Asymmetric Michael Addition/Intramolecular Cyclization Catalyzed by Bifunctional Tertiary Amine–Squaramides: Construction of Chiral 2‐Amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐Carbonitrile Derivatives

The efficient asymmetric Michael addition/intramolecular cyclization of malononitrile with dienones catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional tertiary amine–squaramide catalyst for the synthesis of chiral 2‐amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee) for most of the bisarylidenecyclopentanones.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective anti‐Selective Hydrogenation of α‐Amino‐β‐keto Ester Hydrochlorides and Related Compounds Using Transition‐Metal–Chiral‐Bisphosphine Catalysts

This review describes our recent works on the diastereo‐ and enantioselective synthesis of anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid esters using transition‐metal–chiral‐bisphosphine catalysts. A variety of transition metals, namely ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh),iridium (Ir), and nickel (Ni), in combination with chiral bisphosphines, worked well as catalysts for the direct anti‐selective asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides, yielding anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid esters via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) in excellent yields and diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. The Ru‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐ketoesters via DKR is the first example of generating anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids. Complexes of iridium and axially chiral bisphosphines catalyze an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides via dynamic kinetic resolution. A homogeneous Ni–chiral‐bisphosphine complex also catalyzes an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides in an anti‐selective manner. As a related process, the asymmetric hydrogenation of the configurationally stable substituted α‐aminoketones using a Ni catalyst via DKR is also described.     

Asymmetric Reduction of 2‐Chloro‐3‐oxo Esters by Transfer Hydrogenation

Asymmetric reduction of 2‐chloro‐3‐oxo esters was achieved by catalytic transfer hydrogenation using [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)](S,S)‐TsDPEN as the chiral catalyst and HCOOH‐Et₃N as the hydrogen source. Moderate to good yields (up to 85%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 2‐Amidoacrylates

Earth‐abundant nickel, coordinated with a suitable chiral bisphosphine ligand, was found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2‐amidoacrylates, affording the chiral α‐amino acid esters in quantitative yields and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 96 % ee). The active catalyst component was studied by NMR and HRMS, which helped us to realize high catalytic efficiency on a gram scale with a low catalyst loading (S/C=2000). The hydrogenated products could be simply converted into chiral α‐amino acids, β‐amino alcohols, and their bioactive derivatives. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism was investigated using deuterium‐labeling experiments and computational calculations.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N‐Sulfonyl Imines

An efficient nickel‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N‐tBu ‐ sulfonyl imines was developed with excellent yields and enantioselectivities using (R,R)‐QuinoxP* as a chiral ligand. The use of a much lower catalyst loading (0.0095 mol %, S/C=10500) represents the highest catalytic activity for the Ni‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations reported so far. Mechanistic studies suggest that a coordination equilibrium exists between the nickel salt and its complex, and that excess nickel salt promotes the formation of the active Ni‐complex, and therefore improved the efficiency of the hydrogenation. The catalytic cycle was also investigated by calculations to determine the origin of the enantioselectivity. An extensive network of numerous weak attractive interactions was found to exist between the catalyst and substrate in the transition state and may also contribute to the high catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of β‐Substituted γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Derivatives through Enantioselective Photoredox Catalysis

β‐Substituted chiral γ‐aminobutyric acids feature important biological activities and are valuable intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Herein, an efficient catalytic enantioselective approach for the synthesis of β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid derivatives through visible‐light‐induced photocatalyst‐free asymmetric radical conjugate additions is reported. Various β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid analogues, including previously inaccessible derivatives containing fluorinated quaternary stereocenters, were obtained in good yields (42–89 %) and with excellent enantioselectivity (90–97 % ee). Synthetically valuable applications were demonstrated by providing straightforward synthetic access to the pharmaceuticals or related bioactive compounds (S)‐pregabalin, (R)‐baclofen, (R)‐rolipram, and (S)‐nebracetam.     

Practical Stereo‐ and Regioselective,Copper(I)‐Promoted Strecker Synthesis of Sugar‐Modified α,β‐Unsaturated Imines

The regio‐ and stereoselective, Lewis acid catalyzed Strecker reaction between Me₃SiCN and different aldimines incorporating a 2,3,4,6‐tetrakis‐O‐pivaloyl‐D ‐glucopyranosyl (Piv₄Glc) chiral auxiliary has been worked out. Depending on the conditions used, high yields (up to 95%) and good diastereoselectivities (de > 86%) were achieved under mild conditions (Table 1), especially with CuBr ? Me₂S as catalyst. Our protocol allows the ready preparation of asymmetric β,γ‐unsaturated α‐amino acids such as (R)‐2‐amino‐4‐phenylbut‐3‐enoic acid ( 13 ; Scheme 2) and congeners thereof.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 3‐(α‐Hydroxy‐β‐carbonyl) Oxindoles by a ScIII‐Catalyzed Direct Aldol‐Type Reaction

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol‐type reaction of 3‐substituted‐2‐oxindoles with glyoxal derivatives and ethyl trifluoropyruvate, catalyzed by a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ (Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl) complex, has been developed that tolerates a wide range of substrates. The reaction proceeds in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 93 % yield, 99:1 diastereomeric ratio (dr), and >99 % enantiomeric excess (ee)) under mild conditions, to deliver 3‐(α‐hydroxy‐β‐carbonyl) oxindoles with vicinal quaternary–tertiary or quaternary–quaternary stereocenters. Even with 1 mol % catalyst loading or on scaleup (10 mmol of starting material), maintenance of ee was observed, which showed the potential value of the catalyst system. In studies probing the reaction mechanism, a positive nonlinear effect was observed and Sc^III‐based enolate intermediates were detected by using ESIMS. On the basis of the experimental results and previous reports, a possible catalytic cycle was assumed.     

Enantioselective Construction of 2,3‐Dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]quinolines through Supramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

The first asymmetric synthesis of 2,3‐dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]quinolines has been achieved by a cascade asymmetric aziridination/intramolecular ring‐opening process of differently substituted 3‐alkenylquinolones. Good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 78 % yield and 95 % ee) were recorded when employing 2,2,2‐trichloroethoxysulfonamide as the nitrene source, PhI(OCOtBu)₂ as the oxidant, and a chiral C₂‐symmetric Rh^II complex as the catalyst (1 mol %). The catalyst bears two lactam motifs, which serve as binding sites for substrate coordination through supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

Development of Chiral Spiro P‐N‐S Ligands for Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of β‐Alkyl‐β‐Ketoesters

The chiral tridentate spiro P‐N‐S ligands (SpiroSAP) were developed, and their iridium complexes were prepared. Introduction of a 1,3‐dithiane moiety into the ligand resulted in a highly efficient chiral iridium catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐alkyl‐β‐ketoesters, producing chiral β‐alkyl‐β‐hydroxyesters with excellent enantioselectivities (95–99.9 % ee) and turnover numbers of up to 355 000.     

Asymmetric Photochemical Synthesis of Chiral 5‐(R)‐(l)‐Menthyloxy‐4‐Cycloaminobutyrolactones

Through photocatalysed regiospecific and stereoselective additions of cycloamines to 5‐(R)‐(l)‐menthyloxy‐2 (5H)‐furanone (3), chiral 5‐(R)‐(l)‐menthyloxy‐4‐cycloaminobutyrolactones were synthesized. In the new asymmetric photoaddition of compound 3, the N‐methyl cyclic amines (4) gave novel chiral C? C photoadducts (5) in 24–50% isolated yields with d. e. ≥ 98%. However, the secondary cyclic amines (6) afforded optically active N? C photoadducts (7) in 34–58% isolated yields with d. e. ≥ 98% under the same condition. All the synthesized optically active compounds were identified on the basis of their analytical data and spectroscopic data, such as [α]₅₈₉²⁰, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS and elementary analysis. The photosynthesis of chiral butyrolactones and its mechanism were discussed in detail.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of All Four Isomers of an Unusual Heterocycle‐Containing Amino Acid: 2‐Amino‐3‐furan‐2‐yl‐pentanoic Acid

All four isomers of a novel β‐branched unusual amino acid were designed and synthesized with high stereoselectivity (>90% de) and in 33% –44% overall yields by the use of 4(R/S)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐oxazolidin‐2‐one as the chiral auxiliary via asymmetric 1,4‐Michael addition, direct or indirect azidation, hydrolysis and hydrogenation reactions.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Hydroxy Amides and β‐Amino Alcohols from α‐Keto Amides

Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched α‐hydroxy amides and β‐amino alcohols has been accomplished by enantioselective reduction of α‐keto amides with hydrosilanes. A series of α‐keto amides were reduced in the presence of chiral Cu^II/(S)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS catalyst to give the corresponding optically active α‐hydroxy amides with excellent enantioselectivities by using (EtO)₃SiH as a reducing agent. Furthermore, a one‐pot complete reduction of both ketone and amide groups of α‐keto amides has been achieved using the same chiral copper catalyst followed by tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) catalyst in presence of (EtO)₃SiH to afford the corresponding chiral β‐amino alcohol derivatives.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Diels–Alder Reaction/[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement Cascade of 1‐Thiocyanatobutadienes

A highly efficient asymmetric Diels–Alder/[3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement reaction of methyleneindolinones with 1‐thiocyanatobutadienes has been realized by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/nickel(II) complex as the catalyst. A range of cyclohexenyl isothiocyanates were synthesized in high yields with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. Based on mechanistic studies, a catalytic cycle with possible transition‐state models were proposed to explain the process.     

Cationic Ir/Me‐BIPAM‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Direct Hydroarylation of α‐Ketoamides

Asymmetric intramolecular direct hydroarylation of α‐ketoamides gives various types of optically active 3‐substituted 3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles in high yields with complete regioselectivity and high enantioselectivities (84–98 % ee). This is realized by the use of the cationic iridium complex [Ir(cod)₂](BAr^F₄) and the chiral O‐linked bidentate phosphoramidite (R,R)‐Me‐BIPAM.     

Nickel(II)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Imines with Alkylidene Malonates

We demonstrated an asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine betaines with alkylidene malonates by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Ni^II complex as a catalyst. Both aromatic‐ and aliphatic‐substituted alkylidene malonates were found to be suitable for the reaction. A range of trans‐pyrazolone derivatives was exclusively obtained with excellent yields (up to 99 % yield) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee) under mild reaction conditions. The reaction could be carried out on a gram scale with the good results being maintained. Control experiments were performed to elucidate the specific diastereoselectivity of the reaction. The formation of single trans isomers was dominated by secondary orbital interactions between the ester groups of the dipolarophile and the azomethine imine. On the basis of the experimental results and previous reports, a possible catalytic model was assumed.     

Oxazoline chemistry part III. Synthesis and characterisation of [2‐(2′‐anilinyl)‐2‐oxazolines] and some related compounds

The syntheses and characterisation of a series of chiral and achiral 2‐(aminophenyl)‐2‐oxazolines and some related compounds is reported. All of the derivatives have been produced by a one‐step procedure involving the treatment of isatoic anhydride (i.e. [2H]‐3, 1‐benzoxazine‐[1H‐2,4‐dione: 1 ) or its 5‐chloro analogue with a slight excess of appropriate amino‐alcohols. In most cases, anhydrous ZnCl₂ is shown to be an effective Lewis acid catalyst for this reaction at reflux temperature in high boiling aromatic solvents (PhCl or PhMe). Oxazolines have been readily formed using rac‐2‐amino‐1‐butanol, (S)‐phenylglycinol, 2‐methyl‐2‐amino‐1‐propanol and (1S,2R) or (IR,2S)‐cis‐ 1 ‐amino‐2‐indanol; yields range from 85% to 22%. The use of aminoalcohols such as 2‐ethanolamine, (±)‐2‐amino‐1‐phenyl‐1‐propanol or 3‐amino‐1‐propanol (to give the corresponding 4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐oxazine) results in poor yields. The use of other Lewis acid catalysts (silicic acid, Cd(acac)₂·2H₂O, CuCl₂·2H₂O, InCl₃) or higher temperatures did not improve the yields with these latter two substrates. Benzoxazoles and N‐substituted benzoxazoles can also be obtained in reasonable yields from 1 using 2‐aminophenol (36%) or 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine (45%).     

Asymmetric [3+2] Photocycloadditions of Cyclopropanes with Alkenes or Alkynes through Visible‐Light Excitation of Catalyst‐Bound Substrates

The herein reported visible‐light‐activated catalytic asymmetric [3+2] photocycloadditions between cyclopropanes and alkenes or alkynes provide access to chiral cyclopentanes and cyclopentenes, respectively, in 63–99 % yields and with excellent enantioselectivities of up to >99 % ee. The reactions are catalyzed by a single bis‐cyclometalated chiral‐at‐metal rhodium complex (2–8 mol %) which after coordination to the cyclopropane generates the visible‐light‐absorbing complex, lowers the reduction potential of the cyclopropane, and provides the asymmetric induction and overall stereocontrol. Enabled by a mild single‐electron‐transfer reduction of directly photoexcited catalyst/substrate complexes, the presented transformations expand the scope of catalytic asymmetric photocycloadditions to simple mono‐acceptor‐substituted cyclopropanes affording previously inaccessible chiral cyclopentane and cyclopentene derivatives.     

Me‐BIPAM for the Synthesis of Optically Active 3‐Aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles by Ruthenium‐catalyzed Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Isatins

A chiral O‐linked C₂‐symmetric bidentate phosphoramidite (Me‐BIPAM) was found to be efficient for the ruthenium‐catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to isatins. Asymmetric synthesis of 3‐aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles by 1,2‐addition of arylboronic acids to isatins was carried out in the presence of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃]/(R,R)‐Me‐BIPAM and KF, resulting in an enantioselectivity as high as 90 % ee. It was found that the reaction with N‐protected isatins proceeds with high yields and good enantioselectivities. The best protective groups on the nitrogen atom were different depending on the substituents on the aromatic ring. The use of a N‐benzyl group resulted in excellent enantioselectivities in many substrates compared with other groups.