Regio- and enantioselective hydrosilylation of 1-arylalkenes by use of palladium-MOP catalyst

Hydrosilylation of styrenes bearing β-substituents with trichlorosilane was catalyzed by a palladium complex (0.1 mol %) coordinated with (R)- 2-methoxy-2′-diphenylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthyl ((R)-MeO-MOP) to give high yields of optically active 1-aryl-1-silylalkanes (80–85% ee) as single regioisomers. The resulting silanes were readily converted into the corresponding optically active alcohols (80–99% yield).     

Steric control of regiochemistry in the reactions of methyl substituted pentadienyl cations with isobutene

The dienylic chlorides 1–5 react with isobutene in the presence of zinc chloride/ether in dichloromethane to give the acyclic adducts 6–10 in 64–91% yield. The orientation effects are in contrast to the predictions of perturbational molecular orbital theory and can be explained on the basis of steric effects.     

Chiral phosphinooxathiane ligands for catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction

Chiral cationic palladium[bond]phosphinooxathiane complexes have been found to be effective catalysts for enantioselective Diels-Alder (DA) reaction of cyclopentadiene with acyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones to give the corresponding DA adducts in good yield and high enantioselectivity up to 93% ee.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated ureas with the BIPI ligands

Asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated urea esters with the BIPI Ligands has been examined. Optimization of the P-N ligand structure has led to the development of chiral rhodium catalysts capable of producing the targets with >99% ee. The critical phosphine borane SNAr reaction needed for ligand synthesis has been optimized to give the adducts in high yield at ambient temperature with no racemization. An extremely concise, economical, and scalable sequence to these important new ligands for catalysis of asymmetric hydrogenation has been developed.     

Readily available phosphine–imine ligands from α-phenylethylamine for highly efficient Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

A series of novel chiral phosphine–imine ligands have been prepared by a two-step transformation from chiral α-phenylethylamine. The resulting chiral ligands were found to be effective for the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-yl pivalate with dimethyl malonate, in which up to 94% ee and 99% conversions were obtained. The results demonstrate that the chirality resided on the chelate ring of P–Pd–N complex is more effective for the transfer of the stereochemical information by comparison with the result obtained by Hashimoto and coworkers’ phosphine–imine ligand, in which the chirality lay in the outside of P–Pd–N chelate ring. The effect of solvent, base and substitutent in phosphine–imine ligand on this catalytic reaction is also described.     

Optically active phenanthrolines in asymmetric catalysis. IV. Enantioselective hydrosilylation of acetophenone by rhodium/chiral alkyl phenanthroline catalysts.

The in situ catalysts prepared from [Rh(Cod)Cl]₂ (Cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and chiral alkylphenanthroline ligands 1–6 display a remarkable activity in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone affording, after hydrolysis, the expected 1-phenylethanol in high yield and complete selectivity. High enantioselectivities, up to 76%, were obtained in the presence of 2-substituted derivatives 5 and 6, whereas 3-alkylphenanthrolines 1–4 gave e.e.'s not higher than 6%. High chemical yields, but modest enantioselectivities (10–20% e.e.) were recorded with the potentially terdentate ligands 7–10. Chiral alkylphenanthrolines were poorly efficient ligands in the asymmetric Ni-catalysed cross-coupling of -methylbenzylmagnesium chloride with vinyl bromide.     

Enantioselective addition of vinylzinc reagents to aldehydes catalyzed by modular ligands derived from amino acids

[reaction: see text] A series of N-acylethylenediamine-based ligands were synthesized from Boc-protected amino acids. The ligands were screened for the ability to catalyze the asymmetric addition of vinylzinc reagents to aldehydes. Three sites of diversity on the ligands were optimized for this reaction using a positional scanning approach. The optimized ligand 3d was found to catalyze the formation of 15 different (E)-allylic alcohols with enantioselectivities that ranged from 52 to 91% ee and yields that ranged from 40 to 90%. This ligand was especially effective for the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with vinylzinc reagents derived from bulky terminal alkynes. Ligand 3d catalyzed the addition of (E)-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-enyl)(ethyl)zinc to 2-naphthaldehyde to give (R,E)-4,4-dimethyl-1-(naphthalene-1-yl)pent-2-en-1-ol in 89% ee. The ee of this product could be increased to 97% through a single recrystallization.     

Enantioselective synthesis of optically active secondary amines via asymmetric reduction

The enantioselective synthesis of optically active secondary amines via the asymmetric reduction of N-substituted ketimines with various chiral hydride reagents, such as Itsuno's reagent (1), Corey's reagent (2), K glucoride (3), Sharpless' reagent (4), and Mosher's reagent (5) has been investigated. Among the hydride reagents examined, 1 gave the best results in terms of asymmetric induction. Thus, the reduction of N-phenylimine derivatives of aromatic ketones with 1 provided the corresponding amines in 96–98% yields with high optical induction, such as 73 % ee for acetophenone N-phenylimine (6a), 87 % ee for propiophenone N-phenylimine (6b), 88 % ee for bulyrophenone N-phenylimine (6c), and 71 % ee for isobutyrophenone N-phenylimine (6d). In the case of N-alkyl ketimine derivatives, the reduction afforded somewhat lower optical inductions as compared to those of N-phenyl derivatives, giving 46 % ee for acetophenone N-benzylimine (6f), 52 % ee for acetophnone N-ⁿ-heptylimine (6g) and 43 % ee for acetophenone N-cyclohexylimine (6h). However, the substitution of a bulky alkyl group on nitrogen of the ketimines increases remarkably the optical induction of product amine, such as 80 % ee for acetophenone N-tert-butylimine (6e). The reduction of N-substituted aliphatic ketimines gave very low optical inductions (7.4 – 24 % ee). The catalytic effects of oxazaborolidines (1a and 2a) in the reduction of ketimines with 1 and 2 were also examined.     

Asymmetric Michael reactions of α-substituted acetates with cyclic enones catalyzed by multifunctional chiral Ru amido complexes

Well-defined 16-electron chiral Ru amido complexes, Ru[(R,R)-diamine](η⁶-arene), efficiently catalyze asymmetric Michael additions of Michael donors to cyclic enones to give adducts in high yields and with excellent ee’s. β-Ketoesters or nitroacetate as Michael donors react with 2-cyclopentenone in toluene or t-butyl alcohol containing the Ru amido catalyst (S/C=50) to afford the Michael adduct in 99% yield and with up to 92% ee. The outcome of the reaction was delicately influenced by the structures of the diamine and arene ligands as well as reaction conditions.     

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.     

Synthesis of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylate via silver/ThioClickFerrophos-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of dihydropyrrole ester with N-substituted maleimide

The AgOAc/ThioClickFerrophos-complex catalyzed the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4-dihydropyrrole-2-carboxylates, a precursor of cyclic azomethine ylides, with N-substituted maleimide to give the exo-cycloadducts, that is, 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylates, as the major product in moderate yields with a high enantiomeric excess (up to 86% ee) under the optimized conditions. Michael adducts were produced as a minor product.     

Asymmetric 1,4-addition of β-keto esters to cyclic enones catalyzed by Ru amido complexes

Well-defined Ru amido complexes effected asymmetric Michael addition of β-keto esters to 2-cyclopenten-1-one to give quantitatively the corresponding Michael adducts with excellent ee although with a 1:1 diastereomer ratio. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction was significantly influenced by the structures of the catalysts and the structures of the β-keto esters; the ee value reaching up to 97%.     

Methylethers of cinchona alkaloids in Pt-catalyzed hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate and ketopantolactone: Effect of stereochemical factors on the enantioselectivity

We studied the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate (EP) and ketopantolactone (KPL) under mild experimental conditions (hydrogen pressure 1 bar, room temperature) on Pt-alumina catalyst modified with O-methyl derivatives of parent cinchona alkaloids (MeOCD, MeOCN, MeOQN, MeOQD) in two solvents with highly different polarities (AcOH, toluene). The best ee's were achieved (91–96%) using MeOCD and MeOQN modifiers in AcOH. Hydrogenation, especially in the presence of the chiral modifiers MeOCN and MeOQD in toluene proceeded with exceptionally low enantioselectivities (35–46% for EP and 2–4% for KPL) as compared to the already well-known Pt-MeOCD catalyst (ee%: 71–74 for EP, 38–48 for KPL). Results of the hydrogenations of the modifiers and studies on the hydrogenation of substrates using modifier mixtures suggested that the low ee are attributable to stereochemical reasons. Namely, it seems justified to suppose that the low ee observed is dependent on the various tilted adsorbed structures of the substrate and modifier 1:1 intermediate complex responsible for enantiodifferentiation.     

Exo selective enantioselective nitrone cycloadditions

We have developed a novel method for accessing exo adducts with high enantioselectivity in nitrone cycloadditions to enoates. Pyrazolidinones proved to be effective achiral templates in the cycloadditions, providing exo adducts typically in >15:1 selectivity and 90-98% ee. The use of Lewis acids that form square planar complexes, such as copper triflate, was important for obtaining high exo selectivity.     

Axially chiral phosphine-oxazoline ligands in silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of N-Boc aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran

Axially chiral phosphine-oxazoline ligand L6 was found to be a fairly effective chiral ligand in silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of N-Boc aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran to give the corresponding adducts in up to 97% yield, 7:1 dr and 86% ee (major diastereoisomer).     

Calorimetric study of the adducts CdBr2·nL (n = 1 and 2; L = ethyleneurea and propyleneurea)

A calorimetric study was performed for adducts of general formula CdBr₂·nL (n=1 and 2; L=ethyleneurea (eu) and propyleneurea (pu)). The standard molar reaction enthalpy in condensed phase: CdBr₂(c)+nL(c)=CdBr₂·nL(c); Δ_rH_m^θ, were obtained by reaction–solution calorimetry, to give the following values for mono- and bis-adducts: −19.54 and −34.59; −7.77 and −19.05 kJ mol⁻¹ for eu and pu adducts, respectively. Decomposition (Δ_DH_m^θ) and lattice (Δ_MH_m^θ) enthalpies, as well as the mean cadmium---oxygen bond dissociation enthalpy, DCd---O, were calculated for all adducts.     

Axially chiral phosphine–oxazoline ligands in the silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of fluorinated aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran

Axially chiral phosphine–oxazoline ligand L7, prepared from (S)-binol, was found to be a fairly effective chiral ligand in the silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of fluorinated aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran to give the corresponding adducts in up to 99% yield, over 20:1 dr and 81% ee.     

Design and development of cyclohexane-based P,N-ligands for transition metal catalysis

[reaction: see text] A new class of cyclohexane-based P,N-ligands is readily obtained through aziridine ring opening with suitable phosphorus nucleophiles under acidic conditions. trans-1-Amino-2-diphenylphosphinocyclohexane is resolved with tartaric acid to give the final product in >99% ee. The new ligands show high stability toward oxidation at the phosphorus atom.     

A heterotrimetallic Pd-Sm-Pd complex for asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylations of pyrroles with nitroalkenes

Catalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylations of pyrroles and nitroalkenes were carried out by using a novel heterotrimetallic Pd-Sm-Pd catalyst based on a simple chiral ligand 1, to give the adducts with high yields and up to 93% ee.     

The synthesis of silica-supported chiral BINOL: Application in Ti-catalyzed asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Chiral BINOL was covalently anchored on two different pore sized mesoporous silica (SBA-15 (7.5 nm) and MCF (14 nm)). These heterogenized ligands were used in Ti-catalyzed asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes. High catalytic activity with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) for secondary alcohols was achieved using MCF supported chiral BINOL under heterogeneous reaction conditions. Good to excellent enantioselectivity (ee, 68–91%) was also achieved with various small to bulkier aldehydes. The MCF supported catalyst was reused in multiple catalytic runs without loss of enantioselectivity.