Hybrid bidentate phosphorus ligands in asymmetric catalysis: privileged ligand approach vs. combinatorial strategies

In this perspective the development of chiral phosphorus ligands for asymmetric catalysis is discussed, with a special focus on hybrid bidentate phosphorus ligands, in particular phosphine-phosphoramidites. An attempt is made to compare privileged ligand and combinatorial approaches to ligand development--for which the class of phosphine-phosphoramidite ligands is well suited--highlighting differences, similarities and their complementary use.     

Self-assembly of bidentate ligands for combinatorial homogeneous catalysis: asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation

The first chiral ligand library based on self-assembly through complementary hydrogen-bonding was realized. From a 10 x 4 ligand library, catalysts that show excellent activity and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation have been identified.     

Concepts for ligand design in asymmetric catalysis: a study of chiral amino thiol ligands

A series of new chiral sulfur–nitrogen chelate ligands, derived from amino acids, has been synthesised rationally. Fruitless experiments into catalytic asymmetric conjugate additions and desymmetrisation of meso-epoxides led us to analyse our ligands in the catalytic asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes. These latter experiments were successful with chiral benzylic alcohols being obtained in up to 82% enantiomeric excess.     

A modular approach to structurally diverse bidentate chelate ligands for transition metal catalysis

A modular approach to a new class of structurally diverse bidentate P/N, P/P, P/S, and P/Se chelate ligands has been developed. Starting from hydroquinone, various ligands were synthesized in a divergent manner via orthogonally bis-protected bromohydroquinones as the central building block. The first donor functionality (L1) is introduced to the aromatic (hydroquinone) ligand backbone either by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling (Suzuki coupling) with hetero-aryl bromides, by Pd-catalyzed amination, or by lithiation and subsequent treatment with electrophiles (e.g., chlorophosphanes, disulfides, diselenides, or carbamoyl chlorides). After selective deprotection, the second ligand tooth (L2) is attached by reaction of the phenolic OH functionality with a chlorophosphane, a chlorophosphite, or a related reagent. Some of the resulting chelate ligands were converted into the respective PdX2 complexes (X = Cl, I), two of which were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The methodology developed opens an access to a broad variety of new chiral and achiral transition metal complexes and is generally suited for the solid-phase synthesis of combinatorial libraries, as will be reported separately.     

Pyroglutamate-derived hydroxyamide ligands: synthesis and application to asymmetric catalysis

The synthesis of a series of chiral hydroxy amide ligands is described. These ligands were used in a ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reaction where one ligand gave the product in 72% ee. The ligands were also used in two titanium-catalysed reactions, an alkylation where ee’s of up to 74% were achieved and a phenyl acetylene addition where more modest selectivities were observed.     

MOP-phosphonites: a novel ligand class for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral phosphonite ligands (S,R(b))-5a, (S,S(b))-5b, (R,R(b))-6a and (R,S(b))-6b are introduced, comprising a MOP-type backbone with a binol-based binaphthyl group bound to the phosphorus. Their reaction with [Pd(η(3)-C(4)H(7))Cl](2) affords η(3)-methallylpalladium chloride complexes 7a/b and 8a/b which have been isolated and structurally characterised. Solid-state and solution studies indicate subtle differences in their coordination behaviour, which ultimately affects their efficacy in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrene.     

Recent progress in homogeneous supported asymmetric catalysis: example of the BINAP and the BOX ligands

Industrial developments of asymmetric catalysis are slowed down by cost and toxicity of the soluble transition metal complexes which are used as catalysts. This problem could be solved by using homogeneous supported catalysis among other technologies. The article analyzes recent results obtained in the fields of catalysis using transition metal complexes grafted on organic or inorganic materials. Two types of ligand are considered: BINAP and BOX. In these two cases several approaches are still under investigations and some of them appear to give a higher performance, such as the polymer with ligand in the main chain and with rigid spacer in case of the BINAP and the ligand grafted on silica particles in the case of BOX.     

A triazine core for a new class of Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation ligands

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation ligands were synthesized using a triazine spacer group in two, high yielding steps from cheap, readily available starting materials. The ligands, gave good enantioselectivities in the asymmetric dihydroxylation of alkenes and may provide a very economic alternative to current systems.     

The modular approach to ligand discovery

Identifying specific protein-ligand interactions is a long-standing problem in drug discovery and chemical biology, which is only exacerbated by the abundance of uncharacterized proteins revealed by genomics. Last month in Chemistry Biology, Sem et al. described a powerful technique for rapidly screening protein families for ligands.     

Silica-supported metallocenes: stereochemical comparison between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis

Propylene was polymerized in the presence of the isospecific Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ (Et: ethylene, Ind: indenyl) and the aspecific (Ind)₂ZrCl₂ complexes in solution and anchored to SiO₂ and SiO₂/MAO (MAO: methylaluminoxane) supports. From the stereochemical analysis of the polypropene samples obtained it can be deduced that (i) the same active species is formed when a metallocene is in solution and when it is anchored to the SiO₂/MAO support and (ii) a completely different active species is formed when the metallocene is anchored to the silica. The fact that both systems Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ SiO₂ and (Ind)₂ZrCl₂ SiO₂ produce the same prevailingly isospecific polymer suggests that only isospecific centers are formed in this case, independently of the metallocene stereochemical structure.     

A modular approach to DNA-programmed self-assembly of macromolecular nanostructures

DNA-programmed organic reactions are new and powerful tools for assembling chemical compounds into predetermined complex structures and a brief review of their use is given. This approach is particular efficient for the selection and covalent coupling of multiple components. DNA-templated synthesis is used for polymerization of PNA tetramers and for copying of the connectivity information in DNA. Direct DNA-programmed multicomponent coupling of custom designed organic modules is described. The macromolecular structures obtained are highly conjugated potentially conducting nanoscaffolds. Some future developments in this area are discussed.     

A modular route to nonracemic cyclo-NOBINs. Preparation of the parent ligand for homo- and heterogeneous catalysis

A sequence which combines a nonracemic tether, a naphthyl diol, and an aminonaphthol has been developed leading to the new ligand cyclo-NOBIN, which can easily be mounted onto polystyrene. Opportunities for extending the route to substituted cyclo-NOBINs are also discussed.     

Linking homogeneous and heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis through a self-assembled coordination polymer

Combining the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis is possible through self-supported copper coordination polymers, based on a new kind of ditopic chiral ligand bearing two azabis(oxazoline) moieties. When the coordination polymer is used to catalyze a cyclopropanation reaction, it becomes soluble in reaction conditions but precipitates after reaction completion, allowing easy recovery and efficient reuse in the same reaction up to 14 times.     

Advances in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis with metal-containing silsesquioxanes

Metal-containing silsesquioxane derivatives provide new catalysts with both homogeneous and heterogeneous applicability. The steric and electronic properties of silsesquioxane silanolate ligands render metal centers more Lewis acidic than conventional alkoxide or siloxide ligands do. This concept has been exploited in newly developed catalysts for alkene metathesis, polymerization, epoxidation, and Diels-Alder reactions of enones. Other applications are envisioned in the near future.     

Functionalized isoxazole and isothiazole ligands: design,synthesis, palladium complexes,homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis in aqueous media

Homogenous and heterogeneous palladium catalysts with functionalized izoxazole and isothiazole ligands were developed for the cross-coupling reactions. The catalysts possessed high activity and were suitable for the repeated use. Compared with commonly used organic solutions, application of water and its mixtures with methanol as a reaction medium significantly intensifies catalysis with no side being formed. The obtained results are promising for the development of effective and ecologically friendly technologies of synthesis of important compounds such as polyfunctional biaryls, arylated olefins, acetylenes and their heterocyclic analogs.     

Pyridine and related ligands in transition metal homogeneous catalysis

This review provides a broad overview of the literature related to the importance of pyridine and related ligands in homogeneous catalysis. In particular, it describes the various ways by which this ligand can stabilised the metal within a complex for homogeneous catalysis. We surveyed the important transition metal homogenous catalysts containing pyridine and related ligand acting as backbone for other ligands in homogeneous catalytic reactions explicitly from 2011 up to early 2014 and summarized their comparative catalytic activities.