Highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted and 2,2,6-trisubstituted dihydropyrones: a one-step synthesis of (R)-(+)-hepialone and its analogues

An efficient enantioselective approach to chiral dihydropyrones has been developed by the hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions of (E)-4-methoxy-2-trimethylsiloxy-penta-1,3-diene (diene 1) with aldehydes and pyruvates. It has been found that the readily accessible (R)-BINOL-Ti(OiPr)(4) (1.1:1) complex was a very effective catalyst for this reaction. Aromatic, heteroaromatic, conjugated, and aliphatic aldehydes afforded the corresponding products in moderate to high isolated yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The first example of highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,2,6-trisubstituted dihydropyrones by the catalytic reaction of diene 1 with pyruvates was reported. The isolated intermediates indicated that this asymmetric HDA reaction proceeded in a Mukaiyama aldol pathway. On the basis of the absolute configurations of the products, a possible mechanism was proposed. Moreover, the catalytic system could be used to synthesize a series of enantioenriched beta-hydroxyketones 4. Finally, this methodology was successfully applied for the one-step synthesis of the important natural product (R)-(+)-Hepialone with 88% isolated yield and 94% enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams catalyzed by chiral Pd(II)-bisphosphine complexes

An efficient catalytic enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams is reported. Reactions of the lactone substrates proceeded smoothly in an alcoholic solvent with a catalytic amount of chiral Pd(II) complex. In the case of the less acidic lactam substrates, concurrent use of the Pd complex and 2,6-lutidine as a cocatalyst was effective. Under the reaction conditions, the fluorinated lactones and lactams were obtained in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity (94-99% ee).     

手性噁唑硼烷的研究进展及其应用

手性噁唑硼烷是不对称合成的重要催化剂, 它可以高产率、高立体选择性地催化酮、内消旋酰亚胺以及亚胺的不对称还原, 催化立体选择性Diels-Alder反应、不对称Mukaiyama缩合反应等重要有机化学反应. 概述了近十年来手性噁唑硼烷在不对称合成中的研究进展以及在合成VB₁₂等多种天然及非天然活性化合物中的应用.     

Dramatic ligand effect in catalytic asymmetric reductive aldol reaction of allenic esters to ketones

A general catalytic asymmetric reductive aldol reaction of allenic esters to ketones is described. Two distinct constitutional isomers were selectively produced depending on the reaction conditions. A combination of CuOAc/(R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS/PCy3 as the catalyst predominantly produced gamma-cis-products in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). The reaction was applicable to both aromatic and aliphatic ketones, including unsaturated ketones. On the other hand, CuF-Taniaphos complexes produced alpha-aldol products with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity (up to 84% ee). The new Taniaphos derivative L3, containing di(3,5-xylyl)phosphine and morpholine units, produced optimum results in the alpha-selective reaction. The products are versatile chiral building blocks in organic synthesis. Furthermore, the basic reaction pattern (i.e., conjugate addition-aldol reaction) was extended to a catalytic enantioselective alkylative aldol reaction to ketones using dialkylzinc reagents as the initiator.     

Chiral Allenes via Alkynylogous Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction

Herein we describe the development of a catalytic enantioselective alkynylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction. The reaction is catalyzed by a newly designed chiral disulfonimide and delivers chiral allenoates in high yields and with excellent regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. Our process tolerates a broad range of aldehydes in combination with diverse alkynyl‐substituted ketene acetals. The reaction products can be readily derivatized to furnish a variety of highly substituted enantiomerically enriched building blocks.     

Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed total synthesis of vitamin e by employing a domino Wacker-Heck reaction

An enantioselective total synthesis of vitamin E in which a novel palladium-catalyzed domino reaction was employed as the key step is described. This reaction allows the formation of the chiral chroman framework and the concurrent introduction of part of the side chain of vitamin E. The sequence comprises an enantioselective Wacker cyclization and a subsequent Heck reaction. Accordingly, reaction of alkenylphenol 12 with methyl vinyl ketone (13) in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OTFA)(2) (TFA = trifluoroacetate), the enantiopure ligand (S,S)-Bn-BOXAX (8 b; Bn = benzyl, BOXAX = 2,2'-bis(oxazolyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl, and p-benzoquinone (9) as an oxidant gives access to chiral chroman 10 with an enantioselectivity of 97 % ee in 84 % yield. Chroman 10 is then converted into 24 by an aldol condensation reaction with (3R)-3,7-dimethyloctanal (11). Subsequent 1,2-addition of methyllithium, elimination of water, and hydrogenation yields vitamin E.     

Chiral squaramide-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct Michael addition of nitroalkanes to nitroalkenes

An efficient highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct Michael addition of nitroalkanes to nitroalkenes catalyzed by chiral squaramide catalyst has been developed. This organocatalytic reaction with a low catalyst loading (2 mol%) proceeded well to afford synthetically useful 1,3-dinitro compounds in high yields with high diastereoselectivities (up to 95 : 5 dr) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

A highly enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of 1,2-dihydropyridine using a simple β-amino alcohol organocatalyst for a practical synthetic methodology of oseltamivir intermediate

An easily prepared chiral amino alcohol catalyst was found to provide an efficient synthetic intermediate of oseltamivir with excellent chemical yield and enantioselectivity (up to 98% yield and up to 98% ee) in enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of 1,2-dihydropylidines with acroleins.     

Total synthesis of the spirocyclic imine marine toxin (-)-gymnodimine and an unnatural C4-epimer

The first total synthesis of the marine toxin (-)-gymnodimine (1) has been accomplished in a convergent manner. A highly diastereo- and enantioselective exo-Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by a bis-oxazoline Cu(II) catalyst enabled rapid assembly of the spirocyclic core of gymnodimine. The preparation of the tetrahydrofuran fragment utilized a chiral auxiliary based anti-aldol reaction. Two major fragments, spirolactam 56 and tetrahydrofuran 55, were then coupled through an efficient Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. An unconventional, ambient temperature t-BuLi-initiated intramolecular Barbier reaction of alkyl iodide 64 was employed to form the macrocycle. A late stage vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol addition of a silyloxyfuran to a complex cyclohexanone 83 appended the butenolide, and a few additional steps provided (-)-gymnodimine (1). A diastereomer of the natural product was also synthesized, C4-epi-gymnodimine (90), derived from the vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol addition.     

New chiral bis(diphenylphospholane) ligands: design, synthesis, and application to catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones

New chiral bidentate diphenylphospholanes were designed targeting a catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones. Ligands 5l and 5m having cis-2-butenyl and cyclopropyl groups at the linker part, respectively, were identified as effective chiral ligands for a CuF-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones. Catalysts prepared from CuF·3PPh₃·2EtOH and these ligands produced ketone aldol products with up to 66% ee, which is promising particularly for this extremely difficult and important catalytic enantioselective carbon-carbon bond forming reaction. The enantioselectivity was strongly dependent on the linker structure. Construction of a deep chiral pocket around the copper metal with stable bidentate chelation is the key to meaningful enantioinduction.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of N-Boc-protected pyrroles proceeded with high enantioselectivity by using a ruthenium catalyst modified with a trans-chelating chiral bisphosphine PhTRAP. The ruthenium catalyst prepared from Ru(eta3-methallyl)2(cod) and (S,S)-(R,R)-PhTRAP in the presence of triethylamine was the most enantioselective for the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate, giving the desired (S)-proline derivative with 79% ee in 92% yield. Moreover, 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles bearing a large substituent at the 5-position were hydrogenated with 93-99.7% ee. The asymmetric reduction of 4,5-dimethylpyrrole-2-carboxylate gave only all-cis isomer and created three chiral centers with high degree of stereocontrol in a single process. This is the first highly enantioselective reduction of pyrroles.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of alpha-aminooxy and alpha-hydroxy ketone using nitrosobenzene

The highly enantioselective and O-selective nitroso aldol reaction of tin enolates 2 and nitrosobenzene (1) has been developed with the use of (R)-BINAP-silver complexes as a catalyst. After the various silver salts were surveyed, the AgOTf and the AgClO4 complex were found to be optimal in the O-selective nitroso aldol reaction in both asymmetric induction (up to 97% ee) and regioselection (O/N = >99/1), affording aminooxy ketone 3. The product 3 can be transformed to alpha-hydroxy ketone 5 without any loss of enantioselectivity. Thus, the method provides an efficient approach to the catalytic enantioselective introduction of oxygen alpha- to the carbonyl group.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-timolol via kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides and dihydroxylation of allylamines

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of (S)-timolol has been described using chiral Co-salen-catalyzed kinetic resolution of less expensive (±)-epichlorohydrin with 3-hydroxy-4-(N-morpholino)-1,2,5-thiadiazole in good overall yield (55%) and excellent enantioselectivity (98%). Synthesis of (S)-timolol has also been achieved using hydrolytic kinetic resolution as well as asymmetric dihydroxylation routes in 90% ee and 56% ee, respectively.     

Highly chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction to construct chiral 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

An organocatalytic chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction between β,γ-unsaturated amides and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was developed. With 5?mol% of chiral tertiary amine-thiourea catalyst C3, highly functionalized 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones with a quaternary stereocenter were constructed in a straightforward manner with high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of hydroxyacetone with β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters: facile access to chiral tertiary alcohols

An efficient direct asymmetric aldol reaction between hydroxyacetone and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters has been successfully developed. In the presence of 9-amino-9-deoxy-epi-cinchonine and trifluoroacetic acid, the direct aldol reaction of O-protected hydroxyacetone proceeded in a highly enantioselective manner, affording the desired adducts containing a chiral tertiary alcohol in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The aldol products obtained are valuable precursors for the synthesis of 2-substituted glycerol derivatives.     

Highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction in aqueous conditions using a chiral iron(II) bipyridine catalyst

A highly enantioselective method for the catalytic Mukaiyama aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with aldehydes in aqueous conditions was developed. The desired aldol products were obtained in excellent yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Structural evidence of the pre-catalyst revealed an unprecedented heptadentate Fe(II) complex with the chiral bipyridine ligand.     

Oxazaborolidinium ion-catalyzed cyclopropanation of α-substituted acroleins: enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropanes bearing two chiral quaternary centers

A catalytic synthetic route to highly functionalized chiral cyclopropane derivatives was developed by Michael-initiated cyclopropanation of α-substituted acroleins with aryl- and alkyl diazoacetates. In the presence of chiral (S)-oxazaborolidinium cation 1b as a catalyst, the reaction proceeded in high yield (up to 93%) with high to excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 98% de) and enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee).     

Highly enantioselective yttrium(III)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of β-trichloro(trifluoro)methyl aryl enones with indoles

An efficient yttrium(III)-catalyzed highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of β-trichloro(trifluoro)methyl aryl enones is described. The reaction delivered a series of functionalized indoles with a chiral tertiary carbon center bearing a trichloro(trifluoro)methyl group in excellent results (up to 96% ee and 99% yield) under mild conditions.     

Catalytic, enantioselective aldol additions to ketones

Catalytic, enantioselective additions of a trichlorosilyl ketene acetal to ketones have been demonstrated. The trichlorosilyl enolate of methyl acetate undergoes a rapid and high-yielding aldol addition to a wide range of ketones (aromatic, olefinic, acetylenic, aliphatic) in the presence of a catalytic amount of pyridine N-oxide. Moreover, in the presence of a catalytic amount (10 mol %) of a chiral bispyridine bis N-oxide (possessing both axial and central chiral elements) the aldol addition takes place again in excellent yield and with good stereoselectivity. The enantioselectivities of the additions are highly variable (7-86% ee) and are strongly dependent on the structure of the ketone acceptor. Aromatic methyl ketones gave the highest selectivity, whereas olefinic ketones were the least selective.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Dimethylzinc to Acyl‐N‐methylimidazole Michael Acceptors: a Powerful Synthetic Platform

An efficient copper‐catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of dimethylzinc to α,β‐ and α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated 2‐acyl‐N‐methylimidazoles has been achieved using a chiral bidentate hydroxyalkyl‐NHC ligand. The reactions proceeded with both excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivity (14 examples, 87–95 % ee) to afford the desired 1,4‐adducts, which were easily transformed to the corresponding aldehydes, esters, and ketones. Subsequently, this powerful methodology was therefore successfully applied in the synthesis of natural products. Furthermore, an iterative process was also disclosed leading to highly desirable 1,3‐desoxypropionate skeletons (up to 94 % d.e.).