Acceleration of arylzinc formation and its enantioselective addition to aldehydes by microwave irradiation and aziridine-2-methanol catalysts

The formation and 2-amino alcohol catalyzed addition of arylzinc reagents from and with boronic acids, respectively, is drastically accelerated to a few minutes under microwave irradiation without loss of enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). Of the amino acid derived catalysts tested, the conformationally restricted bulky substituted aziridine-2-methanols derived from serine show the best overall performance in the formation of diarylmethanols.     

New class of amino-phosphinite chiral catalysts for the highly enantioselective addition of arylzinc reagents to aldehydes

A new class of amino-phosphinite chiral ligands was prepared and applied in zinc-catalyzed addition of aryl boronic acids to aldehydes; the reaction furnished the diarylmethanols in excellent yields and with a high level of enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee).     

Application of beta-hydroxysulfoximines in catalytic asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions for the synthesis of diarylmethanols

Enantiomerically enriched diarylmethanols have been prepared by catalyzed asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions onto aromatic aldehydes with use of readily available beta-hydroxysulfoximines as catalysts. As the aryl source, combinations of diethylzinc with either diphenylzinc or triphenylborane have been applied affording arylphenylmethanols with up to 93% ee in good yields. Various functionalized aldehydes and heterocyclic substrates are tolerated, yielding synthetically relevant products.     

Highly enantioselective phenyl transfer to aryl aldehydes catalyzed by easily accessible chiral tertiary aminonaphthol

A new chiral tertiary aminonaphthol ligand 3b served as a highly efficient ligand for the asymmetric catalytic phenyl transfer to aromatic aldehydes and a variety of chiral diarylmethanols was prepared in high ee values (ee up to 99%) and chemical yields. The straightforward syntheses of both 3b and its enantiomer provide an excellent opportunity for large-scale applications.     

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized diarylmethanols catalyzed by a new gamma-amino thiol

[reaction: see text] A mild asymmetric arylation of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by gamma-amino thiol 5 gave the corresponding diarylmethanols with 95 to >99.5% ee.     

Catalytic enantioselective aryl transfer to aldehydes using chiral 2,2'-bispyrrolidine-based salan ligands

Chiral C?-symmetric diamines have emerged as versatile auxiliaries or ligands in numerous asymmetric transformations. Chiral 2,2'-bispyrrolidine-based salan ligands were prepared and applied to the asymmetric aryl transfer to aldehydes with arylboronic acids as the source of transferable aryl groups. The corresponding diarylmethanols were obtained in high yields with moderate to good enantioselectivitives of up to 83% ee.     

Remarkably efficient enantioselective titanium(IV)-(R)-H8-BINOLate catalyst for arylations to aldehydes by triaryl(tetrahydrofuran)aluminum reagents

Novel asymmetric triarylaluminum AlAr3(THF) additions to aldehydes catalyzed by 10 mol % of the titanium(IV) complex of (R)-H8-BINOL ligand are reported. The catalytic system is extremely efficient with reactions completing within 10 min. The system applies to the most diversified aldehydes to date, and more than 20 aldehydes were examined to afford diarylmethanols having an electron-donating or an electron-withdrawing group at the 2-, 3-, or 4-position on the aryl moiety, linear or branched 1-aryl aliphatic alcohols, aryl furyl methanols, 1-aryl allylic alcohols, and, especially, 1-aryl propargylic alcohols in excellent enantioselectivities of >/=90% ee, except for the case of 1-naphthyl addition to benzaldehyde. Noteworthily, diarylmethanols in both R- and S-configurations can be obtained.     

Polystyrene-supported amino alcohol ligands for the heterogeneous asymmetric addition of phenyl zinc reagents to aldehydes

A family of polystyrene-supported amino alcohols, characterized by a high catalytic activity in alkyl transfer from zinc to formyl groups has been successfully tested in the enantioselective addition of phenyl zinc reagents to aldehydes to afford chiral diarylmethanols. Enantioselectivities higher than 90% (mean ee 90.5%; eight examples) are recorded with aromatic aldehydes in what represents the first successful use of heterogeneous, polymeric reagents for enantiocontrol in the phenylation of aldehydes.     

Direct α‐Alkylation of Aldehydes by Brønsted‐Acid Catalysis

A Brønsted acid catalyzed direct alkylation reaction of aldehydes was described. The 3,5‐dinitrobenzoic acid promoted the reaction between aldehydes and diarylmethanols to afford the corresponding alkylation products with middle to high yields (up to 91% yield).     

Triarylborane ammonia complexes as ideal precursors for arylzinc reagents in asymmetric catalysis

[reaction: see text] The value of arylboranes as precursors for arylzinc reagents in asymmetric catalysis is demonstrated. Kinetic studies on the transmetalation reaction with zinc reagents rationalize the observed differences of three classes of arylboranes in catalytic applications. By using the stable and easily accessible triarylborane ammonia complexes, an array of chiral diarylmethanols in high yield and enantioselectivity was synthesized.     

Nucleophilic additions of arylzinc compounds to aldehydes mediated by CrCl(3): efficient and facile synthesis of functionalized benzhydrols, 1(3H)-isobenzofuranones, benzyl alcohols, or diaryl ketones

In the presence of a stoichiometric amount of CrCl(3) and trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCl), nucleophilic addition of arylzinc compounds 1c-h to arylaldehydes 2a,b,g smoothly proceeded at room temperature to yield corresponding benzhydrols 4a-f in good yields. From arylzinc compounds 1a,b, 3-aryl-1(3H)-isobenzofuranones 3a-f were given by the CrCl(3)-mediated reaction with arylaldehydes 2a-f. Diaryl ketones 5a-e were obtained in good yields by the addition of excess amount of benzaldehyde as an oxidant to the resulting solution after the CrCl(3)-mediated reaction between arylzinc compounds 1c-g and arylaldehydes 2b,g was completed. In the nucleophilic additions of arylzinc compounds 1a,d,f to alkyladehydes 6b-f, the treatment of arylzinc compounds with CrCl(3) was required prior to the addition of the aldehydes in order to prevent the fast protodezincation of arylzinc compounds by the enolizable aldehydes. In these CrCl(3)-mediated nucleophilic additions of arylzinc compounds to aldehydes, arylchromium(III) species are probably reactive intermediates.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric alpha-bromination of aldehydes and ketones

The first organocatalytic enantioselective alpha-bromination of aldehydes and ketones is presented; a C2-symmetric diphenylpyrrolidine catalyst afforded the alpha-brominated aldehydes in good yields and up to 96% ee, while ketones were alpha-brominated by a C2-symmetric imidazolidine in up to 94% ee; furthermore, the organocatalytic enantioselective alpha-iodination of aldehydes is also demonstrated to proceed with up to 89% ee.     

H3PMo12O40-catalyzed coupling of diarylmethanols with epoxides/ diols/aldehydes toward polyaryl-substituted aldehydes

A versatile heteropoly acid (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀)-catalyzed coupling of diarylmethanols with epoxides was established for the synthesis of polyaryl-substituted aldehydes. Furthermore, the catalytic system was also suitable for the reaction of diarylmethanols and diols/aldehydes. The application of such an earthabundant, readily accessible, and nontoxic catalyst provides a green approach for the construction of polyaryl-substituted aldehydes.     

A practical method for enantioselective synthesis of all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers through NHC-Cu-catalyzed conjugate additions of alkyl- and arylzinc reagents to beta-substituted cyclic enones

We present the first examples of Cu-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate additions of alkyl- and arylzinc reagents to unactivated cyclic beta-substituted enones. Transformations are promoted in the presence of 2.5-15 mol % of a readily available chiral NHC-based Cu complex, affording the desired products bearing all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers in 67-->98% yield and in up to 97% ee. Catalytic enantioselective reactions can be carried out on a benchtop, with undistilled solvent and commercially available (not further purified) Cu salts. Mechanistic models, accounting for the observed levels and trends in enantioselectivity are provided.     

Enantioselective arylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a soluble optically active polybinaphthols ligand

A soluble chiral polymer ligand was synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-6,6′-dibutyl-3,3′-diformyl-2,2′-binaphthol (R-M-1) with 2,5-diaminopyridine (M-2) via a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. While arylboronic acids were used as the source of the transferable aryl group, the chiral polybinaphthols ligand in combination with Et₂Zn without Ti(OⁱPr)₄ exhibited higher enantioselectivity in asymmetric addition to aromatic aldehydes than alphatic aldehydes. When aromatic aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups were chosen as substrates, the resulting diarylmethanols were produced in higher ee values than those with electron-donating groups as substrates. 2-Naphthaldehyde used as a substrate afforded product in 95% ee, which could be ascribed to the steric effect influence on this asymmetric arylation reaction. Moreover, the chiral polymer was easily recovered and reused, but exhibited a decrease of enantioselectivity in the third recycle.     

Asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl aryl sulfides—Enantio- and diastereoselective formation of allenyl aryl sulfides and their application in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

The enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of allenyl aryl sulfides by asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl (2-hetero)aryl sulfides is described. A dynamic thermodynamic resolution by selective crystallization of the intermediate lithium complexes derived from deprotonation, applying a bis(oxazoline) ligand, was achieved to give enantioselectivities up to 85% ee. Subsequent stereospecific nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with arylzinc reagents established a versatile access to threefold carbon-substituted allenes.     

H3PMo12O40-catalyzed coupling of diarylmethanols with epoxides/diols/aldehydes toward polyaryl-substituted aldehydes

A versatile heteropoly acid (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀)-catalyzed coupling of diarylmethanols with epoxides was established for the synthesis of polyaryl-substituted aldehydes. Furthermore, the catalytic system was also suitable for the reaction of diarylmethanols and diols/aldehydes. The application of such an earth-abundant, readily accessible, and nontoxic catalyst provides a green approach for the construction of polyaryl-substituted aldehydes     

Asymmetric diethylzinc addition and phenyl transfer to aldehydes using chiral cis-cyclopropane-based amino alcohols

A new series of amino alcohols with a chiral cyclopropane backbone have been developed and used in the catalytic asymmetric diethylzinc addition and phenyl transfer to various types of aldehydes. These cyclopropane-based chiral amino alcohols show high enantioselectivity in the addition of organozincs to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. For diethylzinc addition to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, up to 97% ee and 93% ee are obtained, respectively. For the phenyl transfer to aromatic aldehydes, the best enantioselectivity was 89% ee.     

Asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of 2-cyclohexen-1-one catalyzed by chiral biaryl-based bis(thiourea) organocatalysts

Newly-developed bis(thiourea) 1d was found to be an efficient organocatalyst for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. High enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with both aromatic aldehydes (up to 84% ee) and aliphatic aldehydes (up to 96% ee).     

l-Proline amides catalyze direct asymmetric aldol reactions of aldehydes with methylthioacetone and fluoroacetone

Direct aldol reactions of aldehydes with methylthio- and fluoroacetone catalyzed by proline amides have been investigated. l-Prolinamide 5e was found to be the best catalyst. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a series of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes reacted smoothly with methylthioacetone, to generate 1-methylthio-4-hydroxyketones 3 in good yields and with high regio- and enantioselectivities. Excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee were observed for aromatic aldehydes and even higher enantioselectivities of >99% ee were observed for aliphatic aldehydes. Asymmetric direct aldol reactions of fluoroacetone with aldehydes in the presence of 20 mol % of 5e preferentially occurred at the fluoromethyl group, yielding products with high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).