Application of pyranoside phosphite-pyridine ligands to enantioselective metal-catalyzed allylic substitutions and conjugate 1,4-additions

A series of glucopyranoside phosphite–pyridine ligands have been applied in the metal-catalyzed allylic substitution and conjugate 1,4-addition reactions of several substrate types. We have been able to identify ligands that provided promising enantioselectivities in the Pd-catalyzed intermolecular allylic substitution of cyclic substrates (ee’s up to 86%) and desymmetrization (ee’s up to 94%) and in the Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of challenging aliphatic enones (ee’s up to 90%).     

Thioether-phosphite: new ligands for the highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins

We have described the first successful application of non-N-donor heterodonor ligands--thioether-phosphite ligands--in the Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins. Excellent enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99%) have been obtained for a range of substrates, including challenging terminal disubstituted substrates, under standard conditions.     

Chiral (iminophosphoranyl)ferrocenes: highly efficient ligands for rhodium- and iridium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins

A series of chiral (iminophosphoranyl)ferrocenes (1-3) are highly efficient ligands for Rh- and Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of a number of unfunctionalized olefins; almost perfect enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee) have been achieved under mild reaction conditions.     

Readily available phosphine-phosphoramidite ligands for highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenations

A new family of air- and moisture-stable phosphine-phosphoramidite ligands (PEAPhos) has been prepared from commercially available and inexpensive (S)-alpha-phenylethylamine through a two- or three-step transformation and successfully applied in the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenations of a variety of substrates, in which up to 99.9% ee was obtained for all of these kinds of substrates.     

Synthesis and application of chiral phosphino-imidazoline ligands: Ir-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] A series of chiral phosphino-imidazolines (PHIM ligands) 1a-j with different substituents at the stereogenic center, the nitrogen atom of the imidazoline ring, and at the phosphorus atom were synthesized. Iridium complexes derived from these ligands have been evaluated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins. In several cases, higher enantiomeric excesses were observed than with analogous phosphino-oxazoline ligands.     

Highly enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones with fine-tunable phosphite-pyridine ligands

A new series of fine-tunable phosphite-pyridine (P,N) ligands derived from (S)-2-amino-2'-hydroxy-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl and (S)-2-amino-2'-hydroxy-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biphenyl was employed in Cu(I)-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones. Excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and highly catalytic activities were achieved for a variety of acyclic enones.     

Monophosphite ligands derived from carbohydrates and H8-BINOL: highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations

A series of monophosphite ligands derived from carbohydrates and H₈-BINOL have been synthesized. Excellent enantioselectivities (over 99% ee) were obtained when these ligands were applied in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and enamides.     

Synthesis of a new class of conformationally rigid phosphino-oxazolines: highly enantioselective ligands for Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] A new class of conformationally rigid phosphino-oxazoline ligands were synthesized from readily available enantiopure phenyl glycinol. Ir complexes with these ligands are air-stable and highly enantioselective catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of aryl alkenes and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in up to 99% ee.     

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.     

Convenient divergent strategy for the synthesis of TunePhos-type chiral diphosphine ligands and their applications in highly enantioselective Ru-catalyzed hydrogenations

A convenient, divergent strategy for the synthesis of a series of modular and fine-tunable C3-TunePhos-type chiral diphosphine ligands and their applications in highly efficient Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations were explored. Up to 97 and 99% ee values were achieved for the enantioselective synthesis of beta-methyl chiral amines and alpha-hydroxy acid derivatives, respectively.     

Asymmetric Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of unfunctionalized olefins

This paper describes a promising asymmetric cyclopropanation system for unfunctionalized olefins using readily available dipeptide N-Boc-l-Val-l-Pro-OMe as ligand.     

Highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of exocyclic enamines

[Ir(COD)Cl]₂/MeO-BiPhep/I₂ catalyst system is highly effective for the asymmetric hydrogenation of exocyclic enamines with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).     

Catalytic asymmetric Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of unfunctionalized olefins

This paper describes a catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation system for unfunctionalized olefins using readily available dipeptide N-Boc-l-Val-l-Pro-OMe (1) as ligand.     

Synthesis of novel chiral oxazoline ligands and application in the highly enantioselective diethylzinc addition to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines

Two sets of novel chiral oxazoline ligands were designed and conveniently prepared from readily available l-aspartic acid and evaluated in enantioselective diethylzinc addition to N-diphenylphosphinoyl imines. In the presence of stoichiometric amounts of these ligands, high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) and yields (up to 85%) were achieved for several aromatic imines in toluene at room temperature. Furthermore, the effect of the structure of the ligand on the reaction was studied.     

Six-membered bis(azaphosphorinane), readily available ligand for highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenations

A new six-membered bis(azaphosphorinane) ligand has been readily prepared starting from an inexpensive chiral epoxide; excellent enantioselectivities (up to over 99% ee) have been achieved in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of β-dehydroamino acid derivatives and α-arylenamides.     

Chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligands for highly efficient Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically hindered N-arylimines

A mild and general iridium-catalyzed, highly enantioselective hydrogenation of sterically hindered N-arylimines with a new H(8)-BINOL-derived phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand has been developed. The present catalytic system features high turnover numbers (up to 100000) and good to perfect enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) for the hydrogenation of a variety of sterically hindered N-arylimines.     

Readily available chiral phosphine–aminophosphine ligands derived from 1-phenylethylamine for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenations

A series of new chiral phosphine–aminophosphine ligands have been prepared via a two- or three-step transformation from commercially available and inexpensive (S)-1-phenylethylamine, and successfully used in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various enamides, β-dehydroamino acid esters, and dimethyl itaconate. The results show that the ligand structure plays an important influence on both the reactivity and enantioselectivity. Ligand 2d bearing a N–H proton and two F-atoms on the 3,5-positions of the phenyl ring of the aminophosphino moiety was most effective for the hydrogenation of enamides and (Z)-β-aryl-β-(acylamino)acrylates, whereas ligand 1b showed the highest enantioselectivities in the hydrogenation of (Z)-β-alkyl-β-(acylamino)acrylates and dimethyl itaconate.     

Electronic effects steer the mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenations of unfunctionalized aryl-substituted alkenes

Density functional theory (PBE and B3LYP) was used to study asymmetric hydrogenations of alkenes catalyzed by an iridium imidazolylidine oxazoline complex. The calculation predicts that the alkene preferentially coordinates to the site trans to the carbene. The coordinated alkene then reacts first with the H2 ligand, then with the hydride to form alkane. Finally, the alkane is released by equilibrating with extrinsic H2 and alkene. Enantioface selectivities for hydrogenations of trisubstituted alkenes seem to be driven primarily by steric interactions with the adamantyl part of the ligand; only the smallest substituents can adopt a site close to it. Application of this theoretical model leads to correct predictions regarding the experimentally observed sense and magnitude of the enantioselectivities.     

Ir-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts-type allylic alkylation of indoles

Highly regio- and enantioselective Ir-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts type allylic alkylation of indoles have been realized using [Ir(COD)Cl]2/phosphoramidite ligand 1a, affording the branched products with up to >97/3 branched-linear ratio and 92% ee.