We developed a copper(I)-catalyzed diastereoselective incorporation of ketones into unprotected pyranoses. The reactivity was dependent on the bite angle of the diphosphine ligand in the copper catalyst, and we identified an achiral diphosphine ligand L1 bearing an exceptionally large bite angle as the optimal ligand. A copper(I)-conjugated Brϕnsted base catalyst containing ligand L1 enabled the C–C bond-forming reaction via in situ-generated copper(I) enolate, even in the presence of multiple unprotected hydroxy groups. A variety of ketones were introduced with high diastereoselectivity. The product 2,6-cis-pyrans has many applications for the synthesis of biologically active molecules.Keywords: C-glycoside; copper enolate; copper(I) catalyst; ligand effect; protecting-group free synthesis

The first carboxylic acid selective aldol reaction mediated by boron compounds and a mild organic base (DBU) was developed. Inclusion of electron-withdrawing groups in the amino acid derivative ligands reacted with BH3·SMe2 forms a boron promoter with increased Lewis acidity at the boron atom and facilitated the carboxylic acid selective enolate formation, even in the presence of other carbonyl groups such as amides, esters, ketones, or aliphatic aldehydes. The remarkable ligand effect led to the broad substrate scope including biologically relevant compounds.

We developed a copper(I)-catalyzed stereodivergent anomeric propargylation of unprotected aldoses as a facile synthetic pathway to a broad variety of sialic acid derivatives. The soft allenylcopper(I) species, catalytically generated from stable allenylboronic acid pinacolate (2), is unusually inert to protonolysis by the multiple hydroxy groups of the substrates and thereby functions as a carbon nucleophile. The key additive B(OMe)3 facilitated ring-opening of the nonelectrophilic cyclic hemiacetal forms of aldoses to the reactive aldehyde forms. The chirality of the catalyst, and not the internal stereogenic centers of substrates, predominantly controlled the stereochemistry of the propargylation step; i.e., the diastereoselectivity was switched simply by changing the catalyst chirality. This is the first nonenzyme catalyst-controlled stereodivergent C–C bond elongation at the anomeric center of unprotected aldoses, which contain multiple protic functional groups and stereogenic centers. The propargylation products can be expeditiously transformed into naturally occurring and synthetic sialic acid derivatives in a simple three-step sequence. This synthetic method, which requires no protecting groups, can be performed on a gram-scale and thus offers general and practical access to various sialic acid derivatives from unprotected aldoses.

The carboxyl group (COOH) is an omnipresent functional group in organic molecules, and its direct catalytic activation represents an attractive synthetic method. Herein, we describe the first example of a direct catalytic nucleophilic activation of carboxylic acids with BH3·SMe2, after which the acids are able to act as carbon nucleophiles, i.e. enolates, in Mannich-type reactions. This reaction proceeds with a mild organic base (DBU) and exhibits high levels of functional group tolerance. The boron catalyst is highly chemoselective toward the COOH group, even in the presence of other carbonyl moieties, such as amides, esters, or ketones. Furthermore, this catalytic method can be extended to highly enantioselective Mannich-type reactions by using a (R)-3,3′-I2-BINOL-substituted boron catalyst.

A copper(II)-catalyzed intermolecular three-component oxyarylation of allenes using arylboronic acids as a carbon source and TEMPO as an oxygen source is described. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions with high regio- and stereoselectivity and functional group tolerance. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed, involving carbocupration of allenes, homolysis of the intervening allylcopper(II), and a radical TEMPO trap.

Copper-catalyzed difunctionalization of unactivated carboncarbon multiple bonds involving a carboncarbon bond formation process is reviewed. Carboamination, carbooxygenation, carboboration, and other difunctionalization reactions of alkenes, alkynes, and allenes are described.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide

α-Alkylation of ketones with styrene derivatives was developed using a mesitylcopper–dppp complex as a soft Brønsted base catalyst. No waste derived from the alkylating reagent was produced in this catalytic alkylation reaction. The bisphosphine ligand structure, as well as the reaction solvent, had profound effects on catalyst activity. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions from a range of ketones and styrene derivatives. The present catalysis is especially useful for the selective mono-alkylation of ketones.