Organic Stereochemistry. Part 7

This review continues a general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special emphasis on the biomedicinal sciences. Here, we discuss and illustrate the phenomenon of substrate stereoselectivity in biochemistry (endogenous metabolism) and principally in xenobiochemistry or drug metabolism. The review begins with an overview of the stereoselective processes occurring in the biomedicinal sciences. The general rule is for distinct stereoisomers, be they enantiomers or diastereoisomers, to elicit different pharmacological responses (Part 5), to a lesser extent be transported with different efficacies (Part 5), and to be metabolized at different rates (this Part). In other words, biological environments discriminate between stereoisomers both when acting on them and when being acted upon by them. The concept of substrate stereoselectivity describes this phenomenon in endogenous biochemistry and xenobiotic metabolism, as discussed and illustrated in the present Part. The sister concept of product stereoselectivity will be presented in Part 8.     

Organic Stereochemistry. Part 2

This review continues a general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special reference to medicinal compounds. Here, we explore stereoisomeric compounds characterized by a single or several stereogenic centers (often also called centers of chirality). The main focus will be on chiral tetrahedral structures, namely a) tetracoordinate centers, and b) tricoordinate centers where an electron lone pair plays the role of the fourth substituent, forming a tetrahedron. Following an overview of the main tetrahedral structures of interest in biological and medicinal stereochemistry, the review places emphasis on explaining the two dominant conventions, namely the d,l ‐ and (R,S)‐convention, the latter being known as the CIP (Cahn? Ingold? Prelog) convention. The review ends with a discussion of reactions of stereoisomerization at stereogenic C‐centers and its relevance to drug research.     

Enantioselective Aldol Reaction of α-Ketoester and Cyclopentaone Catalyzed by L-Proline

A concise and enantioselective synthesis of (S)‐ethyl 2‐cyclopentyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐arylacetate, a key intermediate for the muscarinic receptor, is reported. The tertiary stereogenic center was constructed with good stereoselectivity through the L‐proline‐catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reaction of ethyl arylglyoxylate and cyclopentanone. The carbonyl of the condensation product was reduced using a modified Clemmensen reaction which provided an easier workup and was more environmentally acceptable. The enantioselectivity of the aldol reactions was between 58.3%–93.2%, which means that the stereoselective is efficient in controlling configuration of reaction product.     

Divergent Control of Point and Axial Stereogenicity: Catalytic Enantioselective C−N Bond‐Forming Cross‐Coupling and Catalyst‐Controlled Atroposelective Cyclodehydration

Catalyst control over reactions that produce multiple stereoisomers is a challenge in synthesis. Control over reactions that involve stereogenic elements remote from one another is particularly uncommon. Additionally, catalytic reactions that address both stereogenic carbon centers and an element of axial chirality are also rare. Reported herein is a catalytic approach to each stereoisomer of a scaffold containing a stereogenic center remote from an axis of chirality. Newly developed peptidyl copper complexes catalyze an unprecedented remote desymmetrization involving enantioselective C?N bond‐forming cross‐coupling. Then, chiral phosphoric acid catalysts set an axis of chirality through an unprecedented atroposelective cyclodehydration to form a heterocycle with high diastereoselectivity. The application of chiral copper complexes and phosphoric acids provides access to each stereoisomer of a framework with two different elements of stereogenicity.     

Chiral Primary‐Amine‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition to α‐Substituted Vinyl Ketones/Aldehydes: Divergent Stereocontrol Modes on Enamine Protonation

Enantioselective protonation with a catalytic enamine intermediate represents a challenging, yet fundamentally important process for the synthesis of α‐chiral carbonyls. We describe herein chiral primary‐amine‐catalyzed conjugate additions of indoles to both α‐substituted acroleins and vinyl ketones. These reactions feature enamine protonation as the stereogenic step. A simple primary–tertiary vicinal diamine 1 with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) was found to enable both of the reactions of acroleins and vinyl ketones with good activity and high enantioselectivity. Detailed mechanistic studies reveal that these reactions are rate‐limiting in iminium formation and they all involve a uniform H₂O/acid‐bridged proton transfer in the stereogenic steps but divergent stereocontrol modes for the protonation stereoselectivity. For the reactions of α‐branched acroleins, facial selections on H₂O‐bridged protonation determine the enantioselectivity, which is enhanced by an OH???π interaction with indole as uncovered by DFT calculations. On the other hand, the stereoselectivity of the reactions with vinyl ketones is controlled according to the Curtin–Hammett principle in the C? C bond‐formation step, which precedes a highly stereospecific enamine protonation.     

Highly stereoselective additions of sulfur stabilized carbanions to [(S)R]-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)cyclohexanones

We describe the addition reactions of α-thiocarbanions derived from sulfoxides, thioethers, and sulfones to 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)cyclohexanones. The high stereoselectivity observed in the formation of the chiral hydroxylic carbon is controlled by the configuration of the sulfinyl group at the substrate, but it is modulated by the nature of the sulfur function at the reagent (SOTol>SO₂Ph>SPh). The highly stereoselective formation of the second stereogenic center generated in these reactions from prochiral anions is only achieved with sulfinylcarbanions, the configuration of which controls that of such a center.     

Stereogenic‐Only‐at‐Metal Asymmetric Catalysts

Chirality is an essential feature of asymmetric catalysts. This review summarizes asymmetric catalysts that derive their chirality exclusively from stereogenic metal centers. Reported chiral‐at‐metal catalysts can be divided into two classes, namely, inert metal complexes, in which the metal fulfills a purely structural role, so catalysis is mediated entirely through the ligand sphere, and reactive metal complexes. The latter are particularly appealing because structural simplicity (only achiral ligands) is combined with the prospect of particularly effective asymmetric induction (direct contact of the substrate with the chiral metal center). Challenges and solutions for the design of such reactive stereogenic‐only‐at‐metal asymmetric catalysts are discussed.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Activation of Cyclobutanols: Formation of Cyclohexane Derivatives with Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The activation of carbon–carbon σ bonds is a complementary method to access uncommon and difficult‐to‐prepare organometallic species. Herein, we describe the activation of tert‐cyclobutanols through an enantioselective insertion of a chiral rhodium(I) complex into the C? C σ bond of the cyclobutane, forming a quaternary stereogenic center and an alkyl‐rhodium functionality that initiates ring‐closure reactions. This technology provides access to a variety of substituted cyclohexane derivatives with quaternary stereogenic centers. The formation of different product families can be controlled by the employed set of reaction conditions and additives. In general, high yields and excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee are obtained.     

Two Stereoinduction Events in One C−H Activation Step: A Route towards Terphenyl Ligands with Two Atropisomeric Axes

Herein we disclose the synthesis of original chiral scaffolds—ortho‐orientated terphenyls presenting two atropisomeric Ar–Ar axes. These unusual structures were built up by using the C?H activation approach, and remarkably, both chiral axes were controlled with excellent stereoselectivity in a single transformation. During the reaction, not only does atroposelective functionalization of a biaryl precursor occur to establish one stereogenic axis, but an unprecedented atropo‐stereoselective C?H arylation also takes place to generate the second stereogenic element. These enantiomerically pure ortho‐terphenyls show an original tridimensional structure and thus constitute a unique foundation for building up a library of enantiomerically pure bidentate ligands, such as the new ligands S/N‐Biax and diphosphine BiaxPhos.     

Noncovalent bifunctional organocatalysts: powerful tools for contiguous quaternary-tertiary stereogenic carbon formation, scope, and origin of enantioselectivity

Relying on the assembly of commercially available catalyst building blocks, highly stereocontrolled quaternary carbon (all carbon substituted) formation has been achieved with unmatched substrate diversity. For example, the in situ assembly of a tricomponent catalyst system allows α-branched aldehyde addition to nitroalkene or maleimide electrophiles (Michael products), while addition to an α-iminoester affords Mannich reaction products. Very good yields are observed and for fifteen of the eighteen examples 96-99?% ee is observed. Using racemic α-branched aldehydes, two contiguous (quaternary-tertiary) stereogenic centers can be formed in high diastereo- and enantiomeric excess (eight examples) via an efficient in situ dynamic kinetic resolution, solving a known shortcoming for maleimide electrophiles in particular. The method is of practical value, requiring only 1.2?equiv of the aldehyde, a 5.0?mol?% loading of each catalyst component, for example, O-tBu-L-threonine (O-tBu-L-Thr), sulfamide, DMAP or O-tBu-L-Thr, KOH, and room temperature reactions. As a highlight, the first demonstration of ethylisovaleraldehyde (7) addition is disclosed, providing the most congested quaternary stereogenic carbon containing succinimide product (8) known to date. Finally, mechanistic insight, via DFT calculations, support a noncovalent assembly of the catalyst components into a bifunctional catalyst, correctly predict two levels of product stereoselectivity, and suggest the origin of the tricomponent catalyst system's exceptionality: an alternative hydrogen bond motif for the donor-acceptor pair than currently suggested for non-assembled catalysts.     

Stereocomplementary Routes to Hydroxylated Nitrogen Heterocycles: Total Syntheses of Casuarine,Australine, and 7‐epi‐Australine

Addition of lithiated 1‐benzyloxyallene to a D ‐arabinose‐derived cyclic nitrone occurred with perfect diastereoselectivity furnishing a bicyclic 1,2‐oxazine derivative, which is an excellent precursor for pyrrolizidine alkaloids hydroxylated at C‐7 with optional configuration at this stereogenic center. Depending on the stage of the N? O bond cleavage and ring re‐closure, 7‐hydroxypyrrolizidines with 7R or 7S configuration were obtained, as a result of completely selective addition reactions occurring complementarily at the bottom or top face of the endocyclic C? C double bond in six‐ and five‐membered B rings, respectively. Applicability of these stereodivergent routes to obtain polyhydroxy pyrrolizidine alkaloids is demonstrated by the efficient syntheses of casuarine and australine as examples of the two classes of diversely configured 7‐hydroxypyrrolizidine alkaloids. An alternative synthesis of australine and two strategies for the preparation of 7‐epi‐australine are also reported, which demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of hydride reduction of an exocyclic C? O double bond is independent of the ring size, occurring preferentially from the top face either in a six‐ or five‐membered ring.     

New Results on the Stereoselective Alkylations of Malic Acid Derivatives Supported by Molecular Modeling

The stereoselectivity of the alkylation of dialkyl malates is dependent on steric hindrance of both ester alkyl groups. It was found that the two alkyl groups have opposite effects on diastereoselectivity. Increased steric hindrance at the C(1) carboxy group increases the anti‐selectivity, whereas increased steric hindrance at the C(4) carboxy group decreases it. The results are explained by comparing the structures of the enolates, which were obtained by molecular modeling. Alkylation at C(4′) of dioxolanones, derived from benzyl‐substituted malic acids, with an additional stereogenic center on the side chain is dependent on the stereogenic centers of the ring acetal and of the side chain. Alkylation at low temperatures occurs only with cis‐dioxolanones having an (R)‐configured side‐chain stereogenic center. The corresponding trans‐dioxolanone and the cis‐dioxolanone with a (S)‐configured side‐chain stereogenic center were recovered unchanged. A rationale is presented with models of monolithiated dioxolanones obtained by ab initio calculations.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Silicon‐Stereogenic Vinylhydrosilanes by Cobalt‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Enantioselective Alkyne Hydrosilylation with Dihydrosilanes

The strategic carbon‐to‐silicon substitution at a stereogenic center can produce chiral silanes with significantly improved properties relative to their carbon congeners. We herein report an unprecedented cobalt‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of unsymmetric alkynes with dihydrosilanes that furnishes silicon‐stereogenic vinylhydrosilanes with high regio‐ and enantioselectivity. The absolute configurations of the products were determined by chiroptical methods in combination with DFT calculations. The synthetic versatility of the vinylhydrosilanes as chiral building blocks was further demonstrated by asymmetric Si?H insertion and catalytic hydroboration reactions.     

Noncovalent Bifunctional Organocatalysts: Powerful Tools for Contiguous Quaternary‐Tertiary Stereogenic Carbon Formation,Scope, and Origin of Enantioselectivity

Relying on the assembly of commercially available catalyst building blocks, highly stereocontrolled quaternary carbon (all carbon substituted) formation has been achieved with unmatched substrate diversity. For example, the in situ assembly of a tricomponent catalyst system allows α‐branched aldehyde addition to nitroalkene or maleimide electrophiles (Michael products), while addition to an α‐iminoester affords Mannich reaction products. Very good yields are observed and for fifteen of the eighteen examples 96–99 % ee is observed. Using racemic α‐branched aldehydes, two contiguous (quaternary–tertiary) stereogenic centers can be formed in high diastereo‐ and enantiomeric excess (eight examples) via an efficient in situ dynamic kinetic resolution, solving a known shortcoming for maleimide electrophiles in particular. The method is of practical value, requiring only 1.2 equiv of the aldehyde, a 5.0 mol % loading of each catalyst component, for example, O‐tBu‐L ‐threonine (O‐tBu‐L ‐Thr), sulfamide, DMAP or O‐tBu‐L ‐Thr, KOH, and room temperature reactions. As a highlight, the first demonstration of ethylisovaleraldehyde ( 7 ) addition is disclosed, providing the most congested quaternary stereogenic carbon containing succinimide product ( 8 ) known to date. Finally, mechanistic insight, via DFT calculations, support a noncovalent assembly of the catalyst components into a bifunctional catalyst, correctly predict two levels of product stereoselectivity, and suggest the origin of the tricomponent catalyst system’s exceptionality: an alternative hydrogen bond motif for the donor‐acceptor pair than currently suggested for non‐assembled catalysts.     

Development of Ar‐BINMOL‐Derived Atropisomeric Ligands with Matched Axial and sp3 Central Chirality for Catalytic Asymmetric Transformations

Recently, academic chemists have renewed their interest in the development of 1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diol (BINOL)‐derived chiral ligands. Six years ago, a working hypothesis, that the chirality matching of hybrid chirality on a ligand could probably lead to high levels of stereoselective induction, prompted us to use the axial chirality of BINOL derivatives to generate new stereogenic centers within the same molecule with high stereoselectivity, obtaining as a result sterically favorable ligands for applications in asymmetric catalysis. This Personal Account describes our laboratory's efforts toward the development of a novel class of BINOL‐derived atropisomers bearing both axial and sp³ central chirality, the so‐called Ar‐BINMOLs, for asymmetric synthesis. Furthermore, on the basis of the successful application of Ar‐BINMOLs and their derivatives in asymmetric catalysis, the search for highly efficient and enantioselective processes also compelled us to give special attention to the BINOL‐derived multifunctional ligands with multiple stereogenic centers for use in catalytic asymmetric reactions.

     

Organic Stereochemistry. Part 3

This review continues a general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special reference to medicinal compounds. Here, we discuss further stereogenic elements other than the stereogenic centers presented in Part 2. These are the axis of chirality, the plane of chirality, helicity, and (E,Z)‐diastereoisomerism (stereoisomerism about double bonds). Some of these elements of stereoisomerism are not always well understood, and they raise specific convention issues. Isomerization reactions will also be discussed. As far as possible, the examples we present have biochemical and mainly medicinal relevance; a systematic overview concerning biosystems will be presented in Parts 5–8.     

Stereoselectivity control by torsional steering in an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of vinyl oxocarbenium ions

[reaction: see text] Density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31+G) has revealed the origin of stereoselectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of vinyl oxocarbenium ions. The cycloaddition has endo preference and occurs with remote stereocontrol syn to the substituent at the stereogenic center. Torsional steering, the preference for the staggered conformation about forming sigma-bonds, dictates the preferred transition structure.     

Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Benzofuran‐2‐ones to Alkyl 2‐Phthalimidoacrylates: Modeling Structure–Stereoselectivity Relationships with Steric and Electronic Parameters

A highly predictive model to correlate the steric and electronic parameters of tertiary amine thiourea catalysts with the stereoselectivity of Michael reactions of 3‐substituted benzofuranones and alkyl 2‐phthalimidoacrylates is described. As predicted, new 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl‐ and methyl‐substituted tertiary amine thioureas turned out to be highly suitable catalysts for this reaction and enabled the synthesis of enantioenriched α‐amino acid derivatives with 1,3‐nonadjacent stereogenic centers.     

Selective C−H Halogenation with a Highly Fluorinated Manganese Porphyrin

The selective C?H functionalization of aliphatic molecules remains a challenge in organic synthesis. While radical chain halogenation reactions provide efficient access to many halogenated molecules, the use of typical protocols for the selective halogenation of electron‐deficient and strained aliphatic molecules is rare. Herein, we report selective C?H chlorination and fluorination reactions promoted by an electron‐deficient manganese pentafluorophenyl porphyrin catalyst, Mn(TPFPP)Cl. This catalyst displays superior properties for the aliphatic halogenation of recalcitrant, electron‐deficient, and strained substrates with unique regio‐ and stereoselectivity. UV/Vis analysis during the course of the reaction indicated that an oxo‐Mn^V species is responsible for hydrogen‐atom abstraction. The observed stereoselectivity results from steric interactions between the bulky porphyrin ligand and the intermediate substrate radical in the halogen rebound step.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Arylation of Cyclobutyl Ketones Using a Chiral Transient Directing Group

The use of chiral transient directing groups (TDGs) is a promising approach for developing Pd^II‐catalyzed enantioselective C(sp³)?H activation reactions. However, this strategy is challenging because the stereogenic center on the TDG is often far from the C?H bond, and both TDG covalently attached to the substrate and free TDG are capable of coordinating to Pd^II centers, which can result in a mixture of reactive complexes. We report a Pd^II‐catalyzed enantioselective β‐C(sp³)?H arylation reaction of aliphatic ketones using a chiral TDG. A chiral trisubstituted cyclobutane was efficiently synthesized from a mono‐substituted cyclobutane through sequential C?H arylation reactions, thus demonstrating the utility of this method for accessing structurally complex products from simple starting materials. The use of an electron‐deficient pyridone ligand is crucial for the observed enantioselectivity. Interestingly, employing different silver salts can reverse the enantioselectivity.