Enantioselective Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Phosphine Oxides

The development of enantioselective aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral phosphine oxides is described. The aldol reactions presented herein do not require the prior preparation of the masked enol ethers from carbonyl compounds as aldol donors. The reactions proceed through a trichlorosilyl enol ether intermediate, formed in situ from carbonyl compounds, which then acts as the aldol donor. Phosphine oxides activate the trichlorosilyl enol ethers to afford the aldol adducts with high stereoselectivities. This procedure was used to realize a directed cross‐aldol reaction between ketones and two types of double aldol reactions (a reaction at one/two α position(s) of a carbonyl group) with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities.     

Carbene‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Aldol Reaction: Post‐Aldol Stereochemistry Control and Formation of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The dominated approaches for asymmetric aldol reactions have primarily focused on the aldol carbon–carbon bond‐forming events. Here we postulate and develop a new catalytic strategy that seeks to modulate the reaction thermodynamics and control the product enantioselectivities via post‐aldol processes. Specifically, an NHC catalyst is used to activate a masked enolate substrate (vinyl carbonate) to promote the aldol reaction in a non‐enantioselective manner. This reversible aldol event is subsequently followed by an enantioselective acylative kinetic resolution that is mediated by the same (chiral) NHC catalyst without introducing any additional substance. This post‐aldol process takes care of the enantioselectivity issues and drives the otherwise reversible aldol reaction toward a complete conversion. The acylated aldol products bearing quaternary/tetrasubstituted carbon stereogenic centers are formed in good yields and high optical purities.     

Direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thioamides

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides using a soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6)/LiOAr is described. Exclusive enolate generation from thioacetamides through a soft-soft interaction with the soft Lewis acid allowed for a direct aldol reaction to α-nonbranched aliphatic aldehydes, which are usually susceptible to self-condensation under conventional basic conditions. A hard Lewis basic phosphine oxide has emerged as an effective additive to constitute a highly active ternary soft Lewis acid/hard Br?nsted base/hard Lewis base cooperative catalyst, enabling a direct enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thiopropionamides. Strict control of the amount of the hard Lewis base was essential to drive the catalytic cycle efficiently with a minimized retro-aldol pathway, affording syn-aldol products with high stereoselectivity. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality is an obvious merit of the present aldol methodology, allowing for a facile transformation of the aldol product into the corresponding aldehyde, ketone, amide, amine, and ketoester. An aldehyde derived from the direct aldol reaction was subjected to a second direct aldol reaction, which proceeded in a catalyst-controlled manner to provide 1,3-diols with high stereoselectivity.     

Using theozymes for designing transition‐state analogs for the intramolecular aldol reaction of δ‐diketones

Two theozymes for the intramolecular aldol reaction of δ‐diketones have been studied using ab initio methods. The presence of both acid/base residues favors several steps of the aldol reaction. The appropriate positioning of these residues can accelerate one of two diastereromeric reaction pathways, the catalyzed aldol reaction being highly stereoselective. Analysis of the geometrical parameters, charge distribution, and the shape of molecular electrostatic potential for the corresponding acid/base catalyzed transition structure allows us to design adequate transition‐state analogs to favor a reactive channel of this intramolecular aldol reaction. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 83: 338–347, 2001     

Rh‐Catalyzed Aldehyde?Aldehyde Cross‐Aldol Reaction under Base‐Free Conditions: In Situ Aldehyde‐Derived Enolate Formation through Orthogonal Activation

The chemoselective generation of aldehyde‐derived enolates to realize an aldehyde? aldehyde cross‐aldol reaction is described. A combined Rh/dippf system efficiently promoted the isomerization/aldol sequence by using primary allylic, homoallylic, and bishomoallylic alcohols; secondary allylic and homoallylic alcohols; and trialkoxyboranes that were derived from primary allylic and homoallylic alcohols. The reaction proceeded at ambient temperature under base‐free conditions, thus giving cross‐aldol products with high chemoselectivity. Mechanistic studies, as well as its application to double‐aldol processes under protecting‐group‐free conditions, are also described.     

Réaction pseudo-multicomposants entre le glutaconate de diméthyle et des aldéhydes aromatiques induite par le bromure de phénylzinc : accès domino à des dihydropyranones 2,3,5-trisubstituées

Phenylzinc bromide enables a pseudo three-component reaction of methyl glutaconate and aromatic aldehydes. Unsaturated trisubstituted δ-valerolactones (dihydropyranones) are obtained in fair to good yields by an aldol/aldol/elimination/lactonization domino process that allows the formation of four new bonds in a single step. A putative reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Enantioselective tandem O-nitroso Aldol/Michael reaction

This communication presents studies that illustrated nitroso Diels-Alder adduct has been obtained in uniformly high enantioselectivity via a tandem nitroso aldol/Michael reaction using an amine catalyst. The regiochemical outcome of this construction is documented to be the opposite to that of the normal nitroso aldol reaction, which has been determined by X-ray analysis. The reaction of the enone with silver-BINAP catalyst has also been investigated in conjunction with the control of regiochemistry in a stepwise process.     

Synthesis of 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-C]quinoline via an Aldol/Van Leusen/Staudinger/aza-Wittig sequence

An aldol/van Leusen/Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction for the preparation of the derivatives of 2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines from 2-azidobenzaldehyde, acetyl compounds, and tosylmethyl isocyanide was developed. The process involves an aldol condensation of 2-azidobenzaldehyde with acetyl compound in base, a van Leusen reaction to form the key pyrrole intermediates, and then a Staudinger and intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction occurred with the addition of triphenylphosphine to complete the formation of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring in high yields.     

NHC-catalysed retro-aldol/aldol cascade reaction enabling solvent-controlled stereodivergent synthesis of spirooxindoles

An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed retro-aldol/aldol cascade reaction of spirooxindole-based β-hydroxyaldehyde has been developed. The ring opening-closure process enables the diastereodivergent synthesis of spirocyclopentaneoxindole products with four consecutive stereocenters by simply changing the reaction solvents (THF or DCE). The Michael/aldol/retro-aldol/aldol sequential protocol allows the diastereodivergent synthesis of spirocyclopentaneoxindoles from 3-substituted oxindole and α,β-unsaturated aldehyde under the relay catalysis of a chiral secondary amine and an NHC catalyst. Moreover, four stereoisomers of the product can be selectively provided by using different combinations of a chiral secondary amine and a solvent.     

NMR investigations on the proline-catalyzed aldehyde self-condensation: Mannich mechanism, dienamine detection, and erosion of the aldol addition selectivity

The proline-catalyzed self-condensation of aliphatic aldehydes in DMSO with varying amounts of catalyst was studied by in situ NMR spectroscopy. The reaction profiles and intermediates observed as well as deuteration studies reveal that the proline-catalyzed aldol addition and condensation are competing, but not consecutive, reaction pathways. In addition, the rate-determining step of the condensation is suggested to be the C-C bond formation. Our findings indicate the involvement of two catalyst molecules in the C-C bond formation of the aldol condensation, presumably by the activation of both the aldol acceptor and donor in a Mannich-type pathway. This mechanism is shown to be operative also in the oligomerization of acetaldehyde with high proline amounts, for which the first in situ detection of a proline-derived dienamine was accomplished. In addition, the diastereoselectivity of the aldol addition is evidenced to be time-dependent since it is undermined by the retro-aldolization and the competing irreversible aldol condensation; here NMR reaction profiles can be used as a tool for reaction optimization.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of hydroxyketones: asymmetric Zn catalysis with a Et(2)Zn/linked-BINOL complex

Full details of our newly developed catalyses with asymmetric zinc complexes as mimics of class II zinc-containing aldolase are described. A Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL complex was developed and successfully applied to direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions of hydroxyketones. A Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was initially developed, which efficiently promoted the direct aldol reaction of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxyacetophenone (7d). Using 1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 2 mol % of Et(2)Zn, we obtained 1,2-dihydroxyketones syn-selectively in high yield (up to 95%), good diastereomeric ratio (up to 97/3), and excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 99%). Mechanistic investigation of Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1, including X-ray analysis, NMR analysis, cold spray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS) analysis, and kinetic studies, provided new insight into the active oligomeric Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1/ketone 7d active species. On the basis of mechanistic investigations, a modified second generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 with molecular sieves 3A (MS 3A) system was developed as a much more effective catalyst system for the direct aldol reaction. As little as 0.1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 0.4 mol % of Et(2)Zn promoted the direct aldol reaction smoothly, using only 1.1 equiv of 7d as a donor (substrate/ligand = 1000). This is the most efficient, in terms of catalyst loading, asymmetric catalyst for the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction. Moreover, the Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 system was effective in the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxypropiophenone (12), which afforded a chiral tetrasubstituted carbon center (tert-alcohol) in good yield (up to 97%) and ee (up to 97%), albeit in modest syn-selectivity. Newly developed (S,S)-sulfur-linked-BINOL 2 was also effective in the direct aldol reaction of 12. The Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-sulfur-linked-BINOL 2 = 4/1 system gave aldol adducts anti-selectively in good ee (up to 93%). Transformations of the aldol adducts into synthetically versatile intermediates were also described.     

Pyrrolidine as an efficient organocatalyst for direct aldol reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal with ketones

Pyrrolidine-catalyzed aldol reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal (1) with ketones or aldehydes was described. In the presence of 20 mol % of pyrrolidine, the reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature to afford the aldol products in good to excellent yields (up to 95%). Pyrrolidine showed a much higher catalytic activity than piperidine in the reaction with less reactive ketones. GC analysis clearly indicated that the catalyst and the enamine intermediates were kept at extremely low concentration during the reaction. Based on these observations, we suggested that formation of the enamine would be a rate-determining step for the catalytic aldol reaction. In addition, the asymmetric aldol reaction of 1 with cyclohexanone catalyzed by l-proline derivatives was also discussed.     

The Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction: 40 Years of Continuous Development

A directed cross‐aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, promoted by a Lewis acid, a reaction which is now widely known as the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. It was first reported in 1973, and this year marks the 40th anniversary. The directed cross‐aldol reactions mediated by boron enolates and tin(II) enolates also emerged from the Mukaiyama laboratory. These directed cross‐aldol reactions have become invaluable tools for the construction of stereochemically complex molecules from two carbonyl compounds. This Minireview provides a succinct historical overview of their discoveries and the early stages of their development.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Quick Route to Aldol‐Tethered 1,6‐ and 1,7‐Enynes from ω‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

An effective asymmetric route to functionalized 1,6‐ and 1,7‐enynes has been developed based on a direct cross‐aldol reaction between ω‐unsaturated aldehydes and propargylic aldehydes (α,β‐ynals) promoted by combined α,α‐dialkylprolinol ether/Brønsted acid catalysis. This synergistic activation strategy is key to accessing the corresponding aldol adducts with high stereoselectivity, both enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. The aldol reaction also proceeds well with propargylic ketones (α,β‐ynones) thus enabling a stereocontrolled access to the corresponding tertiary alcohols. The utility of these adducts, which are difficult to prepare through standard methodology, is demonstrated by their transformation into trisubstituted bicyclic enones using standard Pauson–Khand conditions.     

MgO/NaY催化糠醛和丙酮合成航空燃料中间体的性能研究

采用"机械混合-焙烧"方法制备了负载型固体碱催化剂MgO/NaY,研究了糠醛与丙酮在水-乙醇体系中的羟醛缩合反应,考察了催化剂负载量、原料配比、反应温度、反应时间等因素对催化剂性能的影响。结果表明,20%MgO/NaY催化剂表现出最佳的催化性能,在85℃条件下反应8 h后,糠醛转化率达到99.6%,亚糠基丙酮(FA)和二亚糠基丙酮(F₂A)选择性分别达到42.2%和57.1%,缩合产物的总收率为98.6%。高温促进反应中间体向产物的转化,有利于提高产物的总选择性。改变糠醛/丙酮的摩尔比可调控两种缩合产物的选择性,较高的糠醛/丙酮摩尔比有利于提高F₂A的选择性,但会降低整体反应速率。重复性评价表明,催化剂具有较好的再生性能。     

Cyclic carbonates as sustainable solvents for proline-catalysed aldol reactions

Ethylene and propylene carbonates, which can be prepared from epoxides and carbon dioxide, are effective solvents for the proline-catalysed, 100% atom economical, asymmetric aldol reaction between enolisable and non-enolisable carbonyl compounds. The optimal cyclic carbonate to use for a particular aldol reaction along with the need for water as a cosolvent appear to be determined by the polarities of the various components present in the reaction mixture. Both cyclic and acyclic ketones can be used as the enamine precursor and react best with electron-deficient aldehydes, such as 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and pentafluorobenzaldehyde. Chemical yields of up to 99%, diastereoselectivities of up to 100% and enantioselectivities of up to 99% can be obtained. The relative and/or absolute configuration of three of the aldol products are determined unambiguously by X-ray diffraction.     

Direct asymmetric aldol reaction of acetophenones with aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by chiral Al/Zn heterobimetallic compounds

Chiral Al/Zn heterobimetallic complexes are effective catalysts for the direct highly enantioselective aldol reaction of acetophenones with aromatic aldehydes. The Al site in the complex acts as a Lewis acid to activate aldehyde, whereas ethylzinc alkoxide plays a role of a Brønsted base to form a reactive zinc enolate with acetophenone. Distinct nature of two different metals contributes to the efficient direct asymmetric aldol reaction.     

Mechanism and optimisation of the homoboroproline bifunctional catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction: Lewis acid tuning through in situ esterification

The use of homoboroproline as a bifunctional catalyst in the asymmetric aldol reaction has been investigated mechanistically, particularly with respect to tuning the Lewis acidity of boron by in situ esterification with mildly sigma-electron withdrawing diols such as hydrobenzoin and tartrate esters. The stability of simple cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl boronate diol esters shows that the 5-ring boronate esters are more stable, which sheds light on the mode of action of esterified homoboroproline catalyst in the enamine-mediated aldol reaction, which is also studied by NMR. The result is reaction optimisation to provide an efficient aldol reaction and a proposed mechanistic proposal.     

Cs/ZSM-35 分子筛催化甲缩醛和乙酸甲酯发生一步法羟醛缩合反应

丙烯酸及其酯是重要的化工原料, 广泛应用于涂料、粘结剂、纤维等领域, 目前工业上常采用丙烯两段氧化法进行制备. 然而该方法以石油基原料丙烯为源头, 采用 V/Mo/Bi 等金属催化剂, 不符合可持续发展理念, 且存在环境污染及氧气下产物易过度氧化等问题. 因此, 如何高效、安全、大规模工业化制备丙烯酸及其酯是研究者追求的目标. 以乙酸甲酯(MAc) 和甲醛为原料, 通过羟醛缩合一步制备丙烯酸及其酯是一条完全不同于丙烯氧化法的合成路径, 原料均可由煤基甲醇得到, 符合我国"富煤、贫油、少气"的基本能源结构, 且该方法碳原子利用率为 100%, 副产物仅为水, 属于绿色环保合成路径.羟醛缩合是典型的碳链增长反应, 可在酸性催化剂、碱性催化剂、以及酸碱双功能催化剂存在下发生. 碱性催化剂一般为负载型碱金属氧化物, 例如以 SiO2为载体的负载型 Na, K, Cs 氧化物催化剂等, 但都存在活性组分流失的问题, 进而导致催化剂的失活, 难以实现工业化. 酸碱双功能催化剂是目前研究的热点, 由于具有酸催化剂的高选择性和碱催化剂的高活性, 其反应性能要远优于单一酸性催化剂和单一碱性催化剂, 广大研究者对此进行了深入广泛的研究, 目前基本处于实验室阶段. 相对而言, 目前酸性催化剂上通过羟醛缩合反应制备丙烯酸及其酯的研究工作较少, 特别是以固体酸为催化剂进行乙酸甲酯和甲醛气固相反应研究非常少见.我们以甲缩醛为甲醛源, 创新性地采用固体硅铝分子筛为酸性催化剂, 催化甲缩醛 (DMM) 和 MAc 发生羟醛缩合反应来制备丙烯酸. 硅铝分子筛具有较高的活性, 可高效地催化羟醛缩合反应, 且由于分子筛催化剂具有很好的再生性能, 即使催化剂寿命较短, 也可采用流化床或移动床等反应器进行工业化, 因此存在良好的工业化前景. 为了进一步深入研究酸性位和碱性位各自对 DMM 和 MAc 羟醛缩合反应的影响, 本文以 HZSM-35 分子筛为载体, 采用浸渍法制备不同碱金属铯氧化物含量的催化剂, 利用氮气吸附/脱附方法和化学程序升温 (NH3-TPD) 方法对其孔结构和酸性质进行表征, 并进一步考察催化剂的性能. 结果表明, 微孔体积随着碱金属 Cs 负载量的增加而逐渐减小, 当 Cs 负载量增加至 10 wt% 时, 样品微孔体积从初始 0.105 cm3/g 降至 0.063 cm3/g. NH3-TPD 结果显示, 当 Cs 负载量为 1 wt%, 酸性催化剂载体上的强酸和弱酸活性位被大量碱性氧化物占据; 当负载量超过 5 wt% 时, 所有的酸性位均被覆盖. 随后考察负载不同碱金属含量分子筛的羟醛缩合反应性能, 发现碱金属氧化物的引入不利于羟醛缩合反应的进行, 这主要是由于作为甲醛源的 DMM 只有在酸中心上才能进行分解产生甲醛, 促使羟醛缩合反应顺利进行. 当采用 DMM 为甲醛源时, 体系中必须有酸性位存在. 同时得知, 分子筛 HZSM-35 中强酸和弱酸均是羟醛缩合反应的有效酸性位, 但强酸同时催化原料发生类甲醇制烯烃过程, 致使大量烃类副产物生成, 产生较重的积炭物种. 羟醛缩合反应在含有大量弱酸催化剂上 (如γ-Al2O3) 也可顺利进行, 且具有较高的活性和稳定性.     

Alkylation, aldol, and related reactions of O-alkanoyl- and 2-alkenoylTEMPOs (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl): insight into the reactivity of their anionic species in comparison with esters and amides

The lithium anionic species generated from O-alkanoylTEMPOs upon treatment with LDA were first employed as a nucleophile for alkylation, Michael addition, direct aldol reaction, and others. The alkylation occurred smoothly at the methylene carbon, and no alkylation was found in the isobutyryl analogue, while silylation was scarcely attainable. Substitutions of the heteroatom were achieved by reaction with PhSSPh and DEAD. The reactivity of these anionic species is successfully extended to aldol reactions in which moderate anti or syn selectivity was executed with propionyl derivatives. Tandem Michael addition of lithium amide followed by aldol reaction was performed on the O-crotonoylTEMPOs.