Asymmetric organocatalytic Strecker-type reactions of aliphatic N,N-dialkylhydrazones.

The enantioselective organocatalytic Strecker-type reaction of aliphatic N,N-dialkylhydrazones is presented. Using trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) as the cyanide source, the reaction can be efficiently catalyzed by a tert-leucine-derived bifunctional thiourea to afford the corresponding hydrazino nitriles in good to excellent yields (50-96%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities, up to 86% ee. Further transformations of the nitrile functionality allow access to useful protected hydrazino acids and imidazolidinones.

Dual organocatalytic activation of isatins and formaldehyde tert-butyl hydrazone: asymmetric synthesis of functionalized 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles.

Two is better than one! Dual activation of isatins and formaldehyde tert-butyl hydrazone by 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthalene (BINAM)-derived bis(ureas) is the key to achieve high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivities in the synthesis of azo- and azoxy-functionalized 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles (see scheme).

Asymmetric formal carbonyl-ene reactions of formaldehyde tert-butyl hydrazone with α-keto esters: dual activation by bis-urea catalysts.

The dual activation of α-keto esters and formaldehyde tert-butyl hydrazone by BINAM-derived bis-ureas is the key to achieve high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivities in nucleophilic addition (formal carbonyl-ene reaction) to functionalized tertiary carbinols. Ensuing high-yielding diazene-to-aldehyde tranformations and subsequent derivatizations provides a direct entry to a variety of densely functionalized products.

Axial structure of the Pd(II) aqua ion in solution.

Solution chemistry of Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes is relevant to many fields of chemistry given the widespread applications of their compounds in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, intermediate reaction synthesis, and antitumoral drugs. The well-defined square-planar arrangement of their complexes contrasts with the rather diffuse axial environment in solution. A theoretical proposal for a characteristic hydration shell in this axial region, called the meso-shell, stimulated further experimental and theoretical studies which have led to different pictures.

Organocatalytic conjugate addition of formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones to beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-keto esters.

(1S,2R)-1-Aminoindan-2-ol-derived thioureas behave as efficient H-bonding organocatalysts for the nucleophilic conjugate addition of formaldehyde hydrazones to beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-keto esters as enoate surrogates, affording the corresponding adducts in good yields and enantioselectivities.

Enantioselective conjugate addition of N,N-dialkylhydrazones to alpha-hydroxy enones.

The activation of alpha-hydroxy enones by the Zn(OTf)2/tBuBOX catalyst enables the enantioselective conjugate addition of 1-methyleneaminopyrrolidine as a neutral d1 synthon. Experimental evidence supports a stereochemical model where a triflate ligand controls the geometry of the catalyst-substrate complex by means of a OH-OTf hydrogen bond. The synthesis of beta-cyano acids illustrates the potential of the methodology.

Studies on stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions between N,N-dialkylhydrazones and ketenes.

Staudinger-like cycloadditions between chiral, non-racemic N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 and functionalized ketenes constitute an efficient methodology for the stereoselective construction of the beta-lactam ring. The potential for fine tuning of the dialkylamino auxiliary structure, the availability of a high-yielding deprotection method for the release of the free azetidinones, and the high thermal and chemical stability of hydrazones as N-dialkylamino imines are highlighted as the key elements for the success of the strategy. This last aspect is of particular importance concerning generality: even hydrazones from easily enolizable aldehydes or from formaldehyde reacted to afford the corresponding cycloadducts with high chemical and stereochemical yields.

Asymmetric synthesis of trans-3-amino-4-alkylazetidin-2-ones from chiral N,N-dialkylhydrazones.

Enantiopure N,N-dialkylhydrazones 3 smoothly react with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-N-benzyl glycine as an aminoketene precursor to afford trans-3-amino-4-alkylazetidin-2-ones 4 as single diasteromers. As an exception, hydrazone 3f (R = OBn) affords cis-(3R,4R)-4f under modified conditions. N-N Bond cleavage of cycloadducts 4 afforded free azetidinones 5 in high yields.

A practical oxidative method for the cleavage of hydrazide N[bond]N bonds.

The selective N-oxidation of the most nucleophilic amino nitrogen atom in hydrazides is central to the development of an unprecedented methodology for the cleavage of their N[bond]N bonds under oxidative conditions. Treatment of a series of hydrazides 1-9 with peracids such as magnesium monoperoxyphtalate hexahydrate (MMPP.6 H(2)O) or meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) afforded the corresponding amides 10-16 in good-to-excellent yields (80-92 %).

Stereoselective Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated Compounds: Nucleophilic Addition of Formaldehyde N,N-Dialkylhydrazones to Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

The nucleophilic 1,2-addition of formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1, 2, and 7-10 to trifluoromethyl ketones 3a-e takes place in the absence of any catalyst or promoter to afford a series of alpha-hydroxy-alpha-trifluoromethylhydrazones (4, 5, and 11-14) in good-to-excellent yields. From the several reagents studied, optimal results were achieved using 1-(methyleneamino)pyrrolidine (2) for the synthesis of racemic adducts and (S)-1-(methyleneamino)-2-[1-(methoxy)diphenyl-methyl]-pyrrolidine (10) for the asymmetric version of the reaction. The resolving properties of the chiral auxiliary carried by 10 allowed an easy chromatographic (flash) separation of any obtained diastereomeric mixture.

Synthesis of Enantiopure α-Alkoxy-α-Trifluoromethyl Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acids from Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

Formaldehyde dialkylhydrazones behave as neutral d synthons in their uncatalyzed reaction with trifluoromethyl ketones (see reaction). Both racemic and optically pure 1,2-adducts were obtained in good yields. Efficient deprotection of the hydrazone moiety afforded interesting fluorinated quaternary compounds such as 1 and 2.