The chiral diether ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition of organolithiums to nona-2,7-dienedioate and subsequent intramolecular conjugate addition of the enolate intermediate gave all-trans trisubstituted cyclohexanes with high ee and yields. Using this methodology, an efficient short asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-β-lycorane was accomplished in 33% overall yield through five steps from the dienedioate.

An addition reaction of ω-alkenylmagnesium bromide with aldehydes and consecutive oxidative cyclization with iodobenzene diacetate afforded brominated tetrahydrofuran in one pot. The reaction was also applicable to a one-pot synthesis of 2,5,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran, lactone, and pyrazolidine using a ketone, carbon dioxide, and azodicarboxylate, respectively, as electrophiles. One-pot iodo- and chloro-cyclizations were also possible with alkenylmagnesium iodide and chloride.

An addition reaction of ω-alkenylmagnesium bromide with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate and consecutive oxidative cyclization with iodobenzene diacetate afforded brominated lactams in one-pot. An imine was also applicable to a one-pot synthesis of terminally brominated cyclic amine.

A highly efficient short-step construction of the common phenanthridine skeleton of pancratistatin-class alkaloids was accomplished in enantiomerically pure form using chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition. The utility of the intermediate was demonstrated by the total synthesis of (+)-trans-dihydronarciclasine with mild oxidation from an amine to an amide as a key step.

Triethylborane-mediated tin-free radical alkylation of N-alkoxycarbonyl-imines, such as N-Boc-, N-Cbz-, and N-Teoc-imines, proceeded smoothly at a low temperature (−78 to −20 °C) to give the corresponding adducts in high yield. Although the formation of isocyanate was the major unfavorable reaction at room temperature, a one-pot conversion of N-Boc-imine to N-ethoxycarbonyl-adduct was possible through the corresponding isocyanate generated in situ. The higher performance of N-alkoxycarbonyl-imine than those of N-Ts- and N-PMP-imines is rationalized by a moderate electron-withdrawing character of an alkoxycarbonyl group that makes both addition of alkyl radical and trapping of the resulting aminyl radical by triethylborane efficiently fast.

Dimethylzinc-mediated radical conjugate addition reaction of dimethyl alkylidenemalonates with iodomethyl pivalate gave a high yield of the α,β-dual oxymethylation product in one pot under air and the β-pivaloyloxymethylation product under argon.

Enantio- and diastereoselective one-pot synthesis of three- to seven-membered cis-azaheterocycles was achieved using a triggered asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium amide with an enoate, followed by alkylation of the resulting lithium enolate with α,ω-dihaloalkane and N-alkylation. Isomerization of cis-azaheterocycles with a base yielded the trans-product, constituting a one-pot synthesis of cis-azacycles and a two-step synthesis of trans-azacycles. The four-step asymmetric synthesis of nemonapride highlights the general utility of the method.

Triphenylborane asymmetrically transfers its phenyl group to N-diphenylphosphinoylarylimines to give diarylmethylamines with high ee in high yield without imine hydrolysis under the catalysis of a chiral amidomonophosphane–rhodium(I) complex.

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were electronically and sterically tuned to improve γ-selectivity in copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic arylation of aliphatic allylic bromides with several aryl Grignard reagents. High γ-selectivity was realized when either the aryl group of the Grignard reagent or the aryl group on the N-substituent of the carbene ligand was electron-deficient or when either the carbene ligand or allylic bromide was bulky. The results indicated that electron deficiency and steric hindrance of the initially formed σ-allyl copper intermediate enhance the rate of the reductive elimination to give γ-products as major isomers.

Chiral C2-symmetric N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were tested for their stereocontrolling abilities in gold(I)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclization of 1,6-enynes giving the corresponding cyclopentane derivatives with moderate enantioselectivity of up to 59%.

Developments in modern organic synthesis owe much to the field of radical chemistry. Mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, good functional group tolerance and high product yield are features that have made reactions involving radical species indispensable tools for synthetic chemists. In part, the discovery of new radical initiators has led to the efficiency that now characterizes most radical reactions. This Account describes our investigations of radical reactions initiated by dimethylzinc. In 2001, we unexpectedly observed this reaction while investigating the amidophosphane−copper-catalyzed asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to N-sulfonyl imines with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as reaction solvent. However, instead of adding the desired methyl group to the N-sulfonyl imine, we produced the THF adduct in excellent yield. This result laid the foundation for our discovery of novel modes of reactivity. Further investigations of the unexpected addition reaction revealed that a trace amount of air was needed for reaction progress, indicating that radical intermediates were involved. Indeed, controlled injection of air into the reaction flask by a syringe pump through a sodium hydroxide tube afforded the products in good to excellent yield. In addition, the reaction proved to be chemoselective for a C═N bond over a C═O bond, as well as for 1,4-addition over 1,2-addition. We developed asymmetric variants of the radical addition reaction of ethers to imines using chiral N-sulfinyl imines to produce the adducts in reasonably high stereoselectivity (up to 11:1). A 93:7 diastereomeric ratio of the adduct was obtained when bis(8-phenylmenthyl) benzylidenemalonate was used in the radical addition of ethers to C═C bonds. Interestingly, in the presence of dimethylzinc and air, arylamines, alkoxyamines, and dialkylhydrazines react with THF to give amino alcohols, oximes, and hydrazones, respectively, in moderate to high yields. We performed a tin-free intermolecular addition of functionalized primary alkyl groups, generated from their corresponding iodides, to N-sulfonyl imines using dimethylzinc, air, boron trifluoride diethyl etherate, and a catalytic amount of copper(II) triflate. Direct C−H bond cleavage from cycloalkanes was also feasible in the presence of dimethylzinc, air, and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate to give the corresponding cycloalkyl radicals, which were suitable nucleophiles for N-sulfonyl imines. In all of the above reactions, dimethylzinc was a superior radical initiator than other conventional initiators such as dibenzoyl peroxide, diethylzinc, and triethylborane. We hope the coming decades will witness the report of other novel radical initiators that would complement the reactivity modes of existing ones.

Highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboroxines to N-phosphinoylaldimines was realized by the steric tuning of a diphenylphosphorus moiety to a di(o-tolyl)phosphorus moiety of a chiral amidomonophosphane. The presence of MS 4 Å in a 5:1 solvent mixture of dioxane−propanol was essential to afford the corresponding diarylmethylamines in high yield.

Total syntheses of (−)-lycorine and (−)-2-epi-lycorine were accomplished using chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric cascade conjugate addition methodology, which enables the formation of two C−C bonds and three stereogenic centers in one pot to give synthetically useful chiral cyclohexane derivatives.

A chiral ligand- and lithium amide-assisted asymmetric conjugate addition of lithium enolate of propionate to cyclopentenecarboxylate gave the corresponding lithium enolate, whose allylation gave the key intermediate of the marine alkaloid halichlorine as a single diastereomer with moderate enantioselectivity.

Phenyl- and ethyl-magnesium bromides undergo regioselective asymmetric allylic substitution with high enantioselectivity under the catalysis of chiral amidophosphane–copper(I) complexes.

The chiral ligand controlled asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium N-allyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)amide to alkenoates proceeded smoothly to give, after protodesilylation, the corresponding 3-allylaminoalkanoates with high enantioselectivities in high yields. The allyl group on the nitrogen atom was easily removable to afford 3-aminoalkanoates.

Upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide achiral and chiral α,β,ψ,ω-unsaturated bisphosphine oxides underwent lithiation–conjugate addition tandem cyclization to afford the corresponding endo-α,β-unsaturated cyclic bisphosphine oxides; sequential stereoselective reduction of the cyclized bisphosphine oxide gave the corresponding trans- and cis-bisphosphines that were successfully applicable in a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation as chiral bisphosphine ligands.

Phenyl- and ethyl-magnesium bromides undergo regioselective asymmetric allylic substitution with high enantioselectivity under the catalysis of chiral amidophosphane–copper(I) complexes.

Triphenylborane asymmetrically transfers its phenyl group to N-diphenylphosphinoylarylimines to give diarylmethylamines with high ee in high yield without imine hydrolysis under the catalysis of a chiral amidomonophosphane–rhodium(I) complex.