A novel and practical method for the synthesis of dinotefuran through Michael addition of nitromethane to diethyl maleate

A novel and practical synthesis of dinotefuran 1, featuring a new access to it from known key intermediate (tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-methanamine 5, has been achieved through Michael addition reaction of nitromethane to diethyl maleate in 6 steps with 45.5% total yield. This synthesis is scalable and hence has high potential for application to further synthetic elaboration on such new neonicotinoid insecticide dinotefuran 1.     

Catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of deconjugated butyrolactams to maleimides

The first catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of deconjugated butyrolactams to N-arylmaleimides is developed with the help of a bifunctional tertiary aminosquaramide catalyst. Unlike the widely explored and structurally related vinylogous nucleophile – deconjugated butenolides, deconjugated butyrolactams are found to be exclusively α-selective. The resulting highly substituted and densely functionalized products, bearing contiguous all-carbon quaternary and tertiary stereocenters, are formed in good yields with moderate diastereoselectivity and good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99:1 er).     

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic ketones to chalcones catalyzed by pyrrolidine-based imides

An efficient procedure for asymmetric Michael addition reaction of cyclic ketones with low activated chalcones catalyzed by pyrrolidine-based phthalimide and 1,8-Naphthalimide catalysts was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in high yields with high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) and high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) under mild conditions.     

A new type of organocatalyst for highly stereoselective Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins on water

(S)-2-((Naphthalen-2-ylsulfonyl)methyl)pyrrolidine, prepared in three steps from (S)-N-Boc-2-[((4-toluenesulfonyl)oxy)methyl]pyrrolidine in 62% overall yield, was used as a new type of organocatalyst bearing a pyrrolidine and a sulfone moiety. It shows very high catalytic activity toward the direct asymmetric Michael reaction of cyclohexanone and nitroolefins. All the corresponding adducts can be furnished in 90-99% yields and with up to 98% ee and over 99:1 dr on water in the presence of this catalyst (15 mol %) without any additive.     

A facile synthesis of 1,7-dicarbonyl compounds via three-component Michael addition reactions

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 1,7-dicarbonyl compounds has been accomplished by a three-component Michael addition reaction of nitromethane with two unsymmetric α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of a base.     

Ferrocenophane-based bifunctional organocatalyst for highly enantioselective Michael reactions

Highly enantioselective Michael reactions between acetylacetone and trans-β-nitroolefins are achieved by a novel ferrocenophane-based tertiary amine-thiourea organocatalyst to provide the corresponding products in good to excellent yields (up to 95%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Double Michael addition of azoles to methyl propiolate: a straightforward entry to ligands with two heterocyclic rings

The synthesis of methyl bis(azol-1-yl)propionates is reported for the first time. These bridge-functionalized bis(azol-1-yl)methanes are prepared by a double Michael addition of azoles to methyl propiolate, representing a new methodology for the synthesis of polydentate ligands.     

Highly enantioselective organocatalysis of the Michael addition of benzyloxyacetaldehyde to nitroolefins

A novel category of di(N,N-dimethylbenzylamine)prolinol silyl ether catalyst, which when used in conjunction with an acidic co-catalyst, generates an ammonium salt supported organocatalyst. This catalytic system is shown to be very effective for the Michael reaction of benzyloxyacetaldehyde and various nitroolefins in isopropanol. Excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivities (syn/anti of 75:25) and short reaction times were obtained. The presence of the bulky OTMS group combined with the presence of two large N,N-dimethylbenzyl ammonium ion groups accounts for the effectiveness of this catalytic system.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of alpha-substituted cyanoacetates to vinyl ketones catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of alpha-substituted cyanoacetates to vinyl ketones was accomplished in the presence of simple bifunctional thiourea/tertiary amine organocatalysts. A number of alpha-aryl or alkyl cyanoacetates have been successfully applied to give multifunctional compounds with an all-carbon-substituted quaternary stereocenter in excellent enantioselectivities (82-97 % ee) and yields (61-99 %). The optical pure adducts could be smoothly converted to variously structured beta(2,2)-amino acid esters. Moreover, an interesting reaction model involving multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions amongst the thiourea/tertiary amine catalyst and the reactants has been proposed based on the absolute configuration of the adduct and computational studies.     

Highly efficient bifunctional organocatalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins

A type of secondary-secondary-tertiary triamine bifunctional organocatalysts have been properly designed and synthesized. In our study, the designed catalyst (S)-N-(pyrrolidin-2-ylmethyl)pyridin-2-amine 5 has been shown to be highly efficient to promote the asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins at room temperature, which afforded the corresponding adducts in excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).     

Pyrrolidine-carbamate based new and efficient chiral organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins

The novel ((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl phenylcarbamate was synthesized and used as an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of cyclic/acyclic ketones to nitroolefins. Interestingly, the resulting Michael adducts were obtained in good to high yields (up to 96%) with excellent stereoselectivity (ee up to >99%, dr up to >99:1) without using any additive.     

Access to the nicotine system by application of a guanidine-catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of diphenyliminoacetate with 3-pyridyl vinyl ketone

A guanidine-based chiral organocatalyst was successfully applied to the Michael addition of diphenyliminoacetate to pyridyl vinyl ketone as a key reaction for the construction of the nicotine system.     

Iodine-catalyzed Michael addition of mercaptans to α,β-unsaturated ketones under solvent-free conditions

A simple and efficient method for the Michael reaction between various mercaptans and α,β-unsaturated ketones using a catalytic amount of iodine (5 mol %) to generate the 1,4-adduct has been reported. The significant features of the iodine catalyzed Michael addition are (a) operational simplicity, (b) inexpensive reagents, (c) high yields of products, (d) the use of relatively low or nontoxic reagents and (e) solvent-free conditions.     

Michael addition of Grignard reagents to tetraethyl ethenylidenebisphosphonate

Tetraethyl ethenylidenebisphosphonate can undergo facile Michael type addition reaction with simple Grignard reagents to give alkyl, arylalkyl, aryl C-substituted methylene bisphosphonates. This addition easily occurs even if funtionalised Grignard reagents are used.     

Pyrrolidine-ureas as bifunctional organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of ketone to nitroalkenes: unexpected hydrogen bonding effect

A series of pyrrolidine-urea bifunctional organocatalysts was efficiently synthesized and applied to the asymmetric Michael addition of ketone to nitroolefin. Theoretical study was performed to shed light on the origin of their different activities and revealed that the rigid structure formed between catalyst 1b with nitroolefin via double hydrogen bonding retarded the approach of nucleophilic enamine intermediate.     

Catalyzed double Michael addition of anilines to vinyl sulfone

Substituted anilines and vinyl sulfone undergo a facile double Michael addition to form substituted phenylthiomorpholine dioxide, catalyzed with AlCl₃ or H₃PO₄. Scope and conditions were explored.     

A highly efficient asymmetric Michael addition of anthrone to nitroalkenes with cinchona organocatalysts

A highly efficient asymmetric Michael addition of anthrone to nitroalkenes catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids was described. Up to 99% ee of the corresponding adduct was obtained.     

Highly syn-diastereoselective Michael addition of enolizable ketones to 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)coumarin

A new approach to 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-4-(2-oxoalkyl)-3,4-dihydrocoumarins by base promoted conjugate addition of enolizable ketones to 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)coumarin is described. The resulting products were transformed into the corresponding α-methylene-δ-lactones. A transition state model rationalizing stereochemical outcome of the reaction is proposed.