Substituent electronic effects in chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis

The majority of reports of ligand modification for catalysis have followed from systematic variation of the spatial demands of the catalyst. The focus of this review is to highlight selected major contributions to the area of substituent controlled electronic-tuning of some well known chiral ligands and the subsequent effect of these changes during asymmetric catalysis. The ligand types discussed include the salens, phosphites and phosphoramidites, ferrocene-containing ligands, oxazolines and axially chiral ligands. For each ligand type we attempt analyse the effect of systematic variation of electronics and note whether any improvements in catalyst activity and selectivity are obtained.     

BINEPINES: chiral binaphthalene-core monophosphepine ligands for multipurpose asymmetric catalysis

The atropisomeric structure of 4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphtho[2,1-c;1',2'-e]phosphepine is the common axially chiral scaffold of a library of monophosphine ligands nicknamed BINEPINES that have shown a quite remarkable stereoselection efficiency in a broad variety of enantioselective reactions involving the formation of new C-H or C-C or C-X bonds. In this critical review the properties and scope of this type of chiral ligands are illustrated (70 references).     

Aza-bis(oxazolines): new chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Aza-bis(oxazolines) are introduced as chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis combining the advantages of easy availability of bis(oxazolines) and backbone variability of aza-semicorrins. Especially, the title ligands could be attached to a polymeric support, which allowed the development of easily recoverable copper(I)-catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions.     

Recent applications of chiral ferrocene ligands in asymmetric catalysis

Despite the impressive progress achieved in asymmetric catalysis during the last decade, an increasing number of new catalysts, ligands, and applications are reported every year to satisfy the need to embrace a wider range of reactions and to improve the efficiency of existing processes. Because of their availability, unique stereochemical aspects, and wide variety of coordination modes and possibilities for the fine-tuning of the steric and electronic properties, ferrocene-based ligands constitute one of the most versatile ligand architectures in the current scenario of asymmetric catalysis. Over the last few years ferrocene catalysts have been successfully applied in an amazing variety of enantioselective processes. This Review documents these recent advances, with special emphasis on the most innovative asymmetric processes and the development of novel, efficient types of ferrocene ligands.     

P-Chirogenic diaminophosphine oxide: a new class of chiral phosphorus ligands for asymmetric catalysis

We successfully synthesized a novel P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxide 4, which was applied to catalytic enantioselective construction of quaternary carbon centers using Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution with various beta-keto esters (up to 99% yield, 94% ee). Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that two molecules of 8 coordinate to the Pd metal in a monodentate fashion, resulting in the formation of Pd complex 9 (Pd:8 = 1:2), which functions as the active species.     

Design and application of linked-BINOL chiral ligands in bifunctional asymmetric catalysis

The design and application of linked-BINOLs investigated in our group are reviewed. Linked-BINOLs are a kind of semi-crown ether, thus they are flexible and applicable to metals having various ionic radii (Ga3+, Li+, Zn2+, In3+, La3+, and Y3+). The flexible linker segment, containing a coordinative heteroatom, has a crucial role in the construction of a unique and effective chiral environment that is not accessible from BINOL itself. Applications of linked-BINOLs to an epoxide opening reaction, Michael reactions, a direct aldol reaction, direct Michael reactions of a hydroxyketone, and direct Mannich-type reactions of hydroxyketones and N-acylpyrrole are described.     

The synthesis of new planar chiral heterobidentate chelate ligands for asymmetric catalysis

A series of new heterobidentate N,S; N,O and N,P chelate ligands have been synthesised where the sole source of chirality is derived from a planar chiral ferrocene unit and have been shown to give up to 79% ee (R) in the palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction, suggesting that they may be suitable in other palladium catalysed processes.     

BINOLAM,a recoverable chiral ligand for bifunctional enantioselective catalysis: the asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins

[reaction: see text] A new bifunctional catalytic system based on a monometallic aluminum complex is used for the efficient enantioselective cyanation of aldehydes. The ligand (S)- or (R)-2,2'-bis(diethylaminomethyl)-substituted binaphthol (BINOLAM) used is recovered for recycling. This methodology is used for the synthesis of a precursor of epothilone A.     

Novel benzoferrocenyl chiral ligands: Synthesis and evaluation of their suitability for asymmetric catalysis

Four benzoferrocenyl phosphorus chiral ligands were conveniently prepared in good overall yields. These ligands were found to be stable in solid form and in solution. Two of the four ligands were resolved by chiral HPLC. Unlike a reported bis(phosphino-η⁵-indenyl)iron(II) complex, in which the indenyl ligands undergo ring flipping through an η¹-intermediate, these two ligands were found to be configurationally stable in solution and in solid state. The suitability of these ligands for enantioselective catalysis was assessed in studies on allylic alkylation reactions. When the two less sterically hindered ligands were used, excellent chemical yields were obtained, but the other two more sterically hindered ones gave lower yields. When the two enantiopure ligands were used, enantioselectivity of up to 51% ee was observed. These findings suggest that benzoferrocene derivatives may be used as chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis.     

MOP-phosphonites: a novel ligand class for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral phosphonite ligands (S,R(b))-5a, (S,S(b))-5b, (R,R(b))-6a and (R,S(b))-6b are introduced, comprising a MOP-type backbone with a binol-based binaphthyl group bound to the phosphorus. Their reaction with [Pd(η(3)-C(4)H(7))Cl](2) affords η(3)-methallylpalladium chloride complexes 7a/b and 8a/b which have been isolated and structurally characterised. Solid-state and solution studies indicate subtle differences in their coordination behaviour, which ultimately affects their efficacy in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrene.     

Design of chiral sulfoxide-olefins as a new class of sulfur-based olefin ligands for asymmetric catalysis

The design and development of a novel class of chiral sulfur-olefin hybrid ligands with high synthetic feasibility are described. These new sulfoxide-olefin ligands showed excellent catalytic activities and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of aryl boronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.     

Key role of the Lewis base position in asymmetric bifunctional catalysis: design and evaluation of a new ligand for chiral polymetallic catalysts

New chiral ligands for asymmetric polymetallic catalysts were designed on the basis of the assumption that the higher-order assembly structure is stabilized by modifying the modular unit. The designed ligands 6 and 7 contained a scaffolding cyclohexane ring with a Lewis base phosphine oxide directly attached to the scaffold. A module in the polymetallic complex contains two metals per ligand, and a stable 6-, 5-, 5-membered fused chelation ring system should be generated. Synthesis of these ligands is simple and high yielding, using a catalytic dynamic kinetic resolution promoted by the Trost catalyst as a key step. Ligand function was assessed in a catalytic asymmetric ring-opening reaction of meso-aziridines with TMSCN, a useful reaction for the synthesis of optically active beta-amino acids. The Gd complex generated from Gd(OiPr)3 and the ligand was a highly active and enantioselective catalyst in this reaction. Enantioselectivity was reversed compared to the previously reported d-glucose-derived catalyst containing the same chirality of the individual module. ESI-MS analysis and X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that the assembly state of the modules in the polymetallic catalysts differs depending on the chiral ligand. The difference in the higher-order structure stems from a subtle change (one carbon) in the position of the Lewis base relative to the Gd metal. The change in the higher-order structure of the polymetallic complex led to a dramatic reversal of the enantioselectivity and increased catalyst activity.     

Synthesis of novel chiral phosphinocyrhetrenyloxazoline ligands and their application in asymmetric catalysis

Several novel planar chiral phosphinocyrhetrenyloxazolines have been synthesized, and their catalytic activities have been evaluated in a variety of asymmetric catalytic reactions. Preferable effects as compared to their ferrocenyl analogues have been observed in asymmetric allylic amination and asymmetric hydrosilylation, and up to 97% ee and 72% ee were reached, respectively. The Lewis basicity of the phosphorus on the ferrocene and the cyrhetrene, which contributes to their different behavior in catalysis, has been deduced by 31P NMR spectroscopy analysis, as indicated by 1J(77Se-31P) in the corresponding phosphine selenides.     

Molecular design of chiral quaternary ammonium polymers for asymmetric catalysis applications

Repeated reaction between a chiral quaternary ammonium dimer and disodium disulfonate gave a chiral ionic polymer, which showed excellent catalytic activity in the asymmetric benzylation of N-diphenylmethylene glycine tert-butyl ester.     

Origin of stereoinduction by chiral aminophosphane phosphinite ligands in enantioselective catalysis: asymmetric hydroformylation

The origin of stereoinduction by chiral aminophosphane phosphinite (AMPP) ligands in asymmetric hydroformylation was investigated with a theoretical approach. The roles of the stereogenic center at the aminophosphane phosphorus atom (NP*) and of the chirality of the backbone were analyzed by considering three experimentally tested cases: 1) P-stereogenic yielding high ee, 2) P-nonstereogenic yielding low ee, and 3) P-stereogenic yielding low ee. We succeeded in reproducing the experimentally observed trends for the three studied AMPP ligands. Our results indicated that alkene insertion into the rhodium-hydride bond is the selectivity-determining step, and not alkene coordination. Additional calculations on model systems revealed that the different nonbonding weak-type interactions of styrene with the substituents of the NP* stereogenic center in an axial position is responsible for stereodifferentiation. The chirality of the AMPP backbone plays a secondary role. The rationalization of the stereochemical outcome is not straightforward, because two competitive equatorial/axial reaction paths, showing opposite asymmetric induction, must be considered. Construction of stereochemical models and evaluation of stereoinduction for novel ligand systems suggested that two prerequisites are required to improve the performance of AMPP-type ligands in asymmetric hydroformylation: 1) combination of stereorecognition and stereohindrance by substituents at the NP* atom, and 2) more rigid backbones.     

Developments in asymmetric catalysis by metal complexes of chiral chelating nitrogen-donor ligands

In part because of their straightforward and modular syntheses from readily available enantiopure starting materials, and their capacity to bind a wide variety of transition metals, chiral, chelating nitrogen-donor ligands have played a prominent role in asymmetric catalysis. A large number of highly enantioselective transformations rely upon these ligands whose reported classes are built around amine, imine, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, oxazoline and oxazolidine donor groups, among others. In this Perspective, we examine a selection of transformative developments in asymmetric catalysis by metal complexes of bi- and polydentate members of this ligand family. We describe approaches to ligand design and synthesis, structure and bonding in coordination complexes, and limitations and future challenges.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of chiral non-racemic 2-substituted 2-boranatophosphino ethanoic acid: a potential intermediate to chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral α-amidophosphine boranes 7a–b can be diastereoselectively alkylated, using a phenylglycinol derivative as a chiral inducer, to furnish α-substituted α-amidophosphine boranes 8–12 with up to 99% diastereoisomeric excess. Selective reduction of the amidophosphine boranes afforded optically pure β-boranatophosphine-alcohol 13. The latter one can then be oxidized in boronatophosphine acid 14.     

A chiral metallacyclophane for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral metallacyclophanes were self-assembled from cis-(PEt3)2PtCl2 and enantiopure atropisomeric 1,1'-bina-phthyl-6,6'-bis(acetylenes) and used in highly enantioselective catalytic diethylzinc additions to aldehydes to afford chiral secondary alcohols.     

手性氨基醇在不对称催化中的应用及新进展

综述了手性氨基醇作为配体或催化剂在不对称合成中的应用及最新进展。