A ribozyme for the aldol reaction

Directed in vitro evolution can create RNA catalysts for a variety of organic reactions, supporting the "RNA world" hypothesis, which proposes that metabolic transformations in early life were catalyzed by RNA molecules rather than proteins. Among the most fundamental carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in nature is the aldol reaction, mainly catalyzed by aldolases that utilize either an enamine mechanism (class I) or a Zn(2+) cofactor (class II). We report on isolation of a Zn(2+)-dependent ribozyme that catalyzes an aldol reaction at its own modified 5' end with a 4300-fold rate enhancement over the uncatalyzed background reaction. The ribozyme can also act as an intermolecular catalyst that transfers a biotinylated benzaldehyde derivative to the aldol donor substrate, coupled to an external hexameric RNA oligonucleotide, supporting the existence of RNA-originated biosynthetic pathways for metabolic sugar precursors and other biomolecules.     

Carbene‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Aldol Reaction: Post‐Aldol Stereochemistry Control and Formation of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The dominated approaches for asymmetric aldol reactions have primarily focused on the aldol carbon–carbon bond‐forming events. Here we postulate and develop a new catalytic strategy that seeks to modulate the reaction thermodynamics and control the product enantioselectivities via post‐aldol processes. Specifically, an NHC catalyst is used to activate a masked enolate substrate (vinyl carbonate) to promote the aldol reaction in a non‐enantioselective manner. This reversible aldol event is subsequently followed by an enantioselective acylative kinetic resolution that is mediated by the same (chiral) NHC catalyst without introducing any additional substance. This post‐aldol process takes care of the enantioselectivity issues and drives the otherwise reversible aldol reaction toward a complete conversion. The acylated aldol products bearing quaternary/tetrasubstituted carbon stereogenic centers are formed in good yields and high optical purities.     

Mechanism and optimisation of the homoboroproline bifunctional catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction: Lewis acid tuning through in situ esterification

The use of homoboroproline as a bifunctional catalyst in the asymmetric aldol reaction has been investigated mechanistically, particularly with respect to tuning the Lewis acidity of boron by in situ esterification with mildly sigma-electron withdrawing diols such as hydrobenzoin and tartrate esters. The stability of simple cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl boronate diol esters shows that the 5-ring boronate esters are more stable, which sheds light on the mode of action of esterified homoboroproline catalyst in the enamine-mediated aldol reaction, which is also studied by NMR. The result is reaction optimisation to provide an efficient aldol reaction and a proposed mechanistic proposal.     

l-Proline catalysed asymmetric aldol reactions in PEG-400 as recyclable medium and transfer aldol reactions

l-Proline-catalysed direct asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with various aldehydes in PEG-400 is described. Recycling of the catalyst and solvent (PEG) was possible up to ten runs without loss of catalyst activity. l-Proline was also found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric transfer aldol reaction between various aldehydes and diacetone alcohol for the first time. Good yields and enantioselectivities were observed with both methods.     

NMR investigations on the proline-catalyzed aldehyde self-condensation: Mannich mechanism, dienamine detection, and erosion of the aldol addition selectivity

The proline-catalyzed self-condensation of aliphatic aldehydes in DMSO with varying amounts of catalyst was studied by in situ NMR spectroscopy. The reaction profiles and intermediates observed as well as deuteration studies reveal that the proline-catalyzed aldol addition and condensation are competing, but not consecutive, reaction pathways. In addition, the rate-determining step of the condensation is suggested to be the C-C bond formation. Our findings indicate the involvement of two catalyst molecules in the C-C bond formation of the aldol condensation, presumably by the activation of both the aldol acceptor and donor in a Mannich-type pathway. This mechanism is shown to be operative also in the oligomerization of acetaldehyde with high proline amounts, for which the first in situ detection of a proline-derived dienamine was accomplished. In addition, the diastereoselectivity of the aldol addition is evidenced to be time-dependent since it is undermined by the retro-aldolization and the competing irreversible aldol condensation; here NMR reaction profiles can be used as a tool for reaction optimization.     

手性胺有机小分子不对称催化的研究进展

扼要综述了有机手性胺催化在过去十年中的发展,列举了具有代表性的活化模式(如仲胺催化的活化模式)、催化剂(如手性叔胺有机催化剂)和反应类型(如分子内Aldol环化反应,分子间Aldol缩合反应,Lewis酸活化羰基化合物机制,手性胺催化等),并提出了该领域新的研究方向.手性胺不对称催化在手性合成中具有广阔的应用前景.     

液-固相体系中以聚(N-乙烯基咪唑)为非均相碱性催化剂在超声波照射和无溶剂条件下催化不同醛和酮羟醛缩合(英文)

An ultrasound‐assisted aldol condensation reaction has been developed for a range of ketones with a variety of aromatic aldehydes using poly(N‐vinylimidazole) as a solid base catalyst in a liquid‐solid system. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and reused at least 10 times without any significant reduction in its activity. The reaction is also amenable to the large scale, making the procedure potentially useful for industrial applications.     

Metal- and Solvent-Free Transesterification and Aldol Condensation Reactions by a Homogenous Recyclable Basic Ionic Liquid Based on the 1,3,5-Triazine Framework

A new recyclable basic ionic liquid was introduced as an efficient catalyst for aldol condensation and transesterification reactions under environmentally friendly conditions. The catalyst was prepared based on methyl imidazolium moieties bearing hydroxide counter anions via the Hofmann elimination on a 1,3,5-triazine framework. The ionic liquid with two functionalities including anion stabilizer and high basicity, was used as an efficient catalyst for aldol condensation as well as transesterification reaction of a variety of alkyl benzoates. All reactions were performed in the absence of any external reagent, co-catalyst, or solvent, in line with environmental protection. The kinetics isotope effect (KIE) was conducted for the transesterification reaction to elucidate the mechanism and rate determining step (RDS). It worth noted that, the homogeneous catalyst could be recycled from the reaction mixture and reused for several consecutive runs with insignificant drop of basicity and conversion.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of hydroxyketones: asymmetric Zn catalysis with a Et(2)Zn/linked-BINOL complex

Full details of our newly developed catalyses with asymmetric zinc complexes as mimics of class II zinc-containing aldolase are described. A Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL complex was developed and successfully applied to direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions of hydroxyketones. A Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was initially developed, which efficiently promoted the direct aldol reaction of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxyacetophenone (7d). Using 1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 2 mol % of Et(2)Zn, we obtained 1,2-dihydroxyketones syn-selectively in high yield (up to 95%), good diastereomeric ratio (up to 97/3), and excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 99%). Mechanistic investigation of Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1, including X-ray analysis, NMR analysis, cold spray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS) analysis, and kinetic studies, provided new insight into the active oligomeric Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1/ketone 7d active species. On the basis of mechanistic investigations, a modified second generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 with molecular sieves 3A (MS 3A) system was developed as a much more effective catalyst system for the direct aldol reaction. As little as 0.1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 0.4 mol % of Et(2)Zn promoted the direct aldol reaction smoothly, using only 1.1 equiv of 7d as a donor (substrate/ligand = 1000). This is the most efficient, in terms of catalyst loading, asymmetric catalyst for the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction. Moreover, the Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 system was effective in the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxypropiophenone (12), which afforded a chiral tetrasubstituted carbon center (tert-alcohol) in good yield (up to 97%) and ee (up to 97%), albeit in modest syn-selectivity. Newly developed (S,S)-sulfur-linked-BINOL 2 was also effective in the direct aldol reaction of 12. The Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-sulfur-linked-BINOL 2 = 4/1 system gave aldol adducts anti-selectively in good ee (up to 93%). Transformations of the aldol adducts into synthetically versatile intermediates were also described.     

Mixed organofluorine-organosilicon chemistry. 13. One-pot synthesis of difluoroaldols from acylsilanes and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane. application to the synthesis of a difluoro analogue of egomaketone

Difluoroaldol compounds 3 were synthesized in a one-pot procedure involving an acylsilane 1, trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (TFMTMS), and an aldehyde. The key intermediate of this reaction is a difluoroenoxysilane 2. Ytterbium triflate proved to be a very efficient catalyst for promoting the aldol type reaction under very mild conditions. The potential of this reaction for the convergent synthesis of difluorinated compounds was illustrated by the synthesis of difluoroegomaketone 7d through dehydration of the corresponding aldol compound 3d.     

Enantioselective tandem O-nitroso Aldol/Michael reaction

This communication presents studies that illustrated nitroso Diels-Alder adduct has been obtained in uniformly high enantioselectivity via a tandem nitroso aldol/Michael reaction using an amine catalyst. The regiochemical outcome of this construction is documented to be the opposite to that of the normal nitroso aldol reaction, which has been determined by X-ray analysis. The reaction of the enone with silver-BINAP catalyst has also been investigated in conjunction with the control of regiochemistry in a stepwise process.     

TBD/Al2O3: a novel catalytic system for dynamic intermolecular aldol reactions that exhibit complex system behaviour

The heterogeneous system TBD/Al(2)O(3) is an efficient catalyst for the intermolecular aldol reaction between ketones and aromatic aldehydes. This system operates with low catalysts loading (10%), in water or organic solvents, and with short reaction times. The desired aldol products are rendered cleanly. Experiments confirmed that this aldol protocol is reversible, and allowed for the preparation of dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) of interconverting aldols. Analysis of these DCLs showed up how properties such as diastereoselectivity can emerge unpredictably from the library when it is considered as a whole.     

Asymmetric aldol reaction catalyzed by the anion of an ionic liquid

Herein we report the synthesis of a chiral imidazolium salt derived from trans-L-hydroxyproline and its applications as a catalyst for the asymmetric aldol reaction. By performing the aldol reaction in [Bmim]NTf(2) as a solvent, we report excellent isolated yields of the aldol product (up to 99%), as well as modest to excellent selectivities (dr superior to 99:1. ee up to 89%). Mechanistic insights and the origins of the selectivity of the aldol reaction are discussed on the basis of the results obtained with two catalytic imidazolium salts having different H-bonding potential.     

Primary amine catalyzed aldol reaction of isatins and acetaldehyde

Several cinchona alkaloid-derived chiral primary amines were applied as the catalyst for the cross aldol reaction of isatins with acetaldehyde. With the quinine-derived amine catalyst 3, the desired aldol products were obtained in high yields and good enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee) under the optimized conditions. Although other enolizable aldehydes and ketones may also be applied in this reaction, the ee values obtained are usually low. A mechanism was proposed to account for the formation of the major enantiomer in this reaction.     

Lewis base-promoted aldol reaction of dimethylsilyl enolates in aqueous dimethylformamide: use of calcium chloride as a Lewis base catalyst.

In the presence of CaCl2, dimethylsilyl (DMS) enolates smoothly reacted with aldehydes under mild conditions to give aldol adducts in good to high yields. The catalytic activities of various metal and tetrabutylammonium salts have revealed that CaCl2 works as a Lewis base catalyst to activate DMS enolates. The CaCl2-promoted reaction proceeded even in the presence of water or in pure water. This catalytic system was applicable to the aldol reaction with aqueous aldehydes such as formalin.     

Direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thioamides

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides using a soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6)/LiOAr is described. Exclusive enolate generation from thioacetamides through a soft-soft interaction with the soft Lewis acid allowed for a direct aldol reaction to α-nonbranched aliphatic aldehydes, which are usually susceptible to self-condensation under conventional basic conditions. A hard Lewis basic phosphine oxide has emerged as an effective additive to constitute a highly active ternary soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base/hard Lewis base cooperative catalyst, enabling a direct enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thiopropionamides. Strict control of the amount of the hard Lewis base was essential to drive the catalytic cycle efficiently with a minimized retro-aldol pathway, affording syn-aldol products with high stereoselectivity. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality is an obvious merit of the present aldol methodology, allowing for a facile transformation of the aldol product into the corresponding aldehyde, ketone, amide, amine, and ketoester. An aldehyde derived from the direct aldol reaction was subjected to a second direct aldol reaction, which proceeded in a catalyst-controlled manner to provide 1,3-diols with high stereoselectivity.     

C2-symmetric bisprolinamide as a highly efficient catalyst for direct aldol reaction

[reaction: see text] The catalytic activity of the prolinamide-type catalysts may be improved by introducing additional prolinamide moiety into the catalyst, while the enantioselectivity can still be maintained or further improved. A C2-symmetric bisprolinamide with two prolinamide moieties has been found to be an excellent catalyst for direct aldol reaction with more than doubled reactivity and better asymmetric induction than its monoprolinamide counterpart.     

Development of highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct asymmetric aldol reaction of a glycinate Schiff base with aldehydes catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts

A highly efficient direct asymmetric aldol reaction of a glycinate Schiff base with aldehydes has been achieved under mild organic/aqueous biphasic conditions with excellent stereochemical control, using chiral quaternary ammonium salt 1b as a phase-transfer catalyst. The initially developed reaction conditions, using 2 equiv of aqueous base (1% NaOH (aq)), exhibited inexplicably limited general applicability in terms of aldehyde acceptors. The mechanistic investigation revealed the intervention of an unfavorable yet inevitable retro aldol process involving the chiral catalyst. On the basis of this information, a reliable procedure has been established by use of a catalytic amount of 1% NaOH (aq) and ammonium chloride, which tolerates a wide range of aldehydes to afford the corresponding anti-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino esters almost exclusively in an essentially optically pure form.     

The pH of the reaction controls the stereoselectivity of organocatalyzed direct aldol reactions in water

The direct aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone, catalyzed by a protonated prolinamide catalyst in water, proceeds with the formation of aldol product that has high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity in an optimal pH range of 4–5.     

Highly Active Copper‐Network Catalyst for the Direct Aldol Reaction

The development of a highly active solid‐phase catechol–copper network catalyst for direct aldol reaction is described. The catalyst was prepared from an alkyl‐chain‐linked bis(catechol) and a copper(II) complex. The direct aldol reaction between carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) and methyl isocyanoacetate was carried out using 0.1–1 mol % [Cu] catalyst to give the corresponding oxazolines at yields of up to 99 % and a trans/cis ratio of >99:1. The catalyst was reused with no loss of catalytic activity. A plausible reaction pathway is also described.