Application of Supramolecular Bidentate Hybrid Ligands in Asymmetric Hydroformylation

In this study we report a novel class of supramolecular bidentate hybrid ligands in which the two inequivalent phosphorus units and pyridine moieties are covalently attached to a chiral scaffold and the supramolecular interactions are used as a second handle to control the coordination sphere around the transition‐metal centre. The coordination chemistry of these ligands was investigated under hydroformylation conditions by high‐pressure NMR and IR spectroscopy, revealing the formation of a single active species in which the phosphane ligand is in the axial position and the phosphoramidite adopts the equatorial position. These ligands were applied in the asymmetric Rh‐catalysed hydroformylation of styrene and para‐substituted analogues. In these hydroformylation reactions, modification of the electronic and steric properties of the zinc(II)‐templates appear to have a significant influence on the activity and selectivity of the catalysis. In particular, zinc(II)‐templates bearing more electron‐withdrawing substituents led to an increase in enantioselectivity.     

Towards the Evolution of Artificial Metalloenzymes—A Protein Engineer's Perspective

Incorporating artificial metal‐cofactors into protein scaffolds results in a new class of catalysts, termed biohybrid catalysts or artificial metalloenzymes. Biohybrid catalysts can be modified chemically at the first coordination sphere of the metal complex, as well as at the second coordination sphere provided by the protein scaffold. Protein‐scaffold reengineering by directed evolution exploits the full power of nature's diversity, but requires validated screening and sophisticated metal cofactor conjugation to evolve biohybrid catalysts. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent efforts in this field to establish high‐throughput screening methods for biohybrid catalysts and we show how non‐chiral catalysts catalyze reactions enantioselectively by highlighting the first successes in this emerging field. Furthermore, we shed light on the potential of this field and challenges that need to be overcome to advance from biohybrid catalysts to true artificial metalloenzymes.     

基于蛋白质工程的人工金属酶——半合成金属酶在原子转移反应中的应用

近年来,随着生物技术的进步,基于蛋白质工程的人工金属酶?半合成金属酶的研究及应用取得了突飞猛进的发展.在原子转移反应中,半合成金属酶已经能够高效、高选择性地催化氧化、不对称氢化、碳-碳键偶联等多种反应.通过对蛋白质的突变和对人工辅酶的修饰与改进,可以实现对酶的功能、催化效率以及立体选择性等多方面的调控.通过对半合成金属酶的研究,能够更深入地理解二级配位环境,为设计和制备高效"绿色金属催化剂",以及为探索金属配合物与蛋白质的相互作用、发展无机金属药物提供崭新的途径.     

Hydrogenase Mimics in M12L24 Nanospheres to Control Overpotential and Activity in Proton-Reduction Catalysis

Hydrogenase enzymes are excellent proton reduction catalysts and therefore provide clear blueprints for the development of nature-inspired synthetic analogues. Mimicking their catalytic center is straightforward but mimicking the protein matrix around the active site and all its functions remains challenging. Synthetic models lack this precisely controlled second coordination sphere that provides substrate preorganization and catalyst stability and, as a result, their performances are far from those of the natural enzyme. In this contribution, we report a strategy to easily introduce a specific yet customizable second coordination sphere around synthetic hydrogenase models by encapsulation inside M₁₂L₂₄ cages and, at the same time, create a proton-rich nano-environment by co-encapsulation of ammonium salts, effectively providing substrate preorganization and intermediates stabilization. We show that catalyst encapsulation in these nanocages reduces the catalytic overpotential for proton reduction by 250 mV as compared to the uncaged catalyst, while the proton-rich nano-environment created around the catalyst ensures that high catalytic rates are maintained.     

A Promising Approach for Controlling the Second Coordination Sphere of Biomimetic Metal Complexes: Encapsulation in a Dynamic Hydrogen-Bonded Capsule

The design of biomimetic models of metalloenzymes needs to take into account many factors and is therefore a challenging task. We propose in this work an original strategy to control the second coordination sphere of a metal centre and its distal environment. A biomimetic complex, reproducing the first coordination sphere, is encapsulated in a self-assembled hydrogen-bonded capsule. The cationic complex is co-encapsulated with its counter-anion or with solvent molecules. The capsule is dynamic, allowing a fast in/out exchange of the co-encapsulated species. It also provides both a hydrogen-bonding site in the second coordination sphere and a source of proton as it can be deprotonated in the presence of the complex, providing a globally neutral host-guest assembly. This simple and broad scope strategy is unprecedented in biomimetic studies. The approach appears to be a very promising method for the stabilisation of reactive species and for the study of their reactivity.     

钯催化烯基苯并噁嗪酮基于内球型机理的线性和不对称烯丙基烷基化反应

烯基苯并噁嗪酮作为底物参与反应受到有机合成工作者的广泛关注.在过渡金属催化作用下,烯基苯并噁嗪酮脱除一分子二氧化碳,生成的两性离子中间体既可以被亲核试剂进攻,得到结构丰富的芳香胺,也可以作为1,4-偶极子与硫叶立德,缺电子烯烃或α,β-不饱和醛参与成环,分别生成相应的五元、六元或七元含氮杂环.后者广泛存在于农药、医药和生物活性分子中.已报道的钯催化烯基苯并噁嗪酮的不对称转化反应中,支链结构是主产物,线性结构产物比较少见.这是因为烯丙基邻位的氨基负离子与亲核试剂存在氢键或者静电作用,诱导亲核试剂进攻位阻更大但是能量更低的苄位.不同于传统的钯催化烯丙基取代反应,产物的结构通常是由亲核试剂的软硬程度决定.除了化学选择性的问题,产物中双键的Z/E构型和立体选择性的控制也同样成为挑战.近期Li课题组(Org.Lett.,2016,18,4392–4395)基于定位基辅助的Rh(Ⅲ)催化C?H活化策略实现了芳烃烯丙基化得到线性产物.Shi课题组(Chem.Commun.,2019,55,1283–1286)利用Ir(Ⅰ)和Br?nsted酸协同催化实现了吖内酯进攻端位烯丙基.但是,这些反应仅能得到消旋产物.发展不对称的线性烯丙基取代反应,不仅可以拓展烯基苯并噁嗪酮的应用前景,还可以合成具有手性的邻乙烯基芳香胺.本文采用α-硫氰基取代的茚酮作亲核试剂,不同于以往文献报道的机理,氨基负离子对烯醇式茚酮没有起到导向作用,意外得到以直链为主的产物.经过优化,最终以联萘二酚骨架亚膦酰胺为配体,钯作为催化剂,成功构建了一系列与硫氰基直接相连的季碳手性产物.所有反应产物均有优秀的化学选择性(线性选择性>20/1),E/Z选择性(>20/1)和立体选择性(最高95%ee).并且该反应适用范围广泛,基团的兼容性良好.为解释实验结果,本文进行相关的控制实验和DFT计算.计算结果表明,由于氨基负离子碱性较强,茚酮α位C?H酸性较强,直接发生了质子转移生成茚酮烯醇负离子,此时氢键作用消失不能起到导向作用.本文还考察了茚酮烯醇负离子与烯丙基钯通过静电作用形成离子复合物.与之前文献报道不同,本文采用了单齿膦配体且钯与配体等量,这意味着钯处于配位不饱和状态,导致离子复合物极其不稳定,烯醇负离子与硫氰基直接与钯配位成键,该过程结合能高达23.47 kcal/mol.最终配合物中间体通过内球型机理,经历环状过渡态得到以线性为主的产物.     

Asymmetric [3+2] Photocycloadditions of Cyclopropanes with Alkenes or Alkynes through Visible‐Light Excitation of Catalyst‐Bound Substrates

The herein reported visible‐light‐activated catalytic asymmetric [3+2] photocycloadditions between cyclopropanes and alkenes or alkynes provide access to chiral cyclopentanes and cyclopentenes, respectively, in 63–99 % yields and with excellent enantioselectivities of up to >99 % ee. The reactions are catalyzed by a single bis‐cyclometalated chiral‐at‐metal rhodium complex (2–8 mol %) which after coordination to the cyclopropane generates the visible‐light‐absorbing complex, lowers the reduction potential of the cyclopropane, and provides the asymmetric induction and overall stereocontrol. Enabled by a mild single‐electron‐transfer reduction of directly photoexcited catalyst/substrate complexes, the presented transformations expand the scope of catalytic asymmetric photocycloadditions to simple mono‐acceptor‐substituted cyclopropanes affording previously inaccessible chiral cyclopentane and cyclopentene derivatives.     

手性Salen-Cu(Ⅱ)和噁唑啉-Cu(Ⅱ)配合物催化2-苯基环己酮的不对称Baeyer-Villiger反应研究

对一系列手性Salen和唑啉配体与中心金属Cu(Ⅱ)的配合物催化2苯基环己酮的不对称BaeyerVilliger反应进行了研究,设计和合成了新型手性配体Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ,对配合物ⅤCu(Ⅱ)进行了单晶X射线衍射分析.并考察了助氧化剂、溶剂等对反应活性和选择性的影响.     

Catalytic asymmetric bromination and chlorination of beta-ketoesters

The first general catalytic asymmetric bromination and chlorination of beta-ketoesters has been developed. The reactions proceed for both acyclic and cyclic beta-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral bisoxazolinecopper(II) complexes giving the corresponding optically active alpha-bromo- and alpha-chloro-beta-ketoesters in high yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities. For the optically active chlorinated products the isolated yields are in the range of 88-99 % and the enantiomeric excesses up to 77 % ee, while the optically active brominated adducts are formed in 70-99 % isolated yield and up to 82 % ee. Based on the absolute configuration of the optically active products, the face selectivity for the catalytic enantioselective halogenation is discussed based on a bidentate coordination of the beta-ketoester to the chiral catalyst and a X-ray structure of chiral alpha,gamma-diketoesterenolatebisoxazolinecopper(II) complex.     

Electrochemical Kinetics Support a Second Coordination Sphere Mechanism in Metal-Based Formate Dehydrogenase

Metal-based formate dehydrogenases are molybdenum or tungsten-dependent enzymes that catalyze the interconversion between formate and CO₂. According to the current consensus, the metal ion of the catalytic center in its active form is coordinated by 6 S (or 5 S and 1 Se) atoms, leaving no free coordination sites to which formate could bind to the metal. Some authors have proposed that one of the active site ligands decoordinates during turnover to allow formate binding. Another proposal is that the oxidation of formate takes place in the second coordination sphere of the metal. Here, we have used electrochemical steady-state kinetics to elucidate the order of the steps in the catalytic cycle of two formate dehydrogenases. Our results strongly support the “second coordination sphere” hypothesis.     

Size-Selective Hydroformylation by a Rhodium Catalyst Confined in a Supramolecular Cage

Size-selective hydroformylation of terminal alkenes was attained upon embedding a rhodium bisphosphine complex in a supramolecular metal–organic cage that was formed by subcomponent self-assembly. The catalyst was bound in the cage by a ligand-template approach, in which pyridyl–zinc(II) porphyrin interactions led to high association constants (>10⁵ m ⁻¹) for the binding of the ligands and the corresponding rhodium complex. DFT calculations confirm that the second coordination sphere forces the encapsulated active species to adopt the ee coordination geometry (i.e., both phosphine ligands in equatorial positions), in line with in situ high-pressure IR studies of the host–guest complex. The window aperture of the cage decreases slightly upon binding the catalyst. As a result, the diffusion of larger substrates into the cage is slower compared to that of smaller substrates. Consequently, the encapsulated rhodium catalyst displays substrate selectivity, converting smaller substrates faster to the corresponding aldehydes. This selectivity bears a resemblance to an effect observed in nature, where enzymes are able to discriminate between substrates based on shape and size by embedding the active site deep inside the hydrophobic pocket of a bulky protein structure.     

稀土金属在不对称催化中的应用:从均相催化到异相催化

稀土金属的配位数较高,可通过容纳大型手性配体,构筑手性环境,催化不对称反应的定向发生,在工业生产特别是制药工程中具有重要应用价值。本文以Henry反应、Mannich反应和Strecker反应为例,总结回顾了稀土金属催化剂在此类反应中的设计思路、性能特点与应用前景,旨在展现稀土金属催化剂兼具融合均相催化与异相催化的优势,不断发展,以满足实际生产需求的过程。     

钯催化二芳基膦氢对萘醌单酮的不对称1,4-加成反应

研究了二芳基膦氢和萘醌单酮的不对称加成反应,在Pincer钯催化剂存在下,以中等到良好的产率和对映选择性合成了相应的手性膦化合物,进一步拓宽了Pincer钯催化剂的底物应用范围.     

Supramolecular Coordination Cages for Asymmetric Catalysis

Inspired by the high efficiency and specificity of enzymes in living systems, the development of artificial catalysts intrinsic to the key features of enzyme has emerged as an active field. Recent advances in supramolecular chemistry have shown that supramolecular coordination cages, built from non-covalent coordination bonds, offer a diverse platform for enzyme mimics. Their inherent confined cavity, analogous to the binding pocket of an enzyme, and the facile tunability of building blocks are essential for substrate recognition, transition-state stabilization, and product release. In particular, the combination of chirality with supramolecular coordination cages will undoubtedly create an asymmetric microenvironment for promoting enantioselective transformation, thus providing not only a way to make synthetically useful asymmetric catalysts, but also a model to gain a better understanding for the fundamental principles of enzymatic catalysis in a chiral environment. The focus here is on recent progress of supramolecular coordination cages for asymmetric catalysis, and based on how supramolecular coordination cages function as reaction vessels, three approaches have been demonstrated. The aim of this review is to offer researchers general guidance and insight into the rational design of sophisticated cage containers for asymmetric catalysis.     

Self-supported chiral catalysts for heterogeneous enantioselective reactions

The development of heterogeneous chiral catalysts for enantioselective reactions is highly desirable in order to overcome some drawbacks of homogeneous catalysts. Different from the conventional approaches by using various types of supports or biphasic systems for the recovery and reuse of homogeneous catalysts, a conceptually new strategy for heterogenization of homogeneous chiral catalysts, that is, a "self-supporting" approach, has been developed to use homochiral metal-organic coordination polymers generated by the self-assembly of chiral multitopic ligands with metal ions, and thus obviates the use of any support. In this concept article, the success of this "self-supporting" strategy will be exemplified in heterogeneous catalysis of asymmetric carbonyl-ene, sulfoxidation, epoxidation, and asymmetric hydrogenation reactions.     

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Cationic Intermediates for the Synthesis of Chiral N,O-Acetals

For over half a century, transition-metal-catalyzed homogeneous hydrogenation has been mainly focused on neutral and readily prepared unsaturated substrates. Although the addition of molecular hydrogen to C=C, C=N, and C=O bonds represents a well-studied paradigm, the asymmetric hydrogenation of cationic species remains an underdeveloped area. In this study, we were seeking a breakthrough in asymmetric hydrogenation, with cationic intermediates as targets, and thereby anticipating applying this powerful tool to the construction of challenging chiral molecules. Under acidic conditions, both N- or O-acetylsalicylamides underwent cyclization to generate cationic intermediates, which were subsequently reduced by an iridium or rhodium hydride complex. The resulting N,O-acetals were synthesized with remarkably high enantioselectivity. This catalytic strategy exhibited high efficiency (turnover number of up to 4400) and high chemoselectivity. Mechanistic studies supported the hypothesis that a cationic intermediate was formed in situ and hydrogenated afterwards. A catalytic cycle has been proposed with hydride transfer from the iridium complex to the cationic sp² carbon atom being the rate-determining step. A steric map of the catalyst has been created to illustrate the chiral environment, and a quantitative structure–selectivity relationship analysis showed how enantiomeric induction was achieved in this chemical transformation.     

Enantioselective synthesis of binaphthyl polymers using chiral asymmetric phenolic coupling catalysts: oxidative coupling and tandem glaser/oxidative coupling

A series of functionalized and optically active polybinaphthyls have been synthesized from achiral substrates by asymmetric oxidative phenolic coupling using a chiral 1,5-diaza-cis-decalin copper catalyst. In most cases, a copper tetrafluoroborate catalyst was found to be superior to the copper iodide catalyst, as ortho-iodination of the substrates could be prevented. Three methods for the formation of chiral polymers are described. In the first method, two 2-naphthols linked together at C-6 are subjected to the optimized asymmetric oxidative phenolic coupling conditions to form chiral polynaphthyls. A combination of NMR and HPLC measurements secured the selectivity of the asymmetric coupling. In the second method, substrates containing only one naphthalene were utilized. By incorporating a 2-naphthol and a terminal alkyne, the chiral copper catalysts effect both Glaser-Hay coupling of the alkyne and oxidative asymmetric coupling of the 2-naphthol with remarkable chemoselectivity. The relative reaction rates of various moieties with the chiral catalysts follows the order: benzyl cyanides > aryl alkynes > electron-rich 2-naphthols > electron-deficient 2-naphthols > alkyl alkynes. Because of high chemoselectivity, this approach is useful for the organized assembly of multifunctional substrates in a single operation. In all cases, no cross-coupling is observed between the alkyne and the 2-naphthol. This approach was thus applied to a set of highly functionalized precursors. In this third case, the biaryl coupling was performed first and a Glaser-Hay coupling was performed in a separate step to generate a highly functionalized polymer. In some cases, the resultant chiral polymers exhibit very large optical rotations.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes through Intramolecular Chlorine Transfer as a Novel Strategy for Asymmetric Halopalladation

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective cyclization of enynes has contributed significantly to the construction of chiral cyclic molecules. In contrast, the catalytic asymmetric cyclization involving halopalladation remains an unresolved challenge with the inevitable disturbance of the halide ions. Herein, an intramolecular chlorine transfer strategy is used to accomplish the enantioselective chloropalladation cyclization of 1,6-enynes. This reaction provides a redox-neutral approach to a variety of chiral α-chloromethylene-γ-butyrolactones with excellent E selectivity and enantioselectivity. The precisely controlled coordination of palladium with both the in situ generated nucleophilic species and the monodentate phosphoramidite ligand is crucial for enantioselectivity.     

Proton Switch in the Secondary Coordination Sphere to Control Catalytic Events at the Metal Center: Biomimetic Oxo Transfer Chemistry of Nickel Amidate Complex

High-valent metal-oxo species are key intermediates for the oxygen atom transfer step in the catalytic cycles of many metalloenzymes. While the redox-active metal centers of such enzymes are typically supported by anionic amino acid side chains or porphyrin rings, peptide backbones might function as strong electron-donating ligands to stabilize high oxidation states. To test the feasibility of this idea in synthetic settings, we have prepared a nickel(II) complex of new amido multidentate ligand. The mononuclear nickel complex of this N5 ligand catalyzes epoxidation reactions of a wide range of olefins by using mCPBA as a terminal oxidant. Notably, a remarkably high catalytic efficiency and selectivity were observed for terminal olefin substrates. We found that protonation of the secondary coordination sphere serves as the entry point to the catalytic cycle, in which high-valent nickel species is subsequently formed to carry out oxo-transfer reactions. A conceptually parallel process might allow metalloenzymes to control the catalytic cycle in the primary coordination sphere by using proton switch in the secondary coordination sphere.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Ketone Enolates

Palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of nonstabilized ketone enolates to generate quaternary centers has been achieved in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Optimized conditions consist of performing the reaction in the presence of two equivalents of LDA as base, one equivalent of trimethytin chloride as a Lewis acid, 1,2‐dimethoxyethane as the solvent, and a catalytic amount of a chiral palladium complex formed from π‐allyl palladium chloride dimer 3 and cyclohexyldiamine derived chiral ligand 4 . Linearly substituted, acyclic 1,3‐dialkyl substituted, and unsubstituted allylic carbonates function well as electrophiles. A variety of α‐tetralones, cyclohexanones, and cyclopentanones can be employed as nucleophiles. The absolute configuration generated is consistent with the current model in which steric factors control stereofacial differentiation. The quaternary substituted products available by this method are versatile substrates for further elaboration.