Young Ku Kang

Enantioselective Organocatalytic C−H Bond Functionalization via Tandem 1,5-Hydride Transfer/Ring Closure: Asymmetric Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines

The first organocatalytic enantioselective intramolecular 1,5-hydride transfer/ring closure reaction is described. This redox neutral reaction cascade allows for the efficient formation of ring-fused tetrahydroquinolines in high enantioselectivities.

Organocatalytic Highly Enantio- and Diastereoselective Mannich Reaction of β-Ketoesters with N-Boc-aldimines

The catalytic enantioselective Mannich reaction promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. The treatment of beta-ketoesters with N-Boc-aldimines under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding beta-amino beta-ketoesters with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 100:0 dr) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

Organocatalytic enantioselective decarboxylative Michael addition of β-ketoacids to α,β-unsaturated ketones

Enantioselective decarboxylative Michael addition reactions promoted by chiral primary amine organocatalysts have been developed, allowing the facile synthesis of the corresponding chiral 1,5-diketones with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). The method reported represents a valuable approach of utilizing β-ketoacids as synthetic equivalents of aryl methyl ketones.