(1R)-(+)-Camphor and Acetone Derived α′-Hydroxy Enones in Asymmetric Diels−Alder Reaction: Catalytic Activation by Lewis and Brønsted Acids, Substrate Scope, Applications in Syntheses, and Mechanistic Studies

Abstract

The Diels-Alder reaction constitutes one of the most powerful and convergent C-C bond-forming transformations and continues to be the privileged route to access cyclohexene substructures, which are widespread within natural products and bioactive constituents. Over the recent years, asymmetric catalytic Diels-Alder methodologies have experienced a tremendous advance, but still inherently difficult diene-dienophile combinations prevail, such as those involving dienes less reactive than cyclopentadiene or dienophiles like beta-substituted acrylates and equivalents. Here the main features of alpha'-hydroxy enones as reaction partners of the Diels-Alder reaction are shown, with especial focus on their potentials and limitations in solving the above difficult cases. Alpha'-hydroxy enones are able to bind reversibly to both Lewis acids and Brønsted acids, forming 1,4-coordinated species that are shown to efficiently engage in these inherently difficult Diels-Alder reactions. On these bases, a convenient control of the reaction stereocontrol can be achieved using a camphor-derived chiral alpha'-hydroxy enone model (substrate-controlled asymmetric induction) and either Lewis acid or Brønsted acid catalysis. Complementing this approach, highly enantio- and diastereoselective Diels-Alder reactions can also be carried out by using simple achiral alpha'-hydroxy enones in combination with Evans' chiral Cu(II)-BOX complexes (catalyst-controlled asymmetric induction). Of importance, alpha'-hydroxy enones showed improved reactivity profiles and levels of stereoselectivity (endo/exo and facial selectivity) as compared with other prototypical dienophiles in the reactions involving dienes less reactive than cyclopentadiene. A rationale of some of these results is provided based on both kinetic experiments and quantum calculations. Thus, kinetic measurements of Brønsted acid promoted Diels-Alder reactions of alpha'-hydroxy enones show a first-order rate with respect to both enone and Brønsted acid promoter. Quantum calculations also support this trend and provide a rational explanation of the observed stereochemical outcome of the reactions. Finally, these fundamental studies are complemented with applications in natural products synthesis. More specifically, a nonracemic synthesis of (-)-nicolaioidesin C is described wherein a Brønsted acid catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction involving a alpha'-hydroxy enone substrate is the key step toward the hitherto challenging trisubstituted cyclohexene subunit.

Boesenbergia rotunda: From Ethnomedicine to Drug Discovery

“…The synthesis of (−)-nicolaiodesin C (also known as (−)-krachaizin A) has been reported by Banuelos and coworkers [119]. Accordingly, the BrØnsted acid-assisted Diels-Alder reaction of (1R)-(+)-camphor-derived chiral α ′-hydroxyenone 11 and myrcene 12 first produced an enantiopure adduct 13 .…”

Biosynthesis and Biomimetic Synthesis of Flavonoid Diels-Alder Natural Products

“…Although the biosynthesis of the flavonoid Diels-Alder natural products that derived from a monoterpene is not well-studied [12,35], it is hypothesized that a Diels-Alder reaction between a chalcone dienophile and a monoterpene (β-trans-ocimene or myrcene) would lead to the direct formation of these adducts ( Figure 2).…”

“…The first asymmetric synthesis of flavonoid Diels-Alder natural products was reported by Palomo and co-workers in 2010 (Scheme 7). They employed a recoverable chiral auxiliary ((1 R)-(+)-camphor) in the asymmetric synthesis of nicolaioidesin C (9) [35]. First, the biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction between myrcene 18 and α′-hydroxy enone dienophile 72 was Scheme 7.…”

“…First, the biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction between myrcene 18 and α′-hydroxy enone dienophile 72 was Scheme 7. Asymmetric biomimetic synthesis of (-)-nicolaioidesin C (9) [35].…”

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Proapoptotic Natural Myrcene‐Derived Cyclohexenyl Chalcones

“…Although these approaches are elegant and original, most of them are limited to 2′‐hydroxychalcones as substrates . Two of the published strategies were developed in asymmetric versions by using either chiral boron complexes as catalysts or camphor α′‐hydroxyenones as substrates . Two other more straightforward methods use thermal Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions,, but the temperatures required for these processes (>120 °C) are incompatible with complex substrates.…”