Stereoselective Reduction of α-Keto Ester and α-Keto Amide with Marine Actinomycetes, Salinispora strains, as Novel Biocatalysts

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael-type reaction between β,γ-unsaturated α-keto ester and α-nitro ketone.

A Michael-type reaction of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto ester and α-nitro ketone was established. With a thiourea catalyst derived from cinchona alkaloid, the reactions afford products in 47-94% yields with 68-96% ee.

Stereochemical Control of Yeast Reduction of α-Keto Esters in an Organic Solvent

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of O-methyl ketoximes with α-keto acids.

A mild, practical and efficient palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative ortho-acylation of O-methyl ketoximes with α-keto acids via C-H bond activation is described. In these reactions, a broad range of O-methyl ketoximes and α-keto acids undergoes the decarboxylative cross-coupling reactions with high selectivities and good tolerance.

Asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with α-fluoro-β-keto esters

In the presence of a commercially available Cinchona alkaloid as catalyst, the asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates, with α-fluoro-β-keto esters as nucleophiles, have been successfully developed. A series of important fluorinated adducts, with chiral quaternary carbon centres containing a fluorine atom, was achieved in good yields (up to 93%), with good to excellent...

Copper-catalyzed cascade reactions of α,β-unsaturated esters with keto esters

A copper-catalyzed cascade reaction of α,β-unsaturated esters with keto esters is reported. It features a copper-catalyzed reductive aldolization followed by a lactonization. This method provides a facile approach to prepare γ-carboxymethyl-γ-lactones and δ-carboxymethyl-δ-lactones under mild reaction conditions.