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Base‐free Enantioselective C(1)‐Ammonium Enolate Catalysis Exploiting Aryloxides: A Synthetic and Mechanistic Study
Author(s) -
McLaughlin Calum,
Slawin Alexandra M. Z.,
Smith Andrew D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201908627
Subject(s) - enantioselective synthesis , chemistry , catalysis , base (topology) , ammonium , combinatorial chemistry , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , mathematical analysis
An isothiourea‐catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of aryl ester pronucleophiles to vinyl bis‐sulfones via C(1)‐ammonium enolate intermediates has been developed. This operationally simple method allows the base‐free functionalization of aryl esters to form α‐functionalized products containing two contiguous tertiary stereogenic centres in excellent yield and stereoselectivity (all ≥99:1 er). Key to the success of this methodology is the multifunctional role of the aryloxide, which operates as a leaving group, Brønsted base, Brønsted acid and Lewis base within the catalytic cycle. Comprehensive mechanistic studies, including variable time normalization analysis (VTNA) and isotopologue competition experiments, have been carried out. These studies have identified (i) orders of all reactants; (ii) a turnover‐limiting Michael addition step, (iii) product inhibition, (iv) the catalyst resting state and (v) catalyst deactivation through protonation.