Design and synthesis of enantiopure 1-[1(S)-(2-pyridyl)alkyl]-2(R)-isopropylaziridines, new ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Enantiopure 1-(2-pyridyl)alkyl aziridines were designed as bidentate ligands for asymmetric catalysis. Their synthesis involved the addition of organometallic reagents to the imine prepared from 2-pyridinealdehyde and an enantiopure β-aminoalcohol, followed by cyclisation of the β-aminoalcohol moiety to the aziridine ring. Two such ligands (N–N)* were prepared from (S)-valinol and converted to the complexes (η³-allyl)(N–N)*Pd⁺SbF₆⁻, one of which was characterised by X-ray crystallography. Modest enantioselectivities were achieved in a representative Pd-catalysed allylic substitution reaction.     

New chiral amino-phosphite and phosphite-phosphoroamidite ligands for the copper-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of diethylzinc to cyclohexenone

We have designed a series of amino-phosphite and phosphite-phosphoroamidite ligands 1–6 derived from inexpensive d-(+)-xylose. These ligands were screened in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of diethylzinc to cyclohexenone. High reaction rates (TOF >1200 h⁻¹) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 63% e.e.) were obtained. The results showed that the configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom C(3) at the ligand backbone and the different substituents at the amino group had remarkable effects on the activity and enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective copper catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction using chiral quinoline-phosphine ligand

A new chiral copper (II) catalyst was prepared from Cu(OTf)₂ and chiral pyridine-phosphine ligands 1–2 in dichloromethane and used in the Diels-Alder reaction of 3-acryloyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-one with cyclopentadiene leading to enantioselectivities up to 99%.     

The synthesis of novel chiral N,O-ferrocenyl ligands and their application in the addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Novel chiral N,O-ferrocenyl ligands, in which N and O groups were attached to two different Cp rings of ferrocene, were synthesized from easily available ferrocene, and applied to the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aldehydes. High chemical yields and good enantioselectivities (up to 90.9% ee) were obtained by using ferrocene ligand 6.     

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of imines in supercritical carbon dioxide using phosphite-type ligands

A series of chiral phosphite-type ligands has been evaluated in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of acyclic arylimines in supercritical CO₂. High reactivities (100% conversion in 50-120 min) and enantioselectivities (up to 95%) were obtained.     

A Mild Dihydrobenzooxaphosphole Oxazoline/Iridium Catalytic System for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Dialins

Air‐stable P‐chiral dihydrobenzooxaphosphole oxazoline ligands were designed and synthesized. When they were used in the iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized 1‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalenes under one atmosphere pressure of H₂, up to 99:1 e.r. was obtained. High enantioselectivities were also observed in the reduction of the exocyclic imine derivatives of 1‐tetralones.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ferrocenyl ketones: a new simple route to chiral ferrocenyl alcohols

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ferrocenyl ketones, such as FcC(O)CH₂Y [Fc = ferrocenyl, Y = H (1a), CH₃ (1b), Cl (1c) or N₃ (1d)] has been carried out using the Noyori/Ikariya catalysts [(−)-(1R,2S)-ephedrine] or N-tosyl-(1R,2R)-diphenylethylenediamine [(R,R)-TsDPEN] as chiral ligands combined with [RuCl₂(η⁶-benzene)]₂ and 2-PrOH or HCO₂H–Et₃N as the hydrogen sources, respectively. The best results were achieved with the [(R,R)-TsDPEN–Ru^IIHCO₂H–Et₃N] catalytic system, which produced the ferrocenylalcohols (R)-2a, (R)-2c, and (R)-2d in good yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses (>98% ee).     

Catalytic asymmetric diethylzinc addition to diphenylphosphionyl imines using chiral tert-butanesulfinylphosphine ligands

A class of novel chiral tert-butanesulfinylphosphine ligands were designed and synthesized by a concise two-step route with high yields. High activities and enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee) were achieved when using them in catalytic asymmetric diethylzinc addition to diphenylphosphionyl imines.     

Chiral C2-symmetric 2,3-disubstituted aziridine and 2,6-disubstituted piperidine as chiral ligands in the addition reaction of diethylzinc with arylaldehydes

Chiral C₂-symmetric 2,3-disubstituted aziridines and 2,6-disubstituted piperidines having a β-amino alcohol moiety have been successfully synthesized and their catalytic chiral induction properties have been examined in the asymmetric addition reactions of diethylzinc with arylaldehydes in hexane. When N-(2,2-diphenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-(S,S)-2,3-bis(methoxymethyl)aziridine 11 was used as a catalytic chiral ligand, sec-alcohols having (S)-configuration formed in high yields of 86–92% but low enantiomeric excesses (ee's) of 11–13%. However, when N-(2,2-diphenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-(R,R)-2,6-disubstituted piperidine derivatives 16 and 20 were used as the chiral ligands under the same reaction conditions, the ee's of the corresponding sec-alcohols were 20–30 and 5–6%, respectively, along with the inversion of absolute configuration. A plausible mechanism for this inversion is proposed.     

Oxovanadium(IV) based coordination polymers and their catalytic potentials for the oxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and trans-stilbene

Reaction between 5,5′-methylenebis(salicylaldehyde) or 5,5′-dithiobis(salicylaldehyde) and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane in equimolar ratio leads to the formation of new polymeric chelating ligands [–CH₂(H₂sal-dach)–]_n (I) and [–S₂(H₂sal-dach)₂–]_n (II). These ligands react with [VO(acac)₂] in DMF to give coordination polymers [–CH₂{VO(sal-dach)·DMF}–]_n (1) and [–S₂{VO(sal-dach)·DMF}–]_n (2). Both complexes are insoluble in common solvents and exhibit a magnetic moment value of 1.74 and 1.78μ_B, respectively. IR spectral studies confirm the coordination of ligands through the azomethine nitrogen and the phenolic oxygen atoms to the vanadium. These complexes exhibit good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and trans-stilbene using tert-butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant. Concentration of the oxidant and reaction temperature has been optimised for the maximum oxidation of these substrates. Under the optimised conditions, oxidation of styrene gave a maximum of 76% (with 1) or 85% (with 2) conversion having following products in order of selectivity: benzaldehyde > styreneoxide > 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol > benzoic acid. A maximum of 98% conversion of cyclohexene was obtained with both the catalysts where selectivity of cyclohexeneoxide varied in the order: 2 (62%) > 1 (45%). With the conversion of 33% (with 1) and 47% (with 2), oxidation of trans-stilbene gives benzaldehyde, benzil and trans-stilbeneoxide as major products.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric direct Michael addition of aromatic ketones to alkylidenemalononitriles

The asymmetric direct Michael addition of aromatic ketones to highly active alkylidenemalononitriles was investigated by employing a chiral primary amine 9-amino-9-deoxyepicinchonine. In general modest to good enantioselectivities (71–84% ee) could be obtained in acceptable isolated yields (48–85%) for an array of substrates.     

Asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene catalyzed by furanoside phosphine–phosphite–Rh(I) complexes

A series of phosphine–phosphite ligands, derived from inexpensive -(+)-xylose, were tested in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene. Systematic variation of the phosphite moiety revealed a remarkable effect on the selectivity of the hydroformylation catalysts. High regioselectivities for 2-phenylpropanal (up to 95%) and moderate enantioselectivity were found under mild reaction conditions (25–40°C, 25 bar of syn gas). The hydroformylation results are explained by the solution structures of the intermediate species formed under hydroformylation conditions.     

Chiral furanoside phosphite–phosphoroamidites: new ligands for asymmetric catalytic hydroformylation

We have designed a new series of phosphite–phosphoroamidites ligands 1–4 based on a furanoside backbone. These ligands were screened in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene, inducing high regioselectivities with 2-phenylpropanal and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 65% e.e.). The results showed that the configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom C(3) at the ligand backbone had remarkable effects on the activity and enantioselectivity. Replacing the tert-butyl substituents with methoxy substituents at the para positions of the biphenyl moieties improved the enantioselectivities. We have also studied the solution structures of HRh(PP)(CO)₂ complexes.     

Bicyclic phosphine-thiazole ligands for the asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins

New bicyclic thiazole-based chiral N,P-chelating ligands were developed. High activities and enantioselectivities were achieved in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with the new ligands.     

Azacrown ethers containing oximic and Schiff base sidearms - potential heteronuclear metal ion receptors

A simple synthetic pathway for the preparation of oxime- and Schiff base-containing aza- and diazacrown ethers is reported. N-Methoxymethyl-substituted aza-15-crown-5 and aza-18-crown-6 as well as N,N′-bis(methoxymethyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 were treated with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde to produce the N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted aza-15-crown-5 (8), aza-18-crown-6 (9) and N,N′-bis(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 (10) compounds. Compounds 8 and 10 were treated with hydroxylamine to give oxime-substituted ligands 12 and 13. A series of bis-Schiff base-containing diaza-18-crown-6 ligands were prepared by reacting 10 with 2-hydroxyaniline (to form 14), 5-nitro-2-hydroxyaniline (15), 2-aminopyridine (16), 2-hydrazinopyridine (17) and N-aminomorpholine (18). Compounds 12–18 are potential complexing agents for simultaneous binding of soft transition and hard alkali or alkaline earth metal ions in one molecule. These new oxime- and Schiff base-containing ligands interacted strongly with Na⁺ and K⁺ in methanol. The interaction of the aromatic portions of 9, 10, and 12–15 with transition metal ions was shown by the UV spectra of the metal ion complexes in 50% aqueous DMF. The X-ray structure of 10 is reported.     

Asymmetric dihydroxylation using heterogenized cinchona alkaloid ligands on mesoporous silica

Cinchona alkaloids have been successfully grafted on mesoporous silica. Asymmetric dihydroxylation using the heterogenized chiral ligands proceeded with varying degrees of enantioselection depending upon the nature of the chiral ligands. High asymmetric induction (up to >99.5% enantiomeric excess) almost equal to that obtained from the homogeneous catalyst system could be achieved using a dimeric alkaloid ligand with a six-carbon link between the ligand and the support (L3), while inferior results were obtained when a monomeric alkaloid ligand system was used. Reduced enantioselectivities were observed upon repeated recycling of the immobilized ligand system.     

手性膦氮配体的合成及其钯配合物催化的不对称烯丙基烷基化反应

以价廉的天然产物辛可宁和奎宁为原料,在温和的条件下方便地合成了两个手性膦氮配体.考察了它们与过渡金属钯配合物在不对称烯丙基烷基化反应中的催化活性和不对称诱导作用.在1,3-二苯基-2-烯丙基-1-醇的乙酸酯与丙二酸二甲酯的反应中,两个配体均表现出中等的手性诱导活性(最高为73.5%e.e.).     

Enantioselective borane reduction of aromatic ketones using chiral BINOL derivatives as ligands in an aluminum catalyst

Chiral aluminum complex-catalyzed asymmetric borane reduction of aromatic ketones has been successfully carried out in the presence of (R)-BINOL derivatives as ligands. Secondary alcohols were obtained in high yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 90% e.e.).     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation using chiral aminophosphine ligands

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate 18 with a dimethyl malonate–BSA–LiOAc system has been successfully carried out in the presence of new chiral aminophosphine ligands 1–5 in good yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 85% e.e.).     

Dendritic phosphoramidite ligands in Rh-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenations

The axially chiral BICOL backbone was functionalised with two third generation carbosilane dendritic wedges and further elaborated to a phosphoramidite ligand. High enantioselectivities were obtained when these monodentate ligands were applied in the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl 2-acetamidocinnamate.