Because carbonyl groups are ubiquitous in organic chemistry, the ability to synthesize functionalized carbonyl compounds, particularly enantioselectively, is an important objective. We have developed a straightforward and versatile method for catalytic asymmetric carbon–carbon bond formation at the γ-position of carbonyl compounds, specifically, phosphine-catalyzed additions of malonate esters ...

Because carbonyl groups can participate in both hydrogen bonds and n→π* interactions, these two interactions likely affect one another. Herein, enhancement of an amidic n→π* interaction is shown to reduce the ability of β-keto amides to tautomerize to the enol, indicating decreased hydrogen-bonding capacity of the amide carbonyl group. Thus, an n→π* interaction can have a significant effect on ...

Because carbonyl groups are ubiquitous in organic chemistry, the ability to synthesize functionalized carbonyl compounds, particularly enantioselectively, is an important objective. We have developed a straightforward and versatile method for catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation at the γ-position of carbonyl compounds, specifically, phosphine-catalyzed additions of malonate esters ...

Natural availability of carbonyl groups offers reductive carbonyl coupling tremendous synthetic potential for efficient olefin synthesis, yet the catalytic carbonyl cross-coupling remains largely elusive. We report herein such a reaction, mediated by hydrazine under ruthenium(ii) catalysis. This method enables facile and selective cross-couplings of two unsymmetrical carbonyl compounds in eithe...

Equilibria between carbonyl compounds and their enamines (from O-TBDPS-derived prolinol) have been examined by NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d(6). By comparing the exchange reactions between pairs (enamine A + carbonyl B → carbonyl A + enamine B), a quite general scale of the tendency of carbonyl groups to form enamines has been established. Aldehydes quickly give enamines that are relatively more s...

Carbonyl-carbonyl interactions between adjacent backbone amides have been implicated in the conformational stability of proteins. By combining experimental and computational approaches, we show that relevant amidic carbonyl groups associate through an n→π* donor-acceptor interaction with an energy of at least 0.27 kcal/mol. The n→π* interaction between two thioamides is 3-fold stronger than bet...

The carbonyl group holds a prominent position in chemistry and biology not only because it allows diverse transformations but also because it supports key intermolecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding. More recently, carbonyl groups have been found to interact with a variety of nucleophiles, including other carbonyl groups, in what we have termed an n→π* interaction. In an n→π* intera...