Skip to main content

Nucleophilic Carbenes as Organocatalysts

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Organocatalysis

Part of the book series: Ernst Schering Foundation Symposium Proceedings ((SCHERING FOUND,volume 2007/2))

Abstract

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have become an important class of organocatalysts and class of ligands for transition-metal catalysis. In organocatalyzed umpolung reactions, thiazolium salt-derived NHC have been used successfully for decades. Even so, during recent years there has been an increased interest in NHC-catalyzed transformations and many new reactions have been developed. This article focuses on the use of NHC in the conjugate umpolung of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Altenhoff G, Goddard R, Lehmann CW, Glorius F (2003) Ein N-heterocyclischer Carbenligand mit flexiblem sterischem Anspruch ermöglicht die Suzuki-Kreuzkupplung sterisch gehinderter Arylchloride bei Raumtemperatur. Angew Chem 115:3818–3821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altenhoff G, Goddard R, Lehmann CW, Glorius F (2004) Sterically demanding, bioxazoline-derived N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with restricted flexibility for catalysis. J Am Chem Soc 126:15195–15201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Altenhoff G, Würtz S, Glorius F (2006) The first palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of unactivated secondary alkyl bromides. Tetrahedron Lett 47:2925–2928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arduengo AJ 3rd (1999) Looking for stable carbenes: the difficulty in starting anew. Acc Chem Res 32:913–921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arduengo AJ 3rd, Harlow RL, Kline M (1991) A stable crystalline carbene. J Am Chem Soc 113:361–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arduengo AJ 3rd, Krafczyk R (1998) The quest for stable carbenes. Chem Unserer Zeit 32:6–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berkessel A, Gröger H (2004) Asymmetric Organocatalysis. VCH, Weinheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourissou D, Guerret O, Gabbaï FP, Bertrand G (2000) Stable carbenes. Chem Rev 100:39–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Breslow RJ (1958) On the mechanism of thiamine action. IV. Evidence from studies on model systems. J Am Chem Soc 80:3719–3726

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burstein C, Glorius F (2004) Organocatalyzed conjugate umpolung of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactones. Angew Chem Int Ed 43:6205–6208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burstein C, Lehmann CW, Glorius F (2005) Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-3-ylidenes-pyridine derived N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. Tetrahedron 61:6207–6217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burstein C, Tschan S, Xie X, Glorius F (2006) N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed conjugate umpolung for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactones. Synthesis 2006:2418–2439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavell KJ, McGuiness DS (2004) Redox processes involving hydrocarbylmetal (N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes and associated imidazolium salts: ramifications for catalysis. Coord Chem Rev 248:671–681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan A, Scheidt KA (2005) Conversion of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes into saturated esters: an umpolung reaction catalyzed by nucleophilic carbenes. Org Lett 7:905–908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiang OC, Kaeobamrung J, Bode JW (2007) Enantioselective, cyclopentene-forming annulations via NHC-catalyzed benzoin-oxy-cope reactions. J Am Chem Soc 129:3520–3521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chow KYK, Bode JW (2004) Catalytic generation of activated carboxylates: direct, stereoselective synthesis of β-hydroxyesters from. J Am Chem Soc 126:8126–8127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann M (2005) New developments in the asymmetric stetter reaction. Angew Chem Int Ed 44:2632–2634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalko PI, Moisan L (2001) Enantioselective organocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 40:3726–3748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalko PI, Moisan L (2004) In the golden age of organocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 43:5138–5175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dudding T, Houk KN (2004) Computational predictions of stereochemistry in asymmetric thiazolium- and triazolium-catalyzed benzoin condensations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:5770–5775

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enders D, Balensiefer T (2004) Nucleophilic carbenes in asymmetric organocatalysis. Acc Chem Res 37:534–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enders D, Kallfass U (2002) An efficient nucleophilic carbene catalyst for the asymmetric benzoin condensation. Angew Chem Int Ed 41:1743–1745

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enders D, Niemeier O (2004) Thiazol-2-ylidene catalysis in intramolecular crossed aldehyde-ketone benzoin reactions. Synlett 2004:2111–2114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enders D, Niemeier O, Balensiefer T (2006) Asymmetric intramolecular crossed-benzoin reactions by N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 45:1463–1467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer C, Smith SW, Powell DA, Fu GC (2006) Umpolung of Michael acceptors catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes. J Am Chem Soc 128:1472–4173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glorius F (2007) (ed) N-Heterocyclic carbenes in transition metal catalysis. (Topics in Organometalic Chemistry, vol 28) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Glorius F, Altenhoff G, Goddard R, Lehmann C (2002) Oxazolines as chiral building blocks for imidazolium salts and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. Chem Comm 2002:2704–2705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hachisu Y, Bode JW, Suzuki K (2003) Catalytic intramolecular crossed aldehyde-ketone benzoin reactions: a novel synthesis of functionalized preanthraquinones. J Am Chem Soc 125:8432–8433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hachisu Y, Bode JW, Suzuki K (2004) Thiazolium ylide-catalyzed intramolecular aldehyde-ketone benzoin-forming reactions: substrate scope. Adv Synth Catal 346:1097–1100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He M, Bode JW (2005) Catalytic synthesis of γ-lactams via direct annulations of enals and N-sulfonylimines. Org Lett 7:3131–3134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He M, Struble JR, Bode JW (2006) Highly enantioselective azadiene Diels–Alder reactions catalyzed by chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes. J Am Chem Soc 128:8418–8420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrmann WA (2002) N-Heterocyclic carbenes: a new concept in organometallic catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 41:1290–1309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrmann WA, Elison M, Fischer J, Köcher C, Artus GRJ (1995) Metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes—a new structural principle for catalysts in homogeneous catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 34:2371–2374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrmann WA, Köcher C (1997) N-Heterocyclic carbenes. Angew Chem Int Ed 36:2162–2187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillier AC, Grasa GA, Viciu MS, Lee HM, Yang CL, Nolan SP (2002) Catalytic cross-coupling reactions mediated by palladium/nucleophilic carbene systems. J Organomet Chem 653:69–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Igau A, Grützmacher H, Baceiredo A, Bertrand G (1988) Analogous α,α′-bis-carbenoid triply bonded species: synthesis of a stable λ3-phosphinocarbene-λ5-phosphaacetylene. J Am Chem Soc 110:6463–6466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JS (2004) Catalyzed reactions of acyl anion equivalents. Angew Chem Int Ed 43:1326–1328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapworth A (1903) XCVI—Reactions involving the addition of hydrogen cyanide to carbon compounds. J Chem Soc 83:995–1005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maki BE, Chan A, Phillips EM, Scheidt KA (2007) Tandem oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols to esters catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes. Org Lett 9:371–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nair V, Vellalath S, Poonoth M, Suresh E (2006a) N-Heterocyclic carbene catalyzed reaction of enals and 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds: stereoselective synthesis of spiro γ-butyrolactones. Org Lett 8:507–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nair V, Vellalath S, Poonoth M, Suresh E (2006b) N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed reaction of chalcones and enals via homoenolate: an efficient synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted cyclopentenes. J Am Chem Soc 128:8736–8737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nolan SP (ed) (2006) N-Heterocyclic carbenes in synthesis. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Peris E, Crabtree RH (2004) Recent homogeneous catalytic applications of chelate and pincer N-heterocyclic carbenes. Coord Chem Rev 248:2239–2246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pesch J, Harms K, Bach T (2004) Preparation of axially chiral N,N′-diarylimidazolium and N-arylthiazolium salts and evaluation of their catalytic potential in the benzoin and in the intramolecular stetter reactions. Eur J Chem 9:2025–2035

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips EM, Wadamoto M, Chan A, Scheidt KA (2007) A highly enantioselective intramolecular michael reaction catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:3107–3110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds NT, Read de Alaniz J, Rovis T (2004) Conversion of α-haloaldehydes into acylating agents by an internal redox reaction catalyzed by nucleophilic carbenes. J Am Chem Soc 126:9518–9519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynoldt NT, Rovis T (2005) Enantioselective protonation of catalytically generated chiral enolates as an approach to the synthesis of α-chloroesters. J Am Chem Soc 127:16406–16407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson MD, Kamplain JW, Bielawski CW (2006) Quinone-annulated N-heterocyclic carbene-transition-metal complexes: observation of π-backbonding using FT-IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. J Am Chem Soc 128:16514–16515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schrader W, Handayani PP, Burstein C, Glorius F (2007) Investigating organocatalytic reactions: mass spectrometric studies of a conjugate umpolung reaction. Chem Comm 2007:716–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seayad J, List B (2005) Asymmetric organocatalysis. Org Biomol Chem 3:719–724

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seitz M, Reiser O (2005) Synthetic approaches towards structurally diverse γ-butyrolactone natural-product-like compounds. Curr Opin Chem Biol 9:285–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn SS, Bode JW (2005) Catalytic generation of activated carboxylates from enals: a product-determining role for the base. Org Lett 7:3873–3876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn SS, Rosen EL, Bode JW (2004) N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed generation of homoenolates: γ-butyrolactones by direct annulations of enals and aldehydes. J Am Chem Soc 126:14370–14371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stetter H, Kuhlmann H (1976) Addition von aliphatischen, heterocyclischen und aromatischen Aldehyden an α,β-ungesättigte Ketone, Nitrile und Ester. Chem Ber 109:2890–2896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tewes F, Schlecker A, Harms K, Glorius F (2007) Carbohydrate-containing N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. J Organomet Chem 692:4593–4602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wöhler F, Liebig J (1832) Untersuchungen über das Radikal der Benzoesäure. Ann Pharm 3:249–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitler K (2005) Extending mechanistic routes in heterazolium catalysis-promising concepts for versatile synthetic methods. Angew Chemie Int Ed 44:7506–7510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitler K (2006) Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters via carbene-catalyzed redox esterification. Org Lett 8:637–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Generous financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Priority program organocatalysis), the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (Dozentenstipendium for F.G.), the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (fellowship for K.H.) and the BASF AG (BASF Catalysis Award to F.G.) as well as donations by Bayer AG are gratefully acknowledged. In addition, the research of F.G. was also generously supported by the Alfried Krupp Prize for Young University Teachers of the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Glorius .

Editor information

M.T. Reetz B. List S. Jaroch H. Weinmann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag

About this paper

Cite this paper

Glorius, F., Hirano, K. (2008). Nucleophilic Carbenes as Organocatalysts. In: Reetz, M., List, B., Jaroch, S., Weinmann, H. (eds) Organocatalysis. Ernst Schering Foundation Symposium Proceedings, vol 2007/2. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/2789_2008_081

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics