Enantioselective Construction of Pyridine N-Oxides Featuring 2,3-Dihydrofuran Motifs via Phosphine-Catalyzed [4 + 1]-Annulation of 2-Enoylpyridine N-Oxides with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates

Org Lett. 2019 Jan 4;21(1):152-155. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03612. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Abstract

The first example of phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective [4 + 1] annulations between 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides and Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates is described. When 1,2-bis[(2 R,5 R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano]benzene monoxide is employed as organocatalyst, Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates react with 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides smoothly to afford a series of optically active 2,3-dihydrofurans in high yields (up to 96%) with excellent stereoselectivities (96 → 99% ee and >20:1 dr). Importantly, the method offers a facile synthetic approach to enantioenriched pyridine N-oxides featuring 2,3-dihydrofuran motifs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't