Synthesis of novel chiral bis(2-oxazolinyl)xanthene (xabox) ligands and their evaluation in catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone

Chiral 4,5-bis(2-oxazolinyl)-(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl)-9H-xanthenes (xabox) were synthesized and the chiral environments were evaluated in catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrones resulting in good to excellent enantioselectivities. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone in the presence of a bis(2-oxazolinyl)xanthene (4c; xabox-Bn) and Mn(II) or Mg(II) complex as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding cycloadducts ranging from 96:4 to >99:1 of endo:exo ratio and ranging from 91% to 98% ee for the endo adduct.     

Inverse electron demand asymmetric cycloadditions of cyclic carbonyl ylides catalyzed by chiral Lewis acids—Scope and limitations of diazo and olefinic substrates

High enantioselectivities (94-96% ee) were obtained for the inverse electron-demand 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions between cyclohexyl vinyl ether and 2-benzopyrylium-4-olate generated via Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed decomposition of o-methoxycarbonyl-α-diazoacetophenone. The reactions were effectively catalyzed by Eu(OTf)₃, Ho(OTf)₃, or Gd(OTf)₃ complexes (10 mol %) of chiral 2,6-bis[(4S,5S)-4,5-diphenyl-2-oxazolinyl]pyridine. The reactions with the other electron-rich dipolarophiles such as allyl alcohol, 2,3-dihydrofuran, and butyl-tert-butyldimethylsilylketene acetal showed moderate enanantioselectivities (60-73% ee). Good to high enantioselectivities (73-97% ee) were also obtained for the cycloadditions between 3-acyl-2-benzopyrylium-4-olates, generated from methyl 2-(2-diazo-1,3-dioxoalkyl)benzoates and butyl or cyclohexyl vinyl ethers, in the presence of binaphthyldiimine (BINIM)-Ni(II) complexes (10 mol %). Under similar conditions, the reaction between methyl 2-(2-diazo-1,3-dioxohexyl)benzoate and 2,3-dihydrofuran was highly endo-selective, and moderately enantioselective (70% ee). For the BINIM-Ni(II)-catalyzed reactions of cyclohexyl vinyl ether, the use of an epoxyindanone as the 3-acyl-2-benzopyrylium-4-olate precursor revealed that the chiral Lewis acid can function as a catalyst for asymmetric induction. The scope of the cyclic carbonyl ylides was extended to those generated from 1-diazo-2,5-pentanedione derivatives, which were reacted with butyl or TBS vinyl ether and catalyzed using the (4S,5S)-Pybox-4,5-Ph₂-Lu(OTf)₃ complex to give good levels of asymmetric inductions (75-84% ee).     

Chiral bis(2-oxazolinyl)xanthene (xabox)/transition-metal complexes catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions and Diels-Alder reactions

A series of chiral 4,5-bis(2-oxazolinyl)-(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl)-9H-xanthenes (xabox) and their transition-metal complexes were synthesized. The X-ray analysis of xabox-RhCl₃ complex shows a unique facial type structure. Xabox-Bn-Mn(II) and xabox-Bn-Mg(II) complexes were found to be efficient catalysts in nitrone 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-D.C.) reaction resulting in good to excellent enantioselectivities ranging from 96:4 to >99:1of endo/exo ratio and 91-96% ee for the endo adduct. The correlation between enantiomeric excess of the ligand and the product in the nitrone 1,3-D.C. reaction shows a clear linear relationship, which suggests xabox-metal catalyst worked as a single molecular catalyst. In addition, xabox-i-Pr-Mn(II) complex was also found to be an active catalyst for Diels-Alder (D-A) reaction of acryloyloxazolidinone and cyclopentadiene affording the corresponding cycloadduct in quantitative yield along with 82% ee and 98:2 endo/exo ratio.     

Use of chiral Ti(IV) complexes in the cycloaddition of C,N-diphenylnitrone to tert-butyl vinyl ether

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C,N-diphenylnitrone to tert-butyl vinyl ether in the presence of several chiral Ti(IV) species which incorporate different bidentate C₂-symmetrical ligands has been investigated. Several complexes have shown very efficient catalytic activity. The endo/exo selectivity of the process can be dramatically reversed in relation to the uncatalysed reaction, but low enantioselectivities up to 41% ee are found.     

Highly enantioselective and diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between azomethine imines and 3-acryloyl-2-oxazolidinone catalyzed by binaphthyldiimine-Ni(II) complexes

[reaction: see text] We have found the first example of high levels of asymmetric induction (97-74% ee) along with high diastereoselectivity (>99:1-64:36) in dipole-HOMO-/dipolarophile-LUMO-controlled asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between fused azomethine imines and 3-acryloyl-2-oxazolidinone using a chiral BINIM-Ni(II) complex as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst.     

Determination of absolute configuration of 2-methyl-1-(o-tolyl)naphthalene and the related axially chiral biaryls

An enantiomerically enriched sample (84.3% ee) of (aS)-2-methyl-1-[(((o-triisopropylsilyl)oxy)methyl)phenyl]naphthalene was produced via catalytic asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling using an atropisomeric naphthamide-derived phosphine (A²phos) as the chiral ligand. After one recrystallization, enantiopurity of the biaryl product was improved to 98.9% ee and its absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystal structural analysis. Through chemical transformations, the (aS)-enantiomers of 1-[(o-hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-2-methylnaphthalene, 1-[(o-chloromethyl)phenyl]-2-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methyl-1-(o-tolyl)naphthalene were obtained. Several other chiral biaryls were synthesized and stereochemically assigned.     

First asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol, a marine phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpene, was achieved in eight steps in ca. 50% overall yield. The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol was constructed in high optical yield (99% ee) by an asymmetric synthesis using a chiral aminal, (2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

Studies on ZnBr2-mediated synthesis of axially chiral aryl-substituted allenes from terminal alkynes,aromatic aldehydes and (S)-α,α-diphenylprolinol

The studies on the ZnBr₂-mediated synthesis of axially chiral aryl-substituted allenes from terminal alkynes, aromatic aldehydes, and commercially available chiral amine (S)-α,α-diphenylprolinol were conducted. Axially chiral aryl-substituted allenes can be obtained in moderate yields with up to 96% ee.     

Chiral ruthenium Lewis acid-catalyzed nitrile oxide cycloadditions

The synthesis of the chiral ligand (R,R)-BIPHOP-F is detailed. Its coordination to a cationic cyclopentadienyl ruthenium fragment generates [Ru (acetone)(R,R)-BIPHOP-F)Cp][SbF₆], a transition metal Lewis acid that catalyzes the [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction between aryl nitrile oxides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to give chiral 2-isoxazolines with yields of 43-98% and asymmetric purity of 60-93% ee. The stereochemistry of the major enantiomer is S, consistent with an approach of the nitrile oxide to the C_α-Si face of the enal in the anti-s-trans conformation in the catalyst site.     

A novel dimerization of norbornadiene by nickel catalysts : Formation of exo-5-(o-tolyl)-2-norbornene

In amine norbornadiene is converted catalytically into exo -5-(o- tolyl) - 2 - norbornene by (n-Bu₃P)₂NiX₂- NaBH₄ (where X is anionic ligand: e.g., Br, Cl, or SCN), the ratio of which is less than 1. Addition of more amount of NaBH₄ leads to the formation of [2+2] cycloaddition products.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactions of (Z)- and (E)-1,2-bis(Phenylthio)-1,3-Butadiene

Bromination of 3-phenylthio-2-sulfolene (2) with N-bromosuccinimide gave 2-bromo-3-phenylthio-2-sulfolene (3) which was converted mainly to 2,3-bis(phenylthio)-2-sulfolene (4) by treatment with sodium phenylthiolate. Thermal desulfonylation of 4 at different temperatures in the presence of a base (DBU) yielded stereoselectively the (Z)- and (E)-1,2-bis(phenylthio)-1,3-butadiene (6). These two geometric isomers could be thermally interconverted. The Diels-Alder reactions of 6 were also investigated. Only the (Z)-diene 6a could undergo the Diels-Alder reaction; the (E)-diene 6b was in situ converted to the Z isomer before undergoing (he Diels-Alder reaction. The reaction of 6a with N-phenylmaleimide gave the cycloaddition product 7 with complete endo selectivity, but under daylight or during chromatography it readily underwent a thioallylic rearrangement to yield 8 with inversion of configuration. The cycloaddition of 6a with methyl acrylate proceeded regiospecifically, but generating a mixture of endo and exo isomers. The endo/exo ratio could be increased by using ZnCl₂ as the catalyst.     

Stereoselective Lewis acid promoted Kharasch-type addition of 3-bromoacetyl-2-oxazolidinones to norbornadiene

Ytterbium trifluoromethanesulfonate promoted radical atom-transfer addition of 3-bromoacetyl-2-oxazolidinones to norbornadiene afforded stereoselectively the corresponding 5-exo-3-bromo-5-nortricycleneacetic acid derivatives in good yields. Following clean tri(trimethylsilyl)silane reduction of the bromides, 3-exo-nortricycleneacetic acid derivatives were obtained with excellent diastereoselectivities (90–96% de) when using the chiral 4-isopropyl- and 4-benzyl-substituted 2-oxazolidinone auxiliaries. The stereochemistry of the studied compounds was investigated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

Substituent control in the diastereoselectivity of dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones and their Zn(II) complexes with N-arylmaleimides

The π-π stacking interactions between maleimide's and nitrone's aromatic rings during the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition were assumed to control the exo-endo selectivity of the reaction. The exo-endo ratios change during the reactions until they reach a constant value, which depends on the substituent. Electron-withdrawing groups favour the exo adduct while electron-donating groups favour the endo adduct. The nitrone ZnBr₂ complexes react much more slowly than the free nitrone and the cycloaddition is exo selective in all cases independent of the substituents on the maleimide's aromatic ring. Thermal retrocycloaddition of the cycloadducts produce the corresponding nitrones. The ring opening in the presence of secondary amines did not induce imine formation. endo Adducts were shown for the first time to be the stable paramagnetic compounds.     

Enantioselective Ag(I)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides using a chiral ferrocene-based phosphine–phosphoramidite ligand having a stereogenic P-center

A series of chiral ferrocene-based phosphine–phosphoramidite ligands (PPFAPhos) have been employed in the Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dimethyl maleate. The results showed that the ligand with a stereogenic P-center in the phosphino moiety displayed the best diastereo- and enantioselectivities, in which up to 99% enantiomeric excesses and 99/1 endo/exo selectivities have been achieved.     

The use of (−)-8-phenylisoneomenthol and (−)-8-phenylmenthol in the enantioselective synthesis of 3-functionalized 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives via aza-Diels-Alder reaction

The asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction of the (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl or (1R)-8-phenylisoneomenthyl glyoxylate-derived N-benzylimine with cyclopentadiene resulted in the enantioselective synthesis of the corresponding pure [(1S,3-exo)-2-benzyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene]-3-carboxylates (80 or 69% yield, respectively). Reduction of these cycloadducts with LiAlH₄ afforded pure (−)-[(1S,3-exo)-2-benzyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-yl]methanol. Furthermore, a reaction sequence based on Barbier-Wieland degradation of both (1S,3-exo)-adducts afforded pure (+)-(1R)-2-benzoyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one. In the course of the two transformation sequences referred, the chiral auxiliaries were recovered in a virtually quantitative way.     

Synthesis of (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ((+)-(1R,2R,3S,5R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octan-2-ol)

Epoxidation of (?)-(1R,2R,4R)-2-endo-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl acetate ((?)-5) followed by saponification afforded (+)-(1R,4R,5R,6R)-5,6-exo-epoxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)-7). Reduction of (+)-7 with diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) gave (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ( = (+)-(1R,2R,3S,4R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.0^3,6]octan-2-ol; (+)-3). Hydride reductions of (±)-7 were less exo-face selective than reductions of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one and its derivatives with NaBH₄, AlH₃, and LiAlH₄ probably because of smaller steric hindrance to endo-face hydride attack when C(5) and C(6) of the bicyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-one are part of an exo oxirane ring.     

Dynamic solvation effects on the endo/exo selectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction

The endo/exo stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between cyclopentadiene and 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone catalysed by Et₂AlCl is temperature- and solvent-dependent. Eyring plots of ln(endo/exo) versus 1/T show different inversion temperatures (T_inv) depending on the reaction solvent. Using toluene-d₈ we found a break temperature (T_NMR) in a variable temperature ¹³C NMR experiment of the starting oxazolidinone, and this T_NMR corresponded to the T_inv. In several cases the differential activation entropy manages the observed stereoselectivity.     

Cycloaddition reactions of ethyl (E)- and (Z)-3-fluoropropenoate

Ethyl (Z)-3-fluoropropenoate (Z-5) has been prepared in a pure state in 68% yield by a Wittig procedure developed by Burton. Ethyl (E)-3-fluoropropenoate (E-6) was prepared in 38% yield following the synthetic method of Purrington. The Z isomer gives cycloaddition with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and cyclopentadiene to give a product with completely endo configurations. The E isomer also gives cycloadducts with same dienes to give mixtures of endo and exo products.     

The exo-selectivity of the new non-natural chiral auxiliary (+)-(1R,endo)-2-benzonorbornenol in an asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction

The recently reported compound (+)-(1R,endo)-2-benzonorbornenol (2) proved to be an efficient chiral auxiliary in the asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and the N-benzyl imine of its glyoxylate, which afforded a virtually all-exo mixture of cycloaducts with a 1S:1R diastereomeric ratio of 63:37.