A three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework constructed from manganese(II) with S‐carboxymethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l‐cysteine and 4,4′‐bipyridine

In the chiral polymeric title compound, poly[aqua(4,4′‐bipyridine)[μ₃‐S‐carboxylatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinato]manganese(II)], [Mn(C₁₂H₁₃NO₆S₂)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]_n, the Mn^II ion is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by one water molecule, three carboxylate O atoms from three S‐carboxyatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinate (Ts‐cmc) ligands and two N atoms from two 4,4′‐bipyridine molecules. Each Ts‐cmc ligand behaves as a chiral μ₃‐linker connecting three Mn^II ions. The two‐dimensional frameworks thus formed are further connected by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands into a three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework. This is a rare case of a homochiral metal–organic framework with a flexible chiral ligand as linker, and this result demonstrates the important role of noncovalent interactions in stabilizing such assemblies.     

Asymmetric Ring Opening/Cyclization/Retro‐Mannich Reaction of Cyclopropyl Ketones with Aryl 1,2‐Diamines for the Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives

A highly efficient asymmetric ring‐opening/cyclization/retro‐Mannich reaction of cyclopropyl ketones with aryl 1,2‐diamines has been realized using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Sc^III catalyst. Benzimidazoles containing chiral side chains were generated under mild reaction conditions in excellent outcomes (up to 99 % yield and 97 % ee). This method also provides efficient access to chiral benzimidazole‐substituted amide and cycloheptene derivatives.     

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 7‐cyano‐7‐alkoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 7‐cyano‐7‐alkoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides ( 1 ) with various alkoxy groups were performed using chiral initiators such as lithium isopropylphenoxide (ⁱPrPhOLi)/(S)‐(–)‐2,2′‐isopropylidene‐bis(4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline) ((–)‐PhBox) and lithium isopropylphenoxide (ⁱPrPhOLi)/(–)‐sparteine ((–)‐Sp) to investigate the effect of the alkoxy groups of alkoxycarbonyl substituent in the monomers 1 and chiral ligands of chiral initiators on the control of chiral center in the formation of polymers. Molar optical rotation values of the polymers were significantly dependent upon alkoxy groups, and the polymers with higher molar optical rotation were obtained in monomers with primary alkoxy groups. The asymmetric anionic oligomerizations of the quinone methides having methoxy( 1a ), ethoxy( 1b ), and n‐propoxy( 1c ) groups with chiral initiators were carried out. Both 1‐mers and 2‐mers were isolated and their optical resolutions were performed to determine the extent of stereocontrol. High stereoselectivity was observed at the propagation reaction, but not at the initiation reaction. The effect of the counterion on the control of chiral center in the formation of the polymer was investigated in the asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 1b with ⁱPrPhOM(M = Li, Na, K)/(–)‐Sp and ⁱPrPhOM(M = Li, Na, K)/(–)‐PhBox initiators and discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Intermolecular Asymmetric Carboesterification of Alkenes by Using Chiral Amine Auxiliaries under O2: Synthesis of Enantioenriched α‐Methylene‐γ‐Lactones through Chloropalladation of Alkynes

Herein, the first example of chloropalladation‐initiated asymmetric intermolecular carboesterification of alkenes with alkynes by using chiral amine auxiliaries is reported. The use of (1S,2S)‐N¹,N¹‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine auxiliaries is essential for providing α‐methylene‐γ‐lactones products in moderate to high yields and excellent enantioselectivities at room temperature. Moreover, the chiral amine auxiliaries can be readily removed by hydrolysis during the reaction process to keep the absolute configuration. This oxygen‐ and water‐promoted asymmetric reaction opens a new window to study asymmetric processes in halopalladation reactions.     

Efficient asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes using C2‐novel chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohols as chiral ligands

A series of novel C₂‐symmetric chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized from 2,6‐pyridine dicarboxaldehyde, m‐phthalaldehyde and chiral β‐amino alcohols through a two‐step reaction. All their structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and IR. Their enantioselective induction behaviors were examined under different conditions such as the structure of the ligands, reaction temperature, solvent, reaction time and catalytic amount. The results show that the corresponding chiral secondary alcohols can be obtained with high yields and moderate to good enantiomeric excess. The best result, up to 89% ee, was obtained when the ligand 3c (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis(methylene))bisazanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was used in toluene at room temperature. The ligand 3g (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was prepared in which the pyridine ring was replaced by the benzene ring compared to 3c in order to illustrate the unique role of the N atom in the pyridine ring in the inductive reaction. The results indicate that the coordination of the N atom of the pyridine ring is essential in the asymmetric induction reaction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of C−N Axially Chiral N‐Aryloxindoles by Asymmetric Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dual C−H Activation

The first enantioselective Satoh–Miura‐type reaction is reported. A variety of C?N axially chiral N‐aryloxindoles have been enantioselectively synthesized by an asymmetric rhodium‐catalyzed dual C?H activation reaction of N‐aryloxindoles and alkynes. High yields and enantioselectivities were obtained (up to 99 % yield and up to 99 % ee). To date, it is also the first example of the asymmetric synthesis of C?N axially chiral compounds by such a C?H activation strategy.     

Solvent‐Dependent Asymmetric Synthesis of Alkynyl and Monofluoroalkenyl Isoindolinones by CpRhIII‐Catalyzed C−H Activation

The asymmetric synthesis of alkynyl and monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones from N‐methoxy benzamides and α,α‐difluoromethylene alkynes is enabled by C?H activation with a chiral CpRh^III catalyst. Remarkably, product formation is solvent‐dependent; alkynyl isoindolinones are afforded in MeOH (up to 86 % yield, 99.6 % ee) whereas monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones are generated in ⁱPrCN (up to 98:2 Z/E, 93 % yield, 86 % ee). Mechanistic studies revealed chiral allene and E‐configured alkenyl rhodium species as reaction intermediates. The latter is transformed into the corresponding Z‐configured monofluoroalkene upon protonation in the ⁱPrCN system and into an alkyne by an unusual anti β‐F elimination in the MeOH system. Notably, kinetic resolution processes occur in this reaction. Despite the moderate enantiocontrol for the formation of the chiral allene, the Z‐monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones and alkynyl isoindolinones were obtained in good enantiopurities by one or two sequential kinetic resolution processes.     

A Tunable and Enantioselective Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reaction Provides Access to Distinct Piperidinoyl Spirooxindoles

The active complexes of chiral N,N′‐dioxide ligands with dysprosium and magnesium salts catalyze the hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction between 2‐aza‐3‐silyloxy‐butadienes and alkylidene oxindoles to selectively form 3,3′‐ and 3,4′‐piperidinoyl spirooxindoles, respectively, in very high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The exo ‐selective asymmetric cycloaddition successfully regaled the construction of sp³‐rich and highly substituted natural‐product‐based spirooxindoles supporting many chiral centers, including contiguous all‐carbon quaternary centers.     

Nickel(II)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Propargyl and Allyl Claisen Rearrangements to Allenyl‐ and Allyl‐Substituted β‐Ketoesters

Highly efficient catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangements of O‐propargyl β‐ketoesters and O‐allyl β‐ketoesters have been accomplished under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of the chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Ni^II complex, a wide range of allenyl/allyl‐substituted all‐carbon quaternary β‐ketoesters was obtained in generally good yield (up to 99 %) and high diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1 d.r.) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Silyl Ketene Imines to In Situ Generated Indol‐2‐ones: Highly Enantioselective Construction of Vicinal All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The first enantioselective conjugate addition of silyl ketene imines to in situ generated indol‐2‐ones was performed in the presence of a chiral N ,N ′‐dioxide/Ni^II catalyst. This method provides efficient access to chiral β‐alkyl nitriles bearing congested vicinal all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters in up to 90 % yield with 23:1 d.r. and 98 % ee . The products enable facile transformations to chiral pyrroloindoline frameworks and spirocyclohexane oxindole derivatives. A possible transition state was also proposed to explain the origin of the asymmetric induction.     

Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Quinoline N‐Oxides with Vinylarenes

An asymmetric copper‐catalyzed alkylation of quinoline N ‐oxides with chiral Cu–alkyl species, generated by migratory insertion of a vinylarene into a chiral Cu−H complex, is reported. A variety of quinoline N ‐oxides and vinylarenes underwent this Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective alkylation reaction, affording the corresponding chiral alkylated N‐heteroarenes in high yield with high‐to‐excellent enantioselectivity. This enantioselective protocol represents the first general and practical approach to access a wide range of chiral alkylated quinolines.     

Kinetic Resolution of 2H‐Azirines by Asymmetric Imine Amidation

Highly efficient kinetic resolution of 2H‐azirines by an asymmetric imine amidation was achieved in the presence of a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Sc^III complex, thus providing a promising method to obtain the enantioenriched 2H‐azirine derivatives and protecting‐group free aziridines at the same time. It is rare to find an example of N1 of an oxindole participating in a reaction over C3. Moreover, chiral 2H‐azirines were stereospecifically transformed into an unprotected aziridine and α‐amino ketone.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,4,5‐Trisubstituted Δ2‐Thiazolines

Δ²‐Thiazolines are interesting heterocycles that display a wide variety of biological characteristics. They are also common in chiral ligands used for asymmetric syntheses and as synthetic intermediates. Herein, we present asymmetric routes to 2,4,5‐trisubstituted Δ²‐thiazolines. These Δ²‐thiazolines were synthesized from readily accessible/commercially available α,β‐unsaturated methyl esters through a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and an O→N acyl migration reaction as key steps. The final products were obtained in good yields with up to 97 % enantiomeric excess.     

Consecutive Intermolecular Reductive Amination/Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Facile Access to Sterically Tunable Chiral Vicinal Diamines and N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

A highly enantioselective iridium‐ or ruthenium‐catalyzed intermolecular reductive amination/asymmetric hydrogenation relay with 2‐quinoline aldehydes and aromatic amines has been developed. A broad range of sterically tunable chiral N,N′‐diaryl vicinal diamines were obtained in high yields (up to 95 %) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99 % ee). The resulting chiral diamines could be readily transformed into sterically hindered chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors, which are otherwise difficult to access. The usefulness of this synthetic approach was further demonstrated by the successful application of one of the chiral vicinal diamines and chiral NHC ligands in a transition‐metal‐catalyzed asymmetric Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction and asymmetric ring‐opening cross‐metathesis, respectively.     

Water,an Essential Element for a ZnII‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Quinone Diels‐Alder Reaction: Multi‐Selective Construction of Highly Functionalized cis‐Decalins

A Zn^II complex of a C₂‐chiral bisamidine‐type sp²N bidentate ligand ( L _R ) possessing two dioxolane rings at both ends catalyzes a highly efficient quinone asymmetric Diels‐Alder reaction (qADA) between o‐alkoxy‐p‐benzoquinones and 1‐alkoxy‐1,3‐butadienes to construct highly functionalized chiral cis‐decalins, proceeding in up to a >99:1 enantiomer ratio with a high generality in the presence of H₂O (H₂O:Zn^II=4–6:1). In the absence of water, little reaction occurs. The loading amount of the chiral ligand can be minimized to 0.02 mol % with a higher Zn/ L _R ratio. This first success is ascribed to a supramolecular 3D arrangement of substrates, in which two protons of an “H₂O‐Zn^II” reactive species make a linear hydrogen bond network with a dioxolane oxygen atom and one‐point‐binding diene; the Zn^II atom captures the electron‐accepting two‐points‐binding quinone fixed on the other dioxolane oxygen atom via an n‐π* attractive interaction. The mechanisms has been supported by ¹H NMR study, kinetics, X‐ray crystallographic analyses of the related Zn L _R complexes, and ligand and substrate structure‐reactivity‐selectivity relationship.     

Direct Asymmetric Dearomatization of 2‐Naphthols by Scandium‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Amination

Catalytic asymmetric aminative dearomatization of 1‐substituted 2‐naphthols was successfully implemented with electrophilic azodicarboxylates under the catalysis of chiral Sc^III/pybox complexes. This intermolecular reaction represents a hitherto unknown enantioselective C? N bond‐forming process through direct dearomatization of phenolic compounds to generate chiral nitrogen‐containing quaternary carbon stereocenters.     

Origins of the Enantio‐ and N/O Selectivity in the Primary‐Amine‐Catalyzed Hydroxyamination of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with In‐Situ‐Formed Nitrosocarbonyl Compounds: A Theoretical Study

Chemoselective control over N/O selectivity is an intriguing issue in nitroso chemistry. Recently, we reported an unprecedented asymmetric α‐amination reaction of β‐ketocarbonyl compounds that proceeded through the catalytic coupling of enamine carbonyl groups with in‐situ‐generated carbonyl nitroso moieties. This process was facilitated by a simple chiral primary and tertiary diamine that was derived from tert‐leucine. This reaction featured high chemoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity for a broad range of substrates. Herein, a computational study was performed to elucidate the origins of the enantioselectivity and N/O regioselectivity. We found that a bidentate hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the tertiary N⁺? H and nitrosocarbonyl groups accounted for the high N selectivity, whilst the enantioselectivity was determined by Si‐facial attack on the (E)‐ and (Z)‐enamines in a Curtin–Hammett‐type manner. The bidentate hydrogen‐bonding interaction with the nitrosocarbonyl moieties reinforced the facial selectivity in this process.     

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.     

Theoretical study of enantiomeric and geometric control in chiral guanidine‐catalyzed asymmetric 1,4‐addition of 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones

Density functional theory calculations are used to study the reaction mechanism and origins of high stereoselectivity in chiral guanidine‐catalyzed asymmetric 1,4‐addition of 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones. The reaction involves proton abstraction of 5H‐oxazol‐4‐one, C—C bond formation, and proton transfer. N1 atom of chiral guanidine exchanges its character as base and acid to activate 5H‐oxazol‐4‐one and to facilitate the product formation. The role of N2—H2 is not only H‐bond donor for 5H‐oxazol‐4‐one but also electron accepter for N1. The enantioselectivity related with rate‐limiting step 1 and Z/E selectivity determined in step 2 are primarily influenced by a five to six‐membered ring link in the backbone of chiral guanidine. The reaction proceeds along the favorable path with smaller rotations of the linked bonds. The enantioselectivity is improved with guanidine involving an electron‐deficient and bulky substituent. With methyl ether‐protected hydroxy in structure, the catalytic ability and enantioselective control of guanidine are extraordinarily low, affording the opposite enantiomer as major product. Z‐isomers are preferred in all cases. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective cis‐Dihydroxylation of Trisubstituted Alkenes with Aqueous H2O2

Reliable methods for enantioselective cis‐dihydroxylation of trisubstituted alkenes are scarce. The iron(II) complex cis‐α‐[Fe^II(2‐Me₂‐BQPN)(OTf)₂], which bears a tetradentate N₄ ligand (Me₂‐BQPN=(R,R)‐N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐methylquinolin‐8‐yl)‐1,2‐diphenylethane‐1,2‐diamine), was prepared and characterized. With this complex as the catalyst, a broad range of trisubstituted electron‐deficient alkenes were efficiently oxidized to chiral cis‐diols in yields of up to 98 % and up to 99.9 % ee when using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxidant under mild conditions. Experimental studies (including ¹⁸O‐labeling, ESI‐MS, NMR, EPR, and UV/Vis analyses) and DFT calculations were performed to gain mechanistic insight, which suggested possible involvement of a chiral cis‐Fe^V(O)₂ reaction intermediate as an active oxidant. This cis‐[Fe^II(chiral N₄ ligand)]²⁺/H₂O₂ method could be a viable green alternative/complement to the existing OsO₄‐based methods for asymmetric alkene dihydroxylation reactions.