Dearomative Dienolate-Mediated Catalysis: A Remote Activation Strategy for Asymmetric Functionalization of Benzylic C-H Bonds of Heteroaryl Aldehydes.

A dearomative remote activation strategy for the asymmetric functionalization of benzylic C-H bonds of heteroaryl aldehydes under bifunctional Brønsted base catalysis has been developed. The in situ generated o-QDMs-type dienolate intermediates were efficiently and stereoselectively trapped by nitroolefins through an asymmetric Michael/nitro-aldol cascade reaction. Using this strategy, a wide variety of synthetically significant tetrahydrodibenzothiophene and tetrahydrodibenzofuran derivatives were synthesized in good yields with high enantioselectivities.

Direct Noncovalent Activation of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Stereodivergent Synthesis of Substituted Cyclohexenes.

HOMO-raising noncovalent activation of α-aryl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes using a bifunctional Brønsted base catalyst is achieved. The catalytically generated dienolate intermediate undergoes all-carbon [4+2] cyclizations with nitroolefins, leading to chiral cyclohexenes with four contiguous stereocenters in high yields and with excellent enantioseletivity. Furthermore, the diastereodivergent synthesis of the products is realized by introducing a second steric control to the bifunctional catalyst; 4 isomers out of 16 possible stereoisomers of the products were selectively produced by simple use of two catalysts and their (pseudo)enantiomers.

Synthesis of Spirocyclic Oxindole Dihydrothiophenes by DBU-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with Isothiocyanates.

A highly regioselective DBU-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with isothiocyanates was developed. This method allows rapid and efficient synthesis of spirocyclic oxindole dihydrothiophene products in moderate to high yields with excellent regioselectivities under simple conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed.

An organocatalytic Michael-cyclization cascade of 4-oxa-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with aldehydes: facile synthesis of chiral γ-lactols and trisubstituted γ-lactones.

An organocatalytic Michael-cyclization cascade of aldehydes with 4-oxa-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed, giving functionalized γ-lactols with high yields and enantioselectivities. The products could be easily transformed into complex trisubstituted γ-lactones and γ-lactams.