Furanoside diphosphines derived from d-(+)-xylose and d-(+)-glucose as ligands in rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydroformylation reactions

Chirality transfer by furanoside diphosphines 1–3 was investigated in the Rh-catalysed asymmetric hydroformylation of prochiral olefins. In general, they induced high regioselectivities with branched aldehydes and moderate enantioselectivities of up to 58%. Improved activities were seen when a methyl substituent was introduced at C-(5) of the sugar residue. Systematic variation of the configuration at C-(5) suggests that there is a cooperative effect between stereocentres, which results in a matched combination for ligand 3 with (R)-configuration at the C-(5) stereogenic centre. Introduction of a methyl substituent at C-(5) induces a strong coordination preference. The solution structures of the species formed under hydroformylation conditions were also investigated.     

Sugar–phosphite–oxazoline and phosphite–phosphoroamidite ligand libraries for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions

Sugar–phosphite–oxazoline L1–L5a–g and phosphite–phosphoroamidite L6a–c ligand libraries were tested in the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed 1,4-conjugate addition reactions of cyclic and acyclic enones. Systematically varying the electronic and steric properties of the oxazoline and biaryl phosphite substituents and the functional groups attached to the basic sugar-backbone had a strong effect on the catalytic performance. In general, good activities and enantioselectivities were obtained. The enantioselectivity (up to 80%) was optimized with catalyst precursors containing the phosphite–oxazoline ligands L1c and L1f that contain encumbered biaryl phosphite moieties and a phenyl oxazoline group.     

Highly selective asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of heterocyclic olefins

A small family of new chiral hybrid, diphosphorus ligands, consisting of phosphine-phosphoramidites L1 and L2 and phosphine-phosphonites L3a-c, was synthesized for the application in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of heterocyclic olefins. High-pressure (HP)-NMR and HP-IR spectroscopy under 5-10 bar of syngas has been employed to characterize the corresponding catalyst resting state with each ligand. Indole-based ligands L1 and L2 led to selective ea coordination, while the xanthene derived system L3c gave predominant ee coordination. Application of the small bite-angle ligands L1 and L2 in the highly selective asymmetric hydroformylation (AHF) of the challenging substrate 2,3-dihydrofuran (1) yielded the 2-carbaldehyde (3) as the major regioisomer in up to 68% yield (with ligand L2) along with good ee's of up to 62%. This is the first example in which the asymmetric hydroformylation of 1 is both regio- and enantioselective for isomer 3. Interestingly, use of ligand L3c in the same reaction completely changed the regioselectivity to 3-carbaldehyde (4) with a remarkably high enantioselectivity of 91%. Ligand L3c also performs very well in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of other heterocyclic olefins. Highly enantioselective conversion of the notoriously difficult substrate 2,5-dihydrofuran (2) is achieved using the same catalyst, with up to 91% ee, concomitant with complete regioselectivity to the 3-carbaldehyde product (4) under mild reaction conditions. Interestingly, the Rh-catalyst derived from L3c is thus able to produce both enantiomers of 3-carbaldehyde 4, simply by changing the substrate from 1 to 2. Furthermore, 85% ee was obtained in the hydroformylation of N-acetyl-3-pyrroline (5) with exceptionally high regioselectivities for 3-carbaldehyde 8Ac (>99%). Similarly, an ee of 86% for derivative 8Boc was accomplished using the same catalyst system in the AHF of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-pyrroline (6). These results represent the highest ee's reported to date in the AHF of dihydrofurans (1, 2) and 3-pyrrolines (5, 6).     

Ketene-S,S,-acetals—VI : Synthesis of 3,3-bis-(methylthio)-2-propene-2-alkyl-1-aryl-1-ones and their reaction with guanidine: A novel route for pyrimidine synthesis

The α-ketoketene-S,S,-acetals 2a–h have been synthesized from the appropriate ketones 1a–f in good yields by extending the established method. The acetals 2a–d react with guanidine in the presence of sodium ethoxide to give pyrimidines 4a–d in 35–59% overall yields (Scheme 1). Treatment of 2e with guanidine similarly gave 5a in 23% yield. However, the reaction of 2e with guanidine in the presence of sodium n-propoxide gave a mixture of three products from which 5a was isolated as major product (20%) with 6a (7%) and 7a (5%). Under similar reaction conditions, 2f gave 5b, 6b and 7b in identical yields. Treatment of 2g–h with guanidine in the presence of sodium n-propoxide gave only 8a (28%) and 8b (23%) respectively. The formation of these pyrimidines involves base induced 1,3-proton migration in 2a–h to give intermediate olefins 10a–h.     

Enantioselective diethylzinc addition to the exocyclic CN double bond of some 4-arylideneamino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-one derivatives

4-Arylideneamino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones 2a–f have been evaluated as substrates in the enantioselective diethylzinc addition reaction in the presence of (1S,2R)-N-alkyl-N-benzylnorephedrines 3a–d as chiral ligands. The utility of using a dual catalytic system (amino alcohol/halosilane) for the diethylzinc addition reaction has been also examined. The addition products 4-(1-arylpropyl)amino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones 4a–f were obtained in high yields and with enantiomeric excesses of up to 92%. The treatment of arylimines 2a–f with a diethylzinc reagent did not affect the hetero-ring opening although the CN double bond of the lateral chain did undergo an addition reaction to yield the C-ethylated products 4a–f. The reductive cleavage of the 1,2,4-triazinyl heterocyclic ring from addition products 4a–f led smoothly to the corresponding free primary amines 5a–f without a significant loss of enantiomeric purity.     

Furanoside phosphite–phosphoroamidite and diphosphoroamidite ligands for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions

A sugar-based phosphite–phosphoroamidite and diphosphoroamidite ligand library L1–L5a–g was tested in the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed 1,4-conjugate addition reactions of β-substituted and β,β′-disubstituted enones. Our results indicated that the selectivity was strongly dependent on the ligand parameters and on the substrate structure. Moderate-to-good enantioselectivities (ees up to 84%) were obtained in the 1,4-addition of several types of β-substituted cyclic and linear substrates. Of particular note is the high enantioselectivity (ees up to 90%) obtained for the more challenging β,β′-disubstituted 3-methyl-cyclohexenone.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkenylation of Vinylarenes: Electronic Effects of Substrates and Chiral N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

An asymmetric tail‐to‐tail cross‐hydroalkenylation of vinylarenes with terminal olefins was achieved by catalysis with NiH complexes bearing chiral N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The reaction provides branched gem‐disubstituted olefins with high enantioselectivity (up to 94 % ee) and chemoselectivity (cross/homo product ratio: up to 99:1). Electronic effects of the substituents on the vinylarenes and on the N‐aryl groups of the NHC ligands, but not a π,π‐stacking mechanism, assist the steric effect and influence the outcome of the cross‐hydroalkenylation.     

Rhodium/Phosphine catalysed selective hydroformylation of biorenewable olefins

This work reports rhodium catalyzed selective hydroformylation of natural olefins like eugenol, estragole, anethole, prenol and isoprenol using biphenyl based Buchwald phosphine ligands (S‐Phos ( L ₁ ), t‐Bu XPhos ( L ₂ ), Ru‐Phos ( L ₃ ), Johnphos ( L ₄ ) and DavePhos ( L ₅ ). Ru‐Phos ( L ₃ ) ligand exhibited high impact on the hydroformylation of eugenol providing high selectivity (90%) of linear aldehyde as major product. In addition, internal natural olefins like anethole and prenol provided moderate to high selectivity (65% and 85% respectively) of branched aldehydes as a major products. The various reaction parameters such as influence of ligands, P/Rh ratio, syngas pressure, temperature, time and solvents have been studied. A high activity and selectivity gained on the way to the linear aldehydes it may be due to the bulky, steric cyclohexyl and isopropoxy groups present in L ₃ phosphine ligand. Moreover, this catalytic system was smoothly converting natural olefins into corresponding linear and branched aldehydes with higher selectivity under the mild reaction conditions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of novel 1,4-aminoalcohol ligands with norbornene and norbornane backbone: use in the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde

The asymmetric synthesis of cis-1,4-aminoalcohols with norbornene and norbornane backbone was performed starting with (2S,3R)-(−)-cis-hemiester 1 (98% ee). Chemoselective amination with HMPTA followed by Grignard reactions and subsequent LAH reductions afforded compounds 5a–d. cis-Hemiester 1 was also transformed into chiral ligands 7a–f and 9a–d with the DCC coupling method followed by LAH reduction using acyclic, heterocyclic amines and various aniline derivatives and p-toluenesulfonamide, respectively. The chiral ligands were subjected to asymmetric diethylzinc addition to examine their effectiveness as chiral catalysts. Among these, arylamine and tosyl substituted chiral ligands 9a–d exhibited the highest selectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Efficient dual catalytic enantioselective diethylzinc addition to the exocyclic CN double bond of some 1,2,4-N-triazinylarylimines using polymer-supported chiral β-amino alcohols derived from norephedrine

Chiral N,N-dialkylnorephedrines and their corresponding copolymers were evaluated as chiral ligands for the enantioselective diethylzinc addition to the exocyclic CN double bond of some 4-arylideneamino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones 2a-f. The use of a dual catalytic system (amino alcohol/halosilane) in the titled asymmetric reaction was examined. The enantioselective ethylation reaction has been successfully carried out in the heterogeneous system even at low temperature. The corresponding 4-(1-arylpropyl)amino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones 4a-f were obtained in high yields with high enantioselectivities using chiral polymers (up to 91% ee), which are almost the same as those obtained from homogeneous analogues (up to 92% ee). The diethylzinc reagent neither opened the 1,2,4-triazinyl heterocyclic ring nor attacked the carbonyl or the thione groups of the 1,2,4-triazinyl heterocyclic ring and the addition reaction took place exclusively at the exocyclic electrophilic carbon atom yielding the C-ethylated products 4a-f. Reductive cleavage of the 1,2,4-triazinyl heterocyclic ring led smoothly to the corresponding primary aromatic amines 11a-f without significant loss of enantiomeric purity. A suggestion about the possible transition state for the addition reaction is also presented.     

Spiroketal‐Based Phosphorus Ligands for Highly Regioselective Hydroformylation of Terminal and Internal Olefins

A new class of bidentate phosphoramidite ligands, based on a spiroketal backbone, has been developed for the rhodium‐catalyzed hydroformylation reactions. A range of short‐ and long‐chain olefins, were found amenable to the protocol, affording high catalytic activity and excellent regioselectivity for the linear aldehydes. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a turnover number (TON) of up to 2.3×10⁴ and linear to branched ratio (l/b) of up to 174.4 were obtained in the Rh^I‐catalyzed hydroformylation of terminal olefins. Remarkably, the catalysts were also found to be efficient in the isomerization–hydroformylation of some internal olefins, to regioselectively afford the linear aldehydes with TON values of up to 2.0×10⁴ and l/b ratios in the range of 23.4–30.6. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed the cis coordination of the ligand in the precatalyst [Rh( 3 d )(acac)], whereas NMR and IR studies on the catalytically active hydride complex [HRh(CO)₂( 3 d )] suggested an eq–eq coordination of the ligand in the species.     

Enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions of chiral racemic acyclic dienes with (SS)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone

Enantiopure sulfinylnaphthoquinone (+)-1 reacted with racemic acyclic dienes 2a–f bearing a stereogenic allylic center, through a tandem cycloaddition/pyrolytic sulfenic acid elimination, to afford enantio-enriched compounds 4a–f and 5a–f with good like:unlike selectivities (ca. 75:25) and good enantiomeric excesses (68–82%), arising from the partial kinetic resolution of the racemic dienes.     

“Olefin metathesis” reactions of (η5-C5H5)NiRu3(μ-H)(CO)9-(μ4-η2)-(CCHBut) and related complexes

The complex (η⁵-C₅H₅)NiRu₃(μ-H)(CO)₉(μ₄-η²-CCHBu^t) (1a) reacts with olefins to give several organic products, including species derived from the coupling of the vinylidene ligand with an olefin-derived =CRR′ fragment, representing the first example of a (non catalytic) olefin metathesis reaction involving a metal cluster; other complexes structurally or chemically related to the compound 1a have also been treated with olefins and alkynes.     

Rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of olefins: Effect of [bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl) pentaerythritol] diphosphite (alkanox P-24) on the regioselectivity of the reaction

Rhodium (I) associated with [bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl) pentaerythritol] diphosphite (I) as a ligand represents an active catalyst system for highly regioselective hydroformylation of various alkenes. The commercially available bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite (alkanox P-24) (I), which has been used so far as an antioxidant in the stabilization of polymers, was used as a diphosphite ligand for the selective hydroformylation reaction of olefins. Excellent selectivity towards linear aldehydes and excellent conversions were achieved in the hydroformylation of alkenes. The hydroformylation reaction was applied to various olefinic substrates including the internal alkenes.     

An efficient synthesis of benzofurans and their application in the preparation of natural products of the genus Calea

The intramolecular cyclization of the β-substituted olefins methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethylaminopropenoates 3a-3f catalyzed by Lewis acids leads to a short and novel synthesis of benzofurans 2a-2f. When the olefins 4-dimethylamino-3-aryloxy-3-buten-2-ones 4a-4f were used, the cyclization process was faster and provided the corresponding substituted 2-acetylbenzofurans 1a-1f. Among the latter, naturally occurring compounds calebertin (1a), caleprunin A (1b), and caleprunin B (1c) were prepared in good overall yields. These benzofurans were also obtained by direct treatment under MW irradiation of the precursors 1-aryloxypropan-2-ones 7a-7c with DMFDMA, followed by addition of the catalyst, resulting in a route that was one step shorter.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation reactions with Rh and Ru complexes bearing phosphine–phosphites with an oxymethylene backbone

Phosphine–phosphites 3a and 3b, derived from diphenylhydroxymethyl phosphine have been prepared. From these ligands [Rh(COD)(3a)]BF₄ 5a and RuCl₂(3b)[(S,S)-DPEN] 6b (DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) were synthesized and their structure determined by X-ray diffraction. Ligands 3 are characterized by a small bite angle of 83°. In addition, 5a led to an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins, giving enantioselectivities of up to 96% ee. Likewise, compound 6b showed good activity and enantioselectivity in the hydrogenation of N-1-phenyl ethylidene aniline and a completed reaction at S/C = 500 in 24 h with 83% ee.     

Sugar-based phosphite and phosphoroamidite ligands for the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition to enones

A modular sugar-based phosphoroamidite L1–L5a–g and phosphite L6–L9a–g ligand library was tested in the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed 1,4-conjugate addition reactions of β-substituted (cyclic and linear) and β,β′-disubstituted (cyclic) enones. The selectivity depended strongly on the configuration of carbon atom C-3, the size of the sugar backbone ring, the flexibility of the ligand backbone, the substituents and configurations in the biaryl phosphoroamidite moieties a–g, the type of functional group attached to the ligand backbone and the substrate structure. Therefore, by carefully selecting the ligand parameters, enantioselectivities of up to 60% for cyclic substrates and 72% for linear ones were achieved.     

The high-pressure [4+2]cycloaddition of 1-methoxybuta-1,3-diene to the glycolaldehyde-derived heterodienophiles,catalyzed by chiral metallosalen complexes

A high-pressure (ca. 10 kbar) reaction of 1-methoxybuta-1,3-diene 1 with variously O-protected glycolaldehydes 2, catalyzed by the chiral (salen)Cr(III)Cl 4a–d and 5 or (salen)Co(II) 6a–f and 7 complexes, has been studied. The best results were obtained for tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde 2a. The reaction afforded, in good yield (up to 90%) and with very good diastereoselectivity (up to 92%) and enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee), the [4+2]cycloadducts 3a, which are compounds of significant synthetic interest. The stereochemical model of the cycloaddition reaction is discussed.     

Synthesis of N-α-pyridylmethyl amino alcohols and application in catalytic asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes

A series of novel chiral ligands 2a–2f were conveniently prepared from β-amino alcohols through a two-step reaction and applied to catalyze the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Among them, ligand 2c was found to show the best asymmetric induction and catalyze the reaction of various aromatic aldehydes to provide (R)-secondary alcohols in up to 98.3% ee.     

Resolution of 1-arylalkylamines with 6-(1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl)hydrogen phthalate

The resolving ability of a new acidic resolving agent, the hydrogen phthalate of 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galactopyranose 1, against various 1-arylalkylamines 2a–k is described. Treatment of 1 with amines 2a–f to obtain diastereomeric salts 1·(S)2a–f in 2-propanol allowing the corresponding (S)-amines 2a–f to be recovered in good yield and 61–89% ee. Recrystallization in dichloromethane/hexane, and regeneration gave the amines in enhanced enantiomeric purity (>98% ee). 1 resolved 1-phenylpropylamine 2f in high enantiomeric purity (99% ee) than 1-phenylethylamine 2g (11% ee) and o- and m-methoxy 2h–i, o-chloro-2j and p-fluoro-2k substituted 1-arylamines (11–19% ee). A possible chiral recognition mechanism based on the ability of 1 to exist in two conformations is described.