Palladium-catalyzed deracemization of allylic carbonates in water with formation of allylic alcohols: hydrogen carbonate ion as nucleophile in the palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution and kinetic resolution

The palladium-catalyzed deracemization of racemic cyclic and acyclic allylic methyl carbonates in water in the presence of N,N'-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediylbis[2-(diphenylphophino)benzamide] proceeds with high enantioselectivities to give the corresponding allylic alcohols in high yields. This deracemization involves a palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution with the in-situ-formed hydrogen carbonate ion and an irreversible decomposition of the intermediate allylic hydrogen carbonates, with formation of the corresponding allylic alcohols. The palladium-catalyzed reaction of racemic cyclic allylic acetates with potassium hydrogen carbonate in water in the presence of the chiral bisphosphane proceeds with a highly selective kinetic resolution to give the corresponding allylic alcohols and allylic acetates.     

Sequential catalytic isomerization and allylic substitution. Conversion of racemic branched allylic carbonates to enantioenriched allylic substitution products

A catalytic protocol for the conversion of readily accessible racemic, branched aromatic allylic esters to branched allylic amines, ethers, and alkyls has been developed. Palladium-catalyzed isomerization of branched allylic esters to terminal allylic esters, followed by sequential iridium-catalyzed allylic substitution, gave the branched allylic products in good yield with high regioisomeric and enantiomeric selectivity. Both electron-rich and electron-poor branched allylic esters gave products in >90% ee. High enantiomeric excesses were also observed for the products from the reactions of 2-thienyl acetates and dienyl carbonates.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral allylic amines. Evaluation of ferrocenyloxazoline palladacycle catalysts and imidate motifs

Palladium(II) catalysts based on a ferrocenyloxazoline palladacyclic (FOP) scaffold were synthesized and evaluated for the rearrangement of prochiral allylic N-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzimidates. When iodide-bridged dimer FOP precatalysts are activated by reaction with excess silver trifluoroacetate, the allylic rearrangement of both E and Z prochiral primary allylic N-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzimidates takes place at room temperature to give the corresponding chiral allylic N-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzamides in high yield and good ee (typically 81-95%). Several allylic imidate motifs were evaluated also. Because the corresponding enantioenriched allylic amide products can be deprotected in good yield to give enantioenriched allylic amines, allylic N-aryltrifluoroacetimidates were identified as promising substrates.     

C-N bond cleavage of allylic amines via hydrogen bond activation with alcohol solvents in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of carbonyl compounds

Hydrogen-bond-activated C-N bond cleavage of allylic amines was realized in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation to form the C-C bond product. The method could be expanded to a series of allylic amines and carbonyl compounds with excellent results. It provides a new and convenient access to C-C bond formation based on Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of allylic amines by using only inexpensive alcohol solvents.     

Retention of regiochemistry and chirality in the ruthenium catalyzed allylic alkylation of disubstituted allylic esters

The regiospecific nucleophilic substitution during the ruthenium catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-unsymmetrical disubstituted allylic esters was demonstrated. The nucleophile was selectively introduced at the position originally substituted with leaving group in the 2-DPPBA or ip-pybox ligated [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-unsymmetrical disubstituted allylic esters. The chirality of the optically active allylic esters was also transferred to the alkylated products.     

Direct substitution of primary allylic amines with sulfinate salts

The NH(2) group in primary allylic amines was substituted directly by sulfinate salts with excellent regio- and stereoselectivities. In the presence of 0.1 mol % [Pd(allyl)Cl](2), 0.4 mol % 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), and excess boric acid, a range of α-unbranched primary allylic amines were smoothly substituted with sodium sulfinates in an α-selective fashion to give structurally diverse allylic sulfones in good to excellent yields with exclusive E selectivity. Replacing dppb with 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) allowed unsymmetric α-chiral primary allylic amines to be transformed into the corresponding allylic sulfones in good to excellent yields with excellent retention of ee. Importantly, the reaction complements known asymmetric methods in substrate scope via its unique ability to provide α-chiral allylic sulfones with high optical purity starting from unsymmetric allylic electrophiles.     

Geminal dicarboxylates as carbonyl surrogates for asymmetric synthesis. Part II. Scope and applications.

An enantioselective synthesis of allylic esters has been achieved by a novel asymmetric alkylation of allylic gem-dicarboxylates. The catalyst derived from palladium(0) and R,R-1,2-di(2'-diphenylphosphinobenzamido)cyclohexene efficiently induced the alkylation process with a variety of nucleophiles to provide allylic esters as products in good yield. High regio- and enantioselectivities were observed in the alkylation with most nucleophiles derived from malonate, whereas a modest level of ee's was obtained in the reactions with less reactive nucleophiles such as bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethane. In the latter case, a slow addition procedure proved effective, leading to significantly improved ee's. The utility of the alkylation products was demonstrated by several synthetically useful transformations including allylic isomerizations, allylic alkylations, and Claisen rearrangements. Using these reactions, the chirality of the initial allylic carbon-oxygen bond could be transferred to new carbon-oxygen, carbon-carbon, or carbon-nitrogen bonds in a predictable fashion with high stereochemical fidelity. The conversion of gem-diesters to chiral esters by the substitution reaction is the equivalent of an asymmetric carbonyl addition by stabilized nucleophiles. In conjunction with the subsequent reactions that occur with high stereospecificity, allylic gem-dicarboxylates serve as synthons for a double allylic transformation.     

Iridium-catalyzed allylic vinylation and asymmetric allylic amination reactions with o-aminostyrenes

An Ir-catalyzed allylic vinylation reaction of allyl carbonates with o-aminostyrene derivatives has been realized, providing skipped (Z,E)-diene derivatives. With (E)-but-2-ene-1,4-diyl dimethyl dicarbonate as the substrate, an efficient enantioselective synthesis of 1-benzazepine derivatives via an Ir-catalyzed domino allylic vinylation/intramolecular allylic amination reaction has been developed. Mechanistic studies of the allylic vinylation reaction have been carried out, and the results suggest that the leaving group of the allylic precursor plays a key role in directing the reaction pathway. Screening of various allylic precursors showed that Ir-catalyzed reactions of allyl diethyl phosphates with o-aminostyrene derivatives proceed via an allylic amination pathway. A subsequent ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of the amination products led to a series of enantiomerically enriched 1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives. Their utility is indicated by an asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-angustureine.     

Dechalcogenative allylic selenosulfide and disulfide rearrangements: complementary methods for the formation of allylic sulfides in the absence of electrophiles. Scope, limitations, and application to the functionalization of unprotected peptides in aqueous media

Primary allylic selenosulfates (seleno Bunte salts) and selenocyanates transfer the allylic selenide moiety to thiols giving primary allylic selenosulfides, which undergo rearrangement in the presence of PPh3 with the loss of selenium to give allylically rearranged allyl alkyl sulfides. This rearrangement may be conducted with prenyl-type selenosulfides to give isoprenyl alkyl sulfides. Alkyl secondary and tertiary allylic disulfides, formed by sulfide transfer from allylic heteroaryl disulfides to thiols, undergo desulfurative allylic rearrangement on treatment with PPh3 in methanolic acetonitrile at room temperature. With nerolidyl alkyl disulfides this rearrangement provides an electrophile-free method for the introduction of the farnesyl chain onto thiols. Both rearrangements are compatible with the full range of functionality found in the proteinogenic amino acids, and it is demonstrated that the desulfurative rearrangement functions in aqueous media, enabling the derivatization of unprotected peptides. It is also demonstrated that the allylic disulfide rearrangement can be induced in the absence of phosphine at room temperature by treatment with piperidine, or simply by refluxing in methanol. Under these latter conditions the reaction is also applicable to allyl aryl disulfides, providing allylically rearranged allyl aryl sulfides in good yields.     

A regio- and stereoisomeric study of allylic alcohol fluorination with a range of reagents

A range of dehydroxyfluorination reagents was reacted with separate diastereoisomers of a chiral allylic alcohol to explore both the regio- and stereoselectivity ratios of direct versus allylic fluorination. The allylic alcohol stereoisomers gave the same predominant fluorinated diastereoisomer indicating that the reaction proceeds with a significant S_N1 component via an allylic carbocation intermediate, which is quenched by fluoride ion, predominantly from the least hindered face. None of the reagents displayed very high regio- or stereoselectivity, although in all cases the allylic fluorination products predominated.     

Nickel(0) triethyl phosphite complex-catalyzed allylic substitution with retention of regio- and stereochemistry

Nickel(0) triethyl phosphite complex-promoted reaction of allylic acetates with thiols produced allylic sulfides with retention of configuration without allylic rearrangement. A similar reaction of allylic acetates with alcohols and phenols also proceeded with retention of regio- and stereochemistry.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Enantioselective Allylic Substitution of Trisubstituted Allylic Electrophiles

The first Ir‐catalyzed enantioselective allylation of trisubstituted allylic electrophiles has been developed. Through modification of the leaving group of allylic electrophiles, we found that trisubstituted allylic phosphates are suitable electrophiles for asymmetric allylation. The reaction of allylic phosphates with enol silanes derived from dioxinones gave allylated products in good yields with high enantioselectivities.     

Preparation of stereodefined homoallylic amines from the reductive cross-coupling of allylic alcohols with imines

Regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective coupling reactions between imines and allylic alcohols have been developed. These coupling reactions deliver complex homoallylic amine products through a convergent C-C bond forming process that does not proceed through intermediate allylic organometallic reagents. In general, convergent coupling, by exposure of an allylic alkoxide to a preformed Ti-imine complex, occurs with allylic transposition in a predictable and stereocontrolled manner. While simple diastereoselection in these reactions is high, delivering anti-products with ≥20:1 selectivity, the organometallic transformation described is compatible with a diverse range of functionality and substrates (including aliphatic and aromatic imines, allylic silanes, trisubstituted alkenes, vinyl- and aryl halides, trifluoromethyl groups, thioethers, and aromatic heterocycles). Alkene geometry of the products is a complex function of the allylic alcohol structure and is consistent with a mechanistic proposal based on syn-carbometalation followed by syn-elimination by way of a boat-like transition state geometry. Single asymmetric coupling reactions provide a means to translate the stereochemical information of the allylic alcohol to the homoallylic amine or to control diastereoselection in the coupling reactions of achiral allylic alcohols with chiral imines. Double asymmetric coupling reactions are also described that afford a unique means to control stereoselection in these complex convergent coupling processes. Finally, empirical models are proposed that are consistent with the observed stereochemical course of these coupling reactions en route to chiral homoallylic amines possessing di- or trisubstituted alkenes and anti- or syn- relative stereochemistry at the allylic and homoallylic positions.     

Microwave accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangements

The microwave-assisted thermal aza-Claisen rearrangement of allylic imidates and thiocyanates to the corresponding amides and isothiocyanates is investigated. Significant accelerations of the rearrangement of allylic imidates to amides and of allylic thiocyanates to isothiocyanates in comparison with standard thermal reactions is observed.     

A comparison of intrazeolite and solution singlet oxygen Ene reactions of allylic alcohols

The singlet oxygen ene reactions of four allylic alcohols and for comparison an allylic ether have been examined both in solution and in zeolite Y. Brønsted acid sites in the zeolite were shown to induce decomposition of several of the allylic alcohols. Treatment of the zeolites with pyridine removed these acid sites and allowed intrazeolite reactions of the allylic alcohols without interference from decomposition. Control reactions with an allylic alcohol that is inert to decomposition provided evidence that the presence of pyridine in the zeolite labyrinth does not influence the product composition.     

Arylations of allylic acetates with triarylbismuths as atom-efficient multi-coupling reagents under palladium catalysis

Arylation of allylic acetates employing triarylbismuths as multi-coupling reagents under palladium-catalyzed conditions was reported. Triarylbismuths as nucleophilic coupling partners were used in sub-stoichiometric amounts with respect to allylic acetates and thus served as atom-efficient multi-coupling reagents. A variety of allylic acetates were cross-coupled with triarylbismuths to furnish the corresponding functionalized 1,3-disubstituted propenes in good to excellent yields in short reaction times. The reported palladium protocol also yielded chemo-selective allylic arylations in high yields.     

Simple palladium‐catalyzed C–N bond formation for poor nucleophilicity of aminonaphthalenes

Aromatic amines is not used commonly in allylic amination, presumably because of their less nucleophilic nature compared with the more extensively used benzylamine or relatively stable anionic nitrogen nucleophiles. An eco‐friendly method for C–O bond activation of allylic acetates using palladium associated with ligands in water leading to N‐allylation was described in this study. The palladium‐catalyzed allylic amination of allylic acetate with aminonaphthalenes gave 34–95% yields to the corresponding N‐allylic aminonaphthalenes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal and catalyzed [3,3]-phosphorimidate rearrangements

[3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangements have been widely utilized for the synthesis of structurally complex organic molecules because of the ease with which carbon-carbon bonds are formed in a regio- and stereocontrolled manner. However, there are far fewer [3,3]-rearrangements available for the selective formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds despite the enormous potential of such reactions for the preparation of stereodefined allylic amines. We describe here the scope and mechanism of a [3,3]-rearrangement of allylic phosphorimidates that provides access to stereodefined allylic amines of diverse structure. The reactive intermediate in the reaction, an allylic phosphorimidate, is produced in situ through the combination of readily available starting materials (allylic alcohols, chlorophosphites, and organic azides), rendering the reaction an efficient three-component process. Analogous to other [3,3]-rearrangements, the stereochemistry in an allylic alcohol starting material is transferred with fidelity to the allylic amine product and, further, allylic amines are produced as single olefin isomers. In addition, a crossover experiment indicates that the rearrangement is an intramolecular process. Finally, activation of the allylic moiety either through incorporation of electron-deficient functional groups or through the use of a transition-metal catalyst significantly facilitates the reaction and consequently the preparation of a wider range of substitution patterns.     

Deoxygenation of allylic alcohols to terminal olefins via stannylation/destannylation

Deoxygenation of allylic alcohols to terminal olefins was performed via three steps; 1) [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of O-allylxanthates, 2) the successive stannolysis with tributyltin hydride yielding allylic stannanes, and 3) final protolysis of allylic stannanes to terminal olefins.     

Claisen rearrangements of equilibrating allylic azides

Equilibrating mixtures of allylic azide-containing allylic alcohols or allylic 2-tolylsulfonylacetic esters undergo Johnson-Claisen or Ireland-Claisen rearrangement reactions to give unsaturated γ-azidoesters and -acids, respectively. Decarboxylation of the acids under basic conditions gives azidosulfones, with moderate to high diastereoselectivity.