Enantioselective Strecker-type reaction to sulfonylimines having a 2-pyridylsulfonyl group as a novel stereocontroller

A catalytic enantioselective Strecker-type reaction to N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines in the presence of chiral bis(oxazoline)s afforded the products with a high enantioselectivity. A dynamically induced new chiral center on the sulfur by discriminative coordination of a chiral Lewis acid to one of the sulfonyl oxygens efficiently controlled the enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of sulfonylimines having 2-pyridylsulfonyl group as a novel stereocontroller

A catalytic enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines in the presence of chiral bis(oxazoline)s afforded the products with high enantioselectivity. Asymmetric induction was supposed to be efficiently controlled by a new chiral center on the sulfur dynamically induced through the discriminative coordination of a chiral Lewis acid to one of the sulfonyl oxygens.     

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral sulfones by Rh-catalyzed asymmetric addition of boronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones

A general and efficient method for the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective catalytic conjugate addition of organoboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones is described. The success of the process relies on the use of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones as key metal-coordinating substrates; typical sulfones such as vinyl phenyl sulfones are inert under the reaction conditions. Among a variety of chiral ligands, Chiraphos provided the best asymmetric induction. This rhodium [Rh(acac)(C2H4)2]/Chiraphos catalyst system has a broad scope, being applicable to the addition of both aryl and alkenyl boronic acids to cis and trans alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones. In most cases, especially in the addition of aryl boronic acids, the reactions take place cleanly and with high enantioselectivity, affording chiral beta-substituted 2-pyridyl sulfones in good yields and enantioselectivities (70-92% ee). The sense and magnitude of this enantioselectivity have been studied by DFT theoretical calculations of the aryl-rhodium insertion step. These calculations strongly support the formation of a five-membered pyridyl-rhodium chelated species as the most stable complex after the insertion into the C=C bond. These highly enantioenriched chiral sulfones are very appealing building blocks in enantioselective synthesis. For instance, the straightforward elimination of the 2-pyridylsulfonyl group by either Julia-Kociensky olefination or alkylation/desulfonylation sequences provides a variety of functionalized chiral compounds, such as allylic substituted alkenes or beta-substituted ketones and esters.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to (2-pyridyl)sulfonyl imines of chalcones

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective catalytic 1,4-addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketimines is an unprecedented process. Herein, we document the copper-catalyzed addition of dialkylzinc reagents to (2-pyridylsulfonyl)imines of chalcones. This process occurs rapidly in the presence of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand to afford exclusively the 1,4-addition product. In the case of addition of dimethylzinc, enantioselectivities in the range 70-80% ee are obtained. The presence of the metal-coordinating 2-pyridylsulfonyl group proved to be essential for this reaction to proceed.     

Theoretical investigation on mechanism of asymmetric Michael addition of trans-1-nitro-2-phenylethylene to 2-methylpropionaldehyde catalyzed by a Cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amine

Using cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amine as catalyst and benzoic acid as co-catalyst, Michael-type addition reactions between enolizable carbonyl compounds and nitroalkenes have been extensively studied; however, our understanding of the mechanism is far from complete. In this paper, a theoretical study is presented for the Michael addition reaction between trans-1-nitro-2-phenylethylene and 2-methylpropionaldehyde catalyzed by 9-epi-QDA and benzoic acid. By performing DFT and ab initio calculations, we have identified a detailed mechanism. The calculations indicated that four continuous steps are involved in the overall reaction: (1) the formation of an iminium intermediate, (2) an addition reaction between the iminium and trans-1-nitro-2-phenylethylene, (3) the proton transfer process, and (4) hydrolysis and regeneration of the catalyst. The rate-determining step is the second proton transfer from the amine group to β-carbon of trans-1-nitro-2-phenylethylene, and the enantioselectivity is also controlled by this step. The calculated results provide a general model that explains the mechanism and enantioselectivity of the title reaction.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate

A new biocatalytic strategy to obtain the ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate precursor of ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate, an important intermediate in the synthesis of a variety of ACE inhibitors, has been set up. Starting from ethyl 2,4-dioxo-4-phenylbutyrate, a screen of microorganisms has been performed in order to find the best catalyst able to reduce the keto group in the α-position with high chemo- and enantioselectivity. The biotransformation catalyzed by Pichia pastoris CBS 704 gave the best results in terms of conversion and enantioselectivity. The addition of adsorbing resins in the fermentation medium is effective in controlling substrate and product concentration in the medium, thus improving both conversion and enantioselectivity of the biotransformation. Preliminary experiments in a continuous batch reactor with growing culture of P. pastoris will be also presented.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes using immobilized chiral BINOL–Ti complex on ordered mesoporous silicas

A chiral (S)-BINOL ligand has been covalently grafted on ordered mesoporous silicas—MCM-41 and SBA-15 and the resulting inorganic–organic hybrid materials used as chiral auxiliaries in Ti-promoted enantioselective addition of diethyl zinc to aldehydes under heterogeneous conditions. These heterogeneous catalysts showed promising activity and enantioselectivity. The catalyst having a larger pore diameter with capping of free silanol moiety with trimethylsilyl (TMS) group was found to be more active with enantioselectivities up to 81% being achieved. The catalyst worked well up to three cycles with retention of enantioselectivity after washing with 10% HCl in methanol.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc using axially chiral aminoethyloxy-phosphine ligands

New axially chiral P,O,N-type ligands bearing both a diphenylphosphino group and 2-(dialkylamino)ethyloxy (or 2-pyridylmethyloxy) groups were designed and prepared along with P,O,O-type ligands by employing an easily available chiral component, (R)-2-hydroxy-2′-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthyl. Among the ligands the simplest P,O,N-type one bearing a 2-(dimethylamino)ethyloxy group was found to be the most efficient in copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to a cyclic enone, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, providing high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee.     

A new C2-symmetric azolium compound for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of R2Zn to cyclic enone

A new chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand was designed. Thus, an efficient synthetic route to C₂-symmetric bis(hydroxyamide)-functionalized benzimidazolium salts from chiral β-amino alcohols was developed. The combination of Cu(OTf)₂ and the chiral azolium compound efficiently promoted the conjugate addition reaction of cyclic enone with dialkylzinc to give the corresponding adduct in good yield. Among a series of chiral NHC proligands, the functionalized benzimidazolium chloride possessing a tert-butyl group as a stereodirecting group was found to be the best choice of ligand. Under optimized reaction conditions, an excellent enantioselectivity (96% ee) was realized by allowing 2-cyclohepten-1-one to react with Bu₂Zn at room temperature.     

A new chiral 2-sulfonylamino-2′-phosphino-1,1′-binaphthyl ligand for highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to benzylideneacetones

A new axially chiral phosphine-sulfonamide ligand was prepared via a chiral component (R)-2-amino-2′-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthyl, which was conveniently synthesized through a new route involving hydrolysis of (R)-2-cyano-2′-phosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthyl followed by Hofmann rearrangement of the amide group. The new ligand was found to be very efficient in copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones such as benzylideneacetones, providing very high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee.     

Dirhodium catalyzed intramolecular enantioselective C–H insertion reaction of N-cumyl-N-(2-p-anisylethyl)diazoacetamide: synthesis of (−)-Rolipram

Cumyl(2,2-dimethyl-benzyl) was used as an N-protecting group for intramolecular C–H insertion reaction of α-diazoacetamide. Excellent chemoselectivity (>98:2) in C–H insertion over the aromatic addition of N-cumyl-N-(2-p-anisylethyl)diazoacetamide was obtained with Rh₂[(4S)-MEOX)]₄ catalyst in moderate enantioselectivity (53% ee). The reaction was successfully applied in the synthesis of (−)-Rolipram in 15% total yield.     

Enantioselective arylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a soluble optically active polybinaphthols ligand

A soluble chiral polymer ligand was synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-6,6′-dibutyl-3,3′-diformyl-2,2′-binaphthol (R-M-1) with 2,5-diaminopyridine (M-2) via a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. While arylboronic acids were used as the source of the transferable aryl group, the chiral polybinaphthols ligand in combination with Et₂Zn without Ti(OⁱPr)₄ exhibited higher enantioselectivity in asymmetric addition to aromatic aldehydes than alphatic aldehydes. When aromatic aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups were chosen as substrates, the resulting diarylmethanols were produced in higher ee values than those with electron-donating groups as substrates. 2-Naphthaldehyde used as a substrate afforded product in 95% ee, which could be ascribed to the steric effect influence on this asymmetric arylation reaction. Moreover, the chiral polymer was easily recovered and reused, but exhibited a decrease of enantioselectivity in the third recycle.     

Enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents to imines mediated by C2-symmetric bis(aziridine) ligands

The C₂-symmetric bis(aziridine) ligands 1–5 have been screened in the enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents to imines. Ligand 1 (used in stoichiometric amounts) was found to be superior in terms of chemical yield and enantioselectivity, the best result being 90% yield and 89% e.e. in the addition of vinyllithium to imine 6a. Use of ligand 1 in substoichiometric amounts gave poorer yield and lower enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity of the reaction was investigated as a function of substrate, reagent, stoichiometry and temperature, but no firm mechanistic conclusions could be drawn. Preliminary results with deuterium-labelled methyllithium indicate complexation/exchange processes involving ligand, reagent and substrate.     

Chiral 2-aminobenzimidazole bifunctional organocatalysts: effect of di-CF3 and TFA on catalytic mechanisms

(S,S)-trans-Cyclohexanediamine-5,7-di-CF₃-benzimidazole (3b) was developed as a new chiral bifunctional organocatalyst and successfully applied to Michael addition of diethyl malonate to nitroolefins (up to 99%, 98% ee) under neutral condition. Systematic investigation on the catalytic mechanism revealed that the role of the guanidine moiety and the dimethylamine moiety in catalysts might be reversed with respect to Brønsted/Lewis acidic or basic functionalities, depending on the reaction conditions (neutral or TFA co-catalyst). Generally, di-CF₃ group substituted 2-aminobenzimidazole catalysts in neutral condition and non-substituted 2-aminobenzimidazole catalysts in co-catalyst (TFA) condition give high chemical yield and enantioselectivity.     

Stereoselective vinylation of aryl N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl) aldimines with 1-alkenyl-1,1-heterobimetallic reagents

Vinylation of aryl N-(2-pyridylsulfonyl) aldimines with versatile 1-alkenyl-1,1-borozinc heterobimetallic reagents is disclosed. In situ hydroboration of air-stable B(pin)-alkynes followed by chemoselective transmetalation with dimethylzinc and addition to aldimines provides B(pin)-substituted allylic amines in 53-93% yield in a one-pot procedure. The addition step can be followed by either B-C bond oxidation to provide α-amino ketones (71-98% yield) or Suzuki cross-coupling to furnish trisubstituted 2-arylated (E)-allylic amines (51-73% yield).     

[5]Ferrocenophane based ligands for stereoselective Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation and Cu-catalyzed Michael addition

A series of homochiral [5]ferrocenophane based N/P, N/S, N/Se, Se/P and P/P ligands was prepared from (R)-N,N-dimethylamino[5]ferrocenophane. These ligands were tested in the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and in Cu-catalyzed Michael addition of Et₂Zn to cyclohex-2-enone. The best results in terms of conversion and enantioselectivity in the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation provided bis(diphenylphosphine) ligand 2h (100% conversion and 95% ee) and aminophosphine 2a in the Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition (100% conversion 84% ee). The enantioselectivity of the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate was lower (41% ee).     

Highly enantioselective (OC)Ru(salen)-catalyzed sulfimidation using N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as nitrene precursor

Enantioselective imidation of alkyl aryl sulfides with N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as a nitrene precursor was effected by using (OC)Ru(salen) complex 1 as catalyst. The steric and electronic nature of the N-alkoxycarbonyl group was found to strongly affect the enantioselectivity and the reaction rate, and high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) and good chemical yields were achieved by using 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl azide as the nitrene precursor at room temperature.     

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.     

The catalytic asymmetric addition of alkyl- and aryl-zinc reagents to an isoxazole aldehyde

Nucleophilic addition of alkyl- and aryl-zinc reagents to a C(4) functionalized isoxazolyl aldehyde proceeded effectively with high enantioselectivity (85-94% ee). The amino alcohol catalyst (S)-2-piperidinyl-1,1,2-triphenyl ethanol (10) afforded the (R)-product 2b, as established by X-ray crystallography.     

The effect of hydrogen bond donors in asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate additions

A series of primary amine organocatalysts with various hydrogen bond donors were prepared and examined in the conjugate addition of isobutyraldehyde and acetone to trans-β-nitrostyrene and (E)-methyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-enoate. The effect of N–H acidity and hydrogen-bonding modes of the catalysts on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity was studied. The experimental results did not support a general correlation of N–H acidity and hydrogen-bonding modes with catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. The catalysts with double hydrogen-bonding interactions provided better catalytic activities and enantioselectivities than the catalysts with single hydrogen-bonding interactions for the reaction of trans-β-nitrostyrene. The catalyst with the most acidic N–H bond showed the best catalytic activity and enantioselectivity for the reaction of (E)-methyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-enoate. These results suggest that the effect of hydrogen bond donors in organocatalytic reactions may be highly dependent on the substrates and the reaction conditions.