First intramolecular enantioselective iridium-catalysed allylic aminations

Enantioselective iridium-catalysed intramolecular allylic aminations, using phosphinooxazolines or phosphorus amidites as ligands, provided ee values of >90%, at a catalyst loading of <0.5 mol-%, and displayed a marked preference for intra- over corresponding intermolecular reactions.     

Regio- and enantioselective iridium-catalysed allylic aminations and alkylations of dienyl esters

Regio- and enantioselective iridium-catalysed allylic aminations and alkylations of dienyl substrates are presented; using phosphorus amidite L1 as ligand, aminations provided ee values of up to 97% and alkylations of up to 90%.     

Dirhodium tetracarboxylates derived from adamantylglycine as chiral catalysts for enantioselective C-h aminations

The dirhodium tetracarboxylate, Rh(2)(S-TCPTAD)(4), derived from adamantylglycine, is an effective chiral catalyst for both inter- and intramolecular C-H aminations. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of chiral titanium-containing phosphinoamide ligands for enantioselective heterobimetallic catalysis

The synthesis of six chiral titanium-containing phosphinoamide ligands is discussed. These ligands assemble chiral heterobimetallic Pd–Ti complexes, enable enantioselective intramolecular allylic aminations with hindered amine nucleophiles and achieve selectivity up to 53% ee. Mechanistic studies demonstrate the reversibility of the enantio-determining C–N bond forming step, which leads to a gradual increase in the % ee of the reaction over time. These results represent a rare example of enantioselective heterobimetallic catalysis and suggest that these new ligands could find broad application in enantioselective transition metal catalysis.     

Dual catalyst control in the enantioselective intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction has been achieved with unprecedented levels of enantioselectivity. Using a co-catalyst system involving pipecolinic acid and N-methylimidazole, cyclic MBH products have been obtained with enantiomer ratios of 92:8 (84% ee). In addition, reactions may be carried out with a "kinetic resolution quench" involving acetic anhydride and an asymmetric acylation catalyst such that ee enhancement occurs to deliver products with >98% ee with an isolated yield of 50%. [reaction: see text]     

Palladium/BINAP(S)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination

The enantioselective allylic amination of acyclic allylic carbonates catalyzed by a palladium/(S)-BINAP(S) system was investigated. Amination of several substrates proceeded with high ee. Crotyl carbonates show an unusually high regioselectivity for the branched isomer. The use of (S)-TolBINAP(S) and (S)-3,5-xylyl-BINAP(S) as ligands was found to increase the enantioselectivity of the aminations. A P,S binding mode of the BINAP(S) ligand was found in an X-ray crystallographic study. [reaction: see text]     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 1,1'-spirobi[indan-3,3'-dione] via a double intramolecular C-H insertion process

A highly efficient one-pot construction of optically active 1,1'-spirobi[indan-3,3'-dione] derivative (up to 80% ee) has been achieved by exploiting the double intramolecular C-H insertion reaction of dimethyl 2,2'-methylenebis(alpha-diazo-beta-oxobenzenepropanoate) under the influence of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-phthaloyl-(R or S)-tert-leucinate] as a catalyst.     

Enantioselective intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition reactions of 4-substituted quinolones catalyzed by a chiral sensitizer with a hydrogen-bonding motif

Six 2-quinolones, which bear a terminal alkene linked by a three- or four-membered tether to carbon atom C4 of the quinolone, were synthesized and subjected to an intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition. The reaction delivered the respective products in high yields (78-99%) and with good regioselectivity in favor of the straight isomer. If conducted in the presence of a chiral hydrogen-bonding template (2.5 equiv) at low temperature in toluene as the solvent, the reaction proceeded enantioselectively (83-94% ee). An organocatalytic reaction was achieved when employing a chiral hydrogen-bonding template with an attached sensitizing unit (benzophenone or xanthone). The xanthone-based organocatalyst proved to be superior as compared to the respective benzophenone. Closer inspection revealed that the reaction of 4-(pent-4-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a six-membered ring, annelated to the cyclobutane, was less enantioselective (up to 41% ee with 30 mol % catalyst) than the reaction of 4-(but-3-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a five-membered ring (90% ee with 5 mol % and 94% ee with 20 mol % catalyst). Photophysical data (emission spectra, laser flash photolysis experiments) proved that the latter photocycloaddition was significantly faster, supporting the idea that the dissociation of the substrate from the catalyst prior to the photocycloaddition is responsible for the decreased enantioselectivity. Under optimized conditions, employing 10 mol % of the xanthone-based organocatalyst at -25 °C in trifluorotoluene as the solvent, three of the other four substrates gave the intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition products with high enantioselectivities (72-87% ee). In all catalyzed reactions, the yields based on conversion were moderate to good (40-93%).     

Ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed intramolecular carbenoid C[bond]H insertion. Stereoselective synthesis of cis-disubstituted oxygen and nitrogen heterocycles

[reaction: see text] A ruthenium porphyrin-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular carbenoid C[bond]H insertion is described. Using [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)] as catalyst, aryl tosylhydrazones are converted to 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, 2,3-dihydroindoles, and beta-lactams in good yields and remarkable cis selectivity (up to 99%). Enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans is also achieved with [Ru(II)(D(4)-Por*)(CO)] as catalyst, and up to 96% ee is attained.     

Dirhodium tetracarboxylate derived from adamantylglycine as a chiral catalyst for carbenoid reactions

[reaction: see text] The dirhodium tetracarboxylate, Rh2(S-PTAD)4, derived from adamantylglycine, is a very effective chiral catalyst for carbenoid reactions. High asymmetric induction was obtained in Rh2(S-PTAD)4-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion (94% ee), intermolecular cyclopropanation (99% ee), and intermolecular C-H insertion (92% ee).     

Thiourea-catalyzed asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with nitroolefins

A chiral thiourea catalyst possessing an amine function catalyzes an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to nitroolefins to provide highly functionalized pyrrolidines with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 98:1:1 dr, 92% ee). The reaction proceeds in a stepwise manner consisting of Michael addition and subsequent intramolecular aza-Henry reaction. Both reactions are promoted by the thiourea catalyst, and the reaction rate of the latter step is efficiently enhanced by the addition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.     

Enantioselective synthesis of P-stereogenic benzophospholanes via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization

Enantioselective or diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization of functionalized secondary phosphines or their borane adducts catalyzed by chiral Pd(diphosphine) complexes gave P-stereogenic benzophospholanes in up to 70% ee. These results provide a new method for the synthesis of chiral phospholanes, which are valuable ligands in asymmetric catalysis. [reaction: see text]     

Catalytic asymmetric intramolecular aminopalladation: improved palladium(II) catalysts

[reaction: see text] Cobalt oxazoline palladacyclic (COP) complex 4 containing acetate as a bridging ligand is an excellent catalyst for asymmetric intramolecular aminopalladation to synthesize 4-vinyloxazolidin-2-ones in 91-98% ee. In contrast to previously reported Pd(II) catalysts, COP-OAc (4) promotes the asymmetric cyclization of (Z)-allylic N-tosylcarbamates without prior activation by silver salts.     

Catalytic enantioselective amination of silyl enol ethers using chiral dirhodium(II) carboxylates: asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-metazocine

Dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrafluorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh2(S-TFPTTL)4, is an exceptionally efficient catalyst for enantioselective aminations of silyl enol ethers derived from acyclic ketones or alpha,beta-enones with [N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (NsN=IPh), providing N-(2-nitrophenylsulfonyl)-alpha-amino ketones in high yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 95% ee. The effectiveness of the present catalytic protocol has been demonstrated by an asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-metazocine.     

Catalytic enantioselective carboncarbon bond formation by addition of dialkylzinc reagents to cyclic 1,3-diene monoepoxides

Chiral copper complexes of 2,2′-binaphthyl-based phosphorus amidites are shown to be highly effective catalysts for the conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to vinyloxiranes. The corresponding allylic alcohol reaction products (S_N2′-pathway) were obtained with moderate to high regioselectivity. Both direct- (S_N2-pathway) and conjugate-opening addition (S_N2′-pathway) seem to proceed with complete anti stereoselectivity. The enantioselectivity of these addition reactions according to a kinetic resolution protocol turned out to be high (>90% ee) with 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 1,3-cycloheptadiene monoepoxides.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of the 1-epi-aglycon of the cripowellins A and B

[structure: see text] The unusual [5.3.2]-bicyclic structure of the insecticidal Amaryllidaceae alkaloids cripowellin A (1) and B (2) has been synthesized for the first time via a sequence of Sharpless dihydroxylation, ring-closing metathesis, and intramolecular Heck reaction. The asymmetric synthesis of the 1-epi-aglycon 82 proceeds with virtually complete diastereo- and enantioselectivity (de, ee > or = 98%) in 13 steps and an overall yield of 5.6%. In addition, three alternative approaches toward the aglycon 3 are also described focusing on (1) the alkylation of the 2-benzazepinedithianes 35 and 36 with the electrophile 11, (2) a radical cyclization of the precursor (R/S,S,S)-39, and (3) an intramolecular arylation reaction of the aryl ketone 47.     

Enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation of α-diazo-β-keto sulfones: asymmetric synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes and tricyclo[4.4.0.0]decenes

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of some new chiral building blocks useful for natural product synthesis is described. The intramolecular cyclopropanation (IMCP) reaction of α-diazo-β-keto sulfones affording bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes such as 9a-d is found to proceed with high enantioselectivity (93-98% ee). The yield is moderate due to the competing intramolecular C-H insertion reaction. As intramolecular C-H insertion reaction is not observed in the reaction of the substrates possessing a quaternary carbon at the allylic position, the reactions of 19a and 19b proceed with high enantioselectivity (95% ee) and yield. It was also found that the substrates possessing an ether group, such as 19a and 19b, could be used in this enantioselective IMCP reaction.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Indoline from Achiral Phthalimide Involving Crystallization-Induced Deracemization

Asymmetric synthesis was performed by combining the photochemical reaction of an achiral substrate followed by crystallization-induced deracemization. The results indicated that a fused indoline produced by photochemical intramolecular δ-hydrogen abstraction and cyclization of N-(5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)phthalimide crystallized as a racemic conglomerate. Since this substrate has an aminal skeleton, racemization involving a ring-opening and ring-closing equilibrium process occurred under suitable conditions. Efficient racemization was observed in acetone containing a catalytic base, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). Crystallization-induced dynamic deracemization by Viedma ripening from racemic indoline was performed with an excellent enantioselectivity of 99 % ee. Furthermore, one-pot asymmetric synthesis of the indoline was achieved by the photochemical reaction of achiral phthalimide followed by continuous attrition-enhanced deracemization converging to 99 % ee of enantiomeric crystals. This is the first example of asymmetric expression and amplification by photochemical hydrogen abstraction and crystallization-induced dynamic deracemization.     

Chemo‐ and Enantioselective Intramolecular Silver‐Catalyzed Aziridinations

Asymmetric nitrene‐transfer reactions are a powerful tool for the preparation of enantioenriched amine building blocks. Reported herein are chemo‐ and enantioselective silver‐catalyzed aminations which transform di‐ and trisubstituted homoallylic carbamates into [4.1.0]‐carbamate‐tethered aziridines in good yields and with ee values of up to 92 %. The effects of the substrate, silver counteranion, ligand, solvent, and temperature on both the chemoselectivity and ee value were explored. Stereochemical models were proposed to rationalize the observed absolute stereochemistry of the aziridines, which undergo nucleophilic ring opening to yield enantioenriched amines with no erosion in stereochemical integrity.     

Total synthesis of (+)-cocaine via desymmetrization of a meso-dialdehyde

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of (+)-cocaine is described. An extension of the recently reported proline catalyzed intramolecular enol-exo-aldol reaction to a meso-dialdehyde provided the tropane ring skeleton directly with good enantiomeric excess. The meso-dialdehyde was prepared using a 2-azaallyllithium [3 + 2] cycloaddition to generate a cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine. Overall, the synthesis proceeded in 6.5% yield and 86% ee over 14 linear steps starting from commercially available 3-benzyloxy-1-propanol.