The rational design of modified Cinchona alkaloid catalysts. Application to a new asymmetric synthesis of chiral chromanes

A new asymmetric synthesis of 2-substituted chiral chromanes has been achieved. The key step is the intramolecular conjugate addition of a phenolic nucleophile on a α,β-unsaturated ester catalyzed by Cinchona alkaloids. The high ee’s obtained with cinchonine and its derivatives have been rationalized by ab initio quantum chemistry calculations of transition state structures.     

A new stable Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst with mixed anionic ligands

The synthesis and characterisation of a new highly active Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation type catalyst is described. Substitution of one chloride ligand with a partially fluorinated trialkoxysilyl substituted carboxylate leads to the stable monocarboxylate ruthenium catalyst (3). This catalyst represents the first example of a stable and isolable mono-chloride exchanged carboxylate complex suitable for both homogeneous and heterogeneous metathesis. The reactivity of the new catalyst was tested in representative metathesis reactions and offers an activity comparable to the parent dichloride system (1).     

Synthesis of Stereocontrolled Degradable Polymer by Living Cascade Enyne Metathesis Polymerization

A stereocontrolled degradable polymer was synthesized via living cascade enyne metathesis polymerization. Highly stereodefined N,O-acetal-containing enyne monomers were prepared using the Pd-catalyzed hydroamination of alkoxyallenes and ring-closing metathesis. The resulting chiral polymer exhibited a narrow dispersity window. Block copolymers were prepared not only by sequentially adding nondegradable and degradable monomers but also by using enantiomerically different monomers to produce stereocontrolled blocks. Owing to the hydrolyzable N,O-acetal moiety in the backbone structure, the resulting polymer could degrade under acidic conditions generated using various acid concentrations to control the degradation. Additionally, the aza-Diels–Alder reaction modified the polymer without losing the stereochemistry.     

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation with nitromethane using a chiral diaminophosphine oxide: (S,RP)-Ph-DIAPHOX. Enantioselective synthesis of (R)-preclamol and (R)-baclofen

A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation with nitromethane using an aspartic acid-derived P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxide [(S,R_P)-Ph-DIAPHOX] is described. This method was successfully applied to enantioselective synthesis of (R)-preclamol and (R)-baclofen.     

When Metathesis Reactions Go Wrong: Novel Structural Consequences

The complex [Yb(Ph₂pz)₃(LiOBu)]₂ ( 1 ) (Ph₂pz = 3,5‐diphenylpyrazolate), fortuitously obtained from reaction of Yb metal with a lithium containing sample of [SnMe₃(Ph₂pz)] at elevated temperatures forms a centrosymmetric butoxy‐ and pyrazolate‐bridged open box structure. Each ytterbium atom is eight coordinate with one chelating Ph₂pz ligand, one μ‐η²:η² bridging pyrazolate, one μ‐η²(Yb):η⁴(Li) Ph₂pz group and two bridging butoxide ligands. Each lithium atom is unsymmetrically chelated by an η²‐Ph₂pz group, η⁴(N,C(pz)C₂(Ph)) bonded by another pyazolate group, and bridged through a butoxide oxygen atom to two ytterbium atoms. The type of η⁴‐pyrazolate coordination is unprecedented and is the first observation of interactions to a metal by the Ph rings of the Ph₂pz ligand. The complex [Li(dme)₃][Eu(Ph₂pz)₃(dme)] ( 2 ) obtained from reaction of Eu metal with the same sample of [SnMe₃(Ph₂pz)] in dme at room temperature is a charged separated species with the first anionic pyrazolatolanthanoidate(II) complex in which europium is eight coordinate with three chelating Ph₂pz ligands and a chelating dme.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with the ruthenium(II) catalyst derived from C2 symmetric N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-O-(diphenylphosphinite)ethyl]ethanediamide

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones with chiral molecular catalysts is realized to be one of the most magnificent tools to access chiral alcohols in organic synthesis. A new chiral phosphinite compound N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-O-(diphenylphosphinite)ethyl]ethanediamide (1), has been synthesized by the reaction of chlorodiphenylphosphine with N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-hydroxyethyl]ethanediamide under argon atmosphere. The oxidation of 1 with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or grey selenium in toluene gave the corresponding oxide 1a, sulfide 1b and selenide 1c, respectively. Pd, Pt and Ru complexes were obtained by the reaction of 1 with [MCl₂(cod)] (M: Pd 1d, Pt 1e) and [Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂1f, respectively. All these new complexes were characterized by using NMR, FT-IR spectroscopies and microanalysis. Additionally, as a demonstration of their catalytic reactivity, the ruthenium complex 1f was tested as catalyst in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions of acetophenone derivatives with iPrOH was also investigated.     

Combining chiral elements: a novel approach to asymmetric phase-transfer catalyst design

A new dicationic asymmetric phase-transfer catalyst, designed by combining chiral elements, is described. Catalytic testing using standard glycine imino ester alkylations shows good yields and moderate enantioselectivities.     

A Novel Class of Ruthenium Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis

The different nature of carbene ligands is clearly demonstrated by the first ruthenium-based complexes 1 , which contain both alkylidene and N-heterocyclic carbene moieties. The latter exhibit a pronounced Lewis base behavior. Moreover, this difference forms the basis of the high catalytic activities of these compounds in olefin metathesis reactions.     

Macrolide Analogues of the Novel Immunosuppressant Sanglifehrin: New Application of the Ring-Closing Metathesis Reaction

Macrocycles containing a conjugated 1,3-diene moiety have been synthesized for the first time in good yields by the ring-closing metathesis reaction [Eq. (1)]. The new compounds represent cyclophilin-binding, simplified analogues of the macrocyclic core of sanglifehrin A, an immunosuppressant which binds with high affinity to cyclophilin.     

Concise Total Synthesis of (−)-Quinocarcin Enabled by Catalytic Enantioselective Reductive 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Secondary Amides

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-quinocarcin has been accomplished with high step economy from commercially available starting materials. A catalytic enantioselective reductive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-heteroaryl secondary amides with reactive dipolarophiles using iridium/copper relay catalysis was developed to prepare the key chiral pyrrolidine intermediate with three stereocenters. This protocol features excellent regio-, exo- and enantioselectivities, broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance. The high efficiency was also ensured by a Rh^III-catalyzed C−H activation/cyclization and a tandem diastereoselective hydrogenation/cyclization to construct the tetrahydroisoquinoline-pyrrolidine tetracyclic core unit of quinocarcin.     

An Asymmetric Hydrogenation/N-Alkylation Sequence for a Step-Economical Route to Indolizidines and Quinolizidines

The direct catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of pyridines for the synthesis of piperidines remains a challenge. Herein, we report a one-pot asymmetric hydrogenation of pyridines with subsequent N-alkylation using a traceless Brønsted acid activation strategy. Catalyzed by an iridium-BINAP complex, the substrates undergo ketone reduction, cyclization and pyridine hydrogenation in sequence to form indolizidines and quinolizidines. The absolute configuration of the stereocenter of the alcohol is retained and influences the formation of the second stereocenter. Experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies reveal that the chloride anion and certain noncovalent interactions govern the stereoselectivity of the cascade reaction throughout the catalytic process.     

A Practical and Robust Zwitterionic Cooperative Lewis Acid/Acetate/Benzimidazolium Catalyst for Direct 1,4-Additions

A catalyst type is disclosed allowing for exceptional efficiency in direct 1,4-additions. The catalyst is a zwitterionic entity, in which acetate binds to Cu^II, which is formally negatively charged and serving as counterion for benzimidazolium. All 3 functionalities are involved in the catalytic activation. For maleimides productivity was increased by a factor >300 compared to literature (TONs up to 6700). High stereoselectivity and productivity was attained for a broad range of other Michael acceptors as well. The polyfunctional catalyst is accessible in only 4 steps from N-Ph-benzimidazole with an overall yield of 96 % and robust during catalysis. This allowed to reuse the same catalyst multiple times with nearly constant efficiency. Mechanistic studies, in particular by DFT, give a detailed picture how the catalyst operates. The benzimidazolium unit stabilizes the coordinated enolate nucleophile and prevents that acetate/acetic acid dissociate from the catalyst.     

One catalyst for two distinct reactions: sequential asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reaction and diethylzinc addition

This paper describes the successful development of a series of chiral zinc catalysts containing (R)-3,3′-Br₂-BINOL ligand and various diimine activators for enantioselective HDA reaction of Danishefsky's diene with aldehydes through a combinatorial approach, affording the corresponding 2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one derivatives in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The application of this type of catalysts was also extended to the diethylzinc addition to the benzaldehyde, affording the corresponding secondary alcohol with up to 94.5% ee under optimized conditions. On the basis of these facts, the integration of two distinct enantioselective reactions, HDA and diethylzinc addition reactions, has been realized in one-pot with the promotion of a single chiral zinc catalyst in a sequential manner. The impact of diimine additive on the catalytic system of HDA reaction was also investigated by probing the nonlinear effect of reaction system. The positive nonlinear effect exhibited in the catalytic system could be attributed to the poor solubility of the heterochiral zinc species. On the basis of various experimental findings disclosed in this research, a possible mechanism for the asymmetric induction in the 3,3′-Br₂-BINOL/Zn/diimine catalyzed enantioselective HDA reaction of Danishefsky's diene with aldehydes was outlined.     

Ring-Closing Metathesis of Functionalized Acetylene Derivatives: A New Entry into Cycloalkynes

A tungsten alkylidyne catalyst is the key to achieving ring-closing metatheses of diynes to form functionalized macrocycles [Eq. (a)]. Partial reduction of the cycloalkynes provides stereoselective Z-configured cycloalkenes, which are currently inaccessible by conventional alkene metathesis.     

(E)-Cycloalkenes and (E,E)-cycloalkadienes by ring closing diyne- or enyne-yne metathesis/semi-reduction

A concise, practical and stereoselective entry into macrocyclic (E)-alkenes is outlined comprising a sequence of ring closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM), trans-selective hydrosilylation of the resulting cycloalkynes catalyzed by [Cp^∗Ru(MeCN)₃]PF₆, and a protodesilylation of the ensuing vinylsilanes with AgF in aq. THF/MeOH. Moreover, the first examples of intramolecular enyne-yne metathesis reactions catalyzed by the Schrock alkylidyne complex (tBuO)₃WCCMe₃ are reported; the resulting cyclic enynes can be converted along similar lines into the corresponding (E,E)-configured 1,3-dienes in good overall yields. Cycloalkyne 4 and the (E)-configured cyclic olefins 6 and 21 were characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Short synthesis of stenusine and norstenusine, two spreading alkaloids from Stenus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Each of the both spreading alkaloids stenusine and norstenusine could be synthesized starting from commercially available 3-picoline in a two-step synthesis in yields of 74% and 67% in gram scale. The stereoisomeric ratio of the synthesized (+)-stenusine is similar to that of stenusine from Stenus comma.     

Salt Metathesis: Tetrafluoroborate Anion Rapidly Fluoridates Organoboronic Acids to give Organotrifluoroborates

Tetrafluoroborate (BF₄⁻) has long been used as a spectator counter anion. Herein, we report an unprecedented salt metathesis between a variety of BF₄⁻ salts and a series of organoboronic acids yielding the corresponding organotrifluoroborates. We identified conditions for fast and efficient fluoridation (<1 h) with minimal workup. Fundamentally, this work discloses the proclivity of BF₄⁻ to exchange fluoride atoms with organoboronates, highlighting the lability of BF₄⁻.     

Carbynehydridoruthenium Complexes as Catalysts for the Selective,Ring-Opening Metathesis of Cyclopentene with Methyl Acrylate

The first members of a homologous series of long-chain, multiply unsaturated esters were obtained upon selective ring-opening metathesis of cyclopentene with methyl acrylate [Eq. (a)]. The catalysts are cationic carbynehydridoruthenium complexes (e.g. L=OEt₂), which were prepared for the first time by protonation of hydridovinylideneruthenium compounds in the presence of L.     

A New Class of Ruthenium Carbene Complexes: Synthesis and Structures of Highly Efficient Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis

Cationic Ru^II carbene complexes with tBu₂PCH₂PtBu₂ (dtbpm) as a chelating ligand, which are accessible by chloride abstraction from neutral precursors [(κ²-dtbpm)Cl₂Ru=CHR] with trimethylsilyl triflate, are established as highly efficient ring opening metathesis polymerization catalysts (see scheme). Solv=solvent.