Organocatalytic asymmetric robinson annulation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes: applications to the total synthesis of (+)-palitantin.

The highly enantioselective organocatalytic Robinson annulation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was achieved, catalyzed by l-proline and trialkylamines and providing the formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition adducts. Additionally, in some examples in the catalysis with diarylpyrrolinol silyl ethers, the reactions afforded the [4 + 2] adducts with high enantioselectivity (>99.5% ee).

Enantioselective organocatalytic formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate and (-)-cubebaol.

[reaction: see text] The first highly enantioselective organocatalyzed carbo [3 + 3] cascade cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Using this methodology, crotonaldehyde is converted to 6-hydroxy-4-methylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde, which is used in the synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate, (-)-cubebaol, and p-tolualdehyde as well as (-)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol acetate, an intermediate in the total synthesis of lycopodium alkaloid magellanine. Other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes give rise to chiral cyclohexadienes via formal [4 + 2] reactions.

Hetero [6+3] cycloaddition of fulvenes with N-alkylidene glycine esters: a facile synthesis of the delavayine and incarvillateine framework.

[reaction: see text] In contrast to the [3+2] or [4+3] cycloaddition of N-metalated azomethine ylides and various alkenes, N-benzylidene glycine ethyl ester reacts with fulvenes to give the hetero [6+3] cycloaddition adducts with high stereoselectivity, constituting an efficient and novel route to [2]pyrindines.