Enantioselective hydrogen transfer hydrogenation on rhodium colloid systems with optically active stabilizers

Hydrogen transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and methyl benzoylformate with 2-propanol was studied on colloidal systems obtained by reduction of rhodium complexes in the presence of optically active compounds: chiral diamines, quaternary salt (4S,5S)-(–)-N¹,N⁴-dibenzylene-2,3-dihydroxy-N¹,N¹,N⁴,N⁴-tetramethylbutane-1,4-diammonium dichloride and (8S,9R)-(–)-cinchonidine. The increase in the molar ratio modifier/Rh leads to the increase in the enantioneric excess (ee) of the reaction products. The largest ee [43.8% of (R)-1-phenylethanol and 58.2% of methyl ester of (R)-mandelic acid] were achieved for the ratios (8S,9R)-(–)-cinchonadine: Rh = 9: 1 and 3: 1, respectively. The catalyst was characterized by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermal analysis.     

Asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidines by Diels–Alder reaction of 1,2-dihydropyridine utilizing a chiral Lewis acid catalyst

The chiral isoquinuclidine derivative, 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring system, endo-(7R)-3 was obtained in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de) by Diels–Alder reaction of 1-(phenoxycarbonyl)-1,2-dihydropyridine 1 with N-acryloyl-(4S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one (4S)-2 using titanium-(2R,3R)-TADDOLate 4 as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst in toluene at 0 °C. On the other hand, endo-(7S)-3 was obtained in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 97% de) by Diels–Alder reaction of 1 with (4R)-2 using Cu(OTf)₂/(4S,4′S)-bis(oxazoline) catalyst 8 as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst in dichloromethane at 0 °C. In these reactions, the choice of solvent and the combination of titanium-(2R,3R)-TADDOLate 4 {or Cu(II)/(4S,4′S)-bis(oxazoline) 8} and dienophile (4S)-2 {or (4R)-2} are very important. The stereochemistry of endo-(7R)-3 has been established to be (1R,4S,7R) and the reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone

The first synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone is reported. Ruthenium catalysts containing commercially available chiral amino alcohols afforded 4-hydroxyisophorone in up to 97% selectivity and 97% ee. (R)- or (S)-4-Hydroxyisophorones with >99% ee were isolated by crystallization. The catalyst precursors [RuCl₂((S,R)-ADPE)(η⁶-p-cymene)] ((S,R)-ADPE=(1S,2R)-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol-N) and (R_Ru)-[RuCl((S,R)-ADPE⁻¹)(η⁶-p-cymene)] (ADPE⁻¹=amino-1,2-diphenylethanolato-N,O) were isolated for the first time and the X-ray crystal structure of the latter determined.     

Bifunctional acyclic nucleoside phosphonates: synthesis of chiral 9-{3-hydroxy[1,4-bis(phosphonomethoxy)]butan-2-yl} derivatives of purines

We report herein a general method for the synthesis of new types of chiral acyclic nucleoside four-carbon bisphosphonates. The alkylation of 2-amino-6-chloropurine and adenine was performed with (2S,3S)- or (2R,3R)-1,4-[bis(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methoxy]]-3-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]butan-2-yl benzoate. Alkylations provided (2R,3R) or (2S,3S) N⁹-substituted nucleobases, which were further converted to other derivatives. These conversions included either a modification of the nucleobase or transformation of the bisphosphonate chain. Subsequent deprotection of the diisopropyl esters with bromotrimethylsilane provided the resulting (2R,3R)- or (2S,3S)-bisphosphonic acids.     

Asymmetric anionic polymerization of optically active N-1-cyclohexylethylmaleimide

Chiral (S)-(−)-N-1-cyclohexylethylmaleimide [(S)-CEMI] and (R)-(+)-N-1-cyclohexylethylmaleimide [(R)-CEMI] were synthesized successfully and then polymerized with chiral complexes of (−)-sparteine or (S,S)-(1-ethylpropylidene)bis(4-benzyl-2-oxazoline) [(S,S)-Bnbox] and organometal as initiators in toluene or tetrahydrofuran to obtain optically active polymers. The effects of the polymerization conditions on the optical activity and structure of poly(N-1-cyclohexylethylmaleimide)s were investigated with gel permeation chromatography, circular dichroism, specific rotation, and ¹³C NMR measurements. Poly[(R)-CEMI] obtained with dimethylzinc (Me₂Zn)/(S,S)-Bnbox had the highest specific rotation ([α]₄₃₅ = +323.7°). Complexes of Bnbox and diethylzinc or Me₂Zn were used very effectively as chiral initiators for the asymmetric anionic polymerization of (S)-CEMI and (R)-CEMI. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4682–4692, 2004     

The first synthesis of N,O-protected β-isoserines bearing two adjacent quaternary stereogenic centers and their corresponding β-lactams

The reaction of chiral (2S)-enolates of dioxolan-4-ones, derived from lactic and mandelic acids, with (S_R)-tert-butyl sulfinyl ketimines, derived from butan-2-one, pentan-2-one, and decan-2-one, afforded conformationally restrained β^2,2,3,3-isoserines bearing two adjacent quaternary stereogenic centers in the form of N-sulfinyl protected 1′-amino-dioxolan-4-ones. The selective acid-induced removal of the sulfinyl protecting group provided the corresponding 1′-aminodioxolanones, whose base-induced cyclization afforded the corresponding chiral tetra-substituted 3-hydroxy-β-lactams. The synthesis of a dipeptide by reaction coupling between the 1′-aminodioxolanone (2S,5R,1′R)-19 and N,N-dimethylglycine was successfully achieved.     

Reversed diastereoselectivity in the ring-opening reaction of (S)-TFPO with a chiral aminoacetonitrile Schiff base

Diastereoselective ring opening of (S)-2,3-epoxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane [(S)-TFPO: 75% ee] with an aminoacetonitrile Schiff base bearing the (R,R,R)-hydroxypinanone chiral auxiliary [(R)-Schiff base] are described. The reaction of (S)-TFPO with the (R)-Schiff base selectively gave one diastereomer out of the four possible, while that with the (S)-Schiff base gave a complex mixture of all four possible diastereomers. The stereochemistry of the reaction products was greatly dependent on the base used for abstracting a proton from the (R)-Schiff base; utilization of LDA and KO^tBu resulted in production of (R,R,R,S,S)- and (R,R,R,R,S)-isomers as the major diastereomers, respectively.     

Application of amide-stabilized sulfur ylide reactivity to the stereodivergent synthesis of (R,S)- and (S,R)-reboxetine

A simple access to (R,S)- and (S,R)-reboxetine from a single chiral sulfonium salt 4 is reported. This approach, based on a stabilized sulfur ylide-mediated epoxidation, followed by a regioselective opening reaction, enables the preparation of these two potentially biologically active compounds in 35.6% and 13.7% overall yield.     

Synthesis and characterization of chiral mono N-heterocyclic carbene-substituted rhodium complexes and their catalytic properties in hydrosilylation reactions

Different chiral mono-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of rhodium were prepared, starting from [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ (COD = cyclooctadiene) by addition of free N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), or an in-situ deprotonation of the corresponding iminium salt. All new complexes were characterized by spectroscopy methods. In addition, the structures of chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(1R,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl] imidazolin-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5a), chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-menthylcyclohex-1-yl]imidazol-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5b) and chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(2R,4S,5S)-2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxacyclohex-5-yl]imidazolin-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5i) were analyzed by DFT-calculations. The enantioselective hydrosilylation of acetophenone, ethylpyruvate and n-propylpyruvate with diphenylsilane and hydrolysis was carried out with chiral C₂-symmetrical mono-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium complexes giving for the first time an enantioselective excess of up to 74% ee in the case of the n-propylpyruvate.     

Enantioselectivity switch controlled by N,N′-di- or N,N,N′,N′-tetra-substituted chiral thiophosphorodiamide ligands,structural relatives of thioureas,in catalytic additions of diethylzinc to aldehydes

We have developed a series of new chiral thiophosphorodiamide ligands derived from (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, which are the structural relatives of thioureas. An investigation into their catalytic properties in asymmetric additions of diethylzinc to aldehydes has shown that N,N,N′,N′-tetra-substituted chiral thiophosphorodiamides can give (R)-secondary alcohols with up to 98% yield and 98% ee, while N,N′-di-substituted chiral thiophosphorodiamides give (S)-secondary alcohols with up to 99% yield and 97% ee values. The enantioselectivity switch is highly efficient with a broad substrate scope. We have also proposed hypothetical reaction pathways, which result in an enantioselectivity switch.     

An economic,practical access to enantiopure 1,1′-bi-2-naphthols: enantioselective complexation of threo-(1S,2S)-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl[1,3-dihydroxy-1-(4′-nitrophenyl)]-2-propylammonium chloride

An economic, convenient access to enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) has been discovered. Racemic 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol was reacted with threo-(1S,2S)-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-[1,3-dihydroxyl-1-(4′-nitrophenyl)]-2-propylammonium chloride (BDDNPAC) in water-containing acetonitrile under reflux until the solid dissolved completely, and then cooled to ambient temperature to isolate a yellow-greenish crystal consisting of BDDNPAC, (S)-BINOL, and water, which was analyzed by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. Enantiopure (S)- and (R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthols were obtained in high yield after decomposition of the colored crystalline complex and evaporation of the acetonitrile solution removed from the complex crystals and successive crystallization. The chiral quaternary ammonium salt BDDNPAC can be recovered and reused without any decrease in efficiency.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (2R,3S)-4-halo-3-benzyloxy-2-(N-methoxycarbonyl-N-benzylamino)butyronitriles as precursors for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids

(2R,3S)-4-Halo-3-benzyloxy-2-(N-methoxycarbonyl-N-benzylamino)butyronitriles have been prepared through an efficient three-step sequence from (2R,3S)-2-benzylamino-3-benzyloxy-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)butyronitrile, which is readily available in diastereomerically pure form by a Strecker-type reaction of the N-benzylimine, derived from selectively protected (R)-glyceraldehyde, and trimethylsilyl cyanide. These compounds enable the facile synthesis of chiral β-hydroxy-α-amino acids containing virtually any nucleophile capable of substituting the γ-halogen atom. As an illustration of their synthetic potential, the 4-bromo derivative has been successfully converted into (1R,2R)-2-benzyloxy-1-(N-methoxycarbonyl-N-benzylamino)cyclopropanecarboxamide, which is a new conformationally restricted serine analogue, in two steps: base-induced cyclisation and subsequent hydrolysis of the nitrile group.     

Use of bis-(aminol) ethers derived from N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine in reactions with resorcinarenes and double Mannich reactions

The synthesis of some chiral bis-(aminol)ethers are described. Reaction of a solution of the resorcin[4]arene derived from propanal with N,N-bis(methoxymethyl)-N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine in toluene at 85 °C initially afforded a 1:1 mixture of two diastereoisomeric tetrakis(benzoxazines). Further, heating of this mixture under reflux in ethanol for 24 h afforded the crystalline (αS),(S)-diastereoisomer in 77% yield. N,N-bis(ethoxymethyl)-N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine and N,N-bis(ethoxymethyl)-N-(R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine were reacted with β keto esters to afford a 1:1 mixture of the diastereoisomeric double Mannich adducts. Two of the double Mannich adducts were converted into tricyclic ABE analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine 1.     

Catalytic asymmetric S-oxidation of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines

An efficient catalytic asymmetric oxidation reaction of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines using a chiral titanium complex formed in situ from Ti(O-iPr)₄, (R, R)-diethyl tartrate was developed. This reaction is helpful for the synthesis of the active form of (E, aS, 1S)-sulfoxide of N-benzoyl-1,5-benzothiazepines which should be recognized by vasopressin receptors. Furthermore, a prospective dynamic kinetic resolution utilizing this system was achieved.     

Synthesis of four enantiomers of 2-acetamido-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

Enantiomerically pure diethyl 2-acetamido-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates were synthesised from N-[(R)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2S)- and N-[(S)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2R)-carboxaldehydes via phosphonylation followed by acetylation of the hydroxy groups and the simultaneous hydrogenolytic cleavage of the aziridine rings and the removal of the chiral auxiliaries. In addition, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates (the phosphonate analogues of isothreonine) were separated.     

Selective 1,3-cycloboronation of enantiopure 1,1,4,4-tetrasubstituted butanetetraols: versatile preparation,structural characterization,and properties of chiral cyclic boron-containing bifunctional Lewis acids

The selective cycloboronation of enantiopure 1,1,4,4-tetrasubstituted butanetetraols was investigated, and a general preparation of chiral cyclic boron-containing bifunctional Lewis acids was discovered. Compounds (2R,3R)- or (2S,3S)-1,1,4,4-tetrasubstituted butanetetraols were reacted with ArB(OH)₂ at reflux in toluene, or THF, or under solvent-free condition to furnish tricoordinated, chiral bicyclo[4.4.0]diboronic esters in high yield via selective 1,3-cycloboronation. Structural characterization and properties of the novel chiral boron compounds are also reported.     

New chiral phosphine-phosphonites derived from (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate, (S)-binaphthol and (1R,2S)-ephedrine

The reaction of 2-lithiophenyldiphenylphosphine with phosphorus trichloride afforded the new unsymmetric phosphine, dichloro(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine (4). Condensation of 4 with (a) (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate or (b) (S)-binaphthol in the presence of triethylamine gave new chiral phosphine-phosphonite ligands, (2R,3R)-[2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,5-bis(carbomethoxy)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane] ((2R,3R)-5) and (S)-[2-(diphenylphosphino)benzene][1,1′-binaphthalen-2,2′-diyl]phosphonite] ((S)-6). The analogous reaction of 4 with (1R,2S)-ephedrine using N-methylmorpholine as the base, gave [2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine] (7) as a 95:5 mixture of diastereoisomers.     

Convenient access to sterically hindered C2 chiral 2,2,5,5-tetraphenyltetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols: intramolecular selective 1,4-cyclocondensation of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutanetetraols

Sterically hindered C₂ chiral (3R,4R)- and (3S,4S)-2,2,5,5-tetraphenyltetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols have been conveniently prepared in a very high yield via heterogeneous intramolecular selective 1,4-cyclocondensation of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutanetetraol in concentrated hydrohalic acids, respectively. Preliminary examination of additives for the Barbas–List reaction showed that in certain cases, the hindered C₂ chiral tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols were better chiral auxiliaries than enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthols.     

Preparation of both enantiomers of β-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-β-alanine, higher homologues of Dopa

β²-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzyl)-β-alanine [β²-Homo-Dopa, 1] is a novel β-amino acid homologue of Dopa, the most successful therapeutic agent in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Enantioenriched (R)-1 and (S)-1 were obtained via the diastereoselective alkylation of enantiopure pyrimidinone (R)- and (S)-3, chiral derivatives of β-alanine, with veratryl iodide. The major diastereomeric products (2S,5R)-4 and (2R,5S)-4 were hydrolyzed with 57% HBr, and the desired β-amino acids were purified by silica gel chromatography. Alternatively, enantioenriched (R)- and (S)-1 were prepared by means of the highly diastereoselective alkylation (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl iodide) of open-chain β-aminopropionic acid derivatives (R,R,S)-8 and (S,S,R)-8 containing the chiral auxiliary α-phenylethylamine. Finally, nearly enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1 were obtained by resolution of racemic N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(3,4-dibenzyloxybenzyl)-3-aminopropionic acid, rac-12, with (R)- or (S)-α-phenylethylamine, followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by a rhodium complex with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand

The asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates was promoted by a rhodium complex bearing a trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand (R,R)-(S,S)-PrTRAP, providing the corresponding optically active (2S,3R)-2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates with 79–82% ee. The 2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates isolated were readily hydrolyzed under acid to afford (2S,3R)-2,3-diaminocarboxylic acids in 95% yield without epimerization.