Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-boc-indoles

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of various N-Boc-indoles proceeded successfully in the presence of the ruthenium complex generated from an appropriate ruthenium precursor and a trans-chelate chiral bisphosphine PhTRAP. Various 2- or 3-substituted indoles were converted into chiral indolines with high enantiomeric excesses (up to 95% ee). The PhTRAP-ruthenium catalyst was able to promote the hydrogenation of 2,3-dimethylindoles, giving cis-2,3-dimethylindolines with 72% ee.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral 3-substituted indolines by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of indoles

[reaction: see text] N-Tosyl 3-substituted indoles were hydrogenated with high enantioselectivities (95-98% ee) by use of a trans-chelating chiral bisphosphine, (S,S)-(R,R)-PhTRAP ligand. The chiral catalyst, which was generated in situ from [Rh(nbd)(2)]SbF(6), PhTRAP, and Cs(2)CO(3), is useful for enantioselectively synthesizing a range of diverse optically active indolines possessing a chiral carbon at the 3-position.     

Pd-Catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 3-(toluenesulfonamidoalkyl)indoles

A series of 2-substituted 3-(toluenesulfonamidoalkyl)indoles was synthesized by application of (EtO)(2)POH or iodine as the catalyst, and was hydrogenated using chiral Pd catalyst, giving the 2,3-disubstituted indolines with up to 97% ee.     

Synthesis of chiral β2-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation

The synthesis of chiral β²-amino acids by homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation is discussed. Prochiral β-aryl- or β-hetaryl-α-N-benzyl/N-acetyl/N-Boc substituted α-aminomethylacrylates used as substrates were prepared by a Baylis–Hillman reaction, followed by acylation and amination. For the asymmetric hydrogenation, a large variety of chiral, preferentially rhodium catalysts bearing commercially available phosphorus ligands were tested. Conversions and enantioselectivities were dependent on the reaction conditions and varied strongly between the substrates used. A chiral N-α-phenylethyl group supports the stereoface discriminating ability of the chiral catalysts and thus a matching pair effect could be realized. In strong contrast, a chiral ester group has almost no effect in this respect. In some cases the use of the corresponding substrate acid was better in comparison to the use of its ester. After optimization of the hydrogenation conditions (chiral catalyst, H₂-pressure, temperature, solvent), full conversions and products with up to 99% ee were achieved.     

Me-AnilaPhos: a new chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand for a highly efficient Rh-catalyzed asymmetric olefin hydrogenation

A cationic rhodium(I) complex with a novel chiral phosphine-phosphoramidite ligand based on 2-diphenylphosphino-N-methylaniline and R-BINOL moieties has been synthesized. The complex provided remarkably high activity and enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-α-acetamidocinnamate (100% conversion after 10 min, 98% ee) and dimethyl itaconate (100% conversion after 26 min, 96% ee) under ambient conditions (1 bar hydrogen pressure, room temperature) using 1 mol % of the catalyst in dichloromethane as solvent. On the other hand, when hydrogenation was performed in methanol, both conversion and enantioselectivity were significantly diminished, due to the partial decomposition of the rhodium/phosphine-phosphoramidite complex.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted indole derivatives containing tetrahydrothiophene via cascade sulfa-Michael/Michael additions catalyzed by a chiral squaramide catalyst

The organocatalyzed enantioselective cascade sulfa-Michael/Michael addition reaction of (E)-3-mercapto-2-butenoic acid esters to (E)-3-aryl-2-(indol-3-ylcarbonyl)acrylonitriles has been developed. This process was promoted by a chiral squaramide catalyst to afford chiral 3-substituted indole derivatives containing tetrahydrothiophene with three contiguous stereocenters in excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr) with moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 93%, 89% ee).     

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral 1,2-diamines by the catalytic ring opening of azabenzonorbornadienes: application in the preparation of new chiral ligands

In the presence of a rhodium catalyst (5 mol %) generated in situ from [Rh(cod)Cl]₂ and (S,S′)-(R,R′)-C₂-ferriphos-tolyl, the asymmetric ring-opening reaction of N-Boc-azabenzonorbornadienes with dibenzylamine proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee) to give the corresponding 1,2-diamine scaffolds in high yields. The sequential deprotection of the ring-opened products and treatment with tartaric acid gave the enantiomerically pure 1,2-diamine tartrate salts. These salts were used for the preparation of new chiral ligands such as the salen-type ligands and Trost-type ligands.     

Atropisomeric lactam chemistry: catalytic enantioselective synthesis, application to asymmetric enolate chemistry and synthesis of key intermediates for NET inhibitors

In the presence of (R)-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst, the intramolecular N-arylation of ortho-tert-butyl-NH-anilides possessing an iodophenyl group proceeded in a highly enantioselective manner (89-98% ee) to give optically active atropisomeric lactams having an N-C chiral axis. MPLC purification of the enantio-enriched lactam products using an achiral silica gel column led to a further increase in the enantiomeric purity (>99% ee). The reaction of the lithium enolate prepared from the optically active atropisomeric lactam with various alkyl halides gave α-substituted and α,α-disubstituted lactam products with high diastereoselectivity. α-Alkylated lactam derivatives were efficiently converted to key intermediates for the synthesis of an NET inhibitor.     

Asymmetric cyanosilylation of ketones catalyzed by novel chiral N,N′-dioxide titanium complexes

A novel C₂-symmetric chiral N,N′-dioxide titanium complex was described, which could efficiently catalyze the asymmetric cyanosilylation of ketones in high yields with up to 92% ee under mild conditions. In addition, the catalyst system was simple and the ligands could be easily prepared from commercially available chiral amino acid.     

Rhodium/diene-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-Boc-protected α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam with arylboronic acids: enantioselective synthesis of 4-aryl-2-piperidinones

Utilizing toluene/isopropanol (20:1 to 40:1) as a solvent and KHF₂ as an additive, the rhodium/diene-catalyzed asymmetric arylation (RCAA) reaction of arylboronic acids to N-Boc-protected α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam proceeded smoothly to afford chiral 4-aryl-2-piperidinones with high to excellent yields (up to 94%) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Further conversion of adduct (R)-1-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-piperidone to (R)-Homobaclofen hydrochloride was also presented.     

Asymmetric N-Alkylation of 1H-Indoles via Carbene Insertion Reaction

An intermolecular enantioselective N-alkylation reaction of 1H-indoles has been developed by cooperative rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed N−H bond insertion reaction. N-Alkyl indoles with newly formed stereocenter adjacent to the indole nitrogen atom are produced in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Importantly, both α-aryl and α-alkyl diazoacetates are tolerated, which is extremely rare in asymmetric X−H (X=N, O, S et al.) and C−H insertion reactions. With this method, only 0.1 mol % of rhodium catalyst and 2.5 mol % of chiral phosphoric acid are required to complete the conversion as well as achieve the high enantioselectivity. Computational studies reveal the cooperative relay of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid, and the origin of the chemo and stereoselectivity.     

N-Salicyl-β-aminoalcohols as a new class of ligand for catalytic asymmetric Strecker reactions

An enantioselective Strecker synthesis employing novel chiral titanium complex catalysts derived from structurally simple chiral N-salicyl-β-amino alcohols is described. Reactions of N-benzylidenebenzylamine with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of the catalyst (10 mol%) gave the corresponding α-aminonitrile in good to excellent yields, along with relatively high enantioselectivity (up to 86% ee). Similar reactions with various imines derived from aromatic aldehydes resulted in moderate to good enantioselectivity (44-81% ee).     

New P,N-ferrocenyl ligands for rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration and palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

A set of nine new chiral P,N-ferrocenyl ligands for metal-catalyzed enantioselective reactions has been prepared. The rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of styrene with catechol borane proceeded with high regioselectivity (up to 97:3) or with high enantioselectivity (up to 92% ee) depending on the catalyst. Good results were also obtained in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of 1,3-diphenylallylic systems (up to 94% ee).     

Synthesis of a water-soluble cationic chiral diamine ligand bearing a diguanidinium and application in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A novel water-soluble cationic N-monosulfonated chiral diamine ligand diguanidinium 1c was easily prepared from (R,R)-DPEN and its rhodium complex and was successfully applied in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of prochiral ketones and imines in water by using sodium formate and formic acid as co-hydrogen donors. Various substrates were reduced with high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).     

Development of a new class of C1-symmetric bisphosphine ligands for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A new class of C₁-symmetric bisphosphine ligands with three hindered quadrants have been obtained through facile synthesis from chiral BINOL derivatives. Their rhodium complexes have exhibited high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) in the asymmetric hydrogenation of various unsaturated prochiral olefins, providing an efficient catalytic system for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral amino acids and amines.     

Carbohydrates as chiral auxiliaries in enantioselective synthesis of four stereoisomers of optically active α,γ-substituted γ-butyrolactones

Using several easily accessed and inexpensive chiral auxiliaries derived from carbohydrates, all four stereoisomers of the optically active α,γ-substituted γ-butyrolactones were obtained respectively in high enantiomeric purities (up to 96% ee for trans and up to >99% ee for cis) by the SmI₂-induced reductive coupling reaction in the presence of a proton source.     

Desymmetrizations of meso oxabicyclic compounds by asymmetric C-H insertion

meso Oxabicyclo[3.2.1]diazoketones underwent intramolecular C-H bond insertion to generate oxatricyclic compounds bearing fused cyclopentanones upon reaction with rhodium catalysts. Using the chiral catalyst Rh₂(S-BPTTL)₄, 44% ee was achieved in this desymmetrization reaction.     

Asymmetric synthesis of activated cyclopropanes catalyzed by cinchonidine as a chiral Brønsted base

Cinchonidine catalyzed the cyclopropanation reaction between chloromethyl ketones and β-substituted methylidenemalononitriles to give trans-cyclopropanes with enantioselectivity up to 82% ee. Experimental evidence suggests that cinchonidine functions as a chiral Brønsted base catalyst in the reaction and hydrogen bonding is essential for inducing high enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of N-Boc-imidazoles and oxazoles

Substituted imidazoles and oxazoles were respectively hydrogenated into the corresponding chiral imidazolines and oxazolines (up to 99% ee). The highly enantioselective hydrogenation was achieved by using the chiral ruthenium catalyst, which is generated from Ru(η(3)-methallyl)(2)(cod) and a trans-chelating chiral bisphosphine ligand, PhTRAP. This is the first successful catalytic asymmetric reduction of 5-membered aromatic rings containing two or more heteroatoms.     

Asymmetric addition of a Reformatsky-type reagent to 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxides

The asymmetric addition of a Reformatsky-type reagent, prepared in situ from diethylzinc and iodoacetic acid ester, to a carbon–nitrogen double bond in 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxides was achieved by utilizing diisopropyl (R,R)-tartrate as a chiral auxiliary to afford the corresponding (S)-1-substituted 2-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with enantioselectivities up to 86% ee.