Enantioselective cyanoformylation of aldehydes organocatalyzed by recyclable cinchonidine ammonium salts

Enantiomerically enriched O-methoxycarbonyl cyanohydrins were obtained using an enantioselective addition of methyl cyanoformate to aldehydes organocatalyzed by a dimeric anthracenyldimethyl-derived cinchonidine ammonium salt (1 mol % catalyst loading) in the presence of substoichiometric amounts of triethylamine (20 mol %). Aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes usually afford high enantioselectivities (up to 96%) and quantitative yields of the corresponding O-methoxycarbonyl cyanohydrins, whereas aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes give lower enantioselectivities (up to 60%) in high yields. The observed sense of the enantioselection was always the same, and the organocatalyst was almost quantitatively recovered by ether-promoted precipitation without any loss of activity. The use of resin-supported cinchonidine-derived ammonium salts as an organocatalyst in this transformation was also explored.     

Diastereoselective aziridination of chiral electron-deficient olefins with N-chloro-N-sodiocarbamates catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts

Chiral quaternary ammonium salt-catalyzed diastereoselective aziridination of electron-deficient olefins that possess a chiral auxiliary with N-chloro-N-sodiocarbamates was developed. The key to high stereoselectivity was found to be the employment of the "matching" stereochemical combination of chiral auxiliary/ammonium salt. For example, when 3-phenyl-(4R,7S)-4-methyl-7-isopropyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazole (L-menthopyrazole) as a chiral auxiliary and a cinchonidine-derived chiral ammonium salt as a catalyst were applied to the reaction system, perfect diastereoselectivity was realized. Furthermore, the preparation of enantiomerically pure aziridines by removal of the chiral auxiliary was demonstrated.     

Enantioselective alkylation of beta-keto esters by phase-transfer catalysis using chiral quaternary ammonium salts

Catalytic enantioselective alkylation promoted by a quaternary ammonium salt from cinchonine as a phase transfer catalyst is described. Treatment of cyclo beta-keto esters with alkyl halide under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-alkylated beta-keto esters in moderate to excellent yields with high enantiomeric excesses     

Asymmetric epoxidation catalyzed by novel azacrown ether-type chiral quaternary ammonium salts under phase-transfer catalytic conditions

Asymmetric epoxidation of (E)-chalcone with alkaline hydrogen peroxide by novel chiral phase-transfer catalysts (chiral PTCs) with quaternary ammonium salts of azacrown ether proceeded in high yield and good enantioselectivity. Remarkably, this reaction depended on the length of the carbon chain on the nitrogen atom with the chiral PTCs and on the bulk of the base.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to alpha, beta-enones catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts. A simple synthesis of (R)-baclofen

[reaction:see text] Enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to an alpha, beta-enone is a key step in the synthesis of (R)-baclofen.     

Improved asymmetric S(N)Ar reaction of beta-dicarbonyl compounds catalyzed by quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchona alkaloids

The scope and limitation of the asymmetric nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of alpha-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and activated aromatic systems catalyzed by N-benzyl-O-benzoylcinchoninium or cinchonidinium salts are presented. Several novel O-benzoylcinchona alkaloid derived salts have been prepared and evaluated as catalysts in this reaction, which can proceed with enantioselectivites up to 96% ee. Various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and activated aromatic systems are evaluated for the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction, and it has been found that the yield and enantioselectivity are very dependent on the substrate and reagent. The scope of the functionalization of the products to, e.g., spiro-oxoindole, a ring-opening reaction of 1,3 alpha,alpha-disubstituted dicarbonyl compounds with several nucleophiles, and the diastereoselective reduction of the keto functionality in the optically active S(N)Ar product are reported.     

The synthesis of quaternary ammonium salts from ammonium salts and dialkyl carbonate

Quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized from ammonium salts and dialkyl carbonates over an ionic liquid catalyst 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide.     

Enantioselective recognition of a chiral quaternary ammonium ion by C3 symmetric cyclic hexapeptides

C3 Symmetric cyclic hexapeptides containing alternating L-proline and 3-aminobenzoic acid derivatives as subunits possess different affinities towards the two enantiomers of the N,N,N-trimethyl-1-phenylethyl ammonium cation.     

Carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectra of quaternary ammonium salts derived from enamino ketones

¹³C magnetic resonance spectra of nine quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula R¹C¹(O)C²H?C³HNR₃⁴Cl (where R¹, R⁴ = alkyl) were obtained and compared with those of the parent amino compounds. The chemical shift differences between these two classes of compounds are qualitatively accounted for by π-electron density changes. Steric effects and hyperconjugation of the alkyl substituents are also discussed.     

Heteronuclear multiple magnetic resonance studies of quaternary ammonium salts derived from heterocyclic bases

¹⁴N tickling experiments performed with simultaneous decoupling of substituent protons are used to show that ²J(¹⁴N? H_ortho) and ³J(¹⁴N? H_meta) are both positive in the N-methyl pyridinium ion and related species. Long range coupling extending over as many as five bonds is observed between N-methyl protons and ring protons in ¹⁴N-decoupled spectra. Triple resonance decoupling is used to permit an analysis of the AA′MM′ spin system given by the ring proton of N-methyl pyrazinium iodide.     

Phase-transfer-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction using newly-prepared chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from l-tartrate

The catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of a glycine Schiff base was demonstrated using new PTCs and moderate to good ee's were achieved (up to 77% ee).     

Catalytic enantioselective fluorination of beta-keto esters by phase-transfer catalysis using chiral quaternary ammonium salts

[reaction: see text] The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic fluorination promoted by quaternary ammonium salt from cinchonine as a phase-transfer catalyst is described. Treatment of beta-keto esters with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the fluorine source under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-fluoro beta-keto esters in exellent yields with good to moderate enantiomeric excesses     

Highly efficient asymmetric amination of β-keto esters catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium bromides

A highly efficient asymmetric amination of β-keto esters was achieved under phase transfer conditions using chiral quaternary ammonium bromide as a catalyst. The amination products were obtained in quantitative yields with up to 97% ee. One of the amination products represents a key intermediate for the preparation of aldose reductase inhibitor AS-3201.     

Enantioselective direct aminalization with primary carboxamides catalyzed by chiral ammonium 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-disulfonates

A highly effective catalytic enantioselective direct aminal synthesis was developed. Chiral ammonium 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-disulfonates, which were prepared in situ from (R)-BINSA and achiral amines, promoted the enantioselective addition of primary amides to aromatic aldimines.     

Design, synthesis, and application of tartaric acid derived N-spiro quaternary ammonium salts as chiral phase-transfer catalysts

A novel class of tartaric acid-derived N-spiro quaternary ammonium salts was synthesised starting from known TADDOLs. These compounds were found to catalyse the asymmetric α-alkylation of glycine Schiff bases with high enantioselectivities and in good yields.     

Highly enantioselective nitro-Mannich reaction catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids and N-benzotriazole derived ammonium salts

The catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective nitro-Mannich reaction of α-amido sulfones in the mixed solvent of toluene/H(2)O has been realized using a phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) derived from cinchona alkaloids and N-benzotriazole. It performed well over a wide range of substrates to give the desired products in good yields (up to 94%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1).     

Asymmetric synthesis of beta-hydroxy amino acids via aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral ammonium salts

The Cinchona alkaloid derived chiral ammonium salt developed by Park and Jew functions as an effective catalyst for the synthesis of beta-hydroxy alpha-amino acids via asymmetric aldol reactions under homogeneous conditions. The syn diastereomers are obtained in good ee, and aryl-substituted aliphatic aldehydes are the best substrates for the reaction. These results represent the highest ee's obtained to date in direct aldol reactions of glycine equivalents catalyzed by inexpensive, readily prepared chiral ammonium salts.