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We have developed and investigated a catalytic desymmetrization reaction strategy that affords functionalized decalin derivatives with high enantioselectivities from C2-symmetric derivatives through aldol–aldol annulation. We identified the structural moieties of the catalyst necessary for the formation of the decalin derivative with high enantioselectivity. We elucidated the mechanisms of the catalyzed reactions: the first aldol reaction step was reversible, and the second aldol step was rate-limiting and stereochemistry-determining and was enantioselective. Using theoretical calculations guided by the experimental results, we identified the interactions between the catalyst and the transition state that led to the major enantiomer. The information obtained in this study will be useful for the development of catalysts and chemical transformations.

C-Glycoside derivatives are found in pharmaceuticals, glycoconjugates, probes, and other functional molecules. Thus, C-glycosidation of unprotected carbohydrates is of interest. Here the development of C-glycosidation reactions of unprotected di- and trisaccharide aldopyranoses with various ketones is reported. The reactions were performed using catalyst systems composed of pyrrolidine and boric acid under mild conditions. Carbohydrates used for the C-glycosidation included lactose, maltose, cellobiose, 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, and maltotriose. Using ketones with functional groups, C-glycosides ketones bearing the functional groups were obtained. The pyrolidine-boric acid catalysis conditions did not alter the stereochemistry of non-C-C bond formation positions of the carbohydrates and led to the formation of the C-glycosidation products with high diastereoselectivity. For the C-glycosidation of the carbohydrates under the pyrrolidine-boric acid-catalysis, the hydroxy group at the 6-position of the reacting aldopyranose was necessary to afford the product. Our analyses suggest that the carbohydrates form iminium ions with pyrrolidine and that boric acid forms B-O covalent bonds with the carbohydrates during the catalysis to forward the C-C bond formation.

We have developed a new type of fluorogenic aldehyde bearing a 1,2,3-triazole moiety that is useful for monitoring the progress of aldol reactions through an increase in fluorescence. Whereas 6-methoxy-2-naphthaldehyde was highly fluorescent, the fluorogenic aldehyde, 4-formylbenzene connected to the 6-methoxy-2-naphthyl group through a 1,2,3-triazole moiety, was essentially nonfluorescent in aqueous solutions. We suggest that the 4-formylphenyl group acts as a quencher to suppress the fluorescence of the 6-methoxy-2-naphthyltriazole moiety. The product of the aldol reaction of this aldehyde does not have a quenching moiety and showed more than 800-fold higher fluorescence than the aldehyde. Assay systems using the fluorogenic aldehyde were validated by screening of aldol catalysts, ranking of the activities of the catalysts, and evaluation of reaction conditions.

Dihydroxyacetone variants have been explored as donors in organocatalytic aldol reactions with various aldehyde and ketone acceptors. The protected form of dihydroxyacetone that was chosen for in-depth study was 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one, 1. Among the catalysts surveyed here, proline proved to be superior in terms of yield and stereoselectivities in the construction of various carbohydrate scaffolds. In a fashion analogous to aldolase enzymes, the de novo preparation of L-ribulose, L-lyxose, D-ribose, D-tagatose, 1-amino-1-deoxy-D-lyxitol, and other carbohydrates was accomplished via the use of 1 and proline. In reactions using 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one 1 as a donor, (S)-proline can be used as a functional mimic of tagatose aldolase, whereas (R)-proline can be regarded as an organocatalytic mimic of fuculose aldolase.

The unprecedented application of unmodified aldehydes as nucleophilic donors in direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions is disclosed in a full account. Our efforts in broadening the applicability of chiral pyrrolidine-based catalysts in direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions led to the highly diastereo- and enantioselective and concise synthesis of functionalized alpha- and beta-amino acids, beta-lactams, and amino alcohols.

Cyclic imine derivatives that react with phenols, including tyrosine residues of peptides, have been developed. Reactions of the imines with phenols proceeded in water over a wide pH range (pH 2-10) at room temperature to 37 degrees C and afforded Mannich products without the need of additional catalysts.

Fluorogenic imines and their precursor amines that can be used for fluorescent visualization of Mannich-type reactions of phenols in aqueous buffers have been developed. The precursor amines are aniline derivatives that are covalently conjugated to fluorophores. These amines and their imine derivatives were nonfluorescent or very weakly fluorescent. On the other hand, addition products of the imines to phenols showed more than 100-fold higher fluorescence than the imines and the precursor amines.