Value of zeolites in asymmetric induction during photocyclization of pyridones, cyclohexadienones and naphthalenones

Two strategies, namely chiral inductor and chiral auxiliary approaches, have been examined within zeolites with the aim of achieving asymmetric induction during the photocyclization of cyclohexadienone, naphthalenone and pyridone derivatives. Within zeolites, enantioselectivity as high as 55% and diastereoselectivity as high as 88% have been obtained. The observed stereoselectivities are significant given the fact that these reactions gave very little stereoselectivities in isotropic solution media. The results obtained on the photocyclization of dienones, naphthalenones and N-alkyl pyridones within zeolites compliment our earlier investigations on the photocyclization of tropolone derivatives, the geometric isomerization of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropanes and 2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoyl cyclopropanes, and the Norrish type II reaction of alpha-oxoamides, phenyl adamantyl ketones, phenyl norbornyl ketones and phenyl cyclohexyl ketones. With the help of these examples, we have established the importance of zeolite and its charge compensating cations in effecting asymmetric induction in photochemical reactions.     

Role of cations and confinement in asymmetric photochemistry: enantio- and diastereo-selective photocyclization of tropolone derivatives within zeolites

Asymmetric induction in photochemical reactions has been explored using the photochemistry of tropolones as a model. Three approaches have been examined: chiral inductor, chiral auxiliary and [chiral inductor + chiral auxiliary]. All three methods gave excellent asymmetric induction in zeolite and very little or zero induction in solution. Results presented on tropolones clearly illustrate the remarkable influence that a confined space studded with cations can have on asymmetric induction. Tropolone derivatives, upon irradiation undergo 4pi-electron electrocyclization to yield a bicyclic product and a rearranged product. Enantiomeric excess up to 68% has been achieved in the cyclized product. In systems where a chiral inductor has been covalently linked, diastereomeric excess as high as 88% has been achieved within a zeolite while the same system in solution gave 10%.     

Enhanced enantio- and diastereoselectivity via confinement and cation binding: yang photocyclization of 2-benzoyladamantane derivatives within zeolites

Irradiation of 2-benzoyladamantane derivatives in zeolites yields the endo-cyclobutanols as the only photoproduct via a gamma-hydrogen abstraction process. The cyclobutanols readily undergo retro-aldol reaction to give delta-ketoesters. The enantiomeric excess (ee) in the endo-cyclobutanols is measured by monitoring the ee in the ketoesters. Whereas in solution the ee in the product ketoester is zero, within achiral NaY zeolite, in the presence of a chiral inductor such as pseudoephedrine, ee's up to 28% have been obtained. The influence of zeolite on several chiral esters of 2-benzoyladamantane-2-carboxylic acids has also been examined. Whereas in solution the diastereomeric excess is <15%, in zeolite the delta-ketoesters are obtained in 79% de (best examples). Ab initio computations suggest that enhancement of chiral induction within zeolites is likely to be due to cation complexation with the reactant ketone. Alkali ion-organic interaction, a powerful tool, is waiting to be fully exploited in photochemical and thermal reactions. In this context zeolites could be a useful medium as one could view them as a reservoir of "naked" alkali ions that are only partially coordinated to the zeolite walls.     

Asymmetric induction during Yang cyclization of alpha-oxoamides: the power of a covalently linked chiral auxiliary is enhanced in the crystalline state

Gamma-hydrogen abstraction has been revealed to be the primary photoprocess in the crystalline state of alpha-oxoamides through photochemical and X-ray structural studies. The outstanding ability of a covalent chiral auxiliary in generating asymmetric induction in the photoproduct beta-lactam has been established with 10 examples. We have shown that the crystal lattice preorganizes the reactant molecules toward a single diastereomer of the beta-lactam and prevents large motions of the 1,4-diradical intermediate that would result in the loss of stereochemical memory. A rare single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation path of one of the examples investigated establishes the direct correlation between the stereochemistries of the reactant and the product.     

Chiral photochemistry within zeolites

Chiral induction of chemical reactions continues to be one of the main concerns of chemists. While basic rules of chiral induction of thermal reactions have been reasonably established, the same is not true of photochemical reactions. Short excited state lifetime and low activation energies for reactions in the excited state(s) leave very little room for manipulating the diastereomeric transition states. Yet impressive chiral induction of photochemical reactions in the solid state has been achieved. On the other hand, chiral induction of photoreactions of organic molecules in solution continues to be inefficient at ambient conditions. We are exploring the possibility of employing zeolites as a media for achieving chiral induction during photoreactions. The motivating force for such an attempt is the fact that chiral chemistry in the solid state is not completely general due to the fact that not all molecules crystallize. To achieve chiral induction one needs a chiral perturber. Zeolites are not chiral and therefore the perturber is added to the medium. Thus the medium for a photoreaction is a chirally modified zeolite. Of the several reactions investigated, results on photoelectrocylization of tropolone alkyl ethers are discussed at length. The confined space offered by the zeolite supercage forces a reactant and the chiral inductor to interact intimately to yield enantiomerically enriched product. Due to the transitory nature of the reaction cavity in solution such close interactions are less likely in isotropic solvent media. The examples discussed herein show negligible chiral induction in solution, whereas in a zeolite one obtains induction as high as 90%.     

Enhanced diastereoselectivity via confinement: photoisomerization of 2,3-diphenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid derivatives within zeolites

From the perspective of asymmetric induction, the photochemistry of 24 chiral esters and amides of cis-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid from excited singlet and triplet states has been investigated within zeolites. The chiral auxiliaries placed at a remote location from the isomerization site functioned far better within a zeolite than in solution. Generally, chiral auxiliaries with an aromatic or a carbonyl substituent performed better than the ones containing only alkyl substituents. A model based on cation-binding-dependent flexibility of the chiral auxiliary accounts for the observed variation in de between aryl (and carbonyl) and alkyl chiral auxiliaries within zeolites. Cation-dependent diastereomer switch was also observed in select examples.     

Enhanced diastereoselectivity via confinement: diastereoselective photoisomerization of 2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives within zeolites

Photochemistry of optically pure trans-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane has been examined in isotropic solution and within zeolites. Results suggest that it isomerizes by cleavage of either the C1-C2 or C1-C3 bond. From the perspective of chiral induction, photoisomerization of cis-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives with chiral auxiliaries placed at the meta and para positions of the benzoyl group have been examined both in isotropic solution and within zeolites. Whereas in isotropic solution the chiral auxiliaries placed at the meta position exhibit very little influence during the conversion of triplet cis-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives, they have significant influence within zeolites. For example, alpha-methyl benzylamine placed at the meta position of the benzoyl group (via an amide bond) yields the trans isomer with a diastereoselectivity (de) of 71% within NaY zeolite, whereas in solution no de is obtained. The chiral induction process within zeolites depends on the nature of the alkali ion and on the presence of water. Results suggest that the chiral auxiliary is able to control the bond being cleaved (C1-C2 vs. C1-C3 bond) within a zeolite, but it is unable to do so in an isotropic solution.     

Asymmetric induction during electron transfer mediated photoreduction of carbonyl compounds: role of zeolites

Photochemistry of 17 aryl alkyl ketones included within cation exchanged zeolites has been examined. In solution five of the 17 ketones undergo intramolecular hydrogen abstraction reaction even in the presence of a chiral amine and the rest are photoreduced to the corresponding alcohol. Within zeolites all 17 ketones yielded in presence of a chiral amine, the corresponding alcohol as the major product. When a chiral amine was used as the coadsorbent within alkali ion exchanged zeolites, enantiomerically enriched alcohol was formed in all cases. The best chiral induction was obtained with phenyl cyclohexyl ketone (enantiomeric excess: 68%). 1H-13C Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (CP-MAS) experiments, with a model ketone (perdeuterated acetophenone) and chiral amine (pseudoephedrine) included within MY zeolites, suggested that the cation brings the reactant and the chiral amine closer. The role of the cation in such a process is also revealed by the computation results. The results presented here highlight the importance of a supramolecular structure in forcing a closer interaction between a reactant and a chiral inductor that could be used to achieve asymmetric induction in photoproducts.     

Use of chirally modified zeolites and crystals in photochemical asymmetric synthesis

Three different approaches to asymmetric induction in the cis-to-trans photoisomerization of a number of 1-benzoyl-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane derivatives are reported: the use of chiral inductors and covalent chiral auxiliaries in MY zeolites and the use of ionic chiral auxiliaries in crystals. High levels of asymmetric induction were achieved using the latter two methods-up to 71% through the use of covalent chiral auxiliaries in zeolites and a remarkable 99% via the solid state ionic chiral auxiliary approach. In the zeolite method, the diastereomeric excess was found to depend strongly on the nature of the zeolite cation, M(+), and in the ionic chiral auxiliary approach, evidence is presented that it is the fixed orientation of the benzoyl group with respect to the cyclopropane ring that controls enantioselectivity in the crystalline state-a finding that is directly relevant to theoretical work on this topic.     

Light-induced geometric isomerization of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropanes included within Y zeolites: role of cation-guest binding

Through a systematic study of several diphenylcyclopropane derivatives, we have inferred that the cations present within a zeolite control the excited-state chemistry of these systems. In the parent 1,2-diphenylcylopropane, the cation binds to the two phenyl rings in a sandwich-type arrangement, and such a mode of binding prevents cis-to-trans isomerization. Once an ester or amide group is introduced into the system (derivatives of 2beta,3beta-diphenylcyclopropane-1alpha-carboxylic acid), the cation binds to the carbonyl group present in these chromophores and such a binding has no influence on the cis-trans isomerization process. Cation-reactant structures computed at density functional theory level have been very valuable in rationalizing the observed photochemical behavior of diphenylcyclopropane derivatives included in zeolites. While the parent system, 1,2-diphenylcylopropane, has been extensively investigated in the context of chiral induction in solution, owing to its failure to isomerize from cis to trans, the same could not be investigated in zeolites. However, esters of 2beta,3beta-diphenylcyclopropane-1alpha-carboxylic acid could be studied within zeolites in the context of chiral induction. Chiral induction as high 20% ee and 55% de has been obtained with selected systems. These numbers, although low, are much higher than what has been obtained in solution with the same system or with the parent system by other investigators (maximum approximately 10% ee).     

Asymmetric synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new mono and bicyclic beta-lactams

Reaction of the amino acid D-phenylalanine ethyl ester (4) with cinnamaldehyde gave chiral Schiff base 5, which underwent an asymmetric Staudinger [2+2] cycloaddition reaction with phthalimidoacetyl chloride to give the monocyclic beta-lactam 6 as a single stereoisomer. Ozonolysis of 6 followed by reduction with lithium aluminum tri(tert-butoxy) hydride afforded the hydroxymethyl beta-lactam 8. Treatment of 8 with methansulfonyl chloride gave the mesylated monocyclic beta-lactam 9, which was converted to the bicyclic beta-lactam 10 upon treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4.0] undec-7-ene (DBU). Deprotection of the phthalimido group in beta-lactams 6 and 10 by methylhydrazine and subsequent acylation of the free amino beta-lactams with different acyl chlorides in the presence of pyridine afforded mono and bicyclic beta-lactams 14a-d and 15a-d respectively. The compounds prepared were tested against Escherichia coli, Staphilococcus citrus, Klebsiella pneumanie and Bacillus subtillis. Some of these compounds showed potential antimicrobial activities.     

Reactive-state spin-dependent diastereoselective photoisomerization of trans,trans-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane-1- carboxylic acid derivatives included in zeolites

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric induction facilitated by a chiral auxiliary during the photoisomerization of trans,trans-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane derivatives depends on the medium (solution vs zeolite) and the reactive state (singlet vs triplet). Within zeolites, direct excitation most likely proceeds via a zwitterionic intermediate, while triplet sensitization most likely proceeds via a diradical intermediate.     

Control of enantioselectivity in the photochemical conversion of alpha-oxoamides into beta-lactam derivatives

[reaction: see text]. Several approaches to asymmetric induction in the alpha-oxoamide (1) to beta-lactam (2) photorearrangement are described. Best results are obtained via irradiation of ionic and covalent chiral auxiliary-containing reactants in the crystalline state and in the interior supercages of zeolites.     

Synthesis of 3-(1-Cyclohexenyl)-2-butanone via Environmentally Friendly Catalysts

Introduction3- ( 1 - Cyclohexenyl) - 2 - butanone( CHB) is oneofthe importantchemicals and has a potential valuein perfume industry.Beak et al.[1] reported thatthe acylation of ethylidenecyclohexane( EDC) withzinc chloride as a catalystgave3- ( 1 - cyclohexenyl) -2 - butanone in a good yield,butthey have notmadea more detailed investigation.The use of such aconventional catalyst as zinc chloride leads to anumber of problems such as corrosion,unclean re-action products and the disposal of pot…     

Environmentally benign synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides using cyclic carbonates catalyzed by large-pore zeolites

Abstract

An efficient one-pot synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides from thiophenol and cyclic carbonates catalyzed by large-pore zeolites has been reported. Reaction of thiophenol with ethylene carbonate in the presence of the Na-X zeolite catalyst gave the highest yield of 2-(phenylthio)ethanol (100%), while reaction with propylene carbonate a highest yield of regioselective product 1-(phenylthio)propan-2-ol was obtained (97%). Enantiomerically pure 1,2-propylene carbonate gave highly regioselective and stereospecific phenylthiopropanol, demonstrating that original chirality of propylene carbonate is retained. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for zeolite-catalyzed transformation involving a chemoselective nucleophilic attack of thiophenoloxide ion onto the less-substituted carbon of cyclic carbonate. The Na-X zeolite catalyst is recyclable and provides advantages of green chemistry approach to the synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides without the use of any solvent.     

Enantioselective Staudinger synthesis of beta-lactams catalyzed by a planar-chiral nucleophile

The development of efficient methods for the stereoselective generation of beta-lactams is an important goal, due to their biological activity and their utility as synthetic intermediates. The Staudinger reaction, an overall [2 + 2] cycloaddition of a ketene with an imine, provides a nicely convergent route to this family of compounds. Nearly all studies to date of asymmetric variants of the Staudinger reaction have focused on the use of chiral auxiliaries to control the stereochemistry of the beta-lactam. In this report, we establish that a planar-chiral derivative of 4-(pyrrolidino)pyridine serves as a very effective enantioselective catalyst for the Staudinger beta-lactam synthesis, coupling a range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ketenes with an array of imines with very good stereoselection and yield.     

From achiral porphyrins to template-imprinted chiral aggregates and further. Self-replication of chiral memory from scratch

The presence of 10-13 M of chiral clusters of aromatic amino acids addresses aggregation of opposite-charged achiral porphyrin towards the formation of smart chiral assemblies. The latter supramolecular complexes are able to self-propagate and transfer their chiral information with a 100% yield. The chiral bias occurs through a correlated sequence of induction, memory, and amplification of chirality that strongly recalls possible prebiotic scenarios.     

Stereocontrol within confined spaces: enantioselective photooxidation of enecarbamates inside zeolite supercages

Dye-exchanged Y zeolite is shown to be an effective medium to control the stereoselectivity in the photooxygenation of chiral oxazolidinone-functionalized Z/E-1 enecarbamates. An enantioselectivity (ee) as high as 80% was observed in the methyldesoxybenzoin (MDB) product, obtained in the methylene-blue-exchanged NaY zeolite at room temperature. The efficacy of the asymmetric induction in the MDB product depends on the Z/E geometry of the alkene, the Z-isomer being more effective than the corresponding E-isomer. The stereoselectivity is rationalized in terms of conformational effects through cationic interactions between the zeolite and the substrate.     

The role of the achiral template in enantioselective transformations. Radical conjugate additions to alpha-methacrylates followed by hydrogen atom transfer

We have evaluated various achiral templates (1a-g, 10, and 16) in conjunction with chiral Lewis acids in the conjugate addition of nucleophilic radicals to alpha-methacrylates followed by enantioselective H-atom transfer. Of these, a novel naphthosultam template (10) gave high enantioselectivity in the H-atom-transfer reactions with ee's up to 90%. A chiral Lewis acid derived from MgBr(2) and bisoxazoline (2) gave the highest selectivity in the enantioselective hydrogen-atom-transfer reactions. Non-C(2) symmetric oxazolines (20-25) have also been examined as ligands, and of these, compound 25 gave optimal results (87% yield and 80% ee). Insights into rotamer control in alpha-substituted acrylates and the critical role of the tetrahedral sulfone moiety in realizing high selectivity are discussed.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new sugar-based monocyclic beta-lactams

The syntheses of some new sugar-based monocyclic beta-lactams possessing several other functionalities in addition to the carbohydrate moiety are described. The key step was the Staudinger [2+2] cycloaddition of chiral carbohydrate Schiff base 5 with phthalimidoacetyl chloride to yield the sugar-based monocyclic beta-lactam 6 as a single isomer. Treatment of protected beta-lactams 6 and 8 with methylhydrazine afforded the free amino beta-lactams 9 and 10. Acylation of these free amino beta-lactams with benzoyl, phenoxyacetyl, cinnamoyl and phenylacetyl chloride in the presence of pyridine afforded beta-lactams 11a-d and 12a-d. Some of these novel beta-lactams were found to be active against Staphilococcus citrus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.