Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions Michael addition

The synthesis of the optically active chroman 489 can be achieved by use of a catalytic asymmetric tandem oxa-Michael addition Friedel-Crafts alkylation sequence between 3-methoxyphenol and (/. (-methyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-enoate. The chiral C2-symmetric box managanese(n)- complex 490 exerts excellent stereocontrol upon the reaction (Equation 200) <20030BC1953>, whereas only moderate enantioselectivity is observed in the presence of a chiral C2-symmetric 2,2 -bipyridyl copper(n)- complex (42% = ee) <20050L901>. 

The Friedel-Crafts alkylation is one of the oldest synthetic methodologies known. The catalytic asymmetric version of the reaction [311] enables the preparation of important chiral building blocks. Electron-rich aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds have been productively used in organocatalyzed enantioselective inter- and intramolecular Friedel-Craft-[312] type conjugate additions over different Michael acceptors such as, a,p-unsaturated aldehydes, a,P-unsaturated ketones, nitroole-fins, and a,p-unsaturated acyl phosphonates. 

Polysubstituted 3,4-dihydro-3-nitro-2ff-chromans are obtained from the enantioselective Michael—Michael cascade reaction of chalcone enolates and nitromethane catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea 19 (Scheme 31) (13JOC6488) and tandem Friedel—Crafts alkylation—Michael addition reaction of nitroolefin enoates and 1-methylindole promoted by Zn(OTf)2 (13S601).A squaramide-tertiary amine catalyst promotes the asymmetric sulfa-Michael—Michael cascade reaction of thiosalicylates with nitroalkene enoates which leads to polysubstituted chromans in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities (13OL1190). 

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