Synthesis of Recyclable Fluorous Chiral Ligands and Evaluation of Their Catalytic Activity toward Asymmetric Addition of Dimethylzinc to Aldehydes

The asymmetric addition of Me₂Zn to aldehydes is very slow and mostly gives low ee values. Previously, we reported the synthesis of a fluorous chiral ligand, (4R,5S,α′R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′‐tris(perfluorooctyl)‐2,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol ( 1 a ), derived from tartarate as a chiral pool. Ligand 1 a showed high activity toward the addition of Me₂Zn to aldehydes with high enantiomeric excess. However, the very high content of fluorine makes 1 a difficult to dissolve in common solvents; hence, much solvent is required, which limits its use. This report describes the modification of 1 a by replacing either the perfluorooctyl groups with shorter perfluoroalkyl ones or the acetone ketal part with cyclohexanone ketal. The perfluorobutyl analogue 1 c is much more soluble than 1 a and shows comparable asymmetric induction toward the addition of Me₂Zn to aldehydes. Furthermore, 1 c has a much lower molecular weight than 1 a . This means that 1 c is used in smaller amounts (weight) than 1 a . The cyclohexanone ketal analogue 1 d is more soluble than 1 a and more easily synthesized owing to its high solubility and ease of crystallization. Ligand 1 d showed much higher asymmetric induction toward cyclohexanecarbaldehyde, a branched aldehyde, than 1 a . Thus, 1 a was modified into ligands with higher performance.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Assembly of Homoallylic Alcohols from Dienes,Aryldiazonium Salts,and Aldehydes

A highly selective multicomponent carbonyl allylation reaction of 1,3‐butadienes, aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates, and aldehydes has been established under the combined catalysis of palladium acetate and chiral anion phase transfer to render the favorable assembly of chiral Z‐configured homoallylic alcohols in high yields and with excellent levels of enantioselectivity.     

On the Scope of Trimethylaluminium‐Promoted 1,2‐Additions of ArZnX Reagents to Aldehydes

A practical asymmetric 1,2‐addition of functionalised arylzinc halides to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes is described by the use of aminoalcohol catalysis in the presence of AlMe₃. The process is simple to carry out, uses only commercially available reagents/ligands and provides moderate to good (80–96 % ee) enantioselectivities for a wide range of substrates. Either commercial ArZnX reagents or those prepared in situ from low cost aryl bromides can be used. In the latter case electrophilic functional groups are tolerated (CO₂Et, CN). The reaction relies on rapid exchange between ArZnX and AlMe₃ to generate mixed organometallic species that lead to the formation of a key intermediate that is distinctly different from the classic “anti” transition states of Noyori. NMR monitoring and related experiments have been used to probe the validity of the proposed selective transition state.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Phosphine Boronates

The first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of ambiphilic phosphine boronate esters is presented. The asymmetric boration of α,β‐unsaturated phosphine oxides catalyzed by a copper bisphosphine complex affords optically active organoboronate esters that bear a vicinal phosphine oxide group in good yields and high enantiomeric excess. The synthetic utility of the products is demonstrated through stereospecific transformations into multifunctional optically active compounds.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Enantioenriched Heterocycles Bearing a CCF3 Stereogenic Center

Given the important agricultural and medicinal application of optically pure heterocycles bearing a trifluoromethyl group at the stereogenic carbon center in the heterocyclic framework, the exploration of efficient and practical synthetic strategies to such types of molecules remains highly desirable. Catalytic enantioselective synthesis has one clear advantage that it is more cost‐effective than other synthetic methods, but remains limited by challenges in achieving excellent yield and stereoselectivities with a low catalyst loading. Thus far, numerous models of organo‐ and organometal‐catalyzed asymmetric reactions have been exploited to achieve this elusive goal over the past decade. This review article describes recent progress on this research topic, and focuses on an understanding of the catalytic asymmetric protocols exemplified in the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a wide range of complex enantioenriched trifluoromethylated heterocycles.     

Highly Enantioselective Zinc/Amino Alcohol‐Catalyzed Alkynylation of Aldehydes

Meeting the challenge : The zinc/amino alcohol catalyzed enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to aldehydes is effective with both phenylacetylene and methyl propiolate, leading to chiral secondary propargyl alcohols with very high enantioselectivity (see scheme).

     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Halocyclopropanes

A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of halocyclopropanes is described. The developed method is based on a carbenoid cyclopropanation of 2‐haloalkenes with tert‐butyl α‐cyano‐α‐diazoacetate using a chiral rhodium catalyst that permits access to a broad range of highly functionalized chiral halocyclopropanes (F, Cl, Br, and I) in good yields, moderate diastereoselectivity, and excellent enantiomeric ratios. The reported methodology represents the first general catalytic enantioselective approach to halocyclopropanes.