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Several novel heterocycles have been constructed asymmetrically on the basis of a catalytic Ugi-type condensation of α-isocyanoacetamide and chiral cyclic imine. The combination of phenylphosphilic acid and trifluoroethanol is exploited to promote an Ugi-type reaction with α-isocyanoacetamide for the first time. By means of this reaction, chiral 3-oxazolyl morpholin-2-one/piperazin-2-one derivatives are synthesized with high yields and excellent stereoselectivities. As electron-rich azadienes, these condensation products are further transformed to fused tricyclic frameworks by treatment with appropriate dienophiles such as maleic anhydride and unsaturated acyl chlorides via domino processes. Moreover, a one-pot, three-component synthesis of the chiral tricyclic frameworks from isocyanoacetamide, imine, and maleic anhydride is also feasible.

A series of chiral 5,6-dihydro-1,4-oxazin-2-one substrates, as preformed cyclic aldimines and ketoimines, were employed to develop a new asymmetric Ugi three-component reaction for the first time. The Ugi reaction of the imines, isocyanides, and carboxylic acids opens an efficient access to novel morpholin-2-one-3-carboxamide compounds. The chiral imines showed promising stereoinduction for the new chiral center of the Ugi products, and predominant trans-isomers were obtained in the most cases. Addition of some Lewis acids or proton acids could improve the diastereoselectivity further but usually led to a drop in total yield. The Ugi-3CR could be extended to the stereoselective synthesis of ketopiperazine-2-carboxamide derivatives.

An efficient synthesis of a fully functionalized tetracycle (A-B-C-H) 7 containing a 1,4-bridged 10-membered lactone was developed. Phenolic aldol condensation between 2-methylsesamol (15) and Garner's aldehyde provided the protected amino diol 16, which was converted to free amine 11 in excellent yield. A Pictet-Spengler reaction between 11 and ethyl glyoxylate under carefully controlled conditions (LiCl, toluene, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, room temperature) provided the acid-sensitive tetrahydroisoquinoline (18) in high yield, which was converted to the amino alcohol 9. Enantioselective alkylation of a glycine template in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral cinchonidium salt was the key step for the access of enantiomerically pure amino aldehyde 10. Union of the two fragments 9 and 10 via oxazolidine intermediate afforded amino nitrile 39, which upon esterification of the primary alcohol with (R)-N-(S-4,4',4' '-trimethoxyltrityl) Cys (42) afforded 43. Cyclization of 43 (1% trifluoroacetic acid in trifluoroethanol) provided compound 44 by a domino process involving (a) unmasking of the S-trimethoxytrityl group, (b) fragmentation of dioxane assisted by an electron-rich aromatic ring, and (c) formation of a 1,4-bridged 10-membered lactone via formation of a sulfide linkage. Treatment of 7, obtained in two steps from 44b, under acidic conditions (0.5% methyl sulfonic acid in acetonitrile) afforded the pentacyclic compound 51 via fragmentation of the 10-membered cyclic sulfide followed by an intramolecular Pictet-Spengler reaction.