Asymmetric Isomerization of ω-Hydroxy-α,β-Unsaturated Thioesters into β-Mercaptolactones by a Bifunctional Aminothiourea Catalyst
摘要:
We present a novel methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-mercaptolactones via isomerization of cohydroxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters by means of a bifunctional aminothiourea catalyst. The catalyst interacts with the substrate through the cooperative action of both a covalent bond at the amino group and noncovalent bonding at the thiourea group. The potential for an enantiodivergent synthesis could also be demonstrated by carrying out the reaction in a different solvent system.
Formaldehyde was utilized as an oxygen-centered nucleophile in an asymmetric oxy-Michael addition to gamma-hydroxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds using bifunctional organocatalysts through hemiacetal intermediates. The cyclic acetal product could be further transformed into beta-hydroxycarbonyl compounds, useful synthetic intermediates leading to various important target molecules. As such, this method is an example of a novel formal asymmetric hydration of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.