A Structurally Robust Chiral Borate Ion: Molecular Design,Synthesis, and Asymmetric Catalysis

Catalysis by chiral weakly‐coordinating anions (WCAs) remains underdeveloped due to the lack of a molecular design strategy for exploiting their characteristics, such as the non‐nucleophilic nature. Here, we report the development of a chiral borate ion comprising an O,N,N,O‐tetradentate backbone, which ensures hitherto unattainable structural robustness. Upon pairing with a proton, the hydrogen borate acts as an effective catalyst for the asymmetric Prins‐type cyclization of vinyl ethers, providing access to structurally and stereochemically defined dihydropyrans. The key to selectivity control is the distinct ability of the borate ion to discriminate the prochiral faces of the acyclic oxonium ion intermediate and dictate the regiochemical outcome. We anticipate that this study paves the way for exploring the untapped potential of WCA catalysis for selective chemical synthesis.     

Asymmetric Counteranion‐Directed Catalysis: Concept,Definition, and Applications

Recently, the use of enantiomerically pure counteranions for the induction of asymmetry in reactions proceeding through cationic intermediates has emerged as an exciting new concept, which has been termed asymmetric counteranion‐directed catalysis (ACDC). Despite its success, the concept has not been fully defined and systematically discussed to date. This Review closes this gap by providing a clear definition of ACDC and by examining both clear cases as well as more ambiguous examples to illustrate the differences and overlaps with other catalysis concepts.     

Chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides as Acyl Transfer Catalysts: Design,Synthesis, and Application in Asymmetric Steglich Rearrangement

A DMAP‐N‐oxide, featuring an α‐amino acid as the chiral source, was developed, synthesized and applied in asymmetric Steglich rearrangement. A series of O‐acylated azlactones afforded C‐acylated azlactones possessing a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 97 % yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Compared to the widespread use of pyridine nitrogen, which serves as the nucleophilic site in the asymmetric acyl transfer reaction, we discovered that chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides, in which the oxygen now acts as the nucleophilic site, are efficient acyl transfer catalysts. Our finding might open a new door for the development of chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides for asymmetric acyl transfer reactions.     

手性膦配体合成及其在不对称催化中的应用*

本文较为详细地综述了手性膦配体的合成进展, 并介绍了其在不对称氢化反应、不对称氢甲酰化反应及不对称氢酯基化反应中的应用。     

A Powerful Chiral Counteranion Motif for Asymmetric Catalysis

Room to swing a cat : A chiral disulfonimide has been designed as a powerful new motif for asymmetric catalysis. As a first illustration, a highly efficient and enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction has been developed (see scheme). The actual catalyst is proposed to be an N‐silyl imide which is generated in situ.

     

Asymmetric Ion‐Pairing Catalysis

Charged intermediates and reagents are ubiquitous in organic transformations. The interaction of these ionic species with chiral neutral, anionic, or cationic small molecules has emerged as a powerful strategy for catalytic, enantioselective synthesis. This review describes developments in the burgeoning field of asymmetric ion‐pairing catalysis with an emphasis on the insights that have been gleaned into the structural and mechanistic features that contribute to high asymmetric induction.     

Asymmetric Fluorinative Dearomatization of Tryptophol Derivatives by Chiral Anion Phase‐Transfer Catalysis

An asymmetric fluorinative dearomatization reaction of tryptophol derivatives was developed via chiral anion phase‐transfer catalysis. Various fluorinated furoindolines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields and enantioselectivity in the presence of Selectfluor. The preliminary mechanistic studies suggested the existence of an in situ formed tryptophol boronic ester plays a critical role in determining the enantioselectivity. This method features the facile introduction of a fluorine atom in a highly enantioselective manner and construction of two contiguous quaternary stereogenic centers.     

N,N-Diacylaminals as Emerging Tools in Synthesis: From Peptidomimetics to Asymmetric Catalysis

N,N-Diacylaminals are flexible molecular scaffolds that have commonly been utilized as amide surrogates in peptidomimetics. The singularities of this motif as an N-acyl imine equivalent and as hydrogen-bond donor have recently opened new synthetic opportunities, especially in the field of asymmetric catalysis. This concept article highlights this diverse synthetic potential and provides the elements necessary for further developments.     

Hydrazide‐Catalyzed Polyene Cyclization: Asymmetric Organocatalytic Synthesis of cis‐Decalins

Polyene cyclizations offer rapid entry into terpenoid ring systems. Although enantioselective cyclizations of (E)‐polyenes to form trans‐decalin ring systems are well precedented, highly enantioselective cyclizations of (Z)‐polyenes to form the corresponding cis‐decalins have not been reported. Here, we describe the first application of iminium catalysis to the initiation of polyene cyclizations. Ethyl 1,2‐diazepane‐1‐carboxylate catalyzes the cyclization of polyenes bearing enal initiators. Moreover, chiral bicyclic hydrazides catalyze the cyclizations of (Z)‐polyene substrates to form cis‐decalins with enantioselectivities of up to 97:3 er. DFT calculations suggest the catalysts promote the reaction by stabilizing positive charge as it develops during the bicyclization.     

Chiral Bisphosphoric Acids and Their Applications in Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysis has been recognized as a powerful concept for asymmetric synthesis. In the process of pursuing more robust and highly effective chiral Brønsted acid catalysts, chiral bisphosphoric acids have received much attention in the last two decades. Their unique catalytic properties are mainly attributed to the inherent intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions that could increase the overall acidity and tune the conformation property. Integrating hydrogen bonding into the catalyst design, quite a few structurally unique and effective bisphosphoric acids have been synthesized, which frequently exhibited superior selectivity in a broad range of asymmetric transformations. This review summarizes the status quo of chiral bisphosphoric acid catalysts and their applications in catalyzing asymmetric transformations.     

Functionalized Chiral Ionic Liquids: A New Type of Asymmetric Organocatalysts and Nonclassical Chiral Ligands

By judiciously anchoring functional groups onto chiral ionic liquids, functionalized chiral ionic liquids (FCILs) are emerging as a new type of asymmetric organocatalysts and nonclassical chiral ligands. This Focus Review highlights the applications of FCILs from the viewpoint of asymmetric catalysis. We focus mainly on the de novo designed and synthesized FCILs which likely still maintain the typical ionic liquids properties, and in a few cases relevant ionic liquid immobilized chiral catalysts are briefly discussed.     

Combinatorial Approach to Chiral Tris‐ligated Carbophilic Platinum Complexes: Application to Asymmetric Catalysis

A straightforward methodology for the synthesis of libraries of chiral tris‐ligated cationic platinum complexes and their in situ evaluation as asymmetric carbophilic catalysts in a model domino hydroarylation/cyclization reaction of a 1,6‐enyne was developed. A catalyst‐generation process based on a combination of a monodentate and a bidentate phosphorus ligand allowed the formation of 108 chiral complexes. One‐pot screening of the stereoinduction obtained with this library in a test domino addition/cyclization reaction validated this approach and stressed the key role played by the monodentate ligand partner in obtaining high enantioselectivities. In the case of two challenging substrate/nucleophile combinations, the combinatorial approach resulted in a significant gain in enantioselectivity.     

手性磷-烯配体在不对称催化领域的研究进展

手性磷-烯配体在不对称催化反应中的应用近年来受到化学家们的关注,已经成为一个热门的研究领域.磷-烯配体作为一类新兴杂化烯烃配体,将具有强配位能力的磷原子与配位方式特殊但配位能力相对较弱的碳-碳双键结合在一起,兼具了部分手性膦配体和手性双烯配体的优点,在一些过渡金属如铑、钯、铱等催化的不对称反应中表现出独特的催化性能,不但能高效催化反应,而且能取得优异的对映选择性.本文综述了自2004年首例磷-烯配体的合成及应用报道以来该领域的研究进展,对过去十几年中发展的各种手性磷-烯配体的结构特征、合成方法以及它们在不同催化不对称反应中的应用进行了分类概括,期望为未来进一步拓展手性烯烃配体的类型和应用提供思考和方向.     

手性金属Salen配合物在不对称催化中的应用*

手性Salen金属配合物已在不对称催化中得到了广泛的应用。本文主要介绍了可溶性的手性金属Salen配合物在不对称催化反应中的应用以及手性金属Salen配合物固载化研究取得的进展。     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Spiropyrazolones by Sequential Organo‐ and Silver Catalysis

A stereoselective one‐pot synthesis of spiropyrazolones through an organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition and a formal Conia‐ene reaction has been developed. Depending on the nitroalkene, the 5‐exo‐dig‐cyclization could be achieved by silver‐catalyzed alkyne activation or by oxidation of the intermediate enolate. The mechanistic pathways have been investigated using computational chemistry and mechanistic experiments.     

Enantioselective Carbonyl Catalysis Enabled by Chiral Aldehydes

Organocatalytic methods have achieved spectacular advancements for the preparation of chiral molecules in highly enantioenriched forms. The fast development of this field can mainly be attributed to the evolution of general and reliable activation modes. The discovery and identification of new activation modes are therefore highly desirable to push the boundaries of asymmetric reactions. In this Minireview, recent advances in enantioselective carbonyl catalysis, one useful subbranch of organocatalysis for the efficient activation of simple amines, will be summarized. With elegantly designed chiral aldehyde catalysts, highly enantioselective and efficient asymmetric reactions can be developed. Continued development of enantioselective carbonyl catalysis is expected in the future.     

Applications of Helical‐Chiral Pyridines as Organocatalysts in Asymmetric Synthesis

A new family of chiral pyridines has been designed and synthesized for use in asymmetric organocatalysis. Thus, helical‐chiral pyridines induce high enantioselectivity in a range of mechanistically unrelated, synthetically significant transformations, including Friedel‐Crafts alkylation with nitroalkenes, periselective Diels‐Alder reactions with nitroalkenes, the ring‐opening of epoxides with a chloride nucleophile, and the propargylation of aldehydes.     

Asymmetric Catalysis with Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The chemistry of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) provides the most important approach for the metal‐free hydrogenation and hydrosilylations. Great progress has been achieved in this area for the past decade. Some promising results have also been obtained. This perspective article mainly focuses on the recent advances for the synthesis of chiral Lewis acidic boranes in category of three protocols, 1) hydroboration of chiral internal alkenes with Piers’ borane HB(C₆F₅)₂; 2) in situ hydroboration of chiral alkenes or alkynes without any purification; 3) and substitution reaction of (C₆F₅)_nBCl_3–n with chiral organometallic reagents, as well as their applications in the metal‐free asymmetric hydrogenations and hydrosilylations.