The first catalytic asymmetric vinylogous aldol reaction of activated allyls to activated acyclic ketones is disclosed. A variety of activated acyclic ketones, such as trifluoromethyl ketones, α-ketoesters, and α-keto phosphonates, were found to be involved forming diverse γ-selective aldol adducts with high enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The method provides an effective, general strategy to access valuable chiral electron-withdrawing group-substituted tertiary hydroxyl-based carboxylic acids.

An L-amino acid based urea-tertiary amine-catalyzed enantioselective stereoablative carboxylation of 3-bromooxindoles with malonic acid half thioesters (MAHTs) and diverse commercially available carboxylic acids has been developed. A series of valuable 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles were obtained in high enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee). This chemoselective reaction represents the first example of MAHTs as carboxylating agents.

By utilising a chiral bicyclic guanidine as catalyst and triethylamine as additive, the first asymmetric Michael addition of α-fluoro-β-ketoesters to various cyclic enones has been successfully developed, affording a variety of Michael adducts with potential synthetic utilities with satisfactory stereoselectivity (up to 94 % ee and 4.3 : 1 dr).

Abstract:Reported is a rationally-designed one-pot sequential strategy that allows homoallylic alcohols to be employed in a catalytic, asymmetric, direct vinylogous aldol reaction with a series of activated acyclic ketones, including trifluoromethyl ketones, γ-ketoesters, and α-keto phosphonates, in high yields (up to 95%) with excellent regio-and enantio-selectivity (up to 99% ee). This modular combination, including Jones oxidation and asymmetric organocatalysis, has satisfactory compatibility and reliability even at a 20 mmol scale, albeit without intermediary purification.

Conditions for the title reaction between allyl‐aryl and allyl‐alkyl ketones with a diverse range of trifluoromethyl ketones, α‐ketoesters, and α‐keto phosphonates to form aldol adducts with high enantiomeric excesses are described.