Chemodivergent Reaction Research Articles

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective and Chemodivergent Addition of Cyclopropanols to Oxabicyclic Alkenes

We report herein cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective and chemodivergent reactions between a cyclopropanol and an oxabicyclic alkene via a cobalt homoenolate, which afford either an alkylative ring-op...

Metal-Dependent Umpolung Reactivity of Carbenes Derived from Cyclopropenes

SummaryMetal carbenes, divalent carbon species, are versatile intermediates that enable novel synthetic pathways. These species exhibit either electrophilic or nucleophilic character, depending on the carbene and metal fragments. Although the metal carbene reactivity is regulated by the metal, the umpolung of carbene reactivity by changing metal remains challenging. Here, we report a unique metal-induced de novo umpolung of carbene reactivity, wherein a carbene precursor can be transformed into either an electrophilic carbene or a nucleophilic carbenoid, depending on the metal promoters. Thus, a chemodivergent reaction of isatins and cyclopropenes is developed. Under the promotion of Zn2+ halides, a nucleophilic zinc carbenoid is formed and trapped by isatins to produce oxindole derivatives containing an alkenyl halide moiety. Using Rh2(esp)2 as a catalyst, the reaction delivers oxindoles carrying a dihydrofuran unit. This work provides a facile approach to harness the metal carbene reactivity and is critical for the development of diversity-oriented synthesis.

Chemodivergent reaction of azomethine imines and 2H-azirines for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing scaffolds

The metal-free reactions of 2H-azirines with C,N-cyclic azomethine imines were investigated. N-Bridged strained ring-fused triazole derivatives or 1,2,4-triazine derivatives are obtained, and the chemoselectivity is dependent on the protecting group on the azomethine dipole. Although benzoyl-protected starting materials give access to strained polycyclic compounds, a ring-opening occurs in the case of a tosyl protecting group that is cleaved during the process with elimination of sulfinic acid. 1,2,4-Triazine can be prepared on a mmol-scale and concomitantly oxidized with air as an oxidant to form the corresponding ketone, which is an interesting structural motif that can be found in bioactive scaffolds.

Base-Mediated Cascade Aldol Addition and Fragmentation Reactions of Dihydroxyfumaric Acid and Aromatic Aldehydes: Controlling Chemodivergence via Choice of Base, Solvent, and Substituents.

The diester derivative of dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) has been used exclusively as an electrophile in organic synthesis. However, the synthetic utility of DHF's nucleophilic reactivity, contained in the ene-diol moiety, has been underexplored. Inspired by recently observed pH-dependent chemodivergent nucleophilic aldol reactions of dihydroxyfumarate (DHF2-) with glyoxylate and formaldehyde, we report herein the control and synthetic application of base-controlled chemodivergent reactions between dihydroxyfumarate and aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes. With hydroxide as the base in a predominantly aqueous medium, aldol addition followed by deoxalation occurs to provide various 3-aryl-2,3-dihydroxypropanoic acids. With triethylamine as the base in THF, 1-aryl-2,3-dihydroxypropanones are the products of the reaction. In order to understand the difference in reactivity between DHF, its dicarboxylate, and its dimethyl ester, we undertook computational and experimental studies that provide a rationale as to why the dihydroxyfumarate (DHF2-) is a nucleophile while the corresponding diester reacts as an electrophile.

Chemodivergent Tandem Cyclizations of 2-Indolylmethanols with Tryptophols: C-N versus C-C Bond Formation.

A chemodivergent reaction of 2-indolylmethanols with tryptophols has been established via an interrupted Nazarov-type cyclization in the presence of Brønsted acid, leading to the efficient synthesis of two series of cyclopenta[ b]indole derivatives in a broad substrate scope with high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities (42 examples, up to 99% yield, all >95:5 dr). It was found that the presence or absence of molecular sieves played an important role in controlling the chemoselectivity of the reaction. In the presence of 3 Å molecular sieves, tryptophol would utilize the nucleophilicity of its nitrogen atom to form a new C-N bond, while, in the absence of molecular sieves, tryptophol would utilize the nucleophilicity of its C2-position to generate a new C-C bond. Therefore, this reaction will provide a good example for additive-controlled chemoselectivity. In addition, this approach not only provides a useful strategy for the synthesis of structurally diversified cyclopenta[ b]indoles but also demonstrates the practicability of 2-indolylmethanols in organic synthesis.

Chemodivergent fungal oxidation of isochroman

This work extends the present knowledge about the ability of filamentous fungi and Baker’s Yeast to selectively transform oxygen-containing compounds. Previously, it has been demonstrated that several species of the Aspergillus genus are able to perform selective oxidation of benzopyrans. Isochroman or 3,4-dihydro-1H-benzopyran (1) was chosen as model substrate for the biotransformation since related motifs are often found in the structure of natural products with important biological and pharmacological activities. All the tested strains showed the ability to oxidize 1. Chemodivergent reaction pathways between the employed microorganisms were observed. The use of cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitors, and different oxygenation conditions allowed to inquire about the type of enzymes involved in the process. The results obtained were compared with chemical one-electron oxidation of compound 1 and thus, a metabolic pathway was proposed.

ChemInform Abstract: Cyclopropenation of Internal Alkynylsilanes and Diazoacetates Catalyzed by Copper(I) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes.

Copper(i) N-heterocyclic carbene (CuNHC) complexes are more catalytically active than traditional transition metal salts for the cyclopropenation of internal alkynylsilanes and diazoacetate compounds. A series of 1,2,3-trisubstituted and 1,2,3,3-tetrasubstituted cyclopropenylsilane compounds were isolated in good overall yields. An interesting regioselective and chemodivergent reaction pathway was also observed to furnish a tetra-substituted furan for an electron-rich donor/acceptor diazoacetate. Finally, a practical synthesis of a cyclopropenyl-containing starting material that is useful for bioorthogonal chemistry is also described.

New opportunities in the stereoselective dearomatization of indoles

Abstract The regio- and stereoselective dearomatization of indoles is realized for the first time by combining readily available indolyl precursors and electron-rich allenes, namely allenamides and aryloxyallenes. Inter- as well as intramolecular condensations were realized under gold and Brønsted acid catalysis providing a range of densely functionalized indoline and indolenine cores in high yields and excellent stereochemical outcome. Chemodivergent reaction profiles (Micheal-type addition vs. [2+2]-cycloaddition) were realized by a tailored design of both reaction conditions and functionalization of the reaction partners.

Brønsted acid-catalyzed chemodivergent reactions of ortho-mercaptobenzyl alcohols with 3-alkyl-2-vinylindoles and styrenes: [5+2] cyclization versus hydroxysulfenylation.

Chemodivergent [5+2] cyclization and hydroxysulfenylation reactions of ortho-mercaptobenzyl alcohols with 3-alkyl-2-vinylindoles and styrenes were established in the presence of Brønsted acid, which provide efficient methods for constructing benzoxathiepine scaffolds and synthesizing β-hydroxy sulfides in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities.