Highly enantioselective sequential hydrogenation of ethyl 2-oxo-4-arylbut-3-enoate to ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-arylbutyrate

The hydrogenation of (E)-ethyl 2-oxo-4-arylbut-3-enoate with [NH2Me2](+)[{RuCl [(S)-SunPhos]}2(mu-Cl3)] gave ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-arylbutyrate with 94-96% ee. Further investigation has proved that the hydrogenation proceeded via a sequential hydrogenation of CO and CC bonds, which is sensitive to the reaction temperature. Hydrolysis of ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (ee 93%) provided the 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid with 81% yield at 99% ee after a single recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethylene.     

Highly enantioselective Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of activated imines

Pd/bisphosphines complexes are highly effective catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of activated imines in trifluoroethanol. The asymmetric hydrogenation of N-diphenylphosphinyl ketimines 3 with Pd(CF3CO2)/(S)-SegPhos indicated 87-99% ee, and N-tosylimines 5 could gave 88-97% ee with Pd(CF3CO2)/(S)-SynPhos as a catalyst. Cyclic N-sulfonylimines 7 and 11 were hydrogenated to afford the useful chiral sultam derivatives in 79-93% ee, which are important organic synthetic intermediates and structural units of agricultural and pharmaceutical agents.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral glutaric acid derivatives via Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

The first Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of dimethyl 2-methyleneglutarate and its derivatives has been reported. For the hydrogenation of dimethyl 2-methyleneglutarate with a chiral ferrocene-based monodentate phosphoramidite ligand (FAPhos), good enantioselectivity (over 90% ee) with full conversions was achieved. In contrast, the hydrogenation of substrates bearing an aryl substituent at a methylene moiety proved to be more difficult, in which the best enantioselectivity of up to 81% ee was obtained by the use of a P-stereogenic BoPhoz-type ligand.     

A novel class of P-O monophosphite ligands derived from D-mannitol: broad applications in highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed hydrogenations

We report on a new class of P-O monophosphite ligands (designated 3a-k) with a double six-membered-ring backbone onto which are attached additional groups and on applications of their Rh complexes in the hydrogenation of enamides, alpha-dehydroamino acid esters, dimethyl itaconate, and beta-(acylamino)acrylates. Our results demonstrate that the Rh complexes with ligands 3a-k exhibit high enantioselectivity and reactivity in asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. An ee value of up to 98.0% was obtained for the hydrogenation of alpha-dehydroamino acid esters, and the ee values were all over 99% for the other three types of substrate, with a turnover number of up to 5000.     

Efficient synthesis of an imidazole-substituted delta-amino acid by the integration of chiral technologies

Two methods to produce (2S)-5-amino-2-(1-n-propyl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-pentanoic acid were investigated. Diastereoisomeric salt resolution, using the quinidine salt, gave the desired intermediate in 98% ee and 33% yield. Asymmetric hydrogenation of various substrates gave high conversions, with up to 83% ee. Integration of these two approaches via asymmetric hydrogenation of a quinidine salt substrate followed by crystallization provided the desired intermediate in 94% ee and 76% yield.     

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of aromatic-heteroaromatic ketones

Asymmetric hydrogenation of ketone 1 using trans-RuCl(2)[(R)-xylbinap][(R)-daipen] (3) as a catalyst afforded secondary alcohol 2 quantitatively and in 99.4% ee. Further exploration of the effect of the thiazole ring substitution revealed that the catalyst was highly effective for the enantioselective hydrogenation of 5-benzoyl thiazoles, which afforded corresponding alcohols in 92-99% ee. The same protocol was applicable to a variety of aromatic-heteroaromatic ketones to generate secondary alcohols in excellent enantioselectivities. [reaction: see text]     

Highly enantioselective Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-keto esters using electron-donating bis(trialkylphosphine) ligand-TangPhos

Highly electron-donating bis(trialkylphosphine) TangPhos and its corresponding ruthenium complexes provided high enantioselectivities for the hydrogenation of β-keto esters. Up to 99.8% and 99.5% ee have been achieved in hydrogenation of β-alkyl and β-aryl substituted β-keto esters, respectively. Asymmetric hydrogenation of ethyl 4-chloro acetoacetate in 98.2% ee is also reported.     

[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).     

Homogeneous asymmetric catalysis by means of chiral metal complexes of 2,3-bis(dimenthylphosphino)maleic anhydride and of 2,3-bis(dimenthylphosphino)maleimide derivatives

2,3-Bis(dimenthylphosphino)maleic anhydride and also 2,3-bis(dimenthylphosphino)maleimide derivatives have been prepared from 2,3-dichloromaleic anhydride, 2,3-dichloro-N-phenylmaleimide and 2,3-dichloro-N-methylmaleimide, respectively, and dimenthyl(trimethylsilyl)phosphine. These compounds have been used as ligands for Rh complexes in the asymmetric hydrogenation and hydrosilylation. Ni and Pd complexes of these ligands were tested in the Grignard cross-coupling reaction.

The hydrogenation of -acetamido cinnamic acid gave 70% enantiomeric excess (ee) and hydrogenation of acetophenone up to 47% ee. Hydrosilylation of acetophenone led to 42% ee.

Attempts to asymmetric cross-coupling reactions resulted in very low enantiomeric excess.     

Rh(I)/DpenPhos catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters and potassium (E)-3-cyano-5-methylhex-3-enoate

Rh(I) complexes of a class of modular chiral monodentate phosphoramidites were highly efficient for the asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters bearing α-aryl or α-alkyl groups, to afford the corresponding hydrogenation products in high enantioselectivities (87–95% ee) and reactivities (turnover number up to 10,000). These ligands were also shown to be effective in Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the potassium salt of (E)-3-cyano-5-methylhex-3-enoate, to give the corresponding product (a precursor to CI-1008) with up to 95% ee and complete conversion of substrate.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with PhthalaPhos, a new class of chiral supramolecular ligands

A library of 19 binol-derived chiral monophosphites that contain a phthalic acid diamide group (PhthalaPhos) has been designed and synthesized in four steps. These new ligands were screened in the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral dehydroamino esters and enamides. Several members of the library showed excellent enantioselectivity with methyl 2-acetamido acrylate (6 ligands gave >97% ee), methyl (Z)-2-acetamido cinnamate (6 ligands gave >94% ee), and N-(1-phenylvinyl)acetamide (9 ligands gave >95% ee), whilst only a few representatives afforded high enantioselectivities for challenging and industrially relevant substrates N-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)-acetamide (96% ee in one case) and methyl (E)-2-(acetamidomethyl)-3-phenylacrylate (99% ee in one case). In most cases, the new ligands were more active and more stereoselective than their structurally related monodentate phosphites (which are devoid of functional groups that are capable of hydrogen-bonding interactions). Control experiments and kinetic studies were carried out that allowed us to demonstrate that hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the diamide group of the PhthalaPhos ligands strongly contribute to their outstanding catalytic properties. Computational studies carried out on a rhodium precatalyst and on a conceivable intermediate in the hydrogenation catalytic cycle shed some light on the role played by hydrogen bonding, which is likely to act in a substrate-orientation effect.     

Ru-Catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters with CeCl3.7H2O as additive

[reaction: see text] An efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters is reported with use of a catalyst prepared from [Ru((S)-3)(benzene)Cl]Cl and CeCl(3).7H(2)O. Alpha-hydroxy esters are obtained in up to 96% ee. The addition of CeCl(3).7H(2)O not only improves the enantioselectivity, but also enhances the stability of the catalyst. As a result, the hydrogenation of methyl benzoylformate affords the product with 92% ee with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 10 000. Hydrolysis of 2 provides the final compound with 83% yield at 99% ee after a single recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethylene.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of olefins with axial chiral iridium QUINAP complex

(S)-QUINAP reacted with [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ to form a new chelating iridium complex in 77.4% yield. The iridium complex was proved to be a highly efficient catalyst for the enantioselective hydrogenation of olefins. 33.4-95.1% ee were obtained for the hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins and 90.8-96.1% ee were obtained for functionalized olefins.     

A new electronically deficient atropisomeric diphosphine ligand (S)-CF3O-BiPhep and its application in asymmetric hydrogenation

A new electronically deficient atropisomeric diphosphine ligand (S)-CF₃O-BiPhep was synthesized from 1-bromo-3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene in high yield. The key steps included oxidative coupling with anhydrous ferric chloride and optical resolution by (+)-DMTA. The ligand afforded high performance for Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines with ee up to 92% and TON up to 25,000. It was also successfully applied to the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of simple indoles with ee up to 87% and Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to 2-cyclohexenone with 97% ee.     

t-Bu-QuinoxP* ligand: applications in asymmetric Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation

The potential of the t-Bu-QuinoxP* ligand (1) as a chiral ligand in asymmetric synthesis was examined. The ligand exhibited good to excellent asymmetric induction in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate (up to 98.7% ee) and in Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones (up to 99.9% ee).     

New unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands derived from H8-BINOL for highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

A series of new H₈-BINOL-derived unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands have been synthesized and successfully used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations. The same or higher enantioselectivities (99.9% ee) were achieved in the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and α-dehydroamino acid esters as those obtained with BINOL-derived analogues. However, slightly lower enantioselectivities (99.0% ee) were obtained in the hydrogenation of enamides.     

Copper-Catalyzed Chemoselective Asymmetric Hydrogenation of C=O Bonds of Exocyclic α,β-Unsaturated Pentanones

A highly chemoselective earth-abundant transition metal copper catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of C=O bonds of exocyclic α,β-unsaturated pentanones was realized using H₂. The desired products were obtained with up to 99 % yield and 96 % ee (enantiomeric excess) (99 % ee, after recrystallization). The corresponding chiral exocyclic allylic pentanol products can be converted into several bioactive molecules. The hydrogenation mechanism was investigated via deuterium-labelling experiments and control experiments, which indicate that the keto-enol isomerization rate of the substrate is faster than that of the hydrogenation and also show that the Cu−H complex can only catalyze chemoselectively the asymmetric reduction of the carbonyl group. Computational results indicate that the multiple attractive dispersion interactions (MADI effect) between the catalyst with bulky substituents and substrate play important roles which stabilize the transition states and reduce the generation of by-products.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of heterocyclic ketone-derived hydrazones, pronounced solvent effect on the inversion of configuration

An enantioselective hydrogenation of hydrazones derived from heterocyclic ketones was developed with up to 85% ee. The enantiomeric purity was enriched to >99% ee by crystallization from EtOAc in >80% yield. Optimization studies have revealed a notable solvent effect that resulted in inversion of enantioselectivity from 85% ee in MeOH to −27% ee in DCE. The hydrazone geometry and possible hydrogenation via endocyclic alkene were examined as possible factors for the inversion of enantioselectivity.     

Highly efficient rhodium/monodentate phosphoramidite catalyst and its application in the enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives

An easily prepared and highly efficient monodentate phosphoramidite ligand derived from BINOL, (S)-2,2'-O,O-(1,1'-binaphthyl)-dioxo-N,N-diethylphospholidine, was examined in the hydrogenation of both enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives. The catalyst provided remarkably high enantioselectivities (up to 99.6% ee for enamides and >99.9% ee for alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives).     

Structural requirements in chiral diphosphine-rhodium complexes. VII. Use of Z-methyl-α-acylaminocinnamtes as structural probes for Diop-rhodium(I) complexes.

(+)-(25,3S)-DIOP was used in neutral rhodium(I)-diphosphime complexes to catalyze the asymmetric hydrogenation of Z-methyl-u-acylaminocimnamates. Increasing steric bulk in the acyl function (NHCOR, where R is a hydrocarbon moiety) resulted in a decrease in optical purity of the N-acylphenylalanine methyl ester products. The optical purity decreased from 69 % ee (S) [Me], 15 % ee (S) [i-Pr], to 0 % ee [t-Bu and 1-adamantyl]. The α-formamido substrate decreased in optical purity [58 % ee (S)] relative to the Me analogue. The a-trifluoroacetamido analogue gave a reversal in chirality [22 % ee (R)].