Direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thioamides

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides using a soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6)/LiOAr is described. Exclusive enolate generation from thioacetamides through a soft-soft interaction with the soft Lewis acid allowed for a direct aldol reaction to α-nonbranched aliphatic aldehydes, which are usually susceptible to self-condensation under conventional basic conditions. A hard Lewis basic phosphine oxide has emerged as an effective additive to constitute a highly active ternary soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base/hard Lewis base cooperative catalyst, enabling a direct enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thiopropionamides. Strict control of the amount of the hard Lewis base was essential to drive the catalytic cycle efficiently with a minimized retro-aldol pathway, affording syn-aldol products with high stereoselectivity. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality is an obvious merit of the present aldol methodology, allowing for a facile transformation of the aldol product into the corresponding aldehyde, ketone, amide, amine, and ketoester. An aldehyde derived from the direct aldol reaction was subjected to a second direct aldol reaction, which proceeded in a catalyst-controlled manner to provide 1,3-diols with high stereoselectivity.     

Enantioselective Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Phosphine Oxides

The development of enantioselective aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral phosphine oxides is described. The aldol reactions presented herein do not require the prior preparation of the masked enol ethers from carbonyl compounds as aldol donors. The reactions proceed through a trichlorosilyl enol ether intermediate, formed in situ from carbonyl compounds, which then acts as the aldol donor. Phosphine oxides activate the trichlorosilyl enol ethers to afford the aldol adducts with high stereoselectivities. This procedure was used to realize a directed cross‐aldol reaction between ketones and two types of double aldol reactions (a reaction at one/two α position(s) of a carbonyl group) with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities.     

Carbene‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Aldol Reaction: Post‐Aldol Stereochemistry Control and Formation of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The dominated approaches for asymmetric aldol reactions have primarily focused on the aldol carbon–carbon bond‐forming events. Here we postulate and develop a new catalytic strategy that seeks to modulate the reaction thermodynamics and control the product enantioselectivities via post‐aldol processes. Specifically, an NHC catalyst is used to activate a masked enolate substrate (vinyl carbonate) to promote the aldol reaction in a non‐enantioselective manner. This reversible aldol event is subsequently followed by an enantioselective acylative kinetic resolution that is mediated by the same (chiral) NHC catalyst without introducing any additional substance. This post‐aldol process takes care of the enantioselectivity issues and drives the otherwise reversible aldol reaction toward a complete conversion. The acylated aldol products bearing quaternary/tetrasubstituted carbon stereogenic centers are formed in good yields and high optical purities.     

Cs/ZSM-35 分子筛催化甲缩醛和乙酸甲酯发生一步法羟醛缩合反应

丙烯酸及其酯是重要的化工原料, 广泛应用于涂料、粘结剂、纤维等领域, 目前工业上常采用丙烯两段氧化法进行制备. 然而该方法以石油基原料丙烯为源头, 采用 V/Mo/Bi 等金属催化剂, 不符合可持续发展理念, 且存在环境污染及氧气下产物易过度氧化等问题. 因此, 如何高效、安全、大规模工业化制备丙烯酸及其酯是研究者追求的目标. 以乙酸甲酯(MAc) 和甲醛为原料, 通过羟醛缩合一步制备丙烯酸及其酯是一条完全不同于丙烯氧化法的合成路径, 原料均可由煤基甲醇得到, 符合我国"富煤、贫油、少气"的基本能源结构, 且该方法碳原子利用率为 100%, 副产物仅为水, 属于绿色环保合成路径.羟醛缩合是典型的碳链增长反应, 可在酸性催化剂、碱性催化剂、以及酸碱双功能催化剂存在下发生. 碱性催化剂一般为负载型碱金属氧化物, 例如以 SiO2为载体的负载型 Na, K, Cs 氧化物催化剂等, 但都存在活性组分流失的问题, 进而导致催化剂的失活, 难以实现工业化. 酸碱双功能催化剂是目前研究的热点, 由于具有酸催化剂的高选择性和碱催化剂的高活性, 其反应性能要远优于单一酸性催化剂和单一碱性催化剂, 广大研究者对此进行了深入广泛的研究, 目前基本处于实验室阶段. 相对而言, 目前酸性催化剂上通过羟醛缩合反应制备丙烯酸及其酯的研究工作较少, 特别是以固体酸为催化剂进行乙酸甲酯和甲醛气固相反应研究非常少见.我们以甲缩醛为甲醛源, 创新性地采用固体硅铝分子筛为酸性催化剂, 催化甲缩醛 (DMM) 和 MAc 发生羟醛缩合反应来制备丙烯酸. 硅铝分子筛具有较高的活性, 可高效地催化羟醛缩合反应, 且由于分子筛催化剂具有很好的再生性能, 即使催化剂寿命较短, 也可采用流化床或移动床等反应器进行工业化, 因此存在良好的工业化前景. 为了进一步深入研究酸性位和碱性位各自对 DMM 和 MAc 羟醛缩合反应的影响, 本文以 HZSM-35 分子筛为载体, 采用浸渍法制备不同碱金属铯氧化物含量的催化剂, 利用氮气吸附/脱附方法和化学程序升温 (NH3-TPD) 方法对其孔结构和酸性质进行表征, 并进一步考察催化剂的性能. 结果表明, 微孔体积随着碱金属 Cs 负载量的增加而逐渐减小, 当 Cs 负载量增加至 10 wt% 时, 样品微孔体积从初始 0.105 cm3/g 降至 0.063 cm3/g. NH3-TPD 结果显示, 当 Cs 负载量为 1 wt%, 酸性催化剂载体上的强酸和弱酸活性位被大量碱性氧化物占据; 当负载量超过 5 wt% 时, 所有的酸性位均被覆盖. 随后考察负载不同碱金属含量分子筛的羟醛缩合反应性能, 发现碱金属氧化物的引入不利于羟醛缩合反应的进行, 这主要是由于作为甲醛源的 DMM 只有在酸中心上才能进行分解产生甲醛, 促使羟醛缩合反应顺利进行. 当采用 DMM 为甲醛源时, 体系中必须有酸性位存在. 同时得知, 分子筛 HZSM-35 中强酸和弱酸均是羟醛缩合反应的有效酸性位, 但强酸同时催化原料发生类甲醇制烯烃过程, 致使大量烃类副产物生成, 产生较重的积炭物种. 羟醛缩合反应在含有大量弱酸催化剂上 (如γ-Al2O3) 也可顺利进行, 且具有较高的活性和稳定性.     

Amino oxazolines as a new class of organocatalyst for the direct intermolecular asymmetric aldol reaction between acetone and aromatic aldehydes

A series of chiral amino oxazolines were synthesized and screened as organocatalysts for asymmetric intermolecular aldol reactions between acetone and aromatic aldehydes. The reaction works well with a range of aromatic aldehydes showing good to high selectivity. The present new system of the organocatalyst was effective for the asymmetric aldol reaction for a wide range of aromatic aldehydes and isatin to carry out an asymmetric carbon–carbon bond forming reaction with a high enantioselectivity of up to 91%.     

Enantioselective tandem O-nitroso Aldol/Michael reaction

This communication presents studies that illustrated nitroso Diels-Alder adduct has been obtained in uniformly high enantioselectivity via a tandem nitroso aldol/Michael reaction using an amine catalyst. The regiochemical outcome of this construction is documented to be the opposite to that of the normal nitroso aldol reaction, which has been determined by X-ray analysis. The reaction of the enone with silver-BINAP catalyst has also been investigated in conjunction with the control of regiochemistry in a stepwise process.     

Benzoimidazole-pyrrolidine (BIP), a highly reactive chiral organocatalyst for aldol process

A new chiral benzoimidazole-pyrrolidine ligand (BIP) was shown to catalyze an aldol process in the presence of an equimolar amount of a Brönsted acid, leading to the aldol adduct in high yield and enantioselectivity. Remarkably, the aldol reaction was still effectively catalyzed when starting from equimolar amounts of aldehyde and ketone in THF.     

Trichlorosilyl triflate for enantioselective direct-type aldol reaction with chiral phosphine oxide

Trichlorosilyl triflate, in the presence of a chiral Lewis base catalyst, provides an effective method for the enantioselective direct-type aldol reaction of aldehydes and ketones. A chiral Lewis base induces both the production and activation of trichlorosilyl enol ether, yielding an aldol product in good yield and with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-C]quinoline via an Aldol/Van Leusen/Staudinger/aza-Wittig sequence

An aldol/van Leusen/Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction for the preparation of the derivatives of 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines from 2-azidobenzaldehyde, acetyl compounds, and tosylmethyl isocyanide was developed. The process involves an aldol condensation of 2-azidobenzaldehyde with acetyl compound in base, a van Leusen reaction to form the key pyrrole intermediates, and then a Staudinger and intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction occurred with the addition of triphenylphosphine to complete the formation of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring in high yields.     

The pH of the reaction controls the stereoselectivity of organocatalyzed direct aldol reactions in water

The direct aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone, catalyzed by a protonated prolinamide catalyst in water, proceeds with the formation of aldol product that has high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity in an optimal pH range of 4–5.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol-Tishchenko reaction

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of propionate equivalent was achieved via the aldol-Tishchenko reaction. Coupling an irreversible Tishchenko reaction to a reversible aldol reaction overcame the retro-aldol reaction problem and thereby afforded the products in high enantio and diastereoselectivity using 10 mol % of the asymmetric catalyst. A variety of ketones and aldehydes, including propyl and butyl ketones, were coupled efficiently, yielding the corresponding aldol-Tishchenko products in up to 96% yield and 95% ee. Diastereoselectivity was generally below the detection limit of 1H NMR (>98:2). Preliminary studies performed to clarify the mechanism revealed that the aldol products were racemic with no diastereoselectivity. On the other hand, the Tishchenko products were obtained in a highly enantiocontrolled manner.     

Review of the aldol reaction

Aldol condensation is an important synthetic method widely used in organic synthesis. Development of catalytic methods that avoids the production of stoichiometric by-products while maintaining high levels of control available from stoichiometric processes provides an atom-economical alternative for these important transformations. Indeed, numerous catalysts for the aldol reaction have been reported in recent years, including enzymes, catalytic antibodies, organometals, organocatalysts, and small molecules. The direct aldol reaction is the most important reaction employed by synthetic chemists and is common in nature. Recently, various Lewis acids have been examined as catalysts for aldol reactions, but aldol condensation in a micellar medium has not been studied in detail so far. Because of stronger environmental concerns, organic reactions in green media, especially in water, have attracted more attention. It is believed that micelles act as nano reactors to enhance the reaction rates and give very good to excellent yields of end products.     

Unexpected ambidoselectivity in crossed-aldol reactions of α-oxy aldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates

The ambido-, stereo- and enantioselectivity of the phosphoramide-promoted aldol reactions of α-oxy aldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates with benzaldehyde has been investigated. Analysis of the products from α-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy α-deuterioacetaldehyde trichlorosilyl enolate confirmed that this 1,2-bis-silyloxyethene derivative reacted as a tert-butyldimethylsilyl enolate rather than trichlorosilyl enolate in the aldol reaction with very high ambidoselectivity. The phosphoramide-coordinated trichlorosilyl group acted as an organizing center for the aldol reaction. From the aldol process, excellent anti-diastereoselectivity could be achieved. The enantioselectivity remained moderate to low for both anti- and syn-diastereomer with a wide range of phosphoramide catalysts. α-Triisopropylsilyloxy, phenoxy and benzyloxy acetaldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates also reacted in a similar fashion with benzaldehyde to give aldol products with varying degrees of selectivities.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Aldehyde?Aldehyde Cross‐Aldol Reaction under Base‐Free Conditions: In Situ Aldehyde‐Derived Enolate Formation through Orthogonal Activation

The chemoselective generation of aldehyde‐derived enolates to realize an aldehyde? aldehyde cross‐aldol reaction is described. A combined Rh/dippf system efficiently promoted the isomerization/aldol sequence by using primary allylic, homoallylic, and bishomoallylic alcohols; secondary allylic and homoallylic alcohols; and trialkoxyboranes that were derived from primary allylic and homoallylic alcohols. The reaction proceeded at ambient temperature under base‐free conditions, thus giving cross‐aldol products with high chemoselectivity. Mechanistic studies, as well as its application to double‐aldol processes under protecting‐group‐free conditions, are also described.     

Chiral ytterbium complex-catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol-Tishchenko reaction: synthesis of anti-1,3-diols

The asymmetric aldol-Tishchenko reaction of aromatic aldehydes with aliphatic and aromatic ketones has been developed as an efficient strategy for the synthesis of anti-1,3-diols in good yield with high diastereocontrol and good levels of enantioselectivity. This domino-type reaction is catalyzed by a chiral ytterbium complex that promotes both the aldol reaction through enolization of the carbonyl compound and the Evans-Tishchenko reduction of the aldol intermediate. The stereochemistry of the resulting diols is also investigated and finally proved by using CD techniques.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction in the presence of water

Water was found to be a suitable solvent for the l-prolinethioamide catalysed aldol reaction of various cyclic ketones with aromatic aldehydes. Treatment of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with as little as 1.2 equiv. of cyclohexanone in the presence of the protonated catalyst 1-TFA, afforded aldol products in high yields (up to 97%) with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity (up to >5 : 95 dr and 98% ee). The use of a high excess of ketone was avoided by conducting the aldol addition in the presence of water. Furthermore, different 'salting-out' and 'salting-in' salts were investigated and it was proven that the rate of acceleration and the stereochemical outcome of the reaction are affected by hydrophobic aggregation. Scope and limitation studies revealed that electron deficient aldehydes afforded aldol products with high stereoselectivity in the presence of 1-Cl(2)CHCO(2)H. It was shown that various cyclic ketones, under the conditions found, gave aldol products with fair yields, even if they are used in substoichiometric amounts (1.2 to 2.0 equiv.).     

Anti-selective direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thiolactams

An anti-selective direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thiolactam is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base cooperative catalyst comprised of mesitylcopper/(R,R)-Ph-BPE exhibited high catalytic performance to produce an anti-aldol product with high stereoselectivity. The highly chemoselective nature of the present catalysis allows for the use of enolizable aldehydes as aldol acceptors. The diverse transformations of the thiolactam moiety highlight the synthetic utility of the present anti-aldol protocol.     

Recoverable silica-gel supported binam-prolinamides as organocatalysts for the enantioselective solvent-free intra- and intermolecular aldol reaction

Silica-gel supported binam-derived prolinamides are efficient organocatalysts for the direct intramolecular and intermolecular aldol reaction under solvent-free conditions using conventional magnetic stirring. These organocatalysts in combination with benzoic acid showed similar results to those obtained under similar homogeneous reaction conditions using an organocatalyst of related structure. For the intermolecular process, the aldol products were obtained at room temperature and using only 2 equiv of the ketone with high yields, regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Under these reaction conditions, also the cross aldol reaction between aldehydes is possible. The recovered catalyst can be reused up to nine times providing similar results. More interestingly, these heterogeneous organocatalysts can be used in the intramolecular aldol reaction allowing the synthesis of the Wieland–Miescher and ketone analogues with up to 92% ee, with its reused being possible up to five times without detrimental on the obtained results.     

NMR investigations on the proline-catalyzed aldehyde self-condensation: Mannich mechanism, dienamine detection, and erosion of the aldol addition selectivity

The proline-catalyzed self-condensation of aliphatic aldehydes in DMSO with varying amounts of catalyst was studied by in situ NMR spectroscopy. The reaction profiles and intermediates observed as well as deuteration studies reveal that the proline-catalyzed aldol addition and condensation are competing, but not consecutive, reaction pathways. In addition, the rate-determining step of the condensation is suggested to be the C-C bond formation. Our findings indicate the involvement of two catalyst molecules in the C-C bond formation of the aldol condensation, presumably by the activation of both the aldol acceptor and donor in a Mannich-type pathway. This mechanism is shown to be operative also in the oligomerization of acetaldehyde with high proline amounts, for which the first in situ detection of a proline-derived dienamine was accomplished. In addition, the diastereoselectivity of the aldol addition is evidenced to be time-dependent since it is undermined by the retro-aldolization and the competing irreversible aldol condensation; here NMR reaction profiles can be used as a tool for reaction optimization.     

Highly efficient and solvent-free direct aldol reaction catalyzed by glucosamine-derived prolinamide

The catalytic activity of novel sugar-based prolinamides in the aldol reaction between ketones and aryl aldehydes has been examined. The prolinamide 1c was found to be an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric aldol reaction under solvent-free conditions. A variety of ketones and aldehydes were used as substrates and the corresponding aldol products were obtained in excellent chemical yields with high levels of anti diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivity (up to >99%).