Diastereoselective and enantioselective photoredox pinacol coupling promoted by titanium complexes with a red-absorbing organic dye

The pinacol coupling reaction, a reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds that proceeds through the formation of ketyl radicals in the presence of an electron donor, affords the corresponding 1,2-diols in one single step. The photoredox version of this transformation has been accomplished using different organic dyes or photoactive metal complexes in the presence of sacrificial donors such as tertiary amines or Hantzsch''s ester. Normally, the homo-coupling of such reactive ketyl radicals is neither diastereo- nor enantio-selective. Herein, we report a highly diastereoselective pinacol coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes promoted by 5 mol% of the non-toxic, inexpensive and available Cp₂TiCl₂ complex. The key feature that allows the complete control of diastereoselectivity is the employment of a red-absorbing organic dye in the presence of a redox-active titanium complex. Taking advantage of the well-tailored photoredox potential of this organic dye, the selective reduction of Ti(iv) to Ti(iii) is achieved. These conditions enable the formation of the d,l (syn) diastereoisomer as the favored product of the pinacol coupling (d.r. > 20 : 1 in most of the cases). Moreover, employing a simply prepared chiral SalenTi complex, the new photoredox reaction gave a complete diastereoselection for the d,l diastereoisomer, and high enantiocontrol (up to 92% of enantiomeric excess).

A metallaphotoredox, diastereoselective and enantioselective pinacol coupling reaction promoted by titanium complexes with the use of a red-absorbing organic dye was developed.     

Synthesis of planar-chiral paracyclophanes via samarium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular pinacol coupling

[reaction: see text] A series of [n]paracyclophanediols (n = 8-12) was synthesized by samarium-catalyzed pinacol coupling for their ansa-bridge formation. Enantiomerically pure [n]paracyclophane esters were derived from the diols in a several steps via chiral resolution (for n = 10) or via crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation (for n = 11) by using amino alcohol auxiliaries and their selective cleavages.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopentanediols by InCl 3/Al mediated intramolecular pinacol coupling reaction in aqueous media

A "green" and practical intramolecular pinacol coupling reaction promoted by InCl 3/Al catalysts in aqueous media has been developed. Under mild conditions, a novel class of polysubstituted cyclopentane-1,2-diols have been obtained with excellent diastereoselectivity.     

Enantioselective pinacol coupling of aryl aldehydes catalyzed by chiral Salan-Mo(IV) complexes

Reported herein is the asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes with chiral Salan-Mo(VI) dioxo complex as an effective precatalyst. Chiral diols were obtained with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity up to 92/8 and 95%, respectively. The possible mechanism of the pinacol coupling reaction with the catalytic system was investigated. The X-ray crystal structure of the precatalyst Mo(L3)O2 was determined and the oxidation state of the intermediate C was confirmed as +4 with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study. The proposed mechanism speculated the stereochemical outcome of the reaction, and a working model for the radical coupling of E was proposed, which explained the absolute configuration of the favored (S,S)-enantiomer of the dl isomer.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of bis(3,5)pyrazolophanes by sequential inter- and intramolecular cycloadditions of homochiral nitrilimines

Starting from ethyl (S)-lactate as the chiral unit, we have developed the synthesis of the enantiopure bis(3,5)pyrazolophanes 9 and 19 by means of sequential inter- and intramolecular cycloadditions of nitrilimine intermediates.     

Samarium(ii) iodide-mediated intramolecular pinacol coupling reactions with cyclopropyl ketones

The first reported intramolecular pinacol coupling of cyclopropyl ketones has been achieved, demonstrating that cyclisation competes favourably with ring-opening of the cyclopropyl ketyl radical.     

Truly catalytic and enantioselective pinacol coupling of aryl aldehydes mediated by chiral Ti(III) complexes

A variety of chiral Ti(IV) complexes were reduced in situ with zinc in acetonitrile. The resulting chiral Ti(III) complexes were found to catalyze the pinacol coupling reaction stereoselectively. The best results were obtained from the Ti-SALEN complex, which was found to be an efficient catalyst at 10 mol % concentration. Various aromatic aldehydes were coupled to obtain chiral hydrobenzoin derivatives with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. A plausible mechanism is proposed that rationalizes the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

Enantioselective pinacol coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by chiral vanadium complexes

The asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes by chiral salan–vanadium complexes as effective catalysts is reported. Chiral 1,2-diols were obtained with high diastereoselectivities (up to 90/10) and moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 82% ee). The possible mechanism of the pinacol coupling reaction is also discussed.     

Asymmetric Pinacol Coupling of Aromatic Aldehydes Catalyzed by TiCl4 （THF） 2－Zn／Chiral Diamines

Asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by chiral diamines/iow-valent titanium complexes gave corre-sponding pinacois in good yields with high diastereoselectivity and moderate enantioselectivities.     

Copper(II) acetate promoted intramolecular diamination of unactivated olefins

A concise method for the synthesis of cyclic sulfamides and vicinal diamines is presented. This method is enabled by Cu(OAc)2 and demonstrates a new transformation for this metal. Both five- and six-membered vicinal diamine-containing heterocycles have been synthesized in good to excellent yields, and substrate-based asymmetric induction has been achieved. This is the first reported example of intramolecular diamination of olefins.     

Electroreductive crossed pinacol coupling of aromatic ketones with aliphatic ketones and aldehydes

The intermolecular crossed pinacol coupling of aromatic ketones with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones was effected by electroreduction in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane. The best result was obtained using a Pb cathode in Bu₄NPF₆/THF. The electroreduction of aromatic 1,4-, 1,5-, and 1,6-diketones under the same conditions gave four-, five-, and six-membered 1,2-diols with trans-stereoselectivity, while the reduction of these diketones with TiCl₄-Zn produced the cis-isomers of the same intramolecular crossed pinacol coupling products predominantly.     

Macrocyclization of alpha-(alkynyloxy)silyl-alpha-diazoacetates by inter-/intramolecular

Thermally induced intra-/intermolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction sequences of alpha-(alkynyloxy)silyl-alpha-diazoacetates 1 lead to [3.3](1,4)pyrazolophanes (2)2 and higher cyclooligomers thereof [(2)n, n > 2]. In most cases, the cyclodimer was isolated by crystallization, while a complete separation of the mixture of the higher cyclooligomers was not possible. Solid state structures of cyclodimers (2b)2 and (2c)2, cyclotrimer (2b)3, and cyclotetramer (2e)4 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Field-desorption mass spectra were used to characterize the cyclooligomer mixtures. The relative amounts of the cyclooligomers depend on the substitution pattern of the diazo compound. The cyclooligomerization reactions reported herein demonstrate, for the first time, the involvement of diazo functions in macrocyclization reactions via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.     

Asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes with TiCl2/enantiopure amine or hydrazine reagents

Asymmetric pinacol coupling of aromatic aldehydes under homogeneous conditions with TiCl₂ in the presence of enantiopure amines or hydrazines afforded 1,2-diols in moderate to excellent yields with good dl-diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities in the range of 6–65% ee. A non-linear temperature effect (‘principle of isoinversion’) has been examined.     

Palladium-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular coupling reactions of aryl and vinyl halides mediated by indium

Treatment of aryl and vinyl halides with 50 mol % of 100 mesh indium, 2.5 mol % of Pd-C, and 1.5 equiv of LiCl under mild conditions (DMF, 100 degrees C, 1-3 h) could produce coupling products efficiently in good to excellent yields in which the C(sp2)-C(sp2) bond was formed. This reagent worked equally well with both intermolecular and intramolecular coupling reactions, producing a variety of biaryls, 1,3-dienes, and cyclic compounds.     

Preparation of phenalenes and hydronaphthacenes through tandem alkyne Fischer-carbene complex coupling and inter- or intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions

The rapid construction of phenalenes through the reaction of 8-alkynyltetralones with Fischer-carbene complexes followed by either an inter- or intra-molecular Diels-Alder reaction is presented. As a showcase of the synthetic utility of this process, the rapid construction of polycyclic ring systems containing the tetracycline core has been demonstrated through an iterative application of this reaction sequence.     

A highly diastereoselective pinacol coupling reaction of aldehydes and ketones using low-valence niobium generated from Nb(V)

A simple method for the diastereoselective synthesis of racemic 1,2-diol mediated by low-valence niobium generated in situ is described. A 1,4-dioxane-toluene solvent system was found to be essential to achieve higher selectivities and to prevent other reactions of pinacols, such as deoxygenation and acetal formation. Aromatic aldehydes and ketones were converted to the corresponding pinacols with up to 97 and 85% de, respectively.     

Diastereoselective construction of functionalized homoallylic alcohols by Ni-catalyzed diboron-promoted coupling of dienes and aldehydes

The nickel-catalyzed reaction of carbonyls and dienes was accomplished in a regio- and stereoselective fashion employing a stoichiometric amount of bis(pinacolato)diboron. This reductive coupling furnishes an allyl boronic ester as the reaction product, a compound which was readily converted to the derived allylic alcohol by oxidative workup.     

Oxidative intramolecular coupling of 2, 3-disubstituted phenyl acrylic acids and derivatives promoted by di-tert-butylperoxide

Polymethoxy-substituted phenanthrene-9-carboxylic acids or their methylate are key intermediates for the synthesis of tylophora alkaloids and their analogs. An intramolecular oxidative coupling reaction of unfunctionalized 2,3-disubstituted phenyl acrylic acids and derivatives promoted by di-tert-butylper- oxide gave above intermediates in high yields. The mild reaction conditions and easy purification procedures of this method provide a new approach for the synthesis of phenanthrenes.     

Chromium(II)-catalyzed diastereoselective pinacol type cross coupling: studies of substrate-controlled effects

Using 20 mol % of CrCl₂ as catalyst, manganese powder as reducing agent, and TMS-Cl as scavenger, various acroleins and aldehydes were coupled with moderate to high yields and diastereomeric excesses. Alkyl aldehydes usually favor syn configuration while aldehydes with functional groups containing chelating hetero atoms promote the formation of anti configuration. Using sterically demanding alkyl residues on the acrolein substrate, the syn configuration is definitely preferred.     

The first enantioselective intramolecular aminocarbonylation of alkenes promoted by Pd(II)-spiro bis(isoxazoline) catalyst

The highly ligand acceleration effect of spiro bis(isoxazoline) ligand (SPRIX) on the Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular aminocarbonylation of alkenyl amine derivatives was realized. Furthermore, the chiral Pd(II)-SPRIX catalyst accomplished the first enantioselective intramolecular aminocarbonylation. The reaction of N-(2,2-dimethyl-pent-4-enyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide in the presence of Pd(II)-SPRIX catalyst and p-benzoquinone in methanol under a carbon monoxide atmosphere afforded [4,4-dimethyl-1-(p-toluene-sulfonyl)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]-acetic acid methyl ester in good yield with moderate enantioselectivity.