Polymer-supported palladacycles: efficient reagents for synthesis of benzopyrans with palladium recovery. Relationship among resin loading, Pd:P ratio, and reactivity of immobilized palladacycles

[reaction: see text] Oxapalladacycles were immobilized on polystyrene-divinylbenzene supports and treated with 3-aryl-2-propynoates or 1-alkyl-1,2-propadienes to afford 2H-1-benzopyrans in yields superior to those for solution-phase experiments. Isolation of benzopyrans was facilitated, and 71-80% of the palladium was recovered. Effects of resin loading with phosphorus and palladium were studied, and the optimum immobilized palladacycles featuring a medium loading with P (1.35 mmol P/g) and a high loading with Pd (Pd:P ratio 1:1.7) were identified. Resins with higher swelling capacities were more reactive.     

Transition metal-catalysed organic reactions promoted by chelating or metallacycle-forming substrates

Chelating or metallacycle-forming substrates are very useful for directing organometallic reactions. This review covers the more recent research that has been carried out in the authors' laboratory. Rhodium(I)- and (III)-catalysed reactions of C---C coupling of butadiene with N-allylamides or N-alkylbutenamides are described. These reactions are controlled by the size and strength of the chelate ring formed by double-bond insertion into the crotyl-rhodium bond (formed from butadiene) and their regioselectivity can change with the oxidation state of the metal. Rhodium(I)-catalysed reactions of butadiene with enamides are also chelation controlled and lead to different products, depending on the substituents at nitrogen. Cobalt(II) metallacycles have been utilized for promoting some organic reactions. It has been shown that alkenes can be catalytically incorporated into cobaltacyclopentadiene rings, that spirocycles can be obtained from diynes, carbon monoxide and acrylic esters and that a Pauson-Khand-type reaction can be combined with a Michael-type reaction to prepare catalytically new cyclopentenones. The use of palladacycles, derived from norbornene insertion into aryl-palladium bonds, followed by cyclization, has allowed the selective functionalization of either end of the metallacycle and the formation of condensed rings. Conversion of a palladium(II) into a palladium(IV) metallacycle, and catalytic processes involving these intermediates, have been achieved. The formation of alkylaromatic palladacycles has also been exploited for the selective meta functionalization of the aromatic moiety by means of alkyl groups, accompanied by expulsion of the norbornene molecule.     

Organocatalytic synthesis of chiral benzopyrans

Benzopyrans, or chromenes, are widespread in nature and are considered to be a privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we report the first organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral benzopyrans. The benzopyran unit is constructed through a domino reaction involving an oxa-Michael attack of salicylic aldehyde derivatives onto α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, activated through iminium-ion formation with the organocatalyst, followed by an intramolecular aldol reaction and subsequent elimination of water. This overall reaction sequence provides benzopyrans with aromatic C-2 substituents in up to 60% yield and 60% enantioselectivity, while C-2 aliphatic analogues can be obtained in 90% enantiomeric excess, but with only 20% yield. The role of additives, as well as the possible racemization of the benzopyran, was also investigated.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric silaboration of allenes

An enantioselective silaboration of allenes was achieved using an achiral silylborane in the presence of a palladium catalyst bearing a chiral monodentate phosphine ligand. (R)-2-Bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl gave the highest enantioselectivities in the addition of (diphenylmethylsilyl)pinacolborane to the internal C=C bond of terminal allenes at 0 degrees C, giving the corresponding beta-borylallylsilanes in high yields with high enantiomeric excesses. The enantioselectivity depended on the bulkiness of substituents of allenes: the enantiomeric excesses were found to be 91-93% ee (R = tert- and sec-alkyl), 88-90% ee (R = aryl), and 80-82% ee (R = prim-alkyl and Me) at 0 degrees C. Perfect chirality transfer was observed in the intramolecular cyclization reactions of the functionalized allylsilanes, affording highly enantioenriched cyclic alkenylboranes, which underwent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with aryl halides.     

Of the ortho effect in palladium/norbornene-catalyzed reactions: a theoretical investigation

Mechanistic questions concerning palladium and norbornene catalyzed aryl-aryl coupling reactions are treated in this paper: how aryl halides react with the intermediate palladacycles, formed by interaction of the two catalysts with an aryl halide, and what is the rational explanation of the "ortho effect" (caused by an ortho substituent in the starting aryl halide), which leads to aryl-aryl coupling with a second molecule of aryl halide rather than to aryl-norbornyl coupling. Two possible pathways have been proposed, one involving aryl halide oxidative addition to the palladacycle, the other passing through a palladium(II) transmetalation, also involving the palladacycle, as previously proposed by Cardenas and Echavarren. Our DFT calculations using M06 show that, in palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl halides, not containing ortho substituents, and norbornene, the intermediate palladacycle formed has a good probability to undergo transmetalation, energetically favored over the oxidative addition leading to Pd(IV). The unselective sp(2)-sp(2) and sp(2)-sp(3) coupling, experimentally observed in this case, can be explained in the framework of the transmetalation pathway since the energetic difference between aryl attack onto the aryl or norbornyl carbon of the palladacycle intermediate is quite small. On the other hand, according to the experimentally observed "ortho effect", selective aryl-aryl coupling only occurs in the reactions of ortho-substituted metallacycles. The present work offers the first possible rationalization of this finding. These in situ formed palladacycles containing an ortho substituent could more easily undergo oxidative addition of an aryl halide rather than reductive elimination from the transmetalation intermediate as a result of a steric clash in the transition state of the latter. The now energetically accessible Pd(IV) intermediate, featuring a Y-distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure, can account for the reported selective aryl-aryl coupling through a reductive elimination which is easier than aryl-norbornyl coupling. Thus, the steric effect represents the main factor that dictates the energetic convenience of the system to follow the Pd(IV) or the transmetalation pathway. Ortho substituents cause a higher energy transition state for reductive elimination from the transmetalation intermediate than for oxidative addition to the metallacycle palladium(II) and the pathway based on the latter predominates.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition to allenic esters and ketones

The first example of an organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of cyclic beta-ketoesters and glycine imine derivatives to electron-deficient allenes is described. We disclose that the corresponding chiral beta,gamma-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are formed exclusively under phase-transfer conditions using either cinchona-alkaloid-derived or biphenyl-based chiral quaternary ammonium salts as catalysts. The scope of the reaction for beta-ketoesters is outlined for allenes having a ketone or ester motif as electron-withdrawing group as well as different substituents in the 3-position, giving the optically active products in high yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (90-96% ee). The conjugate addition also proceeds for a number of cyclic beta-ketoesters having different ring sizes, ring systems, and substituents in high yields and enantioselectivities. Glycine imine derivatives also undergo the asymmetric conjugate addition to electron-deficient allenes in high yields and with enantioselectivities in the range of 60-88% ee, thus providing a rapid entry to optically active alpha-vinyl-substituted alpha-amino acid derivatives. It is shown that the enantioselectivity is strongly dependent on the size of the ester moiety of the nucleophile in combination with the catalytic system used. The high synthetic value of the chiral products arising from these new catalytic processes is demonstrated by two straightforward transformations leading in one case to optically active hexahydrobenzopyranones and in the other to substituted pyroglutamates (gamma-lactames).     

Direct generation of nucleophilic chiral palladium enolate from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: catalytic enantioselective Michael reaction with enones

Generation of chiral palladium enolates from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with the palladium aqua complex and its application to the highly efficient catalytic enantioselective Michael reaction with enones are described. The palladium aqua complexes are likely to supply Br?nsted base and Br?nsted acid successively during the reaction. The former activates the carbonyl compounds to give chiral palladium enolates, and the latter cooperatively activates enones. Using a catalytic amount (2-10 mol %) of the palladium complexes, the various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds including diketones and beta-ketoesters were converted to the desired Michael adducts in good yields (69-92%) with excellent enantiomeric excesses (89-99% ee).     

Cu-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective sulfonylation of multi-substituted allenes

Regio- and stereoselective sulfonylation of allenes under Cu catalysis is described. Allenyl sp carbons exclusively react with TsCN to give the corresponding alkenyl sulfones. The reaction is initiated by addition of tosyl radical to form benzyl radical intermediates, which determines the reaction pathway. The structure of the products is highly dependent on the substituents on allenes.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Acylation of Aryl Diazoesters with ortho‐Bromobenzaldehydes

In this work, we describe a palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular O acylation of α‐diazoesters with ortho‐bromobenzaldehydes. The C(sp²)?H bond activation of the aldehyde is enabled by migratory insertion of a palladium carbene intermediate. The diazoesters act as modular three‐atom units to build up key seven‐membered palladacycles, which are transformed into a variety of isocoumarin derivatives upon reductive elimination. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations provide insight into the reaction pathway.     

Preparation of vinylogous 2-sulfonylindolines by the palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of o-iodoanilines with dienyl sulfones and their further transformation to indoles and carbazoles.

The palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of o-iodoanilines with dienyl sulfones provides a convenient route to vinylogous 2-sulfonylindolines 3. The reaction proceeds in DMF/water in the presence of potassium carbonate and catalytic palladium(II) acetate and is compatible with both electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents in the para position of the aniline, and with an alkyl substituent at C-2 of the dienyl sulfone. The indolines underwent oxidation with DDQ to afford the corresponding indoles 4. The latter were then employed as dienes in Diels-Alder reactions with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), methyl propiolate, or methyl acrylate. In the case of the latter two dienophiles, the cycloadditions were highly regioselective, affording the corresponding 1,3-products (with respect to the relative positions of the sulfone and ester groups), exclusively. The cycloadducts from acetylenic dienophiles were converted to the corresponding carbazoles by elimination of the sulfone moiety with DBU, and that from methyl acrylate was subjected to reductive desulfonylation and oxidation to the corresponding carbazole with DDQ. The method thus provides access to carbazoles with various substituents at the 3-, 4-, and 6-positions.     

Amperometric titration of palladium, silver and copper with benzimidazol-2-ylmethanethiol, and its application to non-ferrous materials

A method is described for the determination of mg amounts of palladium, silver and copper by amperometric titration with benzimidazol-2-ylmethanethiol in acetate buifer medium (pH 4-5) at an applied potential of -0.2 V vs. the saturated calomel electrode. Direct titrations are possible in the presence of a number of foreign ions. Copper and palladium interfere mutually and in the determination of silver. Mercury(I), mercury(II) and platinum(IV) also interfere. Silver does not interfere in the determination of copper and palladium if it is first precipitated as chloride. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of non-ferrous materials.     

Enantioselective synthesis of six-membered palladacycles having metal-bound stereogenic carbons: isolation and reactivity of palladacycles containing readily accessible beta-hydrogens

Five enantiopure palladacycles containing palladium bonded to a stereogenic carbon and an N-coordinated oxindole were synthesized by the reaction of alkenyl aryl triflates 2 and 9 with Pd(0) bisphosphine complexes. Two palladacyclic complexes, 3beta and 10alpha, were characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The reactivity of neutral palladacycles 3beta and 10beta was studied in detail. These unusual palladium alkyls, which have three accessible beta-hydrogens, are thermally stable at temperatures as high as 120 degrees C. At higher temperature, or at room temperature in the presence of weak acids, these complexes epimerize at the stereogenic carbon bonded to palladium. The mechanism of the acid-promoted epimerization was studied in detail. During this epimerization, cationic palladium alkyls 13/14 and 33 and cationic palladium hydride alkene complexes 31 and 32 are in rapid equilibrium.     

Synthesis of allenes from allylic alcohol derivatives bearing a bromine atom using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system

A general and efficient synthesis of allenes using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system is described. Treatment of mesylates or trichloroacetates of (E)- or (Z)-2-bromoalk-2-en-1-ols with diethylzinc in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(0) affords allenes bearing an aminoalkyl, alkyl, or aryl substituent(s) in good to high yields. No transfer of chirality from the stereogenic center carrying the mesyloxy group to the allene was observed.     

Palladacycles in catalysis - a critical survey

The application of palladacycles as catalysts for cross-coupling and similar reactions is reviewed. In the majority of cases palladacycles are likely to serve as a source of highly active but unstable zero-valent palladium species. In this respect the palladacycles resemble the so-called phosphine-free catalysts. The advantages and limitations of palladacycle catalysts are discussed.     

Mechanism of stereoinduction in asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-dihydroquinolines and 2H-1-benzopyrans via nonracemic palladacycles with a metal-bonded stereogenic carbon

To establish the synthetic utility of palladacycles, a stable racemic benzannulated azapalladacycle featuring a palladium-bonded sp(3)-hybridized stereogenic carbon was prepared and converted into a series of racemic 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines via a regioselective insertion of activated alkynes (RCCCOOEt). Analogous diastereomerically enriched azapalladacyle (92% de) and oxapalladacycle (64% de) were synthesized from arylpalladium(II) iodo complexes possessing a nonracemic spectator ligand ((1R,2R)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) via an intramolecular displacement of the iodide by an ester enolate. Absolute configurations of the metal-bonded stereocenters in the diastereomerically enriched palladacycles were unequivocally assigned, and the efficiency of stereoinduction was systematically studied. On the basis of these experiments, a plausible mechanism for the transfer of chirality from the nonracemic auxiliary ligand to the palladium-bonded stereogenic carbon was proposed. A restricted rotation about the palladium-aryl bond in arylpalladium(II) iodo complexes giving rise to atropisomers, as well as the nature of the leaving group (iodide or acetate), were found to play a crucial role in the chirality transfer process. Diastereomerically enriched palladacycles underwent a ligand exchange with triphenylphosphine followed by regioselective insertion of unsymmetrical alkynes to afford nonracemic 1,2-dihydroquinolines (six examples) in excellent 80-91% ee and 2H-1-benzopyrans (four examples) in 32-56% ee.     

Formation of six-membered palladacycles from phenanthroline Pd(II) bisacetate precursors and phenylisocyanate

Phenylisocyanate reacts with palladium(II) bis-acetate phenanthroline complexes to give six-membered palladacycles in nearly quantitative yields. In this new reaction, the acetate ligands act as decarbonylating agents toward the isocyanate functionality by possibly forming the isolated palladacycles via an intramolecular rearrangement.     

Hydrocarboxylation of allenes with CO2 catalyzed by silyl pincer-type palladium complex

Tridentate PSiP pincer-type palladium complex-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of allenes under carbon dioxide to give synthetically useful beta,gamma-unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed. This novel CO2-fixation reaction is thought to proceed through the catalytic generation of sigma-allyl palladium species via hydropalladation of allenes, followed by its regioselective nucleophilic addition to CO2 in the presence of an appropriate reducing agent. The reaction is successfully applied to various allenes bearing functional groups such as ester, carbamate, ketone, and alkene, showing high synthetic utility of this protocol.     

Acid-base catalysis of chiral Pd complexes: development of novel catalytic asymmetric reactions and their application to synthesis of drug candidates

Using the unique character of the chiral Pd complexes 1 and 2, highly efficient catalytic asymmetric reactions have been developed. In contrast to conventional Pd(0)-catalyzed reactions, these complexes function as an acid-base catalyst. Thus active methine and methylene compounds were activated to form chiral palladium enolates, which underwent enantioselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions such as Michael reaction and Mannich-type reaction with up to 99% ee. Interestingly, these palladium enolates acted cooperatively with a strong protic acid, formed concomitantly during the formation of the enolates to activate electrophiles, thereby promoting the C-C bond-forming reaction. This palladium enolate chemistry was also applicable to electrophilic enantioselective fluorination reactions, and various carbonyl compounds including beta-ketoesters, beta-ketophosphonates, tert-butoxycarbonyl lactone/lactams, cyanoesters, and oxindole derivatives could be fluorinated in a highly enantioselective manner (up to 99% ee). Using this method, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of BMS-204352, a promising anti-stroke agent, was achieved. In addition, the direct enantioselective conjugate addition of aromatic and aliphatic amines to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound was successfully demonstrated. In this reaction, combined use of the Pd complex 2 having basic character and the amine salt was the key to success, allowing controlled generation of the nucleophilic free amine. This aza-Michael reaction was successfully applied to asymmetric synthesis of the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib.     

Synthesis of highly modular bis(oxazoline) ligands by Suzuki cross-coupling and evaluation as catalytic ligands

New bis(oxazoline) ligands (BOXs) containing biaryl substitutents at the C-4 position and H or CH₂OR substituents at the C-5 position have been synthesized using Suzuki cross-coupling as the main tool for structural diversity. Copper, zinc, and palladium complexes of the prepared BOXs have been evaluated in the following catalytic asymmetric processes: Acylation with kinetic resolution of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol (Cu), enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole (Zn), and enantioselective alkylation of 3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenylpropene (Pd).