A complementary method to obtain N-acyl enamides using the Heck reaction: extending the substrate scope for asymmetric hydrogenation

A method to prepare N-acyl enamides is reported that is complementary to the existing protocols. Heck reaction of a variety of aryl trifluoromethanesulfonates with commercially available N-vinylacetamide occurred in a highly regioselective fashion to provide these valuable synthetic intermediates. This method permits the formation of N-acyl enamides containing functionality that would not be tolerated by the existing methods. Asymmetric hydrogenation using [diphosphine RhCOD]BF₄ complexes provided optically active protected amines in up to 99% ee. De-acylation occurs without affecting the amine enantiopurity.     

Asymmetric enamide hydrogenation using planar-chiral cyrhetrenes

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of α-arylenamides using catalysts prepared in situ from [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ and cyrhetrenyldiphosphines was effective with a range of enamides. The corresponding acetamides were obtained with up to 93% ee.     

A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (Me-BIPAM) for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate

High performance of Me-BIPAM for enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate was demonstrated. [Rh(Me-BIPAM)(diene)]X (diene = cod, nbd; X = BF₄, PF₆, SbF₆) gave optically active β-aryl α-amino esters up to 99% ee, 1-arylethylamines up to 97% ee, methyl 2-acetylaminobutanoate with 90% ee, and dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 97% ee under 0.3−0.8 MPa dihydrogen with 0.1−1 mol % catalyst loading.     

New unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands derived from H8-BINOL for highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

A series of new H₈-BINOL-derived unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands have been synthesized and successfully used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations. The same or higher enantioselectivities (99.9% ee) were achieved in the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and α-dehydroamino acid esters as those obtained with BINOL-derived analogues. However, slightly lower enantioselectivities (99.0% ee) were obtained in the hydrogenation of enamides.     

Asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation using a furanoside phosphite-phosphoroamidite and diphosphoroamidite ligand library

A furanoside phosphite-phosphoroamidite and diphosphoroamidite ligand library L1-L5a-f was tested in the asymmetric Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives and enamides. Enantioselectivity depended strongly on the ligand parameters. High enantioselectivities were obtained in the reduction of dimethyl itaconate (up to >99% ee), α-dehydroamino acid esters (up to 99% ee) and several enamides (up to 92% ee). Kinetic and NMR studies on the intermediates of the catalytic cycle of the reaction indicate that the [Rh(P(1)-P(2))(substrate)](+) species is the resting state of the reaction and that the rate dependence is first order in rhodium and hydrogen pressure and zeroth order in the substrate.     

Rh(I)/DpenPhos catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters and potassium (E)-3-cyano-5-methylhex-3-enoate

Rh(I) complexes of a class of modular chiral monodentate phosphoramidites were highly efficient for the asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters bearing α-aryl or α-alkyl groups, to afford the corresponding hydrogenation products in high enantioselectivities (87–95% ee) and reactivities (turnover number up to 10,000). These ligands were also shown to be effective in Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the potassium salt of (E)-3-cyano-5-methylhex-3-enoate, to give the corresponding product (a precursor to CI-1008) with up to 95% ee and complete conversion of substrate.     

Synthesis of chiral β2-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation

The synthesis of chiral β²-amino acids by homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation is discussed. Prochiral β-aryl- or β-hetaryl-α-N-benzyl/N-acetyl/N-Boc substituted α-aminomethylacrylates used as substrates were prepared by a Baylis–Hillman reaction, followed by acylation and amination. For the asymmetric hydrogenation, a large variety of chiral, preferentially rhodium catalysts bearing commercially available phosphorus ligands were tested. Conversions and enantioselectivities were dependent on the reaction conditions and varied strongly between the substrates used. A chiral N-α-phenylethyl group supports the stereoface discriminating ability of the chiral catalysts and thus a matching pair effect could be realized. In strong contrast, a chiral ester group has almost no effect in this respect. In some cases the use of the corresponding substrate acid was better in comparison to the use of its ester. After optimization of the hydrogenation conditions (chiral catalyst, H₂-pressure, temperature, solvent), full conversions and products with up to 99% ee were achieved.     

BINOL-derived diphosphoramidites bearing unsymmetrical 1,2-diamine link and their application in asymmetric catalysis

New P,P-bidentate diastereomeric diphosphoramidite chiral ligands with mixed stereogenic elements and a C₁ backbone symmetry have been prepared from (S_a)- and (R_a)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL) and (S)-N-benzyl-1-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methanamine and are fully characterized. The use of these ligands provides up to 84% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate and up to 95% ee in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydrocarboxylic acid esters. The results indicate that the catalytic performance is highly affected by the axial chirality of the binaphthyl moieties of the ligand and the nature of the solvent.     

Stereoselective reduction of N-phthaloyl α-amino ketones: an expeditious synthesis of statine

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of a protected statine derivative via syn-selective LiAlH(OBu-t)₃ reduction of a leucine derived N-phthaloyl α-amino ketone is described.     

Applications of N′-alkylated derivatives of TsDPEN in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of CO and CN bonds

Arene/Ru(II) complexes of (R,R)-N-alkyl-TsDPEN ligands are effective in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines in formic acid/triethylamine solution. The complex derived from the N′-Bn derivative of TsDPEN reduces monocyclic imines in up to 60% ee, whilst the N′-Me derivative of TsDPEN forms a more active catalyst than the non-alkylated analogue and reduces ketones in up to 97% ee.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of indoles using a rhodium complex with a chiral bisphosphine ligand PhTRAP

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of N-protected indoles was successfully developed by use of the rhodium catalyst generated in situ from [Rh(nbd)₂]SbF₆ and the chiral bisphosphine PhTRAP, which can form a trans-chelate complex with a transition metal atom. The PhTRAP–rhodium catalyst required a base (e.g., Cs₂CO₃) for the achievement of high enantioselectivity. Various 2-substituted N-acetylindoles were converted into the corresponding chiral indolines with up to 95% ee. The hydrogenations of 3-substituted N-tosylindoles yielded indolines possessing a stereogenic center at the 3-position with high enantiomeric excesses (up to 98% ee).     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of N-alkyl and N-aryl ketimines using chiral cationic Ru(diamine) complexes as catalysts: the counteranion and solvent effects,and substrate scope

Asymmetric hydrogenation of N-alkyl and N-aryl ketimines catalyzed by chiral cationic η⁶-arene-(N-monosulfonylated diamine) Ru(II) complexes has been investigated. Strong counteranion and solvent effects on the enantioselectivity were observed. The ruthenium catalyst bearing non-coordinating BArF^? anion was found to be particularly effective for the hydrogenation of acyclic and exocyclic N-alkyl ketimines in the presence of (Boc)₂O in dichloromethane or even under solvent-free conditions, providing chiral amines with up to >99% ee and full conversions. Alternatively, the ruthenium catalyst bearing achiral phosphate anion together with corresponding phosphoric acid as the additive was also efficient for the hydrogenation of N-alkyl ketimines in the absence of (Boc)₂O with excellent enantioselectivities and full conversions. For N-aryl ketimines lower enantiomeric excesses were observed by using the ruthenium catalyst bearing BArF^? anion. This catalytic protocol thus provides a facile and practical access to optically active amines and has been successfully employed in the gram-scale synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)-sertraline.     

Selective alkylation/oxidation of N-substituted isoindolinone derivatives: Synthesis of N-phthaloylated natural and unnatural α-amino acid analogues

The interchangeability of the isoindolinone group as a nitrogen protecting group for amino acid intermediates is demonstrated by the preparation of several natural and unnatural α-amino acid derivatives using a two-carbon N-isoindolinone (phthalimidine) scaffold. Using a selective benzylic oxidation, the N-isoindolinone group is then converted to the N-phthaloyl group for convenient removal (65–98%). For preparation of the isoindolinone products which were to be the substrates for benzylic oxidation, a range of side chains were installed on the isoindolinone-protected glycine equivalent on deprotonation to demonstrate the utility of the N-protected isoindolinone synthon (51–93%). While the ensuing benzylic oxidation is employed successfully for converting the N-isoindolinone group to the N-phthaloyl group in simple substrates, substrates bearing unsaturated or electron-rich side chains respond poorly to the oxidation.     

Novel organic catalysts for the direct enantioselective α-oxidation of carbonyl compounds

The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamide-catalyzed direct enantioselective α-oxidation of ketones and aldehydes with nitrosobenzene is presented. The reactions proceed smoothly furnishing the corresponding α-aminoxylated compounds in good yields with up to >99% ee. The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamides were also found to be excellent catalysts for the direct enantioselective nitroso Diels-Alder-type reaction between nitrosobenzene and α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones yielding the corresponding bicyclic Diels-Alder adduct products with up to >99% ee. The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamides represent a readily available and highly modular novel type of organic catalyst.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines

The novel, direct amino acid-catalyzed α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines is presented. A screen of several synthetically common oxidants revealed that iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines act as electrophiles in the direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-hydroxylation of ketones. The direct proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene yielded the corresponding α-hydroxylated ketones with up to 77% ee. Furthermore, several amino acid derivatives catalyze the stereoselective α-oxidation of ketones with N-sulfonyloxaziridines. For example, the direct diamine-catalyzed enantioselective α-hydroxylation of ketones with N-sulfonyloxaziridines furnished the corresponding α-hydroxylated products in moderate yield with up to 63% ee.     

Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation using a furanoside monophosphite second-generation ligand library: scope and limitations

The ligand design of one of the most successful monophosphite ligand classes in Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation was expanded upon by introducing several substituents at the C-3 position of the furanoside backbone. A small but structurally important library of monophosphite ligands was developed by changing the substituents at the C-3 position of the furanoside backbone and the substituents/configurations at the biaryl phosphite group. These new furanoside monophosphite ligands were evaluated in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives and enamides. The results show that the effect of introducing a substituent at the C-3 position of the furanoside backbone on the enantioselectivity depends not only on the configuration at the C-3 position of the furanoside backbone and the binaphthyl group but also on the substrate. Thus, the new ligands afforded high to excellent enantioselectivities in the reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives (ee’s up to >99.9%) and moderate ee’s (up to 67%) in the hydrogenation of enamides.     

Ru-catalyzed highly enantioselective hydrogenation of α-keto Weinreb amides

Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-keto Weinreb amides has been realized with [Ru((S)-Sunphos)(benzene)Cl]Cl as the catalyst and CeCl 3·7H2O as the additive.A series of enantiopure α-hydroxy Weinreb amides(up to 97% ee) have been obtained.Catalytic amount of CeCl3·7H2O is essential for the high reactivity and enantioselectivity and the ratio of CeCl3·7H2O to [Ru((S)-Sunphos)(benzene)Cl]Cl plays an important role in the hydrogenation reaction.     

α-Chloroacetone as a donor in the BINAM-l-prolinamide organocatalyzed aldol reaction: application to the enantioselective synthesis of α,β-epoxy ketones

Recoverable (S_a)-BINAM-l-prolinamide in combination with benzoic acid catalyzed the direct aldol reaction between α-chloroacetone and several aldehydes in different solvents, including water. It is possible to obtain mainly one of the isomers with good regio-, diastero-, and enantioselectivity by choosing the appropriate solvent and reaction conditions. Thus, α-chloroacetone mainly gives the anti-aldol isomer in DMF/H₂O with up to 97% ee. The crude α-chloro-β-hydroxy ketones obtained are transformed stereospecifically into the corresponding enantioenriched trans-α,β-epoxy ketones derivatives with up to 97% ee through an S_N2 displacement reaction by treatment with Et₃N.     

Highly efficient rhodium/monodentate phosphoramidite catalyst and its application in the enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives

An easily prepared and highly efficient monodentate phosphoramidite ligand derived from BINOL, (S)-2,2'-O,O-(1,1'-binaphthyl)-dioxo-N,N-diethylphospholidine, was examined in the hydrogenation of both enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives. The catalyst provided remarkably high enantioselectivities (up to 99.6% ee for enamides and >99.9% ee for alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives).     

[5]Ferrocenophane based ligands for stereoselective Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation and Cu-catalyzed Michael addition

A series of homochiral [5]ferrocenophane based N/P, N/S, N/Se, Se/P and P/P ligands was prepared from (R)-N,N-dimethylamino[5]ferrocenophane. These ligands were tested in the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and in Cu-catalyzed Michael addition of Et₂Zn to cyclohex-2-enone. The best results in terms of conversion and enantioselectivity in the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation provided bis(diphenylphosphine) ligand 2h (100% conversion and 95% ee) and aminophosphine 2a in the Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition (100% conversion 84% ee). The enantioselectivity of the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate was lower (41% ee).