Highly enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to N-diphenylphosphinylimines using dendritic chiral ligands with hydrocarbon backbones

Chiral dendrimers bearing three or six chiral β-amino alcohols on the hyperbranched hydrocarbon chain-ends act as efficient chiral ligands for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to N-diphenylphosphinylimines to afford enantiomerically enriched N-diphenylphosphinylamines with up to 94% e.e.     

Electrospun nanofiber membranes from polysulfones with chiral selector aimed for optical resolution

Polysulfones with three types of alanyl residue, such as N-α-acetylalanine (Ac-Ala-OH), N-α-benzoylalanine (Bzo-Ala-OH), and N-α-benzyloxycarbonylalanine (Z-Ala-OH), as chiral selectors were prepared by polymer reaction. The resulting modified polysulfones showed chiroptical properties, indicating that the chiral selector residues were successfully introduced into the polysulfone. Nanofiber membranes prepared from the polymeric materials showed adsorption selectivity toward mixtures of racemic Glu, which were adopted as model racemates. Flux values for the nanofiber membranes were enhanced two to three orders of magnitude in comparison with the corresponding typical membranes, but without reduction in permselectivity. In the present study, it is shown that nanofiber is a suitable membrane form not only for molecularly imprinted membranes, but it exhibits enhanced throughput in comparison with typical dense membranes without concurrent reduction in permselectivity.     

Synthesis of new chiral fluorescent sensors and their applications in enantioselective discrimination

Five novel sensors (R,R)-3–6 and (S, S)-6 were synthesized and developed for enantioselective recognition of chiral compounds. Sensor 6 with two thiourea groups and steric π-conjugation frameworks could discriminate different chiral substrates, including acidic compounds, basic compounds, and neutral compounds. These results disclosed that the outstanding performance of enantioselective discrimination could be attributed to the thiourea group which acted as a hydrogen-bonding donor and the bulky steric moiety of the hosts which provided appropriate chiral environment. This result will be of great practical value in the designation of chiral sensors and high-throughput assay of chiral products.     

Development of novel brush-type chiral stationary phases based on terpenoid selectors: HPLC evaluation and theoretical investigation of enantioselective binding interactions

The terpenoid chiral selectors dehydroabietic acid, 12,14-dinitrodehydroabietic acid and friedelin have been covalently linked to silica gel yielding three chiral stationary phases CSP 1, CSP 2 and CSP 3, respectively. The enantiodiscriminating capability of each one of these phases was evaluated by HPLC with four families of chiral aromatic compounds composed of alcohols, amines, phenylalanine and tryptophan amino acid derivatives and β-lactams. The CSP 3 phase, containing a selector with a large friedelane backbone is particularly suitable for resolving free alcohols and their derivatives bearing fluorine substituents, while CSP 2 with a dehydroabietic architecture is the only phase that efficiently discriminates 1,1′-binaphthol atropisomers. CSP 3 also gives efficient resolution of the free amines. All three phases resolve well the racemates of N-trifluoracetyl and N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl phenylalanine amino acid ester derivatives. Good enantioseparation of β-lactams and N-benzoyl tryptophan amino acid derivatives was achieved on CSP 1.In order to understand the structural factors that govern the chiral molecular recognition ability of these phases, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out in the gas phase with binary diastereomeric complexes formed by the selectors of CSP 1 and CSP 2 and several amino acid derivatives. Decomposition of molecular mechanics energies shows that van der Waals interactions dominate the formation of the diastereomeric transient complexes while the electrostatic binding interactions are primarily responsible for the enantioselective binding of the (R)- and (S)-analytes. Analysis of the hydrogen bonds shows that electrostatic interactions are mainly associated with the formation of N–H⋯OC enantioselective hydrogen bonds between the amide binding sites from the selectors and the carbonyl groups of the analytes. The role of mobile phase polarity, a mixture of n-hexane and propan-2-ol in different ratios, was also evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent.     

Enantiomer assays of amino acid derivatives using tertiary amine appended trans-4-hydroxyproline derivatives as chiral selectors in the gas phase

A pair of pseudo-enantiomers, tertiary amine appended trans-4-hydroxyproline derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as chiral selectors for enantiomer analysis of DNB-amino acid and their amides, in single-stage electrospray ionization/mass spectrometric experiments. The chiral selectors were designed to remove the interaction of the hydroxyl group of trans-4-hydroxyproline as well as separate the ionization site from the sites required for effective chiral recognition. Addition of a chiral analyte to a solution containing two pseudo-enantiomeric chiral selectors, affords selector-analyte complexes in the electrospray ionization mass spectrum where the ratio of these complexes is dependent on the enantiomeric composition of the analyte. The relationship between the ratio of the selector-analyte complexes in the electrospray ionization mass spectrum and the enantiomeric composition of the analyte can be used to relate the extent of the measured enantioselectivity and for quantitative enantiomeric composition determinations. Effects of acid modifiers (ammonium chloride, acetic acid, formic acid and hydrochloric acid) and instrument conditions on the selector-analyte ion intensity and the enantioselectivity (α_MS) were investigated. The largest α_MS was observed using ammonium chloride at a concentration around 0.5-1 mM at desolvation temperature of 150 °C. Capillary voltage has little effects on α_MS values. The sense of chiral recognition by MS is consistent with what is observed chromatographically. Quantitative enantiomeric composition determinations for N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) leucinyl butylamide were performed. A comparison to the enantioselectivities towards a scope of analytes observed by chiral HPLC using a 3,5-dimethylanilide-proline-derived chiral stationary phase, is presented.     

Preparation of polysaccharide derivatives and their chiral recognition mechanism

Several new phenylcarbamate derivatives of cellulose and amylose having fluoro and methyl groups or 4-trimethylsilyl substituent on the phenyl groups were prepared and their chiral recognition abilities as chiral stationary phases for HPLC were evaluated. These derivatives are soluble in chloroform and exhibit chiral discrimination in ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Based on the above results and molecular mechanics calculation of interaction energies between the derivatives and enantiomers, the mechanism of chiral discrimination is discussed.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of macrodiolides and their application in chiral recognition

New types of C₂-symmetric chiral macrodiolides are readily obtained via chiral N,N′-dioxide-scandium(iii) complex-promoted asymmetric tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intermolecular macrolactonization of ortho-quinone methides with C3-substituted indoles. This protocol provides an array of enantioenriched macrodiolides with 16, 18 or 20-membered rings in moderate to good yields with high diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities through adjusting the length of the tether at the C3 position of indoles. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the formation of macrocycles is more favorable than that of 9-membered-ring lactones in terms of kinetics and thermodynamics. The potential utility of these intriguing chiral macrodiolide molecules is demonstrated in the enantiomeric recognition of aminols and chemical recognition of metal ions.

An asymmetric tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intermolecular macrolactonization of ortho-quinone methides with C3-substituted indoles was achieved by using a chiral N,N′-dioxide-scandium(iii) complex.     

Effect of hydrophobic chain length of the chiral surfactant on enantiomeric separations by electrokinetic chromatography: Comparison between micellar and vesicular pseudo-stationary phases

Two novel amino acid based surfactants sodium N-(4-n-decyloxybenzoyl)-l-valinate (SDeBV) and sodium N-(4-n-octyloxybenzoyl)-l-valinate (SOBV) have been synthesized and used as chiral selectors for enantiomeric separations by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The aggregation behavior of the surfactants was studied in buffered aqueous solution using surface tension and fluorescence probe techniques. The microenvironment of the aggregates was studied using pyrene, and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as probe molecules. Results of these studies indicate that these two surfactants form micelles in buffered aqueous solution. Successful enentioseparation has been achieved for 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BOH), 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylhydrogenphosphate (BNP), 2,8-dimethyl-6H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f] [1,5]diazocine (Tröger's base, TB), and benzoin (BZN) using the two chiral selectors SDeBV and SOBV. The separations were optimized with respect to surfactant concentration, pH, and buffer concentration. The results are discussed in light of the aggregation behavior of the surfactants. A comparison of the results of this study has been made with the data from literature to investigate the effect of self-assembly morphology on enantiomeric separations.     

Synthesis of novel well-defined chain-end-functionalized polystyrenes with dendritic chiral ephedrine moieties and their applications as highly enantioselective diethylzinc addition to N-diphenylphosphinoyl arylimines

A series of novel well-defined chain-end-functionalized polystyrenes having 2, 4, 8, and 16 chiral ephedrine moieties dendritically distributed at their hyperbranched chain-ends were quantitatively synthesized. Their well-defined architectures were fully confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, SEC as well as by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. These polymers were precisely controlled in the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution as well as well-defined in chain-end-functionalities. These dendritic chiral polymers serve as highly enantioselective chiral ligands in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to a series of N-diphenylphosphinoyl arylimines. Among them, chiral dendrimer having eight ephedrine moieties at the chain-ends afforded the corresponding enantiomerically enriched phosphinoylamides in good to high yields with enantioselectivities up to 93% ee. The obtained enantioselectivities are comparable with those obtained by using N-benzylephedrine and its corresponding copolymer as chiral ligands.     

The study of chiral discrimination of organophosphonate derivatives on pirkle type chiral stationary phase by molecular modeling

Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) have been used to study the chiral discrimination and interaction energy of organophosphonate in N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-S-leucine chiral stationary phase (CSP). The elution order of the enantiomers can be predicted from the interaction energy. Quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) has also been used as an alternative method to confirm the elution order of enantiomers. Molecular mechanics (MM), molecular dynamics and QSRR proved to be useful methods to study chiral discrimination.     

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.     

Synthesis of chiral 2-(anilinophenylmethyl)pyrrolidines and 2-(anilinodiphenylmethyl)pyrrolidine and their application to enantioselective borane reduction of prochiral ketones as chiral catalysts

Chiral diamines, 2-(anilinophenylmethyl)pyrrolidines and 2-(anilinodiphenylmethyl)pyrrolidine, were prepared from N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine or (S)-proline as a starting material, respectively. These chiral diamines were efficient for the catalytic enantioselective borane reduction of acetophenone. Using (S)-2-(anilinodiphenylmethyl)pyrrolidine, chiral secondary alcohols were obtained from prochiral ketones with good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 98% ee).     

Synthesis of chiral sultams and their application as chiral auxiliaries in an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction

A number of bicyclic chiral sultams were synthesized based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile oxides and nitrones with prop-1-ene-1,3-sultone. The corresponding N-enoyl sultams were prepared by acylation. Their relative effectiveness as new chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis was evaluated for the asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions with cyclopentadiene. Good chemical yield and excellent endo selectivity were observed. The relationship between the structure and their effectiveness in promoting asymmetric induction of the synthetic chiral sultams was investigated.     

Benzyl isobornyl amines: a simple and practical class of NMR discriminating agents for effective chiral recognition of acids

The design and synthesis of a few simple N-benzyl derivatives of isobornyl amine is presented. The derivatives have been assessed as chiral solvating agents for effective discrimination of the signals of some acids in NMR analysis. The single crystal X-ray analysis of the salts of (R)-mandelic acid with two of the title derivatives help to understand the supramolecular interactions and assign the induced chemical shifts in ¹H NMR analysis. The title derivative is found to be suitable for quantitative determination of the enantiomeric excess of unknown enantiomeric purity as well as being efficient in resolving racemic mandelic acid.     

Synthesis and comparative studies of carbosilane liquid crystalline dendrimers with chiral terminal mesogenic groups

A new series of carbosilane liquid crystalline (LC) dendrimers from the first to the third generations with 8, 16 and 32 chiral terminal mesogenic groups, respectively, has been synthesized. The molecular structures and purity of all new compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and GPC analysis. Data of polarization microscopy and SAX analysis demonstrated that all LC dendrimers synthesized form a chiral smectic SmC* phase at temperatures below 50 °C. It has been found that bistable electrooptical switching is observed for all dendrimers. The influence of chiral mesogenic fragment length on phase behavior and ferroelectric properties of carbosilane LC dendrimers is discussed.     

Separation of ofloxacin enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection using deoxyribonucleic acid oligonucleotides as chiral selectors

This study used capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection- and a partial-filling mode-based method for chiral separation of ofloxacin. The deoxyribonucleic acid oligonucleotides with different base sequences were studied as potential chiral selectors including deoxyribonucleic acid tetrahedron, G-quadruplex, and G-riched double-strand deoxyribonucleic acid. Under the optimized conditions, all the deoxyribonucleic acid chiral selectors exhibited excellent chiral separation capabilities with a resolution higher than 1.5. The electrophoretic behavior of the ofloxacin enantiomer might result from the intermediate conjugate with different stabilities between chiral selectors and analytes by a combination of the hydrogen bond and spatial recognition structure. Moreover, satisfactory repeatability regarding run-to-run and interday repeatability was obtained, and all the relative standard deviation values of migration times and resolutions were below 4% (n = 6). Conclusively, both spatial structure and arrangement of the G bases potentiated the chiral separation capability of deoxyribonucleic acid for ofloxacin enantiomer. This work offered a stepping stone for enantioseparation using deoxyribonucleic acid as chiral selectors.     

Asymmetric nitrile-hydration with bifunctional ruthenium catalysts bearing chiral N-sulfonyldiamine ligands

The asymmetric hydration of α-benzyl-α-methylmalononitrile was examined by using chiral bifunctional catalysts. Enantiomer discrimination of the prochiral dinitrile in the presence of water was demonstrated with a well-defined bifunctional amido-Ru complex having N-sulfonyldiamine ligands, and providing the corresponding amidato(amine) complexes diastereoselectively. Under the catalytic conditions, the (R)-cyanoamide was successfully obtained without further hydrolysis to carboxylic acids.     

Chiral lariat ethers as membrane carriers for chiral amino acids and their sodium and potassium salts

Four chiral lariat ethers 8–11 containing a (p-methoxyphenoxy) methyl side arm were used for chiral discrimination of amino acids in their zwitterionic form or as potassium and sodium salts in transport across a bulk chloroform membrane with satisfactory selectivity. The carriers that were employed exhibited different transport selectivity relative to the amino acids and their salts under study. The d/l selectivity strongly depends on the amino acids or their salts, and in some cases reverse selectivity has been obtained. The best selectivity was obtained in the case of tyrosine and its potassium salts for all carriers. The transport rates of amino acids and their salts were found to be controlled by factors such as the structure of the carriers and amino acids or their salts. Among these factors, it was also found that the side arm of the lariat ethers plays an important role in the transport process. As a consequence, the main goal of our investigation was to separate the chiral amino acids through liquid membranes.     

Preparation of chiral bipyridine bis-N-oxides by oxidative dimerization of chiral pyridine N-oxides

The direct preparation of chiral 2,2′-bipyridine bis-N-oxides has been developed. The method involves two stages, first, the deprotonation of substituted chiral pyridine N-oxides and second, the oxidative dimerization of the resulting 2-lithiopyridine N-oxides. Optimization of the reaction conditions led to the selection of LiTMP in THF for the deprotonation and molecular iodine as the oxidant. The corresponding 2-iodopyridine N-oxide is invariably formed as a by-product. A series of 11 chiral pyridine N-oxides was prepared that bear substituents at the C(2) and C(5) positions. Oxidative dimerization of these mono-N-oxides proceeded in 33–77% yield. In all cases, the dimerization was highly diastereoselective for the formation of the P-configuration of the chiral axis.     

Novel chiral ferrocenyl-imino phosphine ligands and their use in palladium catalyzed allylic alkylations

New chiral P,N-ferrocenyl imino-phosphine ligands have been synthesized and the absolute configuration of the stereocenters in each molecule has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray analysis of a common intermediate. Pd^II-allyl complexes of the new ligands have been isolated and tested as catalyst precursors in the asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-yl acetate with dimethyl malonate in different solvents. Quantitative yields and enantiomeric excesses as high as 80% have been obtained.