Bismuth-catalyzed addition of silyl nucleophiles to carbonyl compounds and imines

Abstract

Bismuth triflate was found to be an efficient catalyst both in the Mannich-type reaction of silyl enolates and in the Sakurai reaction of allyltrimethylsilane with N-alkoxycarbonylamino sulfones. The reactions proceeded smoothly with a low catalyst loading of Bi(OTf)(3)·4H(2)O (0.5-5.0 mol%) to afford the corresponding protected β-amino carbonyl compounds and homoallylic amines in very good yields (up to 96%). The latter compounds could also be obtained via a bismuth-mediated three-component reaction. We have also developed an efficient vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan with various aromatic aldehydes mediated by bismuth triflate in a low catalyst loading (1 mol%). The reaction proceeds rapidly and affords the corresponding 5-[hydroxy(aryl)methyl]furan-2(5H)-ones in high yields with good to very good diastereoselectivities (diastereoisomeric ratios>98:2). Such selectivities, although previously reported with other Lewis acids, could be achieved with a much lower catalyst loading. 5-[Hydroxy(alkyl)methyl]furan-2(5H)-ones derived from ketones could also be obtained with good diastereoselectivities. The vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction has also been extended to 2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-4-(trimethyl-silyloxy)-1,3-diox-4-ene using 1 mol% of Bi(OTf)(3)·4H(2)O.