Catalysis of enantioselective [2+1]-cycloaddition reactions of ethyl diazoacetate and terminal acetylenes using mixed-ligand complexes of the series Rh2(RCO2)n(L*4-n). Stereochemical heuristics for ligand exchange and catalyst synthesis

This paper describes the synthesis of mixed Rh(2)(II) complexes containing bridging acetate and R,R-diphenyl-N-triflylimidazolidinone (DPTI) ligands (1, 2, and 9-19), and their function as enantioselective catalysts for the conversion of ethyl diazoacetate and terminal acetylenes to chiral cyclopropenes. Of these catalysts, 1 and 10 functioned with the highest enantioselectivity, in accord with a mechanistic model in which one of the ligand bridges is broken in the intermediate Rh-carbene complex. The synthetic results allow conclusions with regard to kinetically and thermodynamically favored pathways for the synthesis of mixed acetate-DPTI complexes. A new C(2)-symmetric complex having only two anti-DTBTI bridges (23) is shown to be a highly effective chiral catalyst, as expected from the model.     

Mechanism and origin of enantioselectivity in the Rh2(OAc)(DPTI)3-catalyzed cyclopropenation of alkynes

The mechanism of cyclopropenations of alkynes with ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by Rh2(OAc)4 and Rh2(OAc)(DPTI)3 (1) is studied by a combination of kinetic isotope effects and theoretical calculations. With each catalyst, a significant normal 13C KIE was observed for the terminal acetylenic carbon, while a very small 13C KIE was observed at the internal acetylenic carbon. These isotope effects are predicted well from canonical variational transition structures for cyclopropenations with intact tetrabridged rhodium carbenoids. A viable mechanism based on the recently proposed importance of a [2 + 2] cycloaddition on a tribridged rhodium carbenoid could not be identified. An explanation for the enantioselectivity with DPTI ligands is described.     

Catalytic enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction of 2-methoxycarbonyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one by chiral copper catalyst

A new catalytic system for enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction of 2-methoxycarbonyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one with thioacetylene derivatives is described. The use of a catalytic amount (20-30 mol%) of copper(II) salt with chiral bis-pyridine ligand was found to be effective in promoting the [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction, furnishing the corresponding bicyclic compound in good yield and good enantioselectivity.     

Theory-guided discovery of unique chemical transformations of cyclopropenes

[reaction: see text] Chiral 2-cyclopropenyl-4-tolyl sulfones, available by the [2 + 1]-cycloaddition of tosyldiazomethane to acetylenes under catalysis by the Rh(II) complex 1, provide a number of unusual transformations and useful chiral products. This chemistry is dominated by the unusual strain and reactivity of the cyclopropene ring system.     

Infinite sheet structure of disodium tetra-μ-acetato- dichlorodirhodate(II) tetrahydrate

The binuclear rhodium(II) complex Na2[Rh2Cl2(OAc)4]· 4H2O has an infinite sheet structure. Binuclear anionic complexes [Rh2Cl2(OAc)4]2– are bound with cationic entities. The Na+ cation has pseudooctahedral coordination and is surrounded by two chloro ligands and two oxygen atoms of bridging acetato ligands of two [Rh2Cl2(OAc)4]2– anions and two water molecules. Both Cl and H2O are bridging ligands involved in formation of the Na+ chains. The remaining water molecules are located between sheets.     

Selectivity enhancement in the Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene with (silanyloxyvinyl)diazoacetates

The cyclopropanation of styrene with (silanyloxyvinyl)diazoacetates proceeds with exceptional diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral Rh(II) catalysts. 1,8-Naphthoyl-protected amino acids are the most effective Rh(II) ligands for these transformations. [reaction--see text]     

Enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of cis-2-aryl-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans via the Rh(II)-catalyzed C-H insertion process

[formula: see text] The enantioselective intramolecular C-H insertion reaction of aryldiazoacetates has been explored with use of dirhodium(II) carboxylate catalysts, which incorporate N-phthaloyl- or N-benzene-fused-phthaloyl-(S)-amino acids as chiral bridging ligands. Dirhodium tetrakis[N-phthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh2(S-PTTL)4, has proven to be the catalyst of choice for this process, providing exclusively cis-2-aryl-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dihydobenzofurans in up to 94% ee.     

Cycloaddition chemistry of 2-vinyl-substituted indoles and related heteroaromatic systems

[reaction: see text] The intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction (IMDAF) of several N-phenylsulfonylindolyl-substituted furanyl carbamates containing a tethered pi-bond on the indole ring were examined as an approach to the iboga alkaloid catharanthine. Only in the case where the tethered pi-bond contained two carbomethoxy groups did the [4 + 2]-cycloaddition occur. Push-pull dipoles generated from the Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of diazo imides, on the other hand, undergo successful intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition across both alkenyl and heteroaromatic pi-bonds to provide novel pentacyclic compounds in good yield and in a stereocontrolled fashion. The facility of the cycloaddition was found to be critically dependent on conformational factors in the transition state. Ligand substitution in the rhodium(II) catalyst markedly altered the product ratio between [3 + 2]-cycloaddition and intramolecular C-H insertion. The variation in reactivity reflects the difference in electrophilicity between the various rhodium carbenoid intermediates. Intramolecular C-H insertion is enhanced with the more electrophilic carbene generated using Rh(II) perfluorobutyrate.     

Highly enantioselective catalytic hydrogenation of a 5-amino-3,5-dioxopentanoic ester

The highly enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl 4-tert-butylcarbamoyl-3-oxo-butyrate to the corresponding secondary alcohol, representing an interesting chiral building block, for example, for the synthesis of statins, has been investigated in the presence of homogeneous chiral Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes bearing phosphine ligands. The highest enantioselectivity (up to 96%) was achieved with a [Ru((R)-BINAP)(p-cymene)Cl]Cl complex (sub./cat. ratio 100:1, 5 bar H₂, rt, MeOH).     

A novel,C2-symmetric,chiral bis-cyclosulfinamide-olefin tridentate ligand in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-additions

A C₂-symmetric, chiral bis-cyclosulfinamide-olefin ligand composed of two 1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1,2-benzisothiazole moieties with rigid skeletons and a conformationally flexible butenylene chain is disclosed for the first time. HRMS and ¹H NMR analyses verify that the in situ-generated complex of the ligand and [Rh(C₂H₄)₂Cl]₂ possesses a rhodium (I) center coordinated to the tridentate ligand via two sulfinyl moieties and a CdbndC bond. The chiral ligand provided extremely high enantioselectivity (up to >99%ee) in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids to cyclohexenone and cyclopentenone. The tridentate ligand gave much higher enantioselectivity than the analogous chiral bidentate ligands.     

Thiacalix[3]pyridine produces a stable mononuclear rhodium(II) complex with mutual Jahn-Teller effect

Thiacalix[3]pyridine (Py3S3) consists of pyridines and bridging sulfur atoms producing a stable octahedral mononuclear Rh(II) complex [Rh(II)(Py3S3)2]2+ showing mutual Jahn-Teller effect, a metal based reversible redox couple of Rh(III/II) at 0.02 V vs. SCE and a g(perpendicular) > g(||) relationship in EPR measurements.     

High enantioselectivity in rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1-substituted 2-propenyl acetates

[reaction: see text] Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1-substituted 2-propenyl acetates with dimethyl malonate proceeded with high enantioselectivity in the presence of cesium carbonate as a base and a rhodium catalyst generated from Rh(dpm)(C(2)H(4))(2) (dpm = dipivaloylmethanato) and a chiral phosphino-oxazoline whose basic skeleton is axially chiral binaphthyl to give branch alkylation products in greater than 90% ee.     

Synthesis of new chiral monodentate phosphite ligands and their use in catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] New monodentate phosphite ligands have been developed from axially chiral biphenols, which show excellent enantioselectivity in the Rh(I)-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate. The new chiral ligand system is suitable to create libraries and possesses fine-tuning capability.     

Synergistic effect of binary component ligands in chiral catalyst library engineering for enantioselective reactions

This article highlights our recent efforts in the development of highly efficient and cost-effective chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions through a combinatorial approach by assembling the component ligands (at least one of which is in non-racemic form, while the other might be optically pure, racemic or achiral) with metal ions to generate modular chiral catalyst libraries. The synergistic effect of the binary ligands in terms of both enantioselectivity and activity of the catalysis has been observed in a variety of catalyst systems, including catalysts containing Ti(IV), Zn(II), Rh(I) or Ru(II) ions, for asymmetric hetero-Diels-Alder, carbonyl-ene, alkylation, and hydrogenation reactions, respectively.     

Asymmetric intermolecular C-H functionalization of benzyl silyl ethers mediated by chiral auxiliary-based aryldiazoacetates and chiral dirhodium catalysts

[reaction: see text] C-H functionalization of benzyl silyl ethers by means of rhodium-catalyzed insertions of aryldiazoacetates can be achieved in a highly diastereoselective and enantioselective manner by judicious choice of chiral catalyst or auxiliary. The dirhodium tetraprolinates such as Rh2((S)-DOSP)4 have been widely successful as chiral catalysts in the C-H functionalization chemistry of aryldiazoacetates, but give poor enantioselectivity in the reactions of aryldiazoacetates with benzyl silyl ether derivatives. The use of (S)-lactate as a chiral auxiliary resulted in C-H functionalization with moderately high diastereoselectivity (79-88% de) and enantioselectivity (68-85% ee). The best results (91-95% de, 95-98% ee), however, were achieved using Hashimoto's Rh2((S)-PTTL)4 catalyst.     

Synthesis of (+/-)-3H-epivincamine via a Rh(II)-triggered cyclization/cycloaddition cascade

A synthesis of (+/-)-3H-epivincamine is reported. Important steps include (1) a Rh(II)-catalyzed intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition of an alpha-diazo indolo amide, (2) a reductive ring opening of the cycloadduct, (3) a decarboethoxylation reaction, and (4) a base-induced keto-amide ring contraction.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-tricycloclavulone

The first total synthesis of (+)-tricycloclavulone having a unique tricyclo[5,3,0,01,4]decane skeleton and six chiral centers was achieved in a highly stereoselective manner. It includes a catalytic enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction using novel chiral copper catalyst, extremely effecting an intramolecular ester transfer reaction, and asymmetric reduction of the carbonyl group on the alpha-chain using Noyori's chiral ruthenium catalyst.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins catalysed by furanoside thioether-phosphinite Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes

Thioether-phosphinite ligands (P-SR, R = Ph, Pr(I) and Me) bearing substituents with different steric demands on the sulfur centre were tested in the rhodium- and iridium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins. High enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%) and good activities (TOF up to 860 mol product x (mol catalyst precursor x h)(-1)) were obtained for alpha-acylaminoacrylates derivatives. Our results show that enantiomeric excesses depended strongly on the steric properties of the substituent in the thioether moiety, the metal source and the substrate structure. A bulky group in the thioether moiety along with the metal Rh had a positive effect on enantioselectivity. Reaction of these chiral ligands with [M(cod)2]BF4(M = Ir, Rh; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) yielded complexes [M(cod)(P-SR)]BF4, which were present in only one diastereomeric form having the sulfur substituent in a pseudoaxial disposition. The addition of H2 to iridium complexes gave the cis-dihydridoiridium(iii) complexes [IrH2(cod)(P-SR)]BF4. For complexes [IrH2(cod)(P-SPh)]BF4 and [IrH2(cod)(P-SMe)] only one isomer was present in solution. However, for the complex [IrH2(cod)(P-Si-Pr)]BF4, which contained the more hindered substituent on sulfur, two isomers were detected. In all cases there was a pseudoaxial disposition of the sulfur substituents.     

A Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–ZnII Complex Catalyzes the Enantioselective [2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkynones with Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers

A highly efficient enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition between alkynones and cyclic enol silyl ethers was developed by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐zinc(II) complex as a catalyst. This method functions well for a variety of terminal alkynes as well as cyclic enol silyl ethers, with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). This is also the first successful example for the catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition of internal alkynes with cyclic enol silyl ethers to give fully substituted cyclobutenes. Meanwhile, the desired cyclobutene product can easily be transformed into fused cyclobutane derivatives.     

Synthesis of 7,7’-Disubstituted BINAP and Their Application in Asymmetric Catalytic Reaction

The design of new chiral ligands plays a very important role in the development of transition metal catalyzed asymmetric synthesis. Many chiral diphosphine ligands have been prepared and applied in asymmetric catalytic reactions with excellent enantioselectivities. Among the chiral diphosphine ligands reported, BINAP was found to have been the widest application in the transition metal catalyzed reaction. Recently we have developed a novel oxovanadium (Ⅳ) complex catalyst for the oxidative …