Intramolecular chiral relay at stereogenic nitrogen: oxazolidine catalysts derived from Ephedra alkaloids

A series of oxazolidines have been prepared by reaction of either (1R,2S)-ephedrine or (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine with salicylaldehyde derivatives. The resultant oxazolidines were used as catalytic ligands in the addition of diethylzinc to a variety of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. It was determined that the (1R,2S)-ephedrine based oxazolidine derivative 9 gave the highest enantioselectivities.     

Stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine

The stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine from (R)-1-(2-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)-1-phenylethyl)piperidin-2-one is described. The key steps involved are α-hydroxylation of quiral lactam with O₂, stereoconvergent reduction of (R)- or (S)-3-(benzyloxy)-piperidin-2-one with Red-Al® which afforded in both cases the trans-bicyclic oxazolidine in high stereoselectivity after chromatographic purification and a stereospecific Grignard addition to chiral bicyclic oxazolidine.     

Chiral bis(amino alcohol)oxalamides as ligands for asymmetric catalysis. Ti(IV) catalyzed enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Several chiral bis(aminoalcohol)oxalamides with C₂-symmetry have been prepared and used as ligands for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. The reaction proceeds in the presence of titanium isopropoxide to give the corresponding (S)-alcohols with ee up to 78%. In the absence of Ti(IV), the alcohols with the opposite configuration are obtained.     

Synthesis of chiral C/N-functionalized morpholine alcohols: study of their catalytic ability as ligand in asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aldehyde

A broad variety of chiral C/N-functionalized morpholine alcohols sharing a common structural motif in the 3-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine 6 were prepared from enantiomerically pure serine for the purpose of studying their catalytic ligand properties. The asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde in the presence of 10 mol % of chiral C/N-functionalized morpholine alcohols gave 1-phenyl-1-propanol in 59–81% yield with 10–30% ee. The addition of 10 mol % of n-butyl lithium to the reaction mixture resulted in a significant enhancement of the stereoselectivity in the case of ligands bearing the two geminal phenyl substituents on the backbone. In the presence of n-butyl lithium and using (S)-3-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)morpholine (S)-19 as the chiral promoter, (S)-1-phenyl-1-propanol was obtained in 81% yield with 76% ee. The geminal diphenyl-class of morpholine ligands was examined for the diethylzinc addition to four different aldehydes in the presence of n-butyl lithium. (S)-N-Benzyl-3-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)morpholine (S)-27 was found to be most enantioselective in the case of 4-methoxybenzaldehyde to give (R)-alcohol in 87% yield with 80% ee. Catalysts (S)-19 and its N-methyl derivative (S)-26 gave alcohols with an (S)-absolute configuration while the N-benzylated derivative (S)-27 gave the opposite enantiomeric products. The tentative transition state models to account for the observed product stereoselectivity with morpholine ligands holding the geminal diphenyl group on the β-amino alcohol segment are proposed.     

Enantioselective additions of diphenylzinc to aldehydes using chiral pyrrolidinylmethanol derivatives as catalysts

The enantioselective addition of diphenylzinc to aldehydes using a series of chiral ligands derived from (S)-proline afforded secondary alcohols in high yields and with high enantiomeric excesses of up to 92.6%. The configuration of the secondary alcohol enantiomer obtained was found to be dependent on the catalyst used.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of functionalized olefins catalyzed by Rh-chiral bidentatephosphite complexes

A novel catalytic system for the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate has been developed by using rhodium–diphosphite complexes. These chiral diphosphite ligands were derived from glucopyranoside, d-mannitol derivatives, and binaphthyl or H₈-binaphthyl phosphochloridites. The ligands based on the methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside backbone and (R)- and (S)-binaphthol and/or (R)- and (S)-2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthol gave almost complete conversion of the dimethyl itaconate and both enantiomers of dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with excellent enantioselectivities. The stereochemically matched combination of methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside and H₈-(S)-binaphthyl in ligand 2,4-bis{[(S)-1,1′-H₈-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]-phosphite} methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside was essential to afford dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with up to 98% ee. The sense of the enantioselectivity of products was predominantly determined by the configuration of the biaryl moieties of the ligands. An initial screening of [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ with these ligands in the hydrogenation of (E)-2-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)-3-methylbutanoic acid was carried out. Good enantioselectivity (75% ee) and low yield for (R)-2-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid were obtained.     

Catalytic Hydrogenation of Chiral 2-(2-Furyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyloxazolidine

Reduction of chiral 2-(2-furyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyloxazo-lidines-1,3 by H₂/Raney nickel proceeds simultaneously as hydrogenation of the furan ring and opening of the oxazolidine ring on C2-O bond. Diastere-oselectivity in the first reaction was established as ca 40% and 80% depending on the configuration of the oxazolidine 1 and 2.     

Synthesis of chiral ligands containing the N-(S)-α-phenylethyl group and their evaluation as activators in the enantioselective addition of Et2Zn to benzaldehyde

The synthesis of chiral ligands 4–18 derived from N-[(S)-α-phenylethyl]-trans-β-aminocyclohexanols (S,S,S)-1a and (R,R,S)-2 is described. Addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde catalyzed by ligands 4–18 (6 mol %) proceeds in fair to good yield (45–86%), and low to good enantioselectivities (1–76% ee). Highest enantioselectivities were induced by ligands (S,S,S)-4 and (S,S,S,S,R,R)-18 (76% and 68% ee, respectively). The configuration of the major enantiomer of carbinol 3 is (R) in both cases.     

(3R,11aR)-3-Phenyl-2,3,11,11a-tetrahydro-[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-b]-[2]benzazepin-5(10H)-one as a chiral building block for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 2-benzazepines

A five-step synthesis of the chiral building block cis-2 is described. Key steps in the synthesis were a Heck reaction of 1-bromo-2-iodobenzene with allyl alcohol, the introduction of a carboxy group after Br/Li-exchange, and the diastereoselective formation of the tricyclic oxazolidine system cis-2. Activation of cis-2 with TiCl₄ led to formation of a carbenium ion, which was attacked by allyltrimethylsilane exclusively from the Re-face leading to the (3S)-configured 2-benzazepinone 8 in 65% yield. The configuration of the new stereogenic center was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis, which is the basis for the proposed mechanism of this transformation. Enantiomerically pure 3-substituted 2-benzazepines represent interesting drug candidates.     

Stereoselective synthesis of substituted 1,2-ethylenediaziridines and their use as ligands in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

The double addition of organometallic reagents to fused oxazino-oxazines prepared from glyoxal and (S)-phenylglycinol afforded C₂- or C₁-symmetric 1,2-ethylenebis(β-aminoalcohols), depending on the nature of the organometallic reagent. This route was modified by the use of (S)-valinol and phenylglyoxal as starting materials, and by reduction of the oxazino-oxazines by diborane. Cyclization of the β-aminoalcohol moieties gave 1,2-ethylenediaziridines bearing one substituent/stereocenter on the ring carbon and one, two or no substituents/stereocenters in the ethylene tether. These bis(aziridines) were used as ligands in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dimethyl malonate. It was established that the substituent(s) in the carbon tether and the configuration of the corresponding stereocenters have limited influence on the enantioselectivity.     

Induction of reversal chirality by C2-symmetric diamide linked-diphosphine ligands in catalytic asymmetric allylations

Bridging parts X between two amide skeletons of C₂-symmetric diphosphine ligands 1 were varied using various kinds of diacyl chlorides. The ligand 1c derived from phthaloyl chloride, which was remarkably effective in the asymmetric induction on palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitutions of 2-cyclohexenyl pivalate or acetate, exhibited a moderate level of enantioselectivity, 72% ee, in the transformations of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl pivalate. The newly developed ligands 1g–i having one carbon spacers X demonstrated higher degrees of enantiomeric excess up to 93% ee. Interestingly, the present reactions catalyzed by Pd–1c–e,g–j complexes afforded the product 4 with the opposite absolute configuration S compared with the reactions using VALAP, which has the same chiral source as that of 1. The ligands 1a,b,f exhibited the induction of R configuration although the yields were very low. The production of S-4 was discussed on the basis of the Pr/Mr chirality model.     

Asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene using rhodium and platinum complexes of diphosphites containing chiral chelate backbones and chiral 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane moieties

Several chiral diphosphite ligands containing six stereogenic centres were synthesised and tested in order to study chiral cooperativity in the Rh- and Pt-catalysed asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene. The ligands were prepared either by the reaction of 2,4-pentanediol enantiomers with (4R,6R)-4,6-dimethyl-2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane or that of (1S,3S)-1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanediol with 4,6-dimethyl-2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane enantiomers. Thus the chirality was varied both in the chelate backbone and in the terminal groups of the ligands. In case of Pt-catalysed hydroformylation, the stereogenic elements in the bridge have been found to be determinate for the product configuration with a cooperative effect from the terminal groups when the constellations are matched with 40% e.e. maximum enantioselectivity. Some coordination chemistry and the crystal structure determination of these ligands are also reported.     

Synthesis of the N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-O-triisopropylsilyl-d-pyrrolosamine glycal of lomaiviticins A and B via epimerization of l-Threonine

An efficient synthesis of the N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-O-triisopropylsilyl-d-pyrrolosamine glycal of lomaiviticin A (1) and lomaiviticin B (2) is described. The synthesis is highlighted by the epimerization of the l-threonine-derived oxazolidine 10 to oxazolidine 11. This key epimerization reaction, which serves to establish the correct relative configuration of the carbohydrate unit, was made possible only after conformational analysis indicated that substituted oxazolidines may adopt conformations that preclude enolization.     

Novel chiral thiazoline‐containing N―O ligands in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes: substituent effect on the enantioselectivity

Several novel chiral thiazoline primary and tertiary alcohols were easily synthesized from commercially available l ‐cysteine in three steps and with high yield. These ligands were subsequently applied to the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc (Et₂Zn) to various aldehydes. Products with S configuration were obtained when thiazoline‐containing tertiary alcohol ligands were used as catalysts. The primary alcohol induced corresponding products with R configuration in 68% enantiomeric excess, which was a higher value relative to other N―O ligands possessing a primary alcohol unit in the literature. Furthermore, a plausible transition state model was proposed to explain the observed enantioselectivities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synthesis of chiral amino diol tridentate ligands and their enantioselective induction during the addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

A series of C₂-symmetric chiral amino diol tridentate ligands 3a–g were prepared from achiral bulky organolithiums, achiral bulky primary amines, and optically active epichlorohydrin (ECH). The prepared C₂-symmetric chiral amino diol tridentate ligands were capable of inducing enantioselectivity in the model reaction of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with diethylzinc with an ee of up to 96%. The enantioselectivity can be modulated by adjusting the steric hindrance of the achiral reagents employed in the synthesis of the chiral ligand. The configuration of the addition product depended on the configuration of the amino diol ligands, which can be simply controlled as desired by using the ECH with the desired configuration during the preparation of the ligand.     

Stereochemistry-60 : Kinetic control of asymmetric induction during oxazolidine formation from (-)-ephedrine and aromatic aldehydes

Kinetically controlled oxazolidine formation was observed with aromatic aldehydes substituted by electron-withdrawing groups. The stereoselectivity is solvent dependent: non-stereoselective ring closure occurred in chloroform while a high diastereodifferentiation was observed in methanol. The first oxazolidine showing an unambiguous 2R configuration was synthesized from p-bromobenzaldehyde and (-)-ephedrine in alcohol medium. A mechanism involving a nucleophilic assistance by alcoholic solvents is suggested in order to clarify the differences in stereoselectivity.     

Ti-mediated addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. The effect of chiral additives

In the presence of a chiral tridentate bissulfonamide, the titanium-mediated addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde gave alkylated products ranging from the (R)-enantiomer, formed with an e.e. of 26%, to the (S)-enantiomer, formed in 72% e.e. The enantioselectivity was also affected by the presence of additional chiral mono- and bidentate ligands, with the reactions proceeding via complexes containing the chiral sulfonamide and the additive. The addition of (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine and (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine gave the (S)-product with e.e. of 49% and the (R)-product with 16% e.e., respectively, whereas without additives the (R)-product was obtained in 26% e.e. In the presence of (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine only (i.e. without the chiral sulfonamide), the (S)-product formed with a 3% e.e.     

Using amide conformation to ‘project’ the stereochemistry of an (−)-ephedrine-derived oxazolidine: a pair of pseudoenantiomeric chiral amido-phosphine ligands

Protection of a tertiary 2-formylbenzamide as an (−)-ephedrine-derived oxazolidine both forces the amide's stereogenic Ar–CO axis to adopt one of two possible diastereoisomeric conformations and protects the formyl group from attack during amide ortho-lithiation. By functionalising the amide in the 6-position, reactive sites (such as –CHO, –SR, –PR₂ groups) may be introduced which fall under the stereochemical influence, relayed by the amide, of the (−)-ephedrine-derived oxazolidine. This ‘projection’ of stereochemistry is exemplified by a pair of amido-phosphines, members of the first ever class of non-biaryl atropisomeric ligands, which are made functionally pseudoenantiomeric by the intervention of either one or two amide groups between the (−)-ephedrine-derived oxazolidine and the PPh₂ group. The pseudoenantiomeric amido-phosphines promote the palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylation of dimethyl malonate in 82 and −53% e.e., respectively.     

A facile synthesis and the asymmetric catalytic activity of BINOL-based thiazole (thiadiazole) thioether ligands

Four new BINOL-based thiazole (thiadiazole) thioether ligands (S)-1, (S)-2, (S,S)-3 and (S)-4 were prepared. When their catalytic effectiveness was tested, good results (up to 93% ee and 97% yield) were obtained in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes while poor results were obtained in the asymmetric conjugate addition of diethylzinc to enones.     

Synthesis of novel P-ketimine bidentate ferrocenyl ligands with central and planar chirality and comparsion in the catalytic activity between P-ketimine and P-aldimine

A series of novel ferrocenylphosphine-ketimine ligands 6 were prepared by reaction of (R,S_p)-PPFNH₂-R or (S,S_p)-PPFNH₂ with a variety of m-substituted acetophenones. A different catalytic activity was observed between ferrocenylphosphine-ketimine ligands and corresponding aldimine ligands. The efficiency and diastereomeric impact of these ferrocenylphosphine-ketimine ligands in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation were first investigated, and higher enantioselectivity of over 98% e.e. with 95% yield was obtained by the use of ferrocenylphosphine-ketimine ligands. However, in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of aryl ketones, only 42% e.e. was obtained by the use of ferrocenylphosphine-ketimine ligands compared to 90% e.e. with the use of aldimine ligands.