Asymmetric synthesis of 2-(2-pyridyl)aziridines from 2-pyridineimines bearing stereogenic N-alkyl substituents and regioselective opening of the aziridine ring

The addition of chloromethyllithium to the imine derived from 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and (S)-valinol, protected as its O-trimethylsilyl ether, gave the 1,2-disubstituted aziridine with good yield and diastereoselectivity. The analogous reaction performed on the imine derived from (S)-valine methyl ester gave the product containing the aziridine ring and the alpha-chloro ketone group coming from the attack of chloromethyllithium to the ester function. Other stereogenic alkyl substituents at nitrogen gave less satisfactory results. Moreover, the aziridination protocol did not work on other aromatic imines which were not capable of bidentate chelation, e.g., 3- and 4-pyridineimine and benzaldimine. Preliminary studies showed the possibility to carry out regio- and stereospecific opening reactions of 2-(2-pyridyl)aziridines by attack of internally generated or external nucleophiles.     

1,4-Asymmetric Induction in the Chromium(II)- and Indium-Mediated Coupling of Allyl Bromides to Aldehydes

A series of allyl bromides bearing an ethereal stereogenic substituent at C-2 were synthesized from methyl acrylate. These were coupled with a range of aldehydes under chromium(II) chloride-mediated conditions to afford syn-4-alkoxyalkan-1-ols in good yield and diastereoselectivity. The effect of altering the nature of the ethereal group and alkyl substituent upon the diastereoselectivity of the reaction was also investigated. The relative stereochemistry was proved by X-ray structure analysis. The work was extended to replace the chromium(II) chloride with indium metal, and this also afforded syn-4-alkoxyalkan-1-ols in good yield and diastereoselectivity.     

Directing abilities of alcohol-derived functional groups in the hydroformylation of olefins

The hydroformylation of allylic and homoallylic alcohols and their derivatives using cationic and neutral rhodium complexes has been examined. The highest diastereoselectivity (87:13) was observed in the reaction of 1-methoxymethoxy-2-methylenecyclohexane. Higher yields and similar selectivities were obtained in the reaction of the TBDMS-protected alcohol. The major diastereomer results from hydroformylation syn to the functional group, which would suggest a directing effect. However, hydroformylation of 3-methylene-1-cyclohexanol derivatives occurs on the face opposite to the directing group in the major isomer. These data, in addition to the results of hydroformylation of 1-methyl-2-methylenecyclohexane, suggest that inherent conformational preferences are of significant importance in determining the product distribution and that the directing power of simple alcohols and their derivatives is moderate at best under the conditions examined in this study.     

Asymmetric synthesis of A-240610.0 via a new atropselective approach for axially chiral biaryls with chirality transfer

A new approach for atropselective preparation of axially chiral biaryl was developed. This process proceeded through a chirality transfer from a stereogenic center of a secondary alcohol to the stereogenic axis via regioselective intramolecular silyl group migration. This methodology allowed for the preparation of a single atropisomer 2 in good yield (85%) with high diastereoselectivity (99:1), which subsequently led to the successful development of an efficient asymmetric synthesis of A-240610.0, 1.     

Highly diastereoselective aziridination of imines with trimethylsilyldiazomethane. Subsequent silyl substitution with electrophiles, ring opening, and metalation of C-silylaziridines--a cornucopia of highly selective transformations

Treatment of a range of N-sulfonyl (Ts and SES) imines derived from aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, and unsaturated aldehydes with trimethylsilydiazomethane gave C-silylaziridines in good yield (32-83%) and with high diastereoselectivity in favor of the cis product (80:20-100:0). In contrast, an alpha-imino ester gave predominantly the trans-aziridine (89:11) in high yield (91%). The synthetic potential of C-silylaziridines was investigated. Treatment with F(-) (tetrabutylammonium triphenyldifluorosilicate was used) in the presence of aldehydes gave the alpha-hydroxyaziridines in high yield and high diastereoselectivity (86:14-98:2) for the newly created stereogenic center. Complete retention of configuration was observed in the substitution of the silyl group with electrophiles in all cases. Trapping with deuterium (using CDCl(3) as electrophile) was also successful, but trapping with phosphate [using ClP(O)(OPh)(2)] and acetate (using Ac(2)O) was unsuccessful. In these latter cases ring opening by chloride and acetate, respectively, was observed. Further ring-opening reactions were effected using azide and thiolate nucleophiles and in all cases complete regioselectivity in favor of attack at the silyl-bearing carbon occurred. Complete regioselectivity was also observed in the carbonylative ring expansion using Co(2)(CO)(8) to give a beta-lactam. Treatment of cis-1-tosyl-2-phenyl/butyl-3-trimethylsilylaziridines with n-BuLi and subsequent quenching with MeI followed completely different pathways, depending on the 2-substituent. In the case of the 2-phenylaziridine, metalation was initiated alpha to the phenyl group and led finally to a fused tricyclic adduct with four stereogenic centers as a single diastereoisomer. In the case of the 2-butylaziridine, metalation occurred alpha to the silyl group and led to a trisubstituted silylaziridine, probably via an azirine intermediate.     

Diastereotopos-Differentiation in the Rh-Catalyzed Amination of Benzylic Methylene Groups in the α-Position to a Stereogenic Center

The diastereoselectivity of the Rh-catalyzed C-H amination was examined with 18 chiral open-chain substrates, which bear a benzylic methylene group in the α-position to a stereogenic center (-CHMeX), and with four chiral cyclic tetralins, in which the stereogenic center was positioned at carbon atom C2. The C-H amination was performed using trichloroethoxysulfonyl-substituted amine (H(2)NTces) as the nitrogen source, a diacyloxyiodobenzene as the oxidant, and bis[rhodium(α,α,α',α'-tetramethyl-1,3-benzenedipropionate)] [Rh(2)(esp)(2)] as the catalyst. For acyclic substrates a high syn diastereoselectivity (dr > 95/5) was found if the substituent X was Br, PO(OEt)(2), SO(2)Ph, or OOCCF(3) (eight examples). Moderate to good syn selectivities (dr = 80/20 to 91/9) were found for X = NO(2), OAc, COOMe, and CN (eight examples). Only two substrates gave a low diastereoselectivity. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiments revealed that there is no secondary KIE when replacing -CHMeCOOMe by -CDMeCOOMe, but there is a significant primary KIE at the benzylic methylene position (4.8 ± 0.7). Deuteration experiments provided evidence that the reaction proceeds stereospecifically with retention of configuration. A preferred conformation is proposed, which explains the outcome of the reaction. In this conformation the X substituent is antiperiplanar to the C-H bond, which is diastereoselectively attacked, and steric strain between the remaining substituents at the stereogenic and the prostereogenic center is minimized. DFT calculations support this model. They suggest, however, that the reaction is not concerted but occurs via hydrogen atom abstraction and subsequent radical rebound. Further support for an antiperiplanar attack relative to a given substituent X = Br, COOMe, or CN was obtained with the respective 2-substituted tetralins. Attack at C1 provides almost exclusively the trans-amination product. If the size of the X substituent increases [Br < CN < COOMe < PO(OEt)(2)], attack at the carbon atom C4 prevails, delivering the respective trans-amination products at this position.     

Diastereoselective alkylation and reduction of β-alkoxyacylsilanes: stereoselective construction of three contiguous stereogenic centers

The nucleophilic addition reaction to acylsilanes, having stereogenic centers at the α and β positions, derived from the aldol reaction of dimethyl acetals and acylsilane silyl enol ethers gives the corresponding α-silylalcohols in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity. The protiodesilylation of α-silylalcohols proceeds with complete retention of the configuration. In addition, the reduction of acylsilanes having stereogenic centers at the α and β positions affords the corresponding α-silylalcohols in good yields with high diastereoselectivity similarly to the nucleophilic addition. And the treatment of acylsilanes having a phenyl group on silicon atom with fluoride ion results in the formation of phenyl carbinol derivatives via migration of the phenyl group with high diastereoselectivity.     

Application of P-stereogenic aminophosphine phosphinite ligands in asymmetric hydroformylation

New chiral aminophosphine phosphinite ligands with a stereogenic center at the aminophosphine phosphorus atom were prepared based on (R,S)-ephedrine as the chiral auxiliary and backbone. Substituents at the chiral aminophosphine as well as at the phosphinite phosphorus atom were varied. These new ligands were applied to the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl arenes. The enantiomeric excess reached up to 77%. 1H and 31P NMR studies of the Rh complexes under syngas pressure reveal that [HRh(CO)2(PP)] complexes with the NP* moiety in an axial position are responsible for enantioselectivity.     

Baker's yeast mediated enantiospecific synthesis of anti-(2R,3R)-p-chloro-3-hydroxytyrosine: an α-amino-β-hydroxy acid of vancomycin

Baker's yeast mediated reduction of α-azido-β-keto ester lead to reduction of the carbonyl group with high enantiospecificity and diastereoselectivity at low pH (4.0, e.e. >99%, d.e. 79%). At pH 7, although the enantioselectivity is maintained, the diastereoselectivity is lost.     

High Diastereoselection of a Dissymmetric Capsule by Chiral Guest Complexation

Encapsulation of chiral guests in the dissymmetric capsule 1?4 BF₄ formed diastereomeric supramolecular complexes G ? 1?4 BF₄ ( G : guest). When chiral guests 2 a – q were encapsulated within the dissymmetric space of the self‐assembled capsule 1?4 BF₄, circular dichroism (CD) was observed at the absorption bands that are characteristic of the π–π* transition of the bipyridine moiety of the capsule, which suggests that the P and M helicities of the capsule are biased by the chiral guest complexation. The P helicity of diastereomeric complex (S)‐ 2 l ? 1?4 BF₄ was determined to be predominant, based on CD exciton coupling theory and DFT calculations. The diastereoselectivity was highly influenced by the ester substituents, such that benzyl ester moieties were good for improving the diastereoselectivity. A diastereomeric excess of 98 % was achieved upon the complexation of 2 j . The relative enthalpic and entropic components for the distereoselectivity were obtained from a van’t Hoff plot. The enthalpic components were linearly correlated with the substituent Hammett parameters (σ_p⁺). The electron‐rich benzyl ester moieties generated donor–acceptor π–π stacking interactions with the bipyridine moiety, which resulted in a significant difference in energy between the predominant and subordinate diastereomeric complexes.     

A Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydrofurans

The development of a direct and highly stereoselective synthesis of 2,3,5‐substituted tetrahydrofurans has been accomplished through a combination of batch‐ and microchip‐MS‐experiments. This sequential transformation comprises a Lewis acid‐mediated reaction of bis(silyl) dienediolate 1 and a broad range of aldehydes, furnishing products with three new σ‐bonds and three stereogenic centers in a one‐pot process with typically good yields and excellent stereoselectivity. Key steps which have been elucidated primarily with microchip‐MS‐experiments include a vinylogous aldol reaction and a Prins‐type cyclization. Furthermore, a titanium BINOL complex is a powerful chiral catalyst for this process. The products were further converted into bi‐ and tricylic products by carbonyl–ene reactions, proceeding with excellent yields and diastereoselectivity.     

New Results on the Stereoselective Alkylations of Malic Acid Derivatives Supported by Molecular Modeling

The stereoselectivity of the alkylation of dialkyl malates is dependent on steric hindrance of both ester alkyl groups. It was found that the two alkyl groups have opposite effects on diastereoselectivity. Increased steric hindrance at the C(1) carboxy group increases the anti‐selectivity, whereas increased steric hindrance at the C(4) carboxy group decreases it. The results are explained by comparing the structures of the enolates, which were obtained by molecular modeling. Alkylation at C(4′) of dioxolanones, derived from benzyl‐substituted malic acids, with an additional stereogenic center on the side chain is dependent on the stereogenic centers of the ring acetal and of the side chain. Alkylation at low temperatures occurs only with cis‐dioxolanones having an (R)‐configured side‐chain stereogenic center. The corresponding trans‐dioxolanone and the cis‐dioxolanone with a (S)‐configured side‐chain stereogenic center were recovered unchanged. A rationale is presented with models of monolithiated dioxolanones obtained by ab initio calculations.     

Achiral tetrahydrosalen ligands for the synthesis of C(2)-symmetric titanium complexes: a structure and diastereoselectivity study

Achiral tetrahydrosalen ligands have been employed in the synthesis of chiral C(2)-symmetric titanium complexes. When combined with tetrahydrosalen ligands 2a and 2b, titanium tetraisopropoxide liberated 2 equiv of isopropyl alcohol and generated the (tetrahydrosalen)Ti(O-i-Pr)(2) complexes 3a and 3b. These complexes were shown to be C(2)-symmetric by (1)H and (13)C[(1)H] NMR spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. X-ray structures of 3a and 3b indicate that the bonding of the tetrahydrosalen ligand to titanium is different than the bonding of salen ligands to titanium. Whereas salen ligands usually bind to titanium in a planar arrangement, the tetrahydrosalen is bonded with the phenoxide oxygens mutually trans. When bound in this fashion, the nitrogens of the tetrahydrosalen ligand and the titanium become stereogenic centers. The use of titanium complexes of high enantiopurity in the generation of tetrahydrosalen titanium adducts resulted in a maximum diastereoselectivity of 2:1. The diastereoselectivity obtained using chiral titanium alkoxide complexes was greater than the diastereoselectivity observed when a tetrahydrosalen ligand derived from (S,S)-trans-diaminocyclohexane was employed.     

Asymmetric lithiation-substitution sequences of substituted allylamines

[reaction: see text] (-)-Sparteine-mediated asymmetric lithiation-substitution sequences of 2- and 3-substituted N-(Boc)-N-(p-methoxyphenyl) allylic amines with electrophiles have been investigated. Asymmetric lithiation-substitutions of N-(Boc)-N-(p-methoxyphenyl) allylic amines 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 provide highly enantioenriched enecarbamates in good yields. Further transformations to give aldehydes, acids, ketones, and a Diels-Alder adduct are reported. The 1,4-addition products from reactions of the lithiated allylic amines from 14 and 15 with conjugated activated alkenes gives enecarbamates with two and three stereogenic centers in good yields with high diastereomeric and enantiomeric ratios. Synthetic transformation of these products by acid hydrolysis and subsequent cyclization provide stereoselective access to bicyclic compounds containing four and five stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. It is suggested that allyllithium complexes generated by asymmetric deprotonation react with most electrophiles with inversion of configuration.     

Asymmetric platinum group metal-catalyzed carbonyl-ene reactions: carbon-carbon bond formation versus isomerization

A comparative study of the carbonyl-ene reaction between a range of 1,1'-disubstituted or trisubstituted alkenes and ethyl trifluoropyruvate catalyzed by Lewis acid-platinum group metal complexes of the type [M{(R)-BINAP}]2+ (M = Pt, Pd, Ni; BINAP is 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl) revealed subtle but significant differences in their reactivity. For instance, the palladium-based Lewis acid [Pd{(R)-BINAP}]2+ catalyzes the ene reaction between methylene cycloalkane to afford the expected alpha-hydroxy ester in good yield and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. In contrast, under the same conditions, the corresponding [M{(R)-BINAP}]2+ (M = Pt, Ni) catalyzes isomerization of methylene cycloalkane and the ene reaction of the resulting mixture of methylene cycloalkane and 1-methylcycloalkene at similar rates to afford a range of -hydroxy esters in high regioselectivity, good diastereoselectivity, and good to excellent enantioselectivity. In addition, [Pt{(R)-BINAP}]2+ also catalyzes postreaction isomerization of the ene product as well as consecutive ene reactions to afford a double carbonyl-ene product. The sense of asymmetric induction has been established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and a stereochemical model consistent with the formation of (S)-configured -hydroxy ester has been proposed; the same model also accounts for the observed exo-diastereoselectivity as well as the level of diastereoselectivity.     

Dinuclear barium(II) complexes based on a calix[4]arene scaffold as catalysts of acyl transfer

Two novel regioisomeric calix[4]arene derivatives (2 and 3), decorated with two aza[18]crown-6 units at vicinal (1,2) or diagonal (1,3) positions of the upper rim, were synthesized. The catalytic activities of their dinuclear Ba2+ complexes were investigated in the ethanolysis of esters 8-11, endowed with a carboxylate anchoring group. Major results are as follows: 1) the two metal ions in the dinuclear catalysts work together in a cooperative fashion; 2) the vicinal calix[4]arene catalyst 2 is far superior to its diagonal regioisomer 3 in the reactions of all of the investigated esters; and 3) the distance between the carboxylate and ester carbonyl, which increases regularly from 8 to 11, influences reactivity of catalytic ester cleavage in a way that is decidedly suggestive of the importance of a good match between ester size and metal-to-metal distance. However, the superiority of the vicinal catalyst 2 relative to 3 cannot be explained on the basis of the putative match of ester size to intermetal distance, thus providing an indication that additional, still poorly understood effects may contribute significantly to catalytic efficiency.     

Asymmetric dearomatization of the furan ring promoted by conjugate organolithium addition to (menthyloxy)(3-furyl)carbene complexes of chromium

The sequential low-temperature addition reaction of an organolithium compound and methyl triflate to (menthyloxy)(3-furyl)carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten proceeded with excellent regioselectivity (1,4-addition) and diastereoselectivity (2,3-trans disposition of the nucleophile and electrophile groups) to afford new 2,3-disubstituted (2,3-dihydro-3-furyl)carbene complexes. In addition, a high degree of diastereofacial selectivity was achieved by employing alkenyllithium compounds. After detachment of both the metal fragment and the chiral auxiliary group, trisubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives containing a quaternary stereogenic center at the C3 position were obtained. The characterization, including X-ray crystallography, of a novel type of stable four-membered chelate (eta(2)-alkene)tetracarbonylcarbene complex of chromium is also reported.     

Enantiopure Narrow Bite‐Angle POP Ligands: Synthesis and Catalytic Performance in Asymmetric Hydroformylations and Hydrogenations

Herein is reported the preparation of a set of narrow bite‐angle P–OP ligands the backbone of which contains a stereogenic carbon atom. The synthesis was based on a Corey–Bakshi–Shibata (CBS)‐catalyzed asymmetric reduction of phosphomides. The structure of the resulting 1,1‐P–OP ligands, which was selectively tuned through adequate combination of the configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom, its substituent, and the phosphite fragment, proved crucial for providing a rigid environment around the metal center, as evidenced by X‐ray crystallography. These new ligands enabled very good catalytic properties in the Rh‐mediated enantioselective hydrogenation and hydroformylation of challenging and model substrates (up to 99 % ee). Whereas for asymmetric hydrogenation the optimal P–OP ligand depended on the substrate, for hydroformylation, a single ligand was the highest‐performing one for almost all studied substrates: it contains an R‐configured stereogenic carbon atom between the two phosphorus ligating groups, and an S‐configured 3,3′‐diphenyl‐substituted biaryl unit.     

Alkali metal ion binding to amino acids versus their methyl esters: affinity trends and structural changes in the gas phase

The relative alkali metal ion (M(+)) affinities (binding energies) between seventeen different amino acids (AA) and the corresponding methyl esters (AAOMe) were determined in the gas phase by the kinetic method based on the dissociation of AA-M(+)-AAOMe heterodimers (M=Li, Na, K, Cs). With the exception of proline, the Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) affinities of the other aliphatic amino acids increase in the order AAAAOMe is already observed for K(+). Proline binds more strongly than its methyl ester to all M(+) except Li(+). Ab initio calculations on the M(+) complexes of alanine, beta-aminoisobutyric acid, proline, glycine methyl ester, alanine methyl ester, and proline methyl ester show that their energetically most favorable complexes result from charge solvation, except for proline which forms salt bridges. The most stable mode of charge solvation depends on the ligand (AA or AAOMe) and, for AA, it gradually changes with metal ion size. Esters chelate all M(+) ions through the amine and carbonyl groups. Amino acids coordinate Li(+) and Na(+) ions through the amine and carbonyl groups as well, but K(+) and Cs(+) ions are coordinated by the O atoms of the carboxyl group. Upon consideration of these differences in favored binding geometries, the theoretically derived relative M(+) affinities between aliphatic AA and AAOMe are in good overall agreement with the above given experimental trends. The majority of side chain functionalized amino acids studied show experimentally the affinity order AAAAOMe. The latter ranking is attributed to salt bridge formation.     

Intramolecular Pd-catalyzed carbocyclization, Heck reactions, and aryl-radical cyclizations with planar chiral arene tricarbonyl chromium complexes

(o-butenylhalobenzene)Cr(CO)(3) complexes were synthesized by diastereoselectve allylmetal additions to o-halo benzaldehyde complexes. The addition of allylZnBr proved particularly convenient and clean. The complexes undergo intramolecular Pd-catalyzed cyclizations (Heck reactions) without decomplexation and/or alkene isomerization. In complexes with a benzylic stereogenic center, the diastereoselectivity of the alkene carbopalladation is governed by the planar chirality of the complex rather than by the benzylic stereogenic center in the side chain. This reaction outcome can be rationalized by the geometry of the arene plane vs that of the Pd coordination plane in the transition step of the alkene carbopalladation step. An alternative cyclization procedure involves the generation of a Cr(CO)(3)-coordinated arene radical from the bromo and iodo complexes. Intramolecular aryl-radical cyclization affords indan complexes. The transition metal arene pi-bond remains intact during this process.