Asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation of α-acylaminocinnamic acids and esters catalyzed by a rhodium (I) complex of dioxop

α-Acylaminocinnamic acids and esters are hydrogenated with rhodium (I) complex containing (2R, 4R)-cis-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolan. The Z acids give enantiomeric excess up to 79% in the presence of triethylamine; increasing the steric bulk of the enamide moiety has only a small effect on the enantiomeric excess. The esters are reduced with low optical yield.     

Highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides catalyzed by Ir(I) complexes of SpinPhox ligands

The Ir(I) complexes of chiral spiro phosphino-oxazoline ligands (SpinPhox) have demonstrated good to excellent enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of a variety of (E)-β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated N-methoxy-N-methylamides, affording the corresponding optically active Weinreb amides with up to 97% ee.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions of α,β-unsaturated ketoester substrates catalyzed by chiral diamines

Highly efficient asymmetric aldol reactions between α,β-unsaturated keto esters and acyclic ketones catalyzed by chiral diamines are reported. The corresponding products were obtained in excellent yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The absolute configuration for the product was determined by X-ray analysis. A variety of substrates were tolerable in the present catalytic system.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by a rhodium complex with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand

The asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates was promoted by a rhodium complex bearing a trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand (R,R)-(S,S)-PrTRAP, providing the corresponding optically active (2S,3R)-2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates with 79–82% ee. The 2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates isolated were readily hydrolyzed under acid to afford (2S,3R)-2,3-diaminocarboxylic acids in 95% yield without epimerization.     

Conjugate addition of unactivated thiols to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by a bifunctional rhenium(V)–oxo complex

ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)(S(CH₃)₂) has been found to be an efficient bifunctional catalyst for the 1,4-addition of thiols to α,β-unsaturated ketones. The addition of thiophenol derivatives and alkyl thiols proceeds under mild reaction conditions without pre-activation of the thiol or exogenous base. Reactions of aryl, alkyl, and cyclic enones produce the corresponding β-sulfanyl ketones in good to excellent yield.     

Asymmetric cyclization reactions of allenoates with imines or α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by organocatalysts derived from cinchona alkaloids

Lewis base-catalyzed cyclization reactions of allenoates with electron-deficient olefins and imines have been demonstrated by the preparation of biologically active natural products and pharmaceutically interesting substances and have emerged as powerful synthetic tools in the rapid construction of cyclic molecular complexity. In contrast to phosphine-containing Lewis bases, nitrogen-containing Lewis base amines display markedly different reaction profiles; however, this area is not well-developed. Herein we summarize the recent progress in this emerging field and outline the challenges ahead.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of substituted rhodanines to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by bulky primary amines

A bulky group was introduced by design into a diamine catalyst, and a series of robust and tunable bulky chiral primary amine catalysts were developed and successfully applied in the direct conjugate addition of substituted rhodanines to α,β-unsaturated ketones. High yields (up to 99%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) were observed.     

Asymmetric cyclopropanation of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with stabilized sulfur ylides catalyzed by C2-symmetric ureas

A novel organocatalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with stabilized sulfur ylides using C(2)-symmetric urea as a hydrogen-bond catalyst has been described. This reaction allows an efficient access to 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives in moderate to good yields with up to 16:1 dr and 90:10 er under mild reaction conditions. The mechanism study proved that the high stereoinduction originated from the cooperative effect of the hydrogen-bond catalyst.     

Enantioselective allylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilane catalyzed by METHOX

α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes 6a-j undergo an enantioselective allylation with allylic trichlorosilanes 2a,b in the presence of METHOX (4) as a Lewis basic catalyst (≤10 mol %) to produce the homoallylic alcohols 7a-l at good to high enantioselectivity (83-96% ee). This study shows that the reactivity scope of METHOX can be extended from aromatic to nonaromatic aldehydes.     

1,4-Addition of aryl boronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by a CCC–NHC pincer rhodium complex

An air- and water-stable CCC–NHC pincer Rh complex catalyzed the 1,4-addition of aryl boronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes. This bench top method proceeds in eco-friendly solvents including methanol and water. The scope of boronic acids was expanded to include heterocyclic examples.     

Copper(I) catalyzed asymmetric 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to α-methyl substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones

The first catalytic enantioselective 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to ketones is presented. This additive-free copper(I) catalyzed 1,2-addition provides chiral allylic tertiary alcohols with an er of up to 98:2 and excellent yields due to the complete shift of overwhelming 1,4-selectivity of copper(I)-catalysts towards 1,2-selectivity in the addition reaction to enones.     

Asymmetric cycloaddition of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with electron-rich alkenes catalyzed by a chiral Er(OTf)3/N,N'-dioxide complex: highly enantioselective synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrans

The asymmetric inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions of β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters with electron-rich alkenes were investigated, with an N,N'-dioxide/erbium(III) complex employed as the catalyst. Quantitative conversion of the β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 d.r.) were observed for a broad range of substrates by using a 0.5-0.05 mol% catalyst loading under mild reaction conditions. The reaction could be scaled up to the gram scale with the same results. In addition, this was the first application of Er(OTf)(3) to the asymmetric inverse-electron-demand HDA reaction and it behaved as an efficient catalyst. Moreover, the synthetic utility of this methodology was demonstrated with the synthesis of key intermediates of some natural products.     

Conjugate reduction and reductive aldol cyclization of α,β-unsaturated thioesters catalyzed by (BDP)CuH

A conjugate reduction of α,β-unsaturated thioesters catalyzed by copper hydride using PMHS as stoichiometric reductant has been developed. 1,2-Bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (BDP) was the most effective ligand for this reduction. Saturated thioesters could be produced in excellent yields when the substituent on the thiol is not sterically-demanding. This protocol was applied to induce the reductive aldol cyclization of keto-enethioates, which could offer β-hydroxythioesters in moderate to good yields.     

Enantioselective aldol reactions of α,β-unsaturated ketones with trifluoroacetophenone catalyzed by a chiral primary amine

Chiral primary amine catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reactions of ketones with trifluoroacetophenone, afforded trifluoromethylated β-hydroxycarbonyl aldol products bearing a quaternary carbon stereogenic center in high yields (up to 93% yield) and with high to excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee.     

Asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by silica-grafted poly-(l)-leucine catalysts

A practical procedure has been developed for grafting poly(amino acid) on silica gel as an efficient and recoverable catalyst in the Juliá-Colonna asymmetric epoxidation with high enantioselectivities. Separation and recovery of the catalyst of poly(amino acid) have been remarkably improved by grafting on silica gel without a significant loss of enantioselectivity and activity.