Stereoselective synthesis of o-bromo (or iodo)aryl P-chirogenic phosphines based on aryne chemistry

The efficient synthesis of chiral or achiral tertiary phosphines bearing an o-bromo (or iodo)aryl substituent is described. The key step of this synthesis is based on the reaction of a secondary phosphine borane with the 1,2-dibromo (or diiodo)arene, owing to the formation in situ of an aryne species in the presence of n-butyllithium. When P-chirogenic secondary phosphine boranes were used, the corresponding o-halogeno-arylphosphine boranes were obtained without racemization in moderate to good yields and with ee up to 99%. The stereochemistry of the reaction, with complete retention of the configuration at the P atom, has been established by X-ray structures of P-chirogenic o-halogenophenyl phosphine borane complexes. The decomplexation of the borane was easily achieved without racemization using DABCO to obtain the free o-halogeno-arylphosphines in high yields.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic phosphines

Several approaches for the enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic mono- and diphosphines are described, using ephedrine methodology and phosphine borane chemistry. Firstly, both enantiomers of a tertiary phosphine can be obtained starting from the same oxazaphospholidine borane complex, prepared from (+)-ephedrine, when changing the order of addition of the organolithium reagents during the synthetic pathway. The second approach is based on the chlorophosphine boranes, which react with an organolithium reagent, to afford the corresponding phosphines with inversion of configuration. In the case where the chlorophosphine borane reacts with the t-butyl lithium reagent, a metal-halogen exchange occurs to afford the corresponding phosphide borane with retention of the configuration. The reaction of the phosphide borane with an alkyl halide leads to the same phosphine, but with the opposite configuration. Another approach depends on the diastereoselective preparation of the starting oxazaphospholidine borane complex from (?)-ephedrine, which leads according the case, to either one or the other enantiomer of a phosphine. Finally, the synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,2-bis(methylphenylphosphino)ethane is also demonstrated using both enantiomers of the P-chirogenic diphosphinite diborane, which simultaneously allows the introduction of alkyl- or aryl substituents on the phosphorus atoms. In summary, these approaches show the great efficiency of the “ephedrine methodology” for the enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic mono- and diphosphines, and bearing alkyl or aryl substituents.     

Versatile synthesis of P-chiral (ephedrine) AMPP ligands via their borane complexes. Structural consequences in Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of methyl α-acetamidocinnamate

An efficient and versatile synthesis of aminophosphine phosphinite (AMPP) ligands derived from ephedrine, with possible stereogenic P(III)-center(s) is described, using the borane complex methodology. The reaction of oxazaphospholidine borane with an organolithium reagent, leads to the formation of the ring-opened product, which is trapped by a chlorophosphine (borane), to afford the corresponding aminophosphine phosphinite boranes in good yields. Treatment of the borane complexes with dabco, gives the corresponding aminophosphine phosphinite ligands in 70–90% yield. These ligands are used for the preparation of Rh catalysts applied to the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl α-acetamidocinnamate yielding the phenylalanine derivative with (R) 22% to (S) 99% e.e. These results show the importance of the structural modification at the P-stereogenic center(s), which could either amplify or cancel out the asymmetric induction resulting from the ephedrine backbone, for enantioselective catalysis.     

Enantioselective synthesis of trans-4-methylpipecolic acid

An asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of both enantiomers of trans-methylpipecolic acids is described. It is based on Sharpless epoxidation as a chirality source, regioselective ring opening with allylamine, and ring-closing metathesis to construct the piperidine ring. The stereogenic center at C-4 is set by stereoselective hydrogenation that is directed by the alcohol functionality of an intermediate and proceeds with good diastereomeric control (trans/cis 16/1). Crystallization of the Boc-protected amino acid afforded the target products with excellent chemical (98% de) and enantiomeric purity (99% ee).     

Preparation of (S)-N-substituted 4-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-2-ones by regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200

[reaction: see text] Enantiopure (S)-N-substituted 4-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-2-ones have been prepared for the first time by regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of the corresponding pyrrolidin-2-ones by use of a biocatalyst. Hydroxylation of 6 and 8 with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 afforded 68% of (S)-7 in >99.9% ee and 46% of (S)-9 in 92% ee, respectively. Simple crystallization increased the ee of (S)-9 to 99. 9% in 82% yield.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated ureas with the BIPI ligands

Asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated urea esters with the BIPI Ligands has been examined. Optimization of the P-N ligand structure has led to the development of chiral rhodium catalysts capable of producing the targets with >99% ee. The critical phosphine borane SNAr reaction needed for ligand synthesis has been optimized to give the adducts in high yield at ambient temperature with no racemization. An extremely concise, economical, and scalable sequence to these important new ligands for catalysis of asymmetric hydrogenation has been developed.     

Catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-hydrazination of β-ketoesters using bifunctional organocatalysts

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-hydrazination promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. Treatment of β-ketoesters with azodicarboxylates as electrophilic amination reagents under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding α-amino β-ketoesters with excellent enantiomeric excesses (93-99% ee).     

Asymmetric synthesis of P-stereogenic o-hydroxyaryl-phosphine (borane) and phosphine-phosphinite ligands

The first asymmetric synthesis of P-stereogenic 2-hydroxyarylphosphine ligands is described, using borane complexation methodology. This synthesis is based on the highly stereoselective preparation of bromoarylphosphinite boranes, leading to the 2-hydroxyarylphosphine derivatives, by an intramolecular ortho Fries-like rearrangement mediated in basic conditions. The o-anisyl-2-hydroxynaphthylphenylphosphine borane has been decomplexed in EtOH, affording the P(III)-stereogenic hydroxyarylphosphine ligand with 84% yield. The interest of the hydroxyarylphosphine borane is also demonstrated by the preparation of a new class of phosphine-phosphinite ligands, by trapping the rearrangement products first with chlorodiphenylphosphine, Ph₂PCl, then with borane. The corresponding phosphine-phosphinites are obtained and purified as diborane complexes, with the decomplexation of these borane complexes being achieved by heating with dabco, to afford the free hybrid ligands with retention of the configuration at the P-atom (isolated yield up to 53%).     

Chemoenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of optically active pentane-1,5-diamine fragments by means of lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization transformations

A novel family of prochiral pentane-1,5-diamines has been efficiently synthesized, possessing stabilities significantly higher than those of corresponding propane-1,3-diamine analogues. Diamines have been later desymmetrized using Pseudomonas cepacia lipase as an efficient biocatalyst for the mono- but also stereoselective protection of one of their amino groups. Reaction parameters such as type and loading of enzyme, temperature, solvent, and acyl donor have been exhaustively analyzed, searching for optimal conditions for the production of interesting optically active nitrogenated compounds. Thus, acylation and alkoxycarbonylation processes have been compared in terms of conversion and enantiomeric excess values. The best results were found in the reaction of prochiral diamines with ethyl methoxyacetate as acyl donor and 1,4-dioxane as solvent, yielding (S)-monoamides in 33-59% isolated yield and 54-99% ee, depending on the aromatic pattern substitution.     

An efficient enzymatic synthesis of benzocispentacin and its new six- and seven-membered homologues

A very efficient enzymatic method was developed for the synthesis of new enantiomeric benzocispentacin and its six- and seven-membered homologues through the Lipolase (lipase B from Candida antarctica) catalyzed enantioselective (E > 200) ring opening of 3,4-benzo-6-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-7-one, 4,5-benzo-7-azabicyclo[4.2.0]octan-8-one, and 5,6-benzo-8-azabicyclo[5.2.0]nonan-9-one with H2O in iPr2O at 60 degrees C. The (1R,2R)-beta-amino acids (ee > or = 96%, yields > or = 40%) and (1S,6S)-, (1S,7S)-, and (1S,8S)-beta-lactams (ee > 99%, yields > or = 44%) produced could be easily separated. The ring opening of racemic and enantiomeric beta-lactams with 18% HCl afforded the corresponding beta-amino acid hydrochlorides.     

Catalytic enantioselective fluorination of α-cyano acetates catalyzed by chiral palladium complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic fluorination promoted chiral palladium complexes is described. Treatment of α-cyano acetates with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the fluorine source under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding α-cyano α-fluoro acetates in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses (85-99% ee).     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure 2'-substituted 2-diphenylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyls by reductive cleavage of the carbon-phosphorus bond in a borane complex of 2-diphenylphosphino-2'-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1'-binaphthyl.

Reaction of (S)-2'-boranatodiphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1'-binaphthyl (3, borane complex of BINAP monoxide) with an excess of n-butyllithium in THF at -78 degrees C brought about a selective cleavage of the carbon-phosphorus bond between the binaphthyl and diphenylphosphinyl groups to generate the binaphthyllithium 14, the treatment of which with electrophiles MeOD, I(2), and ClSnMe(3) gave, after removal of the borane, the corresponding 2'-substituted 2-diphenylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyls (E-MOP 9: E = D, I, SnMe(3)), without loss of the enantiomeric purity.     

Synthesis of allyl phosphine oxides/boranes via Horner reaction of bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide reagent with an aldehyde

The Horner-Wittig addition-elimination reaction using bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide [DIPHOS(O)] with an aldehyde affords Z-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes. Alternatively, the stereoselective Lewis acid mediated intermolecular reduction of its γ-ketobisphosphoranes and stereoselective intramolecular reduction of γ-ketophosphine·borane derivatives followed by elimination of diphenylphosphinate affords E-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes with good to high selectivity. Allyl phosphine oxides are common intermediates in the synthesis of polyenes.     

Operational control of stereoselectivity during the enzymatic hydrolysis of racemic organophosphorus compounds

The wild-type bacterial phosphotriesterase catalyzes the stereoselective hydrolysis of racemic pairs of organophosphorus compounds. The enzymatic stereoselectivity can be substantially enhanced via systematic alteration of the pKa for the leaving group phenol in the target substrates. These changes alter the rate-limiting step for substrate turnover from a diffusional event to phosphorus-oxygen bond cleavage. Turnover ratios in excess of 5000:1 were achieved using phenols with pKa values greater than 8.5. This method has enabled the isolation of the RP-enantiomer of 4-acetylphenyl methyl phenylphosphonate with an enantiomeric excess of >99% via a kinetic resolution of the racemate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)(R)- and (-)(S)-nicotine based on Ir-catalysed allylic amination

The synthesis of nicotine with enantiomeric excess of >99% ee was accomplished by asymmetric Ir-catalysed allylic amination followed by ring closing metathesis and racemization-free double bond reduction.     

Exploring stereogenic phosphorus: synthetic strategies for diphosphines containing bulky,highly symmetric substituents

Diphosphine ligands bearing highly symmetric, bulky substituents at a stereogenic P atom were prepared, exploiting established protocols, which include the use of chiral synthons such as 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine-2-borane (3a) and phenylmethylchlorophosphine borane (10) and the enantioselective deprotonation of dimethylarylphosphine boranes. However, only (Bu(t)())(Me)PCH(2)CH(2)P(Bu(t)Me (8a) could be prepared from 3a. The diphosphines (S,S)-1,2-bis(mesitylmethylphosphino)ethane, ((S,S)-8b) and (S,S)-1,2-bis(9-anthrylmethylphosphino)ethane ((S,S)-8c), which contain 2,6-disubstituted aryl P-substituents, were prepared by Evans' sparteine-assisted enantioselective deprotonation of P(Ar)(Me)(2)(BH(3)) (Ar = mesityl or 9-anthryl), but the enantioselectivity did not exceed 37% ee. The asymmetrically substituted, methylene-bridged diphosphine (2R,4R)-(Ph)(CH(3))PCH(2)P(Mes)(CH(3)) ((2R,4R)-12) (Mes = mesityl) was prepared by the newly developed stereospecific reaction of the enantiomerically pure chlorophosphine borane PCl(Ph)(Me)(BH(3)) (10) with the racemic, monolithiated dimethylmesitylphosphine borane P(Mes)(Me)(CH(2)Li)(BH(3)). Diastereomerically pure (2R,4R)-12 was obtained with 86% ee. The rhodium(I) derivatives [Rh(COD)(P-P)]BF(4) containing the diphosphine ligands 8a, 8b, and 12, as well as the previously reported (S,S)-1,2-bis(1-naphthylphenylphosphino)ethane ((S,S)-8d), were prepared and tested in the enantioselective catalytic hydrogenation of acetamidocinnamates. The best catalytic result (98.6% ee) was obtained with [Rh(COD)(8d)](+) as catalyst and methyl Z-alpha-acetamidocinnamate as substrate. Some of the catalytic results are discussed in terms of the preferred conformations of the substituents at phosphorus, as calculated by molecular modeling.     

A highly stereoselective and efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure sitagliptin

A highly stereoselective and efficient synthesis of sitagliptin 1 consisting of a chiral β-amino acid unit has been achieved through 6 steps from commercially available 2,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde 4. The chiral antidiabetic drug was obtained with almost perfect enantiomeric purity (>99.9% ee) in 40.9% overall yield. The key feature of the synthesis is the addition of a malonate enolate to a chiral sulfinylimine in more than 99:1 dr. Our synthetic procedure proved to be highly efficient, economical, and sustainable.     

Catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-amination of β-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral palladium complexes

The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic α-amination promoted chiral palladium complexes is described. Treatment of β-ketoesters with azodicarboxylates as electrophilic amination reagents under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding α-amino β-ketoesters with excellent enantiomeric excesses (91-99% ee). Palladium complexes were immobilized in [bmim]PF₆, and their applications to catalytic α-amination of β-ketoesters were successfully demonstrated.     

1,2-Nucleophilic addition of 2-(picolyl)organoboranes to nitrile, aldehyde, ketone, and amide

A series of 2-(picolyl)borane molecules were synthesized as products of the reaction between 2-(picolyl)lithium and R(2)BOMe (R = ethyl, 9-BBN, phenyl, 9-borafluorenyl). The 2-(picolyl)boranes were dimeric; whereas, monomers coordinated to LiOMe could be isolated when the synthesis was carried out in the presence of TMEDA and THF. The 2-(picolyl)boranes undergo reaction with nitriles, ketones, aldehydes, and amides with apparent 1,2-addition of the B-C(picolyl) bond to the unsaturated bond. Theoretical models reveal the presence of a donor orbital on the 2-(picolyl)borane with significant electron density at the benzylic carbon that we conclude was involved in nucleophilic attack on the electrophilic center of unsaturated organic functional groups.     

Efficient and flexible synthesis of chiral gamma- and delta-lactones

An efficient and highly flexible synthesis for chiral gamma- and delta-lactones with high enantiomeric purity is described (>99% ee and 57-87% overall yield). The protocol involves alkylation of chiral 1,2-oxiranes with terminally unsaturated Grignard reagents. Subsequent oxidative degradation (OsO(4)-Oxone) of the terminal double bond from chiral alk-1-en-5-ols and alk-1-en-6-ols affords 4- or 5-hydroxy acids and gamma- and delta-lactones after acidic workup. The flexibility and efficiency of the protocol is illustrated by the synthesis of several alkanolides and alkenolides, hydroxy fatty acids and dihydroisocoumarins.