Computer-aided design of chiral ligands. Part III. A novel ligand for asymmetric allylation designed using computational techniques

[reaction: see text] Computer-aided design protocols to identify new chiral ligands for reactions proceeding through well-defined transition states are outlined. Ligand families are discovered via computational screening of large structural databases such as the Cambridge Structural Database. Using this method, a novel cis-decalin ligand has been identified as a chiral auxiliary for the allylboration of aldehydes. Synthesis, resolution, and evaluation revealed that this new auxiliary provided the aldehyde facial approach upon which the design was predicated.     

Halide effects in transition metal catalysis

Among the most common ligands found on transition metal catalysts are halide ions. Of the commercially available catalysts or pre-catalysts, most are halo-metal complexes. In recent years, manipulation of this metal-halide functionality has revealed that this can be used as a highly valuable method of tuning the reactivity of the complex. Variation of the halide ligand will usually not alter the nature of the system to the extent that it becomes unreactive but will impart sufficiently large changes that differences in reactivity or selectivity occur. These differences are a product of the steric and electronic properties of the halide ligand which has the ability to donate electron density to the metal occurs in a predictable manner. Despite the common perception in asymmetric catalysis that halide ligands are of secondary importance compared to chiral ligands, halide ligands have been found to exert dramatic effects on the enantioselectivity of asymmetric transformations. While the mechanism of action is known for relatively few of the cases, many intriguing and potentially synthetically useful trends are apparent. This review discusses the physical properties of the halides and their effects on stoichiometric and catalytic transition metal processes. The metal-halide moiety thus emerges as a tunable functionality on the transition metal catalyst that can be used in the development of new catalytic systems.     

Origin of enantioselectivity in the propargylation of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by helical N-oxides

The enantioselective propargylation of aromatic aldehydes with allenyltrichlorosilanes catalyzed by bipyridine N-oxides was explored using density functional theory. Low-lying transition states for a highly enantioselective helical bipyridine N-oxide catalyst [Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 1654] were characterized at the B97-D/TZV(2d,2p) level of theory. Predicted free energy barrier height differences are in agreement with experimental ee's for the propargylation of benzaldehyde and substituted analogues. The origin of enantioselectivity was pinpointed through distortion-interaction analyses. The stereoselectivity arises in part from through-space electrostatic interactions of the carbonyl carbon with the Cl ligands bound to Si, rather than noncovalent aryl-aryl interactions between the aromatic aldehyde and the helix as previously proposed. Moreover, aryl-aryl interactions between the aldehyde and helix are predicted to favor transition states leading to the R enantiomer, and ultimately reduce the enantioselectivity of this reaction. (S)-2,2'-bipyridine N-oxide was studied as a model catalyst in order to quantify the inherent enantioselectivity arising from different chiral arrangements of ligands around the hexacoordinate silicon in the stereocontrolling transition state for these reactions. The predicted selectivities arising from different chiral octahedral silicon complexes provide guidelines for the development of transition state models for N-oxide-based alkylation catalysts.     

Density functional theory study of the mechanism and origins of stereoselectivity in the asymmetric Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation with Charette chiral dioxaborolane ligand

Asymmetric Simmons-Smith reaction using Charette chiral dioxaborolane ligand is a widely applied method for the construction of enantiomerically enriched cyclopropanes. The detailed mechanism and the origins of stereoselectivity of this important reaction were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our computational studies suggest that, in the traditional Simmons-Smith reaction conditions, the monomeric iodomethylzinc allyloxide generated in situ from the allylic alcohol and the zinc reagent has a strong tendency to form a dimer or a tetramer. The tetramer can easily undergo an intramolecular cyclopropanation to give the racemic cyclopropane product. However, when a stoichiometric amount of Charette chiral dioxaborolane ligand is employed, monomeric iodomethylzinc allyloxide is converted into an energetically more stable four-coordinated chiral zinc/ligand complex. The chiral complex has the zinc bonded to the CH(2)I group and coordinated by three oxygen atoms (one from the allylic alcohol and the other two oxygen atoms from the carbonyl oxygen and the ether oxygen in the dioxaborolane ligand), and it can undergo the cyclopropanation reaction easily. Three key factors influencing the enantioselectivity have been identified through examining the cyclopropanation transition states: (1) the torsional strain along the forming C-C bond, (2) the 1,3-allylic strain caused by the chain conformation, and (3) the ring strain generated in the transition states. In addition, the origin of the high anti diastereoselectivity for the substituent on the zinc reagent and the hydroxymethyl group of the allylic alcohol has been rationalized through analyzing the steric repulsion and the ring strain in the cyclopropanation transition states.     

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α‐Alkoxyamides to α‐Fluorinated Ketones

α‐Oxygen‐functionalized amides found particular utility as enolate surrogates for direct aldol couplings with α‐fluorinated ketones in a catalytic manner. Because of the likely involvement of open transition states, both syn‐ and anti‐aldol adducts can be accessed with high enantioselectivity by judicious choice of the chiral ligands. A broad variety of alkoxy substituents on the amides and aryl and fluoroalkyl groups on the ketone were tolerated, and the corresponding substrates delivered a range of enantioenriched fluorinated 1,2‐dihydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives with divergent diastereoselectivity depending on the ligand used. The amide moiety of the aldol adduct was transformed into a variety of functional groups without protection of the tertiary alcohol, showcasing the synthetic utility of the present asymmetric aldol process.     

Metal-mediated dihydrogen activation. What determines the transition-state geometry?

Density functional theory and absolutely localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis calculations were used to calculate and analyze dihydrogen activation transition states and reaction pathways. Analysis of a variety of transition-metal complexes with d(0), d(6), d(8), and d(10) orbital occupation with a diverse range of metal ligands reveals that for transition states, akin to dihydrogen σ complexes, there is a continuum of activated H-H bond lengths that can be classified as "dihydrogen" (0.8-1.0 ?), "stretched or elongated" (1.0-1.2 ?), and "compressed dihydride" (1.2-1.6 ?). These calculations also quantitatively for the first time reveal that the extent to which H(2) is activated in the transition-structure geometry depends on back-bonding orbital interactions and not forward-bonding orbital interactions. This is true regardless of the mechanism or whether the metal ligand complex acts as an electrophile, ambiphile, or nucleophile toward dihydrogen.     

Automated Quantum Mechanical Predictions of Enantioselectivity in a Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A computational toolkit (AARON: An automated reaction optimizer for new catalysts) is described that automates the density functional theory (DFT) based screening of chiral ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed reactions with well-defined reaction mechanisms but multiple stereocontrolling transition states. This is demonstrated for the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-β-aryl-N-acetyl enamides, for which a new C₂-symmetric phosphorus ligand is designed.     

Automated Quantum Mechanical Predictions of Enantioselectivity in a Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A computational toolkit (AARON: An automated reaction optimizer for new catalysts) is described that automates the density functional theory (DFT) based screening of chiral ligands for transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions with well‐defined reaction mechanisms but multiple stereocontrolling transition states. This is demonstrated for the Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (E )‐β‐aryl‐N ‐acetyl enamides, for which a new C ₂‐symmetric phosphorus ligand is designed.     

Nanosheet‐Enhanced Enantioselectivity in the Vanadium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of Allylic Alcohols

The use of suitable chiral ligands is an efficient means of producing highly enantioselective transition‐metal catalysts. Herein, we report a facile, economic, and effective strategy for the design of chiral ligands that demonstrate enhanced enantioselectivity and catalytic efficacy. Our simple strategy employs naturally occurring or synthetic inorganic nanosheets as huge and rigid planar substituents for, but not limited to, naturally available α‐amino‐acid ligands; these ligands were successfully used in the vanadium‐catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols. The crucial role of the inorganic nanosheets as planar substituents in improving the enantioselectivity of the reaction was clearly revealed by relating the observed enantiomeric excess with the distribution of the catalytic centers and the accessibility of the substrate molecules to the catalytic sites. DFT calculations indicated that the LDH layer improved the enantioselectivity by influencing the formation and stability of the catalytic transition states, both in terms of steric resistance and H‐bonding interactions.     

A modular approach to structurally diverse bidentate chelate ligands for transition metal catalysis

A modular approach to a new class of structurally diverse bidentate P/N, P/P, P/S, and P/Se chelate ligands has been developed. Starting from hydroquinone, various ligands were synthesized in a divergent manner via orthogonally bis-protected bromohydroquinones as the central building block. The first donor functionality (L1) is introduced to the aromatic (hydroquinone) ligand backbone either by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling (Suzuki coupling) with hetero-aryl bromides, by Pd-catalyzed amination, or by lithiation and subsequent treatment with electrophiles (e.g., chlorophosphanes, disulfides, diselenides, or carbamoyl chlorides). After selective deprotection, the second ligand tooth (L2) is attached by reaction of the phenolic OH functionality with a chlorophosphane, a chlorophosphite, or a related reagent. Some of the resulting chelate ligands were converted into the respective PdX2 complexes (X = Cl, I), two of which were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The methodology developed opens an access to a broad variety of new chiral and achiral transition metal complexes and is generally suited for the solid-phase synthesis of combinatorial libraries, as will be reported separately.     

Nanosheet-enhanced enantioselectivity in the vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols

The use of suitable chiral ligands is an efficient means of producing highly enantioselective transition-metal catalysts. Herein, we report a facile, economic, and effective strategy for the design of chiral ligands that demonstrate enhanced enantioselectivity and catalytic efficacy. Our simple strategy employs naturally occurring or synthetic inorganic nanosheets as huge and rigid planar substituents for, but not limited to, naturally available α-amino-acid ligands; these ligands were successfully used in the vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols. The crucial role of the inorganic nanosheets as planar substituents in improving the enantioselectivity of the reaction was clearly revealed by relating the observed enantiomeric excess with the distribution of the catalytic centers and the accessibility of the substrate molecules to the catalytic sites. DFT calculations indicated that the LDH layer improved the enantioselectivity by influencing the formation and stability of the catalytic transition states, both in terms of steric resistance and H-bonding interactions.     

Origin of enantioselectivity in the asymmetric Ru-catalyzed metathesis of olefins

The mechanism of enantioselectivity in the asymmetric Ru-catalyzed metathesis of olefins is investigated with a theoretical approach. The models are based on the chiral N-heterocyclic (NHC)-based catalysts developed by Grubbs. Our analysis indicates that the origin of enantioselectivity in the ring-closing metathesis of achiral trienes is correlated to the chiral folding of the N-bonded aromatic groups, which is imposed by the Ph groups in positions 4 and 5 of the imidazole ring of the NHC ligand. This chiral folding of the catalyst imposes a chiral orientation around the Ru=C bond, which, in turn, selects between the two enantiofaces of the substrate. In the ring-closing transition state, the geometry in which additional groups on the forming ring are in pseudoequatorial positions is favored over transition states in which this additional group is in a pseudoaxial position. These combined effects rationalize the enantiomeric excesses experimentally obtained.     

Understanding the catalytic role of flexible chiral δ-amino alcohols: the 1-(2-aminoethyl)norbornan-2-ol model

An empiric first approach to the knowledge about the structural factors influencing the catalytic behavior of conformationally flexible δ-amino-alcohol-based ligands, for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to prochiral carbonyl groups, has been applied using the 1-(2-aminoethyl)norbornan-2-ol moiety as the model chiral system, and the asymmetrically catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde as the test reaction. For this purpose, a selected small library of seven norbornane-based chiral ligands, bearing well-defined structural variations to allow a comparative study, that is, variation of the relative configuration and steric hindrance at the C(2), C(3) and/or C(7) norbornane positions, has been synthesized and probed in the mentioned test reaction. The experimental results obtained have been rationalized empirically using diastereomeric Noyori-like transition states, demonstrating that the conformational flexibility of the δ-amino-alcohol ligands, contrary to the more studied and rigid β-amino-alcohols, plays a crucial role on the catalytic behavior of such ligands (stereochemical sense and degree of the stereodifferentiation in the asymmetric process), which makes such structural factors, important for the improved design of new related chiral catalysts. In this sense, a robust crude empirical model for the prediction of the catalytic behavior of such δ-amino-alcohol-based ligands is proposed.     

Palladium catalyzed asymmetric sulfonylation mediated chiral β-hydroxy- and β-(o-diphenylphosphino)benzoyloxy (o-diphenyl phosphino)benzamides

The palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic sulfonylation reaction has been investigated employing β-hydroxy- and β-(o-diphenylphosphino)benzoyloxy (o-diphenyl phosphino)benzamides as chiral, non-racemic ligands. The bisphosphine β-benzoyloxybenzamide ligands proved to be the best ligands for this process. Competitive transition states for the (1S,2R)-norephedrine derived ligand 14 are compared and a rationale is provided for the observed enantioselectivities.     

De novo synthesis of Tamiflu via a catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-aziridines with TMSN3

An asymmetric ring-opening reaction of meso-aziridines with TMSN3 was developed using a catalyst prepared from Y(OiPr)3 and chiral ligand 2 in a 1:2 ratio. Excellent enantioselectivity was realized from a wide range of substrates with a practical catalyst loading. The products were efficiently converted to enantiomerically enriched 1,2-diamines, which are versatile chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals and chiral ligands. This reaction was applied to a catalytic asymmetric synthesis of Tamiflu, a very important anti-influenza drug containing a chiral 1,2-diamino functionality.     

Chiral and isomeric analysis by electrospray ionization and sonic spray ionization using the fixed-ligand kinetic method

The fixed-ligand version of the kinetic method has been used for chiral and for isomeric analysis by studying the dissociation kinetics of transition metal-bound trimeric cluster ions ([(M(II) + L(fixed)-H)(ref*)(An)](+), where M(II) is a transition metal, L fixed is a fixed (non-dissociating) ligand, ref* is a reference ligand and An is the analyte. The trimeric cluster ions are readily generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) or sonic spray ionization (SSI). The size of the fixed ligand, L- Phe-Gly-L-P he-Gly, is chosen based on previous results but with the inclusion of aromatic functionality to increase chiral recognition. Improved chiral/isomeric differentiation results from enhanced chiral/isomeric interactions (metal-ligand and ligand-ligand) due to the fixed ligand. As shown in the cases of chiral dipeptides (D-Ala-D-Ala/L-Ala-L-Ala), sugars (D/L-glucose, D/L-mannose) and isomeric tetrapeptides (L-Ala-Gly-Gly-Gly/Gly-Gly -Gly-L-Ala), improved chiral/isomeric discrimination by factors from three to six were obtained by the fixed ligand procedure. Chiral recognition is independent of the concentrations of the analyte, the reference ligand, the fixed ligand and the transition metal salt, a great advantage for practical applications. In addition to increased chiral distinction, the simplified dissociation kinetics also contribute to improved accuracy in chiral quantification, in comparison with data obtained by investigating the dissociation kinetics of simple trimeric cluster ions [M(II)(ref*)2(An) H](+). Accurate determination of enantiomeric excess (ee) is demonstrated by enantiomeric quantification of D-Ala-D-Ala/L-Ala-L-Ala down to 2% ee. Both ESI and SSI allow chiral quantification with similar accuracies. The performance of chiral analysis experiments is not limited to ion trapping devices such as quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometers by a hybrid quadrupole-time of flight (Q-ToF) mass spectrometer is shown to provide an alternative choice. The fixed-ligand kinetic method is not restricted to any particular kinds of isomers and, hence, represents a general procedure for improving molecular recognition and chiral analysis in the gas phase.     

Stereospecific Nucleophilic Substitution with Arylboronic Acids as Nucleophiles in the Presence of a CONH Group

Stereospecific nucleophilic substitution was achieved for the first time with arylboronic acids as nucleophiles. This transition‐metal‐free coupling between chiral α‐aryl‐α‐mesylated acetamides and arylboronic acids provided access to a series of chiral α,α‐diaryl acetamides with excellent enantioselectivity and moderate to good yields. The CONH functionality proved to be crucial for bridging the reactants and promoting the reaction. Efficient syntheses of a cannabinoid CB₁ receptor ligand, the antidepressant (S)‐diclofensine, and a key chiral building block of the inhibitor implitapide were successfully accomplished by using this method.     

Phosphoramidites: Privileged Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric catalysis with transition‐metal complexes is the basis for a vast array of stereoselective transformations and has changed the face of modern synthetic chemistry. Key to this success has been the design of chiral ligands to control the regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. Phosphoramidites have emerged as a highly versatile and readily accessible class of chiral ligands. Their modular structure enables the formation of ligand libraries and easy fine‐tuning for a specific catalytic reaction. Phosphoramidites frequently show exceptional levels of stereocontrol, and their monodentate nature is essential in combinatorial catalysis, where a ligand‐mixture approach is used. In this Review, recent developments in asymmetric catalysis with phosphoramidites used as ligands are discussed, with a focus on the formation of carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds.     

Structural and theoretical basis for ligand exchange on thiolate monolayer protected gold nanoclusters

Ligand exchange reactions are widely used for imparting new functionality on or integrating nanoparticles into devices. Thiolate-for-thiolate ligand exchange in monolayer protected gold nanoclusters has been used for over a decade; however, a firm structural basis of this reaction has been lacking. Herein, we present the first single-crystal X-ray structure of a partially exchanged Au(102)(p-MBA)(40)(p-BBT)(4) (p-MBA = para-mercaptobenzoic acid, p-BBT = para-bromobenzene thiol) with p-BBT as the incoming ligand. The crystal structure shows that 2 of the 22 symmetry-unique p-MBA ligand sites are partially exchanged to p-BBT under the initial fast kinetics in a 5 min timescale exchange reaction. Each of these ligand-binding sites is bonded to a different solvent-exposed Au atom, suggesting an associative mechanism for the initial ligand exchange. Density functional theory calculations modeling both thiol and thiolate incoming ligands postulate a mechanistic pathway for thiol-based ligand exchange. The discrete modification of a small set of ligand binding sites suggests Au(102)(p-MBA)(44) as a powerful platform for surface chemical engineering.     

Cooperative Catalysis of Metal and O?H⋅⋅⋅O/sp3‐C?H⋅⋅⋅O Two‐Point Hydrogen Bonds in Alcoholic Solvents: Cu‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Direct Alkynylation of Aldehydes with Terminal Alkynes

Catalyst–substrate hydrogen bonds in artificial catalysts usually occur in aprotic solvents, but not in protic solvents, in contrast to enzymatic catalysis. We report a case in which ligand–substrate hydrogen‐bonding interactions cooperate with a transition‐metal center in alcoholic solvents for enantioselective catalysis. Copper(I) complexes with prolinol‐based hydroxy amino phosphane chiral ligands catalytically promoted the direct alkynylation of aldehydes with terminal alkynes in alcoholic solvents to afford nonracemic secondary propargylic alcohols with high enantioselectivities. Quantum‐mechanical calculations of enantiodiscriminating transition states show the occurrence of a nonclassical sp³‐C? H???O hydrogen bond as a secondary interaction between the ligand and substrate, which results in highly directional catalyst–substrate two‐point hydrogen bonding.