New advances in asymmetric organocatalysis II

• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 766–769, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.60

• contributions in stereoselective organocatalytic transformations. The collection contains nine articles featuring various aspects of asymmetric organocatalysis. In the first contribution, Waser et al. examined how chiral phase-transfer catalysts promote β-selective additions of azlactones to allenoates. Maruoka

Recent advances in organocatalytic atroposelective reactions

• Henrich Szabados and
• Radovan Šebesta

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 55–121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.6

• acids feature as the most prolific catalytic structure. The last part of the article discusses hydrogen-bond-donating catalysts and other catalyst motifs such as phase-transfer catalysts. Keywords: asymmetric organocatalysis; atropoisomers; atroposelective synthesis; axial chirality; stereogenic axis

Diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted cyclohexanones and tetrahydrochromene-4-ones via conjugate addition of curcumins to arylidenemalonates

• Deepa Nair,
• Abhishek Tiwari,
• Banamali Laha and
• Irishi N. N. Namboothiri

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2016–2023, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.177

• KOH using TBAB as a suitable phase transfer catalyst in a biphasic medium at room temperature. The scalability of the reaction has also been demonstrated. Our future efforts will involve performing an asymmetric version of this reaction using chiral phase-transfer catalysts and the results will be

Negishi-coupling-enabled synthesis of α-heteroaryl-α-amino acid building blocks for DNA-encoded chemical library applications

• Matteo Gasparetto,
• Balázs Fődi and
• Gellért Sipos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1922–1932, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.168

• overall applicability. A different approach for the synthesis of α-amino acids involves the formation of dehydroamino acids and subsequent hydrogenation [13][14]. More recently, there have been reports of techniques that utilize phase transfer catalysts (PTCs) to alkylate glycine derivatives [15][16]. A

Green and sustainable approaches for the Friedel–Crafts reaction between aldehydes and indoles

• Periklis X. Kolagkis,
• Eirini M. Galathri and
• Christoforos G. Kokotos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 379–426, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.36

Redox-active molecules as organocatalysts for selective oxidative transformations – an unperceived organocatalysis field

• Elena R. Lopat’eva,
• Igor B. Krylov,
• Dmitry A. Lapshin and
• Alexander O. Terent’ev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 1672–1695, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.179

• active oxidative agent. Asymmetric quaternary ammonium phase-transfer catalysts proved to be effective in the asymmetric nucleophilic epoxidation of electron-poor alkenes by hydroperoxides [70] and the asymmetric hydroxylation of enolizable carbonyl compounds employing O2 or H2O2 as terminal oxidants [71

A two-phase bromination process using tetraalkylammonium hydroxide for the practical synthesis of α-bromolactones from lactones

• Yuki Yamamoto,
• Akihiro Tabuchi,
• Kazumi Hosono,
• Takanori Ochi,
• Kento Yamazaki,
• Shintaro Kodama,
• Akihiro Nomoto and
• Akiya Ogawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 2906–2914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.198

• immediately from the reaction mixture containing n-Bu4N+OH−. Tetraalkylammonium salts are used as phase-transfer catalysts as they are soluble in both organic solvents and water. With these properties in mind, we next investigated the ring-closure of 2a using a two-phase CHCl3/H2O system (Table 2

Recent advances in organocatalytic asymmetric aza-Michael reactions of amines and amides

• Pratibha Sharma,
• Raakhi Gupta and
• Raj K. Bansal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 2585–2610, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.173

• asymmetric aza-MR. Thus, the review includes the examples wherein cinchona alkaloids, squaramides, chiral amines, phase-transfer catalysts and chiral bifunctional thioureas have been used, which activate the substrates through hydrogen bond formation. Most of these reactions are accompanied by high yields

• derivatives, phase-transfer catalysts and bifunctional thiourea derivatives. 1.1 Reactions catalyzed by chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives Cai et al. prepared and used a number of organocatalysts from Cinchona alkaloids for the aza-MR of aniline (1) with chalcone (2) to obtain the adducts 4 in poor to very

• reactions between 2-aminobenzaldehydes 42 and β-nitrostyrenes 43 to obtain chiral 3-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinolines 45 in good yields with up to 98% ee (Table 9) [43]. 1.4 Reactions catalyzed by chiral phase-transfer catalysts Chiral phase-transfer catalysts (PTC) have been recognized as versatile catalysts for

Asymmetric organocatalyzed synthesis of coumarin derivatives

• Natália M. Moreira,
• Lorena S. R. Martelli and
• Arlene G. Corrêa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1952–1980, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.128

• stereogenic centers. Review A plethora of highly effective small‐molecule organocatalysts have enriched the field of organic synthesis [27], including chiral proline derivatives, N‐heterocyclic carbenes, chiral thioureas and Brønsted acids as well as phase‐transfer catalysts (PTC), such as the quaternary

A comprehensive review of flow chemistry techniques tailored to the flavours and fragrances industries

• Guido Gambacorta,
• James S. Sharley and
• Ian R. Baxendale

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1181–1312, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.90

The preparation and properties of 1,1-difluorocyclopropane derivatives

• Kymbat S. Adekenova,
• Peter B. Wyatt and
• Sergazy M. Adekenov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 245–272, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.25

• into TBAB and difluorocarbene, which then can react with alkenes producing the gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives such as 4 (Scheme 5) [21]. Chlorodifluoromethane as a source of difluorocarbene in the reaction: The advantage of using of tetraarylarsonium salts as effective phase-transfer catalysts

Thermodynamic and electrochemical study of tailor-made crown ethers for redox-switchable (pseudo)rotaxanes

• Henrik Hupatz,
• Marius Gaedke,
• Hendrik V. Schröder,
• Julia Beerhues,
• Arto Valkonen,
• Fabian Klautzsch,
• Sebastian Müller,
• Felix Witte,
• Kari Rissanen,
• Biprajit Sarkar and
• Christoph A. Schalley

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 2576–2588, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.209

• alkali metal ions [2]. Crown ethers and their binding properties nowadays find frequent application, e.g., as cation sensors [4][5][6][7], as phase-transfer catalysts [8][9][10], or as drug delivery systems [11][12][13]. Already at the early stages of crown ether research, considerable effort has been

First synthesis of cryptands with sucrose scaffold

• Patrycja Sokołowska,
• Michał Kowalski and
• Sławomir Jarosz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 210–217, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.20

• and find many applications in, e.g., selective complexation of ionic and neutral species, medicinal chemistry (as drug carriers), and in the synthesis (as phase transfer catalysts). The complexing properties depend on several crucial parameters such as cavity size, type of heteroatoms involved in the

A simple and effective preparation of quercetin pentamethyl ether from quercetin

• Jin Tatsuzaki,
• Tomohiko Ohwada,
• Yuko Otani,
• Reiko Inagi and
• Tsutomu Ishikawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 3112–3121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.291

• volume of solvent, to minimize the cost. The results are summarized in Table 2. Phase transfer catalysts (PTCs), such as quaternary ammonium salt, are effective catalysts for the alkylation of less reactive OH functions, such as a hydrogen-bonded phenolic group [41][42]. However, treatment of 2 with 6

Enantioselective phase-transfer catalyzed alkylation of 1-methyl-7-methoxy-2-tetralone: an effective route to dezocine

• Ruipeng Li,
• Zhenren Liu,
• Liang Chen,
• Jing Pan and
• Weicheng Zhou

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1421–1427, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.119

• . (Some reports on the non-stereoselective alkylation of 2 were given in references [11][12]). In this paper, several cinchona-derived phase-transfer catalysts were screened for this reaction, and the structure–activity relationship for the catalysis was studied. In addition, optimizations had been made

• to make the process efficient. Results and Discussion A series of the quaternary ammonium bromides from cinchonidine or quinine as phase-transfer catalysts was prepared (Scheme 2). Cinchonidine was reacted with the benzyl bromides (R1Br) in THF to obtain catalysts C1–C11 [13]. And then C7 reacted

• catalysts C1–C17. The proposed catalytic mechanism of stereoselective alkylation. Screening of phase-transfer catalysts for the asymmetry alkylation of 2a. Screening of catalytic conditions. Supporting Information Supporting Information File 194: Synthesis of catalysts C1–C17, synthesis of dezocine, 1H NMR

Recent applications of chiral calixarenes in asymmetric catalysis

• Mustafa Durmaz,
• Erkan Halay and
• Selahattin Bozkurt

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1389–1412, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.117

• catalytic amounts of chiral phase-transfer agents [32][33][34]. Although the literature contains examples of calixarene derivatives used as phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs) [35], the first asymmetric quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchona alkaloids based on the calixarene skeleton were prepared by

• our group. These were applied to the asymmetric alkylation reaction of benzophenone imine of glycine ester which has become one of the benchmark reactions for examining the performance of new phase-transfer catalysts [36]. Later in 2010, Shirakawa and Shimizu reported the synthesis of novel inherently

• achieve reusable catalysts for batch and continuous-flow studies. Inherently chiral calix[4]arene-based phase-transfer catalysts. Calix[4]arene-amides used as phase-transfer catalysts. Proposed transition state model of asymmetric Henry reaction. Structure of inherently chiral oxazoline calix[4]arenes

Bromide-assisted chemoselective Heck reaction of 3-bromoindazoles under high-speed ball-milling conditions: synthesis of axitinib

• Jingbo Yu,
• Zikun Hong,
• Xinjie Yang,
• Yu Jiang,
• Zhijiang Jiang and
• Weike Su

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 786–795, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.66

• the function of phase-transfer, other kinds of phase-transfer catalysts (SDS = sodium dodecyl sulfate) were also examined, however, this gave rise to a negative effect (Table S1, entry 8). To our delight, when we replaced the grinding auxiliary by sodium bromide, a moderate product yield (69%) and an

Diastereoselective auxiliary- and catalyst-controlled intramolecular aza-Michael reaction for the elaboration of enantioenriched 3-substituted isoindolinones. Application to the synthesis of a new pazinaclone analogue

• Romain Sallio,
• Stéphane Lebrun,
• Frédéric Capet,
• Francine Agbossou-Niedercorn,
• Christophe Michon and
• Eric Deniau

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 593–602, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.46

• carbon stereocenter alpha to the nitrogen [10][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. Though various metal or organic catalysts were used to promote the aza-Michael reaction in different syntheses for the creation of nitrogen–carbon bonds, phase-transfer catalysts were less studied

• ]. Indeed, we noticed along our studies some intramolecular aza-Michael reactions were effectively catalysed by cinchoninium phase-transfer catalysts (PCT) affording the targeted 3-substituted isoindolinones with promising enantioselectivities (up to 91%) [20]. However, high enantioselectivities were

• screen various privileged phase-transfer catalysts (Figure 4, Table 2). As some aza-Michael reactions were shown to be performed without the use of any catalyst or additional reagent [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60], we performed control experiments (Table 1). The reaction of reagent (S)-6a led to

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis in the asymmetric α-heterofunctionalization of prochiral nucleophiles

• Johannes Schörgenhumer,
• Maximilian Tiffner and
• Mario Waser

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1753–1769, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.170

• variety of different catalysts and their use for challenging applications have been reported over the last decades. Besides asymmetric C–C bond forming reactions the use of chiral phase-transfer catalysts for enantioselective α-heterofunctionalization reactions of prochiral nucleophiles became one of the

• [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The introduction of this powerful concept had a lasting influence and significantly expanded the field of organic synthesis. The use of achiral onium salts as phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs) has now been well-established for many fundamental reactions under usually rather simple

• , cinchona alkaloids remained the preferred chiral backbones for novel phase-transfer catalysts and applications thereof until the beginning of the 21st century. Pioneering contributions with these powerful catalysts were reported by the groups of O’Donnell [27], Lygo [28], and Corey [29]. The turn of the

An efficient Pd–NHC catalyst system in situ generated from Na₂PdCl₄ and PEG-functionalized imidazolium salts for Mizoroki–Heck reactions in water

• Nan Sun,
• Meng Chen,
• Liqun Jin,
• Wei Zhao,
• Baoxiang Hu,
• Zhenlu Shen and
• Xinquan Hu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1735–1744, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.168

• polymers from the polymerization of ethylene oxide [67]. Owing to their significant advantages, including widely commercial availability, biocompatibility, chemical and thermal stability and ease to be derived, PEGs have been widely used as phase-transfer catalysts (PTC) or in the preparation of water

Automating multistep flow synthesis: approach and challenges in integrating chemistry, machines and logic

• Chinmay A. Shukla and
• Amol A. Kulkarni

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 960–987, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.97

• reactions). In single-phase homogeneous reactions, the reactants and products are soluble in the solvent or the reaction medium. Multiphase reactions involve two or more immiscible phases like G-L [7], L-L [8], G-L-L, L-S [9] and G-L-S [4] reactions. Sometimes for such reactions, phase-transfer catalysts

The synthesis of α-aryl-α-aminophosphonates and α-aryl-α-aminophosphine oxides by the microwave-assisted Pudovik reaction

• Erika Bálint,
• Ádám Tajti,
• Anna Ádám,
• István Csontos,
• Konstantin Karaghiosoff,
• Mátyás Czugler,
• Péter Ábrányi-Balogh and
• György Keglevich

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 76–86, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.10

• -transfer catalysts [25] were reported. The enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of imines was also described, where chiral catalysts were applied in various solvents [26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. There are a few examples, where the reactions were performed in a solvent in the absence of any catalyst [33

• use of many types of catalysts, such as acids (HCOOH) [15] or bases (NaOH [16], 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) [17], tetramethylguanidine (TMG) [18][19]), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride [20], metal salts (MgSO4) [21], CdI2 [22]), metal complexes (BF3·EtO2 [23][24], t-PcAlCl [15]), and phase

New approaches to organocatalysis based on C–H and C–X bonding for electrophilic substrate activation

• Pavel Nagorny and
• Zhankui Sun

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2834–2848, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.283

• tetraalkylammonium and alkylpyridinium salts as C–H hydrogen bond donors While quaternary ammonium salts have extensively been used as phase transfer catalysts to activate ionic nucleophiles, recent studies suggest that these compounds can also serve as effective hydrogen bond donors. In 1993 Reetz and co-workers

Radical polymerization by a supramolecular catalyst: cyclodextrin with a RAFT reagent

• Kohei Koyanagi,
• Yoshinori Takashima,
• Takashi Nakamura,
• Hiroyasu Yamaguchi and
• Akira Harada

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2495–2502, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.244

• have been used in the hydrolysis of activated esters [16][17][18][19] and as phase-transfer catalysts [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Moreover, via complex formation, modern supramolecular catalysts [29][30][31][32][33] have been used to achieve various highly efficient and selective reactions

A chiral analog of the bicyclic guanidine TBD: synthesis, structure and Brønsted base catalysis

• Mariano Goldberg,
• Denis Sartakov,
• Jan W. Bats,
• Michael Bolte and
• Michael W. Göbel

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1870–1876, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.176

• natural products, have been used as chiral phase-transfer catalysts [12][13]. Bicyclic guanidines with five-membered rings are also known from the alkaloid isoalchornein [14][15]. In subsequent years, synthetic compounds (6–9) of this structural type have been developed as chiral Brønsted bases [16][17