Design of Copper-Catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions and Applications to Natural Product Synthesis

Abstract

Chapter 1. Ligand-Controlled Site-Selective NHC–Cu-Catalyzed Protoboration of Monosubstituted Allenes. Site-selective proto–boryl additions to monosubstituted allenes promoted by NHC–Cu complexes are disclosed. Synthetically useful 1,1-disubstituted and Z-trisubstituted alkenylboron compounds are afforded in high efficiency (71%–92% yield) and site selectivity (88% to >98%) through proper choice of NHC ligands. Mechanistic study with the assistance of DFT calculations indicates that protonation of 2-boron-substituted allylcopper complex occurs through six-membered cyclic transition state. The utility of this protocol is demonstrated through application to fragment synthesis of an antibiotic macrolide natural product elansolid A. Chapter 2. Cu-Catalyzed Chemoselective Copper–Boron Additions to Monosubstituted Allenes Followed by Allyl Additions to Carbonyl Compounds. The first examples of catalytic generation of 2-boron-substituted allylcopper species and their in situ use for C–C bond formation are described. The reactions are performed in the presence of bisphosphine– or NHC–Cu complexes at 22 oC. High-value alcohol-containing alkenylboron compounds are provided in high efficiency (68–92% yield after oxidation) and stereoselectivity (88:12 to >98:2 dr). The reactions proceed with exclusive γ-addition mode through a cyclic six-membered transition state. Enantioselectivity can be achieved with chiral bisphosphine ligands in up to 97:3 enantiomeric ratio. Chapter 3. Chemo-, Site- and Enantioselective Copper–Boron Additions to 1,3-Enynes Followed by Site- and Diastereoselective Additions of the Resulting Allenylcopper Complexes to Aldehydes. Catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions involving 1,3-enynes, aldehydes and B2(pin)2 are described. The resulting products contain a primary C–B(pin) bond, as well as alkyne- and hydroxyl-substituted tertiary stereogenic centers. A critical feature is high enantioselectivity of the initial Cu–B addition to an alkyne-substituted terminal alkene. The key mechanistic issues are investigated by DFT calculations. Reactions are promoted in the presence of the Cu complex of an enantiomerically pure C1-symmetric bisphosphine and are complete in 8 h at ambient temperature. Products are generated in 66–94% yield (after oxidation or catalytic cross-coupling), 90:10 to >98:2 diastereomeric ratio, and 85:15–99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, and alkyl-substituted aldehydes and enynes are suitable substrates. Utility is demonstrated through catalytic alkylation and arylation of the organoboron compounds as well as applications to synthesis of fragments of tylonolide and mycinolide IV. Chapter 4. Multifunctional Alkenylboron Compounds through Single-Catalyst-Controlled Multicomponent Reactions and Their Applications in Scalable Natural Product Synthesis. A facile multicomponent catalytic process that begins with a chemo-, site- and diastereoselective copper–boron addition to a monosubstituted allene followed by addition of the resulting boron-substituted organocopper intermediate to an allylic phosphate, generating products that contain a stereogenic center, a monosubstituted alkene and an easily functionalizable Z-trisubstituted alkenylboron group in up to 89% yield with >98% branch selectivity and stereoselectivity and an enantiomeric ratio greater than 99:1. The copper-based catalyst is derived from a robust heterocyclic salt that can be prepared in multigram quantities from inexpensive starting materials and without costly column chromatography purification. The utility of the method is demonstrated through enantioselective synthesis of gram quantities of two natural products, rottnestol and herboxidiene/GEX1A. Chapter 5. Cu-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allyl and Propargyl 1,6-Conjugate Additions through 3,3’-Reductive Elimination. Catalytic enantioselective 1,6-conjugate additions of allyl-type nucleophiles promoted by NHC–Cu complexes are reported. Propargyl and 2-boron allyl 1,6-conjugate products are formed in high efficiency, diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The unique mechanistic feature is that the transformations proceed through Cu-catalyzed 3,3’-reductive elimination, that is unprecedented for copper catalysis. Further mechanistic study and application to complex molecule synthesis will be conducted.