Organophotoredox/Ni-Cocatalyzed Allylation of Allenes: Regio-, and Diastereoselective Access to Homoallylic Alcohols

A dual organophotoredox/nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of allenes with aldehydes has been developed for the rapid assembly of anti-homoallylic alcohols with high levels of regioselectivities (>20:1), and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1) and yields (up to 91%). The allylation was realized through a crucial π-allylnickel intermediate which was obtained via insertion of allenes with a Ni−H intermediate. Moreover, γ,γ-disubstituted homoallylic alcohols with a quaternary stereocenter can also be prepared by this protocol.

Ring-Opening of Epoxides by Pendant Silanols

We present a new ring-opening reaction of epoxides by pendant silanols, catalyzed by either Ph3C+BF4– or BINOL-phosphoric acid. In all cases examined, the reaction is perfectly regioselective and diastereoselective. Silanol epoxides derived from trans-allylic alcohols, cis-allylic alcohols, trans-homoallylic alcohols, and cis-homoallylic alcohols were all compatible and gave products from either endo- or exo-ring opening. With silanol epoxides derived from 4-alkenyl silanols, an unusual rearrangement to tetrahydrofuran products was observed, which is likely the result of tandem nucleophilic attacks. The utility of this methodology was demonstrated in a short preparation of protected D-arabitol.

Steps toward Rationalization of the Enantiomeric Excess of the Sakurai–Hosomi–Denmark Allylation Catalyzed by Biisoquinoline N,N’-Dioxides Using Computations

Allylation reactions of aldehydes are chemical transformations of fundamental interest, as they give direct access to chiral homoallylic alcohols. In this work, we focus on the full computational characterization of the catalytic activity of substituted biisoquinoline-N,N’-dioxides for the allylation of 2-naphthaldehyde. We characterized the structure of all transition states as well as identified the π stacking interactions that are responsible for their relative energies. Motivated by disagreement with the experimental results, we also performed an assessment of 34 different density functional methods, with the goal of assessing DFT as a general tool for understanding this chemistry. We found that the DFT results are generally consistent as long as functionals that correctly account for dispersion interactions are used. However, agreement with the experimental results is not always guaranteed. We suggest the need for a careful synergy between computations and experiments to correctly interpret the data and use them as a design tool for new and improved asymmetric catalysts.

Asymmetric Addition of Allylsilanes to Aldehydes – A Cr/Photoredox Dual Catalytic Approach Complementing the Hosomi–Sakurai Reaction

The allylation of aldehydes is a fundamental transformation in synthetic organic chemistry. Among the multitude of available reagents, especially allylsilanes have been established as preferred allyl source. As initially reported by Hosomi & Sakurai, these non-toxic and highly stable reagents add to carbonyls via an open transition state upon Lewis acid activation. Herein, we report a general strategy to access a variety of valuable homoallylic alcohols in opposite chemo- and diastereoselectivity to the established Hosomi–Sakurai conditions by switching to photocatalytic activation in combination with a closed transition state (Chromium catalysis). Moreover, this dual catalytic approach displays a straightforward way to introduce excellent levels of enantioselectivity and its mild conditions allow for a broad substrate scope including chiral boron-substituted products as a highlight. To emphasize the synthetic utility, our method was applied as the key step in the synthesis of a bioactive compound and in the late-stage functionalization of steroid derivatives. Detailed mechanistic studies and DFT calculations hint towards an unprecedented photo-initiated chain being operative.

NbCl5-Mg Reagent System in Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of (2Z)-Alkenylamines and (3Z)-Alkenylols from Substituted 2-Alkynylamines and 3-Alkynylols

The reduction of N,N-disubstituted 2-alkynylamines and substituted 3-alkynylols using the NbCl5–Mg reagent system affords the corresponding dideuterated (2Z)-alkenylamine and (3Z)-alkenylol derivatives in high yields in a regio- and stereoselective manner through the deuterolysis (or hydrolysis). The reaction of substituted propargylamines and homopropargylic alcohols with the in situ generated low-valent niobium complex (based on the reaction of NbCl5 with magnesium metal) is an efficient tool for the synthesis of allylamines and homoallylic alcohols bearing a 1,2-disubstituted double bond. It was found that the well-known approach for the reduction of alkynes based on the use of the TaCl5-Mg reagent system does not work for 2-alkynylamines and 3-alkynylols. Thus, this article reveals a difference in the behavior of two reagent systems—NbCl5-Mg and TaCl5-Mg, in relation to oxygen- and nitrogen-containing alkynes. A regio- and stereoselective method was developed for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing E-β-chlorovinyl sulfides based on the reaction of 2-alkynylamines with three equivalents of methanesulfonyl chloride in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of niobium(V) chloride and magnesium metal in toluene.