Reversal of Regioselectivity of Nitrone Cycloadditions by Lewis Acids

The regio‐ and stereoselectivity of cycloadditions of the nitrone 1a and the chiral, sugar‐derived nitrones 13a and 13b with 3‐(prop‐2‐enoyl)‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one ( 2 ) depends on the nature of the Lewis acid catalyst used. Addition of Lewis acid reverses the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition, and improves the anti‐diastereoselectivity in the case of chiral nitrones. The sterically favored isoxazolidin‐5‐yl‐substituted adducts 3, 4 , and 14 – 17 are produced as the major products in the absence of Lewis acid, while the electronically favored regioisomers with isoxazolidin‐4‐yl substituents ( 5, 6 , and 18 – 21 , respectively) are obtained as major products in the [Ti(OⁱPr)₂Cl₂] catalyzed reactions. The reactions of nitrone 13b with 2 in the presence of other Lewis acids such as ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, ZnI₂ and MgI₂/I₂ gave both regioisomeric pairs of the diastereoisomers, favoring the 4‐substituted congeners. The diastereoisomeric isoxazolidines 3a – 6a were reduced with NaBH₄ in THF/H₂O with subsequent desilylation to yield the separable diols 9 – 12 . Reduction of the diastereoisomeric isoxazolidines 19a and 18a afforded the chiral alcohols 23 and 22 , the latter of which was analyzed by X‐ray crystallography.     

Kinetic Analysis of the Divergence of Reaction Pathways in the Chiral Lewis Base Promoted Aldol Additions of Trichlorosilyl Enol Ethers: A Rapid‐Injection NMR Study

The aldol addition reaction of trichlorosilyl enol ethers and aldehydes with and without chiral Lewis base catalysts has been kinetically analyzed. The uncatalyzed reactions display classic first‐order dependence on each component. The reactions catalyzed by bulky chiral phosphoramide 5 were examined by ReactIR and exhibited first‐order dependence on the catalyst. To examine the kinetic behavior of the reaction catalyzed by phosphoramide 4 , a Rapid‐Injection (RI) NMR apparatus was constructed and employed to allow rapid in‐situ mixing and monitoring of the reaction course. The aldol addition catalyzed by 4 displayed second‐order dependence on phosphoramide, thus providing direct evidence that two catalyzed pathways (with complimentary stereochemical consequences) exist that depend on phosphoramide structure and concentration. Arrhenius activation parameters for all three reactions showed striking characteristics of negligible enthalpies and extremely high entropies of activation. Comparison of these values was precluded by the existence of complex preequilibria in the catalyzed process.     

Helix formation of poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives bearing amino groups at the meta position induced by optically active carboxylic acids

Two novel phenylacetylene derivatives bearing diethylaminomethyl groups at the meta position on phenyl groups [3‐(N,N‐diethylaminomethyl)phenyl]acetylene ( 1 ) and [3,5‐bis(N,N‐diethylaminomethyl)phenyl]acetylene ( 2 ) were synthesized and polymerized with [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ (nbd: norbornadiene). Both monomers gave highly cis–transoidal stereoregular polymers that exhibited an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV–visible region, probably because of a prevailing one‐handed helical conformation upon complexation with optically active carboxylic acids such as mandelic acid and lactic acid. The sign of the Cotton effects reflected the absolute configuration of the chiral acids. Therefore, these polymers can be used as a novel probe for determining the configuration of chiral acids. The polymers were stable in the presence of chiral acids in solution. The poly‐ 1 complexed with chiral acids exhibited a split‐type ICD, whereas the poly‐ 2 complexed with chiral acids showed a different, non‐split‐type ICD. The ICD pattern of the poly‐ 1 /chiral acids complexes dramatically changed with an increase in the concentration of the chiral acids, thus showing a non‐split‐type ICD similar to those of the poly‐ 2 /chiral acid complexes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3180–3189, 2001     

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3‐Disubstituted Cyclic Ketones by Enantioselective Conjugate Radical Additions

Enantioselective conjugate radical addition to 2‐acyloxymethyl cycloalkenones proceeds in high yield with outstanding diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity using chiral salen Lewis acids. The process provides access to 2,3‐disubstituted cycloalkanones, a structural motif present in natural products.     

Theoretical Studies on the Diastereoselectivity in the Lewis Acid Catalyzed Carbonyl?Ene Reaction: A Fundamental Role of Electrostatic Interaction

Lewis acids affect reactivity, selectivity, and mechanism in the carbonyl‐ene reaction. The diastereoselectivity in the glyoxylate‐ene reaction depends on Lewis acids. While the SnCl₄‐promoted reaction can be achieved with a high level of anti‐selectivity, the use of Al reagents leads to a high syn‐selectivity. The origin of the Lewis acid dependency of the diastereoselectivity in the carbonyl? ene reaction of (E)‐but‐2‐ene with glyoxylate was theoretically studied (HF/6‐31G*) from the point of view of differences and similarities between the ene and the Diels–Alder reactions. Though it has been widely accepted that the endo‐preference would be less obvious in the ene reaction than in the Diels–Alder reaction, our ab initio molecular studies showed that the electrostatic interaction between carbonyl O‐atom lone pair and cationic allylic central C‐atom of ene component exists in the Lewis acid‐promoted carbonyl–ene reaction to affect the transition‐state conformation. It is illustrated that such an electrostatic interaction is essential to control the exo/endo‐selectivity, which provides the diastereoselectivity of the product in the transition state of the Lewis acid promoted carbonyl? ene reaction.     

Minimally Competent Lewis Acid Catalysts: Indium(III) and Bismuth(III) Salts Produce Rhamnosides (=6‐Deoxymannosides) in High Yield and Purity

Glycosylation of decan‐1‐ol ( 2 ), (±)‐decan‐2‐ol ( 3 ), and (±)‐methyl 3‐hydroxydecanoate ( 4 ) with L ‐rhamnose peracetate 5 to produce rhamnosides (=6‐deoxymannosides) 6, 7 , and 8 in the presence of Lewis acids BF₃?Et₂O, Sc(OTf)₃, InBr₃, and Bi(OTf)₃ was studied (Table 1). While the strong Lewis acids BF₃?Et₂O and Sc(OTf)₃ were effective as glycosylation promoters, they had to be used in excess; however, glycosylation required careful control of reaction times and temperatures, and these Lewis acids produced impurities in addition to the desired glycosides. Enantiomerically pure rhamnosides (R)‐ 1 and (S)‐ 1 (Fig.) were obtained from L ‐rhamnose peracetate 5 and (±)‐benzyl 3‐hydroxydecanoate ( 9 ) via the diastereoisomeric rhamnosides 10 (Table 2; Scheme 3). The much weaker Lewis acids InBr₃ and Bi(OTfl)₃ produced purer products in high yield under a wider range of conditions (higher temperatures), and were effective glycosylation promoters even when used catalytically (<10% catalyst; Table 2). We refer to these Lewis acids as ‘minimally competent Lewis acids’ (cf. Scheme 4).     

A Novel Method for the Asymmetric Synthesis of α,β‐Diamino Acids by a Glucose‐Mediated Stereoselective Strecker Reaction

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of α,β‐diamino acids by using the 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐pivaloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl group (Piv₄Glc) as chiral auxiliary was developed (Table and Scheme). The reaction was promoted by CuBr?Me₂S as Lewis acid, and high yields and good diastereoselectivities were achieved.     

Lewis Acids as Mild and Effective Catalysts for the Synthesis of 3,5‐Bis[(hetero)arylidene]piperidin‐4‐ones

The aldol‐crotonic condensation reactions of N‐alkyl‐ and NH‐piperidin‐4‐one derivatives with (hetero)aromatic aldehydes promoted by Lewis acids or bases were examined. This comparative study has revealed three effective catalytic systems based on Lewis acids, i.e., LiClO₄ and MgBr₂ (in the presence of tertiary amine), and BF₃⋅Et₂O, for the synthesis of N‐alkyl‐substituted 3,5‐bis(heteroarylidene)piperidin‐4‐ones, including those bearing acid‐ or base‐labile groups both in the (hetero)aromatic groups and in the alkyl substituent at the N‐atom. The highest reaction rate was observed for LiClO₄‐mediated synthesis. Both MgBr₂‐ and LiClO₄‐mediated syntheses were inefficient in the case of NH‐piperidin‐4‐one, while BF₃⋅Et₂O provided the final compounds in high yields. This catalyst is especially advantageous as it allows simultaneous condensation and deprotection in the case of O‐protected piperidin‐4‐one.     

Chiral soluble polymers and microspheres for enantioselective crystallization

A series of chiral polymers based on poly(N‐acryl) amino acids was synthesized using a convergent synthetic approach. These chiral polymers have been used as chiral additives to induce enantioselective crystallization of racemic or conglomerate amino acids in solutions. These polymeric additives showed strong capabilities to enhance highly enantioselective resolution during the crystallization of amino acids. In addition, these polymers caused unusual modifications of amino acid crystal morphologies. Furthermore, spherical microparticles of those same chiral polymers were also shown active in similar chiral discriminations during amino acid crystallizations occurring on microparticle surfaces. Our study demonstrates the high potential of chiral polymers and microparticles to resolve amino acids throughout crystallization processes. High enantiomeric excesses in one targeted enantiomer of amino acids can also be maximized via time‐dependent kinetic control of crystallizations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3009–3017, 2006     

Polymer- and Dendrimer-Bound Ti-TADDOLates in Catalytic (and Stoichiometric) Enantioselective Reactions: Are pentacoordinate cationic Ti complexes the catalytically active species?

α,α,α′,α′-Tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanols (TADDOLs), containing styryl groups either at C(2) of the heterocyclic ring or in the α-position, were prepared in the usual way ( 18–22, 24, 25 ). These compounds were copolymerized with styrene and divinylbenzene in a suspension, yielding polymers ( 33–40 , Scheme 3) as beads with a rather uniform particle-size distribution (150–45 μm), swellable in common organic solvents. HOCH₂- and BrCH₂-substituted TADDOLs were also prepared and used for attachement to Merrifield resin or to dendritic molecules ( 23, 26–32 ). The TADDOL moieties in these materials are accessible to form Ti (and Al) complexes (Scheme 4) which can be used as polymer- or dendrimer-bound reagents (stoichiometric) or Lewis acids (catalytic). The reactions studied with these new chiral auxiliaries are: enantioselective nucleophilic additions to aldehydes (of R₂Zn and RTi(OCHMe₂)₃; Scheme 5, Table 1) and to ketones (of LiAlH₄, Table 2); enantioselective ring opening of meso-anhydrides (Scheme 6); [4+2] and [3+2] cycloadditions of 3-crotonyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one to cyclopentadiene and to (Z)-N-benzylidenephenylamine N-oxide ( → 48, 49 , Scheme 7, Tables 3, 4, and Fig. 5). The enantioselectivities reached with most of the polymer-bound or dendritic TADDOL ligands were comparable or identical to those observed with the soluble analogs. The activity of the polymer-bound Lewis acids was only slightly reduced as compared with that encountered under homogeneous conditions. Multiple use of the beads (up to 10 times), without decreased performance, has been demonstrated (Figs. 3 and 4). The poorer selectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction (Scheme 7a), induced by the polymer-bound Cl₂Ti-TADDOLate as compared to the soluble one, is taken as an opportunity to discuss the mechanism of this Lewis-acid catalysis, and to propose a cationic, trigonal-bipyramidal complex as the catalytically active species (Fig. 6). It is suggested that similar cations may be involved in other Ti-TADDOLate-mediated reactions as well.     

Lewis Acid‐Mediated Addition of Amino Acid‐Substituted α‐Allylsilanes to Aromatic Acetals

Unnatural amino acids extend the pharmacological formulator's toolkit. Strategies to prepare unnatural amino acid derivatives using Lewis acid‐activated allylsilane reactions are few. In this regard, we examined the utility of allylsilanes bearing an amino acid substituent in the reaction. Diastereoselective addition of methyl 2‐(N‐PG‐amino)‐3‐(trimethylsilyl)pent‐4‐enoate and methyl (E)‐2‐(N‐PG‐amino)‐3‐(trimethylsilyl)hex‐4‐enoate (PG=protecting group), 2 and 13 , respectively, to aromatic acetals in the presence of Lewis acids is described. Of those examined, TiCl₄ was found to be the most effective Lewis acid for promoting the addition. At least 1 equiv. of TiCl₄ was required to achieve high yields, whereas 2 equiv. of BF₃?OEt₂ were required for comparable outcomes. Excellent selectivity (>99% syn/anti) and high yield (up to 89%) were obtained with halo‐substituted aromatic acetals, while more electron‐rich electrophiles led to both lower yields and diastereoselectivities.     

Synthesis of Chiral Tetrasubstituted Azetidines from Donor–Acceptor Azetines via Asymmetric Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Imido‐Ylide [3+1]‐Cycloaddition with Metallo‐Enolcarbenes

The all‐cis stereoisomers of tetrasubstituted azetidine‐2‐carboxylic acids and derivatives that possess three chiral centers have been prepared in high yield and stereocontrol from silyl‐protected Z‐γ‐substituted enoldiazoacetates and imido‐sulfur ylides by asymmetric [3+1]‐cycloaddition using chiral sabox copper(I) catalysis followed by Pd/C catalytic hydrogenation. Hydrogenation of the chiral p‐methoxybenzyl azetine‐2‐carboxylates occurs with both hydrogen addition to the C=C bond and hydrogenolysis of the ester.     

Chiral Cinchona Alkaloid‐Thiourea Catalyzed Mannich Reaction for Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Amino Ketones Bearing Benzothiazol Moiety

Mannich reactions of imine with acetylacetone were effectively catalyzed by the modified chiral cinchona alkaloid‐derived thiourea. The reactions led to chiral β‐amino carbonyl compounds in high yields and good enantioselectivities. The study demonstrated for the first time that Mannich reactions of unmodified acetylacetone with heterocyclic imine derived from benzothiazole can be promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalyst.     

Quaternary Chiral β2,2‐Amino Acids with Pyridinium and Imidazolium Substituents

The reactions of cyclic sulfamidates as electrophiles with a variety of nitrogen‐containing aromatic heterocycle nucleophiles, such as pyridines, N‐alkylimidazoles and N‐methylbenzimidazol, was explored. In all cases, although the nucleophilic substitution reactions occurred on quaternary centres, elimination products were not detected. The inversion of configuration at this quaternary centre was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis and the enantiomeric excess of the reactions was checked by chiral HPLC. This synthetic approach allowed us to obtain a new family of chiral charged β^2,2‐amino acids, including a new bisamino acid that incorporates an imidazolium salt as a cross‐linker. In this context, the treatment of these chiral imidazolium salts with Ag₂O opens the way to new chiral N‐heterocyclic carbenes, which are important substrates in the fields of organometallic and organocatalytic chemistry. Additionally, we have done a thorough conformational analysis of these β‐amino acid derivatives, both in the solid state and in solution. The most important conformational feature of these acyclic systems is the rigidity of the N‐CH₂‐C‐N⁺ dihedral angle, which is essentially due to the gauche effect.     

Efficient Coupling Reactions of Arylalkynes and Aldehydes Leading to the Synthesis of Enones

Ionic liquids such as 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate (BmimOTs) and its 1‐ethyl analogue EmimOTs are novel effective and recyclable media for acid‐catalyzed coupling reactions of aromatic alkynes with aldehydes affording (E)‐enones (Scheme 1, Table) with simple recovery and easy workup due to the absence of volatile organic solvents. This transformation avoids the use of moisture‐sensitive and heavy‐metal Lewis acids.     

Ruthenium Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Diels–Alder Reactions: Reverse‐Face Selectivity for α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones

Acrolein, methacrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, 3‐methyl‐3‐en‐2‐one, and divinyl ketone were coordinated to a cationic cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) Lewis acid incorporating the electron‐poor bidentate BIPHOP–F ligand. Analysis by NOESY and ROESY NMR techniques allowed the determination of conformations of enals and enones present in solution in CD₂Cl₂. The results were compared to solid‐state structures and to the facial selectivities of catalytic asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions with cyclopentadiene. X‐Ray structures of four Ru‐enal and Ru‐enone complexes show the α,β‐unsaturated C=O compounds to adopt an anti‐s‐trans conformation. In solution, enals assume both anti‐s‐trans and anti‐s‐cis conformations. An additional conformation, syn‐s‐trans, is present in enone complexes. Enantioface selectivity in the cycloaddition reactions differs for enals and enones. Reaction products indicate enals to react exclusively in the anti‐s‐trans conformation, whereas with enones, the major product results from the syn‐s‐trans conformation. The alkene in s‐cis conformations, while present in solution, is shielded and cannot undergo cycloaddition. A syn‐s‐trans conformation is found in the solid state of the bulky 6,6‐dimethyl cyclohexanone‐Ru(II) complex. The X‐ray structure of divinyl ketone is unique in that the Ru(II) center binds the enone via a η² bond to one of the alkene moieties. In solution, coordination to Ru–C=O oxygen is adopted. A comparison of facial preference is also made to the corresponding indenyl Lewis acids.     

Facile Synthesis of Chiral Spirooxindole‐Based Isotetronic Acids and 5‐1H‐Pyrrol‐2‐ones through Cascade Reactions with Bifunctional Organocatalysts

Unprecedented organocatalyzed asymmetric cascade reactions have been developed for the facile synthesis of chiral spirooxindole‐based isotetronic acids and 5‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones.The asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions of α‐ketoesters to isatins and imines by using an acid–base bifunctional 6′‐OH cinchona alkaloid catalyst, followed by cyclization and enolization of the resulting adducts, gave chiral spiroisotetronic acids and 5‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones, respectively, in excellent optical purities (up to 98 % ee). FT‐IR analysis supported the existence of hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the 6′‐OH group of the cinchona catalyst and an isatin carbonyl group, an interaction that might be crucial for catalyst activity and stereocontrol.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Isotopomers of 1‐Alkanols by a ZACA–Cu‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Protocol

Chiral compounds arising from the replacement of hydrogen atoms by deuterium are very important in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Some of these chiral compounds have a non‐measurable specific rotation, owing to very small differences between the isotopomeric groups, and exhibit cryptochirality. This particular class of compounds is difficult to synthesize and characterize. Herein, we present a catalytic and highly enantioselective conversion of terminal alkenes to various β and more remote chiral isotopomers of 1‐alkanols, with ≥99 % enantiomeric excess (ee), by the Zr‐catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes (ZACA) and Cu‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions. ZACA‐in situ iodinolysis of allyl alcohol and ZACA‐in situ oxidation of TBS‐protected ω‐alkene‐1‐ols protocols were applied to the synthesis of both (R)‐ and (S)‐difunctional intermediates with 80–90 % ee. These intermediates were readily purified to provide enantiomerically pure (≥99 % ee) compounds by lipase‐catalyzed acetylation. These functionally rich intermediates serve as very useful synthons for the construction of various chiral isotopomers of 1‐alkanols in excellent enantiomeric purity (≥99 % ee) by introducing deuterium‐labeled groups by Cu‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions without epimerization.     

Zur Kenntnis cyclischer Acylale, 11. Mitt.: Die Reaktion mit Diazocyclopentadien

Zusammenfassung DieLewis-Säuren I und II gehen ebenso wie Tetracyanäthylen mit einem geeigneten aromatischen System elektrophile Substitution ein. Diazocyclopentadien (III) unterscheidet sich in seinem reaktiven Verhalten grundsätzlich von den aliphatischen Diazoverbindungen.TheLewis acids I and II undergo-just as tetracyanoethylene-electrophilic substitution reactions with suitable aromatic systems. Diazocyclopentadiene (III) fundamentally differs in reactivity from aliphatic diazo compounds.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel chiral stationary phases based on quinine derivatives comprising crown ether moieties

The C9‐position of quinine was modified by meta‐ or para‐substituted benzo‐18‐crown‐6, and immobilized on 3‐mercaptopropyl‐modified silica gel through the radical thiol‐ene addition reaction. These two chiral stationary phases were evaluated by chiral acids, amino acids, and chiral primary amines. The crown ether moiety on the quinine anion exchanger provided a ligand‐exchange site for primary amino groups, which played an important role in the retention and enantioselectivity for chiral compounds containing primary amine groups. These two stationary phases showed good selectivity for some amino acids. The complex interaction between crown ether and protonated primary amino group was investigated by the addition of inorganic salts such as LiCl, NH₄Cl, NaCl, and KCl to the mobile phase. The resolution results showed that the simultaneous interactions between two function moieties (quinine and crown ether) and amino acids were important for the chiral separation.