Development of Chiral, Bifunctional Thiosquaramides: Enantioselective Michael Additions of Barbituric Acids to Nitroalkenes

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Apr 19;139(15):5297-5300. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b01115. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Abstract

We report a general method for the synthesis of chiral thiosquaramides, a class of bifunctional catalysts not previously described in the literature. Thiosquaramides are found to be more acidic and significantly more soluble in nonpolar solvents than their oxosquaramide counterparts, and they are excellent catalysts for the unreported, enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of the barbituric acid pharmacaphore to nitroalkenes, delivering the chiral barbiturate derivatives in high yields and high enantioselectivities, even with catalyst loadings as low as 0.05 mol%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Barbiturates / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitro Compounds / chemistry*
  • Quinine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Quinine / chemical synthesis
  • Quinine / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • Barbiturates
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • squaramide
  • Quinine
  • barbituric acid