Enantiomerically pure cyclopalladated diazaphospholidine

Enantiomerically pure (S)-2-(anilinomethyl)pyrrolidine (S)-2 was obtained from (S)-proline using a modified four-step procedure in a total yield of 56%. Diamine (S)-2 was converted to diazaphospholidine (S)-1 using ^oTolP(NMe₂)₂. The enantiomeric purity of ligand (S)-1 and diamine (S)-2 was determined by ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, respectively, using a CN-palladacycle for their chiral derivatization. Direct cyclopalladation of (S)-1, using Pd(OAc)₂ in toluene under mild conditions regioselectively afforded the cyclopalladated complex with the (sp²)C–Pd bond. The aromatic C–H bond activation was confirmed by NMR spectral data and X-ray diffraction study of the PPh₃ derivative of the new P¹,C¹,N¹-chiral phosphapalladacycle.     

Preparation and temperature-dependent enantioselectivities of homochiral phenolic crown ethers having aryl chiral barriers: thermodynamic parameters for enantioselective complexation with chiral amines

Homochiral crown ether (S,S)-1 containing 1-naphthyl groups as chiral barriers together with the phenol moiety was prepared by using (S)-3 as a chiral subunit which was resolved in enantiomerically pure form by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation of (±)-3. Homochiral phenolic crown ether (S,S)-2, containing phenyl groups as chiral barriers, was also prepared from (S)-5 which was derived from (S)-mandelic acid. The association constants for their complexes with chiral amines in CHCl₃ were determined at various temperatures by the UV–visible spectroscopic method demonstrating that the crown ethers (S,S)-1 and (S,S)-2 displayed the large Δ_R−SΔG values of 6.2 and 6.4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, towards the amine 21 at 15°C. Thermodynamic parameters for complex formation were also determined and a linear correlation between TΔ_R−SΔS and Δ_R−SΔH values was observed.     

An excellent new resolving agent for the diastereomeric resolution of rac-mandelic acid

Chiral mandelic acid (S)-1, which is an important precursor for stereoselective transformations and a versatile intermediate for pharmaceuticals, was resolved with the Pope and Peachey method. Enantiopure 1-amino-3-phenoxypropan-2-ol (S)-2, a key intermediate for pharmaceuticals, was used to resolve rac-mandelic acid rac-1 successfully for the first time. The less soluble salt (S)-1·(S)-2·H₂O could be obtained in 77% yield and 98% de (E 75%) using (S)-2 and LiOH in water. The crystal structure of the less soluble salt (S)-1·(S)-2·H₂O showed that the water molecule played a key role in forming the crystals.     

Synthesis of enantiopure C1 symmetric diphosphines and phosphino-phosphonites with ortho-phenylene backbones

Reaction of 2-(diphenylphosphino)phenylphosphonous acid tetramethyldiamide 1 with (+)-menthol, (1S,2S,3S,5R)-isopinocampheol and (1R,2R)-trans-cyclohexanediol affords enantiopure phosphino-phosphonite ligands 3–5. The X-ray structures of 1 (space group P2₁/n) and 3 (space group P2₁) have been determined. The reaction of 1 with (1R,2R,3S,5R)-(−)-pinanediol proceeds diastereoselectively to afford a novel type of enantiopure phosphino-phosphonite ligand 6 with an asymmetric substituted P atom. On reaction of (+)-cedryl alcohol with 1 the adduct 7 of the phosphonous acid 2-Ph₂PC₆H₄P(O)(H)OH 9 and its dimethylammonium salt is formed through elimination of water and subsequent hydrolysis. The structure of 7 (space group P1̄) was elucidated by X-ray structural analysis. Reduction of the chlorophosphine 8 with LiAlH₄ yields the novel primary–tertiary phosphine 10, which is a valuable starting material for the synthesis of the enantiopure C₁ symmetric bidentate phospholane ligands 11 and 12.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 249: Syntheses of methyl (R,E)-2,4,5-tetradecatrienoate and methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate,the pheromone components of the male dried bean beetle,Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)

The enantiomers of methyl (E)-2,4,5-tetradecatrienoate (1), a component of the male pheromone of Acanthoscelides obtectus, were synthesized from the enantiomers of 1-undecyn-3-ol (6), which were obtained via asymmetric acetylation of (±)-1-trimethylsilyl-1-undecyn-3-ol (4) with vinyl acetate as catalyzed by lipase PS (Amano). The ortho ester Claisen rearrangement of 6 with triethyl orthoacetate was the key-step to generate the chiral allenic system. A new synthesis of (±)-1 was also executed starting from (±)-6. Three different syntheses of methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate (2), another component of the male pheromone of A. obtectus, were achieved by means of either palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction or a Claisen and an Al₂O₃ catalyzed thermal rearrangements.     

Stereoselective and versatile approach for the synthesis of gossyplure and its components

Efficient synthetic routes to gossyplure and its components (1a and 1b) were formulated. The three key units viz the alkynol 3, the bromide 5, and the alkanal 13 were derived from easily accessible starting materials. Alkylation of 3 with 5, and subsequent semihydrogenation followed by oxidation, provided the C₁₁-alkenal 8 which was subjected to a stereocontrolled Wittig reaction with a C₅-phosphonium salt, to yield directly the desired pheromone (1a + 1b). The synthesis of its individual components involved the manipulation via an acetylenic intermediate, viz the alkynol 14 which was obtained through alkylation of 3. A sequence of well-established reactions on 14, then provided the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-alkenylphosphonium salts which upon a (Z)-specific Wittig olefination with the C₇-aldehyde (13), led to the stereoselective synthesis of 1a and 1b.     

Studies on the diastereoselective allylation of aldehydes with enantiopure 2-sulfinylallyl building blocks

A comparative study on the allylation of aldehydes with enantiopure (S_S)-2-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-prop-2-en-1-ol (S_S)-1a and the corresponding chloride (S_S)-1b under two different reaction systems is reported. In general, better yields were obtained from chloride (S_S)-1b, whereas higher diastereoinduction was observed from alcohol (S_S)-1a. The sense of diastereoinduction is the same in both systems and the stereochemistry of the major diastereomer has been determined. Moreover, the configurational stability of the sulfoxide group on the resulting sulfinyl homoallylic alcohols 3 has been proven in each reaction system, which demonstrates the efficiency of the sulfoxide group as chiral auxiliary in these allylation processes. Finally, as an example of the synthetic potential of the resulting adducts, a total synthesis of natural enantioenriched (S)-nicotine from sulfinylalcohol 3h is reported.     

BINAP: rhodium–diolefin complexes in asymmetric hydrogenation

The complexes [Rh((S)-BINAP)(COD)]BF₄ 1, [Rh((S)-BINAP)(NBD)]BF₄ 2, [Rh((R)-BINAP)(COD)]OTf 3, [Rh((R)-BINAP)(NBD)]OTf 4, and [Rh((R)-BINAP)(COD)]BArF 5 were synthesized, and 1–4 were analyzed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The transformation of these precatalysts into hydrogenation-active species was investigated as well as the hydrogenation of prochiral olefins. In particular, this series of transformations was investigated with regard to solvent and counterions.     

Structural control in palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation by new chiral phosphine-phosphite and pyridine-phosphite ligands

The ligands 6-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxy-5,7-dioxa-6-phosphadibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 1, (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-2, and (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-2,6-bis-trimethylsilanyl-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-3, (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxymethyl)pyridine, (S)-4, and (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxy)pyridine, (S)-5, have been easily prepared.The cationic complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(L-L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=1–(S)-5) and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)(L–L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=(S)-2–(S)-4) were synthesized by conventional methods starting from the complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)Cl]₂, respectively. The behavior in solution of all the π-allyl- and π-phenylallyl-(L–L′)palladium derivatives 6–14 was studied by ¹H, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and 2D-NOESY spectroscopy. As concerns the ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5, a satisfactory analysis of the structures in solution was possible only for palladium–allyl complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 11, and [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 12, since the corresponding species [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 13, and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 14, revealed low stability in solution for a long time. The new ligands (S)-2–(S)-5 were tested in the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective substitution of (1,3-diphenyl-1,2-propenyl)acetate by dimethylmalonate. The precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-2)]CF₃SO₃ afforded the allyl substituted product in good yield (95%) and acceptable enantioselectivities (71% e.e. in the S form). A similar result was achieved with the precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-3)]CF₃SO₃. The nucleophilic attack of the malonate occurred preferentially at allylic carbon far from the binaphthalene moiety, namely trans to the phosphite group. When the complexes containing ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5 were used as precatalysts, the product was obtained as a racemic mixture in high yield. The number of the configurational isomers of the Pd-allyl intermediates present in solution in the allylic alkylation and the relative concentrations are considered a determining factor for the enantioselectivity of the process.     

Determination of absolute configuration using vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy: the chiral sulfoxide 1-thiochroman S-oxide

We have determined the absolute configuration of the chiral sulfoxide 1-thiochroman S-oxide 1 using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The VCD spectrum of a CCl₄ solution of 1 was analyzed using density functional theory (DFT), which predicts three stable conformations of 1, separated by <1 kcal/mol. The VCD spectrum predicted using the DFT/GIAO methodology for the equilibrium mixture of the three conformations of (S)-1 is in excellent agreement with the experimental spectrum of (+)-1. The absolute configuration of 1 is therefore (R)-(−)/(S)-(+). (+)-1 and (−)-1 of high enantiomeric excess (e.e.) were synthesized in high yields via asymmetric oxidation of 1-thiochroman 2 using Ti(iso-PrO)₄/(R,R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diol/H₂O/tert-butyl hydroperoxide and Ti(iso-PrO)₄/l-diethyl tartrate/H₂O/cumene hydroperoxide, respectively.     

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic σ1 receptor ligands

The enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated spirocyclic σ₁ ligands involved three key steps: (1) the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 2-bromostyrene 5 provided enantiomerically pure diols (R)-6 and (S)-6 establishing the stereogenic center; (2) the intramolecular opening of the oxirane ring of (R)-11 and (S)-11, which occurred with excellent regioselectivity and complete inversion of configuration giving access to enantiomerically pure alcohols (S)-7a and (R)-7a; (3) the treatment of alcohols (S)-7b and (R)-7b with DAST, which led to the fluoromethyl derivatives (S)-1 and (R)-1 without racemization. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the tosylate (R)-13 confirmed the absolute configuration of the spirocyclic compounds as well as the enantioselectivity during the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 5. The (S)-configured fluoromethyl derivative (S)-1 revealed a high σ₁ affinity (K_i = 1.8 nM), high eudismic ratio (factor 8) and high selectivity over the σ₂ subtype (667-fold).     

Chiral ligands derived from abrine. Part 6: Importance of a bulky N-alkyl group in indole-containing chiral β-tertiary amino alcohols for controlling enantioselectivity in addition of diethylzinc toward aldehydes

A number of chiral β-amino alcohols possessing a 3-indolylmethyl group have been synthesized from the alkaloid, (S)-abrine and elucidated for potency in the catalytic enantioselective ethylation of PhCHO with Et₂Zn. In general, the secondary amines 15a–d bearing a dialkylhydroxymethyl group induced (R)-1-phenyl-1-propanol, whereas 15e–g and 18 bearing a diarylhydroxymethyl group favored the (S)-enantiomer. In contrast, the β-tertiary amino alcohols 20b–d and 21 produced (R)-1-phenyl-1-propanol, regardless of the substituents at the carbon bearing the hydroxy group. Enantiomeric excess of 87.5% was obtained for (R)-1-phenyl-1-propanol using ligand 21 as the promoter. Eleven substituted benzaldehydes and naphthaldehydes were examined for enantioselective ethylation by using 21 and the chiral alcohols were obtained in 93–97% ee, except for o-BrC₆H₄CHO and p-Me₂NC₆H₄CHO. Excellent enantioselectivity was also observed in the ethylation of cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde (94.8% ee) and 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde (94.9% ee) by using catalytic 21. The anti 5/4/4-fused tricyclic TS I was proposed to rationalize the asymmetric induction. The diethylhydroxymethyl and N-2-t-butylethyl groups are believed to enforce the preference for the anti-TS(R) I and it results in high enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of (+)-1,3,5,7 -tetrakis[2-(1S,3S,5R,6S,8R,10R)-D3-trishomocubanylbuta-1,3-diynyl]adamantane : The first optically active organic molecule with t symmetry and of known absolute configuration

(-)-(1S,3S,5R,6S,8R,10R)-Trishomocubanethanoic acid (5) of known absolute configuration and absolute rotation was converted into (+)-(1S,3S,5S,6S,8R,10R)-2-bromoethynyl-D₃-trishomocubane (27) of C₃ symmetry. 1,3,5,7-Tetraethynyladamantane (22), with Td symmetry, was prepared from 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)adamantane(13). Coupling of the C₃-component 27 with the Td component 22 was successfully accomplished by Chodkiewicz and Cadiot's procedure providing (+)-1,3,5,7-tetrakis[2-(1S,3S,5R,6S,8R,10R)-D₃-trishomocubanylbuta-1,3-diynyl]adamantane(4) whose highest attainable static and time-averaged dynamic symmetry are T and (C₃)⁴ XXX T,respectively.     

Chiral solvating properties of (S)-1-benzyl-6-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione

In CDCl₃ solution, enantiopure (S)-1-benzyl-6-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione (S)-1a formed diastereomeric CO⋯H–N hydrogen-bonded associates with racemic (RS,Z)-1-benzyl-3-[(dimethylamino)methylidene]piperazine-2,5-diones 2a and 2b, (RS)-tert-butyl pyroglutamate (RS)-2c and (RS)-N-benzoylalanine methyl ester (RS)-2d. This resulted in splitting (doubling) of the characteristic signals in the ¹H NMR and ¹³C spectra of racemic compounds 2a–d in the presence of 1 equiv of (S)-1a. The formation of hydrogen-bonded dimers in CDCl₃ solution was studied by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR and confirmed by the intermolecular NOE observed between the hydrogen-bonded amide protons from each of the monomeric units, (S)-1a and 2a–c. On the other hand, a slightly different binding mode was proposed for association of (S)-1a with alaninamide (RS)-2d. Enantiomer compositions of known (weighed) mixtures of both enantiomers of tert-butyl pyroglutamate 2c were re-determined by ¹H NMR in the presence of (S)-1a in CDCl₃. The experimental values were in good agreement with the theoretical values, thus indicating the potential applicability of (S)-1a and related diketopiperazines as chiral solvating agents in NMR spectroscopy.     

The reaction of (Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid with carbodiimide reagents: Characterisation of the acid anhydride and urea products

Interaction of (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid [(S_p)-1] with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and N-ethyl-N′-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC) have been investigated in order to study the reacting system itself and to characterise side-products typically arising during the diimide-promoted condensation of acid (S_p)-1 with nucleophiles. The reaction between (S_p)-1 and DCC was found to give preferentially the respective urea derivative in the absence of a base, and (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride [(S_p,S_p)-3] when the same reaction was performed in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). With EDC, the preference for a reaction pathway was less pronounced: whereas the reaction without the base afforded exclusively the corresponding urea, that in the presence of DMAP yielded a mixture of the urea and anhydride (S_p,S_p)-3.     

Preparation of enantiopure 1,4-amino alcohols derived from [3]ferrocenophanes: use in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde

A series of enantiopure 1,4-amino alcohols with a [3]ferrocenophane backbone have been synthesized. Candida rugosa lipases were used in a key step allowing the resolution of amino alcohol (1S,R_p)-1. Two other amino alcohols (1S,2S,R_p)-2 and (1S,2S,R_p)-3 were prepared starting from (1S,R_p)-1. The new ligands have been used in the asymmetric ethylation of benzaldehyde by diethylzinc and gave good catalytic properties. One of these ligands was particularly efficient, while the yield of the catalytic test reaction was near to 100% and the enantiomeric excess was about 80%. All the ligands directed the catalytic process towards the same (1R)-1-phenylpropanol.     

Biomimetic total synthesis of colneleic acid and its function as a lipoxygenase inhibitor

A biomimetic synthesis of colneleic acid (2) from 9(S)-hydroperoxy-10(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (1) is reported. The lipoxygenase of potato which converts linoleic acid to 1 was found to be strongly inhibited by acid 2 (K_i = 8μM).     

Ligand design for dual enantioselective control in Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of R2Zn to cyclic enone

A new chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand derived from a natural α-aminoester has been designed and synthesized. The coupling of N-methylbenzimidazole with an α-chloroacetamide derivative, which was prepared from chloroacetyl chloride and (S)-serine methyl ester, gave the corresponding ester/amide-functionalized azolium compound 20. The reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one (17) with Et₂Zn in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)₂ and 20 produced (R)-3-ethylcyclohexanone (18) as a major product. In contrast, the enantioselective conjugate addition (ECA) reaction catalyzed by Cu(OTf)₂ under the influence of a hydroxy-amide-functionalized azolium compound 15, which was derived from (S)-tert-leucinol, produced (S)-18 in preference to (R)-18. A series of azolium salts were synthesized from (S)-serine esters, and the reaction conditions for the ECA reaction were optimized to produce (R)-18 with 69% ee. The best results were obtained in the case of the reaction of 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (34) with Et₂Zn catalyzed by Cu(OTf)₂ in combination with azolium compounds. When the reaction of 34 with Et₂Zn was carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)₂ and 20, (S)-3-ethyl-4,4-dimethylcyclohexanone (35) was obtained with 97% ee, whereas the ECA reaction under the influence of hydroxy-amide-functionalized azolium 15 afforded (R)-35 with >99% ee. In this manner, the reversal of enantioselectivity was achieved by controlling the structure of chiral ligands.     

P-stereogenic wide bite angle diphosphine ligands

Two modular synthetic approaches for the preparation of novel wide bite angle diphosphine ligands containing stereogenic P-atoms have been developed, leading to compounds (S,S)-2,2′-bis(methylphenylphosphino)diphenyl ether (L1) and (S,S)-2,2′-bis(ferrocenylphenylphosphino)diphenyl ether (L2) in very good diastereomeric ratios. Both protocols involve diphenyl ether as backbone and (2R_P,4S_C,5R_C)-(+)-3,4-dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine borane (R_P)-5 as initial auxiliary to induce chirality at phosphorus. The absolute configuration of intermediates (S,S)-9-(BH₃)₂ and (R,R)-10-(BH₃)₂ as well as the ligands (S,S)-L1-BH3 and (S,S)-L2 was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Catalysis of hydrosilylation: XI. Rhodium(I)-siloxyalkylphosphine complexes; synthesis,characteristics and catalytic activity

Rhodium(I) complexes with 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) and disiloxydiphosphines {O[Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)_nPPh₂]₂ where n = 1–3; (B-1, B-2, B-3, respectively)}; and/or with trisiloxytriphosphine Ph₂P(CH₂)₃(CH₃)Si[OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂PPh₃]₂ (C-2) were synthesized. Their composition and structure were determined using elemental analysis, molecular weight measurements and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H NMR and vis) methods, and were then compared with the corresponding data for RuCl(COD)PPh₃ (A) and RhCl(COD)₂ (D). The analytical and physico-chemical data all confirm the square planar geometry of the rhodium siloxyphosphine (the same as for rhodium triphenylphosphine) complexes with the general formula [(COD)RhCl(PPh₂)(CH₂)_n]_mZ where m = 2 and Z = (CH₃)₂SiOSi(CH₃)₂ or m = 3 and Z = (CH₃)₂SiOSi(CH₃)OSi(CH₃)₂. The structure is independent of the type of phosphine ligand, and the molar ratio of Rh:P is always 1:1. Catalytic activity of the complexes prepared was tested in the hydrosilylation of 1-hexene by triethoxysilane which showed a slight decrease in turnover number (A–C) compared with Wilkinson's catalyst (E) but the activation energies for the rhodium-siloxyphosphine complexes (B and C) are higher than those for the rhodium phosphine complexes (A and E).