Atropo-enantioselective synthesis of an axially chiral C1-symmetric phosphine ligand and its application in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes

The axially chiral monodentate phosphine P-8 was synthesized in enantiomerically pure form, starting from the readily available, configurationally unstable lactone 1. Furthermore, its application as a ligand in the Pd-catalyzed stereoselective hydrosilylation of styrenes was investigated.     

Atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral biaryl compounds

A rotationally hindered and thus stereogenic biaryl axis is the structurally and stereochemically decisive element of a steadily growing number of natural products, chiral auxiliaries, and catalysts. Thus, it is not surprising that significant advances have been made in the asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral biaryl compounds over the past decade. In addition to the classic approach (direct stereoselective aryl-aryl coupling), innovative concepts have been developed in which the asymmetric information is introduced into a preformed, but achiral-that is, symmetric or configurationally labile-biaryl compound, or in which an aryl--C single bond is stereoselectively transformed into an axis. This Review classifies these strategies according to their underlying concepts and critically evaluates their scope and limitations with reference to selected model reactions and applications. Furthermore, the preconditions required for the existence of axial chirality in biaryl compounds are discussed.     

Synthesis of enantiopure axially chiral C3-symmetric tripodal ligands and their application as catalysts in the asymmetric addition of dialkylzinc to aldehydes

The enantioselective synthesis of a novel-type C(3)-symmetric tripodal ligand that is composed of a central mesitylene-derived core and three functionalized, axially chiral biaryl subunits is described. The triol (M,M,M)-3 is a suitable catalyst for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to various aromatic aldehydes with asymmetric inductions of up to 98% ee.     

Highly efficient binding of trivalent f-elements from acidic media with a C3-symmetric tripodal ligand containing diglycolamide arms

Tripodal chelates bearing three diglycolamide units precisely arranged on a triphenoxymethane platform were synthesized to mimic the preferred tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry favored by lanthanides with oxygen donor ligands, and the ligand binds heavier lanthanides very efficiently in acidic media.     

Catalytic atropo-enantioselective reduction of biaryl lactones to axially chiral biaryl compounds

The atropo-enantioselective borohydride reduction with dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl lactones was catalyzed by an optically active beta-ketoiminatocobalt(II) complex to afford optically active biaryl compounds. Chiral HPLC analysis of the starting biaryl lactones was performed at various temperatures to determine suitable reaction conditions for dynamic kinetic resolution. Various types of axially chiral biaryl compounds were obtained with high enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of an axially chiral antimitotic biaryl via an atropo-enantioselective Suzuki cross-coupling

A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the axially chiral bridged biaryl (-)-2, a structural analogue of natural (-)-rhazinilam possessing original antimitotic properties, is described. The key step is an intermolecular asymmetric Suzuki coupling, furnishing the nonbridged biaryl (-)-6, precursor of (-)-2, with up to 40% ee using binaphthyl ligand 7a. Various known or new binaphthyl and ferrocenyl phosphines as well as phosphetanes were screened as ligands in this reaction, the conditions of which were optimized. The comparison with another Suzuki coupling system showed that 7a is the most versatile ligand described to date for this type of transformation. This work gives the first application of the asymmetric Suzuki coupling to a biologically relevant target.     

Applications of chiral C3-symmetric molecules

Throughout history symmetry and chirality have inspired artists and scientists alike. Given that rotational axes are the only elements of symmetry compatible with chirality, it is not surprising that C2- and C3-symmetrical molecules have attracted considerable attention. In recent years, the aesthetic appeal of C2-symmetrical molecules has been translated into many widely-used applications some of which are of commercial importance by its exploitation in the area of asymmetric catalysis. In contrast, exploitation of the arguably greater aesthetic appeal of C3-symmetric molecules is still in its infancy. This review, which surveys the applications of chiral C3-symmetrical molecules in the areas of asymmetric catalysis, molecular recognition and nanoarchitecture, has been designed with a view to identifying some of the most promising areas of application of these very beautiful molecules.     

Atropo-enantioselective reduction of configurationally unstable biaryl lactones with BINAL-H

The atropo-enantioselective reduction of configurationally unstable biaryl lactones with BINAL-H yields axially chiral biaryl alcohols in high enantiomeric ratios of up to 94:6 (er >99.5:0.5 after one crystallization step). Within this two-step reduction process the stereochemically deciding step is the first attack on the lactones and not the reduction of the likewise configurationally unstable biaryl lactol/hydroxy aldehyde intermediates, as evident from the non-stereoselective reduction of the latter under the same conditions.     

An efficient and versatile approach for optical resolution of C2-symmetric axially chiral biaryl dials. Synthesis of enantiopure biaryl-derived cyclic trans-1,2-diols

An efficient and practical method for optical resolution of axially chiral biaryl dials using enantiomeric tert-butanesulfinamide as resolving agent was developed. The approach offers a very convenient and straightforward access to versatile enantiomerically pure C2-symmetric biaryl dials in good yields. With the obtained axially chiral dials, stereoselective synthesis of a series of cyclic trans-1,2-diols in optically pure form was investigated.     

Unprecedented chiral molecular recognition in a C3-symmetric environment.

The enantiomeric recognition of alpha-chiral primary ammonium ions has been studied with benzene-based tripodal tris(oxazoline) receptors. Contrary to the literature and our expectation, a good level of chiral discrimination is observed with one of the tripodal receptors, which provides a C3-symmetric chiral environment on guest binding. The chiral discrimination has been found to be general in the case of alpha-aryl substituted guests, suggesting pi-pi interactions as an important factor. This result raises a question with respect to the origin of the chiral discrimination since little steric or electronic difference is expected between the diastereomeric inclusion complexes. Binding studies by NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry show that the chiral discrimination results from the different thermodynamic stabilities between the diastereomeric complexes and that the host-guest complex formation is driven by favorable enthalpy changes with a minor negative contribution by entropy changes. The X-ray crystal structures for both of the diastereomeric inclusion complexes are resolved, which unambiguously show the binding mode and provide clues on the origin of the chiral discrimination. Bond angle analyses indicate that the minor complex experiences a larger steric strain, which is discernible when it is viewed from "three-body" interactions between the host and the guest. The guest and oxazoline phenyl rings are well stacked, indicating interplay of the pi-pi interactions. The pi-pi interactions are believed to stabilize host-guest complexes, thereby endowing the highly flexible receptors with a substantial enantio-discrimination.     

C2-symmetric chiral disulfoxide ligands in rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition: from ligand synthesis to the enantioselection pathway

A family of chiral C(2)-symmetric disulfoxide ligands possessing biaryl atropisomeric backbones has been synthesized by using the Andersen methodology. Complete characterization includes X-ray crystallographic studies of all ligands and some of their rhodium complexes. Their synthesis, optical purity, electronic properties, and catalytic behavior in the prototypical rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to 2-cyclohexen-1-one are presented through an in depth study of this ligand class. Density functional theory calculations on the step of the catalytic cycle that determines the enantioselectivity are presented and reinforce the first hypothetical explanations for the high levels of asymmetric induction observed.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of indanones: development of a new "axially chiral" bisphosphine ligand

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric isomerization of racemic alpha-arylpropargyl alcohols to beta-chiral indanones has been developed. High enantioselectivity has been realized by the use of a newly developed axially chiral bisphosphine ligand. This ligand is unique in the sense that its axial chirality is fixed to a single configuration upon complexation to a transition metal due to other chiral axes existing within the same molecule.     

Phosphine ligands featuring C−N chiral axis applicable to tetra-ortho-substituted biaryl synthesis

Very recently, introducing an asymmetric carbazole unit to the phenyl ring at the ortho-position of P atom, Kwong and co-workers designed a novel type of atropisomeric phosphines featuring C−N axial chirality, and provided a mild synthetic method for enantioenriched tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls via Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. In this editorial, the challenge and novelty of ligand design as well as corresponding reaction mechanism was highlighted, revealing great potential in the frontier transition-metal catalysis by designing new chiral catalytic system bearing the “Pd-arene-walking” characteristic.

1. Download : Download high-res image (118KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Enantioselective synthesis of DIANANE, a novel C2-symmetric chiral diamine for asymmetric catalysis

DIANANE (endo,endo-2,5-diaminonorbornane) is a novel chiral C(2)-symmetric diamine, based on the rigid bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane scaffold. Schiff-base ligands derived from DIANANE have already found use in asymmetric catalysis, e.g., in the highly enantioselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. We herein describe a practical synthesis of enantiomerically pure DIANANE, starting from norbornadiene in four steps: (i) Pd-MOP catalyzed Hayashi-hydrosilylation/Tamao-Fleming oxidation, (ii) oxidation to norbornane-2,5-dione, (iii) endo-selective reductive amination with benzylamine, and (iv) hydrogenolytic debenzylation. None of the steps involves chromatographic purification. For the Tamao-Fleming oxidation, the use of hydrogen peroxide in the form of its urea clathrate instead of aqueous solution proved beneficial. By the above sequence, enantiomerically pure (ee >or=99%) DIANANE was obtained from norbornadiene in 40-50% overall yield. The relative and absolute configuration of DIANANE was confirmed by X-ray crystallography of the DIANANE bis-tosylamide, and of its bis-camphorsulfonamide. Furthermore, the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the Schiff-base ligand derived from DIANANE and 3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylic aldehyde are reported.     

Application of axially dissymmetric ligand recoverable with fluorous solvent as a chiral auxiliary

(Ra)-(R)₂-2,2′-Bis(1-hydroxy-1H-perfluorooctyl)biphenyl ((Ra)-(R)₂-1c), which is an axially dissymmetric ligand with two chiral centers, works as a good chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reaction. Thus, the reaction of monopropanoyl ester of 1c (2) with benzaldehyde in the presence of triethylamine and titanium(IV) chloride gave (2R),(3S)- and (2R),(3R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid esters (3a) in an approximate ratio of 4:1 in a total high yield. This result shows that stereoselectivity at 2-position is quite high, while that at 3-position is moderate. Both isomers were easily separated by column chromatography. Methanolysis of the separated isomers gave nearly quantitative recovery of 1c by extraction with a fluorous solvent without any loss of ee, while methyl (2R),(3S)- or (2R),(3R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoates were obtained by CH₂Cl₂ extraction quantitatively in >99% ee. Aldol reaction of 2 with various aldehydes gave similar results.     

Breaking the C3-symmetry of chiral tripodal oxazolines: enantio-discrimination of chiral organoammonium ions

[structure: see text] A phenylglycinol-derived tripodal oxazoline with C1-symmetry (C1-PhBTO) was synthesized, and its enantioselective recognition behavior toward alpha-chiral primary organoammonium ions was studied. The C1-PhBTO receptor showed higher selectivity with an opposite sense of enantio-discrimination compared to other C1-symmetric analogues examined but lower selectivity with the same sense of enantioselection compared to its C3-symmetric analogue. Binding studies indicated that the C1-symmetric receptors, particularly C1-PhBTO, interact with the guests in a 2:1 host-guest complex mode in stark contrast to its C3-symmetric analogues.