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We report an unprecedented Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1-(indol-2-yl)cyclobutanols followed by an α-iminol rearrangement. High yields with excellent chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, an...

Cu-catalyzed endo-selective asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with ethenesulfonyl fluorides (ESFs) was successfully developed, this protocol provided an efficient and facile method to a wide range of chiral pyrrolidine-3-sulfonyl fluorides with good to excellent results (up to 87% yield, >20:1 dr, 94% ee). Some other chiral sulfonyl derivatives, such as sulfonamide and sulfonate, were easily accessible through simple transformations with high yields, which demonstrated that the cycloaddition products could be synthetically useful in the sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) chemistry.

Since the discovery of left-handed G-quadruplex (L-G4) structure formed by natural DNA, there has been a growing interest in its potential functions. This study utilised it to catalyse enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions, considering its different optical rotation compared to an ordinary G4. It was determined that when L-G4 was used with a combination of copper(II) ions, there was a good enantioselectivity (−52% ee) without further addition of ligands. When further consideration was given by adding G4 ligands, G4 was further stabilised, even obtaining a better enantioselectivity (up to −80% ee). Moreover, when using ligands that have regulatory effects on G4, the ee value can be adjusted. In this work, a minimal left-handed G4 was reported. A follow-up study was also conducted, which recovers that the minimal left-handed G4 remains its catalytic effect and enantioselectivity, but is not so effective as the former case. This indicates that a complete G4 structure is relatively conducive to chiral catalysis.

Methods that enable rapid construction of multiple C-C bonds using a single catalyst, with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol are particularly valuable in organic synthesis. Here, we report an Ir-catalyzed double allylic alkylation reaction in which bisnucleophilic cyanoacetate reacted successionally with the electrophilic π-allyl-Ir species, producing various pseudo-C2-symmetrical cyanoacetate derivatives in high yield with excellent stereocontrol. The more challenging sequential allylic alkylation/allylic alkylation with two distinct allylic carbonates that can deliver the corresponding products bearing three contiguous tertiary-quaternary-tertiary stereocenters were also developed by using a modified catalytic system, which is revealed to be associated with quasi-dynamic kinetic resolution of the initially-formed diastereomeric monoallylation intermediates. Notably, the stereodivergence for this sequential process depending on a single iridium catalyst was successfully realized, and up to six stereoisomers could be predictably prepared by combining the appropriate enantiomer of chiral ligand for iridium catalyst and adjusting the adding sequence of two distinct allylic precursors.

Pd-phosphinooxazoline (Pd-PHOX)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroalkylation of 1,3-dienes with azlactones was successfully developed for the first time, affording various enantioenriched α-quaternary α-amino acid derivatives bearing contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers in good yields with exclusive regioselectivity and excellent stereoselective control (up to 92% yield, >20:1 dr, and >99% ee). The scale-up catalytic asymmetric hydroalkylation was performed well without loss of reactivity and stereoselectivities, which exhibited great potential application. The synthetic utility of the current methodology was demonstrated through product transformations to access other biologically important compounds such as chiral β-amino alcohol and α-quaternary cyclic α-amino acid derivatives.

In this study, we developed an efficient Ir-catalyzed cascade umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement of tertiary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acid derivatives for the preparation of a variety of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The umpolung reactivity empowered by the activation of the key isatin-ketoimine moiety obviates the intractable enantioselectivity control in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric linear α-allylation. In combination with quasi parallel kinetic resolution or kinetic resolution, the generality of this method is further demonstrated by the first preparation of enantioenriched quaternary trifluoromethyl β-, γ-, δ- and e-amino acid derivatives.

An unprecedented Ir-catalyzed asymmetric cascade umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement of trifluoroethylisatin ketimines has been realized. The current method provides a facile access to biologically important α-trifluoromethyl-containing homoallylic amines in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity. Notably, umpolung reactivity of trifluoroethylisatin ketimine was discovered for the first time. Mechanism studies revealed the key intermediates in the initial umpolung allylation and the stereospecific chirality transfer in the subsequent 2-aza-Cope rearrangement.

Chiral multi-nitrogen-containing heterocycles, such as pyrazole, imidazole and pyridazine, are widely found in naturally occurring organic compounds and pharmaceuticals, and hence, their stereoselective and efficient synthesis is an important issue in organic synthesis. Out of the variety of methods that have been developed over the past century, the catalytic asymmetric cyclization and cycloaddition reactions are recognized as the most synthetically useful strategies due to their step-, atom- and redox-economic nature. In particular, the recently developed annulation reactions using azoalkenes as key intermediates show their great ability to construct diverse types of multi-nitrogen-containing heterocycles. In this feature article, we critically analyse the strategic development and the efficient transformation of azoalkenes to chiral heterocycles and α-functionalized ketone derivatives since 2010. The plausible mechanism for each reaction model is also discussed.

The catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides with various electron-deficient alkenes provide the most straightforward protocol for the preparation of enantioenriched pyrrolidines in organic synthesis. However, the employment of conjugated alkenyl heteroarenes as dipolarophiles in such protocols to afford a class of particularly important molecules in medicinal chemistry is still a great challenge. Herein, we report that various β-substituted alkenyl heteroarenes, challenging internal alkene substrates without a strong electron-withdrawing substituent, were successfully employed as dipolarophiles for the first time in the Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. This reaction furnishes a large array of multistereogenic heterocycles incorporating both the biologically important pyrrolidine and heteroarene skeletons in good yields with exclusive diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity. Our extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations proposed a working model to explain the origin of the stereochemical outcome and elucidated uncommon dual activation/coordination of both the dipole and dipolarophile substrates by the metal, in which a sterically bulky, rigid, and monodentate phosphoramidite ligand with triple-homoaxial chirality plays a pivotal role in providing an effective chiral pocket around the metal center, resulting in high enantioselectivity. The additional coordination of the heteroatom in the dipolarophile substrate to Cu is also critical for the exclusive diastereoselectivity and enhanced reactivity. Our calculations also predicted the reverse and high enantioinduction for the corresponding substrates with monocyclic heteroarenes as well as regiospecific cycloaddition to the less reactive internal C═C bond of one related dipolarophile diene substrate. Such unique steric effect-directed enantioswitching and coordination-directed regioselectivity were verified experimentally.

Facile access to quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids has been developed. This sequential reaction involves an Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of α-trifluoromethyl aldimine esters followed by an unprecedented kinetic resolution.

Cu/Ir dual catalysis has been developed for the stereodivergent α-allylation of aldimine esters. The method enables the preparation of a series of nonproteinogenic α-amino acids (α-AAs) bearing two contiguous stereogenic centers in high yield with excellent stereoselectivity. All four product stereoisomers could be obtained from the same set of starting materials via pairwise combination of two chiral catalysts. Notably, one-pot protocol could be successfully applied for the preparation of the bimetallic Cu/Ir complexes to simplify the manipulation of Cu/Ir dual catalysis. This method could be further utilized for the construction of the key intermediate of a bioactive pyrrolidine derivative and the concise synthesis of a plant growth regulator (2S,3S)-2-amino-3-cyclopropylbutanoic acid.

An unprecedented copper(i)-catalyzed asymmetric inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction of azoalkenes with fulvenes is reported. This methodology offers a directed entry to synthesize bicyclic tetrapyridazine derivatives in good yield with exclusive regioselectivity and excellent stereoselectivity.

Chemotherapy remains an effective treatment for cancer today. However, it remains a huge challenge due to side effects. In the current study, we first introduce aptamer-linked chemical decaging reactions combine with endogenous copper ions or Cu-chelates to regulate the release of prodrugs in pathological conditions. For the proof-of-concept study, we use aptamers with rhodamine to target imaging of nucleolin overexpressing cancer cells, where nucleolin aptamers not only act as targets, but surprisingly also cooperate with copper ions to accelerate the release of fluorescent moieties. We construct activatable prodrugs models nucleic acid aptamers and conventional chemotherapy to target nucleolin overexpressing cancer cells, in which reduced drug toxicity can be activated by adding copper ions. We envision that the integration of binding aptamer and catalytic reactions based on small molecules has a promising application in the field of cancer treatment.

An unprecedented enantioselective allylic alkylation of readily available aldimine esters has been developed, and is catalyzed by a synergistic Cu/Pd catalyst system. This strategy provides facile access to nonproteinogenic α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. The more challenging double allylic alkylation of glycinate-derived imine esters was also realized. Furthermore, this methodology was applied for the construction of the key intermediate of PLG peptidomimetics.

Recent evidence shows that resveratrol (RSV) may ameliorate high-glucose-induced cardiac oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis in diabetes. However, the mechanisms by which RSV regulates mitochondrial function in diabetic cardiomyopathy have not been fully elucidated. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to cardiac dysfunction in diabetic patients, which is associated with dysregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). In this study we examined whether resveratrol alleviated cardiac dysfunction in diabetes by improving mitochondrial function via SIRT1-mediated PGC-1α deacetylation. T2DM was induced in rats by a high-fat diet combined with STZ injection. Diabetic rats were orally administered RSV (50 mg·kg–1·d–1) for 16 weeks. RSV administration significantly attenuated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy evidenced by increasing ejection fraction (EF%), fraction shortening (FS%), ratio of early diastolic peak velocity (E velocity) and late diastolic peak velocity (A velocity) of the LV inflow (E/A ratio) and reducing expression levels of pro-hypertrophic markers ANP, BNP and β-MHC. Furthermore, manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, ATP content, mitochondrial DNA copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of nuclear respiration factor (NRF) were all significantly increased in diabetic hearts by RSV administration, whereas the levels of malondialdehvde (MDA) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) were significantly decreased. Moreover, RSV administration significantly activated SIRT1 expression and increased PGC-1α deacetylation. H9c2 cells cultured in a high glucose (HG, 30 mmol/L) condition were used for further analyzing the role of SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway in RSV regulation of mitochondrial function. RSV (20 μmol/L) caused similar beneficial effects in HG-treated H9c2 cells in vitro as in diabetic rats, but these protective effects were abolished by addition of a SIRT1 inhibitor sirtinol (25 μmol/L) or by SIRT1 siRNA transfection. In H9c2 cells, RSV-induced PGC-1α deacetylation was dependent on SIRT1, which was also abolished by a SIRT1 inhibitor and SIRT1 siRNA transfection. Our results demonstrate that resveratrol attenuates cardiac injury in diabetic rats through regulation of mitochondrial function, which is mediated partly through SIRT1 activation and increased PGC-1α deacetylation.

An efficient copper(I)-catalyzed one-pot domino reaction for the (Z)-selective construction of diazabicyclo[5.3.0]decatriene derivatives under mild conditions has been developed. This protocol was initiated by a Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), followed by a ring opening rearrangement and then subsequent higher-order [8+2] cycloaddition of azaheptafulvene with ketenimine intermediates at the corresponding C-2 and N-3 sites, affording biologically active heterocycles in good to high yields.

Unprecedented PPh3-mediated [4 + 2]- and [4 + 1]-annulation of maleimides with in situ formed azoalkenes have been successfully developed, affording fused tetrahydropyridazine/pyrrolidinedione and spiro-dihydropyrazole/pyrrolidinedione derivatives in good yields under mild reaction conditions. Maleimides serve as C2 synthons in the [4 + 2]-annulation using 1,2-dichloroethane as the solvent in the presence of 20 mol % of PPh3. With a stoichiometric amount of PPh3 in acetone, maleimides serve as C1 synthons, and the in situ formed phosphorus ylide is the key intermediate to realize this [4 + 1]-annulation.

A general protocol for the preparation of enantioenriched α-tetrasubstituted α-trifluoromethyl homoallylic amines is disclosed. Despite the significant challenge in stereoselectivity control, Ir-catalyzed asymmetric cascade umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement of trifluoromethylated fluorenone imines with allylic carbonates was realized with excellent efficiency and remarkable stereoselectivity. These were enabled by the suitable protective imino moiety and an unexpectedly exclusive E-geometrical imine of the allylation intermediate. This methodology is also applicable to facile access to chiral α-trisubstituted α-trifluoromethyl homoallylic amines in similarly high yield and stereoselectivity.

An unprecedented asymmetric allenylic alkylation of readily available imine esters, which was enabled by a synergistic Cu/Pd catalysis, has been developed. This dual catalytic system possesses good substrate compatibility, delivering a diverse array of nonproteinogenic α-allenylic α-mono- or α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids (α-AAs) with high yields and generally excellent enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the scalability and practicability of the current synthetic protocol were proven by performing gram-scale reactions and by the first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of naturally occurring (S)-γ-allenic α-amino acid, respectively.

An unprecedented Ag(i)-catalyzed ligand-controlled stereodivergent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles has been developed to afford heterocycles bearing both methylisoxazole and pyrrolidine moieties. The endo- and exo-cycloadducts were obtained in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities, assisted by (t)Bu-Phosferrox and phosphoramidite as chiral ligands, respectively.

A highly efficient enantioselective nitroso Diels-Alder reaction of 6-methyl-2-nitroso pyridine with various 1,3-dienes was successfully developed using a Cu(i)/(S)-TF-BiphamPhos complex as the catalyst. For most of the cyclic dienes, synthetically important heterocyclic 3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxazines were obtained in high yields with excellent regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Acyclic 2-silyloxy-1,3-diene also worked well in the reaction.

Summary Development of a general catalytic and highly efficient method utilizing readily available precursors for the regio- and stereoselective construction of bioactive natural-product-inspired spiro architectures remains a formidable challenge in chemical research. Transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides produces numerous N-heterocycles, but reaction control with the regioselectivity opposite to the conventional fashion has rarely been demonstrated. Herein, we report a unique ligand-controlled Cu(I)-catalyzed umpolung-type 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide to realize efficient kinetic resolution of racemic alkylidene norcamphors with the concomitant construction of previously inaccessible spiro N-heterocycles with high levels of regio- and stereoselectivity. The success of this methodology relies on the strategy of kinetic resolution, and the serendipitous discovery of a unique ligand-enabled regiospecific cycloaddition, which not only provides evidence for the existence of the minor zwitterionic resonance form in metallated azomethine ylide but also diversifies the existing chemistry of azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with rare polarity inversion., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Kinetic resolution of racemic alkylidene norcamphors • Spiro architectures incorporating norbornane and pyrrolidine scaffolds • Unique ligand-enabled umpolung-type 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Organic Synthesis

An efficient kinetic resolution of readily available racemic cyclopentene-1,3-diones has been developed via a Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. This methodology shows good functional-group tolerance, delivering an array of synthetically valuable cyclopentene-1,3-diones with excellent stereoselectivity and generally high resolution efficiency ( s = 48-226) accompanied by the biologically important fused pyrrolidine derivatives. Notably, this strategy allows facile access to the key intermediates for the synthesis of (+)-madindolines A and B.

A highly enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclopentenediones via Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide has been developed successfully. The methodology performs well over a broad scope of substrates, which provides facile access to a series of highly functionalized bicyclic pyrrolidine/cyclopentane derivatives in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

A highly exo-selective 1,3-dipolar [3 + 6] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 2-acylcycloheptatrienes was realized with a Cu(I)/(S,R(p))-PPF-NHMe complex as the catalyst, leading to a diverse range of bridged piperidines with multiple functionalities in good yield with excellent stereoselectivity control. Theoretical calculations indicated a stepwise mechanism for this exo-selective [3 + 6] annulation, which accounts for the remarkable feature of this annulation: all of the larger substituent groups occupy the axial positions in the six-membered chairlike conformation of the piperidine ring.

Bioactive 5-aza-spiro[2,4]heptanes with high functionality and up to three contiguous all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers were synthesized by Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric endo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with cyclopropylidene acetates. This synthesis system performs well for a broad scope of substrates. α-unsubstituted/α-substituted azomethine ylides and cyclopropylidene acetates are compatible 1,3-dipoles and dipolarophiles, which afford the spiro heterocycles with contiguous quaternary centers at 2-, 3- and 4-positions of the pyrrolidine ring in good yield (up to 97%) and high diastereoselectivity (95:5–>98:2 d.r) and excellent enantioselectivity (87%–98% ee).

In this study, it was found that the G-triplex DNA could be used as an enantioselective catalyst without further addition of ligands in Diels–Alder reactions when coordinated with copper ions, for the first time. The efficiency and selectivity of the catalyst were investigated. The kinetic measurements were made using ultraviolet (UV) light. The stability of the catalyst in aqueous buffer was confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra.

An unprecedented asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrones with prochiral cyclopentene-1,3-diones via desymmetrization was efficiently realized with high stereoselective control with the aid of fine-tunable cinchona alkaloid derived bifunctional amine–thiourea catalysts bearing multiple hydrogen-bonding donors. This protocol provides an expedient access to the multifunctional-bridged tricyclic lactones featuring four contiguous stereogenic centers and one remote quaternary stereogenic center with a broad substrate scope. The cycloadduct can be readily elaborated into enantioenriched cyclopentane-1,3-diones via ring opening/aromatization.

Ag(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of cyclic azomethine ylides with N-substituted maleimides has been developed for the efficient construction of azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes, a valuable structural motif for drug discovery, in good yields with high diastereoselectivities (up to 16:1 dr) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). The key feature of the present methodology is that two quaternary stereogenic centers were constructed efficiently among the generated four contiguous stereocenters in the annulation process.

An unprecedented catalytic tandem formal [4 + 3] cycloaddition/decarboxylation/isomerization of methyl coumalate and imine esters is successfully developed. This tandem reaction only requires Et3N as the mild base affording a series of highly functionalized seven-membered heterocyclic azepine derivatives in good yields with excellent regioselectivities.

An unprecedented catalytic asymmetric inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels–Alder reaction of indoles with in situ formed azoalkenes is reported. A diverse set of [2,3]-fused indoline heterocycles were achieved in generally good yields (up to 97 %) with high regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity (>20:1 d.r.), and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).

An unprecedented Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [6 + 3] cycloaddition of tropone with azomethine ylides was reported, which performs well over a broad scope of substrates and offers a unique and facile access to the synthetically useful bridged azabicyclo[4.3.1]decadiene derivatives in good yields with high levels of diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities under mild conditions.

Enantioenriched heterocyclic piperidines are important structural motifs present in numerous natural products and biologically active molecules. This article outlines our recent efforts to develop a straightforward access to highly functionalized piperidine derivatives with multiple stereogenic centers, in good yields and excellent stereoselectivities, via copper(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar [6+3] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with fulvenes.

Catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dimethyl itaconate and 2-methyleneglutarate was realized with the Cu(I)/TF–BiphamPhos complex as the catalyst for the efficient construction of pyrrolidine derivatives bearing one unique all carbon-quaternary and two tertiary stereogenic centers. The current catalytic system exhibited excellent diastereoselectivity (> 20:1), good enantioselectivity (88–>99% ee) and broad substrate scope under mild conditions.

An unprecedented Ag(i)-catalyzed tandem [6+3] cycloaddition/isomerization of isocyanoacetates with fulvenes has been developed, affording the fused dihydropyridine derivatives in good yields with exclusive regioselectivities.

An unprecedented Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric desymmetrization of spiro cyclohexadienone lactones has been developed successfully, which performs well over a broad scope of substrates and provides a facile access to optically active spirolactone-pyrrolidines in high yields with excellent levels of diastereo-/enantioselectivities.

An unprecedented and highly efficient nickel-catalyzed cascade vinylogous Mukaiyama 1,6-Michael/Michael addition of 2-silyloxyfuran with N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1,3-dienes is reported, in which 2-silyloxyfuran was successfully employed as nucleophile and electrophile sequentially. This methodology combined with subsequent reduction provides a facile access to biologically important fused piperidine/butyrolactone skeletons in good yield with exclusive diastereoselectivity under mild reaction conditions.

An unprecedented Ag(I)-catalyzed ligand-controlled stereodivergent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles has been developed to afford heterocycles bearing both methylisoxazole and pyrrolidine moieties. The endo- and exo-cycloadducts were obtained in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities, assisted by tBu-Phosferrox and phosphoramidite as chiral ligands, respectively.

A highly efficient Ag(I)-catalyzed atroposelective desymmetrization of N-(2-t-butylphenyl)maleimide via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated azomethine ylides has been established successfully, affording a facile access to a series of biologically important and enantioenriched octahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole derivatives in generally high yields (up to 99%) with excellent levels of diastereo-/enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee, >20:1 dr). Subsequent transformations led to fascinating 2H-pyrrole and polysubstituted pyrrole compounds without loss of stereoselectivity. The absolute configuration of the generated chiral axis has been unambiguously identified as (M) through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, on the basis of the comprehensive experimental results and the absolute configuration of one of the cycloadducts, the origin of the stereoselectivity was proposed to be attributed to the steric congestion imposed by the bulky PPh2 group of the chiral ligand and the tert-butyl g...

An unprecedented asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-epoxides, derived from cyclopentene-1,3-diones, with 2-mercaptobenzothiazoles has been realized. It was efficiently catalyzed by a chiral Dy(III) /N,N'-dioxide complex through a thiolysis/elimination sequence. This remote stereocontrol strategy provides facile access to synthetically versatile cyclopentene derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity. Intriguingly, optically active thiophene could be readily generated from the obtained product through an efficient one-pot protocol.

A highly enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclopentenediones via Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide has been developed successfully. The methodology performs well over a broad scope of substrates, which provides facile access to a series of highly functionalized bicyclic pyrrolidine/cyclopentane derivatives in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

An unprecedented asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-epoxides, derived from cyclopentene-1,3-diones, with 2-mercaptobenzothiazoles has been realized. It was efficiently catalyzed by a chiral Dy(III) /N,N'-dioxide complex through a thiolysis/elimination sequence. This remote stereocontrol strategy provides facile access to synthetically versatile cyclopentene derivatives bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity. Intriguingly, optically active thiophene could be readily generated from the obtained product through an efficient one-pot protocol.

A highly efficient Cu(II)-catalyzed enantioselective inverse-electron-demand aza-Diels–Alder reaction of in situ formed azoalkenes with enol ethers is reported. This methodology provides a facile entry to biologically important and enantioenriched tetrahydropyridazine derivatives in generally good yield (up to 95% yield) with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee).

Cu(I)/TF-BiphamPhos catalyzed reactions of alkylidene bisphosphates and alkylidene malonates with azomethine ylides have been investigated with the aid of density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP level. Michael addition and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition were calculated. For reactions of alkylidene bisphosphates, the Michael addition pathway is both kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. However, for reactions of alkylidene malonates, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition pathway is kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than Michael addition. In the reactions of alkylidene bisphosphates, the significant repulsion between the two bulky phosphonate groups of the alkylidene bisphosphates and the phenyl substituent of the azomethine ylides suppresses 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and favors Michael addition. In the reactions of alkylidene malonates the less bulky ester groups in the alkylidene malonates allow 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to occur.

Spiro(γ-butyrolactam-γ-butyrolactone): a route to enantioenriched spiro(γ-butyrolactam-γ-butyrolactone) compounds, a valuable motif for drug discovery, was developed by use of a highly efficient copper(I)/TF-BiphamPhos-catalyzed tandem Michael addition-elimination of homoserine lactone derived cyclic imino esters with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) bromides, followed by treatment with para-toluenesulfonic acid.

A direct and facile access to highly substituted exo-pyrrolidines bearing a unique trifluoromethyl group is developed via Cu(I)/DTBM-BIPHEP-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with cis-4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate for the first time.

Pyrrole into one: The catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of cyclic aldimino esters has been accomplished for the first time, enabling facile access to spiro(butyrolactonepyrrolidines) containing one spiro quaternary center and three tertiary stereogenic centers (see scheme). The catalytic system performs well with a broad range of substrates, furnishing synthetically useful adducts in high yields, with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities under mild conditions.

A new protocol for the efficient construction of chiral trifluoromethylated building blocks was developed via organocatalyzed sulfa-Michael addition of thiols to the cost-efficient trans-trifluorocrotonamide. Introducing the pyrazole moiety is crucial to providing H-bond acceptor sites for better activation and hence affording comparable asymmetric induction with that obtained when employing the expensive cis-4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate as the Michael acceptor.