Michael addition organocatalytic cascade reactions

New sulfur-containing spirocyclic scaffords were synthesized by two different enantioselective organocatalytic cascade reactions (13EJ07979). In the first synthesis, benzothiophene-2-one and an enal react in the presence of a secondary amine catalyst via a Michael-Aldol sequence to yield spiro-cyclo-hexenecarbaldehydes with excellent selectivities [20 1 diastereomeric ratios (dr) up to 20 1]. In the second reaction, the double Michael addition of ben-zothiophene-2-one to aromatic dieneones with primary amine catalysts yields the corresponding spiro-cyclohexanones with slighdy lower dr values. 

Since then, and inspired by this pioneering report, several groups have developed organocatalytic cascade reactions starting with a sulfa-Michael addition [68, 69]. 

Synthesis of chiral heterocycles by domino organocatalytic processes has also been intensively studied. In particular, various benzo-fused heterocycles, such as chiral chromans, " thiochromanes, hydro-quinolines, dihydropyranes, or thiopyranes were investigated. These organocatalytic sequence were typically initiated by a hetero-Michael addition of a sulfur, oiqrgen or nitrogen nucleophile, which triggers the formation of an enolate/enamine that adds to the ortho electrophile terminating the cascade reaction. An elimination step or an additional cyclisation step follows (Scheme 8.25). 

A combination of Michael addition, Mannich reaction, and intramolecular condensation allowed Xu and coworkers to get a quite facile access to tetrahydropyridines 165 with C3 all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in moderate yields and good optical purity (up to 74% ee) [79], The developed organocatalytic enantioselective multicomponent cascade reaction relies on the catalytic ability of the simple (5)-proline (1) that quickly reacts with the intermediate A, generated in turn via a Knoevenagel reaction between the p-ketoester 91 and formaldehyde 65. The resnlting iminium ion B undergoes the nucleophilic attack of a second moiety of p-ketoester 91 prodncing the Michael adduct D. Such intermediate enamine is then involved in the Mannich reaction with the imine E (dne to the in situ condensation between primary amine 51 and formaldehyde 65) to furnish the advanced intermediate F, which after an intramolecular condensation releases the (5)-proline (1), and the desired prodnct 165 (Scheme 2.52). 

Organocatalysis have emerged recently as one of the cornerstones for the enanti-oselective synthesis of C-C or C-heteroatom bonds. Owing to the easy prediction of the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, iminium activation and specific Michael reactions is one of the most studied reaction types in organocatalysis. In the literature, we can find multiple approaches to the organocatalytic Michael reaction using different catalysts or nucleophiles, most of them with exceptional levels of stereoselectivity. Moreover, these simple additions to enals or enones have inspired multiple organocatalytic tandem and cascade reactions and, in our view, open up a new pathway for the enantioselective construction of complex scaffolds in one-pot procedures. 

An organocatalytic triple cascade reaction, followed by an intramolecular sulfa-Michael addition to produce bicyclic rings with six consecutive stereocenters, was also realized [46]. 

Enders described a fascinating organocatalytic one-pot asymmetric synthesis of tricyclic compounds using a triple-cascade/Diels-Alder reaction sequence. Combination of dieneal 110 with enal 111 and nitro alkene 112 in the presence of a chiral amine catalyst results in a Michael/Michael/aldol condensation sequence to yield cycloaddition precursor 113. Cooling the reaction mixture and addition of a Lewis acid promotes the desired intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to selectively afford the highly functionalized tricyclic target 114. ... 

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