Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation

Abstract The activation of C—C bonds enables rapid construction of new organic frameworks owing to facile structural reorganization. Nevertheless, enantioselective C—C activation remains heavily underexplored and has been predominantly limited to intramolecular reactions. We herein report two catego...

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Main Authors: Huilai Liu, Zisong Qi, Yue Shi, Wei Wang, Fen Wang, Zhi-Wen Ding, Ai-Qun Jia, Genping Huang, Xingwei Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60109-5
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author Huilai Liu
Zisong Qi
Yue Shi
Wei Wang
Fen Wang
Zhi-Wen Ding
Ai-Qun Jia
Genping Huang
Xingwei Li
author_facet Huilai Liu
Zisong Qi
Yue Shi
Wei Wang
Fen Wang
Zhi-Wen Ding
Ai-Qun Jia
Genping Huang
Xingwei Li
author_sort Huilai Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The activation of C—C bonds enables rapid construction of new organic frameworks owing to facile structural reorganization. Nevertheless, enantioselective C—C activation remains heavily underexplored and has been predominantly limited to intramolecular reactions. We herein report two categories of asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulations between benzocyclobutenones (BCBs) and unsaturated reagents, namely, alkynes and cyclic dicarbonyl compounds. The atroposelective coupling of BCB with several classes of sterically hindered alkynes afford C—N and C—C axially chiral 2-naphthols. The [4 + 2] annulation of BCBs and α-dicarbonyls afford spirocyclic products. Both coupling systems proceed efficiently with excellent regio-, chemo- and enantioselectivity via substrate activation and judicious choice of chiral bidentate phosphine ligands. Synthetic transformations of selected products are demonstrated, and the derived chiral products are shown to be useful additives in C—H bond activation or as ligands in Pd-catalyzed C—C coupling.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-74b5fbb97e7b4481bfbf3e793112f9b32025-08-20T03:37:38ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-60109-5Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activationHuilai Liu0Zisong Qi1Yue Shi2Wei Wang3Fen Wang4Zhi-Wen Ding5Ai-Qun Jia6Genping Huang7Xingwei Li8Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU)Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU)Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin UniversityKey Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU)Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU)Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityHainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin UniversityKey Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU)Abstract The activation of C—C bonds enables rapid construction of new organic frameworks owing to facile structural reorganization. Nevertheless, enantioselective C—C activation remains heavily underexplored and has been predominantly limited to intramolecular reactions. We herein report two categories of asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulations between benzocyclobutenones (BCBs) and unsaturated reagents, namely, alkynes and cyclic dicarbonyl compounds. The atroposelective coupling of BCB with several classes of sterically hindered alkynes afford C—N and C—C axially chiral 2-naphthols. The [4 + 2] annulation of BCBs and α-dicarbonyls afford spirocyclic products. Both coupling systems proceed efficiently with excellent regio-, chemo- and enantioselectivity via substrate activation and judicious choice of chiral bidentate phosphine ligands. Synthetic transformations of selected products are demonstrated, and the derived chiral products are shown to be useful additives in C—H bond activation or as ligands in Pd-catalyzed C—C coupling.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60109-5
spellingShingle Huilai Liu
Zisong Qi
Yue Shi
Wei Wang
Fen Wang
Zhi-Wen Ding
Ai-Qun Jia
Genping Huang
Xingwei Li
Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
Nature Communications
title Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
title_full Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
title_fullStr Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
title_full_unstemmed Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
title_short Catalytic asymmetric intermolecular [4 + 2] annulation of benzocyclobutenones with Alkynes and activated carbonyls via C—C activation
title_sort catalytic asymmetric intermolecular 4 2 annulation of benzocyclobutenones with alkynes and activated carbonyls via c c activation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60109-5
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