Chiral metal cluster and nanocluster complexes and their application in asymmetric catalysis

Asymmetric catalysis has always been the focus of attention for synthetic chemistry. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis and asymmetric catalysis application of chiral metal clusters, nanoclusters and nanoparticles.     

Exploring structural effects of ketone catalysts on asymmetric epoxidation of olefins

Several ketone catalysts containing spiro ethers and lactones have been investigated for the asymmetric epoxidation of olefins. The results showed that substituents on the spiro ring of the ketone catalysts have profound effects on enantioselectivity. Results also suggested that the high enantioselectivities previously observed for conjugated cis-olefins with oxazolidinone containing ketones could be partially due to attractive interactions between the R_π group of the olefin and the carbonyl group of the oxazolidinone. In addition, nonbonding interactions such as van der Waals forces and/or hydrophobic interactions between the olefin substituents and the nitrogen substituents of the oxazolidinone may also be involved in stereodifferentiation. The information gained provides additional understanding of factors important for ketone catalyzed epoxidations.     

Organocatalyzed asymmetric α-hydroxyamination of α-branched aldehydes: asymmetric synthesis of optically active N-protected α,α-disubstituted amino aldehydes and amino alcohols

Enantioselective direct α-hydroxyamination and α-aminoxylation of α-branched aldehydes using a proline-derived tetrazole catalyst is described herein. α-Hydroxyamination adducts with up to 90% ee were obtained by the reaction of nitrosobenzene with unactivated α-branched aldehydes under mild reaction conditions.     

2-Pyridylsulfinamides as effective catalysts in the asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes with diethylzinc

Chiral 2-pyridylsulfinamides were shown to be effective catalysts in the alkylation of aryl and alkyl aldehydes with diethylzinc providing the corresponding alcohols in excellent enantioselectivity. Sulfinamide catalysts possessing solitary chirality at the sulfur center produced the product phenethyl alcohol in good enantioselectivity. Diastereomeric sulfinamides possessing chirality at the carbon-bearing nitrogen and at the sulfur of the sulfinamide increased the enantioselectivity of the product alcohols up to >99%. However, there is no effect of the match-mismatch pair of sulfinamide diastereomers on the outcome of the chiral induction of the product phenethyl alcohols. It was conclusively proved that chirality at the sulfur center is mandatory for obtaining good enantioselectivity in the reaction.     

Catalytic asymmetric brominative dearomatization reaction of benzofurans

A catalytic asymmetric brominative dearomatization reaction of benzofuran derivatives was achieved by using hydroquinidine 1,4-phthalazinediyl diether [(DHQ)₂PHAL] as the catalyst and N-bromoacetamide (NBAc) as the brominating reagent. A series of brominated spiro[benzofuran-2,5'-oxazoles] bearing two contiguous stereogenic centers were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee).     

Organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reactions mediated by a cysteine-derived prolinamide

In this Letter, a cysteine-derived prolinamide is described to act as a robust and effective organocatalyst for enantioselective aldol reactions.     

Recent progress on direct catalytic asymmetric vinylogous reactions

Direct catalytic asymmetric vinylogous reaction serves as a powerful tool to introduce stereocenter(s) at the γ- or/and even more remote position(s) of the vinylogous products in an atom-economical and efficient way. A variety of direct catalytic asymmetric vinylogous reactions with broad substrate scope and mild reaction conditions has been developed. Both metal catalysis and organocatalysis contributed in this field and led to the vinylogous products in high stereoselectivity. These vinylogous reactions provided efficient pathways for the synthesis of highly functionalized optically pure compounds, especially these with potential biological activity and pharmacological activity. This digest paper mainly focuses on the most recent developments in this field, including both nucleophilic addition and nucleophilic substitution.     

Highly selective hydroaminomethylation of internal alkenes to give linear amines

The application of phenoxaphosphino-modified Xantphos-type ligands (1-9) in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation of internal olefins to give linear amines is reported. Excellent chemo- and regioselectivities have been obtained through the use of 0.1 mol % [Rh(cod)2]BF(4)/0.4 mol % xantphenoxaphos (1), providing a practical and environmentally attractive synthetic route for the preparation of amines from internal alkenes. For the first time, both functionalized internal olefins and mixtures of internal and terminal olefins have been converted highly selectively into linear amines. Investigations of the effects of the calculated natural bite angles of ligands on hydroaminomethylation shows that the regioselectivity for the linear product follows a similar trend to that seen in the hydroformylation of internal alkenes with the aid of these ligands. Hydroaminomethylation and each of its individual steps were monitored by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that hydroaminomethylations take place by a sequential isomerization/hydroformylation/amination/hydrogenation pathway.     

微通道反应器在不对称催化中的应用

不对称催化是合成手性化合物的重要手段,针对该领域已开展了大量的研究工作并获得了引人瞩目的研究成果。相比于传统的釜式反应器,微通道反应器具有传质/传热效率高、反应时间短、易于自动化和提高安全性等优势。因此,将微通道反应器应用于不对称催化领域已成为当前的研究热点,并且在耦合在线分析、多相催化和光催化等领域已展现出良好的应用前景。本文对近年来微通道反应器在不对称催化领域中的最新研究进展进行总结和综述,并对未来的发展方向进行展望。     

一种新型双亲性有机小分子催化剂在水相体系中催化环己酮与硝基烯烃直接不对称Michael加成反应

设计合成了一系列基于脯氨酸巯基咪唑衍生物的新型双亲性有机小分子催化剂,在水相中加入酸作为助催化剂,可以高效高选择性的催化环己酮与硝基烯烃的不对称Michael加成反应,非对映选择性和对映选择性分别高达99：1和96%.     

Recent advances in the asymmetric catalytic synthesis of chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindoles and derivatives: Medicinally relevant compounds

Several oxindole derivatives, of natural or synthetic origin, have been identified as medicinally appealing compounds, with a plethora of bioactivities reported. Chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindole scaffolds have captured the attention of several research groups, due to their importance in drug discovery. In this review, we systematically address the wide variety of asymmetric catalytic methodologies employed in the preparation of these relevant chiral scaffolds, present in many biologically active compounds and/or natural products. Special focus will be given to the nature of the catalyst used.     

Enantioselective γ-addition reaction of rhodanines to allenoates catalyzed by chiral phosphine-carbamate

Phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective γ-additions of rhodanines to allenoates have been developed for the first time. With the employment of chiral cyclohexane-based phosphines, a wide range of substituted rhodanine derivatives containing tertiary chiral centers were constructed in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Regioselective hydroaminomethylation of 1,1-diaryl-allyl-alcohols: a new access to 4,4-diarylbutylamines

Pharmacologically active 4,4-diarylbutylamines like Fluspirilene and 4-amino-1,1-diarylbutan-1-ols like Difenidol were prepared in high yields via rhodium catalysed hydroaminomethylation of 1,1-diaryl-allylalcohols. Conversion of these olefins with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and secondary amines proceeds with complete regioselectivity. This group can easily be removed under acidic and hydrogenating conditions, enabling the transformation of 4-amino-1,1-diarylbutan-1-ols to 4,4-diarylbutylamines in high yields. Thus Fluspirilene was synthesised in 88% yield in four steps starting from commercially available materials.     

Ionic liquids incorporating camphorsulfonamide units for the Ti-promoted asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde

New hydrophobic ionic liquids containing chiral camphorsulfonamide units were used as chiral auxiliaries in the titanium catalyzed asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde. The ionic catalyst system shows catalytic properties similar to those of related nonionic counterparts in terms of activity and enantioselectivity. Interestingly, the ionic ligands can easily be recycled and re-used without loss of activity or selectivity.     

Quinine-catalyzed asymmetric domino Michael-cyclization reaction for the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles bearing two spiro quaternary centers and three consecutive stereocenters

An efficient organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective method for the construction of spirocyclic oxindole derivatives bearing two spiro quaternary centers and three consecutive stereocenters via a domino Michael/cyclization process has been developed. Using commercially available quinine as catalyst, the reactions of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with unsaturated pyrazolones and unsaturated isoxazolones proceeded smoothly under mild reaction conditions for giving two classes of spirocyclic oxindole compounds in high to excellent yields with moderate to good diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. A plausible dual activation working model was tentatively proposed to account for the stereochemistry of the domino Michael/cyclization process.     

Phosphonium ion tagged chiral phosphoric acids and their application in Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles

The attachment of phosphonium ion phase tags to chiral binapthyl-based phosphoric acid catalysts, and the use of these materials in a range of organocatalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles has been studied. Placement of the tags at the 3 and 3′ positions of the phosphoric acid, so that they could serve as steric blocking groups, failed to produce an active catalyst. However, moving the phosphonium ion groups to the 6 and 6′ positions produced an efficient and enantioselective catalyst. Aided by the presence of the phase tags, the chiral catalyst was easily removed at the end of the reactions, and could be reused several times, albeit with somewhat decreased efficiency and enantioselectivity.     

Rationally designed organocatalyst for direct asymmetric aldol reaction in the presence of water

A rationally designed organocatalyst for direct asymmetric aldol reaction in the presence of water has been developed. High yield (up to 99%), diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivity (up to 97%) were obtained under optimal conditions.     

A new dinuclear chiral salen complexes for asymmetric ring opening and closing reactions: Synthesis of valuable chiral intermediates

A new dinuclear chiral Co(salen) complexes bearing group 13 metals have been synthesized and characterized. The easily prepared complexes exhibited very high catalytic reactivity and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric ring opening of epoxides with H₂O, chloride ions and carboxylic acids and consequently provide enantiomerically enriched terminal epoxides (>99% ee). It also catalyzes the asymmetric cyclization of ring opened product, to prepare optically pure terminal epoxides in one step. The homogeneous dinuclear chiral Co(salen) have been covalently immobilized on MCM-41. The potential benefits of heterogenization include facilitation of catalyst separation and recyclability requiring very simple techniques. The system described is very efficient.     

Optically active ruthenium porphyrins: chiral recognition and asymmetric catalysis

The current applications of ruthenium porphyrins in stoichiometric and catalytic asymmetric reactions are reported. Chiral recognition of racemic phosphines, isocyanides and amino esters has been studied by ¹H-NMR. Experimental investigations of the oxidation mechanism of racemic phosphines and amino esters are described. The stereochemistry of catalytic asymmetric oxidation and cyclopropanation of olefins with optically active ruthenium porphyrins are also discussed.     

Cp*rhodium complexes with salicyloxazolines: Diastereoselective synthesis, configurational stability and use as asymmetric catalysts for a Diels-Alder reaction

Reaction of [RhCl₂Cp*]₂ (Cp* = η-C₅Me₅) with salicyloxazolines in the presence of NaOMe gives complexes [RhCl(R-saloxaz)Cp*] (1-4) which have been fully characterised. The diastereoselectivity of complexation depends on the substituents and the absolute configuration at the metal centre is unstable in solution. Treatment of 2 with 4-methylpyridine and NaSbF₆ in methanol at reflux gave [Rh(4-Mepy){(S)-ⁱPr-saloxaz}Cp*][SbF₆] (5) whilst [Rh(OH₂)(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF₆] (6) was prepared by reaction of 1 with AgSbF₆. Three complexes, [RhCl(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*] (1), [RhCl{(S)-ⁱPr-saloxaz}Cp*] (2), and [Rh(OH₂)(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF₆] (6) have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Some of the complexes, after treatment with AgSbF₆, have been tested as enantioselective catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction of methacrolein with cyclopentadiene.