Highly enantioselective synthesis of beta-amino alcohols

[reaction: see text] N,N-Dialkyl-beta-amino alcohols derived from alpha-amino acids can be rearranged enantiospecifically by using TFAA/Et3N/NaOH to give 1,2-amino alcohols with enantiomeric excess up to 99%.     

Kinetic resolution of fluorinated propargyl alcohols by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification

In order to obtain optically active fluorinated propargyl alcohols, a lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution has been carried out. The effect of lipase types, organic solvents, reaction temperature, and acyl donors was examined in the lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-ol. Various enantiomerically pure fluorinated propargyl alcohols have been successfully prepared in good enantiomeric excess (>84%) by Novozym 435-catalyzed transesterification with vinyl butanoate at 60 °C in n-hexane. In some cases, the enantiomeric purities were excellent (>99% ee).     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of (E)-allylic alcohols

The asymmetric addition of alkenylzincs to aromatic and alpha-branched aliphatic aldehydes catalyzed by 1 generated the corresponding (E)-allylic alcohols with >95% ee and good to excellent chemical yields, especially >99.5% ee was observed in the case of 4-CF3-benzaldehyde. Notably, 1 is an effective ligand to catalyze the addition of disubstituted (R2 = R3 = ethyl) and bulky substituted (R2 = H, R3 = tert-butyl) alkenylzincs to benzaldehyde, affording the corresponding allylic alcohols both with 96% ee.     

The first aminoacylase-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of aromatic beta-amino acids

The first aminoacylase-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of aromatic beta-amino acids is reported. The presence of an N-chloroacetyl group as acyl group in the substrate as well as the use of porcine kidney acylase I as a suitable enzyme component are prerequisites for this resolution process whereby optically active beta-amino acids are formed with high enantioselectivities of >98% ee.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of beta-amino alcohols: a catalytic version

Highly enantioselective rearrangement of beta-amino alcohols was realized by using a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic anhydride.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic secondary aliphatic allylic alcohols in lipase-catalyzed transesterification

Different lipases were screened as biocatalysts in the kinetic resolution process of (±)-hept-1-en-3-ol 1, (±)-5-methylhex-1-en-3-ol 2, (±)-6-methylhept-2-en-4-ol 3, (±)-6,6-dimethylhept-2-en-4-ol 4, and 1-phenylbut-3-en-2-ol 5 by enantioselective transesterification. The acylation of (±)-1 and (±)-2 catalyzed by Novozym 435 (Candida antarctica) was very effective and proceeded with good enantioselectivity. After 4–8 h of reactions the esters formed and the alcohols, which remained were obtained with high enantiomeric excess with 97–100% ee and 91–100% ee, respectively. The lipase Amano PS (Burkholderia cepacia) was the best catalyst in the asymmetric transesterification of (±)-5 affording the (R)-alcohol with 90–95% ee and the (S)-ester with 98–100% ee. Low enantioselectivities were observed in the cases of lipase-catalyzed acylation of (±)-3 and (±)-4.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated gamma-amino alcohols through proline-catalyzed cross-Mannich reaction

A new, simple route for the synthesis of fluorinated beta-alkyl gamma-amino alcohols in optically pure form in only two steps and featuring proline catalysis from inexpensive and readily available starting materials is described. The applied strategy allows for the introduction of diversity into both the beta-fluoroalkyl and alpha-alkyl groups of these compounds. [reaction: see text]     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols combining enzyme-catalyzed transesterification and zeolite-catalyzed racemization

Hydrophobic zeolite beta containing low concentrations of Zr or Al was found to be a good catalyst for the racemization of 1-phenylethanol. The formation of styrene as a side product could be minimized by reducing the metal concentration in the zeolite beta. Combined with an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica, the dynamic kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol to the (R)-phenylethylester can be achieved with high yield and selectivity. The reaction was best conducted in toluene as solvent at 60 degrees C, with higher temperatures leading to a loss in the enantioselectivity of the formed ester. By using high-molecular-weight acyl-transfer reagents, such as vinyl butyrate or vinyl octanoate, a high enantiomeric excess of the product esters of 92 and 98 %, respectively, could be achieved. This is attributed to a steric effect: the bulky ester is less able to enter the pore space of the zeolite catalyst where the active sites for racemization are localized. Close to 100 % conversion of the alcohol was achieved within 2 h. If the more common acyl donor, isopropenyl acetate, was used, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the formed ester was only 67 %, and the reaction was considerably slower.     

Highly enantioselective diethylzinc addition to imines employing readily available N-monosubstituted amino alcohols

An easily accessible chiral ligand 3c, which promoted diethylzinc addition to imines with 96-98% ee, has been found by finely screening N,N-disubstituted and N-monosubstituted amino alcohols. N-monosubstituted amino alcohols, on average, gave slightly higher enantioselectivities than their N,N-disubstituted analogues. These results imply that the restricted and rigid structure of amino alcohol is not the absolute requirement for the highly enantioselective dialkylzinc addition to diphenylphosphinoylimines. [structure: see text]     

Highly enantioselective asymmetric reactions involving zinc ions promoted by chiral aziridine alcohols

Enantiomerically pure, chiral secondary and tertiary aziridine alcohols (including the aziridine analogue of ProPhenol—AziPhenol) have proven to be highly effective catalysts for enantioselective asymmetric reactions in the presence of zinc ions, including arylation of aromatic aldehydes, epoxidation of chalcone and addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes, leading to the desired chiral products in high chemical yields (up to 90%) and with ee’s up to 90%. A higher catalytic activity of Prophenol-type bis(aziridine alcohol) in the aforementioned asymmetric transformations has been demonstrated.     

Highly enantioselective bioreduction of 2-fluorocinnamyl alcohols mediated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Biocatalytic reduction of 2-fluorocinnamyl alcohols mediated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated in phosphate buffer solutions. Product analysis clearly showed that (S)-2-fluoro-3-arylpropanols were afforded in high yields with up to 92% ee value.     

Highly efficient dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols catalyzed by iridium-CNP complexes

A new highly practical method is presented for dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones catalyzed by the iridium-CNP complexes. The reactions are compatible with substrates bearing diverse functional groups and proceed efficiently under mild conditions.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of secondary alcohols using C2-symmetric diamino diol ligands

A new class of diamino diols was evaluated as catalytic ligands in the enantioselective borane reduction of aromatic ketones and the enantioselective ethylation of arylaldehydes with diethylzinc. By variation of the substitution pattern on the ketone, e.e.s of up to 94% could be obtained by in situ borane reduction using 0.025 equiv. of the ligand at 35°C in THF. N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethyldiamino diol and N,N′-dialkyl diamino diol were used as promoters for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc reagent to the arylaldehyde, where use of 0.1 equiv. of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl diamino diol as catalyst in the addition of diethylzinc to arylaldehyde achieved e.e.s of up to 98%.     

Pd-catalyzed enantioselective aerobic oxidation of secondary alcohols: applications to the total synthesis of alkaloids

Enantioselective syntheses of the alkaloids (-)-aurantioclavine, (+)-amurensinine, (-)-lobeline, and (-)- and (+)-sedamine are described. The syntheses demonstrate the effectiveness of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of secondary alcohols in diverse contexts and the ability of this methodology to set the absolute configuration of multiple stereocenters in a single operation. The utility of an aryne C-C insertion reaction in accessing complex polycyclic frameworks is also described.     

Highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-phthalimide ketone: an efficient entry to enantiomerically pure amino alcohols

A new type of alpha-phthalimide ketones was hydrogenated in excellent enantioselectivity by using a Ru-(C3-TunePhos) complex as the catalyst. Up to 10 000 turnovers have been achieved in more than 99% ee in the hydrogenation reaction. A dynamic kinetic resolution study for the synthesis of threonine was performed, and high anti selectivity (>97:3) was observed for the first time. An efficient method to synthesize enantiomerically pure amino alcohols has been developed.     

Highly enantioselective DNA-based catalysis

A new approach to DNA-based asymmetric catalysis is presented, which gives rise to very high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in the copper catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction in water.     

Highly diastereo- and enantio-selective epoxidation of secondary allylic alcohols catalyzed by styrene monooxygenase

Enantiomerically enriched glycidol derivatives with contiguous stereogenic centers were obtained in a highly diastereo- and enantio-selective epoxidation catalyzed with the styrene monooxygenase StyAB2.