Asymmetric [4+2] cycloadditions employing 1,3-dienes derived from (R)-4-t-butyldimethyl-silyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one

1,3-Dienes derived from (R)-4-t-butyldimethylsilyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one react with activated dienophiles to form predominately (or sometimes exclusively) syn/endo products. These controlled [4+2] cycloadditions increase the asymmetric complexity from one asymmetric center in the starting material to five asymmetric centers in the products in a single step, and provide a powerful approach for the asymmetric synthesis of compounds containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone carbon skeleton.     

Chiral sulfoxide ligands bearing nitrogen atoms as stereocontrollable coordinating elements in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations were studied by using chiral sulfoxide ligands bearing nitrogen atoms as coordinating elements, such as chiral α-sulfinylacetamides, β or γ-amino sulfoxides, and β-sulfinyl sulfonamides. The effects of the chiral sulfinyl functions on the asymmetric induction were demonstrated. Use of (S)-2-pyrrolidinophenyl p-tolyl sulfoxide or (S)-2-(N-butyl-N-methylaminomethyl)phenyl p-tolyl sulfoxide as chiral ligands in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations provided the highest enantioselectivity (50 or 58% e.e., respectively) among chiral sulfoxide ligands examined by us. The participation of the sulfinyl groups in these catalytic asymmetric reactions is rationalized, and the mechanism for the asymmetric induction is proposed on the basis of the stereochemical outcome obtained.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions with novel chiral imino-phosphine ligands

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions have been achieved with considerably high enantioselectivity by using chiral imino-phosphine ligands derived from (1S,4R)-(+)-fenchone, (1R,2R,5R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-3-pinanone derivatives, (1S,5R)-(−)-menthone, (1R,4R)-(+)-camphor, and (1S)-(+)-ketopinic acid. A mechanism for the asymmetric induction is proposed on the basis of the stereochemical outcome of the reactions.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of enol phosphinates catalyzed by a chiral ferrocenylphosphine-rhodium complex. Asymmetric synthesis of optically active secondary alkyl alcohols

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of secondary alkyl alcohols (up to 78% ee) was accomplished by asymmetric hydrogenation of enol diphenylphosphinates, derived from prochiral ketones such as acetophenone, 3-methyl-2-butanone, and 2-octanone, in the presence of a cationic rhodium complex of (R)-1-[(C)-1′,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethanol (BPPFOH).     

Asymmetric synthesis of N-3 substituted phenoxypropyl piperidine benzimidazol-2-one derivatives, potent and selective NOP agonists

The asymmetric synthesis of the potent selective NOP agonist 2-(3-{1-[3-(5-methoxy-2-methyl-phenoxy)-4-methyl-pentyl]-piperidin-4-yl}-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzimidazol-1-yl)-N-methyl-acetamide and analogues was developed. The key step, chiral reduction of methyl isobutyryl acetate, was achieved using a mild Noyori-type asymmetric hydrogenation.     

Stereoselective construction of the 1,1,1-trifluoroisopropyl moiety by asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols and its application to the synthesis of a trifluoromethylated amino diol

The asymmetric hydrogenation of a series of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols 1a-g catalyzed by a BINAP-Ru(II) diacetate complex gave the corresponding products 2a-g in high yield (>90% yield) and high diastereoselectivity (>95% de). The asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols provided an efficient stereoselective method to construct the 1,1,1-trifluoroisopropyl moiety. Based on the asymmetric hydrogenation of the 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohol 5a prepared by the reaction of (R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxaldehyde with 3,3,3-trifluoroisopropenyllithium, (2R,3S,4R)-4-trifluoromethyl-1-aminopentane-2,3-diol 9 was synthesized in 36% overall yield over five steps.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all isomers of α-methyl-β-phenylserine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (2R,3R)-, (2R,3S)-, (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acids, four quaternary α-amino acids, using a stereodivergent synthetic route and starting from (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinals. The key step involves the asymmetric Grignard additions to the above chiral aldehydes, in which high levels of asymmetric induction are observed.     

First asymmetric synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, (+)-hyacinthacine B1 and (+)-B2

An enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure route has been developed for the first asymmetric synthesis of (1S,2R,3R,5R,7aR)- and (1S,2R,3R,5S,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-dihydroxymethylpyrrolizidine, hyacinthacine B₁ and B₂, featuring efficient and stereodefined elaboration via the asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of the functionalized homochiral pyrrolidine derivative prepared from (S)-(−)-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-(N-aryl,N-alkyl-aminomethyl)aziridines: a new class of ligands for highly enantioselective asymmetric synthesis

A simple and effective synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-(N-aryl-, N-alkyl-aminomethyl)aziridines from (2S)-N-tritylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester has been developed. Treating of this key ester with several primary and secondary amines in the presence of AlMe₃ provided the corresponding chiral N-trityl-2-carboxamides, and their reduction performed with different reagents resulted in the formation of the expected 2-(aminomethyl)aziridines. The choice of reaction conditions allows to either keep or leave the trityl substituent in the product. Such 2-(aminoalkyl)aziridines have shown very high catalytic efficiency in the asymmetric arylation of aldehydes and in other testing asymmetric reactions. On the other hand, homochiral N-trityl-2-carboxamides are interesting building blocks for the synthesis of various biologically active compounds.     

Rhodium-catalysed hydroboration employing new Quinazolinap ligands; an investigation into electronic effects

As part of an ongoing effort to improve the efficiency and substrate scope of our Quinazolinap ligand series in the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydroboration of vinyl arenes, 2-(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)-Quinazolinap and 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-Quinazolinap have been synthesised and resolved in good yield. These, along with the previously reported 2-(2-pyridyl)-Quinazolinap and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap, form part of an electronic series of Quinazolinap ligands synthesised in order to explore electronic effects in this ligand class. The application of this series of ligands to the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydroboration of a range of vinylarenes is described. Good conversions and regioselectivities as well as excellent enantioselectivities up to 97% were obtained. 2-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-Quinazolinap demonstrated consistently high enantioselectivities in the hydroboration of sterically demanding vinylarenes.     

Total synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)-piperidine alkaloids (−)-halosaline and (−)-8-epi-halosaline via iterative asymmetric allylation/RCM strategy

Total synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)-piperidine alkaloids, (?)-halosaline and (?)-8-epi-halosaline is reported from n-butyraldehyde using iterative asymmetric allylation, nucleophilic substitution with an azide and ring-closing metathesis as the key reactions.     

Application of novel enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives in asymmetric catalysis

The synthetic modification of enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives leading to novel chiral ligands is described. A set of these pyridine derivatives was examined as ligands in asymmetric transformations such as enantioselective alkylations or alkynylations of aldehydes, the asymmetric copper-catalyzed Henry reaction and the asymmetric allylation of benzaldehyde with allyl(trichloro)silane. This first screening revealed that several of the pyridine derivatives prepared are effective ligands affording high yields and good enantioselectivities. The asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes with diethylzinc provided yields of up to 93% with an enantiomeric excess of up to 88%. The asymmetric Henry reaction was also efficiently catalyzed by one of the prepared ligands affording (S)-2-nitro-1-phenylethanol in 68% yield and with 70% ee.     

Enantioselective synthesis of bridgehead hydroxyl bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives via asymmetric allylindation

A recent new strategy for the transformation of mono-dioxolane protected 1,3-cyclohexadione into bridgehead hydroxyl bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives, based on allylindation followed by ozonolysis and intramolecular aldol addition, was modified to include asymmetric allylindation. This enabled the first enantioselective synthesis of (1R,4R,6S)-endo-4-(tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyloxy)-6-hydroxy-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one and (1S,4S,6R)-endo-4-(tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyloxy)-6-hydroxy-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one in high enantiomeric excess. Issues concerning the non-reproducibility of the asymmetric allylindation were also addressed.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of trans-Olefins by the Copper-Mediated S(N)2' Reaction of Vinyl Oxazines with Grignard Reagents. Asymmetric Synthesis of D-threo-Sphingosines

The S_N2′ reaction of 6-vinyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,3]oxazines with Grignard reagents in the presence of CuCN was studied, and high trans selectivity for the formation of double bond was observed with a variety of RMgX. The S_N2′ reaction, coupled with regioselective asymmetric aminohydroxylation reaction, provided a highly efficient route for the asymmetric synthesis of d-threo-N-acetylsphingosine.     

Chiral relay in NHC-mediated asymmetric β-lactam synthesis II; asymmetry from NHCs derived from acyclic 1,2-diamines

The synthesis of a range of imidazolinium salts derived from acyclic 1,2-diamines, and an evaluation of the reactivity and asymmetric induction of the corresponding NHCs as catalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of β-lactams, is reported. An N-methyl-substituted NHC derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethanediamine shows optimal reactivity and enantioselectivity in this series, in contrast to that observed with NHCs derived from (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric cascade cyclization reaction of o-hydroxy cinnamaldehydes with diphenylphosphine oxide

A highly stereoselective asymmetric cascade cyclization reaction between o-hydroxycinnamaldehydes and diphenylphosphine oxide has been achieved with 84%-99% ee and 7:1-20:1 dr under the catalysis of L-prolinol silyl ether.     

Synthesis of a chiral pyridylphosphine ligand and a comparison of its rhodium complex with the structurally similar arylphosphine rhodium catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(6′-methoxy-2′-naphthyl)propenoic acid

A chiral pyridylphosphine ligand (2R,4R)-2,4-bis[di-3′-(2′,6′-dimethoxypyridyl)phosphino]pentane was synthesized. The rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(6′-methoxy-2′-naphthyl)propenoic acid was studied by using this ligand in comparison with the structurally similar Skewphos analogs.     

Enantioselective preparation of (2R,3R)-(+)- and (2S,3S)-(−)-2,3-epoxy-2-methylbutanoic acids and some derivatives

(2R,3R)-(+)- and (2S,3S)-(−)-2,3-epoxy-2-methylbutanoic acids (epoxyangelic acids) were prepared from (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid using the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation method in combination with the use of (−)- and (+)-menthol as chiral auxiliaries. Both substances, obtained in high enantiomeric excess, were characterized by spectroscopic and optical activity data. Their absolute configuration was determined by correlation with (R)-(+)-2-methyl-1,2-butanediol.