thiourea and dicyanmethane

Catalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation is a powerful protocol for constructing a chiral C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) bond. Most previous examples rely on LUMO activation of the electrophiles using chiral catalysts with subsequent attack by electron-rich arenes. Presented herein is an alternative strategy in which the HOMO of the aromatic π system of 2-furfuryl ketones is raised through the formation of a formal trienamine species using a chiral primary amine. Exclusive regioselective alkylation at the 5-position occurred with alkylidenemalononitriles, and high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee) was obtained by this remote activation.

Topics: Alkylation; Amines; Catalysis; Furans; Ketones; Nitriles; Quantum Theory; Stereoisomerism; Thiourea

Catalytic enantioselective direct vinylogous Michael addition of α,α-dicyanoalkenes to 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides with a bifunctional organocatalyst is described. The methodology offers an efficient way to install an asymmetric carbon-carbon bond at the γ-position of α,α-dicyanoalkenes in excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. Further, application in desymmetrization of achiral α,α-dicyanoalkene to access highly functionalized enantioenriched cyclohexylidenemalononitrile derivatives has been demonstrated.

Topics: Catalysis; Molecular Structure; Nitriles; Pyridines; Stereoisomerism; Thiourea

A three-component cascade reaction of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile/cyanoacetate and nitromethane catalysed by chiral tertiary amino-thioureas was developed, which leads to the production of highly functionalized 2-amino-4H-chromenes in good yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Topics: Aldehydes; Amines; Benzopyrans; Methane; Nitriles; Nitroparaffins; Stereoisomerism; Thiourea