Highly enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes catalyzed by designer chiral BINOL–quinine–squaramide: efficient access to optically active nitro-alkanes and their isoxazole derivatives

A chiral BINOL–quinine–squaramide has been identified as the best catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkenes to 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. A series of chiral nitroalkanes were prepared with approximately >99% ee. Furthermore, the methodology was applied successfully to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure isoxazoles derivatives (>99% ee).     

Novel organic catalysts for the direct enantioselective α-oxidation of carbonyl compounds

The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamide-catalyzed direct enantioselective α-oxidation of ketones and aldehydes with nitrosobenzene is presented. The reactions proceed smoothly furnishing the corresponding α-aminoxylated compounds in good yields with up to >99% ee. The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamides were also found to be excellent catalysts for the direct enantioselective nitroso Diels-Alder-type reaction between nitrosobenzene and α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones yielding the corresponding bicyclic Diels-Alder adduct products with up to >99% ee. The proline-derived N-sulfonylcarboxamides represent a readily available and highly modular novel type of organic catalyst.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Multi-Substituted Tetrahydrofurans via Palladium/Rhodium Synergistic Catalyzed [3+2] Decarboxylative Cycloaddition of Vinylethylene Carbonates

Unlike the comprehensive development of tandem multi-metallic catalysis, bimetallic synergistic catalysis has been challenging to achieve high stereoselectivity with the generation of multi-stereogenic centers. Herein, an efficient synergistic catalysis for the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of multi-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives has been developed. Under mild reaction conditions, a series of target molecules with three consecutive stereocenters were synthesized by a palladium(0)/rhodium(III) bimetal-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative [3+2]-cycloaddition of vinylethylene carbonates with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The corresponding adducts were obtained with moderate to high yields (67 %∼98 %) and excellent stereoselectivities (>20 : 1 d.r., up to 99 % ee).     

Me-AnilaPhos: a new chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand for a highly efficient Rh-catalyzed asymmetric olefin hydrogenation

A cationic rhodium(I) complex with a novel chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand based on 2-diphenylphosphino-N-methylaniline and R-BINOL moieties has been synthesized. The complex provided remarkably high activity and enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-α-acetamidocinnamate (100% conversion after 10 min, 98% ee) and dimethyl itaconate (100% conversion after 26 min, 96% ee) under ambient conditions (1 bar hydrogen pressure, room temperature) using 1 mol % of the catalyst in dichloromethane as solvent. On the other hand, when hydrogenation was performed in methanol, both conversion and enantioselectivity were significantly diminished, due to the partial decomposition of the rhodium/phosphine-phosphoramidite complex.     

Diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of 3-substituted oxindoles to enones via bifunctional catalysts

This paper presents a synthetically challenging vicinal quaternary-tertiary C–C forming reaction of 3-substituted oxindoles and chalcones by a simple aryl substituted bifunctional thiourea catalyst. The reactions work with a broad range of chalcones, giving chiral 3,3′-substituted oxindoles type compounds with adjacent quaternary-tertiary stereocenters in high yields (up to 99%), very good dr (up to >98:2) and very good ee (up to 96%).     

Enantioselective 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by rhodium(I)-chiral phosphoramidite complexes

A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (5a) was synthesized from Shibasaki’s linked-(R)-BINOL and P(NMe₂)₃ as a new ligand for rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The effects of 5a and Feringa’s monodentate phosphoramidite (4, R¹, R² = Et) on the yields and enantioselectivities were fully investigated. The reaction was significantly accelerated in the presence of a base such as KOH and Et₃N, allowing the reaction to be completed at the lower temperatures than 50 °C. The addition to cyclic enones such as 2-cyclopentenone, 2-cyclohexenone and 2-cycloheptenone at 50 °C in the presence of an [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂-4 (R¹, R² = Et) complex resulted in enantioselectivities up to 98%, though it was less effective for acyclic enones (0–70% ee). On the other hand, a complex between [Rh(nbd)₂]BF₄ and 5a completed the addition to cyclic enones within 2 h at room temperature in the presence of Et₃N with 86–99% yields and 96–99.8% ee. This catalyst was also effective for acyclic enones, resulting in 62–98% yields and 66–94% ee. The 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids to unsaturated lactones and acyclic esters with rhodium(I)-phosphoramidites complexes were also investigated.     

Preparation of chiral 7,7′-disubstituted BINAPs for Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids

A series of new 7,7′-disubstituted BINAPs were readily prepared starting with an asymmetric catalytic oxidative coupling. They were applied as ligands to rhodium catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to enones, resulting in enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee. The enantioselectivity was found to be dependent on the size of achiral substituents.     

Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: large accelerating effects of bases and ligands

The effects of ligands and bases in the rhodium(I)-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were reinvestigated to carry out the reaction under mild conditions. Rhodium(I) complexes possessing a 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) and a hydroxo ligand such as [RhOH(cod)](2) exhibited excellent catalyst activities compared to those of the corresponding rhodium-acac or -chloro complexes and their phosphine derivatives. The reaction was further accelerated in the presence of KOH, thus allowing the 1,4-addition even at 0 degrees C. A cationic rhodium(I)-(R)-binap complex, [Rh(R-binap)(nbd)]BF(4), catalyzed the reaction at 25-50 degrees C in the presence of Et(3)N with high enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee for alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, 92% for aldehydes, 94% for esters, and 92% for amides.     

Synthesis of a water-soluble cationic chiral diamine ligand bearing a diguanidinium and application in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A novel water-soluble cationic N-monosulfonated chiral diamine ligand diguanidinium 1c was easily prepared from (R,R)-DPEN and its rhodium complex and was successfully applied in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of prochiral ketones and imines in water by using sodium formate and formic acid as co-hydrogen donors. Various substrates were reduced with high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).     

Parts-per-Million-Level,Catalytic [3+2]-Annulations for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Methanobenzo[7]annulenes

3-Alkyl-lawsones selectively reacted with α-alkyl-nitroethylenes under 500 parts-per-million (ppm) quinine-NH-thiourea-catalysis to furnish the chiral methanobenzo[7]annulenes in up to >99 % ee with >20 : 1 dr and TON up to 1820 through tandem Michael/Henry [3+2]-annulations. These asymmetric ppm-level, catalytic tandem [3+2]-annulations would be highly inspirational for the design of many more ppm-level organocatalytic reactions, and at the same time these final molecules are basic skeletons of antibiotics.     

Cu-Fesulphos complexes: efficient chiral catalysts for asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The Cu^I-Fesulphos catalyst system (≤3 mol %) shows an excellent performance in the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. High to very high levels of reactivity, endo/exo selectivity, and enantioselectivity (69->99% ee) are generally achieved with a very wide range of azomethine ylides and dipolarophiles. Based on experimental and computational studies data, a model that accounts for this high enantiocontrol is proposed.     

Enantioselective synthesis of nitrocyclopropanes via conjugate addition of bromomalonate to nitroalkenes catalyzed by Ni(II) complexes

A novel one-pot methodology for the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized nitrocyclopropanes promoted by chiral nickel complexes is developed. The treatment of bromomalonates with nitroalkenes under the mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding Michael adducts which cyclizes to controlled reaction conditions with excellent diasteroselectivities (>99 de) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Hydrocarbazoles Catalyzed by an Octahedral Chiral‐at‐Rhodium Lewis Acid

A bis‐cyclometalated chiral‐at‐metal rhodium complex catalyzes the Diels–Alder reaction between N‐Boc‐protected 3‐vinylindoles (Boc=tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) and β‐carboxylic ester‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated 2‐acyl imidazoles with good‐to‐excellent regioselectivity (up to 99:1) and excellent diastereoselectivity (>50:1 d.r.) as well as enantioselectivity (92–99 % ee) under optimized conditions. The rhodium catalyst serves as a chiral Lewis acid to activate the 2‐acyl imidazole dienophile by two‐point binding and overrules the preferred regioselectivity of the uncatalyzed reaction.     

Anti-selective direct asymmetric Mannich reaction catalyzed by protease

The anti-selective direct asymmetric Mannich reaction of (hetero) aromatic aldehydes, 4-anisidine and O-protected hydroxyacetones for the synthesis of stereodefined anti-β-amino-α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds was developed. Protease type XIV from Streptomyces griseus (SGP) was used as a biocatalyst in 1,4-dioxane/phosphate buffer under mild reaction conditions. The excellent diastereoselectivities of up to >99:1 (anti/syn) and good enantioselectivities of up to 90% ee were achieved. This method provides a more sustainable complement to chemically catalyzed anti-selective direct asymmetric Mannich reactions.     

Highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles

A highly enantioselective Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between dimedone and isatylidene malononitriles has been developed. With 5?mol% of bifunctional organocatalyst C15, chiral spiro[2-amino-4H-pyran-oxindole] derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (97–99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to?>?99% ee).     

Asymmetric N-Alkylation of 1H-Indoles via Carbene Insertion Reaction

An intermolecular enantioselective N-alkylation reaction of 1H-indoles has been developed by cooperative rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed N−H bond insertion reaction. N-Alkyl indoles with newly formed stereocenter adjacent to the indole nitrogen atom are produced in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Importantly, both α-aryl and α-alkyl diazoacetates are tolerated, which is extremely rare in asymmetric X−H (X=N, O, S et al.) and C−H insertion reactions. With this method, only 0.1 mol % of rhodium catalyst and 2.5 mol % of chiral phosphoric acid are required to complete the conversion as well as achieve the high enantioselectivity. Computational studies reveal the cooperative relay of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid, and the origin of the chemo and stereoselectivity.     

Enantiomerically pure α-pinene derivatives from material of 65% enantiomeric purity. Part 2: C2-symmetric N,N′-3-(2α-hydroxy)pinane diimines and diamines

The conversion of enantiomerically enriched (ee >99%) 2α-hydroxypinan-3-one and its oxime (obtained in previously described procedures¹ from α-pinene of 65% ee) into a range of derivatives with potential application in asymmetric synthesis was attempted. C₂-Symmetrical compounds, ligands for potential catalysts, were synthesized from 2α-hydroxypinan-3-one and either aliphatic or aromatic diamines. Reduction or etherification/reduction of selected diiminodiols afforded respective diaminodiols and diaminoethers, which were further transformed into azolium salts. Reactions of dipinanediaminoethers with dichlorophenylphosphine and subsequent in situ oxidation of the products afford the respective stable phosphinediamide oxides. Four selected compounds were crystallographically studied.     

Bis-Cyclometalated Indazole Chiral-at-Rhodium Catalyst for Asymmetric Photoredox Cyanoalkylations

A new class of bis-cyclometalated rhodium(III) catalysts containing two inert cyclometalated 6-tert-butyl-2-phenyl-2H-indazole ligands and two labile acetonitriles is introduced. Single enantiomers (>99 % ee) were obtained through a chiral-auxiliary-mediated approach using a monofluorinated salicyloxazoline. The new chiral-at-metal complex is capable of catalyzing the visible-light-induced enantioselective α-cyanoalkylation of 2-acyl imidazoles in which it serves a dual function as the chiral Lewis acid catalyst for the asymmetric radical chemistry and at the same time as the photoredox catalyst for the visible-light-induced redox chemistry (up to 80 % yield, 4:1 d.r., and 95 % ee, 12 examples).     

Chiral dihydrobenzofuran-based diphosphine (BICMAP): optical resolution and application to rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of aryl- and alkenylboronic acids to cyclic enones

Chiral dihydrobenzofuran-based diphosphine ligand (BICMAP) 1 was used as a ligand for the rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to cyclic enones up to 99% ee. We also found that the BICMAP-rhodium system was an efficient catalyst for the 1,4-addition of alkenylboronic acids to 2-cyclohexenone in good enantioselectivities.     

Stereodivergent Desymmetrization of Simple Dicarboxylates via Branch-Selective Pd/Cu Catalyzed Allylic Substitution

Asymmetric desymmetrization has been demonstrated to be a powerful strategy for building stereocenters in asymmetric synthesis. Herein, a Pd/Cu catalyzed asymmetric desymmetrization reaction with a simple geminal dicarboxylate is reported. A wide scope of imino esters bearing an aryl or heteroaromatic group were compatible with this bimetallic catalytic system. The reactions proceeded smoothly, giving the desired products in good yields with high to excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity (up to 20 : 1 branched:linear, >20 : 1 dr, >99 % ee). Notably, the reaction favored branched selectivity, which is unusual for the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation reaction. In addition, the standard product could be easily transformed to other valuable molecules such as chiral allylic alcohols, carbamates, and organic boron compounds. Furthermore, DFT calculations were conducted to explain the origin of the branched selectivity.