New planar chiral P,N-ligands containing tricarbonyl(arene)chromium for enantioselective asymmetric hydroboration of styrenes

Optically active (1,2-disubstituted arene) chromium tricarbonyl complexes 2A–2D with a pyridyl and a phosphorus group in the two ortho benzylic positions have been stereoselectively synthesized from a commercially available (+)-(4,6-O-benzylidene)methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside. These chromium complexes have been used as chiral ligands in the preparation of rhodium catalysts for the hydroboration of styrene derivatives. High enantioselectivities were observed in the hydroboration of vinylarenes.     

Stereochemistry of the Diels–Alder reaction at high pressure: diastereo- and enantioselective [4+2]cycloaddition of buta-1,3-diene to glyoxylic acid derivatives catalysed by (salen) chromium(III) complexes

High-pressure [4+2]cycloadditions of buta-1,3-diene 1 to chiral 2a–c and achiral 7a–c glyoxylates, in the presence of (salen) chromium(III) complexes 5 and 6, were studied. The influence of such chiral Lewis acids on diastereoselectivity or enantioselectivity of the cycloaddition was investigated; a moderate asymmetric induction for both diastereo- and enantioselective variants of the cycloaddition was observed (up to 58% de and up to 71% ee, respectively).     

8-Amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines as ligands in iridium(III) catalysts for the reduction of aryl ketones by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH)

Aqua iridium(III) complexes with 8-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines CAMPY L1 and its derivatives as chiral ligands proved to be very efficient catalysts for the reduction of a wide range of prochiral aryl ketones, revealing a variety of behaviours in terms of reaction rate and stereoselectivity. As standard substrates, differently substituted acetophenones were studied and good enantioselectivity (86% ee) was achieved in the reduction of 1-(o-tolyl)ethan-1-one 6. Particularly interesting was the ATH reaction in the case of β-amino keto esters, precursors of β-lactams and azetidinones. The best results were obtained with [Cp¹Ir(H₂O)(L1)]SO₄ affording the corresponding diastereomeric alcohols in an (R,S)-configuration with an excellent 99% ee in the reduction of 2-(benzamido methyl)-3-oxo-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propanoate 12.     

Enantioselective arylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a soluble optically active polybinaphthols ligand

A soluble chiral polymer ligand was synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-6,6′-dibutyl-3,3′-diformyl-2,2′-binaphthol (R-M-1) with 2,5-diaminopyridine (M-2) via a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. While arylboronic acids were used as the source of the transferable aryl group, the chiral polybinaphthols ligand in combination with Et₂Zn without Ti(OⁱPr)₄ exhibited higher enantioselectivity in asymmetric addition to aromatic aldehydes than alphatic aldehydes. When aromatic aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups were chosen as substrates, the resulting diarylmethanols were produced in higher ee values than those with electron-donating groups as substrates. 2-Naphthaldehyde used as a substrate afforded product in 95% ee, which could be ascribed to the steric effect influence on this asymmetric arylation reaction. Moreover, the chiral polymer was easily recovered and reused, but exhibited a decrease of enantioselectivity in the third recycle.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade C−H Functionalization/Asymmetric Allylation Reaction of Aryl α-Diazoamides and Allenes: Lewis Acid Makes a Difference

A Pd-catalyzed cascade C−H functionalization/asymmetric allylation reaction with aryl α-diazoamides and allenes has been developed. The reaction provides an efficient approach to construct chiral 3,3-disubstituted oxindole derivatives in high levels of yield and enantioselectivity (up to 93 % ee). Notably, the chromium complex works as Lewis acid to facilitate the formation of palladium carbene and to enhance acidity of carboxylic acid, allowing for higher stereochemical control and efficiency.     

Switched enantioselectivity by solvent components and temperature in photocyclodimerization of 2-anthracenecarboxylate with 6~A,6~X-diguanidio-γ-cyclodextrins

A series of 6A,6X-diguanidio-g-cyclodextrins (CDs) were synthesized as chiral hosts for mediating the enantiodifferentiating[4+4] photocyclodimerization of 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid (AC). Variation of the temperature and the ammonia contents led to greatly enhanced head-to-head photodimers 3 and 4, companying by inversion of product chirality.     

Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral benzamides and anilides utilizing planar chiral arene chromium complexes

Optically active axially chiral 2,6-disubstituted benzamides and anilides were stereoselectively prepared by utilizing planar chiral (arene)chromium complexes. Nucleophilic addition to enantiomerically pure planar chiral tricarbonyl(N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-6-formyl- (or 6-acyl)benzamide)chromium complex gave axially chiral 2-methyl-6-substituted N,N-diethyl benzamide chromium complexes with high selectivity. An alternative method for the preparation of axial chiral benzamides or anilides is an enantiotopic lithiation at the benzylic methyl of prochiral tricarbonylchromium complexes of N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylbenzamide and N-methyl-N-acyl-2,6-dimethylaniline with a chiral lithium amide followed by electrophilic substitution. The resulting axially chiral chromium-complexed benzamides and anilides were oxidized in air to give chromium-free axially chiral benzamides and anilides in enantiomerically enriched form without axial bond rotation at room temperature.     

Origin of enantioselectivity with heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp) ligands in palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution

A series of new chiral heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands 3a-c, 6 were readily prepared from cheap and easily available (R)-cysteine and l-(+)-methionine. A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate was used as a model reaction to examine the catalytic efficiencies of these aziridine sulfide ligands, and ligand 3b afforded the enantioselectivity of up to 91% ee. The origin of enantioselectivity for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands was first rationalized based on X-ray crystallographic data, and NMR spectroscopic data for relevant intermediate palladium allylic complexes. Our results demonstrated that the sulfur atom was a better π-allyl acceptor than the nitrogen atom for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands, and the steric as well electronic properties of the palladium allylic complexes were crucial for the enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands and enantioselective hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters by chiral metallomicelles

Seven novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized by coupling of 6-alkoxymethyl-2-chloromethylpyridine 3 with the corresponding chiral β-amino alcohols or l-cysteine. Their metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of N-protected α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution. The results indicate that the hydrophobic interactions between substrate and metallocatalyst, the rigidity of the ligand, the hydroxyl group of the ligand acting as a nucleophile for the transacylation process, and the micellar microenvironment are important factors for the activity and enantioselectivity. Large rate accelerations (up to three orders of magnitude) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 7.81 (k_R/k_S)) employing 4a–Cu²⁺ have been observed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of new chiral long chain alcohols

Sixteen new chiral alcohols with alkyl (C₁₁–C₁₉) and aryl, substituted aryl, hetero aryl and biaryl groups 2a–2t were synthesized by three different asymmetric reduction methods from their corresponding ketones 1a–1t. Chiral NaBH₄ (method A), chiral BH₃ (method B) and chiral AIP (method C) were used as asymmetric reduction catalysts. Chiral NaBH₄ was modified by four different ligands 3a–3d, chiral BH₃ and chiral AIP by four different ligands 4a–4d. Ligand 4c was synthesized for the first time in this work. Chiral NaBH₄ generated chiral alcohols of (R)-configuration and chiral BH₃ and chiral AIP of (S)-configuration with high enantiomeric excesses, were analysed by chiral HPLC. In order to determine the ee values by chiral HPLC, sixteen corresponding racemic alcohols, synthesized by reducing their corresponding ketones via NaBH₄, were used for chiral resolution on a Daicel OD HPLC column. The sixteen starting ketones were synthesized in this study by Friedel–Craft acylation. The new chiral alcohols were characterized by IR, NMR, (¹H and ¹³C), MS, elemental analyses and specific rotation. The reduction methods A, B and C were applied to these ketones for the first time in this study and were compared with each other. The relationship between the structure of the ketone and the yield and the enantiomeric excess was discussed.     

Dendritic BINOL ligands for asymmetric catalysis: effect of the linking positions and generations of the dendritic wedges on catalyst properties

Three types of new chiral BINOL ligands (2, 3 and 4) bearing dendritic wedges have been synthesized through coupling reaction between 3-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (7), 6,6′-dihydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (12), 6-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (15) and Fréchet-type polyether dendritic benzyl bromide, followed by deprotection of methoxymethyl groups by ⁱPrOH/HCl, respectively. These new ligands obtained were assessed in enantioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Compared to the enantioselectivity observed with dendrimer 1 bearing the dendritic wedges at 3,3′-positions of the binaphthyl backbone, higher enantioselectivity for all these ligands was observed. Difference in the effect of linking positions and generations on enantioselectivity and/or activity for all three kinds of dendritic ligand-derived catalysts was observed. Among these dendritic ligands, (R)-3/Ti(IV) catalyst with the dendritic wedges at 6,6′-positions of BINOL gave the highest enantioselectivity (up to 87% ee).     

Synthesis of novel β-amino alcohols and their application in the catalytic asymmetric sulfoxidation of sulfides

Novel chiral norephedrine-based β-amino alcohol ligands containing a thiophene ring were prepared from norephedrine and substituted furan carbaldehydes (methyl- or ethyl-substituted) and used in combination with VO(acac)₂ for the asymmetric oxidation of aryl methyl sulfides using H₂O₂ as an oxidant. Amino alcohol derived Schiff bases 4,5a–b gave higher enantiomeric excesses than amino alcohol-derived reduced Schiff based ligands 6,7a–b. Of these chiral ligands, (1S,2R)-5b and (1S,2R)-7b gave high yields (90%) with moderate to high enantioselectivities (78%, 96% ee, respectively). The oxidation of other aryl methyl sulfides with (1S,2R)-5b and (1S,2R)-7b as ligands afforded the corresponding sulfoxides in 60–89% yields and with 92–99% ee.     

Chiral diaminophosphine ligands with stable C(aryl)N(amine) axial chirality derived from prolinol

New type chiral ligands 3, which have a chiral carbon center and stable C(aryl)-N(amine) axial chirality, were prepared from chiral prolinol-derived aminophosphine oxide 4. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate (6) with a dimethyl malonate-BSA-LiOAc system was successfully carried out in the presence of 3d resulting in a good yield with good enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee).     

The enantioselective diethylzinc addition to imines catalyzed by chiral Cu(II)–oxazoline complexes

A series of copper complexes of chiral bisoxazolines has been applied in the catalytic diethylzinc addition to N-sulfonyl imines. It has been found that the tridentate ligands 3–5 provided higher enantioselectivity than bidentate ones. Addition of 4 Å molecular sieves to the reaction system benefits the enantioselectivity. The optimal procedure for diethylzinc addition to different imines resulted in moderate yields and enantioselectivities of up to 82% ee.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of racemic tricarbonyl(η-aryl ketone)chromium complexes using transfer hydrogenation: A simple alternative to the resolution of planar chiral organometallics

Racemic planar chiral (η⁶-aryl ketone)Cr(CO)₃ complexes (aryl ketone = 1-indanone, 1-tetralone, 4-chromanone and thiochroman-4-one) were prepared by refluxing the aryl ketone with Cr(CO)₆ in a 10:1 mixture of dibutyl ether and THF. The reductions of the organometallic ketones by transfer hydrogenation in 2-propanol containing KOH and the catalyst precursor, generated from [RuCl₂(η⁶-benzene)]₂ and (−)-ephedrine, resulted in optically active syn-(R,S)-(η⁶-aryl alcohol)Cr(CO)₃ and (R)-(η⁶-aryl ketone)Cr(CO)₃ compounds in 31-97% ee. Reduction of racemic (η⁶-thiochroman-4-one)Cr(CO)₃ with the catalyst precursor generated from (+)-norephedrine, instead of (−)-ephedrine, inverted the configuration of the products obtained. Syn-(S,R)-(η⁶-thiochroman-4-ol)Cr(CO)₃ and (S)-(η⁶-thiochroman-4-one)-Cr(CO)₃ were isolated in 49% and >95% ee, respectively. The free aryl ketones were reduced using the same conditions as their respective chromium complexes, giving aryl alcohols in high ee (>95%). Reactions of non-rigid acetophenone, propriophenone and their tricarbonylchromium complexes resulted in moderate to low ee.     

A chiral primary-tertiary-1,2-diamine as an efficient catalyst in asymmetric aldehyde–ketone or ketone–ketone aldol reactions

A novel chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivative, (1R,2R)-N¹-n-pentyl, N¹-benzyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, was designed, synthesized and applied as a catalyst in a number of aldol reactions between ketones and aryl aldehydes. Reactions between acetone and aryl aldehydes gave aldol products with moderate to good yields and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to yield 85%, ee 98%), while reactions between cyclohexanone and aryl aldehydes provided anti-β-hydroxyketone products with excellent yields, diastereoselectivity and with enantioselectivity (up to 82% yield, anti/syn ratio 99:1, ee 99%). The aldol reactions between acetone and isatins were investigated, which afforded excellent yields and enantioselectivity (up to 95% yield, 98% ee). The (R)- and (S)-isomers of convolutamydine A were obtained with 95% yield and 96% ee, and 95% yield and 94% ee, respectively.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes catalyzed by γ-amino alcohols derived from (+)- and (−)-α-pinene

Primary, secondary and tertiary γ-amino alcohols 4, 5, 7 and 9 and 1,3-diamine 6 were synthesized from (+)- and (−)-α-pinene 1 via chiral N-Boc β-amino ester 3a and carboxamide 3b. The amino alcohols and diamine obtained were applied as chiral catalysts in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes, resulting in chiral 1-aryl-1-propanols. The first evidence of the substituent-dependent enantioselectivity of 1,3-amino alcohol catalysts was observed, and the phenomenon interpreted by using molecular modelling at the ab initio level.     

Synthesis and recognition properties of α-d-glucose-based fluorescent crown ethers incorporating an acridine unit

Two new chiral glucopyranoside-based crown ethers incorporating acridine fluorescent signalling units, 15-membered ligand 1 and 21-membered ligand 2 were synthesized. Their complexation properties toward alkali and alkali earth metal ions, and their enantioselectivity towards chiral ammonium salts were studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic experiments. Macrocycle 1 formed 1:1 complexes with all the metal ions selected and the stability constants were low (lg K < 2.3). The cavity-size of 2 allowed only the complexaton of organic ammonium ions. Crown 2 showed chiral discrimination in case of all the four ammonium salts used as model guest compounds; the highest enantioselectivity (K(R)/K(S) ~3) was observed for the enantiomers of phenylethyl ammonium perchlorate. Ligand 2 forms much more stable complexes with metal ions; the highest stability constant was obtained for the Ca²⁺ complex (lg K = 6.15). The coordination of metal ions by ligand 2 was accompanied by marked fluorescence enhancement, whereas the binding of ammonium ions by the same species resulted in significant fluorescence quenching.     

The high-pressure [4+2]cycloaddition of 1-methoxybuta-1,3-diene to the glycolaldehyde-derived heterodienophiles,catalyzed by chiral metallosalen complexes

A high-pressure (ca. 10 kbar) reaction of 1-methoxybuta-1,3-diene 1 with variously O-protected glycolaldehydes 2, catalyzed by the chiral (salen)Cr(III)Cl 4a–d and 5 or (salen)Co(II) 6a–f and 7 complexes, has been studied. The best results were obtained for tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde 2a. The reaction afforded, in good yield (up to 90%) and with very good diastereoselectivity (up to 92%) and enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee), the [4+2]cycloadducts 3a, which are compounds of significant synthetic interest. The stereochemical model of the cycloaddition reaction is discussed.     

The absolute configuration of an inherently chiral phosphonatocavitand and its use toward the enantioselective recognition of l-adrenaline

An inherently chiral ABii diphosphonato cavitand (±)-4 bearing a single quinoxaline bridging moiety was synthesized and resolved by chiral HPLC. Its chiroptical properties were investigated and VCD experiments allowed the determination of its absolute configuration. Distinguishable diastereomeric complexes in solution with l-adrenaline were observed by ¹H and ³¹P NMR together with a noticeable enantio-discrimination at 253 K (dr ～2:1) in favor of the dextrorotatory cavitand (+)-4.