Yiying Zheng

Confined Acid-Catalyzed Asymmetric Carbonyl–Ene Cyclization

A highly enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular carbonyl-ene reaction of olefinic aldehydes has been developed. Using a confined imidodiphosphate catalyst, the reaction delivers diverse trans-3,4-disubstituted carbo- and heterocyclic five-membered rings in high yields and with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. ESI-MS, NMR, and DFT mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds via a stepwise pathway involving a novel covalent intermediate.

Nitrated Confined Imidodiphosphates Enable a Catalytic Asymmetric Oxa-Pictet–Spengler Reaction

The development of a highly enantioselective catalytic oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction has proven a great challenge for chemical synthesis. We now report the first example of such a process, which was realized by utilizing a nitrated confined imidodiphosphoric acid catalyst. Our approach provides substituted isochroman derivatives from both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. DFT calculations provide insight into the reaction mechanism.

α-Cationic Arsines: Synthesis, Structure, Reactivity, and Applications

A series of structurally differentiated cationic arsines containing imidazolium, cyclopropenium, formamidinium, and pyridinium substituents have been synthesized through short and scalable routes. Evaluation of the donor properties of these compounds by IR spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveals similar σ-electron-releasing abilities for all of them; however, their π-acceptor properties are strongly influenced by the nature of the positively charged group. We describe the coordination chemistry of the newly prepared α-cationic arsines toward different metal centers and their reactivity in the presence of strong oxidants to afford cationic As(V) species. Their unique electronic properties have been exploited in Pt(II) catalysis to develop a new catalyst with remarkable activity in the cycloisomerization of enynes to trisubstituted cyclopropanes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of α-cationic arsine ligands in catalysis.

The Organocatalytic Approach to Enantiopure 2H- and 3H-Pyrroles: Inhibitors of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway.

A divergent approach to enantioenriched 2H- and 3H-pyrroles catalyzed by a spirocyclic phosphoric acid is reported that makes use of a Fischer-type indolization and a [1,5]-alkyl shift. Catalyzed by the chiral phosphoric acid STRIP, good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities could be obtained. Remarkably, biological evaluation reveals one of these novel 2H-pyrroles to be a potent but nontoxic inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway by binding to the Smoothened protein.

α-Radical Phosphines: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

A series of phosphines featuring a persistent radical were synthesized in two steps by condensation of dialkyl-/diarylchlorophosphines with stable cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (cAACs) followed by one-electron reduction of the corresponding cationic intermediates. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational data indicate that the spin density in these phosphines is mainly localized on the original carbene carbon from the cAAC fragment; thus, it remains in the α-position with respect to the central phosphorus atom. The potential of these α-radical phosphines to serve as spin-labeled ligands is demonstrated through the preparation of several AuI derivatives, which were also structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Computational Insights into an Enzyme-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition

The enzyme SpnF, involved in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A, catalyzes a formal [4+2] cycloaddition of a 22-membered macrolactone, which may proceed as a concerted [4+2] Diels–Alder reaction or a stepwise [6+4] cycloaddition followed by a Cope rearrangement. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations combined with free energy simulations show that the Diels–Alder pathway is favored in the enzyme environment. OM2/CHARMM free energy simulations for the SpnF-catalyzed reaction predict a free energy barrier of 22 kcal/mol for the concerted Diels–Alder process and provide no evidence of a competitive stepwise pathway. Compared with the gas phase, the enzyme lowers the Diels–Alder barrier significantly, consistent with experimental observations. Inspection of the optimized geometries indicates that the enzyme may prearrange the substrate within the active site to accelerate the [4+2] cycloaddition and impede the [6+4] cycloaddition through interactions with active-site residues. Judging from partial charge analysis, we find that the hydrogen bond between the Thr196 residue of SpnF and the substrate C15 carbonyl group contributes to the enhancement of the rate of the Diels–Alder reaction. QM/MM simulations show that the substrate can easily adopt a reactive conformation in the active site of SpnF because interconversion between the C5–C6 s-trans and s-cis conformers is facile. Our QM/MM study suggests that the enzyme SpnF does behave as a Diels-Alderase.

CCDC 1543817: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Lianghu Gu, Yiying Zheng, Estela Haldon, Richard Goddard, Eckhard Bill, Walter Thiel, Manuel Alcarazo|2017|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|56|8790|doi:10.1002/anie.201704185

CCDC 1543816: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Lianghu Gu, Yiying Zheng, Estela Haldon, Richard Goddard, Eckhard Bill, Walter Thiel, Manuel Alcarazo|2017|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|56|8790|doi:10.1002/anie.201704185

CCDC 1543810: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Lianghu Gu, Yiying Zheng, Estela Haldon, Richard Goddard, Eckhard Bill, Walter Thiel, Manuel Alcarazo|2017|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|56|8790|doi:10.1002/anie.201704185