Organocatalytic mannich-type reactions of trifluoroethyl thioesters.

Direct organocatalytic Mannich-type reactions of thioesters provide for the expedient and diastereoselective synthesis of protected beta-amino acids. A variety of thioesters were found to be reactive with different imines under mild conditions to provide beta-amino acids in good yields. This chemistry was extended to a diastereo- and enantioselective variant.

Water-compatible organocatalysts for direct asymmetric syn-aldol reactions of dihydroxyacetone and aldehydes.

A novel organocatalyst was developed that effectively catalyzed the reactions of unprotected or protected dihydroxyacetone with a variety of aldehydes to provide syn-aldol products with good yields and ee values up to >99%. Significantly, this amide catalyst was effective with a variety of nonaromatic aldehyde acceptors that had proven difficult in the presence of other catalysts. Reactions of protected dihydroxyacetone proceeded in aqueous media without addition of organic solvents.

Catalysis of 3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid and related pyrrolidine derivatives in enantioselective anti-Mannich-type reactions: importance of the 3-acid group on pyrrolidine for stereocontrol.

The development of enantioselective anti-selective Mannich-type reactions of aldehydes and ketones with imines catalyzed by 3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid and related pyrrolidine derivatives is reported in detail. Both (3R,5R)-5-methyl-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid and (R)-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid efficiently catalyzed the reactions of aldehydes with alpha-imino esters under mild conditions and afforded anti-Mannich products with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (anti/syn up to 99:1, up to >99% ee). For the reactions of ketones with alpha-imino esters, (R)-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid was an efficient catalyst (anti/syn up to >99:1, up to 99% ee).

Mimicking aldolases through organocatalysis: syn-selective aldol reactions with protected dihydroxyacetone.

A practical organocatalytic strategy designed to mimic the l-rhamnulose 1-phosphate and D-fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolases has been developed and shown to be effective in the preparation of carbohydrates and polyol derivatives. Threonine-based catalysts facilitated the aldol reaction of protected dihydroxyacetone or protected hydroxacetone with a variety of aldehydes to provide syn-aldol products with good yields and ee's up to 98%.

m-Diethynylbenzene macrocycles: syntheses and self-association behavior in solution.

m-Diethynylbenzene macrocycles (DBMs), buta-1,3-diyne-bridged [4(n)]metacyclophanes, have been synthesized and their self-association behaviors in solution were investigated. Cyclic tetramers, hexamers, and octamers of DBMs having exo-annular octyl, hexadecyl, and 3,6,9-trioxadecyl ester groups were prepared by intermolecular oxidative coupling of dimer units or intramolecular cyclization of the corresponding open-chain oligomers. The aggregation properties were investigated by two methods, the (1)H NMR spectra and the vapor pressure osmometry (VPO).

Synthesis and Association Behavior of [4.4.4.4.4.4]Metacyclophanedodecayne Derivatives with Interior Binding Groups.

Intriguing association behavior in solution is exhibited by the rigid macrocycle 1. For instance, it reacts with organic cations to give ternary complexes of the composition (1⋅cation)⋅1, and with analogous macrocycles without cyano groups it forms heteroaggregates. R=CO C H .