Stereoselective synthesis of axially chiral N-C bonds in N-aryl indoles

[reaction: see text] N-Aryl indoles with axially chiral N-C bonds were synthesized by stereoselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of planar chiral arene chromium complexes. Stereoselective chromium tricarbonyl migration was achieved in the sterically hindered N-aryl indole chromium complex by refluxing in toluene.     

Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric SNAr Reaction of α‐Amino Acid Derivatives with Arene Chromium Complexes

Although phase‐transfer‐catalyzed asymmetric S_NAr reactions provide unique contribution to the catalytic asymmetric α‐arylations of carbonyl compounds to produce biologically active α‐aryl carbonyl compounds, the electrophiles were limited to arenes bearing strong electron‐withdrawing groups, such as a nitro group. To overcome this limitation, we examined the asymmetric S_NAr reactions of α‐amino acid derivatives with arene chromium complexes derived from fluoroarenes, including those containing electron‐donating substituents. The arylation was efficiently promoted by binaphthyl‐modified chiral phase‐transfer catalysts to give the corresponding α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids containing various aromatic substituents with high enantioselectivities.     

Stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of N-aryl indoles with axially chiral N-C bonds

N-Aryl indoles with axially chiral N-C bonds were synthesized by stereoselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of planar chiral tricarbonyl(2,6-disubstituted-1-fluorobenzene)chromium complexes. The stereochemistry of the products is highly dependent on the position of the substituent in the indole. When indoles devoid of a substituent at the 2-position were used, N-aryl indole chromium complexes having anti orientation with respect to the tricarbonylchromium fragment were obtained diastereoselectively. In contrast, 2-substituted indoles gave the N-aryl indoles with syn orientation between the tricarbonylchromium fragment and the benzene ring of the indole. These results demonstrate that we have succeeded in synthesizing both enantiomers of N-aryl indoles utilizing an identical planar chiral arene chromium complex.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide

Optically enriched homo-binuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with planar chiral arene chromium complexes gave α-allyl β-arylpropionates up to 97% ee by reaction with allyl alkoxide and subsequent photo-oxidative demetalation. The chiral hetero-binuclear tungsten carbene complexes afforded anti α-allyl β-hydroxy β-arylpropionates as a major product up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence. High diastereoselectivity in these reactions is contributed to the planar chirality of the arene chromium complex, even though the reaction was carried out under vigorous basic media. The reaction products, α-allyl β-arylpropionates were derived by 1,3-M(CO)₅ shift and subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Also, the corresponding chromium-uncomplexed α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes afforded α-allyl β-arylpropionates under the same conditions. Formation of β-allyl β-arylpropionates via 1,2-M(CO)₅ shift followed by [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement was not observed in both reactions of chromium-coordinated and the corresponding chromium-uncoordinated α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide in the presence of base.     

Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral biaryls: inversion of planar chirality vs axial isomerization and functionalization at the side chain of biaryl chromium complexes

Axially chiral syn-biaryl chromium complexes having a coordinating heteroatom substituent at the benzylic position gave anti-biaryl chromium complexes 5 with inversion of the planar chirality by heating in a nonaromatic solvent, while syn-biaryl chromium complexes with an o-methyl or formyl substituent afforded axially isomerized anti-biaryl chromium complexes under heating in an aromatic solvent. syn-biaryl and both enantiomeric anti-biaryl chromium complexes with the o-formyl group were stereoselectively prepared from an identical planar chiral arene chromium complex as chiral source. The formyl group of the axially chiral chromium complexes was functionalized by radical cyclization and beta-lactam formation, and hetero-Diels-Alder reaction.     

Cycloadditions and annulations of transition metal carbene complexes

The synthetic aspects of several reactions from the multifaceted chemistry of Fischer carbene complexes are examined. Their benzannulation reactions with acetylenes are utilized in the synthesis of anthracyclinones via two approaches which differ by beginning at opposite ends of the molecule with either an aryl or an alkenyl substituted chromium carbene complex. The latter has been employed in a formal synthesis of daunomycinone. The Diels-Alder reactions of ,β-acetylenic chromium carbene complexes provide for a facile entry into substituted cyclohexenyl chromium carbene complexes that are subsequently employed in benzannulation reactions. These tandem cycloaddition/annulation reactions are incorporated into model studies for the synthesis of anthracyclinones and wentilactone A. Their potential is also demonstrated for coupling to yet a third reaction of organochromium compounds ; aromatic nucleophilic substitutions on arene chromium tricarbonyl complexes. The annulations of β,β-disubstituted alkenyl complexes provides for a regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 2,4-cyclohexadienones under neutral conditions at near ambient temperatures.     

Stereoselective synthesis of atropisomeric korupensamines A and B utilizing planar chiral arene chromium complex

Naphthyl tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, atropisomeric korupensamines A and B and ent-korupensamine B, were synthesized by syn-selective cross-coupling of a planar chiral arene chromium complex with naphthylboronic acid and subsequent axial isomerization or tricarbonylchromium migration to the inverted arene face as a key step. Palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling of planar chiral arene chromium complex 12 with naphthylboronic acid 9 gave syn-biaryl coupling product 13. syn-Biaryl chromium complex 13 was heated in 1:1 mixture of di-n-butyl ether and 1,2-dichloroethane to give a face-inverted anti-biaryl chromium complex 14 without axial isomerization. Korupensamine A was synthesized from the syn-biaryl chromium complex 13 via o-formyl syn-biaryl chromium complex 10, and ent-korupensamine B was prepared from the face-inverted anti-biaryl chromium complex 14. On the other hand, difluoro-substituted syn-biaryl chromium complex 40 with a formyl group afforded anti-biaryl chromium complex 41 containing a rotated central bond by heating in xylene. The chromium-complexed fluorine atom was easily substituted with an isopropoxy group by nucleophilic substitution. Use of these reactions allowed (+)-2-bromo-3,5-difluorobenzaldehyde chromium complex (37) as a single chiral source to be converted to atropisomeric korupensamines A and B, respectively.     

Quantum chemical simulation of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones to alkenes and their (η6-arene)(tricarbonyl)-chromium complexes

Charge distribution and frontier orbital energies of styrene, C,N-diphenylnitrone, and their (arene)-(tricarbonyl)chromium complexes were calculated by quantum chemical methods. The difference in the HOMO and LUMO energies of the chromium complexes was found to be smaller than in the free ligands, and the reactions with (arene)(tricarbonyl)chromium complexes were characterized by higher rate and selectivity.     

Cycloisomerization of (arene)chromium complexes with enyne by gold(I) catalyst for axially chiral biaryls

Planar chiral arene chromium complexes with enyne bond gave stereoselectively axial biaryl chromium complexes by gold(I) catalyzed cycloisomerization in good yields. Arene chromium complexes with enyne bonds were treated with triphenylphosphine gold bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate in methylene chloride to give anti-biaryl monochromium complexes without formation of stereoisomers.     

Lanthanide Complexes of Azidophenacyl‐DO3A as New Synthons for Click Chemistry and the Synthesis of Heterometallic Lanthanide Arrays

Lanthanide complexes of azidophenacyl DO3A are effective substrates for click reactions with ethyne derivatives, giving rise to aryl triazole appended lanthanide complexes, in which the aryl triazole acts as an effective sensitising chromophore for lanthanide luminescence. They also undergo click chemistry with propargylDO3A derivatives, giving rise to heterometallic complexes.     

"Asymmetric" catalysis by lanthanide complexes

Catalysis with lanthanide (Ln) complexes has been underestimated for long time, although Ln(III) complexes have great advantages as Lewis acid catalysts for "asymmetric" carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Lanthanide complexes are highly active in ligand-substitution reactions, especially with hard ligands. The association with substrates and dissociation of products are achieved fast enough for high catalyst efficiency. The asymmetric catalysis of organic reactions can be greatly advanced by the use of Ln complexes with chiral ligands such as binaphthol (binol). Ln(II) complexes are good reducing agents, which can be used in a wide variety of synthetically important reactions; when chiral ligands are used, many of these reactions are highly stereoselective. In the context of "green chemistry", the development of asymmetric Ln catalysts, and their recyclable use, is of increasing importance. This review gives an overview of the most recent developments in catalysis with lanthanide(II) and lanthanide(III) complexes.     

Positioning a Carbon–Fluorine Bond over the π Cloud of an Aromatic Ring: A Different Type of Arene Activation

It is known that the fluoro group has only a small effect on the rates of electrophilic aromatic substitutions. Imagine instead a carbon–fluorine (C?F) bond positioned tightly over the π cloud of an aryl ring—such an orthogonal, noncovalent arrangement could instead stabilize a positively charged arene intermediate or transition state, giving rise to novel electrophilic aromatic substitution chemistry. Herein, we report the synthesis and study of molecule 1 , containing a rigid C?F???Ar interaction that plays a prominent role in both its reaction chemistry and spectroscopy. For example, we established that the C?F???Ar interaction can bring about a >1500 fold increase in the relative rate of an aromatic nitration reaction, affording functionalization on the activated ring exclusively. Overall, these results establish fluoro as a through‐space directing/activating group that complements the traditional role of fluorine as a slightly deactivating aryl substituent in nitrations.     

Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral benzamides and anilides utilizing planar chiral arene chromium complexes

Optically active axially chiral 2,6-disubstituted benzamides and anilides were stereoselectively prepared by utilizing planar chiral (arene)chromium complexes. Nucleophilic addition to enantiomerically pure planar chiral tricarbonyl(N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-6-formyl- (or 6-acyl)benzamide)chromium complex gave axially chiral 2-methyl-6-substituted N,N-diethyl benzamide chromium complexes with high selectivity. An alternative method for the preparation of axial chiral benzamides or anilides is an enantiotopic lithiation at the benzylic methyl of prochiral tricarbonylchromium complexes of N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylbenzamide and N-methyl-N-acyl-2,6-dimethylaniline with a chiral lithium amide followed by electrophilic substitution. The resulting axially chiral chromium-complexed benzamides and anilides were oxidized in air to give chromium-free axially chiral benzamides and anilides in enantiomerically enriched form without axial bond rotation at room temperature.     

Tunable haptotropic metal migration in fused arenes: towards organometallic switches

Tricarbonyl chromium complexes of naphthalene derivatives are synthesized by chromium-templated [3 + 2 + 1]-benzannulation and subjected to thermally induced haptotropic rearrangement experiments. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the metal shift demonstrate the influence of the arene substitution pattern. In turn, the chromium template may be tuned as well by phosphorus coligands which allow to accelerate or slow down the isomerization process; this effect quantitatively reflects the steric and electronic properties of the coligand sphere. Proper adjustment of the template allows for a photo-induced reverse migration of the chromium moiety which results in a switchable organometallic device. Experiments with enantiopure arene chromium complexes indicate a stereospecific metal migration. The rearrangement proceeds by an intramolecular mechanism in both directions. Haptotropic isomerization reactions are not limited to bicyclic arenes and can be extended from naphthalenes to phenanthrene or tetra- and pentacyclic heteroarene systems.     

Simultaneous Induction of Axial and Planar Chirality in Arene–Chromium Complexes by Molybdenum‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Ring‐Closing Metathesis

The molybdenum‐catalyzed asymmetric ring‐closing metathesis of the various C_s‐symmetric (π‐arene)chromium substrates provides the corresponding bridged planar‐chiral (π‐arene)chromium complexes in excellent yields with up to >99 % ee. With a bulky and unsymmetrical substituent, such as N‐indolyl or 1‐naphthyl, at the 2‐positions of the η⁶‐1,3‐diisopropenylbenzene ligands, both biaryl‐based axial chirality and π‐arene‐based planar chirality are simultaneously induced in the products. The axial chirality is retained even after the removal of the dicarbonylchromium fragment, and the chiral biaryl/heterobiaryl compounds are obtained with complete retention of the enantiopurity.     

Stereoselective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement promoted by the metal [1,3]-shift of binuclear Fischer carbene complexes

Reaction of chiral homobinuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with allyl alcohol in the presence of NaH and the following oxidative demetalation gave alpha-allyl esters in up to 97% ee via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction promoted by the metal 1,3-shift. On the other hand, chiral heterobinuclear tungsten carbene complexes with arene chromium complexes afforded alpha-allyl-beta-hydroxy esters as a major product in up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence.     

Chromium complexes supported by phenanthrene-imine derivative ligands: synthesis, characterization and catalysis on isoprene cis-1,4 polymerization

Reactions of CrCl(2)(THF)(2) with N-aryl-9,10-iminophenanthraquinone in CH(2)Cl(2) give the monoimine chromium complexes (Ar)IPQCrCl(2)(THF)(2) (1, Ar = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3); 2, Ar = 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3); 3, Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)). Molecular structures of 1 and 3 were revealed to be monomeric with the chromium atoms in distorted octahedral geometries. Similar reactions of CrCl(2)(THF)(2) with N,N-bis(arylimino)phenanthrene ligands afford the diimine complexes (Ar1,Ar2)BIPCrCl(μ-Cl)(3)Cr(THF)(Ar1,Ar2)BIP (4, Ar(1) = Ar(2) = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3); 5, Ar(1) = Ar(2) = 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3); 6, Ar(1) = Ar(2) = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); 7, Ar(1) = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3), Ar(2) = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)). The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that 4, 5, and 7 are chlorine-bridged dimers with each chromium atom in a distorted octahedral geometry. Upon activation with MAO, all these complexes exhibit good catalytic activities for isoprene polymerization affording polyisoprene with predominantly a cis-1,4 unit.     

Application of Chromium-Arene Complexes in the Organic Synthesis. Efficient Synthesis of Stilbene Phytoalexins

Planar chiral ⁶-arene-Cr(CO)₃ complexes represent highly valuable building blocks for the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis. Their employment as synthons offer new and unique opportunities for the stereoselective multistep synthesis of complex natural products. The strategy of novel efficient synthesis of stilbene phytoalexins was based on arene chromium chemistry and the chemical and stereochemical effects of the metal unit on the reactivity of complexed arene ligand and stereochemical features of such compounds. Two variants for the construction of the trans-stilbene and diarylethanol framework via facilitated benzylic deprotonation of an ⁶-benzene-Cr(CO)₃ complex and subsequent coupling with para-anisaldehyde in an aldol-type or a Wittig–Horner reaction were suggested.     

Exploiting π shielding interactions of η arene chromium (0) complexes: New auxiliaries derived from the biogenic chiral pool

A family of highly selective chiral auxiliaries containing arene chromium (0) complexes has been prepared using biogenic precursors from the chiral pool. The systems, derived from isomannide, prolinol, and xylofuranose were applied to the asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of derived acrylate esters. Factors influencing stereoselectivity with the auxiliaries have been investigated and delineated including the impact of mixed ligands on the chromium (0) complex. Under optimal conditions, the auxiliaries give >95% e.e. and 98:2 exo:endo ratio in cycloaddition with cyclopentadiene.     

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution with Silicon Electrophiles: Catalytic Friedel–Crafts C−H Silylation

Electrophilic aromatic substitution is a fundamental reaction in synthetic chemistry. It converts C−H bonds of sufficiently nucleophilic arenes into C−X and C−C bonds using either stoichiometrically added or catalytically generated electrophiles. These reactions proceed through Wheland complexes, cationic intermediates that rearomatize by proton release. Hence, these high‐energy intermediates are nothing but protonated arenes and as such strong Brønsted acids. The formation of protons is an issue in those rare cases where the electrophilic aromatic substitution is reversible. This situation arises in the electrophilic silylation of C−H bonds as the energy of the intermediate Wheland complex is lowered by the β‐silicon effect. As a consequence, protonation of the silylated arene is facile, and the reverse reaction usually occurs to afford the desilylated arene. Several new approaches to overcome this inherent challenge of C−H silylation by S_EAr were recently disclosed, and this Minireview summarizes this progress.