C1 and C2-symmetric carbohydrate phosphorus ligands in asymmetric catalysis

Carbohydrates are increasingly used as starting materials for the synthesis of enantiopure ligands. They contain a considerable number of stereocenters, and compounds with all possible configurational combinations are readily available. This tutorial review focuses on ligands obtained by the introduction of phosphorus functionalities (mainly phosphinite, phosphite or phosphine) into a carbohydrate framework. They are classified according to their structural features. In this review, ligands are organised as C1 ligands with a pyranoside or furanoside structure, and C2 ligands. Particular attention is paid to water soluble ligands prepared from carbohydrates. General methods for the preparation of the ligands are presented in order to show how the backbones can be obtained from simple carbohydrates. The catalytic results obtained in commonly studied processes are presented in tables in order to facilitate the comparison between the ligands. The advantages and limitations of the use of ligands based on carbohydrates are discussed.     

Double C-H activation strategy for the asymmetric synthesis of C2-symmetric anilines

Rh(2)(S-DOSP)(4)-catalyzed C-H activation to N,N-dimethylanilines is described. A double C-H activation was possible by using an excess of methyl aryldiazoacetate, and this provided a very direct approach to C(2)-symmetric anilines. [reaction--see text]     

A novel C3-symmetric prolinol-squaramide catalyst for the asymmetric reduction of ketones by borane

A novel C₃-symmetric prolinol-squaramide has been developed for the asymmetric reduction of ketones by borane. By using only 5 mol % catalyst 1a for the reaction, high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% yield, 93% ee) were obtained. Moreover, 1a can be easily recovered by simple precipitation and re-used for four cycles without losing the selectivity.     

Highly modular synthesis of C1-symmetric aminosulfoximines and their use as ligands in copper-catalyzed asymmetric Mukaiyama-aldol reactions

The development of C1-symmetric aminosulfoximines, their highly modular synthesis, and their application in enantioselective copper-catalyzed Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions between pyruvates and enolsilanes is described. In this context, the influence of the ligand architecture as well as the optimization of the reaction conditions are discussed. In detail, the dependence of the catalyst efficiency on the solvent, the metal source and the temperature are reported, and an interesting additive effect is highlighted. Furthermore, the substrate scope will be presented. With the optimized catalyst system, a number of aldol products with quaternary stereogenic centers have been obtained in high yields and with enantiomeric excesses up to 99 %.     

Bidirectional asymmetric allylboration. A convenient asymmetric synthesis of C(2)-symmetric 3-methylenepentane-1,5-diols and rapid access to C(2)-symmetric spiroketals

The double allylboration of aldehydes using 1, 3-bis(diisopinocampheylboryl)-2-methylenepropanes (R,R)-3 and (S, S)-3 under Brown's salt-free conditions provides C(2)-symmetric 3-methylenepentane-1,5-diols 1 in excellent enantiomeric excess. The absolute stereochemistry of the products was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray study of bis-Mosher ester 6g. Desymmetrization and further functionalization of diol 1a were achieved by treatment of the bis-BOC carbonate 13 with IBr in toluene at -80 degrees C to give cyclic iodocarbonate 14 as a single diastereomer. This methodology is also applicable in natural product synthesis; enantiomerically pure spiroketals 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes 18 and 25, the latter representing an expedient synthesis of the AB ring system of the spongistatins 20, were easily accessed from simple starting materials in excellent yields and selectivities.     

Efficient asymmetric hydrogenation with rhodium complexes of C(1)-symmetric 2,5-dimethylphospholane-diphenylphosphines

The unsymmetrical, optically active ligands 1,2-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))((R,R)-2,5-dimethylphospholanyl) and the new 1,1'-Fe(C(5)H(4))(2)(PPh(2))((R,R)-2,5-dimethylphospholanyl) form complexes of the type [PtCl(2)(diphos)] and [Rh(diphos)(diene)][BF(4)]. The crystal structure of reveals that only one quadrant is blocked. Asymmetric hydrogenation of acrylic esters and enamides using and as catalysts show that the phenylene-backboned diphosphine gives a more efficient catalyst in terms of asymmetric induction than the more flexible ferrocene-backboned diphosphine. The best results, which were obtained with and enamide substrates, exceeded those obtained with Duphos catalysts. The rate of hydrogenation of the enamides with was 10 times faster than with [Rh(Duphos)(diene)][BF(4)]. A quadrant diagram can be used to predict the configuration of the major product, provided it is assumed to be derived from the less sterically congested intermediate.     

Atropo-enantioselective synthesis of an axially chiral C1-symmetric phosphine ligand and its application in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes

The axially chiral monodentate phosphine P-8 was synthesized in enantiomerically pure form, starting from the readily available, configurationally unstable lactone 1. Furthermore, its application as a ligand in the Pd-catalyzed stereoselective hydrosilylation of styrenes was investigated.     

First asymmetric synthesis of a C2-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine

The enantioselective synthesis of a C₂-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine (3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) has been accomplished for the first time. The key step was a Michael addition of the protected β-amino ester methyl (R)-3-{N-benzyl-N-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]amino}-3-phenylpropionate to its α-methylene derivative delivering an anti,anti-configured α,α′-methylene-bridged bis(β-amino ester) as the major diastereomer. Deprotection, reduction and cyclisation furnished (1R,2R,5R,6R)-2,6-diphenyl-3,7-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in six steps and 15% overall yield.     

Enantioselective synthesis of DIANANE, a novel C2-symmetric chiral diamine for asymmetric catalysis

DIANANE (endo,endo-2,5-diaminonorbornane) is a novel chiral C(2)-symmetric diamine, based on the rigid bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane scaffold. Schiff-base ligands derived from DIANANE have already found use in asymmetric catalysis, e.g., in the highly enantioselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. We herein describe a practical synthesis of enantiomerically pure DIANANE, starting from norbornadiene in four steps: (i) Pd-MOP catalyzed Hayashi-hydrosilylation/Tamao-Fleming oxidation, (ii) oxidation to norbornane-2,5-dione, (iii) endo-selective reductive amination with benzylamine, and (iv) hydrogenolytic debenzylation. None of the steps involves chromatographic purification. For the Tamao-Fleming oxidation, the use of hydrogen peroxide in the form of its urea clathrate instead of aqueous solution proved beneficial. By the above sequence, enantiomerically pure (ee >or=99%) DIANANE was obtained from norbornadiene in 40-50% overall yield. The relative and absolute configuration of DIANANE was confirmed by X-ray crystallography of the DIANANE bis-tosylamide, and of its bis-camphorsulfonamide. Furthermore, the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the Schiff-base ligand derived from DIANANE and 3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylic aldehyde are reported.     

A C2-symmetric chiral bipyridyldiol–titanium complex as a catalyst for the asymmetric trimethylsilylcyanation of substituted benzaldehydes

This article describes a novel C₂-symmetric ligand that comprises a central bipyridine-pinene-derived core and two functionalized two diphenylmethanol subunits. The [8′-(hydroxy-diphenyl-methyl)-10,10,10′,10′-tetramethyl-[5,5′]bi[6-aza-tricyclo[7.1.1.0^2,7]undecyl]-2(7),3,5,2′(7′),3′,5′-hexane-8-yl]-diphenyl-methanol 1 is an effective catalyst in the enantioselective addition of trimethylsilylcyanide to various aromatic aldehydes with asymmetric inductions of up to 98% ee. Importantly, the correlation between Hammett substituent constants and the enantiomeric excess, and the electron-releasing group at the meta- and para-positions of substituted benzaldehydes were demonstrated to be associated with the high enantioselectivity of the trimethylsilylcyanation reaction that involves trimethylsilylcyanide.     

C1-symmetric oxazolinyl sulfoximines as ligands in copper-catalyzed asymmetric mukaiyama aldol reactions

Aryl-bridged C1-symmetric oxazolinyl sulfoximines are applicable in copper-catalyzed asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reactions with methyl pyruvate. The resulting alpha-hydroxy esters have been obtained with up to 94% ee in good yields. They contain a quaternary stereogenic center and represent valuable precursors for biologically active molecules.     

C2-symmetric proline-derived tetraamine as highly effective catalyst for direct asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to chalcones

A C(2)-symmetric tetraamine catalyst was developed for the asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to chalcones. The corresponding adducts 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds were obtained in good chemical yields with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99 : 1 dr and 93% ee) under mild conditions. By studying the ESI-MS of the intermediates, a proposed mechanism was disclosed.     

A C2-symmetric nickel diamine complex as an asymmetric catalyst for enecarbamate additions to butane-2,3-dione

Butane-2,3-dione was activated towards nucleophilic addition of enecarbamates by a series of metal triflate complexes of a C2-symmetric diamine to give stereogenic, aldol-like, t-alcohols, a novel nickel(II) triflate complex was identified as a good catalyst for this asymmetric transformation, and an aquo nickel(II) complex was identified by XRD techniques.     

C2-symmetric bis-hydrazones as ligands in the asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

Glyoxal bis-hydrazone derived from (S,S)-1-amino-2,5-diphenylpyrrolidine behaves as an excellent ligand for phosphine-free, asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross couplings, thereby affording a variety of enantiomerically enriched biaryls with different substitution patterns. The high catalytic activity of the [PdCl2(bis-hydrazone)] complex allows reactions to be performed at room temperature, affording products with excellent enantioselectivities in all cases.     

Catalytic palladium phosphination: modular synthesis of C1-symmetric biaryl-based diphosphines

A new family of C(1)-symmetric bis(diphenylphosphino)biphenyls have been prepared starting from readily available ortho,ortho'-dihalobiphenyl precursors by a palladium-catalyzed C-P coupling reaction. This process does not require the use of an additional ligand. To date, the synthesis of such diphosphines, by reaction of an intermediate biphenyldiyl dianion with ClPPh(2), mainly afforded the undesired cyclic phosphafluorene derivative. So far, no synthetic pathway has been found to avoid this intramolecular reaction. Herein we report the first general and external-ligand-free palladium-catalyzed phosphination reaction that allows the synthesis of a wide variety of substituted ortho,ortho'-bis(diphenylphosphino)biphenyls. With the aim of illustrating the scope and efficiency of this methodology, we applied it to the establishment of a straightforward access to C(1)-symmetrical analogues of the most powerful ligands used in homogenous catalysis and extended it to more challenging substrates.     

Enantiopure C1-symmetric bis(imino)pyridine cobalt complexes for asymmetric alkene hydrogenation

Enantiopure C(1)-symmetric bis(imino)pyridine cobalt chloride, methyl, hydride, and cyclometalated complexes have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are active as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation of geminal-disubstituted olefins.