Copper(I)-Catalyzed Stereodivergent Propargylation of N-Acetyl Mannosamine for Protecting Group Minimal Synthesis of C3-Substituted Sialic Acids.

Copper(I)-catalyzed stereodivergent nucleophilic propargylation at the anomeric carbon of unprotected N-acetyl mannosamine was developed using 3-substituted allenylboronates as a nucleophile. The homopropargylic alcohol products contained two contiguous stereocenters, and two stereoisomers out of the four possible isomers were selectively obtained in a catalyst-controlled manner by applying either basic conditions: a MesCu/(R,R,R)-Ph-SKP catalyst with a B(OiPr)3 additive or acidic conditions: a CuBF4/(S,S,S)-Ph-SKP catalyst with an MeB(OiPr)2 additive. Mechanistic studies suggested the presence of distinct active nucleophilic species depending on the conditions: an allenylcopper species under the basic conditions or an allenylboronate activated by the Lewis acidic copper catalyst under the acidic conditions. The propargylation products were concisely transformed into C3-substituted sialic acids in two steps without the use of protecting groups.