Catalytic Atroposelective Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Substituted Indoles

Advances in asymmetric catalysis have led to enormous progress in the atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls. Because of the biological importance of indoles, stereogenic axes in aryl-substituted indoles have attracted considerable research attention in recent years. Here we present a summary of recent advances in the atroposelective synthesis of aryl-substituted indoles by dynamic kinetic resolution. While several researchers have developed enantioselective syntheses of 3-arylindoles, N-arylindoles have been much less studied. Accordingly, we have reported a Pictet–Spengler reaction with catalytic and enantioselective control of the axial chirality around the C−N bond of the product. A chiral phosphoric acid induces the cyclization smoothly and with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. To achieve this high selectivity, an NH group at the ortho position of the N-substituted aromatic ring that interacts favorably with the catalyst is required. Furthermore, when substituted aldehydes are used instead of paraformaldehyde, both the point and axial chiralities can be controlled during the cyclization.

Enantioselective Syntheses of Yohimbine Alkaloids: Proving Grounds for New Catalytic Transformations

The total synthesis of bioactive alkaloids is an enduring challenge and an indication of the state of the art of chemical synthesis. With the explosion of catalytic asymmetric methods over the past three decades, these compelling targets have been fertile proving grounds for enantioselective bond forming transformations. We summarize these activities herein both to highlight the power and versatility of these methods and to instill future inspiration for new syntheses of these privileged natural products.

A Call for a Change in Policy Regarding the Necessity for SDE Tests to Validate the Veracity of the Outcome of Enantioselective Syntheses, the Inherent Chiral State of Natural Products, and Other Cases Involving Enantioenriched Samples

We wish to draw attention to an important issue concerning scientific practice with regard to enhancing the quality of publications in Molecules (as well as for other journals) [...]

N-tert-Butanesulfinyl imines in the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles

The synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, including natural alkaloids and other compounds presenting different types of biological activities have proved to be successful employing chiral sulfinyl imines derived from tert-butanesulfinamide. These imines are versatile chiral auxiliaries and have been extensively used as eletrophiles in a wide range of reactions. The electron-withdrawing sulfinyl group facilitates the nucleophilic addition of organometallic compounds to the iminic carbon with high diastereoisomeric excess and the free amines obtained after an easy removal of the tert-butanesulfinyl group can be transformed into enantioenriched nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The goal of this review is to the highlight enantioselective syntheses of heterocycles involving the use of chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines as reaction intermediates, including the synthesis of several natural products. The synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles in which the nitrogen atom is not provided by the chiral imine will not be considered in this review. The sections are organized according to the size of the heterocycles. The present work will comprehensively cover the most pertinent contributions to this research area from 2012 to 2020. We regret in advance that some contributions are excluded in order to maintain a concise format.

Role of Additives to Overcome Limitations of Intermolecular Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclopropanation

This study describes general methods for the enantioselective syntheses of disubstituted cyclopropane carboxylates including substitution patterns or heterocycle functionality previously observed as significant limitations. The key step is the dirhodium tetracarboxylate-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinyl arenes with aryl- or heteroaryldiazoacetates. The reactions are highly diastereoselective and high asymmetric induction could be achieved using either (<i>R</i>)-pantolactone as a chiral auxiliary or chiral dirhodium tetracarboxylate catalysts.

Role of Additives to Overcome Limitations of Intermolecular Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclopropanation

This study describes general methods for the enantioselective syntheses of disubstituted cyclopropane carboxylates including substitution patterns or heterocycle functionality previously observed as significant limitations. The key step is the dirhodium tetracarboxylate-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinyl arenes with aryl- or heteroaryldiazoacetates. The reactions are highly diastereoselective and high asymmetric induction could be achieved using either (<i>R</i>)-pantolactone as a chiral auxiliary or chiral dirhodium tetracarboxylate catalysts.