At the outset, polymer supported organocatalysts (Proline and BINOL based) have been synthesized to test them for enantioselective cyclisation reactions. Merging polymer-supported asymmetric organocatalysis with continuous flow in a packed bed reactor affords many advantages, thus it has been used as the key, enantiodetermining step in a short synthesis of indoloquinolizidines. Using this approach, first a highly enantioselective, solvent-free conjugate addition of dimethyl malonate to a diverse family of cinnamaldehydes in continuous flow, allowing the preparation of relevant oxodiesters in multigram amounts, has been developed. The obtained Michael adducts have been used to complete an expedient diastereoselective synthesis of indoloquinolizidine via cascade Pictet- Splengler cyclisation-lactamisation in continuous flow. Additionally, polymer-supported phosphoric acid (TRIP)-catalyzed first enantioselective Pictet-Spenlger reaction of tryptamines and diketo compounds has been accomplished in batch/continuous flow. Using the stated approach, a diverse library of quaternary tryptolines has been synthesized in good to excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses. Moreover, the scalability for the reaction has been attained utilizing an expedient continuous flow process with residence time of only 24 minutes. The robust immobilized catalyst has been recycled and reused multiple times in batch/flow. Additionally, the synthesis of the chiral precursor of Tadalafil and Iboga-type alkaloid (+)-Tabertinggine, as well as antimalarial spiroindolinones, has been achieved in batch/continuous-flow.
Exploitation and dissemination:
Talk/Oral communications/Poster presentation during MSCA-IF program:
1) Oral communication entitled “Immobilized organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition in batch/flow: Diastereoselective synthesis of diverse indoloquinolizidines in flow” at International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC 2022), La Rochelle, France (16-20 May, 2022), in-person conference.
2) Poster presentation at “8th Conference on Frontiers in Organic Synthesis Technology” (FROST-8) by Flow Chemistry Society, Budapest, Hungary (24-26 November, 2021), in-person conference.
3) Invited talk entitled “Polymer supported asymmetric organocataylsis in continuous-flow: A powerful strategy for process intensification” international e-conference 2022 on current research in chemistry and nanosciences, India, virtual conference.
4) Invited talk in international e-conference on “Merging Continuous Flow Chemistry and Supported Catalysis for the Synthesis of Bioactive Molecules” at Department of Chemistry, A. S. & C. College, Manmad, Nashik, India (21/09/2021), virtual conference.