Lewis base activation of Lewis acids: catalytic, enantioselective addition of silyl ketene acetals to aldehydes

The concept of Lewis base activation of Lewis acids has been reduced to practice for catalysis of the aldol reaction of silyl ketene acetals and silyl dienol ethers with aldehydes. The weakly acidic species, silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4), can be activated by binding of a strongly Lewis basic chiral phosphoramide, leading to in situ formation of a chiral Lewis acid. This species has proven to be a competent catalyst for the aldol addition of acetate-, propanoate-, and isobutyrate-derived silyl ketene acetals to conjugated and nonconjugated aldehydes. Furthermore, vinylogous aldol reactions of silyl dienol ethers are also demonstrated. The high levels of regio-, anti diastereo-, and enantioselectivity observed in these reactions can be rationalized through consideration of an open transition structure where steric interactions between the silyl cation complex and the approaching nucleophile are dominant.     

1,5-anti stereocontrol in the boron-mediated aldol reactions of beta-alkoxy methyl ketones: the role of the formyl hydrogen bond

The boron-mediated aldol reactions of certain types of beta-alkoxy methyl ketone show remarkably high levels of stereoinduction with achiral aldehydes, leading preferentially to 1,5-anti related stereocenters. Given the low levels of asymmetric induction usually observed in acetate aldol reactions, this is of great synthetic utility and has been used successfully in the total synthesis of a number of polyketide natural products. We have investigated the effects of the alkoxy protecting group (OMe, OPMB, PMP acetal, tetrahydropyran, and OTBS) present in the boron enolate on the level and sense of remote 1,5-stereoinduction, using density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31G**). Our predictions of diastereoselectivity from comparison of the competing aldol transition structures are in excellent qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimentally reported values. We conclude that the boron aldol reactions of unsubstituted boron enolates proceed via boat-shaped transition structures in which a stabilizing formyl hydrogen bond exists between the alkoxy oxygen and the aldehyde proton. It is this interaction that leads to preferential formation of the 1,5-anti adduct, by minimizing steric interactions between the beta-alkyl group and one of the ligands on boron. In the case of silyl ethers, the preference for this internal hydrogen bond is not observed due to the size of the protecting group and the electron-poor oxygen atom that donates electron density into the adjacent silicon atom. We show that this stereochemical model is also applicable in rationalizing the 1,4-syn stereoselectivity of boron aldol reactions involving certain alpha-chiral methyl ketones. These detailed results may be summarized as a conformational diagram that can be used to predict the sense of stereoinduction.     

Double diastereoselection in anti aldol reactions mediated by dicyclohexylchloroborane between an l-erythrulose derivative and chiral aldehydes

Anti aldol reactions of an l-erythrulose derivative with several α-chiral aldehydes mediated by dicyclohexylboron chloride are examined. Good yields and stereoselectivities are observed. The results are best explained when the reactions are assumed to occur via boat-like transition states with minimization of 1,3-allylic strain and avoidance of syn pentane interactions.     

Stereochemistry of the allylation and crotylation reactions of alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy aldehydes with allyl- and crotyltrifluorosilanes. Synthesis of anti,anti-dipropionate stereotriads and stereodivergent pathways for the reactions with 2,3-anti- and 2,3-syn-alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy aldehydes

A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of the anti,anti-dipropionate stereotriad via the reaction of alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy aldehydes with (Z)-crotyltrifluorosilane (24) is described. These reactions were designed to occur through bicyclic transition states (e.g., 31) in which the silane reagent is covalently bound to the beta-hydroxyl group of the aldehyde and the crotyl group is transferred intramolecularly. This methodology was used to synthesize the C(7)-C(16) segment (58) of zincophorin, which contains a synthetically challenging all-anti stereopentad unit. Surprisingly, 2,3-anti- and 2,3-syn-alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy aldehydes react in a stereodivergent manner with 24: 2,3-anti-beta-hydroxy aldehydes give the targeted anti,anti-dipropionate adducts with high selectivity, but the reactions of 2,3-syn-beta-hydroxy aldehydes are poorly selective. The stereodivergent behavior of 2,3-syn- vs 2,3-anti-alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy aldehydes is also exhibited in their reactions with the allyl- (68) and (E)-crotyltrifluorosilanes (27). Competition experiments performed with beta-hydroxy aldehydes 37a (anti) and the corresponding p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) ether 48, and between aldehyde 39 (syn) and the PMB ether 90, established that the 2,3-anti-beta-hydroxy aldehydes react predominantly through bicyclic transition states while the 2,3-syn aldehydes react predominantly through conventional Zimmerman-Traxler transition states. NMR studies established that both the 2,3-syn and the 2,3-anti aldehydes form stable, pentavalent silicate intermediates (98 and 100) with PhSiF(3), but chelated structures 99 and 101 could not be detected. The activation energies for the competing bicyclic and conventional Zimmerman-Traxler transition states were calculated by using semiemperical methods (MNDO/d). These calculations indicate that the stereodivergent behavior of the 2,3-syn-beta-hydroxy aldehydes and the 2,3-anti-beta-hydroxy aldehydes is due to differences in nonbonded interactions in the bicyclic transition states. Specifically, nonbonded interactions in the bicyclic transition states for the allylation/crotylation reactions of the 2,3-syn-beta-hydroxy aldehydes permits the traditional Zimmerman-Traxler transition states to be preferentially utilized.     

The exceptional chelating ability of dimethylaluminum chloride and methylaluminum dichloride. The merged stereochemical impact of alpha- and beta-stereocenters in chelate-controlled carbonyl addition reactions with enolsilane and hydride nucleophiles.

A systematic investigation of the stereoselectivity in Lewis acid-promoted (Mukaiyama) aldol reactions of achiral unsubstituted enolsilanes and chiral beta-hydroxy aldehydes proceeding under conditions favoring chelation control is presented. Good stereocontrol can be realized for enolsilane aldol reactions of beta-alkoxy and beta-silyloxy aldehydes bearing only an alpha- or a beta-stereogenic center. Examination of the chelated intermediates for alpha,beta-disubstituted aldehydes concludes that the syn aldehyde diastereomer possesses the arrangement of stereocenters wherein the alpha- and beta-substituents impart a reinforcing facial bias upon the aldehyde carbonyl. Aldol reactions of syn aldehydes were thus observed to proceed with uniformly excellent diastereofacial selectivity. Aldol reactions of the corresponding anti aldehydes containing opposing stereocontrol elements at the alpha- and beta-positions exhibit variable and unpredictable selectivity.     

Generation of rhodium enolates via retro-aldol reaction and its application to regioselective aldol reaction

Retro-aldol reactions of β-hydroxy ketones take place under rhodium catalysis, leading to regioselective formation of the corresponding rhodium enolates. The enolates react with aldehydes in situ to afford the corresponding aldol adducts in high yields.     

Aldol reactions between L-erythrulose derivatives and chiral alpha-amino and alpha-fluoro aldehydes: competition between Felkin-Anh and Cornforth transition states

Both matched and mismatched diastereoselection have been observed in aldol reactions of a boron enolate of a protected L-erythrulose derivative with several chiral alpha-fluoro and alpha-amino aldehydes. Strict adherence to the Felkin-Anh model for the respective transition structures does not account satisfactorily for all the observed results, as previously observed in the case of alpha-oxygenated aldehydes. In some cases, only the Cornforth model provides a good explanation. The factors that influence this dichotomy are discussed and a general mechanistic model is proposed for aldol reactions with alpha-heteroatom-substituted aldehydes. Additional support for the model was obtained from density functional calculations.     

Theoretical investigation on the chemo- and stereoselectivities of isoleucine-catalyzed cross-aldol reactions between two enolizable aldehydes involving isobutyraldehyde and contrasts with proline catalysis

The chemo- and stereoselectivities in the isoleucine-catalyzed asymmetric cross-aldol reactions between two potentially enolizable aldehydes with different electronic natures have been investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared with those of proline catalysis. A detailed mechanism for enamine formation between the catalyst and the representative aldehydes with the electron-rich or electron-deficient characters has been studied and the calculated results confirm that a primary amino acid, such as isoleucine, can effectively discriminate between an electron-rich aldehyde as the enamine component and an electron-deficient aldehyde as the carbonyl component, while similar reactions promoted by proline exhibit different chemoselectivities due to the inferior ability of proline to differentiate between nonequivalent enolizable aldehydes. Furthermore, the unusual enantioselectivity at the newly created stereogenic center for the isoleucine-catalyzed aldol reactions involving a challenging donor, such as an α-branched aldehyde has been explained by the more favorable transition state via the anti-enamine attacking the si face of the acceptor aldehyde in the crucial CC bond-formation step, which is in contrast to the conventionally preferred TSs with re-facial selectivity of the acceptor aldehyde.     

One-pot enol silane formation-Mukaiyama aldol reactions: Crossed aldehyde-aldehyde coupling,thioester substrates,and reactions in ester solvents

Trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) and a trialkylamine base promote both in situ enol silane/silyl ketene acetal formation and Mukaiyama aldol addition reactions between a variety of reaction partners in a single reaction flask. Isolation of the required enol silane or silyl ketene acetal is not necessary. For example, crossed aldol reactions between α-disubstituted aldehydes and non-enolizable aldehydes yield β-hydroxy aldehydes in good yield. In a related reaction, the common laboratory solvent ethyl acetate functions as both an enolate precursor and a green reaction solvent. When thioesters are employed as enolate precursors, high yields for additions to non-enolizable aldehydes are routinely observed.     

Fluorogenic aldehydes bearing arylethynyl groups: turn-on aldol reaction sensors for evaluation of organocatalysis in DMSO

Fluorogenic aromatic aldehydes bearing arylethynyl groups were developed. They were used for monitoring the reaction progress of organocatalytic aldol reactions in DMSO through an increase in the fluorescence intensity based on the formation of the florescent aldol product. The ratios of the fluorescence intensities of the aldols to the aldehydes were more than 300. These results suggest that the fluorescence assay system using the aldehyde is useful for the rapid identification of superior aldol catalysts and reaction conditions.     

Understanding the origins of remote asymmetric induction in the boron aldol reactions of beta-alkoxy methyl ketones

We report theoretical studies into the remote 1,5-stereoinduction shown by certain types of beta-alkoxy methyl ketones in boron-mediated aldol reactions with achiral aldehydes. For a range of common alkoxy groups, our calculations are in excellent agreement with experimentally observed diastereoselectivities. In the aldol transition structures, a stabilizing hydrogen bond between the alkoxy oxygen and formyl proton leads to preferential formation of the 1,5-adduct, by minimizing steric interactions between the beta-alkyl group and one of the ligands on boron.     

NMR investigations on the proline-catalyzed aldehyde self-condensation: Mannich mechanism, dienamine detection, and erosion of the aldol addition selectivity

The proline-catalyzed self-condensation of aliphatic aldehydes in DMSO with varying amounts of catalyst was studied by in situ NMR spectroscopy. The reaction profiles and intermediates observed as well as deuteration studies reveal that the proline-catalyzed aldol addition and condensation are competing, but not consecutive, reaction pathways. In addition, the rate-determining step of the condensation is suggested to be the C-C bond formation. Our findings indicate the involvement of two catalyst molecules in the C-C bond formation of the aldol condensation, presumably by the activation of both the aldol acceptor and donor in a Mannich-type pathway. This mechanism is shown to be operative also in the oligomerization of acetaldehyde with high proline amounts, for which the first in situ detection of a proline-derived dienamine was accomplished. In addition, the diastereoselectivity of the aldol addition is evidenced to be time-dependent since it is undermined by the retro-aldolization and the competing irreversible aldol condensation; here NMR reaction profiles can be used as a tool for reaction optimization.     

Chiral boron enolate aldol additions to chiral aldehydes

We have examined the double-diastereodifferentiating aldol addition reactions of chiral enolborinate 1a with chiral aldehydes leading to the corresponding aldol adducts with excellent levels of 1,5-anti diastereoselection.     

1,5-Stereoinduction in boron-mediated aldol reactions of β,δ-bisalkoxy methylketones containing cyclic protecting groups

A study of the aldol reactions of boron enolates from methylketones that are protected with dimethylacetonide or di-tert-butylsilyl groups and that possess a trans or cis relationship between the chiral centers is presented. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the relative stereochemistry between the chiral centers and the steric and electronic influences of the cyclic protecting groups on the aldol reactions. The aldol adducts were obtained with moderate to high 1,5-anti stereoselectivity that was dependent on both the identity of the protecting group on the β,δ-oxygen stereocenters and the relative stereochemistry between the β and δ chiral centers. A theoretical analysis of the transition states involving these aldol reactions was performed utilizing DFT (density functional theory).     

Mechanistic investigations of the ZnCl2-mediated tandem Mukaiyama aldol lactonization: evidence for asynchronous, concerted transition states and discovery of 2-oxopyridyl ketene acetal variants

The ZnCl(2)-mediated tandem Mukaiyama aldol lactonization (TMAL) reaction of aldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals provides a versatile, highly diastereoselective approach to trans-1,2-disubstituted β-lactones. Mechanistic and theoretical studies described herein demonstrate that both the efficiency of this process and the high diastereoselectivity are highly dependent upon the type of ketene acetal employed but independent of ketene acetal geometry. Significantly, we propose a novel and distinct mechanistic pathway for the ZnCl(2)-mediated TMAL process versus other Mukaiyama aldol reactions based on our experimental evidence to date and further supported by calculations (B3LYP/BSI). Contrary to the commonly invoked mechanistic extremes of [2+2] cycloaddition and aldol lactonization mechanisms, investigations of the TMAL process suggest a concerted but asynchronous transition state between aldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals. These calculations support a boat-like transition state that differs from commonly invoked Mukaiyama "open" or Zimmerman-Traxler "chair-like" transition-state models. Furthermore, experimental studies support the beneficial effect of pre-coordination between ZnCl(2) and thiopyridyl ketene acetals prior to aldehyde addition for optimal reaction rates. Our previously proposed, silylated β-lactone intermediate that led to successful TMAL-based cascade sequences is also supported by the described calculations and ancillary experiments. These findings suggested that a similar TMAL process leading to β-lactones would be possible with an oxopyridyl ketene acetal, and this was confirmed experimentally, leading to a novel TMAL process that proceeds with efficiency comparable to that of the thiopyridyl system.     

Bicyclic proline analogues as organocatalysts for stereoselective aldol reactions: an in silico DFT study

Density functional theory has been employed in investigating the efficiency of a series of bicyclic analogues of proline as stereoselective organocatalysts for the aldol reaction. Three classes of conformationally restricted proline analogues, as part of either a [2.2.1] or [2.1.1] bicyclic framework, have been studied. Transition states for the stereoselective C-C bond formation between enamines derived from [2.2.1] and [2.1.1] bicyclic amino acids and p-nitrobenzaldehyde, leading to enantiomeric products, have been identified. Analysis of the transition state geometries revealed that the structural rigidity of catalysts, improved transition state organization as well as other weak interactions influence the relative stabilities of diastereomeric transition states and help contribute to the overall stereoselectivity in the aldol reaction. These bicyclic catalysts are predicted to be substantially more effective in improving the enantiomeric excess than the widely used organocatalyst proline. Enantiomeric excesses in the range 82-95% are predicted for these bicyclic catalysts when a sterically unbiased substrate such as p-nitrobenzaldehyde is employed for the asymmetric aldol reaction. More interestingly, introduction of substituents, as simple as a methyl group, at the ortho position of the aryl aldehyde bring about an increase in the enantiomeric excess to values greater than 98%. The reasons behind the vital energy separation between diastereomeric transition states has been rationalized with the help of a number of weak interactions such as intramolecular hydrogen bonding and Coulombic interactions operating on the transition states. These predictions could have wider implications for the rational design of improved organocatalysts for stereoselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.     

Novel small organic molecules for a highly enantioselective direct aldol reaction

Novel organic molecules containing an l-proline amide moiety and a terminal hydroxyl for catalyzing direct asymmetric aldol reactions of aldehydes in neat acetone are designed and prepared. Catalyst 3d, prepared from l-proline and (1S,2S)-diphenyl-2-aminoethanol, exhibits high enantioselectivities of up to 93% ee for aromatic aldehydes and up to >99% ee for aliphatic aldehydes. A theoretical study of transition structures demonstrates the important role of the terminal hydroxyl group in the catalyst in the stereodiscrimination. Our results suggest a new strategy in the design of new organic catalysts for direct asymmetric aldol reactions and related transformations because plentiful chiral resources containing multi-hydrogen bond donors, for example, peptides, might be adopted in the design.     

Stereodefined Acyclic Polysubstituted Silyl Ketene Aminals: Asymmetric Formation of Aldol Products with Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters

The regio‐ and stereoselective formation of stereodefined polysubstituted silyl ketene aminals is easily achieved through selective combined carbometalation–oxidation–silylation reactions. These substrates are ideal candidates for Mukaiyama aldol reactions with aliphatic aldehydes as they give the aldol products with a quaternary carbon stereocenter α to the carbonyl groups in outstanding diastereoselectivities.     

Sequential aldol condensation-transition metal-catalyzed addition reactions of aldehydes, methyl ketones, and arylboronic acids

Sequential aldol condensation of aldehydes with methyl ketones followed by transition metal-catalyzed addition reactions of arylboronic acids to form β-substituted ketones is described. By using the 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-diol (SPINOL)-based phosphite, an asymmetric version of this type of sequential reaction, with up to 92% ee, was also realized. Our study provided an efficient method to access β-substituted ketones and might lead to the development of other sequential/tandem reactions with transition metal-catalyzed addition reactions as the key step.     

Theoretical elucidation on the regio-, diastereo-, and enantio-selectivities of chiral primary-tertiary diamine catalyst for asymmetric direct aldol reactions of aliphatic ketones

The asymmetric direct aldol reactions of aliphatic ketones (acetone, butanone, and cyclohexanone) with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde catalyzed by a chiral primary-tertiary diamine catalyst (trans-N,N-dimethyl diaminocyclohexane) have been investigated by performing density functional theory calculations to rationalize the experimentally observed stereoselectivities. Focused on the crucial C-C bond-forming steps, we located several low-lying transition states and predicted their relative stabilities. The calculated results demonstrate that the catalytic direct aldol reactions of acetone favors the (S)-enantiomer and that butanone prefers the branched syn-selective product, while cyclohexanone yields predominantly the opposite anti-selective product. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental findings and provide a reasonable explanation for the high enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity, as well as regioselectivity, of the aldol reactions under consideration.