Synthesis of novel chiral Schiff-base ligands and their application in asymmetric nitro aldol (Henry) reaction

Chiral Schiff-bases prepared from chiral amino alcohols catalyze the enantioselective Henry (nitro aldol) reaction between nitromethane and p-nitrobenzaldehyde in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂ and Zn(OTf)₂. Zn(OTf)₂ promoted the reaction yield, while Cu(OTf)₂ promoted the enantiomeric excess. The highest enantioselectivities were observed with ligand 3 (44% ee) and ligand 5 (47% ee).     

Discovery of a new efficient chiral ligand for copper-catalyzed enantioselective Michael additions by high-throughput screening of a parallel library

A combinatorial library of 125 chiral Schiff base ligands 5 was synthesized with the use of solution-phase parallel synthesis and solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques to scavenge excess reagents and reaction by-products and avoid chromatography. The synthetic methodology coupled five N-Boc-protected beta-amino sulfonyl chlorides 1a-e with five different amines 2f-j to give 25 N-Boc sulfonamides 3, which were in turn deprotected and coupled with five salicylaldehydes 4p-t to give 125 ligands 5 in good yields and of sufficient purity to be used in ligand-catalyzed reactions. These ligands were tested in the copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of dialkyl zinc to cyclic and acyclic enones. A multisubstrate high-throughput screening of the library was performed with an equimolar mixture of 2-cyclohexenone and 2-cycloheptenone (9 and 10, respectively, 0.2 mmol total), with 5.5 mol% ligand 5 (0.011 mmol) and 5 mol% Cu(OTf)2 (OTf= OSO2CF3) (0.010 mmol) in 1:1 toluene/ hexane at - 20 degrees C. From the screening of the library, 5bhr was identified as the best ligand, which yielded 3-ethylcyclohexanone (12) and 3-ethylcycloheptanone (13) in 82% and 81% ee, respectively, and complete conversions. Under optimized conditions (2.75 mol% 5bhr, 2.5 mol% copper(i) triflate, toluene as reaction solvent), improved results were obtained for 12 (90% ee, 93% yield) and for 13 (91% ee, 95% yield). Selected ligands 5 were also tested in the addition of Me2Zn to 2-cyclohexenone (9, ee up to 79%), of Et2Zn to 2-cyclopentenone (11, ee up to 80%) and to acyclic enones 16 and 17 (ee up to 50%).     

Synthesis of chiral 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines by the intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3

The intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral amino alcohols 1 with 99% ee was developed to construct chiral 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline 2. Bi(OTf)(3) (10 mol %)-catalyzed cyclization of 1 (R = H) afforded (S)-1-(E)-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 2 (R = H) in 83% yield with a ratio of 98:2. The stereochemistry at the newly formed chiral center was produced by a syn S(N)2'-type process. In this reaction, the substituent on the benzene ring of 1 significantly affected the reactivities and selectivities. A plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Enantioselective copper catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction using chiral quinoline-phosphine ligand

A new chiral copper (II) catalyst was prepared from Cu(OTf)₂ and chiral pyridine-phosphine ligands 1–2 in dichloromethane and used in the Diels-Alder reaction of 3-acryloyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-one with cyclopentadiene leading to enantioselectivities up to 99%.     

Practical asymmetric Henry reaction catalyzed by a chiral diamine-Cu(OAc)2 complex

The chiral diamine ligand 3 was designed and synthesized from (R,R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, (S)-2,2'-dibromomethyl-1,1'-binaphthalene, and o-xylylene dibromide. The resulting 3-Cu(OAc)2 complex was a highly efficient catalyst for the Henry reaction, giving the various nitroaldols with over 90% ee (up to >99%). The reaction was performed in n-propyl alcohol at room temperature, and the Henry adducts were produced in high yield with excellent enantiomeric excess; these attributes are desirable in a catalyst for practical use.     

Highly efficient chemical kinetic resolution of bishomoallylic alcohols: synthesis of (R)-sulcatol

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient chemical kinetic resolution of bishomoallylic alcohols was developed when the alcohols underwent In(OTf)(3)-catalyzed 3,5-oxonium-ene-type cyclization with steroidal aldehyde 2. Consistently high enantiomeric excess (up to >99%) was obtained.     

Design and synthesis of chiral N-chloroimidodicarbonates: application to asymmetric chlorination of silyl enol ethers

New chiral N-chloroimidodicarbonates, which function as efficient chiral chlorinating agents, were designed and synthesized. Among these, C(2)-symmetric (1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthyl-N-chloroimidodicarbonate 2a provided moderate to good enantioselectivity (up to 40%) for the chlorination of silyl enol ethers to afford alpha-chloroketones only in the presence of a suitable Lewis acid such as Sm(OTf)(3).     

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of dialkyl zinc to nitro-olefins

[reaction: see text]The copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc onto various nitro-olefins has been carried out with excellent results. An enantiomeric excess of up to 94% was obtained using 0.5% Cu(OTf)2 and 1% of chiral trivalent phosphorus ligand.     

Highly enantioselective alkynylation of alpha-keto ester: an efficient method for constructing a chiral tertiary carbon center

The asymmetric addition of terminal alkynes to alpha-keto ester was carried out using a catalytic amount of (1S,2S)-3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyl)-2-N,N-(dimethylamino)-1-(p-nitrophenyl)-propane-1-ol in the presence of Zn(OTf)(2) to give the corresponding tertiary propargylic alcohols in high yields with up to 94% ee. N-Methylephedrine and Zn(OSO(2)CHF(2))(2) were also examined in this reaction. [reaction: see text]     

Optically active 1,2-bis(1-arylhydroxymethyl) ferrocene: a new, efficient chiral ligand for scandium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction

[reaction: see text] The Sc(OTf)3/FERRODIOL (2) complex was prepared at -78 degrees C in CH2Cl2 in the presence of 2,6-lutidine and MS 4A. The chiral scandium Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene (3) with 3-acyloxazolidin-2-ones (4) effectively produced the adduct (5) in a high yield with good selectivity, i.e., endo/exo = 90:10 up to 91% ee (endo).     

Asymmetric Henry reactions catalyzed by metal complexes of chiral oxazoline based ligands

Chiral oxazolines have been synthesized from norephedrine and pyrrole nitrile or benzoyl chloride and applied to the catalytic asymmetric Henry reactions of p-nitro aldehydes with nitromethane to provide β-hydroxy nitroalkanols in high conversion (up to 92%). The reaction was then optimized in terms of the metal, solvent, temperature, and amount of chiral ligand. The corresponding catalyst with Cu(OTf)₂ and isopropanol as the solvent gave the best enantioselectivities (up to 84% ee) of the corresponding β-nitroalkanol for p-nitrobenzaldehyde.     

Hydroxy-amide functionalized azolium salts for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition: stereocontrol based on ligand structure and copper precatalyst

A series of hydroxy-amide functionalized azolium salts have been designed and synthesized for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition reaction. The (CH(2))(2)-bridged hydroxy-amide functionalized azolium ligand precursors 2, in addition to the previously reported CH(2)-bridged azolium salts 1, have been prepared from readily available enantiopure β-amino alcohols. The combination of a Cu species with 1 or 2 efficiently promoted the 1,4-addition reaction of cyclic enones with dialkylzincs. For example, the reaction of 2-cyclohepten-1-one (17) with Bu(2)Zn in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)(2) and 1 gave (S)-3-butylcycloheptanone (20) in 99% yield and 96% ee. On the other hand, when the reaction was carried out under the influence of Cu(OTf)(2) combined with 2, (R)-20 in preference to (S)-20 was obtained in 98% yield and 80% ee. In this manner, the enantioselecvity was switched by controlling the structure of chiral ligand. Additionally, the reversal of enantioselectivity was also achieved by changing the Cu precatalyst from Cu(OTf)(2) to Cu(acac)(2) with the same ligand. The combination of Cu(acac)(2) with CH(2)-bridged azolium salt 1 in the reaction of 17 with Bu(2)Zn led to formation of (R)-20 as a major product in 55% yield and 80% ee. This result was in contrast to the Cu(OTf)(2)/1 catalytic system, where the 1,4-adduct with opposite configuration was obtained. Moreover, use of the Cu(acac)(2)/2 catalytic system produced (S)-20, while (R)-20 was formed by the Cu(OTf)(2)/2 catalytic system. Thus, it was found that either varying the linker of the chiral ligands or changing the counterion of Cu species between a OTf and acac ligand initially on the metal led to dual enantioselective control in the 1,4-addition reaction.     

Enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of Brassard’s diene with aldimines catalyzed by chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yb(OTf)3 complex

The chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yb(OTf)₃ complex-catalyzed enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of Brassard’s diene with aldimines has been developed, giving the corresponding α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam derivatives in moderate yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 81% ee and up to 99% ee by single recrystallization) under mild conditions. Isolation of the reaction intermediate indicates that this asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction proceeds through a stepwise Mannich-type pathway.     

Synthesis of Novel Bisoxazoline Ligands for the Enantioselective Diels-Alder Reaction

The Diels-Alder reaction is the most useful method for six-membered ring formation1. As a consequence, a number of effective enantioselective processes have been developed over the years 2-4. Of particular interest, metal bisoxazoline complexes formed fro…     

Enantio- and diastereoselective construction of vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers by catalytic Michael reaction of α-substituted β-keto esters to cyclic enones

A catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective Michael reaction was achieved to construct vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers in one step. Using 5 mol % of La(O-i-Pr)₃ and 10 mol % of a new N-linked-BINOL type ligand, the reaction of α-substituted β-keto esters to cyclic enones provided the corresponding Michael adducts in up to quantitative yield with a diastereomeric ratio up to 86/14 and enantiomeric excess up to 86% for the major isomer. An alternative catalyst preparation method using La(OTf)₃ instead of La(O-i-Pr)₃ was also examined.     

An Asymmetric, bifunctional catalytic approach to non-natural alpha-amino acid derivatives

A catalytic, asymmetric process for the synthesis of 1,4-benzoxazinones from o-benzoquinone imides and ketene enolates is reported. Addition of Lewis acids (Zn(OTf)2, In(OTf)3, and in particular Sc(OTf)3) creates a bifunctional catalytic system that dramatically increases the reaction rate and the yield of these non-natural amino acid precursors while preserving the remarkable enantioselectivity inherent to the reaction. Cocatalyst Sc(OTf)3 increases the yield by up to 42% while producing products in >99% ee.     

Asymmetric reduction of oxime ethers promoted by chiral spiroborate esters with an O3BN framework

Enatioselective reduction of oxime ethers promoted by chiral spiroborate esters with an O3BN framework is reported for the first time. In the presence of (R,S)-1, 11 aralkyloxime ethers are reduced by borane-THF at 0-5 degrees C to give (S)-1-aralkylamine in high yield and excellent enatiomeric excess (up to 98% ee). Influence of reaction conditions on the enantioselectivity of the reduction is investigated, and a possible mechanism of the catalytic reduction is suggested.     

P=C bonds as building blocks for three- and four-membered heterocyclic cations: synthesis, structures and mechanistic studies

The activation of the P=C bond of phosphaalkenes with electrophiles is investigated as a means to prepare and characterize unusual organophosphorus compounds. Treatment of RP=CHtBu (1a: R=tBu; 1b: R=1-adamantyl) with HOTf (0.5 equiv) affords diphosphiranium salts [RP-CHtBu-PR (CH(2)tBu)]OTf ([2a]OTf and [2b]OTf), each containing a three-membered P(2)C ring. In contrast, the addition of MeOTf (0.5 equiv) to either 1a or 1b affords diphosphetanium salts [RP-CHtBu-P(Me)R-CHtBu]OTf ([3a]OTf and [3b]OTf) containing four-membered P(2)C(2) heterocycles. The phosphenium triflate [tBuP(CH(2)tBu)]OTf ([5a]OTf) and methylenephosphonium triflate [tBu(Me)P=CHtBu]OTf ([7a]OTf) are identified spectroscopically as intermediates in the formation of [2a](+) and [3a](+), respectively. The phosphenium triflate intermediate can be trapped with 2-butyne to afford phosphirenium salt [MeC=CMe-tBuPCH(2)tBu]OTf ([6a]OTf). Treatment of diphosphetanium [3a]OTf with an excess MeOTf affords [Me(2)P-CHtBu-PMetBu-CHtBu](OTf)(2) ([4a](OTf)(2)), a compound containing a diphosphetanium dication. The molecular structures are reported for [2a]OTf, [2b][H(OTf)(2)], [3a]I, [3b]I, [4a](OTf)(2), and [6a]OTf.     

Cycloheptyne intermediate in the reaction of chiral cyclohexylidenemethyliodonium salt with sulfonates

Reactions of (R)-4-methylcyclohexylidenemethyl(phenyl)iodonium salt and its 3-trifluoromethylphenyl and 4-methoxyphenyl derivatives (1) with tetrabutylammonium mesylate and triflate were carried out in chloroform at 60 degrees C. The products include (S)-4-methylcyclohexylidenemethyl sulfonate (2) and (R)-5-methylcyclohept-1-enyl sulfonate (3) as well as iodoarene. Reactions of (S)-1 were confirmed to provide the counterpart results. The rearranged triflate (R)-3Tf formed in the reaction with triflate maintains mostly the ee (enantiomeric excess) of (R)-1, while the ee of the mesylate product 3Ms is largely lost. The (13)C-labeling at the exocyclic position of 1 results in the isotopic scrambling of C-1 and C-2 of 3Ms in the mesylate reaction. The degree of the scrambling agrees well with that of the loss of ee of (R)-3Ms obtained from (R)-1, implying that the racemization is not due to the intermediate formation of achiral, primary 4-methylcyclohexylidenemethyl cation. Reaction of 1 with mesylate in the presence of CH(3)OD provided the 3Ms deuterated at the 2-position. When tetraphenylcyclopentadienone was added to the mesylate reaction system, the adduct of the 4-methylcycloheptyne intermediate was obtained in 24% yield, but the normal products 2Ms and 3Ms were still formed. The 3Ms obtained here in a low yield maintains the high ee of 1. These results indicate that the cycloheptyne is an intermediate responsible for the formation of racemic product 3Ms in the mesylate reaction. It is also concluded that the unrearranged products 2 are formed via the competitive pathways of in-plane and out-of-plane S(N)2 reactions.     

Synthesis of novel thiophene‐based chiral ligands and their application in asymmetric Henry reaction

Novel chiral thiolated amino alcohols were synthesized from norephedrine and thiophene carbaldehydes (methyl‐ or ethyl‐substituted) and applied to the catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction of various aldehydes with nitromethane to provide β‐hydroxy nitroalkanols in high conversion (92%). The reaction was optimized in terms of the metal, solvent, temperature and amount of chiral ligand. The corresponding catalyst with Cu(OTf)₂ and 2‐propanol as the solvent provided the best enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) of the corresponding nitroalcohols for aliphatic aldehydes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.