Synthesis of Chiral 2‐Aroyl‐1‐tetralols: Asymmetric Transfer Hydrgenation of 2‐Aroyl‐1‐tetralones via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

The dynamic kinetic resolution of 2‐aroyl‐1‐tetralones was achieved via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation using (S,S)‐RuCl(p‐cymene)TsDPEN (TsDPEN=N‐(tosyl)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine) in formic acid/triethyl‐ amine (5:2, molar ratio), afforded the desired products in good yields (up to 85%) with diastereomeric ratio up to >99:1 and high enantiomeric excesses (up to >99%). The absolute configuration of major the product was confirmed by X‐ray crystal structure analysis.     

Synthesis of Optically Enriched Spirocyclic Benzofuran‐2‐ones by Bifunctional Thiourea‐Base Catalyzed Double‐Michael Addition of Benzofuran‐2‐ones to Dienones

A highly enantioselective catalytic double‐Michael addition reaction of substituted benzofuran‐2‐ones with divinyl ketones promoted by readily accessible tertiary amine–thiourea Cinchona alkaloids has been developed. A number of optically enriched spirocyclic benzofuran‐2‐ones were prepared in very good yields (up to 99 %), diastereoselectivities (up to 19:1 d.r.), and very good enantioselectivities (up to 92 % ee). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the origin of stereoselectivity.     

Cross‐Linked‐Polymer‐Supported N‐{2′‐[(Arylsulfonyl)amino][1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl}prolinamide as Organocatalyst for the Direct Aldol Intermolecular Reaction under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A bottom‐up strategy was used for the synthesis of cross‐linked copolymers containing the organocatalyst N‐{(1R)‐2′‐{[(4‐ethylphenyl)sulfonyl]amino}[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl}‐D ‐prolinamide derived from 2 (Scheme 1). The polymer‐bound catalyst 5b containing 1% of divinylbenzene as cross‐linker showed higher catalyst activity in the aldol reaction between cyclohexanone and 4‐nitrobenzaldehyde than 5a and 5c . Remarkably, the reaction in the presence of 5b was carried out under solvent‐free, mild conditions, achieving up to 93% ee (Table 1). The polymer‐bound catalyst 5b was recovered by filtration and re‐used up to seven times without detrimental effects on the achieved diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (Table 2). The catalytic procedure with polymer 5b was extended to the aldol reaction under solvent‐free conditions of other ketones, including functionalized ones, and different aromatic aldehydes (Table 3). In some cases, the addition of a small amount of H₂O was required to give the best results (up to 95% ee). Under these reaction conditions, the cross‐aldol reaction between aldehydes proceeded in moderate yield and diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity (Scheme 2).     

Asymmetric Michael Addition/Intramolecular Cyclization Catalyzed by Bifunctional Tertiary Amine–Squaramides: Construction of Chiral 2‐Amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐Carbonitrile Derivatives

The efficient asymmetric Michael addition/intramolecular cyclization of malononitrile with dienones catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional tertiary amine–squaramide catalyst for the synthesis of chiral 2‐amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee) for most of the bisarylidenecyclopentanones.     

Atroposelective Synthesis of Axially Chiral N‐Arylpyrroles by Chiral‐at‐Rhodium Catalysis

A transformation of fluxional into configurationally stable axially chiral N‐arylpyrroles was achieved with a highly atroposelective electrophilic aromatic substitution catalyzed by a chiral‐at‐metal rhodium Lewis acid. Specifically, N‐arylpyrroles were alkylated with N‐acryloyl‐1H‐pyrazole electrophiles in up to 93 % yield and with up to >99.5 % ee, and follow‐up conversions reveal the synthetic utility of this new method. DFT calculations elucidate the origins of the observed excellent atroposelectivity.     

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Mandelic Acid Esters by N,N′‐Dioxide–Scandium‐Complex‐Catalyzed Enantiomer‐Selective Acylation

A simple and efficient acylative kinetic resolution of racemic mandelic acid esters was accomplished with a chiral N,N’‐dioxide–scandium(III) complex under mild and base‐free reaction conditions. A variety of mandelic acid esters performed well in the reaction, obtaining both acylated products (up to 49% yield, 97% ee) and recovered substrates (up to 49% yield, 95% ee) in high enantioselectivities with perfect selectivity factors (up to 247). The enantioselective recognition and catalytic models were also proposed for the catalytic KR reaction.     

Asymmetric Henry reactions of aldehydes with various nitroalkanes catalyzed by copper(II) complexes of novel chiral N‐monoalkyl cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamines

A number of novel chiral diamines 3 , (1R,2R)‐N‐monoalkylcyclohexane‐1,2‐diamines, were designed and synthesized from trans‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine and applied to the catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction of benzaldehyde and nitromethane to provide β‐nitroalcohol in high yield (up to 99%) and good enantiomeric excess (up to 89%). By using ligand (1R,2R)‐N¹‐(4‐methylpentan‐2‐yl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine ( 3g ), the reaction was optimized in terms of the metal ion, temperature, solvent and base. Further experiments indicated that the complex, 3g –Cu(OAc)₂, was an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Henry reaction between different aldehydes and nitromethane, and the desired products have been obtained with high chemical yields (up to 99%) and high enantiomeric excess (up to 93%). The optimized catalyst promoted the diastereoselective Henry reaction of various aldehyde substrates and nitroalkane, which gave the corresponding anti‐selective adduct with up to 99% yield and 83:17 anti/syn selectivity. Upon scaling up to gram quantities, the β‐nitroalcohol was obtained in good yield (96%) with excellent selectivities (93% ee). The chiral induction mechanism was tentatively explained on the basis of a previously proposed transition‐state model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design,Synthesis, and Application of Chiral C2‐Symmetric Spiroketal‐Containing Ligands in Transition‐Metal Catalysis

We present an expedient and economical route to a new spiroketal‐based C₂‐symmetric chiral scaffold, termed SPIROL. Based on this spirocyclic scaffold, several chiral ligands were generated. These ligands were successfully employed in an array of stereoselective transformations, including in iridium‐catalyzed hydroarylations (up to 95 % ee), palladium‐catalyzed allylic alkylations (up to 97 % ee), intermolecular palladium‐catalyzed Heck couplings (up to 94 % ee), and rhodium‐catalyzed dehydroalanine hydrogenation (up to 93 % ee).     

Asymmetric Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of 2,6‐Disubstituted 1,5‐Naphthyridines: Access to Chiral 1,5‐Diaza‐cis‐Decalins

The first asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of 2,6‐disubstituted and 2,3,6‐trisubstituted 1,5‐naphthyridines, catalyzed by chiral cationic ruthenium diamine complexes, has been developed. A wide range of 1,5‐naphthyridine derivatives were efficiently hydrogenated to give 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1,5‐naphthyridines with up to 99 % ee and full conversions. This facile and green protocol is applicable to the scaled‐up synthesis of optically pure 1,5‐diaza‐cis‐decalins, which have been used as rigid chelating diamine ligands for asymmetric synthesis.     

Enantioselective Construction of Functionalized Thiochromans via Squaramide‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Sulfa‐Michael/Michael Addition

An efficient enantioselective cascade sulfa‐Michael/Michael addition reaction of trans‐3‐(2‐mercaptophenyl)‐2‐propenoic acid ethyl ester with nitroalkenes catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst was disclosed. This cascade reaction afforded thiochroman derivatives with three contiguous stereocenters in high yields (up to 94%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Design,Synthesis, and Application of Chiral C2‐Symmetric Spiroketal‐Containing Ligands in Transition‐Metal Catalysis

We present an expedient and economical route to a new spiroketal‐based C₂‐symmetric chiral scaffold, termed SPIROL. Based on this spirocyclic scaffold, several chiral ligands were generated. These ligands were successfully employed in an array of stereoselective transformations, including in iridium‐catalyzed hydroarylations (up to 95 % ee), palladium‐catalyzed allylic alkylations (up to 97 % ee), intermolecular palladium‐catalyzed Heck couplings (up to 94 % ee), and rhodium‐catalyzed dehydroalanine hydrogenation (up to 93 % ee).     

New Chiral Ligand N—Toluenesulfony1—2,2‘—dimethoxy—6,6’—di—aminobiphenyl for Catalytic Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

A new chiral ligand N‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐2,2′‐dimethoxy‐6,6′‐diaminobiphenyl (Ts‐DMBDPPA) was prepared from 2,2′‐dimethoxy‐6,6′‐diaminobiphenyl via N‐tosylation. Its Ru(II) complex was effective catalysts for catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones (with ee's up to 69.3%).     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of C1‐ and C2‐Symmetric Racemic Axially Chiral 2,2′‐Dihydroxy‐1,1′‐biaryls

We have discovered that the racemization of configurationally stable, axially chiral 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐biaryls proceeds with a catalytic amount of a cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) complex at 35–50 °C. Combining this racemization procedure with lipase‐catalyzed kinetic resolution led to the first lipase/metal‐integrated dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic axially chiral biaryl compounds. The method was applied to the synthesis of various enantio‐enriched C₁‐ and C₂‐symmetric biaryl diols in yields of up to 98 % and enantiomeric excesses of up to 98 %, which paves the way for new developments in the field of asymmetric synthesis.     

Asymmetric Reduction of 2‐Chloro‐3‐oxo Esters by Transfer Hydrogenation

Asymmetric reduction of 2‐chloro‐3‐oxo esters was achieved by catalytic transfer hydrogenation using [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)](S,S)‐TsDPEN as the chiral catalyst and HCOOH‐Et₃N as the hydrogen source. Moderate to good yields (up to 85%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

Highly Enantioselective Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reaction Catalyzed by 4,5‐Methano‐L‐proline

The 4,5‐methano‐L‐proline was used as chiral organocatalysts in direct asymmetric aldol reactions. Under the optimal conditions, excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) were obtained with high chemical yields (up to 95%) for a series of aldehydes using only 5 mol% catalyst loading. To show the practicality of the method, the reaction was tested at a large scale. The reaction was complete in 16 h, and the aldol product was obtained in 86% yield and 93% ee.     

Copper‐Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Aerobic Oxidative Cross‐Coupling of 2‐Naphthols: Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,3′‐Substituted C1‐Symmetric BINOLs

A novel chiral 1,5‐N,N‐bidentate ligand based on a spirocyclic pyrrolidine oxazoline backbone was designed and prepared, and it coordinates CuBr in situ to form an unprecedented catalyst that enables efficient oxidative cross‐coupling of 2‐naphthols. Air serves as an external oxidant and generates a series of C₁‐symmetric chiral BINOL derivatives with high enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) and good yield (up to 87 %). This approach is tolerant of a broader substrates scope, particularly substrates bearing various 3‐ and 3′‐substituents. A preliminary investigation using one of the obtained C₁‐symmetric BINOL products was used as an organocatalyst, exhibiting better enantioselectivity than the previously reported organocatalyst, for the asymmetric α‐alkylation of amino esters.     

Enantioselective Conjugate Addition‐Protonation of 5H‐Oxazol‐4‐ones and 5‐Methylene 1,3‐Oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones: 2,2'‐Biphenol‐Induced Diastereoselectivity Switch

A synthetic strategy for catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition‐protonation and diastereoselective switch between 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones and 5‐methylene 1,3‐oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones was established. An array of chiral conjugate addition‐protonation products bearing 1,3‐O‐heterotertiary‐O‐heteroquarternary nonadjacent stereocenters were obtained in excellent yields, moderate to good diastereoselectivities, and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% yield, 11: 1 dr, and 98% ee). Induction by 2,2’‐biphenol could effectively promote the production of the corresponding diastereoisomers via cycloaddition intermedia.     

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Stereogenic Esters through Catalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition of 4‐Oxo‐4‐arylbutenoates

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and nitromethane to 4‐oxo‐4‐arylbutenoates catalyzed by N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ complexes has been developed. Using 0.5–2 mol % catalyst loading, various α‐stereogenic esters were obtained regioselectively with excellent yields (up to 97 %) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Moreover, the reaction performed well under nearly solvent‐free conditions. The products with functional groups are ready for further transformation, which showed the potential value of the catalytic approach. According to the experimental results and previous reports, a plausible working model has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction.     

Construction of Novel Tetrahydro‐β‐carboline‐1‐thione Spirooxindoles by Brønsted Acid Mediated Formal [3+3] Cyclization of 3‐Indolylmethanols with 3‐Isothiocyanato Oxindoles

p‐Toluenesulfonic acid mediated formal [3+3] cyclization of 3‐indolylmethanols with 3‐isothiocyanato oxindoles was realized. This transformation allowed for the synthesis of a series of novel tetrahydro‐β‐carboline‐1‐thione spirooxindoles in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99%) with generally good diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1). The structure of one product was determined by an X‐ray crystal structural analysis.     

One‐pot,Three‐component Synthesis of a New Series of 2‐Amino‐4‐aroyl‐5‐oxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carbonitrile in the Presence of SBA‐15 as a Nanocatalyst

One‐pot, three‐component reaction of arylglyoxals, malononitrile and 4‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one in the presence of SBA‐15 as a nanocatalyst and using green solvent systems under various temperatures afforded the 2‐amino‐4‐aroyl‐5‐oxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives. The best yield (70‐96%) were obtained using 20% mol of SBA‐15 as a nanocatalyst in H2O/EtOH (1:1) at 80 °C. The simplicity of work up procedure, using green solvent system, and good to excellent yields of products are the main advantages of this synthetic strategy.