Access to enantioenriched alpha-amino esters via rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition/enantioselective protonation

Conjugate addition of potassium trifluoro(organo)borates 2 to dehydroalanine derivatives 1, mediated by a chiral rhodium catalyst and in situ enantioselective protonation, afforded straightforward access to a variety of protected alpha-amino esters 3 with high yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 95%. Among the tested chiral ligands and proton sources, Binap, in combination with guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), an inexpensive and nontoxic phenol, afforded the highest asymmetric inductions. Organostannanes have also shown to participate in this reaction. By a fine-tuning of the ester moiety, and using Difluorophos as chiral ligand, increased levels of enantioselectivity, generally close to 95%, were achieved. Deuterium labeling experiments revealed, and DFT calculation supported, an unusual mechanism involving a hydride transfer from the amido substituent to the alpha carbon explaining the high levels of enantioselectivity attained in controlling this alpha chiral center.     

Access to functionalized cyclopropylcarbinyl compounds from homoallylic ethers via zirconocene intermediates

Cyclopropylcarbinylzirconium complexes were generated from homoallylic ethers and zirconocene (Cp₂ZrCl₂/2n-BuLi). They underwent further in situ transformations that is, bromination-substitution, transmetallation-functionalization and insertion reactions to afford various cyclopropylcarbinyl derivatives. In contrast, ring-opening products could be selectively obtained by treating the zirconium complex with MeLi, prior to functionalization.     

Fullerenated carbazole polymers via bromination

Surface-substituted and homogeneous fullerenated polymers were produced by bromination followed by a Friedel-Crafts reaction. Control over bonding patterns was provided by the bromination, which enabled the production of photodegradation-resistant fullerenated polymers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mild bromination of unreactive aromatic compounds

N,N,N′,N′-Tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide and poly(N,N′-dibromo-N-ethylene-benzene-1,3-disulfonamide) in concentrated H₂SO₄ can be used as efficient reagents for the mild bromination of unreactive arenes at room temperature, under solvent-free conditions, in good yields.     

Enantioselective synthesis of P-stereogenic benzophospholanes via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization

Enantioselective or diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization of functionalized secondary phosphines or their borane adducts catalyzed by chiral Pd(diphosphine) complexes gave P-stereogenic benzophospholanes in up to 70% ee. These results provide a new method for the synthesis of chiral phospholanes, which are valuable ligands in asymmetric catalysis. [reaction: see text]     

Oxygen donor-mediated equilibration of diastereomeric alkene-palladium(II) intermediates in enantioselective desymmetrizing Heck cyclizations

This investigation examines the origin of enantioselection in the desymmetrization of an acyclic prochiral Heck cyclization precursor. High asymmetric induction (97-98% ee) is attributed to a temporary interaction of a Lewis basic oxygen donor with weakly Lewis acidic palladium(II). A series of control experiments combined with quantum-chemical model calculations provided sound evidence for a mechanism involving oxygen donor-mediated, rapid equilibration of diastereomeric alkene-palladium(II) complexes prior to the selectivity-determining ring-closing event, a Curtin-Hammett scenario. Our study also highlights the importance of the cationic pathway (triflate counter anions versus halido ligand) and alkene stereochemistry (E versus Z) in asymmetric Heck reactions.     

Recent development for enantioselective synthesis of aromatic compounds from alkynes via metallacyclopentadienes

Metallacyclopentadiene, which is recognized as a metallo‐heterocycle, is an important intermediate for the formation of aromatic derivatives. In this short review, we summarized the recent advance on construction of axial, central, planar, and helical chirality by transition‐metal‐catalyzed aromatic compounds formation via metallacyclopentadienes. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Catalytic asymmetric deprotonation of phosphine boranes and sulfides as a route to P-stereogenic compounds

A comparison between phosphine boranes and sulfides in their catalytic asymmetric deprotonation using organolithiums and sub-stoichiometric amounts of (-)-sparteine has revealed superior catalytic efficiency in the phosphine sulfide deprotonation.     

Anodic bromination of aromatic compounds in acetonitrile

The electrochemical bromination of benzene, toluene and p-xylene has been investigated in acetonitrile; even if the mechanism was found to be somewhat similar to that postulated in a previous paper for acetic acid as the solvent, the yields of the brominated products in this case are near to 100% because the solvent is not brominated in these conditions.     

Platinum-catalyzed enantioselective tandem alkylation/arylation of primary phosphines. Asymmetric synthesis of P-stereogenic 1-phosphaacenaphthenes

Enantioselective tandem alkylation/arylation of primary phosphines with 1-bromo-8-chloromethylnaphthalene catalyzed by Pt(DuPhos) complexes gave P-stereogenic 1-phosphaacenaphthenes (AcePhos) in up to 74% ee. Diastereoselective formation of four P-C bonds in one pot with bis(primary) phosphines gave C2-symmetric diphosphines, including the o-phenylene derivative DuAcePhos, for which the rac isomer was formed with high enantioselectivity. These reactions, which appear to proceed via an unusual metal-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution pathway, yield a new class of heterocycles with potential applications in asymmetric catalysis.     

Obtaining enriched compounds via a tandem enantioselective reaction and kinetic resolution polishing sequence

Herein we describe a tandem method of coupling an enantioselective reaction with a nonenzymatic kinetic resolution to prepare highly enantioenriched compounds. The procedure employs a moderately selective enantioselective reaction on a ketone or aldehyde to form an enriched alcohol followed by a kinetic resolution of the alcohol to generate ee's of >99% in yields greater than what is possible with a kinetic resolution. This method highlights an avenue to quickly acquire highly enriched compounds without developing and optimizing a new methodology.     

Neutral p-cymene ruthenium complexes with P-stereogenic monophosphines. New catalytic precursors in enantioselective transfer hydrogenation and cyclopropanation

A family of eight neutral, pseudotetrahedral piano-stool ruthenium complexes C, of the type [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(PArPhR)] (Ar = 1-naphthyl, 9-phenanthryl and 2-biphenylyl; R = Me, i-Pr, OMe, –CH₂SiMe₃ and –CH₂SiPh₃) have been prepared and characterised, including the X-ray crystal structure for C6 (Ar = 2-biphenylyl; R = i-Pr). These complexes catalyse the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction of acetophenone in refluxing 2-propanol in the presence of potassium tert-butoxyde, reaching full conversions and up to 45% ee after 24 h towards the S enantiomer of 1-phenylethanol. Cationic complexes formed upon treatment of C with one equivalent of AgSbF₆ or (Et₃O)PF₆ are active in the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene and α-methylstyrene by ethyl diazoacetate. Low to moderate conversions (up to 58%), diastereoselectivities (up to 40% de), and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 69% ee) have been found. For both reactions, bulky complexes and C6 in particular lead to the best results.     

Regioselective and high-yielding bromination of aromatic compounds using hexamethylenetetramine-bromine

A regioselective and highly efficient method for bromination of aromatic compounds in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of hexamethylenetetramine-bromine (HMTAB) as an efficient reagent in dichloromethane is reported. The selectivity depends on the temperature and nature of the substituent on the substrate. The reactivity of this reagent was increased by supporting it to silica gel for bromination of less activated compounds.     

Neutral p-cymene ruthenium complexes with P-stereogenic monophosphines. New catalytic precursors in enantioselective transfer hydrogenation and cyclopropanation

A family of eight neutral, pseudotetrahedral piano-stool ruthenium complexes C, of the type [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(PArPhR)] (Ar = 1-naphthyl, 9-phenanthryl and 2-biphenylyl; R = Me, i-Pr, OMe, –CH₂SiMe₃ and –CH₂SiPh₃) have been prepared and characterised, including the X-ray crystal structure for C6 (Ar = 2-biphenylyl; R = i-Pr). These complexes catalyse the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction of acetophenone in refluxing 2-propanol in the presence of potassium tert-butoxyde, reaching full conversions and up to 45% ee after 24 h towards the S enantiomer of 1-phenylethanol. Cationic complexes formed upon treatment of C with one equivalent of AgSbF₆ or (Et₃O)PF₆ are active in the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene and α-methylstyrene by ethyl diazoacetate. Low to moderate conversions (up to 58%), diastereoselectivities (up to 40% de), and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 69% ee) have been found. For both reactions, bulky complexes and C6 in particular lead to the best results.     

Kinetic resolution of P-stereogenic phosphine boranes via deprotonation using s-butyllithium/(−)-sparteine

The attempted kinetic resolution of racemic secondary phosphine boranes [t-BuPhP(BH₃)H and t-BuMeP(BH₃)H] by P–H deprotonation using 0.5 equiv of s-BuLi and (?)-sparteine was unsuccessful and generated racemic benzyl bromide-trapped adducts in 42–49% yield. In contrast, an efficient kinetic resolution was observed with racemic tertiary phosphine boranes [t-BuPhP(BH₃)Me and t-BuEtP(BH₃)Me] by C–H deprotonation on the P–Me group using 0.5 or 0.6 equiv of s-BuLi and (?)-sparteine. For example, the use of 0.6 equiv of s-BuLi/(?)-sparteine with t-BuEtP(BH₃)Me and trapping with DMF gave the (R)-aldehyde adduct in 37% yield and 83:17 er together with recovered (R)-t-BuEtP(BH₃)Me in 44% yield and 74:26 er. These are the first examples of kinetic resolution of P-stereogenic phosphine boranes via deprotonation using s-BuLi/(?)-sparteine.     

Stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalised P-stereogenic nucleosides via palladium-catalysed P-C cross-coupling reactions

We have shown that the configuration at the P-stereogenic centre in a range of H-phosphonates can be assigned using a combination of chromatographic mobility, ¹H and ³¹P NMR data. We have also shown that the individual P-stereoisomers can be cross-coupled with vinyl and aryl halides, in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst, to afford the corresponding vinyl- and arylphosphonates in a stereocontrolled manner.     

Asymmetric catalytic synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphines via a nucleophilic ruthenium phosphido complex

Ruthenium phosphido complexes have been shown to be excellent nucleophiles, reacting via two-electron processes with a variety of electrophiles. A catalytic alkylation reaction was developed using an achiral ruthenium complex, which was then elaborated into a catalytic enantioselective synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphines. These useful and synthetically challenging phosphines can now be accessed in a single step from simple secondary phosphines and alkyl halides. Optimization and scope of the enantioselective alkylation are discussed.