Diastereodivergent synthesis of bispirooxindoles via asymmetric Friedel-Crafts/aldol cascade reaction: co-catalyst effects on diastereoselective outcomes.

A combination of metal- and organo-catalysts sequentially catalyzing the Friedel-Crafts/aldol tandem reaction between 3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles and isatin-derived β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters has been reported, which leads to two types of diastereomeric enantio-enriched bispirooxindoles with three quaternary stereocentres and synthetically valuable functional groups in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity.

Organo-Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael-Hemiketalization-Oxa-Pictet-Spengler Cyclization for Bridged and Spiro Heterocyclic Skeletons: Oxocarbenium Ion as a Key Intermediate.

A Michael-hemiketalization-oxa-Pictet-Spengler cyclization has been developed for the construction of chiral bridged and spiro heterocyclic skeletons with one spiro stereogenic carbon center and two bridgehead carbon centers, utilizing cooperative catalysts of a Takemoto thiourea catalyst and a triflimide. In particular, an oxocarbenium ion acts as a key intermediate for this cyclization reaction. Additionally, biological evaluation of this type of novel structure has revealed obvious antiproliferative activity against some cancer cell lines.

Chiral Diphosphine-Palladium-Catalyzed Sequential Asymmetric Double-Friedel-Crafts Alkylation and N-Hemiketalization for Spiro-polycyclic Indole Derivatives.

An efficient cascade asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation/N-hemiketalization/Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of 3-alkylindoles with oxindolyl β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters has been developed in the presence of a chiral diphosphine-palladium(II) catalyst. A series of enantiomerically enriched spiro-polycyclic indole derivatives have been constructed in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities.

Organocatalytic regioselective asymmetric Michael addition of azlactones to o-hydroxy chalcone derivatives.

The regioselective and enantioselective Michael addition between azlactones and o-hydroxy chalcone derivatives is reported. Enantiomerically enriched N,O-aminals with two continuous stereogenic centers are exclusively obtained in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and good to excellent enantioselectivities. The experimental results show that an o-hydroxy group on the cinnamenyl motif of chalcone derivatives plays a crucial role at the reaction sites for the regioselective Michael addition.

Organocatalytic diversity-oriented asymmetric synthesis of tricyclic chroman derivatives.

The tandem oxo-Michael-IED/HDA and oxo-Michael-IED/HDA-Michael-Aldol condensation transformations between (E)-2-hydroxyaryl-2-oxobut-3-enoate derivatives with enals have been developed in the presence of (S)-diphenylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether as an organocatalyst. Two types of tricyclic chroman derivatives were, respectively, obtained, by adjusting the reactant ratio and reaction temperature, in good yields (up to 96%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99%) and good diastereoselectivities (up to >30/1). It should be noted that the divergent chiral chroman derivatives were obtained by successive reaction of (E)-2-hydroxyaryl-2-oxobut-3-enoate derivatives with two different enal substrates in highly catalytic results.

Highly enantioselective phosphination and hydrophosphonylation of azomethine imines: using chiral squaramide as a hydrogen bonding organocatalyst.

Enantioselective phosphination and hydrophosphonylation reactions between azomethine imines and diarylphosphine oxides or dialkyl phosphites were respectively developed by the use of a chiral squaramide as the hydrogen bonding organocatalyst, which afforded two types of phosphorus containing product in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Organocatalytic enantioselective construction of multi-functionalized spiro oxindole dienes.

A diastereo- and enantio-selective domino Michael-cyclization-tautomerization reaction of isatylidene malononitriles with α,α-dicyanoalkenes catalyzed by a cinchona alkaloid-derived bifunctional thiourea catalyst has been developed. A series of multi-functionalized spiro oxindole diene derivatives have been obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 97%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96%) as well as good diastereoselectivities (up to 7.9 : 1).

Dinuclear zinc catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts amidoalkylation of indoles with aryl aldimines.

The asymmetric Friedel-Crafts amidoalkylation of indoles with aryl aldimines could be efficiently catalyzed by Trost's bis-ProPhenol dinuclear zinc complexes to attain 3-indolyl methanamine derivatives in good to excellent yields (85-98%) with moderate to high enantiomeric ratios (from 70 : 30 up to 95 : 5 er). Remarkably, this approach provides efficient access to enantiomerically enriched 3-indolyl methanamines, which avoids the formation of the undesirable bis- and tris(indolyl)methanes (BIMs and TIMs) byproduct.