Xavier Bugaut

N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydroacylation of Cyclopropenes

We report the first intermolecular NHC-catalyzed hydroacylation of electron-neutral olefins. Treatment of aromatic aldehydes with cyclopropenes under mild conditions affords valuable acylcyclopropanes in moderate to high yields with an excellent level of diastereocontrol. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that product formation occurs via a concerted syn hydroacylation pathway.

Designing N-heterocyclic carbenes: simultaneous enhancement of reactivity and enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydroacylation of cyclopropenes.

Faster, higher, stronger! The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective hydroacylation of cyclopropenes affords structurally valuable acylcyclopropanes. A new family of electron-rich, 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl-substituted NHCs induces excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity. Preliminary kinetic studies unambiguously demonstrated the superiority of this family of catalysts over known NHCs in this challenging transformation.

α,β‐Unsaturated Acyl Cyanides as New Bis‐Electrophiles for Enantioselective Organocatalyzed Formal [3+3]Spiroannulation

α,β-Unsaturated acyl cyanides are key bis-electrophile substrates for successful domino enantioselective organocatalyzed Michael-intramolecular acylation domino sequences. This new reactivity has been applied to the synthesis of enantioenriched azaspiro[4,5]decanone ring systems by a formal [3+3]spiroannulation, constituting a rare example of synthesis of glutarimides in an optically active form.

Michael Addition-initiated Sequential Reactions from 1,3-dicarbonyls for the Synthesis of Polycyclic Heterocycles

This review aims to highlight the most significant recent developments on synthetic strategies involving consecutive, domino and multicomponent reactions featuring a Michael addition-initiating step for the synthesis of polycyclic heterocycles from 1,3-dicarbonyls. These original sequences constitute more efficient and eco-compatible alternatives to known synthetic approaches to heterocyclic compounds allowing for an even faster and highly desirable generation of molecular diversity and complexity.

Combining Organocatalysis with Central‐to‐Axial Chirality Conversion: Atroposelective Hantzsch‐Type Synthesis of 4‐Arylpyridines

Suitably substituted enantioenriched 4-aryl-1,4-dihydro-pyridines prepared by an organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition were oxidized with MnO2 into axially chiral 4-arylpyridines with central-to-axial chirality conversion. Moderate to complete percentages (cp) were observed, and a model for the conversion of chirality is discussed.

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Multicomponent Synthesis of 2,6‐Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanones

The title reaction of β-ketoamides, acrolein, and aminophenols, catalyzed by a bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine organocatalyst, enables the preparation of an enantioenriched diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanone (2,6-DABCO) scaffold. The chemoselective reaction sequence installs five new bonds and three stereocenters, two of which are contiguous tetrasubstituted centers, with excellent yields and high levels of stereocontrol. M.S.=molecular sieves

Enantioselective Syntheses of Furan Atropisomers by an Oxidative Central-to-Axial Chirality Conversion Strategy

For the first time, enantiomerically enriched atropoisomeric furans have been accessed using a central-to-axial chirality conversion strategy. Hence, oxidation of the enantioenriched dihydrofuran precursors gave rise to axially chiral furans with high enantiopurities accounting from excellent conversion percentages (cp) in most cases.

Origin of the Enantioselectivity in Organocatalytic Michael Additions of β-Ketoamides to α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls: A Combined Experimental, Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study

The organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of secondary β-ketoamides to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is reported. Use of bifunctional Takemotos thiourea catalyst allows enantiocontrol of the reaction leading either to simple Michael adducts or spirocyclic aminals in up to 99 % ee. The origin of the enantioselectivity has been rationalised based on combined DFT calculations and kinetic analysis. This study provides a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism, which involves a predominant role of the secondary amide proton, and clarifies the complex interactions occurring between substrates and the catalyst.

Synthesis of the landomycinone skeleton.

The synthesis of the highly functionalized tetracyclic skeleton of landomycinone (2), the aglycon of landomycins, was performed using two pivotal steps relying on metal-catalyzed reactions. They are (1) a [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes promoted by Wilkinsons catalyst to build rings B and C concomitantly and (2) a ring-closing metathesis followed by aromatization to build ring D.

Organocatalytic Enantio- and Diastereoselective Conjugate Addition to Nitroolefins: When β-Ketoamides Surpass β-Ketoesters

Our findings on the bifunctional squaramide-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of β-ketoamides to nitroolefins are disclosed. It appears that simple acyclic methylene β-ketoamides, unlike the extensively studied β-ketoesters, afford the products in excellent diastereoselectivities, and maintain high yields and enantioselectivities. Moreover, competition and kinetic studies were conducted to rationalize the observed reactivity and selectivity. The high level of diastereocontrol, along with the amenability of the amide group to postfunctionalization, dramatically increase the synthetic usefulness of the transformation.