Synthesis of chiral organocatalysts derived from aziridines: application in asymmetric aldol reaction

We report the synthesis of a new series of highly efficient chiral organocatalysts derived via the regio- and stereoselective ring opening of chiral aziridines with azide anions. The catalysts have proved to be very efficient for a direct asymmetric aldol reaction, both with cyclic as well as acyclic ketones in brine with 2 mol % of catalyst loading, and afforded the products in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to >99%). The chiral aldol adduct obtained has further been converted to a chiral azetidine ring via a convenient pathway.     

Tandem Ring‐Opening–Ring‐Closing Metathesis for Functional Metathesis Catalysts

Use of a tandem ring‐opening–ring‐closing metathesis (RORCM) strategy for the synthesis of functional metathesis catalysts is reported. Ring opening of 7‐substituted norbornenes and subsequent ring‐closing metathesis forming a thermodynamically stable 6‐membered ring lead to a very efficient synthesis of new catalysts from commercially available Grubbs’ catalysts. Hydroxy functionalized Grubbs’ first‐ as well as third‐generation catalysts have been synthesized. Mechanistic studies have been performed to elucidate the order of attack of the olefinic bonds. This strategy was also used to synthesize the ruthenium methylidene complex.     

全氢菲在分子筛催化剂上环烷环开环反应的研究

在小型固定流化床(FFB)装置上考察了Y与ZSM-5分子筛催化剂以及Y分子筛催化剂上温度、剂油比对全氢菲裂化环烷环开环反应的影响。结果表明,全氢菲在分子筛催化剂上通过环烷环开环反应生成环己烷、十氢萘等单环或双环环烷烃;单环或双环环烷烃进一步侧链断裂生成2-甲基戊烷、甲基己烷等异构烷烃等,异构化生成二甲基环戊烷、甲乙基环戊烷等烷基环戊烷,氢转移生成苯、甲苯、二甲苯等烷基苯,进行深度氢转移反应生成萘、烷基萘等双环芳烃;另外,全氢菲也会通过脱氢缩合生成菲、芘等三环以上芳烃甚至焦炭等。由于扩散和吸附性能的影响,其裂化开环反应的选择性在Y分子筛催化剂上比在ZSM-5分子筛催化剂上高。因此,全氢菲环烷环开环与脱氢缩合反应的相对比例(s(NRO)/s(DHC))在Y分子筛催化剂上较高;在Y分子筛催化剂上,温度为475~550 ℃、剂油比为3.0~9.0,反应温度升高或者剂油比增加,双分子氢转移以及脱氢缩合反应增强,导致环烷环开环反应产物选择性降低。     

A DFT Study on the Mechanism of the Cycloaddition Reaction of CO2 to Epoxides Catalyzed by Zn(Salphen) Complexes

The reaction mechanism for the Zn(salphen)/NBu₄X (X=Br, I) mediated cycloaddition of CO₂ to a series of epoxides, affording five‐membered cyclic carbonate products has been investigated in detail by using DFT methods. The ring‐opening step of the process was examined and the preference for opening at the methylene (C_β) or methine carbon (C_α) was established. Furthermore, calculations were performed to clarify the reasons for the lethargic behavior of internal epoxides in the presence of the binary catalyst. Also, the CO₂ insertion and the ring‐closing steps have been explored for six differently substituted epoxides and proved to be significantly more challenging compared with the ring‐opening step. The computational findings should allow the design and application of more efficient catalysts for organic carbonate formation.     

Recent developments in the enantioselective synthesis of polyfunctionalized pyran and chromene derivatives

Recent developments in the synthesis of 4H- and 2H-pyrans as well as structurally related chromene derivatives that have enabled the enantioselective synthesis of these scaffolds have been surveyed. The role of chiral catalysts in orienting initial reactions of active methylenes, methines and methyl ketones, to unsaturated ketones and nitriles in multi-component reactions or Friedel–Craft alkylations of phenols is discussed to show their involvement in transition states leading to end products. Chromene synthesis via [4+2] cycloadditions, [3+3] and [4+2] annulations as well as ring opening and recyclization leading to high enantio- and diasteroselectivity is also demonstrated. The enantioselectivity in such catalytic asymmetric reactions despite starting with non-chiral starting materials is discussed. On the other hand, in surveying ring opening and recyclization, the starting materials are chiral and the chiral center was not part of the reaction leading to the final product.     

The reaction of Grignard reagents with 1,3-dioxolanes : III. A novel synthetic route to β-hydroxyalkyl enol ethers

The reaction of ethylmagnesium bromide, prepared in benzene with one or more molar equivalents of triethylamine, with 2-, 2,4- and 2,4,5-substituted 1,3-dioxolanes has been investigated. Besides β-hydroxyethyl sec-alkyl ethers, the normal products of the ring opening/addition reaction encountered with other Lewis bases, 2-hydroxyethyl enol ethers were formed as products of a ring opening/elimination reaction. Kinetic studies suggest an E₁ mechanism for this novel reaction.     

手性催化的环氧化物立体选择性开环反应

手性催化的环氧化物立体选择性开环反应可以用来制备多种具光学活性的化合物, 因而成为有机合成中极为重要的方法之一. 多种亲核试剂都已成功应用于此类反应. 综述了近十年来环氧化物的立体选择性开环反应方面的一些最新研究进展.     

Synthetic and Organocatalytic Studies of Quinidine Analogues with Ring‐Size Modifications in the Quinuclidine Moiety

Six highly enantiopure analogues of [2.2.2] were synthesized with five‐ or seven‐membered rings in the (original) quinuclidine skeleton. Five of these compounds were prepared through epoxide opening by a secondary cyclic amine, providing the nor‐ and homoquinuclidine moieties through five‐ and six‐membered ring formation. This method failed in the case of seven‐membered ring formation, so for that particular ring size a different synthetic route starting from 3‐quinuclidone was applied. The six novel analogues were examined as organocatalysts in four asymmetric conjugate addition reactions and the results compared with those of known cinchona alkaloid catalysts. This study shows that modification of the quinuclidine ring can have a substantial influence on catalyst activity and enantioselectivity. To acquire more insight into the characteristics of the new catalysts, the pK_aH values were determined by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, relative reaction rates of conjugate thiol additions reactions catalyzed by these quinidine analogues were measured through polarimetry.     

十氢萘在分子筛催化剂上的开环反应研究

在小型固定流化床(FFB)装置中研究了Y分子筛与ZSM-5分子筛催化剂上的十氢萘裂化开环反应性能,考察了温度和剂油比对Y分子筛开环反应催化性能的影响。结果表明,十氢萘在分子筛催化剂上通过环烷环开环反应生成丙烷、丙烯、丁烷、丁烯、甲基戊烷和环戊烷、环己烷等非芳烃以及苯、C_1~4烷基取代苯等单环芳烃,并通过脱氢缩合反应生成四氢萘、萘、甲基萘和菲、芘等多环芳烃甚至焦炭等。由于扩散和吸附性能的影响,ZSM-5分子筛催化剂的裂化开环反应选择性比Y分子筛催化剂的高,因此,十氢萘环烷环开环与脱氢缩合反应的相对比例(NRO/DHC)在ZSM-5分子筛催化剂上较高。在Y分子筛催化剂上,温度为450~550 ℃、剂油比为3~9,反应温度升高或者剂油比增加,双分子氢转移以及脱氢缩合反应增强,从而导致环烷环开环产物选择性降低。     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric ring opening of oxabicyclic alkenes with phenols

The scope of the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric ring opening reaction of oxabenzonorbornadiene has been extended to include phenolic nucleophiles. The enanatioenriched, functionalized dihydronaphthalene products are highly valuable intermediates for which no other practical methods of preparation are available. A new catalyst system has been developed which allows the use of less reactive o-halophenols. The utility of these products has been demonstrated through their application in the synthesis of benzofuran polycyclic materials.     

Organosilanols as catalysts in asymmetric aryl transfer reactions

[reaction: see text] Various ferrocene-based organosilanols have been synthesized in four steps starting from achiral ferrocene carboxylic acid. Applying these novel planar-chiral ferrocenes as catalysts in asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions to substituted benzaldehydes afforded products with high enantiomeric excesses. The best result (91% ee) was achieved in the addition to p-chlorobenzaldehyde with organosilanol 2b, which has a tert-butyl substituent on the oxazoline ring and an isopropyl group on the silanol fragment.     

Dienamines heterocycliques—I : Reaction de la base de fischer sur les ester acetyleniques

Dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate reacts with Fischer's base (1,3,3-trimethyl-2-methylene indoline) to give a zwitterionic intermediate which undergoes a Michael type addition in MeOH or cyclisation and ring opening in CHCl₃ to yield isomeric dienamines. Methyl propiolate, in addition to both the products observed previously, gives the ω-methoxycarboxylated Fischer's base in CHCl₃, whereas in CCl₄ a chlorinated dienamine is obtained. The solvent effect has been rationalised. Some dienamines react with tosylated oximes yielding azatrienes. The structures of the reaction products have been assigned on the basis of spectral data. A large difference of NMR chemical shift for the methyl groups bonded to the indoline ring has been observed depending upon the E and Z structure of the substituted Fischer's base.     

Tandem reactions of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles with allylamines

A reaction of 3-chloro-1,2,4-oxadiazoles with allylamine and diallylamine has been investigated. 3,3a,4,5-Tetrahydroisoxazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines are produced through a tandem ANRORC/[3 + 2]cycloaddition pathway consisting of the addition of allylamine to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole, followed by ring opening, nitrone formation, and finally cycloaddition. 3-N-Allylamino-1,2,4-oxadiazoles were also obtained as minor products through a classical SNAr. Conversely, a reaction with diallylamine produces 3-N,N-diallylamino-1,2,4-oxadiazole and imidazoline through tandem SNAr/aziridination and nucleophilic ring opening.     

Free‐radical polymerization of dioxolane and dioxane derivatives: Effect of fluorine substituents on the ring opening polymerization

Partially fluorinated and perfluorinated dioxolane and dioxane derivatives have been prepared to investigate the effect of fluorine substituents on their free‐radical polymerization products. The partially fluorinated monomer 2‐difluoromethylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (I) was readily polymerized with free‐radical initiators azobisisobutyronitrile or tri(n‐butyl)borane–air and yielded a vinyl addition product. However, the hydrocarbon analogue, 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (II), produced as much as 50% ring opening product at 60 °C by free‐radical polymerization. 2‐Difluoromethylene‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (III) was synthesized and its free‐radical polymerization yielded ring opening products: 28% at 60 °C, decreasing to 7 and 4% at 0 °C and −78 °C, respectively. All the fluorine‐substituted, perfluoro‐2‐methylene‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (IV) produced only a vinyl addition product with perfluorobenzoylperoxide as an initiator. The six‐membered ring monomer, 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxane (V), caused more than 50% ring opening during free‐radical polymerization. However, the partially fluorinated analogue, 2‐difluoromethylene‐1,3‐dioxane (VI), produced only 22% ring opening product with free‐radical polymerization and the perfluorinated compound, perfluoro‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxane (VII), yielded only the vinyl addition polymer. The ring opening reaction and the vinyl addition steps during the free‐radical polymerization of these monomers are competitive reactions. We discuss the reaction mechanism of the ring opening and vinyl addition polymerizations of these partially fluorinated and perfluorinated dioxolane and dioxane derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5180–5188, 2004     

Chiral Ti(IV) complexes of hexadentate Schiff bases as precatalysts for the asymmetric addition of TMSCN to aldehydes and the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide

Chiral dinuclear titanium(IV) complexes (generated in situ from hexadentate Schiff bases and titanium tetra-isopropoxide) have been found to be more effective catalysts for the asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes and the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide than their mononuclear analogues. The best results were obtained for benzaldehyde (86% enantiomeric excess) and cyclohexene oxide (89% enantiomeric excess).     

Highly enantioselective conjugate addition of malononitrile to 2-enoylpyridines with bifunctional organocatalyst

An efficient enantioselective conjugate addition of malononitrile to a range of β-substituted 2-enoylpyridines catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid-based bifunctional urea catalysts has been developed. Both enantiomers of the products could be achieved with the same level of enantioselectivity by using pseudoenantiomeric catalysts in up to 97% ee and in excellent yields. One of the enantioenriched products has been transformed to a highly functionalized piperidone derivative.     

氮-氧偶极化合物在不对称催化反应研究中的应用

氮-氧偶极化合物中的氮-氧偶极具有较强的极性, 表现出良好的亲电、亲核性能, 可与许多物质形成分子加成产物, 也可与许多金属离子和可提供空轨道的非金属原子形成配合物和发生配位作用. 近年来已发现, 手性和非手性的氮-氧偶极化合物可用于一些不对称催化反应中, 着重讨论这方面的进展状况.     

Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins--synthesis of versatile chiral building blocks

A new protocol for the Cu-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins has been developed. The corresponding products are formed in high yields and enantioselectivities. Through a sequential protocol involving conjugate addition followed by nucleophilic ring opening of the chiral enolate, chiral esters and amides are readily accessible.     

Modification of photoinitiated cationic epoxide polymerizations by sulfides

The addition of sulfides has a marked effect on the rates of onium salt induced photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of epoxide monomers. Various behaviors have been observed that depend on the structure of the sulfide. Dialkyl sulfides strongly inhibit the photopolymerizations of these monomers, whereas diaryl sulfides have a retarding effect on the photopolymerizations. Real‐time infrared spectroscopy and optical pyrometry have been employed as analytical methods to probe the kinetic effects of the addition of a variety of sulfides on cationic epoxide ring‐opening photopolymerizations. A mechanism is proposed that involves the formation of sulfonium salts as intermediates. The observations made in this study have important implications for cationic photopolymerizations in general and for photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of epoxides in particular. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2504–2519, 2005     

Photolysis of 1-alkylcycloalkanols in the presence of (diacetoxyiodo)benzene and I2. Intramolecular selectivity in the beta-scission reactions of the intermediate 1-alkylcycloalkoxyl radicals

The C-C beta-scission reactions of 1-alkylcycloalkoxyl radicals, generated photochemically by visible light irradiation of CH2Cl2 solutions containing the parent 1-alkylcycloalkanols, (diacetoxy)iodobenzene (DIB), and I2, have been investigated through the analysis of the reaction products. The 1-alkylcycloalkoxyl radicals undergo competition between ring opening and C-alkyl bond cleavage as a function of ring size and of the nature of the alkyl substituent. With the 1-propylcycloheptoxyl, 1-propylcyclooctoxyl,and 1-phenylcyclooctoxyl radicals, formation of products deriving from an intramolecular 1,5-hydrogen atom abstraction reaction from the cycloalkane ring has also been observed. The results are discussed in terms of release of ring strain associated to ring opening, stability of the alkyl radical formed by C-alkyl cleavage, and with cycloheptoxyl and cyclooctoxyl radicals, also in terms of the possibility of achieving a favorable geometry for intramolecular hydrogen atom abstraction.