Efficacy of Selenourea Organocatalysts in Asymmetric Michael Reactions under Standard and Solvent-Free Conditions

Abstract

By varying the steric and electronic surroundings of the hydrogen-bonding motif, the novel chiral Cinchona-alkaloid based selenoureas were developed. Acting as bifunctional catalysts, they were applied in the Michael reactions of dithiomalonate and nitrostyrene providing chiral adducts with up to 96% ee. The asymmetric Michael–-hemiacetalization reaction of benzylidene pyruvate and dimedone, performed with the assistance of 5 mol% of selenoureas, furnished the product with up to 93% ee and excellent yields. The effectiveness of the new hydrogen-bond donors was also proved in solvent-free reactions under ball mill conditions, supporting the sustainability of the devised catalytic protocol.

1. Introduction

The asymmetric Michael addition reaction is widely recognized as one of the most important synthetic methods for the formation of C−C bonds [1]. In recent years, the organocatalytic version of this reaction deserves great attention. After the pioneering work of Jacobsen and Takemoto [2,3], significant progress has been made in the development and application of bifunctional chiral thiourea catalysts in catalytic asymmetric reactions. Subsequently, an inexpensive and readily available Cinchona alkaloid has been used as a chiral scaffold for the synthesis of thiourea catalysts and proved effective in several asymmetric reactions with excellent enantioselectivity [4,5].

Following the trend of the application of ureas that were successfully replaced by the thioureas, the natural consequence was the application of selenoureas. We were, thus, intrigued by how the change of hydrogen-bonding affinity of selenoureas in a chiral framework would impact the chirality transfer in comparison to well-developed thioureas. Nevertheless, to our surprise, the application of chiral selenoureas as hydrogen-bond donors in organocatalysis has remained rather scarcely reported. Only a single example of the application of a selenourea derivative as a chiral catalyst in the asymmetric Michael addition of α-nitrocyclohexane to aryl nitroalkenes was provided by Bolm et al. [6]. Recently, we have modified the Cinchona alkaloid scaffold by substituting the thiourea with a selenourea moiety, reporting the first example of the asymmetric Michael addition catalyzed by Cinchona-based selenoureas [7]. Our preliminary attempts at organocatalyzed Michael addition of nitromethane and thioacetic acid to trans-chalcone resulted in low-to-excellent yields and enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions. For some transformations requiring long reaction times, the catalysts may have degraded, causing a further deterioration of the reaction outcome performed in solution (standard conditions). We hypothesized that the application of solvent-free conditions under ball-milling might substantially shorten the reaction time hampering, and thus decrease the catalyst decomposition.

In this context, we attempted the evaluation of the Cinchona-derived selenoureas activity as organocatalysts in the asymmetric Michael reactions under solvent-free conditions, performing reactions under ball-mill conditions. This mechanochemical technique has received significant research interest in synthetic chemistry [8,9,10,11,12], especially in asymmetric organocatalysis, including Michael reactions [13,14,15,16,17]. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to H-bonding-mediated enantioselective Michael additions using bifunctional Cinchona-based organocatalysts [18,19], which is surprising, because the ball-milling proved to be a superior technique for applying the various thiourea-based organocatalysts [20].

Herewith, we would like to report the seminal report on asymmetric Michael additions of dithiomalonate to nitrostyrene and dimedone to β,γ-unsaturated α-keto ester catalyzed by a novel Cinchona-derived selenourea catalysts under standard and solvent-free conditions. The efficiency of the selenoureas will be discussed to compare their chirality-transfer abilities with those provided by thioureas. The question of their applicability in the hydrogen-bonding catalysis under solvent-free conditions using ball-milling will also be addressed.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Synthesis of Cinchona Selenoureas

Cinchona alkaloid-based selenoureas 5a–k were prepared from isoselenocyanates 3a–e and 9-epi-aminoalkaloids 4a–e, according to a procedure described in our previous publications [7]. The 9-Amino-(9-deoxy)-epialkaloids 4a–e were obtained in good yields (65–75%) from naturally occurring Cinchona alkaloids, following the literature procedure [21,22]. Alkyl and aryl isoselenocyanates 3a–e were synthesized in a three-step protocol (Scheme 1) that involved the N-formylation of the commercially available amines with formic acid in toluene (amines 1a–c) or in methyl formate (amines 1d and 1e), followed by the conversion of the formamides 2a–e into isocyanides upon dehydration with POCl₃ in the presence of NEt₃ in dichloromethane [23]. Next, black selenium powder was added at once and the corresponding mixture was stirred in DCM at 45 °C in darkness, affording isoselenocyanates 3a–e in good yields (62–88%).

Finally, the desired selenoureas 5a–k (Figure 1) were obtained in high yields (75–95%), furnishing the potential catalysts derivatizing the selenourea character (5d and 5e), the alkaloid core (5c and 5g) in a quinine-based series, along with analogous modifications of quinidine-based congeners (5h–k, Figure 1). In addition, the two thioureas (6a and 6b) were synthesized to provide an alternative hydrogen-bonding unit to compare the effectiveness of the selenoureas versus the thioureas in the tested reactions.

2.2. Bifunctional Selenourea-Based Catalysts in Various Conjugate Additions

In an attempt to evaluate the catalytic activity of the selenoureas 5a–5k, Michael addition reactions with differing nucleophile structures (acyclic 8 and cyclic dimedone 11) and the electrophilicity of the Michael acceptor were chosen as test reactions. Moreover, two different approaches for asymmetric reactions under a conventional organic solvents medium and solvent-free reactions driving the reaction progress by mechanical energy (mechanochemistry) were presented.

Initially, the asymmetric Michael addition between S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 and trans-β-nitrostyrene 7 was examined in the presence of 5 mol% of the catalysts 5 and 6 in toluene at 273 K (Scheme 2). The selenourea catalysts 5a–k afforded Michael adducts in nearly quantitative yields, except for catalyst 5k, for which application led to the product with an 89% yield. However, a good-to-excellent enantiomeric excess, ranging from 85% to 96% ee, was noted for all the tested catalysts (

Table 1. Stereoselective Michael addition of S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 to trans-β-nitrostyrene 7 [6] ^a.

Entry	Catalyst	Time (min)	Conv. (%) b	ee (%) c	Config. d
1	eQN-5a	15	>99	87	S
2	eQN-5b	15	99 (94)	96	S
3	eQN-5c	30	99 (96)	95 (72) e	S
4	eQN-5d	5	>99 (95)	96 (78) f	S
5	eQN-5e	30	>99 (97)	93 (69) e	S
6	eCD-5f	30	>99	85	S
7	eDHQN-5g	15	99	86	S
8	eQD-5h	5	>99 (98)	96 (87) f	R
9	eQD-5i	5	99 (95)	94 (89) f	R
10	eQD-5j	90	94	87 (72) e	R
11	eDHQD-5k	15	89 (83)	94	R
12	eQN-6a	5	>99 (93)	95	S
13	eQN-6b	90	96	76	S

^a Reactions were performed at 273 K on a 0.1-mmol scale in toluene (0.5 mL). ^b Conversion was determined by ¹H NMR of a crude reaction mixture. The isolated yield is given in parentheses. ^c The ee was determined by chiral HPLC analysis using a Chiralcel IB-3 column. ^d Determined by comparison with available literature HPLC data [24]. ^e Performed at 298 K for 15 min. ^f Performed at 298 K for 5 min.

, entries 1–11), indicating that the substitution pattern in selenoureas affected the enantioselectivity, albeit to a rather small extent (cf. 5c and 5d).

Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the enantiomeric ratio of the product 9 when quinine or quinidine-based organocatalysts were applied, resulting in the adduct with an opposite configuration formation of 95% for 5c, or 96% ee in the case of 5h. Hence, (8S,9S)-quinine derived selenoureas gave the product 9 of S configuration, but for (8R,9R)-quinidine derivatives, the R-9 was formed. Therefore, the configuration of the alkaloid at the C8/9 positions determined the stereochemical outcome of the addition. Although the small deviations of the performance of the catalysts were noted for the selenourea analogues, the nature of the hydrogen-bonding motif turned out to be crucial for achieving high stereoselectivities. Thereby, a comparison of different hydrogen-bond donor moieties in the catalysts revealed that the application of selenourea 5e afforded products with higher stereoselectivity than those obtained in the reaction catalyzed by the analogous thiourea 6b (Table 1, entries 5 vs. 13). On the contrary, both selenoureas 5c and thiourea 6a performed well, leading to product S-9 with 95% ee for both catalysts (Table 1, entries 3 vs. 12). Further investigation proved the detrimental effect of temperature on the enantioselectivity for tested catalysts 5c–e and 5h–j in the Michael reaction at room temperature (Table 1, entry 3–5 and 8–10).

The detrimental effect of the temperature to stereoselectivities in the studied reactions was not a crucial factor while performing under mechanochemical conditions. However, the local temperature rising during friction in the ball mill’s chamber suggested a decrease in enantioselectivities. Intrigued by the effects of the milling on reaction outcome, in the second part of our work, the asymmetric Michael addition under solvent-free conditions was explored. The reaction between S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 and trans-β-nitrostyrene 7, in the presence of 5 mol% of catalyst, was carried out in the planetary ball mill. The results are presented in

Table 2. Asymmetric Michael addition of S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 to trans-β-nitrostyrene 7 performed in planetary ball mill ^a.

Entry	Catalyst	Conv. (%) b	ee (%) c	Config. d
1	eQN-5a	96	73	S
2	eQN-5b	94	71	S
3	eQN-5c	98	71	S
4	eQN-5d	>99 (96)	77	S
5	eQN-5e	>99	69	S
6	eCD-5f	94	76	S
7	eDHQN-5g	93 (89)	90	S
8	eQD-5h	95 (95)	84	R
9	eQD-5i	98 (95)	93	R
10	eQD-5j	91 (87)	87	R
11	eDHQD-5k	95 (92)	93	R
12	eQN-6a	99	77	S
13	eQN-6b	>99	59	S

^a Reactions were performed on a 0.25-mmol scale with 5 mol% of the respective catalyst for 30 min. Milling setup: 2 balls × 10 mm (ball diameter). Milling speed: 400 rpm. ^b Conversion was determined by ¹H NMR of a crude reaction mixture. The isolated yield is given in parentheses. ^c The ee was determined by chiral HPLC analysis using a Chiralcel IB-3 column. ^d Determined by comparison with available literature and HPLC data [24].

.

Selenourea catalysts proved to be highly efficient catalysts in Michael additions between S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 and trans-β-nitrostyrene 7, and also under solvent-free conditions. Nearly complete conversions were achieved in a short time (30 min, Table 2). The Michael products 9 were formed in high yields and with moderate-to-good stereoselectivities, ranging from 69% to 93% ee (Table 2, entries 1–11). Nevertheless, among the tested selenourea catalysts, mechanochemical-approach reactions led to lower enantioselectivities, compared to the standard conditions (toluene, 273 K) in all tested transformations, except for the quinidine-derived catalysts 5h–k and eDHQN-5g (Table 2, entries 7–11). A significant deterioration in selectivity was observed for quinine-derived thiourea 6a and 6b, compared with results obtained in solvent (76 and 95% ee vs. 59 and 77% ee, Table 1 and Table 2, entries 12, 13). Moreover, similar results to reactions with toluene at 298 K were attained by solvent-less mechanochemical ball-milling (Table 1 and Table 2, entries 3–5 and 8–10). Hence, the ball-milling offers an alternative approach to the chiral products, leading to similar results as the standard transformations under solvent conditions. Moreover, the different chiral catalysts’ structures provided the best enantioselectivities, depending on the technique applied, as proved for 5g and 5i, for which application offered the best results under ball mill conditions, in contrast to reactions in toluene at both temperatures.

Exploring the effectiveness of the selenoureas-based catalysts, we wondered about the reaction outcome when different nucleophiles and electrophiles are applied. Therefore, we were intrigued by the usage of dimedone that acts as a one-binding point nucleophile (through a C-OH/H hydrogen bond), but the two-center electrophile was 10. Thereby, Michael addition/hemiacetalization of diketones to the benzylidene pyruvate esters, leading to bicyclic compounds with two stereogenic centers, were studied. Particularly, the reaction of dimedone 11 with benzylidene pyruvate 10 has been successfully carried out with the use of various types of catalysts [25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32]. An asymmetric Michael–hemiacetalization cascade reaction (Scheme 3) was used for the screening of chiral selenoureas’ performance under standard and solvent-less conditions. The results of our studies are summarized in

Table 3. Asymmetric Michael–hemiacetalization reaction of benzylidene pyruvate 10 and dimedone 11 [25] ^a.

Entry	Catalyst	Conv. (%) b	ee (%) c	Config. d
1	eQN-5a	>99	67	R
2	eQN-5b	>99	64	R
3	eQN-5c	>99	65 (69) e	R
4	eQN-5d	>99 (95)	84 (76) e	R
5	eQN-5e	>99 (97)	94 (89) e	R
6	eCD-5f	>99	66	R
7	eDHQN-5g	>99	69	R
8	eQD-5h	>99	73 (80) e	S
9	eQD-5i	>99 (94)	85 (80) f	S
10	eQD-5j	>99 (96)	93 (85) f	S
11	eDHQD-5k	>99 (93)	82	S
12	eQN-6a	>99 (94)	91	R
13	eQN-6b	>99	76	R

^a Reactions were performed at 298 K on a 0.1-mmol scale in toluene (0.5 mL) with 5 mol% of the respective catalyst for 30 min. ^b Conversion was determined by ¹H NMR of a crude reaction mixture. The isolated yield is given in parentheses. ^c The ee was determined by chiral HPLC analysis using a Chiralcel IA-3 column. ^d Determined by comparison with available literature HPLC data [25]. ^e Performed at 273 K for 15 min. ^f Performed at 273 K for 30 min.

and

Table 4. Asymmetric Michael–hemiacetalization reaction of benzylidene pyruvate 10 and dimedone 11 performed in planetary ball mill ^a.

Entry	Catalyst	Conv. (%) b	ee (%) c	Config. d
1	eQN-5a	82	50	R
2	eQN-5b	82	35	R
3	eQN-5c	88	34	R
4	eQN-5d	67 (65)	58	R
5	eQN-5e	78	53	R
6	eCD-5f	92	50	R
7	eDHQN-5g	98	53	R
8	eQD-5h	32	39	S
9	eQD-5i	96 (94)	64	S
10	eQD-5j	78 (74)	73	S
11	eDHQD-5k	36	39	S
12	eQN-6a	38	48	R
13	eQN-6b	49 (46)	61	R

^a Reactions were performed on a 0.25-mmol scale with 5 mol% of the respective catalyst for 30 min. Milling setup: 2 balls × 10 mm (ball diameter). Milling speed: 400 rpm. ^b Conversion was determined by ¹H NMR of a crude reaction mixture. The isolated yield is given in parentheses. ^c The ee was determined by chiral HPLC analysis using a Chiralcel IA-3 column. ^d Determined by comparison with available literature HPLC data [25].

.

All Cinchona alkaloid-derived selenourea catalysts 5a–k efficiently catalyzed the reaction, affording the product 12 with excellent yields (up to 97%) and with good enantioselectivities, ranging from 64–94% (Table 3). Quinidine-derived catalysts bearing electron-withdrawing 4-fluorophenyl groups 5h and 5k on the selenourea moiety outperformed the quinine derivatives 5c and 5g (73 and 82% ee vs. 65 and 69% ee, Table 3, entries 3, 7, 8, and 11). Both quinine and quinidine series with alkyl groups in the selenourea moiety overcame the aryl-substituted selenoureas in terms of chirality transfer effectiveness. The most effective catalysts, 5e and 5j, with a large dehydroabietyl group, afforded the best enantioselectivities (94 and 93% ee, entries 5 and 10, Table 3). However, opposite results were obtained for quinine-derived thiourea 6a and 6b. Hence, catalyst 6a with 4-fluorophenyl group turned out to be more effective than its selenium counterpart 5c (91% ee vs. 65%, entry 3 and 12, Table 3). Moreover, the stereochemical outcome of the reaction was only determined by the absolute configuration of used catalysts. It might be pointed out the reactions performed at 273 K led to lower enantioselectivities than the respective transformations at 298 K. The results might be rationalized by the assumption that the dimedone in an enol form could create an alternative hydrogen-bonding unit to the catalyst’s surroundings or by the aggregation effects.

An alternative approach investigated the mechanochemical effects induced by ball-milling in the above selenourea-catalyzed asymmetric Michael–hemiacetalization reaction. Considering the aggregation effects, or the dimedone-dimeric forms presented in the reaction, we were intrigued by the reaction outcome when the solvent-less conditions were applied. However, the application of catalysts 5a–5k, and also thioureas 6a,b, led to lower conversions (32–98%, Table 4) along with a significant enantioselectivities lowering (34–73% ee, Table 4), compared to the results achieved in the solution-based protocol.

In general, the selectivity trend was analogous to the one observed in solution, and the best result was obtained for quinidine-based catalyst 5j with dehydroabietyl group in the selenourea moiety (73% ee, Table 4).

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Information

The solvents and reagents were received from commercial suppliers and used without additional purification. Reactions were monitored by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel 60 F-254 precoated plates (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), and spots were visualized with a UV lamp. Products were purified by standard column chromatography on silica gel 60 (230–400 mesh) (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra (400 and 125 MHz or 600 and 151 MHz) were recorded in CDCl₃ on a JEOL ECZ400S instrument (Jeol Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and Bruker Avance II 600 instrument (Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA), respectively. High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were measured on a Waters LCT Premier XE TOF instrument (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA) with electrospray ionization. Optical rotations were measured using an Optical Activity Ltd. Model AA-5 automatic polarimeter (Optical Activity Ltd., Huntington, UK). Melting points were determined using a Boëtius hot-stage apparatus (PHMK VEB Analytic, Dresden, Germany). HPLC analysis was performed on SHIMADZU NEXERA X2 apparatus (Chiral Technologies INC. West Chester, PA, USA) using CHIRALPAK IA-3 and IB-3 chiral columns (4.6 mm × 25 cm) without a guard column. Each HPLC analysis was controlled by comparison with the pure sample and the racemate. Ball-milling was realized in a planetary ball mill PM-200 (Retsch GmbH, Haan, Germany) in stainless steel 12-mL containers with stainless steel grinding balls with a diameter of 10 mm.

3.2. Preparation of Starting Compounds

The 9-Amino-(9-deoxy)-epialkaloids 4a–e were synthesized from commercially available Cinchona alkaloids (QN, CD, QD, DHQN, and DHQD) (Buchler GmbH) according to a procedure described in the literature [7,21,22,33].

3.2.1. Preparation of Formamides 2a–e

Formamide 2a–c were obtained by N-formylation of amines 1a–c with formic acid in toluene, according to reported procedures [23]. Amine 1d–e (30.0 mmol, 1 eq) was placed in a Teflon-capped ampoule and dissolved in 40 mL of methyl formate (600.0 mmol, 20 eq). The mixture was heated to 45 °C for 2–3 days. The solvent was removed in vacuo, yielding compound 2d–e as solidifying oil quantitatively.

• N-Phenylformamide2a. Yield 98%, beige solid. The mixture of two rotamers (ratio 1.1:1) was observed in the NMR spectra. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.05–7.16 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.25 (m, 2H), 7.29–7.37 (m, 5H), 7.55 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 8.18 (s, 1H), 8.34 (br s, 1H), and 8.69 (d, J = 11.3 Hz, 1H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [34].
• N-(4-Methoxyphenyl)formamide2b. Yield 99%, yellow solid. The mixture of two rotamers (ratio 1:1) was observed in the NMR spectra. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 6.90–6.84 (m, 4H), 7.03 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 2 H), 7.32 (br s, 1H) 7.44 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.97 (br s, 1H), 8.32 (s, 1H), and 8.50 (d, J = 11.4 Hz) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [34].
• N-(4-Fluorophenyl)formamide2c. Yield 100%, yellow solid. The mixture of two rotamers (ratio 1.7:1) was observed in the NMR spectra. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ, 6.99–7.18 (m, 5H), 7.34–7.66 (m, 5 H), 8.34 (m, 1H), and 8.56 (d, J = 12.6 Hz, 1H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [35].
• N-[(1S)-1-Phenylethyl]formamide2d. Yield 99%, brown oil. The mixture of two rotamers (ratio 5:1) was observed in the NMR spectra. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.52 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 3H), 1.56 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 3H), 4.69 (quint, J = 6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.21 (quint, J = 7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.95 (br s, 1H), 6.09 (br s, 1H), 7.24–7.38 (m, 10 H), and 8.15 (m, 2H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [36].
• N-{[(1R,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-Dimethyl-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthren-1-yl] methyl}formamide2e. Yield 100%, brown oil. The mixture of two rotamers (ratio 2.8:1) was observed in the NMR spectra. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): major rotamer, δ 0.95 (s, 3H), 1.22–1.29 (m, 10H), 1.35–1.44 (m, 3H), 1.66–1.78 (m, 3H), 1.87–1.90 (m, 1H), 2.30 (d, J = 12.8 Hz, 1H), 2.80–2.87 (m, 2H), 2.90–2.94 (m, 1H), 3.13 (dd, J = 6.6, 13.8 Hz, 1H), 3.29 (dd, J = 13.7, 6.7 Hz, 1H), 5.55 ( br s, 1H), 6.89 (dd, J = 1.0, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (dd, J = 1.6, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (dd, J = 2.5, 8.2 Hz, 1H), and 8.20 (s, 1H) ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for [C₂₁H₃₁NO + Na]⁺: 336.2303, found: 336.2324. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [37].

3.2.2. Preparation of Isoselenocyanates 3a–e

According to the procedure described in [38,39]: to a cooled to −10 °C mixture of the formamide 2a–e (0.100 mol, 1.00 equiv.), Et₃N (33.4 g, 46.0 mL, 0.330 mol, 3.30 equiv.) in CH₂Cl₂ (100 mL) was added dropwise POCl₃ (16.9 g, 10.3 mL, 0.110 mmol, 1.10 equiv.) for over 15 min. The resulting mixture was stirred at −10 °C for 1 h, and additionally, at room temperature for 1 h (until the consumption of formamide, monitored by TLC). The reaction mixture was neutralized using a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (200 mL) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. Combined organic phases were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under a vacuum. The obtained crude isocyanides (10.0 mmol, 1.00 equiv.) were placed in a Teflon-capped ampoule and dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (3.00 mL). Next, selenium (1.579 g, 20.0 mmol, 2.00 equiv.) was added to the ampoule. The reaction mixture was heated to 45 °C for 24 h and then it was filtered through a Celite pad and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, CH₂Cl₂/petroleum ether), affording isoselenocyanate 3a–e.

• N-Phenylisoselenocyanate3a. Yield 62%, beige oil. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 3.81 (s, 3H), 6.86 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2H), and 7.23 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 2H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [38].
• N-(4-Methoxyphenyl)isoselenocyanate3b. Yield 68%, light yellow solid. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 3.81 (s, 3H), 6.86 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2H), and 7.23 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 2H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [38].
• N-(4-Fluorophenyl)isoselenocyanate3c. Yield 69%, solidifying yellow oil. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 6.93–7.01 (m, 2H), and 7.15–7.23 (m, 2H) ppm. The spectral data are in agreement with the reported values [38].
• [(1S)-1-Isoselenocyanatoethyl]benzene3d. Yield 82%, dark yellow oil. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): $\delta$ = 1.71 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 3H), 4.99 (q, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H), 7.31–7.36 (m, 3H), and 7.37–7.42 (m, 2H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 24.7, 57.7, 125.5 (2C overlapped), 128.6, 129.0, 129.1 (2C overlapped), and 139.1 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for [C₉H₉NSe + H]⁺: 211.9973, found: 211.9969.
• (1R,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-Dimethyl-7-isopropyl-1-(isoselenocyanatomethyl)-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene3e. Yield 88%, yellow oil. ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 0.99 (s, 3H), 1.22–1.23 (m, 9H), 1.44–1.46 (m, 3H), 1.56 (td, J = 10.3, 2.2Hz, 2H), 1.65–1.68 (m, 1H), 1.72–1.80 (m, 2H), 2.31 (m, 1H), 2.83 (hept. J = 6.9 Hz, 1H), 2.89–2.92 (m, 1H), 3.09–3.10 (m, 1H), 3.40 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 3.51 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (dd, J = 1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (dd, J = 8.1, 1.8 Hz, 1H), and 7.16 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 18.1, 18.6, 19.2, 24.1, 25.3, 30.2, 33.5, 36.5, 37.7, 38.2, 38.5, 45.9, 57.3, 124.2, 124.4, 126.9, 134.3, 145.9, and 146.3 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for [C₂₁H₂₉NSe + H]⁺: 376.1544, found: 376.1541.

3.3. General Procedure for the Synthesis of Selenourea Catalysts 5a–k

The syntheses of the catalysts 5a–c, 5f–h, and 5k were previously reported [7]. Compounds 5d, 5e, 5i, and 5j are novel. 9-Amino-(9-deoxy)-epialkaloid 4 (1.00 mmol, 1.00 equiv.) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (5.0 mL), and a solution of appropriate aryl isoselenocyanate 3 (1.00 mmol, 1.00 equiv.) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.0 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred for 15 h at room temperature under argon and in darkness. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH, 10:1) to afford the desired product 5. The structure of catalysts (5d, 5e, 5i, and 5j) were confirmed by spectroscopic methods (¹H, and ¹³C NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (data available in Supplementary Materials).

• N-[(8S,9S)-6′-Methoxycinchonan-9-yl]-N′-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]selenourea eQN-5d
• Yield 94%, pale yellow solid, mp 130−132 °C, R_f = 0.35 (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH 10:1). ${\left[\alpha \right]}_D^{23}$ = −136.6 (c 0.22, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 0.91 (s, 1H), 1.25–1.61 (m, 8H), 2.12–3.06 (m, 6H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 4.88–4.93 (m, 2H), 5.33 (br s, 1H), 5.55–5.64 (m, 1H), 7.29–7.40 (m, 9H), 7.56 (br s, 1H), 8.04 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 1H), and 8.74 (d, J = 4.5 Hz, 1H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 25.6, 27.3, 27.4, 27.6, 29.8, 39.3, 40.4, 50.8, 55.0, 55.8, 61.2, 102.3, 115.0, 120.0, 122.0, 126.1, 127.9 (2C overlapped), 129.1 (2C overlapped), 132.0, 140.9, 142.0 (2C overlapped), 144.8, 147.7 (2C overlapped), 158.1, and 179.8 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for C₂₉H₃₅N₄O⁸⁰Se [M + H]⁺: 535.1971, found: 535.1985.
• N-{[(1R,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-Dimethyl-7-izopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-yl]methyl}-N′-[(8S,9S)-6′-methoxycinchonan-9-yl]selenourea eQN-5e
• Yield 92%, pale yellow solid, mp 137−139 °C, R_f = 0.52 (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH 10:1). ${\left[\alpha \right]}_D^{23}$ = −66.3 (c 0.23, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 0.68–0.79 (m, 4H), 0.83–1.18 (m, 6H), 1.20–12.00 (m, 16H), 1.96–2.24 (s, 1H), 2.35 (s, 1H), 2.53 (s, 1H), 2.66–3.43 (m, 8H), 3.95–4.00 (m, 4H), 4.83–5.08 (m, 2H), 5.62–5.67 (m, 1H), 6.40 (br s, 1H), 6.83 (s, 1H), 6.93–7.17 (m, 2H), 7.24–7.69 (m, 3H), 7.74–8.20 (m, 2H), and 8.50 (br s, 1H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 18.4 (2C overlapped), 18.7, 19.1 (2C overlapped), 24.0, 24.1 (2C overlapped), 25.4, 27.2, 29.7, 30.0 (2C overlapped), 33.5 (3C overlapped), 36.2, 37.2, 37.5, 37.6, 55.2, 55.3, 59.2, 100.8, 115.6, 122.3, 123.7 (2C overlapped), 124.1 (2C overlapped), 126.9, 127.1, 132.2, 134.6, 140.1, 145.0, 145.4, 146.8, 147.7, 158.4, and 180.5 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for C₄₁H₅₅N₄O⁸⁰Se [M + H]⁺: 699.3541, found: 699.3556.
• N-[(8R,9R)-6′-Methoxycinchonan-9-yl]-N′-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]selenourea eQD-5i
• Yield 86%, pale yellow solid, mp 123−125 °C, R_f = 0.33 (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH 10:1). ${\left[\alpha \right]}_D^{23}$ = +302.5 (c 0.24, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 0.88 (s, 1H), 1.12–1.65 (m, 8H), 2.32 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 2.58–3.24 (m, 5H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 4.72–4.80 (m, 1H), 5.13 (m, 3H), 5.72–5.84 (m, 1H), 6.68–7.76 (m, 10H), 7.96 (s, 1H), and 8.15–8.84 (m, 1H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 24.8, 26.0, 27.2, 38.6, 47.0, 48.7, 50.7, 53.4, 55.7 (2C overlapped), 57.7, 61.8, 102.1, 115.3, 118.8, 122.4, 126.0 (3C overlapped), 128.3, 128.8, 131.9, 139.4, 141.8, 144.6, 147.6 (2C overlapped), 158.2, and 178.7 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for C₂₉H₃₅N₄O⁸⁰Se [M + H]⁺: 535.1971, found: 535,1984.
• N-{[(1R,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-Dimethyl-7-izopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-yl]methyl}-N′-[(8R,9R)-6′-methoxycinchonan-9-yl]selenourea eQD-5j
• Yield 89%, pale yellow solid, mp 144−146 °C, R_f = 0.40 (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH 10:1). ${\left[\alpha \right]}_D^{23}$ = +204.4 (c 0.23, CH₂Cl₂). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 0.48–0.66 (m, 4H), 0.71–1.16 (m, 8H), 1.16–1.68 (m, 13H), 1.68–1.92 (m, 2H), 1,98–2.23 (m, 1H), 2.35 (s, 1H), 2.46–3.43 (m, 9H), 3.57–4.14 (m, 3H), 5.00–5.24 (m, 2H), 5.76–6.00 (m, 1H), 6.37 (br s, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 6.97 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.24–7.79 (m, 3H), 7.89–8.29 (m, 2H), and 8.58–9.00 (br s, 1H) ppm. ¹³C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 18.0, 18.2, 19.0 (2C overlapped), 24.0 (3C overlapped), 25.2, 26.2, 27.2, 30.2, 33.5 (2C overlapped), 36.0, 37.0, 37.3, 37.9, 46.2, 46.8, 49.1 (2C overlapped), 55.7, 60.0, 99.4, 115.1, 122.9, 123.9 (2C overlapped), 124.2 (2C overlapped), 126.8 (2C overlapped), 132.3, 134.4, 139.9, 145.1, 145.6, 146.8, 147.8, 158.6, and 180.2 ppm. HRMS (ESI): m/z calculated for C₄₁H₅₅N₄O⁸⁰Se [M + H]⁺: 699.3541, found: 699.3564.

3.4. Preparation of Thiourea Catalysts 6a and 6b

Synthesis of thiourea 6a was performed as described in our previous publication [7]. Preparation of derivative 6b was prepared according to a known procedures [40,41].

3.5. General Procedure for Michael Addition of S,S′-Diphenyl Dithiomalonate 8 to trans-β-Nitrostyrene 7 in a Solution

A mixture of trans-β-nitrostyrene 7 (0.1 mmol), a catalyst 5 (5 mol%), and S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 (0.1 mmol) in 0.5 ml of toluene was stirred for 5–90 min at 273 K (ice-water bath) or at 298 K. After the reaction was completed (monitored by TLC), the reaction mixture was filtered through a silica gel to remove the catalyst and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product 9 was analyzed by ¹H NMR and HPLC. Some products (high ees) were purified by column chromatography on silica gel.

• (S)-2-(2-Nitro-1-phenylethyl)-1,3-bis(phenylsulfanyl)propane-1,3-dione9. The following product was obtained as an off-white solid, 108 mg, 99%, ${\left[\alpha \right]}_D^{23 }$ = +123.0 (c 1.0, DCM), 95% ee. Mp 160.0–161.5 °C. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): δ 4.42–4.37 (m, 1H), 4.49 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 4.89–4.80 (m, 2H), 7.16–7.13 (m, 2H), 7.28–7.26 (m, 2H), 7.39–7.31 (m, 6H), and 7.47–7.40 (m, 5H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz): δ 44.5, 69.4, 77.2, 126.2, 128.5, 128.7, 129.2, 129.5, 129.7, 130.2, 130.4, 134.3, 134.4, 135.3, 189.7, 190.5 ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z calcd for C₂₃H₁₉O₄S₂ [M − H]⁺ 436.0677, found 436.0661. HPLC (Chiralcel IB-3, n-hexane/2-propanol, 9:1, flow rate 1 mL/min, λ = 205 nm): t_R = 17.1 min (major), t_R = 20.1 min (minor). The spectral data are in agreement with those reported in the literature [24].

3.6. General Procedure for Michael Addition of S,S′-Diphenyl Dithiomalonate 8 to trans-β-Nitrostyrene 7 Using Planetary Ball-Mill

Trans-β-nitrostyrene 7 (0.25 mmol), the catalyst 5 (0.0125 mmol) and S, S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate 8 (0.25 mmol) were placed in a 12-mL stainless steel container and were milled in a planetary ball mill with two stainless steel grinding balls with a diameter of 10 mm for 30 min at 400 rpm. The reaction mixture was then dissolved in ethyl acetate and filtered through a plug of silica gel to remove the catalyst and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product 9 was analyzed by ¹H NMR and HPLC. Some products (high ees) were purified by column chromatography on silica gel.

3.7. General Procedure for the Asymmetric Michael-Hemiacetalization Reaction of Benzylidene Pyruvate 10 and Dimedone 11 in a Solution

A mixture of benzylidene pyruvate 10 (0.1 mmol), a catalyst 5 (5 mol%), and dimedone 11 (0.1 mmol) in 0.5 mL of toluene was stirred for 30 min at 298 K. The reaction mixture was filtered through a silica gel to remove the catalyst and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product 12 was analyzed by ¹H NMR and HPLC. Some products (high ees) were purified by column chromatography on silica gel.

• (4R)-4-Methyl-2-hydroxy-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-4-phenyl-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-chromene-2-carboxylate12. The following 12 product was obtained as a colorless oil, 33 mg, 99%, 94%ee. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): δ 1.10 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 3H), 1.19 (d, J = 9.5 Hz, 3H), 2.24–2.21 (m, 2H), 2.58–2.26 (m, 4H), 3.73 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 2H), 3.84 (s, 1H), 3.91–3.86 (m, 1H), 4.65 (bs, 1H), 7.18–7.13 (m, 3H), 7.28–7.23 (m, 2H) ppm. HPLC (Chiralcel IA-3, n-hexane/2-propanol, 7:3, flow rate 1 mL/min, λ = 254 nm): t_R = 4.6 min (major), t_R = 6.0 min (minor). The spectral data are in agreement with those reported in the literature [25].

3.8. General Procedure for the Asymmetric Michael-Hemiacetalization Reaction of Benzylidene Pyruvate 10 and Dimedone 11 Using Planetary Ball-Mill

Benzylidene pyruvate 10 (0.25 mmol), the catalyst 5 (5 mol%), and dimedone 11 (0.25 mmol) were placed in a 12-mL stainless steel container and were milled in a planetary ball mill with two stainless steel grinding balls with a diameter of 10 mm for 30 min at 400 rpm. The reaction mixture was then dissolved in ethyl acetate and filtered through a plug of silica gel to remove the catalyst and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product 12 was analyzed by ¹H NMR and HPLC. Some products (high ees) were purified by column chromatography on silica gel.

4. Conclusions

Several novel chiral bifunctional hydrogen-bond donors were synthesized by applying the Cinchona alkaloid structures and a variety of selenoureas substituted moieties. We have demonstrated the first successful application of the obtained catalysts in a Michael addition of S,S′-diphenyl dithiomalonate to trans-β-nitrostyrene and a catalytic Michael–hemiacetalization reaction. The tested reactions, significantly differing in a nucleophile’s and electrophile’s structures, led to respective Michael adducts with excellent yields in a short time, generating the chiral products with up to 96% and 94% ees. Moreover, driving more sustainable processes, the application of catalysis under solvent-less conditions proved the effectiveness of the selenoureas in reactions performed in a ball mill. Hence, the products were obtained in comparable stereoselectivities and with higher yields than those generated at the solution. Albeit that the moderate enantioselectivities were achieved in the reaction of dimedone under mechanochemical conditions, the standard transformations in a solvent provided both high yields and stereoselectivities exceeding 90% ee. Therefore, we believe the proposed novel bifunctional chiral hydrogen-bonding systems would successfully complete the family of organocatalysts.