Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde catalysed by chiral, bridged resorcinarenes: a stereoselectivity model based on chirality transfer

The enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde catalysed by a range of chiral bridged resorcinarenes has been studied, and the results used as a means of probing cooperative effects in the resorcinarene bowl. A structure-activity relationship has emerged in which bridged resorcinarenes with little available room in the bowl (e.g., 3b, 3c) favour R-enantioselectivity in the product, while those promoting cooperative effects in the bowl via coordination sites in the bridge (3e) or strong donor protecting groups (3j) favour S-enantioselectivity. A mechanistic hypothesis based on Noyori's model to account for these trends has been put forward in which stereoselectivity is dependent on two factors as the ratio of axially diastereomeric anti-zincoxazines as well as the exo or endo bias of active zinc. The model explains why ee's are never greater than around 50% and indicates asymmetric induction to be due to the axial chirality in the bowl as a result of chirality transfer from the bridge, rather than due to induction via the central chirality in the line of the bridge. As a result, the model stimulates some new fascinating possibilities in enzyme mimicry.     

Observation of Hyperpositive Non-Linear Effect in Asymmetric Organozinc Alkylation in Presence of N-Pyrrolidinyl Norephedrine

Phenomena related to asymmetric amplification are considered to be key to understanding the emergence of homochirality in life. In asymmetric catalysis, theoretical and experimental models have been studied to understand such chiral amplification, in particular based on non-linear effects. Three decades after the theoretical demonstration that a chiral catalyst, when not enantiopure, could be more enantioselective than its enantiopure counterpart, we show here a new experimental example of nonlinear hyperpositive effect. We report here our investigations in the enantioselective zinc-catalyzed alkylation of benzaldehyde with N-pyrrolidinyl norephedrine as partially resolved chiral ligand, which shows a significant hyperpositive non-linear effect. A study of the underlying mechanism was conducted, which allows us to confirm a mechanism that implies a monomeric and a dimeric complex both catalyzing the reaction at a steady state and giving different enantioselectivities.     

Substituent and Isotope Effects on the Hydrolysis Rates of 2-Aryl-2-diazocarboxylic Esters

The overall kinetic solvent isotope effects on the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of a series of 2-aryl-2-diazocarboxylic esters ArCN₂COOCH₃, and one 2-aryl-2-diazocarboxamide C₆H₅CH₂CON (CH₃)₂ vary inversely with the reactivity of the substrate, between limits of 3.14 and 1.46. A linear Hammett plot for the hydrolysis rates of the a-diazocarboxylic esters indicates that there is no mechanistic change for the hydronium-ion-catalyzed reaction. The relation between hydrolysis rate and buffer acid concentration deviates from linearity for high values of the latter. It is shown on the basis of the solvent isotope effects for the non-linear region that this deviation does not stem from a mechanistic change caused by the buffer base component. The specific salt effects on the general acid-catalyzed reaction are discussed.     

Catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of substituted trans-stilbene derivatives: implications of the variation of enantioselectivities on the mechanism of OsO4 addition to olefins

The OsO₄ catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of substituted trans-stilbene derivatives using 9-O-acetyldihydrocinchonidine as chiral ligand gives the corresponding diols with lower enantioselectivity in the case of substrates containing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents. The Hammett correlations of the enantiomeric ratios exhibit non-linear plots, in accordance with the conclusion that the reaction involves a 1,3-dipolar type [3+2] cycloaddition transition state.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric azidation of sulfoxonium ylides: mild synthesis of enantioenriched α-azido ketones bearing a labile tertiary stereocenter

Disclosed here is a catalytic asymmetric azidation reaction for the efficient synthesis of α-azido ketones bearing a labile tertiary stereocenter. With a superb chiral squaramide catalyst, a mild asymmetric formal H–N₃ insertion of α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides proceeded with excellent efficiency and enantioselectivity. This organocatalytic process not only complements the previous α-azidation approaches for the formation of quaternary stereocenters and mostly for 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, but also has advantages over the well-known metal-catalyzed asymmetric carbene insertion chemistry using α-diazocarbonyl compounds. Detailed mechanistic studies via control reactions and NMR studies provided important insights into the reaction pathway, which features reversible protonation and dynamic kinetic resolution. The curiosity in mechanism also led to the development of a simplified alternative protocol with a cheaper HN₃ source.

An organocatalytic asymmetric H–N₃ insertion of α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides has been developed, providing efficient access to α-azido ketones bearing labile tertiary stereocenters and complementing the metal carbene insertion chemistry.     

Multivariate monitoring of fermentation processes with non-linear modelling methods

Multiway principal components analysis (MPCA) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) are widely used in exploratory data analysis and multivariate statistical process control (MSPC). These models are linear in nature, thus, limited when non-linear relations are present in the data. Principal component analysis (PCA) can be extended to non-linear principal components analysis using autoassociative neural networks. In this paper, the network’s bottleneck layer outputs (non-linear components) were made orthogonal. A method to estimate confidence limits based on a kernel probability density function was proposed since these limits do not assume that the non-linear scores are normally distributed. A measure for the non-linear scores (D_NL) was presented here to monitor on-line the process replacing the well known Hotelling’s T² statistic. One hundred and two industrial fermentation runs were used to evaluate the performance of a non-linear technique for multivariate process statistical monitoring. Three process runs with faults were used to compare the error detection performance using a statistic for the non-linear scores and the residuals statistic (SPE).     

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric trans-selective hydrogenation of 1,3-disubstituted isoquinolines

The development of the first asymmetric trans-selective hydrogenation of 1,3-disubstituted isoquinolines is reported. Utilizing [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and a commercially available chiral Josiphos ligand, a variety of differentially substituted isoquinolines are hydrogenated to produce enantioenriched trans-tetrahydroisoquinolines in good yield with high levels of enantioselectivity. Directing group studies demonstrate that the hydroxymethyl functionality at the C1 position is critical for hydrogenation to favor the trans-diastereomer. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that non-coordinating chlorinated solvents and halide additives are crucial to enable trans-selectivity.

trans-Selective asymmetric hydrogenation of 1,3-disubstituted isoquinolines.     

Pd-η 3-C6H9 complexes of the Trost modular ligand: high nuclearity columnar aggregation controlled by concentration,solvent and counterion

Under optimised conditions, the Trost modular ligand (TML) series induces high levels of asymmetric induction in an extraordinarily wide range of reactions involving palladium π-allyl intermediates. Prior mechanistic investigations into reactions involving Pd-η ³-C₆H₉ intermediates have focussed on the monomeric 13-membered ring formed via P,P-chelation of the ligand to Pd. However, it is also recognised that ring-opening oligomerisation provides a pool of high nuclearity Pd-η ³-C₆H₉ species that, by affording a low level, or even the opposite sense, of asymmetric induction relative to the mononuclear species, are responsible for a reduction in selectivity under non-optimised conditions. Herein we describe an investigation by NMR spectroscopy, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), of a Pd-η ³-C₆H₉ cation bearing the 1,2-diaminocyclohexane TML ligand (2). Using both nondeuterated and perdeuterated (D₄₇) isotopologues of the resulting complexes ([1]⁺), we show that a two-stage oligomerisation-aggregation process forms self assembled cylindrical aggregates of very high nuclearity (up to 56 Pd centres). We also investigate how concentration, solvent and counter-anion all modulate the extent of oligomerisation.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyclization of alkenyl diynes: method development and new mechanistic insights

Metal carbenes have proven to be one of the most important and useful intermediates in organic synthesis, but catalytic asymmetric reactions involving metal carbenes are still scarce and remain a challenge. Particularly, the mechanistic pathway and chiral induction model in these asymmetric transformations are far from clear. Described herein is a copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyclization of alkenyl diynes involving a vinylic C(sp²)–H functionalization, which constitutes the first asymmetric vinylic C(sp²)–H functionalization through cyclopentannulation. Significantly, based on extensive mechanistic studies including control experiments and theoretical calculations, a revised mechanism involving a novel type of endocyclic copper carbene via remote-stereocontrol is proposed, thus providing new mechanistic insight into the copper-catalyzed asymmetric diyne cyclization and representing a new chiral control pattern in asymmetric catalysis based on remote-stereocontrol and vinyl cations. This method enables the practical and atom-economical construction of an array of valuable chiral polycyclic-pyrroles in high yields and enantioselectivities.

A copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyclization of alkenyl diynes involving a vinylic C(sp²)–H functionalization is reported, enabling the construction of various valuable chiral polycyclic-pyrroles in high yields and enantioselectivities.     

Design of C2-symmetric salen ligands and their Co(II)- or Yb(III)-complexes,and their role in the reversal of enantioselectivity in the asymmetric Henry reaction

Reversal of enantioselectivity in asymmetric Henry reactions was achieved with novel chiral C₂-symmetric salen ligands bearing morpholine moieties by changing the Lewis acid center from Co(II) to Yb(III). The possible transition state models were supported by mass spectrometry experiments.     

Stereoelectronic effects in the reactions of conformationally restricted,substituted cyclohexane-1,2-diones with 1,2-diols

The asymmetric synthesis of a C₂-symmetric cyclic 1,2-diketone is reported along with investigations into its properties as a potential asymmetric protecting group for 1,2-diols as the corresponding 1,2-diacetal.     

Chiral ligands derived from abrine. Part 5: Substituent effects on asymmetric induction in enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde catalyzed by chiral oxazolidines possessing an indole moiety

A number of the indole-containing chiral oxazolidines possessing the gem-di-p-tolyl and gem-di-o-tolyl groups at C₅ were synthesized from abrine and the effects of the C₅ and C₂ substituents on the asymmetric induction in catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde were examined. A working model is proposed to rationalize the asymmetric catalysis by these chiral oxazolidines.     

Predicting Property Isotherms of Ternary Mixtures on Isotherms of the Binary Mixtures, Presented by a Non-stoichiometric Model

For the first time symmetric models are presented for non-stoichiometric six-parameter models and comparative analysis has been carried out with empirical ternary symmetric and asymmetric models with the Redlich?CKister model taken as a basis. For asymmetric models on the basis of the component structuredness criteria, a simple quantitative mode is proposed for selecting the asymmetric component. On the basis of Chou??s method a new mode of computation has been proposed with the help of non-stoichiometric models. Calculations have been performed with the excess molar volumes and molar enthalpies dependence using ethanol or 1-butanol + triethylamine + n-hexane and 1-butanol + tri-n-butylamine (or tri-n-octylamine) + n-hexane mixtures as examples.     

A Mechanistic Study of Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Imines on a Chiral Phosphoric Acid Derived Indium Metal-Organic Framework

A density functional theory (DFT) study is reported to examine the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of imines catalyzed by an indium metal-organic framework (In-MOF) derived from a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). It is revealed that the imine and reducing agent (i.e., thiazoline) are simultaneously adsorbed on the CPA through H-bonding to form an intermediate, subsequently, a proton is transferred from thiazoline to imine. The transition state TS-R and TS-S are stabilized on the CPA via H-bonding. Compared to the TS-S, the TS-R has shorter H-bonding distances and longer C-H···π distances, it is more stable and experiences less steric hindrance. Consequently, the TS-R exhibits a lower activation barrier affording to the (R)-enantiomer within 68.1% ee in toluene. Imines with substituted groups such as −NO₂, −F, and −OCH₃ are used to investigate the substitution effects on the ATH. In the presence of an electron-withdrawing group like −NO₂, the electrophilicity of imine is enhanced and the activation barrier is decreased. The non-covalent interactions and activation-strain model (ASM) analysis reveal that the structural distortions and the differential noncovalent interactions of TSs in a rigid In-MOF provide the inherent driving force for enantioselectivity. For −OCH₃ substituted imine, the TS-S has the strongest steric hindrance, leading to the highest enantioselectivity. When the solvent is changed from toluene to dichloromethane, acetonitrile, and dimethylsulfoxide with increasing polarity, the activation energies of transition state increase whereas their difference decreases. This implies the reaction is slowed down and the enantioselectivity becomes lower in a solvent of smaller polarity. Among the four solvents, toluene turns out to be the best for the ATH. The calculated results in this study are in fairly good agreement with experimental observations. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of the reaction mechanism, as well as substitution and solvent effects on the activity and enantioselectivity of the ATH. The microscopic insights are useful for the development of new chiral MOFs toward important asymmetric reactions.     

On the intrinsic anisochrony of diastereotopic nuclei in chiral ethanes and but-2-ynes

A theory for intrinsic magnetic shielding non-equivalence of the geminal nucleiU_a and U_b in ethanes CXYZ-CU_aU_bV and but-2-ynes CXYZ-CC-CU_aU_bV is developed and illustrated with the aid of symmetry auguments and mechanistic models. Special attention is given to mechanisms which survive when internal rotation is free and to the attenuation of intrinsic anisochrony with increasing separation between the chiral perturbing group and the sensor nuclei.     

1-Naphthyl-TADDOL/Emim BF<Subscript>4</Subscript>: A new catalytic system for the asymmetric addition of Chan’s diene to aromatic aldehydes

A new organocatalytic system was tested as a promoter for the asymmetric addition of Chan’s diene to aldehydes under solvent-free conditions. This new organocatalyst generated in situ by mixing 1-naphthyl-TADDOL derivative and Emim BF₄ was able to give enantioenriched vinylogous aldols and hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts. A mechanistic investigation through the detection of nonlinear effects confirmed the involvement of the ionic liquid in the formation of a new catalytic supramolecular species.     

Asymmetric Mn(III)-salen catalyzed epoxidation of unfunctionalized alkenes with in situ generated peroxycarboxylic acids

Unfunctionalized aromatic alkenes were enantioselectively epoxidized with peroxycarboxylic acids prepared in situ from urea-H₂O₂ (and other anhydrous adducts of H₂O₂) and carboxylic acid anhydrides (maleic, phthalic, and acetic anhydride) using chiral Mn(III)-salen complexes as catalysts and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMO) as an additive. Experimental results were compared with those reported earlier that employed aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidant and the method presented here was found to offer both higher enantioselectivities and shorter reaction times. This novel epoxidation system was also compared with the Jacobsen’s MCPBA/NMO system, and some differences in reactivity and selectivity were observed. These differences could possibly be explained assuming the presence of alternative mechanistic pathways during the catalytic cycle of the asymmetric epoxidation.     

The Fokker-Planck-Langevin model for rotational brownian motion. IV. Asymmetric top molecules

The general series expansion for the joint angular velocity-orientation conditional probability density for a fluid composed of asymmetric top molecules is derived, and expressions for the reorientational correlation functions, correlation times, spectral densities, and the correlation times relevant to magnetic relaxation via spin-rotation interactions are presented. The reorientational correlation times and spin-rotation functions computed using this Fokker-Planck-Langevin (FPL) model with isotropic friction tensor (τ_x = τ_y = τ_z) are compared with the corresponding times and functions computed with the J-diffusion limit of the extended diffusion (EDJ) model. The models are found to predict significantly different behaviour only in the regime where free rotation and precessional effects become important. The reorientation self- and cross-correlation times are shown to follow Hubbard relations in the limit of short τ_x, τ_y, τ_z. Numerical calculations of the FPL reorientational correlation functions, correlation times and spin-rotation functions show that these properties are sensitive to the anisotropies in the friction tensor in the rotational Langevin equation.     

Mandelate and prolinate ionic liquids: synthesis, characterization, catalytic and biological activity

A group of quaternary ammonium mandelates and l-prolinates, as ionic liquids, were synthesized and characterized. The prepared salts were soluble in water and showed high surface activity. The described synthesis of l-prolinate was simple and the obtained ionic liquid contained a chiral anion. l-Prolinate in CH₂Cl₂ was employed for the asymmetric Michael addition of a ketone to nitrostyrene. A yield of 60%, enantioselectivity (upto 50% ee), and good diastereoselectivity (syn/anti ratio of up to 90:10) were obtained for the asymmetric addition of cyclohexanone. These novel ionic liquids proved to be very effective anti-microbial and anti-fungal agents, especially didecyldimethylammonium l-prolinate. Additionally, it was found that phytotoxicity can be a useful tool in assessing the optical forms of ionic liquids.     

Far-IR spectrum,conformation stability,barriers to internal rotation,vibrational assignment,and ab initio calculations of 3-chloro-2-methylpropene

The far-IR spectrum from 375 to 30 cm⁻¹ of gaseous 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, CH₂=C(CH₃)CH₂Cl, has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm⁻¹. The fundamental asymmetric torsional mode for the gauche conformer is observed at 84.3 cm⁻¹ with three excited states falling to lower frequency. For the higher energy s-cis conformer, where the chlorine atom eclipses the double bond, the asymmetric torsion is observed at 81.3 cm⁻¹ with two excited states falling to lower frequency. Utilizing the s-cis and gauche torsional frequencies, the gauche dihedral angle and the enthalpy difference between conformers, the potential function governing the interconversion of the rotamers has been calculated. The determined potential function coefficients are (in reciprocal centimeters): V₁=189±12, V₂=−358±11, V₃=886±2 and V₄=−12±2 with an enthalpy difference between the more stable gauche and s-cis conformers of 150 ±25 cm⁻¹ (430 ± 71 cal mol⁻¹). This function gives values of 661 cm⁻¹ (1.89 kcal mol⁻¹), 1226 cm⁻¹ (3.51 kcal mol⁻¹) and 812 cm⁻¹ (2.32 kcal mol⁻¹), for the s-cis to gauche, gauche to gauche, and gauche to s-cis barriers, respectively. From the methyl torsional frequency of 170 cm⁻¹ for the gauche conformer, the threefold barrier of 678 cm⁻¹ (1.94 kcal mol⁻¹) has been calculated. The asymmetric potential function, conformational energy difference and optimized geometries of both conformers have also been obtained from ab initio calculations with both the 3–21G^* and 6–31G^* basis sets. A normal-coordinate analysis has also been performed with a force field determined from the 3–21G^* basis set. These data are compared with the corresponding data for some similar molecules.