Esta es la versión de autor del artículo publicado en: This is an author produced version of a paper published in: In this report, the first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of cyclobutylboronates, using a chiral copper(I) complex, is disclosed. A broad variety of cyclobutanes have been prepared with consistently high levels of diastereo-and enantiocontrol. Moreover, this method constitutes the first report of an enantioselective desymmetrization of meso-cyclobutenes to prepare chiral cyclobutanes.

We have developed a copper-catalyzed substitution reaction of propargylic ammonium salts with aryl Grignard reagents. The reaction is stereospecific and α-regioselective and proceeds with exceptional functional group tolerance. Conveniently, a stable, inexpensive, and commercially available copper salt is used and no added ligand is required.

Herein we describe the development of a Pd-catalyzed enantioselective Markovnikov addition of carbamates to allylic alcohols for the construction of α-tertiary and α-secondary amines. The reaction affords a range of β-amino alcohols, after reduction of the aldehyde in situ, which contain a variety of functional groups in moderate yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities. These products can be readily oxidized to β-amino acids, valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Mechanistic studies indicate that C–N bond formation occurs via a syn amino-palladation mechanism, an insight which may guide future reaction development given the limited number of enantioselective syntheses of α-tertiary amines.

The clinical success of α,α-difluorocyclopropanes, combined with limitations in the existing synthesis portfolio, inspired the development of an operationally simple, organocatalysis-based strategy to access cis-configured derivatives with high levels of stereoselectivity (up to >20:1 cis:trans). Leveraging an I(I)/I(III)-catalysis platform in the presence of an inexpensive HF source, it has been possible to exploit disubstituted bicyclobutanes (BCBs) as masked cyclobutene equivalents for this purpose. In situ generation of this strained alkene, enabled by Brønsted acid activation, facilitates an unprecedented 4 → 3 fluorinative ring contraction, to furnish cis-α,α-difluorinated cyclopropanes in a highly stereoselective manner (up to 88% yield). Mechanistic studies are disclosed together with conformational analysis (X-ray crystallography and NMR) to validate cis-α,α-difluorocyclopropanes as isosteres of the 1,4-dicarbonyl moiety. Given the importance of this unit in biology and the foundational no → π* interactions that manifest themselves in this conformation (e.g., collagen), it is envisaged that the title motif will find application in focused molecular design.

The heptafluoroisopropyl group is emerging as a privileged chemotype in contemporary agrochemistry and features prominently in the current portfolio of leading insecticides. To reconcile the expansive potential of this module with the synthetic challenges associated with preparing crowded, fluorinated motifs, I(I)/I(III) catalysis has been leveraged. Predicated on in situ generation of p-TolIF2, this route enables the direct difluorination of α-trifluoromethyl-β-difluoro-styrenes in a single operation. This formal addition of fluorine across the alkene π-bond is efficient (up to 91%) and is compatible with a broad range of functional groups. The ArCF(CF3)2 moiety is conformationally pre-organized, with the C(sp3)-F bond co-planar to the framework of the aryl ring, thereby minimizing 1,3-allylic strain. Moreover, orthogonal multipolar C-F•••C=O interactions have been identified in a phathalimide derivative. It is envisaged that this programmed vicinal difluorination enabled by a hypervalent iodine species will find application in functional molecule design in a broader sense.