [3 + 2 + 3] Pathways

In this paper we describe the phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2], [3 + 3], [4 + 3], and [3 + 2 + 3] annulations of azomethine imines and allenoates. These processes mark the first use of azomethine imines in nucleophilic phosphine catalysis, producing dinitrogen-fused heterocycles, including tetrahydropyrazolo-pyrazolones, -pyridazinones, -diazepinones, and -diazocinones. Counting the two different reaction modes in the [3 + 3] cyclizations, there are five distinct reaction pathways-the choice of which depends on the structure and chemical properties of the allenoate. All reactions are operationally simple and proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions, affording a broad range of 1,2-dinitrogen-containing heterocycles in moderate to excellent yields. A zwitterionic intermediate formed from a phosphine and two molecules of ethyl 2,3-butadienoate acted as a 1,5-dipole in the annulations of azomethine imines, leading to the [3 + 2 + 3] tetrahydropyrazolo-diazocinone products. The incorporation of two molecules of an allenoate into an eight-membered-ring product represents a new application of this versatile class of molecules in nucleophilic phosphine catalysis. The salient features of this protocol--the facile access to a diverse range of nitrogen-containing heterocycles and the simple preparation of azomethine imine substrates--suggest that it might find extensive applications in heterocycle synthesis.

Chiral phosphines in nucleophilic organocatalysis

Summary This review discusses the tertiary phosphines possessing various chiral skeletons that have been used in asymmetric nucleophilic organocatalytic reactions, including annulations of allenes, alkynes, and Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) acetates, carbonates, and ketenes with activated alkenes and imines, allylic substitutions of MBH acetates and carbonates, Michael additions, γ-umpolung additions, and acylations of alcohols.

Phosphine-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective [3 + 3] Cycloaddition of Morita–Baylis–Hillman Carbonates with C,N-Cyclic Azomethine Imines

The first phosphine-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with C,N-cyclic azomethine imines is described. Using a spirocyclic chiral phosphine as the catalyst, a novel class of pharmaceutically interesting 4,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1H-pyridazino[6,1-a]iso-quinoline derivatives were obtained in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities and extremely excellent enantioselectivities (98->99% ee).

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with azomethine imines.

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed [3+3] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with azomethine imines

Phosphine-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Sulfamate-Derived Cyclic Imines with Allenoate: Synthesis of Sulfamate-Fused Dihydropyrroles

Ph3P-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of sulfamate-derived cyclic imines with allenoate has been developed, affording sulfamate-fused dihydropyrroles under very mild conditions in high yields. Using amino acid-based bifunctional phosphine as chiral catalyst, its asymmetric variant provided the corresponding products in good yields with moderate to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 91% yield and up to 98% ee). Subsequent transformations of the heterocyclic products gave various pharmaceutically attractive compounds.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Spirobarbiturate-Cyclohexenes through Phosphine-Catalyzed Asymmetric [4 + 2] Annulation of Barbiturate-Derived Alkenes with Allenoates

An enantioselective synthesis of pharmaceutically important spirobarbiturates has been achieved via spirocyclic chiral phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric [4 + 2] annulation of barbiturate-derived alkenes with allenoates. With the use of this tool, various spirobarbiturate-cyclohexenes are obtained in good to excellent yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. A wide range of α-substituted allenoates and barbiturate-derived alkenes were tolerated.

Metal-Catalyzed [6 + 3] Cycloaddition of Tropone with Azomethine Ylides: A Practical Access to Piperidine-Fused Bicyclic Heterocycles

The first metal-catalyzed [6 + 3] cycloaddition of tropone with azomethine ylides has been developed. With the use of a chiral ferrocenylphosphine-copper(I) complex as the catalyst, the asymmetric variant of the [6 + 3] cycloaddition has also been successfully achieved. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, affording piperidine-fused bicyclic heterocycles in moderate to high yields with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivies. The procedures are operationally simple and the catalysts are cheap and readily accessible, thus providing a practical approach to piperidine-fused bicyclic heterocycles.

Phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of aromatic azomethine imines with allenoates

An efficient phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition of aromatic azomethine imines with allenoates has been developed, providing dinitrogen-fused heterocyclic compounds in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions, providing an expedient access to highly valuable heterocyclic compounds with isoquinoline, quinoline and phenanthridine skeletons.

Phosphine‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Imines with Electron‐Deficient Alkenes: A Facile Access to Dinitrogen‐Fused Heterocycles

An efficient method for the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine imines with diphenylsulfonyl alkenes to give dinitrogen-fused bi- or tricyclic heterocyclic compounds in high yields has been described. Moreover, two phenylsulfonyl groups installed on the heterocyclic products could be conveniently removed or transformed to other functional groups, making the reaction more useful.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective [3 + 3] Cycloaddition between Two Different 1,3-Dipoles, Phthalazinium Dicyanomethanides and Iminoester-Derived Azomethine Ylides

The Cu(I)-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition between two different 1,3-dipoles, phthalazinium dicyanomethanides and iminoester-derived azomethine ylides, has been achieved under mild reaction conditions, providing novel chiral heterocyclic compounds, 2,3,4,11b-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-a]phthalazine derivatives, in high yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivies (up to 99% yield, 99% ee, >20:1 dr).