Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by C2-symmetric chiral diols

Optically pure C₂-symmetric diols have been synthesized with moderate yields in a straightforward manner, and are used as catalysts in the enantioselective alkylation of aromatic aldehydes with diethylzinc. The addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde and sterically hindered 1-naphthaldehyde was achieved with excellent enantioselectivities (97–99% ee) under catalysis with (1R,2R)-1,2-bis(3,5-dibromophenyl)-ethane-1,2-diol and (1R,2R)-1,2-bis(3,5-diphenylphenyl)-ethane-1,2-diol.     

The first catalytic asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehyde promoted by chiral thiourea

A series of C₂-symmetric and asymmetric chiral thiourea derivatives were synthesized from commercial L-phenylalanine.All of the new compounds have been fully characterized by IR,¹H NMR,¹³C NMR,MS spectra and elemental analyses.The chiral thioureas were used as chiral ligands in the catalytic enantioselective ethylation of aldehydes with diethylzinc,the corresponding sec-alcohols were gained with excellent enantioselectivities（up to 87.1%ee） and high yields（up to 76.7%） after the conditions were optimized.     

A novel and efficient synthesis of chiral C2-symmetric 1,4-diamines

A novel and efficient method for synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-C₂-symmetric 1,4-diamines was established. The key steps are a combination of Pinacol Coupling and Corey-Winter olefination.     

Synthesis and structure of C2-symmetric N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium

The first 9- and 11-membered cis and trans C₂-symmetric benzimidazol-2-ylidene palladium(II) complexes based on a trans-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxalane backbone were synthesised and the configuration of the complexes was elucidated via NMR and X-ray crystallography.     

Asymmetric addition of KCN and Ac2O to aldehydes catalyzed by recyclable polymeric salen-Ti(IV) complexes

Polymeric salen-Ti(IV) complexes were employed in the enantioselective O-acetyl cyanation of aldehydes with KCN and Ac₂O. The polymeric catalysts with appropriate crosslinking degree exhibited good activities and enantioselectivities, up to 94% yield and 91% ee were obtained at −20 °C with 1 mol % of catalyst (based on bimetallic catalytic unit). Moreover, the crosslinked polymeric catalyst could be easily recovered and reused for six consecutive runs without obvious decrease in activity and enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of chiral sulfinamido-sulfonamides and their evaluation as ligands for the enantioselective ethylation of aldehydes

A family of chiral sulfinamido-sulfonamide ligands have been synthesized from sulfinimines and has been evaluated as ligands for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes with Ti(OⁱPr)₄. The structure of these diamino compounds has been systematically modified to optimize the results.     

A practical, solvent free, one-pot synthesis of C2-symmetrical secondary amines

A novel one-pot reductive amination of ketones using the combination Ti(OⁱPr)₄/H₂/Pd-C is reported. This practical procedure does not require any solvent, and affords C₂-symmetrical secondary amines in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Regioselective cleavage of the bis-benzylidene acetal of d-mannitol under oxidative and reductive conditions: a new approach to C2-symmetric chiral ligands

A highly regioselective oxidative cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was carried out using NBS and the resultant product was readily converted to the C₂-symmetric chiral ligand, (R,R)-3,4-dihydroxy-1,5-hexadiene. On the other hand, reductive cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was achieved in a highly regioselective manner using BF₃·OEt₂ and Et₃SiH to give a highly functionalized benzyl ether, which was converted to a synthetically useful C₂-symmetric bis-amino alcohol derivative.     

Copper(II)-containing C2-symmetric bistetracarboline amides in enantioselective Henry reactions

A series of new C₂-symmetric chiral diamides were synthesized from l-tryptophan and used as chiral ligands chelated with Cu(II) in enantioselective Henry reactions. Ligand 4a with CuCl₂·2H₂O (5%) showed effective catalytic efficiency in Henry reaction. High yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%) were achieved for both aromatic and aliphatic aldehyde substrates.     

C2-Symmetric bis-thioglycosides as new ligands for palladium-catalyzed allylic substitutions

A new divergent design for the synthesis of optically pure bis-thioglycoside type I is reported. In only two steps a common chiral intermediate with up to eight free alcohols: two primary and six secondary is obtained. From this common intermediate a large number of ligands can be synthesized. A positional scanning like strategy has permitted the rapid discovery of an efficient catalyst for the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of malonate. Dynamic NMR spectroscopy of a Pd(II) complex has shown that there is an efficient stereochemical control of the sulfur configuration upon coordination to the palladium.     

Novel C2-symmetric chiral 18-crown-6 derivatives with two aromatic sidearms as chiral NMR discriminating agents

Novel C₂-symmetric chiral 18-crown-6 derivatives with two aromatic sidearms 2-4 were prepared, and their enantiomeric recognition abilities as chiral NMR discriminating agents towards primary ammonium salts were examined. Among these chiral crown ethers, the most effective enantiomeric discrimination of racemic ammonium salts in the ¹H NMR spectra was attained by the derivative with two pyrenylmethyl sidearms.     

C2-symmetrical bis(camphorsulfonamides) as chiral ligands for enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde

Purpose of the research was to determine the activity of chiral bis(sulfonamide) ligands derived from camphor in the addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Chiral bis(ketosulfonamides) and bis(hydroxysulfonamides), have been synthesized in a reaction of diamines with camphorsulfonic acid chloride. Their activity in a reaction of asymmetric addition of dialkylzinc to benzaldehyde in a presence of titanium(IV) tetraisopropoxide was determined. The bis(ketosulfonamide) ligands reveal low enantioselectivity, with the ee% not exceeding 12%. The bis(hydroxysulfonamides) reveal much higher asymmetric induction in the investigated ZnEt₂ addition. The best enantiomeric excess (62%) has been observed for bis(hydroxysulfonamide) obtained from 1,3-diaminepropane. The yields of the reaction obtained after 18 h are 92–96%. Crystal structures have been solved for bis(ketosulfonamide) ligands obtained from diamines based on C₂ to C₄ chain. The (2R) configuration in the rings systems of bis(hydroxysulfonamide) containing the C₃ bridge was also determined by the crystal structure analysis. The sulfonamides have been characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR.     

Facile and efficient synthesis of C2-symmetrical 1,3,5-triazine polycarboxylate ligands under microwave irradiation

A rapid and efficient method for preparation of C₂-symmetrical 1,3,5-triazine polycarboxylate ligands was developed. The reactions included either selective mono- or di-substitution of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine with various nucleophiles containing carboxyl group(s), followed by nucleophilic displacement of the remained chloride(s) in aqueous media under microwave irradiation. Novel C₂-symmetrical tripodal ligands were afforded in good yields and purities under short reaction time with simple work-up, which are potentially useful as structural directing units in metal-organic frameworks.     

Synthesis of chiral vicinal C2 symmetric and unsymmetric bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine by aminolysis of N-tosylaziridines

The ring opening of N-tosylaziridines with aliphatic amines can be efficiently catalyzed by lithium perchlorate to provide derivatives of the trans-1,2-diamine in high yields. The reaction was used in desymmetrization of several cyclic N-tosylaziridines using chiral amines. Using this strategy, an efficient synthesis of chiral vicinal C₂ symmetric bis(sulfonamide) and unsymmetrical bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine was developed.     

An expedient synthesis of 3-alkylideneoxindoles by Ti(OPr)4/pyridine-mediated Knoevenagel condensation

3-Alkylideneoxindoles have been prepared in excellent yields from oxindole and carbonyl compounds via an in situ generated titanium enolate of oxindole. (Z)-3-Alkylideneoxindoles could be synthesized selectively as major products from unsymmetrical ketones.     

Kinetic studies on the syndiotactic propylene polymerization catalyzed over iPr(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl2

Kinetic studies on the syndiospecific polymerizations of propylene with iPr(Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane (MAO) were performed at 20, 40 and 70 °C and at 5 atm with various Al/Zr molar ratios. The average polymerization activity for 60 min decreased, and the time to reach a maximum activity (t_max) decreased as Al/Zr molar ratio increased. However, at Al/Zr molar ratio of 10,000, catalytic activity decreased rapidly and became the smallest among any other Al/Zr molar ratios after 20 min of polymerization. At higher Al/Zr molar ratio, methylation and cationization progress rapidly, but its polymerization rate decayed quickly due to strong interaction between MAO and metallocene, resulting in less active species. Regardless of change in polymerization temperature, t_max was maintained around 15 min. Stereoregularity was strongly dependent on the polymerization temperature, and active site isomerization was dominant source for stereoirregularity, and it was strongly influenced by polymerization temperature.     

Efficient synthesis of chiral C2-symmetric diamines via allylboration of bis-N,N′-metallodiimines

An enantioselective synthesis of C₂-symmetric bis-homoallylic aromatic and heteroaromatic diamines in 54-89% yields, in 73-94% de and ?98% ee has been achieved via the allylboration of the corresponding N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)dialdimines and N,N′-bis(diisobutylalumino)dialdimines with B-allyldiisopinocampheylborane in the presence of methanol, followed by alkaline hydrogen peroxide workup. One-pot synthesis of stable N,N′-bis(benzaldimine-triethylborane) complexes and subsequent allylboration to afford benzene diamines is also described.     

Silver nitrate-catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids by H2O2

A variety of aromatic, aliphatic and conjugated aldehydes were converted to the corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives with 30% H₂O₂ as the oxidant in the presence of catalytic amounts of AgNO₃. The method described has wide range of applicabilities, does not involve cumbersome work-up, exhibits chemoselectivity and proceeds under mild reaction conditions, and the resulting products are obtained in good yields within reasonable time.     

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated dioxanes, dioxolanes and dioxepanes by trans-acetalisation of dimethylacetals with meso or C2-symmetrical 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-diols

Several o-dibenzylic diols were prepared reacting organometallics with o-phthalaldehyde at room temperature in ether. The identity of the meso and C₂-symmetrical (d,l) isomers as well as their ratio were determined by chiral gas chromatography. The meso and C₂ (racemic) stereoisomeric diols were easily separated by flash chromatography on silica gel. A set of 18 α,β-unsaturated acetals were then prepared reacting those, as well as commercially available 1,2, 1,3 and 1,4 diols, with the corresponding methylacetals in acidic medium. A trans-acetalisation procedure adapted to the cases of fragile allylic alcohols or unfavorable 1,6 diols-derived dioxonanes based on a Dean-Stark trapping of methanol was also employed.     

Bi2O3-catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes with t-BuOOH

A variety of aromatic, aliphatic and conjugated aldehydes were transformed to the corresponding carboxylic acids with 70% t-BuOOH solution (water) in the presence of catalytic amounts of Bi₂O₃. This method possesses a wide range of capabilities, does not involve cumbersome work-up, exhibits chemoselectivity and proceeds under mild conditions. The resulting products are obtained in good yields within reasonable time. The overall method is green.