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An enantio- and regioselective allylic alkylation of sulfoximines with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates was developed. The asymmetric reaction is directed by a quinidine-derived organocatalyst providing a range of optically active α-methylene β-sulfoximidoyl esters in high yields (up to 93%) with good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 95%) under mild reaction conditions.

A Cp*Rh(III) complex has been used as catalyst for the preparation of unprecedented 1,2-benzothiazepine 1-oxides by [4 + 3] cyclization of NH-sulfoximines with α,β-unsaturated ketones. For a wide range of substrates with various functional groups, moderate to good product yields were obtained.

A low loading of a quinine-derived squaramide efficiently catalyzes the triple-domino Michael/aza-Henry/cyclization reaction between 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, β-nitroolefins, and aldimines to provide tetrahydropyridines bearing three contiguous stereogenic centers in good yields, excellent enantiomeric excesses, and up to high diastereomeric ratios.

A highly stereoselective one-pot procedure for the synthesis of five-membered annulated hydroxycoumarins has been developed. By merging primary amine catalysis with silver catalysis, a series of functionalized coumarin derivatives were obtained in good yields (up to 91%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) via a Michael addition/hydroalkoxylation reaction. Depending on the substituents on the enynone, the synthesis of annulated six-membered rings is also feasible.

A diastereo- and enantioselective Michael/Henry/ketalization sequence to functionalized tetrahydropyrans is described. The multicomponent cascade reaction uses acetylacetone or β-keto esters, β-nitrostyrenes, and alkynyl aldehydes as substrates affording tetrahydropyrans with five contiguous stereocenters. Employing a bifunctional quinine-based squaramide organocatalyst, the title compounds are obtained in moderate to good yields (27-80%), excellent enantiomeric excesses (93-99% ee), and high diastereomeric ratios (dr > 20:1) after one crystallization.

A highly stereoselective one-pot procedure for the synthesis of spiropyrazolone derivatives bearing six contiguous stereogenic centers including two tetrasubstituted carbons has been developed. Under sequential catalysis by two organocatalysts, a cinchona-derived aminosquaramide and DBU, a series of diversely functionalized spiropyrazolones are obtained in good yields (47-62%) and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr and 98-99% ee). The opposite enantiomers of the spiropyrazolones are also accessible by employing a pseudoenantiomeric aminosquaramide catalyst.

A highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid was developed. N-Boc-protected ethyl trifluoropyruvate imine was activated by 6 mol % of catalyst and reacted with a wide variety of indole derivatives to afford quaternary α-amino acids in excellent yields (up to 99%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98:2 er).

A modular asymmetric synthesis of the functionalized azaspirocycles 6 (m = 2, n = 1), 7 (m = 1, n = 2), 8 (m = n = 2), 12, 20, and 24 from the cyclic allylic sulfoximines 1 is described. The synthetic strategy is based on the stereoselective construction of the carbocycle 4 containing the amino-substituted tertiary C atom from 1 followed by the generation of the azaspirocycle. Three different routes have been followed for the synthesis of the heterocyclic ring: N,C-dianion cycloalkylation, ring-closing metathesis, and N-acyl iminium ion formation.

[structure: see text]. Asymmetric syntheses of the highly substituted protected gamma-amino acids 10a, 10b, 18, and 21 have been developed starting from the allyltitanium sulfoximines V and VI, respectively, and furan-2-carbaldehyde.