Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Addition of Grignard Reagents to N‐Heterocyclic Acceptors

General methods to prepare chiral N‐heterocyclic molecular scaffolds are greatly sought after because of their significance in medicinal chemistry. Described here is the first general catalytic methodology to access a wide variety of chiral 2‐ and 4‐substituted tetrahydro‐quinolones, dihydro‐4‐pyridones, and piperidones with excellent yields and enantioselectivities, utilizing a single catalyst system.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Difluoromethylated Cyclopropanes

The first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized difluoromethylated cyclopropanes is described. The method, based on a rhodium‐catalyzed cyclopropanation of difluoromethylated olefins, gives access to a broad range of cyclopropanes bearing ester, ketone, or nitro functional groups. By using Rh₂((S )‐BTPCP)₄ as a catalyst, the corresponding products were obtained in high yields and high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up 20:1 d.r. and 99 % ee ). This methodology allowed preparation of enantioenriched difluoromethylcyclopropanes for the first time.     

Ligand‐Controlled Regiodivergent Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Alkene Hydroboration

Regiocontrol in the rhodium‐catalyzed boration of vinyl arenes is typically dominated by the presence of the conjugated aryl substituent. However, small differences in TADDOL‐derived chiral monophosphite ligands can override this effect and direct rhodium‐catalyzed hydroboration of β‐aryl and β‐heteroaryl methylidenes by pinacolborane to selectively produce either chiral primary or tertiary borated products. The regiodivergent behavior is coupled with enantiodivergent addition of the borane. The nature of the TADDOL backbone substituents and that of the phosphite moiety function synergistically to direct the sense and extent of regioselectivity and enantioinduction. Twenty substrates are shown to undergo each reaction mode with regioselectivity values reaching greater than 20:1 and enantiomer ratios reaching up to 98:2. A variety of subsequent transformations illustrate the potential utility of each product.     

Enantioselective and Regiodivergent Addition of Purines to Terminal Allenes: Synthesis of Abacavir

The rhodium‐catalyzed atom‐economic asymmetric N‐selective intermolecular addition of purine derivatives to terminal allenes is reported. Branched allylic purines were obtained in high yields, regioselectivity and outstanding enantioselectivity utilizing a Rh/Josiphos catalyst. Conversely, linear selective allylation of purines could be realized in good to excellent regio‐ and E/Z‐selectivity with a Pd/dppf catalyst system. Furthermore, the new methodology was applied to a straightforward asymmetric synthesis of carbocyclic nucleoside abacavir.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Arylboration of Alkenylarenes

A method for the catalytic enantioselective arylboration of alkenylarenes is disclosed. The reaction leads to the formation of 1,1‐diarylalkanes that also incorporate an additional pinacol boronic ester which can be easily transformed to a variety of groups. The products are formed with excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities.