Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with Enantiomerically Pure Catalysts and Chiral Non‐Racemic Substrates: A New Approach to Catalyst‐Based Regiocontrol,Preliminary Communication

Chiral, enantiomerically pure Pd‐catalysts were used to control the regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack in allylic substitutions with optically active 1,3‐disubstituted allyl acetates (Schemes 4 – 6). In contrast to reactions with achiral catalysts, where the regioselectivity is determined by the steric and electronic effects of the allylic substituents, chiral catalysts allow selective preparation of either one of the two regioisomeric products, depending on which enantiomer of the catalyst is employed. It is not necessary to start from an enantiomerically pure substrate, because the major and minor enantiomers are converted to different regioisomers (not to enantiomeric products; see Scheme 3), resulting in products of very high ee, even when the starting material is only of moderate enantiomer purity.     

Two-component chiral phase transfer catalysts: enantioselective esterification of an N-acylated amino acid

[see reaction]. The first example of a two-component chiral phase transfer catalyst is described which, operating in a biphasic solvent system, preferentially esterifies one enantiomer of a racemic N-acylated amino acid. The two-component catalyst is comprised of an achiral quaternary ammonium ion and a proline-derived chiral selector initially developed for the liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers.     

Structure–property relationship study of the HPLC enantioselective retention of neuroprotective 7‐[(1‐alkylpiperidin‐3‐yl)methoxy]coumarin derivatives on an amylose‐based chiral stationary phase

The enantiomer separation of a number of racemic 7‐[(1‐alkylpiperidin‐3‐yl)methoxy]coumarin derivatives, some of which show outstanding in vitro multitarget neuroprotective activities, was successfully achieved on a polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phase, bearing amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) as a chiral selector, in normal polar mode (methanol and acetonitrile as the mobile phases). The majority of the screened selectands, especially those bearing 1‐(3‐X‐benzyl)piperidin‐3‐yl moieties, showed baseline enantiomer separations, and compound 8 (X = NO₂) was the best resolved (α = 2.01; R_S = 4.27). Linear free energy relationships, usefully complemented by molecular docking calculations, have the key role in enantioselective retention of aromatic interactions between π‐donor moieties in the chiral selector and π‐acceptor moieties in selectand, strengthened by hydrogen bond interaction between a hydrogen bond donor in the chiral selector and the hydrogen bond acceptor group(s) in the selectand. Statistically, reliable equations highlighted the importance of the substituent's size and substitution pattern (meta better than para) to affect the enantiorecognition of the title compounds. The chromatographic data support the scalability of the optimized experimental conditions for preparative purposes.     

Chromium‐Mediated Dearomatization: Application to the Synthesis of Racemic 15‐Acetoxytubipofuran and Asymmetric Synthesis of Both Enantiomers

An efficient dearomatization process of [Cr(arene)(CO)₃] complexes initiated by a nucleophilic acetaldehyde equivalent is detailed. It generates in a one‐pot reaction three C? C bonds and two stereogenic centers. This process allowed a rapid assembly of a cis‐decalin ring system incorporating a homoannular diene unit in just two steps starting from aromatic precursors (Scheme 2). The method was applied to the total synthesis of the eudesmane‐type marine furanosesquiterpene (±)‐15‐acetoxytubipofuran ( 2 ). Two routes were successfully used to synthesize the γ‐lactone precursor of the furan ring. The key step in the first approach was a Pd‐catalyzed allylic substitution (Scheme 3), while in the second approach, an Eschenmoser–Claisen rearrangement was highly successful (Scheme 4). The Pd‐catalyzed allylic substitution could be directed to give either the (normal) product with overall retention as major diastereoisomer or the unusual product with inversion of configuration (see Table). For the synthesis of the (?)‐enantiomer (R,R)‐ 2 of 15‐acetoxytubipofuran, an enantioselective dearomatization in the presence of a chiral diether ligand was implemented (Scheme 7), while the (+)‐enantiomer (S,S)‐ 2 was obtained via a diastereoselective dearomatization of an arene‐bound chiral imine auxiliary (Scheme 8). Chiroptical data suggest that a revision of the previously assigned absolute configuration of the natural product is required.     

Synergetic mechanism and enantioseparation of aromatic β‐amino acids by biphasic chiral high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

A biphasic chiral recognition system based on chiral ligand exchange with Cu(II)‐N‐n‐dodecyl‐L‐proline and hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as an additive was developed to enantioseparate aromatic β‐amino acids by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. The biphasic chiral recognition system was established with an n‐butanol/water (1:1, v/v) solvent system by adding N‐n‐dodecyl‐L‐proline and Cu(II) ions to the organic phase and hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin to the aqueous phase. Several separation parameters, such as temperature, pH value, and chiral selector concentration, were systematically investigated by enantioselective liquid–liquid extraction. Under the optimal separation conditions, 54.5 mg of (R,S)‐β‐phenylalanine and 74.3 mg of (R,S)‐β‐3,4‐dimethoxyphenylalanine were baseline enantioseparated. More importantly, the synergistic enantiorecognition mechanism, based on the Cu(II)‐N‐n‐dodecyl‐L‐proline and hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, was discussed for the first time.     

Direct chiral resolution of underivatized amino acids on a stationary phase dynamically modified with the ion‐exchanger Nτ‐decyl‐l‐spinacine

Increasing attention has been devoted in the last decades to chiral chromatography, principally to high‐performance liquid chromatography techniques using a chiral stationary phase. Many chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography columns are commercially available, but, unfortunately, they are most often rather expensive. A cheap alternative to the commercial chiral columns is the dynamic‐coating procedure of a standard achiral stationary phase with a chiral selector containing both a chiral domain and a chain or a group able to tightly (but noncovalently) bind the achiral support. This is the case of N^τ‐decyl‐l ‐spinacine, already successfully employed to dynamically cover a reversed‐phase column to separate racemic mixtures of amino acids through the ligand‐exchange mechanism. In the present work, the same chiral selector is employed to separate racemic mixtures of amino acids and oligopeptides, in the absence of metal ions: no coordination complex is formed, but only electrostatic and weak nonbonding interactions between the chiral phase and the analytes are responsible for the observed enantioselectivity. The new method is simpler than the previous one, very effective in the case of aromatic amino acids and oligopeptides and also suitable for preparative purposes.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of a Polyfunctionalized Tetracycle Related to Pentacyclic Triterpenes by Using an Anionic Cycloaddition Reaction

Herein we report a convergent enantioselective synthesis of a polyfunctionalized ABCD tetracycle by using an anionic cycloaddition reaction between a chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate (see 6 ), derived from the (?)‐Weiland–Mischer ketone, and an achiral cyclohexenone (see 5 ) adequately functionalized to furnish the ring A of pentacyclic triterpenes (Scheme 5). The chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate forms ring B upon cycloaddition with the achiral cyclohexenone to yield an ABCD tetracycle with a cis‐anti‐trans‐anti‐trans configuration (see 4 ). Further transformations on this adduct allowed reduction of the angular aldehyde function at C(10) to a Me group (→ 17 ) and introduction of an unsaturation at C(5)? C(6) by using the ketone function at C(7) (→ 3 ; Scheme 6).     

Enantioseparation of selected chiral sulfoxides in high‐performance liquid chromatography with polysaccharide‐based chiral selectors in polar organic mobile phases with emphasis on enantiomer elution order

The separation of the enantiomers of 17 chiral sulfoxides was studied on polysaccharide‐based chiral columns in polar organic mobile phases. Enantiomer elution order (EEO) was the primary objective in this study. Two of the six chiral columns, especially those based on amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) and cellulose tris(4‐chloro‐3‐methylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Cellulose‐4) proved to be most successful in the separation of the enantiomers of the studied sulfoxides. Interesting examples of EEO reversal were observed depending on the chiral selector or the composition of the mobile phase. For instance, the R‐(+) enantiomer of lansoprazole eluted before the S‐(?) enantiomer on Lux Cellulose‐1 in both methanol or ethanol as the mobile phase, while the elution order was opposite in the same eluents on amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) with the S‐(?) enantiomer eluting before the R‐(+) enantiomer. The R‐(+) enantiomer of omeprazole eluted first on Lux Amylose‐2 in methanol but it was second when acetonitrile was used as the mobile phase with the same chiral selector. Several other examples of reversal in EEO were observed in this study. An interesting example of the separation of four stereoisomers of phenaminophos sulfoxide containing chiral sulfur and phosphor atoms is also reported here.     

Purification of Enantiomeric Mixtures in Enantioselective Synthesis: Overlooked Errors and Scientific Basis of Separation in Achiral Environment

The syntheses of optically active compounds (whether of pharmaceutical or synthetic importance, or as promising candidates as chiral ligands and auxiliaries in asymmetric syntheses) result in the formation of a mixture of products with one enantiomer predominating. Usually, the practice is to use standard open‐column chromatography for the first purification step in an enantioselective synthesis; the workup of the reaction product by crystallization or achiral chromatography would mask the real efficiency of the enantioselective methodology, since enantiomeric ratio (er) of the product may change by any of these methods. Most of the synthetic organic chemists are aware of the influence of crystallization on the er value. Majority of synthetic organic chemists are, however, not aware, while employing standard chromatography, that there may be an increase or decrease of er value. In other words, an undesired change in er goes unnoticed when such a mixture of enantiomers is isolated by chromatography on an achiral‐phase because of the prevalent concept of basic stereochemistry. Such unnoticed errors in enantioselective reactions may lead to misinterpretations of the enantioselective outcome of the synthesis. The scientific issue is, what is the difference between a racemic and nonracemic mixture in achiral environment (e.g., achiral‐phase chromatography) that leads to enantiomeric enrichment, amounting to separation of one particular enantiomer? There are sporadic reports on enantiomer separation of nonracemic mixtures in an achiral environment particularly from the scientists working in analytical chemistry. To cover/discuss all these reports is out of the scope of this article. The aim of the present report is to draw attention to the following points: i) How should the synthetic organic chemists and analytical chemists take care of the unexpected separation of enantiomers from nonracemic mixtures in a totally achiral environment? ii) What are the technical terms used in recent literature? iii) The requirement of revisiting definitions/terms (introduced in recent years, in particular) to describe such separations of enantiomers in light of prevalent scientific/chemical terminology used in the ‘language of chemistry’, the text book concept, and IUPAC background. iv) To propose logical scientific terminology or phrases for explaining the possible mechanism of separation under these conditions. v) To discuss briefly the concept/possibile phenomenon responsible for these enantioselective effects. It is also attempted to explain the effect of change of physical parameters influencing the separation from nonracemic mixture in achiral‐phase chromatography.     

Chiral ligand exchange countercurrent chromatography: Enantioseparation of amino acids

This work deals with the enantioseparation of α‐amino acids by chiral ligand exchange high‐speed countercurrent chromatography using N‐n‐dodecyl‐l ‐hydroxyproline as a chiral ligand and copper(II) as a transition metal ion. A biphasic solvent system composed of n‐hexane/n‐butanol/aqueous phase with different volume ratios was selected for each α‐amino acid. The enantioseparation conditions were optimized by enantioselective liquid–liquid extractions, in which the main influence factors, including type of chiral ligand, concentration of chiral ligand and transition metal ion, separation temperature, and pH of the aqueous phase, were investigated for racemic phenylalanine. Altogether, we tried to enantioseparate 15 racemic α‐amino acids by the analytical countercurrent chromatography, of which only five of them could be successfully enantioseparated. Different elution sequence for phenylalanine enantiomer was observed compared with traditional liquid chromatography and the proposed interactions between chiral ligand, transition metal ion (Cu²⁺), and enantiomer are discussed.     

Synthesis of chiral iridium complexes immobilized on amphiphilic polymers and their application to asymmetric catalysis

This article details the enantioselective catalytic performance of crosslinked, polymer immobilized, Ir‐based, chiral complexes for transfer hydrogenation of cyclic imines to chiral amines. Polymerization of the achiral vinyl monomer, divinylbenzene, and a polymerizable chiral 1,2‐diamine monosulfonamide ligand followed by complexation with [IrCl₂Cp*]₂ affords the crosslinked polymeric chiral complex, which can be successfully applied to asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of cyclic imines. Polymeric catalysts prepared from amphiphilic achiral monomers have high catalytic activity in the reaction and can be used both in organic solvents and water to give chiral cyclic amines with a high level of enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). The asymmetric reaction allows for reuse of the heterogeneous catalyst without any loss in activity or enantioselectivity over several runs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3037–3044     

C2-Symmetric Bicyclic Diols as Chiral Ligands in the titanate-catalyzed enantioselective addition of alkylzinc reagents to aldehydes

Enantiomerically pure C₂-symmetric 1,4-diols embodying bicyclic C-frameworks were synthesized by means of asymmetric carbo-Diels-Alder reactions as key steps (Scheme 1). They were investigated as chiral ligands in the enantioselective addition of ZnEt₂ to aromatic aldehydes. In the presence of 20–40 mol-% of the titanates formed from these diols and [Ti(i-PrO)₄] at ?78°, the respective 1-arylpropanols were obtained with enantiomer ratios up to 93:7 (Scheme 2, Table).     

Enantioselective Synthesis of N,S‐Acetals by an Oxidative Pummerer‐Type Transformation using Phase‐Transfer Catalysis

Reported is the first enantioselective oxidative Pummerer‐type transformation using phase‐transfer catalysis to deliver enantioenriched sulfur‐bearing heterocycles. This reaction includes the direct oxidation of sulfides to a thionium intermediate, followed by an asymmetric intramolecular nucleophilic addition to form chiral cyclic N,S‐acetals with moderate to high enantioselectivites. Deuterium‐labelling experiments were performed to identify the stereodiscrimination step of this process. Further analysis of the reaction transition states, by means of multidimensional correlations and DFT calculations, highlight the existence of a set of weak noncovalent interactions between the catalyst and substrate that govern the enantioselectivity of the reaction.     

Enantioselective Catalysis of Photochemical Reactions

The nature of the excited state renders the development of chiral catalysts for enantioselective photochemical reactions a considerable challenge. The absorption of a 400 nm photon corresponds to an energy uptake of approximately 300 kJ mol^?1. Given the large distance to the ground state, innovative concepts are required to open reaction pathways that selectively lead to a single enantiomer of the desired product. This Review outlines the two major concepts of homogenously catalyzed enantioselective processes. The first part deals with chiral photocatalysts, which intervene in the photochemical key step and induce an asymmetric induction in this step. In the second part, reactions are presented in which the photochemical excitation is mediated by an achiral photocatalyst and the transfer of chirality is ensured by a second chiral catalyst (dual catalysis).     

Catalytic Enantioselective Intramolecular C(sp3)−H Amination of 2‐Azidoacetamides

An enantioselective ring‐closing C(sp³)?H amination of 2‐azidoacetamides is catalyzed by a chiral‐at‐metal ruthenium complex and provides chiral imidazolidin‐4‐ones in 31–95 % yield, with enantioselectivities of up to 95 % ee, and at catalyst loadings down to 0.1 mol % (turnover number (TON)=740). To our knowledge, this is the first example of a highly enantioselective C(sp³)?H amination with aliphatic azides. Mechanistic experiments reveal the importance of the amide group, which presumably enables initial bidentate coordination of the 2‐azidoacetamides to the catalyst. DFT calculations show that the transition state leading to the major enantiomer features a better steric fit and favorable π–π stacking between the substrate and the catalyst framework.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Inter‐ and Intramolecular Cyclopropanations with Diazo Compounds and Phenyliodonium Ylides: Synthesis and Chiral Analysis

Different classes of cyclopropanes derived from Meldrum's acid (=2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione; 4 ), dimethyl malonate ( 5 ), 2‐diazo‐3‐(silyloxy)but‐3‐enoate 16 , 2‐diazo‐3,3,3‐trifluoropropanoate 18 , diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate 24a , and diazo(dimethylphenylsilyl)acetate 24b were prepared via dirhodium(II)‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropanation of a set of olefins 3 (Schemes 1 and 4–6). The reactions proceeded with either diazo‐free phenyliodonium ylides or diazo compounds affording the desired cyclopropane derivatives in either racemic or enantiomer‐enriched forms. The intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetates 28, 30 , and 33 were carried out in the presence of the chiral dirhodium(II) catalyst [Rh₂{(S)‐nttl)₄}] ( 9 ) in toluene to afford the corresponding cyclopropane derivatives 29, 31 and 34 with up to 37% ee (Scheme 7). An efficient enantioselective chiral separation method based on enantioselective GC and HPLC was developed. The method provides information about the chemical yields of the cyclopropane derivatives, enantioselectivity, substrate specifity, and catalytic activity of the chiral catalysts used in the inter‐ and intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions and avoids time‐consuming workup procedures.     

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Alcohols by the Enantioselective Esterification Using Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic Anhydride (3‐PCA) with Chiral Acyl‐Transfer Catalysts

Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic anhydride (3‐PCA) was found to function as an efficient coupling reagent for the preparation of carboxylic esters from various carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions by a simple experimental procedure. This novel condensation reagent 3‐PCA was applicable not only for the synthesis of achiral carboxylic esters catalyzed by 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) but also for the production of chiral carboxylic esters by the combination of chiral nucleophilic catalyst, such as tetramisole (=2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐phenylimidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazole) derivatives. An efficient kinetic resolution of racemic benzylic alcohols with achiral carboxylic acids was achieved by using 3‐PCA in the presence of (R)‐benzotetramisole ((R)‐BTM), and a variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced with high enantiomeric excesses by this new chiral induction system without using a tertiary amine.     

Enantioselective Partitioning of Racemic Ibuprofen in a Biphasic Recognition Chiral Extraction System

Enantioselective partitioning of ibuprofen enantiomers in a biphasic recognition chiral extraction system was studied. A combination of hydrophobic L‐isobutyl tartrate in organic phase and hydrophilic β‐cyclodextrin derivative in aqueous phase is necessary to establish a biphasic recognition chiral extraction system. The studies performed involve an enantioselective extraction in a biphasic system, where ibuprofen enantiomers form four complexes with the β‐cyclodextrin derivative in aqueous phase and the D(L)‐isobutyl tartrate in organic phase, respectively. In these biphasic resolutions, the types and the concentrations of the extractants, pH and temperature all exert a considerable influence on the biphasic recognition process. Good enantioselectivities for ibuprofen enantiomers were obtained at pH≦2.5 and a ratio of 2:1 of [L‐isobutyl tartrate] to [HP‐β‐CD]. Biphasic recognition chiral extraction is of strong chiral separation ability, and may be very helpful to optimize the extraction systems and realize the large‐scale production of enantiomers.     

Enantioseparation of aromatic amino acids using CEC monolith with novel chiral selector,N‐methacryloyl‐l‐histidine methyl ester

A new type of polymethacrylate‐based monolithic column with chiral stationary phase was prepared for the enantioseparation of aromatic amino acids, namely d ,l ‐phenylalanine, d ,l ‐tyrosine, and d ,l ‐tryptophan by CEC. The monolithic column was prepared by in situ polymerization of butyl methacrylate (BMA), N‐methacryloyl‐l ‐histidine methyl ester (MAH), and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of porogens. The porogen mixture included DMF and phosphate buffer. MAH was used as a chiral selector. FTIR spectrum of the polymethacrylate‐based monolith showed that MAH was incorporated into the polymeric structure via in situ polymerization. Some experimental parameters including pH, concentration of the mobile phase, and MAH concentration with regard to the chiral CEC separation were investigated. Single enantiomers and enantiomer mixtures of the amino acids were separately injected into the monolithic column. It was observed that l ‐enantiomers of aromatic amino acids migrated before d ‐enantiomers. The reversal enantiomer migration order for tryptophan was observed upon changing of pH. Using the chiral monolithic column (100 μm id and 375 μm od), the best chiral separation was performed in 35:65% ACN/phosphate buffer (pH 8.0, 10 mM) with an applied voltage of 12 kV in CEC. SEM images showed that the chiral monolithic column has a continuous polymeric skeleton and large through‐pore structure.