Ni-Catalyzed Diastereoconvergent Intramolecular Alkene-Aldehyde Reductive Coupling: A Route to syn-Chromanols

Org Lett. 2024 May 10;26(18):4024-4029. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01428. Epub 2024 Apr 26.

Abstract

We demonstrate for the first time a nickel-catalyzed diastereoconvergent reductive coupling of a heteroatom-attached allyl moiety with aldehydes, viz., O-allyl, O-cinnamyl salicylaldehydes, and others, to afford syn-chromanols exclusively. The reaction proceeds through a [2 + 2 + 1] oxidative cycloaddition involving the active catalyst. This method is applicable to both terminal and internal olefin substrates. The formal syntheses of CP-199.330, CP-199.331, and CP-85.958 have been demonstrated. Control experiments, mass spectrometric analysis, and DFT studies supported the plausible mechanism and the origin of exclusive syn-selectivity.