Catalytic enantioselective conjugate additions with α,β-unsaturated sulfones

We describe the development of a highly efficient catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated sulfones. Utilizing practical bifunctional organic catalysts and involving air- and moisture-tolerant conditions, conjugate additions of a wide range of Michael donors to α,β-unsaturated sulfones proceeded in excellent enantioselectivity/diastereoselectivity and high yield. This efficient and operationally simple new catalytic asymmetric reaction should provide a versatile approach for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfones bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters.     

Highly enantioselective Cu(I)-Tol-BINAP-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated esters

The copper-catalyzed conjugate addition (CA) of organometallic reagents to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is one of the most versatile synthetic methods for the construction of C-C bonds. Interestingly, the application of Grignard reagents, which are among the most widely used of organometallic compounds, in asymmetric conjugate addition (CA) reactions has received less attention. Therefore, our group and others have been exploring better catalytic systems to effect the asymmetric 1,4-conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated esters. It is only in the past decade that significant breakthroughs have been made in this field. In our studies, we found that CuI-Tol-BINAP could catalyze the asymmetric conjugate addition (CA) reactions of Grignard reagents, including the addition of MeMgBr to α,β-unsaturated esters to afford the β-methylated esters in good yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities. Both enantiomers of the products could be obtained by either using the enantiomers of the chiral Tol-BINAP or by using the geometrical isomer of the starting material. This method is also suitable for other Michael acceptors. In this article, we describe the development of the asymmetric Cu(I)-Tol-BINAP catalyzed 1,4-conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated esters and applications of this chemistry. This method provides a convenient method to synthesize β-alkyl esters with high enantioselectivity or diastereoselectivity using CuI and the inexpensive chiral ligand, Tol-BINAP.     

Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe: the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of enantiopure lithium amides to enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates

The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters [derived from Corey’s 8-phenylmenthol chiral auxiliary] and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates [derived from our ‘chiral Weinreb amide’ auxiliary (S)-N-1-(1′-naphthyl)ethyl-O-tert-butylhydroxylamine] has been used as a mechanistic probe to determine the reactive conformations of these acceptors.     

An asymmetric, SmI2-mediated approach to γ-butyrolactones using a new, fluorous-tagged auxiliary

A new, fluorous-tagged chiral auxiliary has been developed for the asymmetric, SmI₂-mediated coupling of aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated esters. γ-Butyrolactones are obtained in moderate to good isolated yield and in high enantiomeric excess. The fluorous tag allows the auxiliary to be conveniently recovered by fluorous solid-phase extraction (FSPE) and reused.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Synthesis of Hexahydropyrrolo-isoquinolines via Three-Component 1,3-Dipolar-Cycloaddition

An asymmetric three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, bromoacetates and α,β-unsaturated pyrazole amide is realized by using a chiral N,N’-dioxide-Y(OTf)₃ complex as the catalyst. The process includes a base-promoted formation of dihydroisoquinolium ylides in situ, and a chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition with α,β-unsaturated pyrazole amides. A series of hexahydropyrrolo-isoquinolines are obtained in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Racemic and asymmetric cobalt-catalysed reductive aldol couplings of α,β-unsaturated amides with ketones

In the presence of diethylzinc as a stoichiometric reductant, substoichiometric quantities of an appropriate cobalt source catalyse diastereoselective reductive aldol coupling reactions of α,β-unsaturated amides with ketones. The use of a readily available oxazolidine as a chiral auxiliary imparts high levels of asymmetric induction in these reactions.     

Formation of scalemic α,β-epoxysulfones

This report describes the preparation of optically active α,β-epoxysulfones using an asymmetric phase-transfer catalyzed epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated sulfones.     

Synthesis of fluorine-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-based carbene precursors for copper-catalyzed enantioselective boration of α,β-unsaturated ketones

Fluorine-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-based carbene precursors have been successfully synthesized and applied to copper-catalyzed asymmetric β-boration of α,β-unsaturated ketones. Fluorination of the planar chiral carbenes has a beneficial impact on the catalytic performance of the relevant complexes. A variety of chiral β-boryl ketones were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Efficient diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of α,β-disubstituted γ-phosphono sulfonates

The first asymmetric synthesis of α,β-disubstituted γ-phosphono sulfonates is reported. The key step is the Michael addition of a lithiated enantiopure sulfonate bearing an inexpensive chiral sugar auxiliary to α,β-unsaturated phosphonates in good diastereoselectivities. After chromatographic purification, the cleavage of the chiral sugar auxiliary proceeds without any epimerization or racemization to form the corresponding isopropyl sulfonate in very good overall yield (75%) and excellent diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess (de, ee ? 95%).     

Asymmetric dihydroxylation of vinyl sulfones: routes to enantioenriched α-hydroxyaldehydes and the enantioselective syntheses of furan-2(5H)-ones

The asymmetric dihydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated sulfones under Sharpless conditions affords enantioenriched α-hydroxyaldehydes in a complex mixture of dimeric species. These mixtures undergo olefination generating the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters or furan-2(5H)-ones with high levels of enantiomeric excess. The application of this method for the rapid stereoselective synthesis of the furanone natural products; quercus lactone and maritolide, are described.     

Enantioselektive Synthese von Allyl- und Propargylaminen durch nucleophile 1,2-Addition an chirale Aldimine. Preliminary communication

Enantioselective Synthesis of Allyl- and Propargylamines via Nucleophilic 1,2- Addition to Chiral Aldinines The asymmetric Synthesis of allylamines and propargylamines 5 in high enantiomeric purity (e.e. ? 97%) is described. Key step is the 1,2-addition of organocerium reagents to chiral α,β-unsaturated aldimines 3 to produce secondary animes 4 . The Chiral auxiliary (S,S)- 2 is removed in three steps, affording the title compounds 5 , useful bifunctional building blocks and compounds of pharmaceutical interest.     

trans-3,4-Disubstituted pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition: enantioselective approaches and their limitations

In the presence of a chiral Lewis acid as co-catalyst, the acid-catalysed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction yielding trans-3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines from an azomethine ylide and achiral α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles proceeded with low enantioselectivity. Therefore a number of α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles linked to chiral auxiliaries were examined as substrates. Camphorsultam was the best auxiliary and gave good diastereoselectivity (dr=74:26). When combining chiral Lewis acids with a dipolarophile linked to a chiral auxiliary, the enantioselectivity could be slightly increased. As judged by ¹³C NMR, the small effect of the chiral Lewis acids on selectivity was probably due to breakdown of the initially formed complex with the dipolarophile caused by the dipole precursor.     

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition/Enantioselective Protonation with Selenols and α-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated Thioamides

Herein, a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition/protonation with selenols and α-substituted α,β-unsaturated thioamides is disclosed, which affords a series of chiral selenides in high to excellent enantioselectivity. As for both selenols and α-substituted α,β-unsaturated thioamides, the reaction enjoys broad substrate scopes. The present catalytic system is also successfully applied to asymmetric selenation of β-substituted α,β-unsaturated thioamides. A [Cu-(R,R_P)-TANIAPHOS]-SePh species is characterized by its ⁷⁷Se NMR spectra, which gives a chemical shift at δ 462 ppm. Moreover, a {[Cu-(R)-TOL-BINAP]-SePh}₂ species is characterized by X-ray analysis, which confirms the formation of Cu−Se bond in the reaction. Finally, the transformations of the thioamide group to amine and thioester are demonstrated to be straightforward.     

Palladium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of diarylphosphines to α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles

Highly stereoselective asymmetric 1,4-addition of diarylphosphines to α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles catalyzed by a PCP pincer-Pd complex has been developed for the synthesis of chiral phosphines with excellent stereoselectivity (91-99% ee) under mild conditions. The products obtained can be further converted into chiral phosphine-oxazoline ligands.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Reduction

Enantioselective reduction reactions are privileged transformations for the construction of trisubstituted stereogenic centers. While these include established synthetic strategies, such as asymmetric hydrogenation, methods based on the enantioselective addition of hydridic reagents to electrophilic prochiral substrates have also gained importance. In this context, the asymmetric conjugate reduction (ACR) of α,β-unsaturated compounds has become a convenient approach for the synthesis of chiral compounds with trisubstituted stereocenters in α-, β-, or γ-position to electron-withdrawing functional groups. Because such activating groups are diverse and amenable of further derivatizations, ACRs provide a general and powerful synthetic entry towards a variety of valuable chiral building blocks. This Review provides a comprehensive collection of catalytic ACR methods involving transition-metal, organic, and enzymatic catalysis since its first versions dating back to the late 1970s.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of sodium tetraarylborates to β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters

A rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of sodium tetraarylborates to β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters has been developed. Highly efficient asymmetric catalysis has also been described to create quaternary carbon stereocenters at the β-position of esters by tuning the ester group of substrates and employing a readily available chiral diene ligand.     

Chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl α,β-unsaturated ketimine: a simple and highly effective olefin/sulfinimide hybrid ligand for asymmetric 1,4-additions

One novel type of chiral olefin/sulfinimide hybrid ligands has been developed through a simple one-step condensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with tert-butanesulfinamide and utilized successfully for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric conjugated additions to furnish the desired adducts in high yields with excellent ee's.     

Synthesis of chiral vinylic sulfoxides by Pd-catalyzed asymmetric sulfinylzincation

Novel asymmetric sulfinylzincation of alkynoates has been accomplished via a Pd-catalyzed sulfinylzincation using 1-alkynyl sulfoxides bearing chiral auxiliaries as a sulfinylating reagent. The reaction proceeded in a highly syn-selective fashion, giving the (E)-β-sulfinyl α,β-unsaturated ester exclusively. Among the chiral sulfinylating reagents tested, an isoborneol-type compound (Rs)-4 showed the best results in terms of both yield and diastereoselectivity. As a result of optimization of the reaction, the selectivity was improved up to 92:8 dr, and stereochemistry of the newly formed sulfur stereogenic center was revealed as (Ss)-configuration.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael-type/Wittig reaction of phosphorus ylides: synthesis of chiral α-methylene-δ-ketoesters

An asymmetric Michael-type reaction of phosphorus ylides and α,β-unsaturated ketones under the catalysis of a chiral ion pair catalyst has been described. The ion pair catalyst containing a chiral counteranion was prepared by simply mixing 9-amino-(9-deoxy)-epi-quinine with l-N-Boc-proline. The optically active α-methylene-δ-ketoesters could be obtained with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) under mild reaction conditions.     

A facile asymmetric synthesis of Δ-2-Hydroxybakuchiol,Bakuchiol and ent-Bakuchiol

A facile asymmetric synthesis of Δ³-2-Hydroxybakuchiol, Bakuchiol, and ent-Bakuchiol is described through one common intermediate bearing a chiral all-carbon quaternary carbon center, which involves stereoselectively unconjugated alkylation of the α,β-unsaturated imide bearing Evans' auxiliary, Takai–Utimoto reaction, Negishi reaction, and Heck reaction as key steps.