Asymmetric enamine catalysis.

: The unpolarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the fundamental vibrational transitions of the chiral molecule, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone, are calculated ab initio. Harmonic force fields are obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT), MP2, and SCF methodologies and a 5S4P2D/3S2P (TZ2P) basis set. DFT calculations use the Local Spin Density Approximation (LSDA), BLYP, and Becke3LYP (B3LYP) density functionals. Mid-IR spectra predicted using LSDA, BLYP, and B3LYP force fields are of significantly different quality, the B3LYP force field yielding spectra in clearly superior, and overall excellent, agreement with experiment. The MP2 force field yields spectra in slightly worse agreement with experiment than the B3LYP force field. The SCF force field yields spectra in poor agreement with experiment.The basis set dependence of B3LYP force fields is also explored: the 6-31G* and TZ2P basis sets give very similar results while the 3-21G basis set yields spectra in substantially worse agreements with experiment. jg

Ab initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra using density functional force fields

The current status of organic synthesis is hampered by costly protecting-group strategies and lengthy purification procedures after each synthetic step. To circumvent these problems, the synthetic potential of multicomponent domino reactions has been utilized for the efficient and stereoselective construction of complex molecules from simple precursors in a single process. In particular, domino reactions mediated by organocatalysts are in a way biomimetic, as this principle is used very efficiently in the biosynthesis of complex natural products starting from simple precursors. In this Minireview, we discuss the current development of this fast-growing field.

Asymmetric organocatalytic domino reactions.

Complete Field Guide to Asymmetric BINOL-Phosphate Derived Brønsted Acid and Metal Catalysis: History and Classification by Mode of Activation; Brønsted Acidity, Hydrogen Bonding, Ion Pairing, and Metal Phosphates

The total synthesis of natural products and biologically active compounds, such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, has reached an extraordinary level of sophistication. We are, however, still far away from the 'ideal synthesis' and the state of the art is still frequently hampered by lengthy protecting-group strategies and costly purification procedures derived from the step-by-step protocols. In recent years several new criteria have been brought forward to solve these problems and to improve total synthesis: atom, step and redox economy or protecting-group-free synthesis. Over the past decade the research area of organocatalysis has rapidly grown to become a third pillar of asymmetric catalysis standing next to metal and biocatalysis, thus paving the way for a new and powerful strategy that can help to address these issues - organocatalytic cascade reactions. In this Review we present the first applications of such asymmetric organocascade reactions to the total synthesis of natural products.

Organocatalytic cascade reactions as a new tool in total synthesis

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Cyclization and Cycloaddition Reactions

The enantioselective synthesis of spirocycles has been a long time pursued dream for organic chemists. Since the first pioneering efforts of Tamao and coworkers in the enantioselective construction of spirosilanes, many efforts have been devoted to the development of new and promising asymmetric methodologies. Remarkably, with the advent of organocatalysis the number of methodologies has been highly increased. The aim of this tutorial review is to summarize the last trends and developments reported in the literature in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocompounds.

Enantioselective methodologies for the synthesis of spiro compounds

Since the rediscovery of proline in 2000 as catalyst in aldol reaction by List, Barbas and Lerner and, soon after, the development of iminium catalysis by D. W. C. MacMillan, the emergence of organocatalysis as an important tool in organic synthesis is outstanding. During the last years, several research groups have worked in the development of new and powerful methodologies that allow us to build difficult molecules with high yields and enantioselectivities in a metal-free environment. Moreover, the possibility to join two or more organocatalytic reactions in one process has become one challenging goal for chemists, probably due to the costly protecting groups and time-consuming purification procedures after each synthetic step that are one of the common issues in organic synthesis. To circumvent these problems, tandem, domino, cascade or multicomponent organocatalytic reactions have been utilized for the efficient diastereo- and enantioselective construction of complex molecules from simple precursors in simple processes. For example, different tandem organocatalytic reactions such as cyclopropanation, aziridination, Michael-aldol, Michael-?-alkylation, etc. have been developed since 2006 with excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Herein, we describe the last trends and examples of organocatalytic domino reactions. This review aims to cover and discuss the current development of this fast growing field.

Organocatalytic domino reactions

The development of new asymmetric methodologies that afford different structures in an enantioselective fashion is one of the most exciting goals for chemists nowadays. In this subject, lately, the use of sulfones has become a fast growing field. From the works of Tan and Shibata until the last works of Palomo, sulfones have demonstrated their versatility and power in organocatalytic asymmetric reactions. Moreover, the easy removal of sulfones with Mg or Hg/Na makes this group a perfect choice to afford easily naked alkyls. Remarkably, bissulfones can be used as nucleophiles or electrophiles, being vinyl sulfones excellent electrophiles, while bismethylensulfones derivatives such as fluoro are excellent nucleophiles. This double possibility has been studied by several research groups, leading to new methodologies that allow obtaining formally simple alkylation in an enantioselective fashion, by using organocatalysis. The aim of this tutorial review is to summarize the last trends in the use of sulfones in organocatalytic processes, giving a complete scenario of these new reagents.

Sulfones: new reagents in organocatalysis.

The enantioselective synthesis of spirocycles has long been pursued by organic chemists. Despite their unique 3D properties and presence in several natural products, the difficulty in their enantioselective synthesis makes them underrepresented in pharmaceutical libraries. Since the first pioneering reports of the enantioselective construction of spirosilanes by Tamao et al., significant effort has been devoted towards the development of new promising asymmetric methodologies. Remarkably, with the advent of organocatalysis, particularly over six years, the reported methodologies for the synthesis of spirocycles have increased exponentially. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest trends and developments in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocompounds during these last six years.

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Ramon Rios

Papers

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Cyclization and Cycloaddition Reactions

Enantioselective methodologies for the synthesis of spiro compounds

Organocatalytic domino reactions

Sulfones: new reagents in organocatalysis.

New development in the enantioselective synthesis of spiro compounds