Double catalytic enantioselective Michael addition reactions of tertiary nucleophile precursors—tertiary/quaternary and quaternary/quaternary carbon–carbon bond formations

Enantioselective Michael addition reactions of tertiary nucleophile precursors, such as substituted malononitriles and cyclic 1,3-diketones, can be successfully activated by the metal complexes derived from R,R-DBFOX/Ph chiral ligand and cationic metal salts. With this method, the enantioselective tertiary/quaternary and quaternary/quaternary carbon–carbon bond formations can be achieved. Use of alcohol solvents is essential for the success, and ,β-unsaturated amides of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole are much better acceptors than those of 2-oxazolidinone.     

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol and 2-(2′-furyl)-propan-1-ol

The enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohols 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol (±)-1 and 2-(2′-furyl)propan-1-ol (±)-2 was investigated by screening a range of lipases and esterases for enantioselective transacylation, as well as for enantioselective hydrolysis. For both alcohols, lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the derived racemic acetate gave the best results for accessing the desired (S)-enantiomers. In the case of the secondary alcohol (±)-1, ASL turned out to be the optimum enzyme, whereas PPL was found to be superior in the case of the primary alcohol (±)-2. Additionally, an alternative access to (S)-2 via Oppolzer's camphor sultam methodology is described.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.     

Enzymatic production of (3S,4R)-(−)-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-carboxylic acid using a commercial preparation from Candida antarctica A: the role of a contaminant esterase

The enantioselective hydrolysis of (3RS,4RS)-trans-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-ethyl carboxylate (±)-2 was effected using a commercial preparation of lipase from C. antarctica A (CAL-A). We found that the hydrolytic activity of the lipase (immobilized on a number of very different supports) with this substrate was negligible. However, a contaminant esterase with Mw of 52 KDa from this commercial preparation exhibited much higher activity with (±)-2. This enzyme was purified and immobilized on PEI-coated support and the resulting enzyme preparation was highly enantioselective in the hydrolysis of (±)-2 (E >100), hydrolyzing only the (3S,4R)-(−)-3, which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important (−)-paroxetine. Optimization of the reaction system was performed using a racemic mixture with a substrate concentration of 50 mM. This enzyme preparation was used in three reaction cycles and maintained its catalytic properties.     

(R)-Oxynitrilase catalyzed synthesis of (R)-ketone cyanohydrins

(R)-Oxynitrilase from almonds (Prunus amygdalus) catalyzes the enantioselective addition of HCN to ethyl alkyl ketones 1 in diisopropyl ether yielding (R)-ethyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-2, which are hydrolyzed under acid catalysis to give the -hydroxy acids (R)-3. This (R)-oxynitrilase also catalyzes the enantioselective addition in aqueous citrate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.0), as demonstrated for the preparation of (R)-methyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-5 which are obtained in high enantiomeric excesses comparable to those in diisopropyl ether as solvent.     

Stereoselective syntheses of unnatural steroidal C(20R) aldehydes by ionic hydrogenation of C-20 tertiary alcohols

Syntheses of three unnatural steroidal C(20R) aldehydes have been realised from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The salient feature of the synthesis is the ionic hydrogenation of C-20 tertiary alcohols leading to the formation of the C(20R) unnatural isomer with complete stereoselectivity. Oxidative hydrolysis of the dithiane moiety furnished the C(20R) aldehydes.     

Asymmetric alcoholysis of 2-phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolones by the catalytic mixture of cyclo[(S)-His-(S)-Phe] with chiral auxiliaries

Some derivatives of dipeptides containing a His residue catalyzed the ring opening of 2-phenyl-4-benzyl-5(4H)-oxazolone by methanol. The mixture of cyclo[(S)-His-(S)-Phe] (CHP) with chiral auxiliaries which possess both a hydrogen-bond donor and a hydrogen-bond acceptor was a more effective and enantioselective catalyst than the CHP alone. The influence of racemic and the two enantiomerically pure auxiliaries on the cyclo[(S)-His-(S)-Phe]-catalyzed alcoholysis of the 5(4H)-oxazolone was different. A mixture of CHP with -diisopropyl tartrate catalyzed the enantioselective ring opening of 2-phenyl-4-benzyl-5(4H)-oxazolone by methanol, ethanol and n-butanol, preferentially affording the N-benzoyl- -phenylalaninates (20–39% e.e.).     

Acetylphosphonate as a surrogate of acetate or acetamide in organocatalyzed enantioselective aldol reactions

Highly enantioselective aldol reactions of acetylphosphonates and activated carbonyl compounds was realized with cinchona alkaloid derived catalysts, in which the acetylphosphonate was directly used as an enolate precursor for the first time. The aldol product obtained was converted in situ to its corresponding ester or amide through methanolysis or aminolysis. The overall process may be viewed as formal highly enantioselective acetate or acetamide aldol reactions, which are very difficult to achieve directly with organocatalytic methods.     

First catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of cyclic imines: Highly efficient enantioselective approach to a 4-thiazolidinylphosphonate via chiral titanium and lanthanoid catalysts

The catalytic and enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of a cyclic imine, namely the 3-thiazoline 1, is described. We have discovered a highly efficient enantioselective de novo approach to the pharmaceutically interesting 4-thiazolidinylphosphonate 2 using either titanium or lanthanoid chiral catalysts, which gives excellent enantiomeric purities (up to 98 %ee) and high chemical yields.     

Enantioselective Resolution of (±)-l-Phenylethyl Acetate by Using the Whole Cells of Deep-sea Bacterium Bacillus sp. DL-2

Bacillus sp. DL-2 was isolated from the deep sea of the Western Pacific and further utilized as novel biocatalysts to efficiently asymmetrically hydrolyze (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate. After the optimization of hydrolytic reactions, chiral chemicals (R)1-phenylethanol and (S)-l-phenylethyl acetate were obtained with high optical purities (96% and 99.8%, respectively). Our research is about the asymmeric hydrolysis of (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate using whole-cell biocatalysts. In addition, the optical purity of (S)-l-phenylethyl acetate generated through the kinetic resolution of (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate using the whole-cells of Bacillus sp. DL-2 was the highest report so far. Using the whole cells of deep sea bacterium Bacillus sp. DL-2 as the biocatalysts is an enviromnentally friendly method and will play critical roles in industrial asymmetric synthesis.     

Highly enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones with chiral phosphite–pyridine ligands derived from H8-NOBIN

A series of new phosphite–pyridine ligands, based on the H₈-binaphthyl backbone, were synthesized and employed in the copper-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones. Ligands derived from (S)-H₈-NOBIN provided better results than their parent ligands in the reaction. Ligand L1 provided excellent ees for trans-4-aryl-3-buten-2-ones (up to 97.8% ee) as substrates. Ligand L2 was very efficient for various para-chalcones, and up to 97.2% ee was achieved.     

Direct, catalytic enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reaction of trifluoromethyl ketones: an asymmetric entry to alpha-trifluoromethyl-substituted quaternary carbons

Herein we describe the first direct, catalytic enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reaction of simple alpha-trifluoromethyl ketones with nitromethane using a chiral monometallic lanthanum(III) triflate salt complex, namely [(Delta,S,S,S)-Binolam]3.La(OTf)3, as enantioselective catalyst. The resulting alpha-trifluoromethyl tertiary nitroaldols were obtained in moderate to high yields (up to 93%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). These adducts are versatile chiral building blocks and may be reduced (NiCl2/NaBH4) to their beta-amino-alpha-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols without loss of enantiomeric purity.     

Preliminary studies on the synthesis of rancinamycins from nitrosugars: first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde

The first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde from d-glucose is described. The key steps of this synthesis are the stereoselective Michael addition of 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane to 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro--d-xilo-hex-5-enofuranose followed by the enantioselective two-step transformation of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-6-nitro-β-l-idofuranose into (1S,2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-2-nitro-cyclohexanecarbaldehyde propylene dithioacetal, which was finally converted into the target compound.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of piperidine derivatives through the [4 + 2] annulation of imines with allenes

Although tertiary phosphines have emerged as remarkably versatile nucleophilic catalysts, there has been only very limited progress in achieving asymmetric catalysis with chiral phosphines. In this report, the first highly enantioselective variant of the Kwon annulation of imines with allenes is described. Thus, C2-symmetric chiral phosphepine 1 serves as an effective catalyst for this powerful process, furnishing an array of functionalized piperidine derivatives with very good stereoselectivity.     

Chiral biscinchona alkaloid promoted asymmetric allylic alkylation of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with respect to prochiral 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and MBH carbonate by a chiral biscinchona alkaloid catalyst was investigated. The corresponding adducts, containing a quaternary center at the C3-position of the benzofuran-2(3H)-one as well as a vicinal tertiary center, were generally obtained in high yields (up to 97%) with very good diastereo- (up to 98:2 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).     

黄酮/叔胺引发三丙二醇二丙烯酸酯的光聚合反应

采用实时红外光谱(RTIR)研究了黄酮(FL)为紫外光光敏剂, 不同氢给体(如叔胺)为助引发剂时三丙二醇二丙烯酸酯(TPGDA)的光聚合反应. 结果表明, FL分子中的大π共轭体系使其UV吸收峰的摩尔消光系数(ε_max)远远高于商业化光敏剂二苯甲酮(BP). 当FL与不同助引发剂配合使用时, TPGDA光聚合动力学有较大差异, 其中叔胺体系助引发剂能够与激发态FL发生有效的电子/质子转移过程, 产生胺烷基自由基活性种引发TPGDA的光聚合反应, 所得固化膜的最终双键转化率(DC_f)为93%~97%, 接近完全固化; 而芝麻素(SM)及胡椒环(BDO)作为助引发剂时TPGDA的聚合速率则很低, 固化膜的DC_f仅为32%~38%. 当光敏剂质量分数为1.0%, 4-N,N'-二甲氨基苯甲酸乙酯(EDAB)质量分数为1.0%时, FL/EDAB引发TPGDA的聚合动力学与商业化BP/EDAB的相同, 所得固化膜的DC_f均为97%.     

Chiral amine thiourea-promoted enantioselective Michael addition reactions of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones to maleimides

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition reaction with respect to prochiral 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and maleimides by a chiral bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine catalyst was investigated. The corresponding adducts, containing a quaternary center at the C3-position of the benzofuran-2(3H)-one as well as a vicinal tertiary center, were generally obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with very good diastereo- (up to >20:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Pd-Catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of 2-methyl-3-methyleneindoline

A Pd-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of 2-methyl-3-methyleneindoline in up to 89% yield and 84% ee from racemic vinyl benzoxazinanones has been developed with the help of(R,R)-BenzP*ligand.Mechanism studies support the formation of palladacyclobutane as the key intermediate via C2 attack to π-allyl Pd complex.The β-hydride elimination provides a new reaction pathway for the palladacyclobutane.     

Highly Enantioselective Intramolecular 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition: A Route to Piperidino‐Pyrrolizidines

Enantioselective catalytic intermolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions are powerful methods for the synthesis of heterocycles. In contrast, intramolecular enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions are virtually unexplored. A highly enantioselective synthesis of natural‐product‐inspired pyrrolidino‐piperidines by means of an intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with azomethine ylides is now reported. The method has a wide scope and yields the desired cycloadducts with four tertiary stereogenic centers with up to 99 % ee. Combining the enantioselective catalytic intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with a subsequent diastereoselective intermolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition yielded complex piperidino‐pyrrolizidines with very high stereoselectivity in a one‐pot tandem reaction.     

Stereoselective routes to chiral 2-hydroxy-4-oxo acids and substituted 2-hydroxybutyrolactones using lactate dehydrogenases

The enantioselective reduction 2,4-dioxo acids catalysed by lactate dehydrogenases provided access to 2-hydroxy-4-oxo acids of both S and R configuration. Subsequent diastereoselective chemical reduction affords 4-substituted 2-hydroxybutyrolactones.