Origins of enantioselectivity in the chiral diphosphine-ligated CuH-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones

Computational investigations on the asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone over ligated CuH catalysts were performed with the DFT method. The calculations predict that the catalytic reaction involves two steps: (1) CuH addition to the carbonyl group via a four-membered transition state (TS) with the formation of copper-alkoxide intermediates; (2) regeneration of the ligated CuH catalyst by an external SiH(4) through a metathesis process to yield the corresponding silyl ether. The calculations in the chiral diphosphine-ligated CuH systems suggest that the metathesis process is the rate-determining step (RDS). The CuH addition step is vital for the distribution of the racemic products and therefore represents the stereo-controlling step (SCT). In this step, the greater steric hindrance between the aromatic rings of the ligands and the substrate is identified as the major factor for enantioselectivity. The corresponding TS in the face-to-face mode, suffering less steric hindrance, is more stable than its analogue in the edge-to-face mode. The enantioselectivities are calculated to be related not only to the P-Cu-P bite angles in the stereo-controlling TSs, but also to the substituents at the P-aryl rings of the chiral ligands. In short, a larger P-Cu-P bite angle and suitably modified P-aryl rings together are necessary to achieve excellent ee values.     

Pd-NHC-catalyzed synthesis of diaryl ketones

With N-hetereocyclic carbene and palladium catalysis, diaryl ketones with a variety of functional groups that span from electron withdrawing to electron donating substitutions can be conveniently synthesized using the corresponding aryl boronic acid and N-acyloxyphthalimide.     

An iron-catalysed hydrosilylation of ketones

The combination of Fe(OAc)2 and multi-nitrogen-based ligands such as N,N,N',N'-tetramethyethylenediamine, bis-tert-butyl-bipyridine, or bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine can efficiently catalyse hydrosilylation of ketones to give the corresponding alcohols in high yields including asymmetric catalysis.     

A catalyst-free synthesis of asymmetric diaryl ketones from aryltins

A series of diaryl ketones have been synthesized in good yields (40-78%) through the catalyst-free reaction of trimethylarylstannanes with aroyl chlorides in chlorobenzene as solvent. In addition, an attractive feature is that these reactions are completely regioselective making possible the synthesis of diarylketones which are not usually available under the influence of the directing forces of the substituents present in the aromatic ring. Also, the reaction conditions are mild enough to be applied to acid sensitive molecules.     

Study on the reactivity of diarylmethane derivatives in supercritical alcohols media: reduction of diarylmethanols and diaryl ketones to diarylmethanes using supercritical 2-propanol

We found that diarylmethanols and diaryl ketones were smoothly reduced to the corresponding diarylalkanes using supercritical 2-propanol in good yields. Furthermore, we determined the specific reaction of fluorene using supercritical methanol at high temperature.     

Rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones using HETPHOX ligands

The HETPHOX ligand class was applied to the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of a range of substituted acetophenones. Enantioselective hydrosilylation of acetophenone with the tert-butyl substituted HETPHOX ligand gave (R)-phenylethanol in excellent enantioselectivity (84% ee) and in good conversion (80%). When applied to the hydrosilylation of other ketones conversions up to 93% and enantioselectivities up to 88% were observed.     

P/S ligands derived from carbohydrates in Rh-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones

Reported is the synthesis of a number of diastereomerically pure cationic Rh(I)-complexes I starting from phosphinite thioglycosides. These complexes were used in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of prochiral ketones. The reactivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction was shown to be dependent on the pyranose ring, the substituent at the sulfur atom, the hydroxylic protective groups and most significantly on the alkene co-ligand.     

Pd-catalyzed selective hydrosilylation of aryl ketones and aldehydes

Pd salts in combination with triethylsilane as hydride source and DMF as solvent has been found to be excellent catalytic combination that selectively reduces aryl ketones and aldehydes under mild conditions to afford triethylsilyloxy compounds in excellent yields. Product selectivity to the respective benzyl alcohols can however be achieved when the reaction was performed in DMF/H₂O (4:1) as solvent system.     

Synthesis of diaryl ketones via a phosphine-free Fukuyama reaction

The synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl ketones via the Fukuyama coupling of thioesters and organozinc reagents is described. Typically, the synthesis of diaryl ketones using this methodology provides low yields. The simple complex, Pd(dba)(2), was found to convert a variety of aryl thioesters to diaryl ketones in good yields.     

Imino-bridged heterocycles. IV . A facile synthesis of sulfenimines derived from diaryl ketones

Efficient, high-yield syntheses of N-diarylmethylene sulfenamides (sulfenimines) have been developed under mild laboratory conditions. Diaryl ketones have been shown to form ketimines readily by condensation with ammonia in the presence of titanium tetrachloride.     

Reversed-polarity synthesis of diaryl ketones via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of acylsilanes

Acylsilanes serve as acyl anion equivalents in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with aryl bromides to give unsymmetrical diaryl ketones. Water plays a unique and crucial activating role in these reactions. High-throughput experimentation techniques provided successful reaction conditions initially involving phosphites as ligands. Ultimately, 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6-phenyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phosphaadamantane was identified as giving a longer-lived catalyst with higher turnover numbers. Its use, in conjunction with a palladacycle precatalyst, led to optimal reaction rates and yields. Scope and limitations of this novel method are presented along with initial mechanistic insight.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones: I. Chiral phosphine-platinum(II) complex-catalyzed hydrosilylation.

Dichlorobis(dimethylphenylphosphine)di-μ-chlorodiplatinum(II) was found to be an effective catalyst for the hydrosilylation of alkyl phenyl ketones with methyldichlorosilane to give the corresponding silyl ethers of 1-phenylalkanols. In the case of dialkyl ketones, the reaction was accompanied by formation of silyl enol ethers in considerable amounts. Asymmetric hydrosilylation of a series of alkyl phenyl ketones catalyzed by chiral phosphine- platinum(II) complexes was undertaken. The products were readily converted into partially active 1-phenylalkanols.     

One-pot synthesis of diaryl ketones from aldehydes via palladium-catalyzed reaction with aryl boronic acids

A Pd-catalyzed coupling-type reaction of aldehydes and organoboronic acids was achieved in the presence of P(1-nap)₃, using Cs₂CO₃ in toluene, providing diaryl ketones with yields ranged from moderate to excellent. The efficiency of this reaction was demonstrated by the compatibility with nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, fluoro and chloro groups. Moreover, the rigorous exclusion of air/moisture is not required in these transformations.     

Asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones catalysed by a chiral rhodium complex

Synthesis of optically active alkoxysilanes by asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones, in the presence of a chiral phosphine—rhodium complex, is described; optical yields up to 46% are observed.     

Copper(I) hydride-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of heteroaromatic ketones

In situ generation of CuH ligated by Takasago's new nonracemic ligand, DTBM-SEGPHOS, leads to an especially reactive reagent capable of effecting asymmetric hydrosilylation of heteroaromatic (H) ketones under very mild conditions. PMHS serves as an inexpensive source of hydride. Substrate-to-ligand ratios on the order of 2000:1 are employed. [reaction: see text]     

Catalyst development for organocatalytic hydrosilylation of aromatic ketones and ketimines

A new family of Lewis basic 2-pyridyl oxazolines have been developed, which can act as efficient organocatalysts for the enantioselective reduction of prochiral aromatic ketones and ketimines with trichlorosilane, a readily available and inexpensive reagent. 1-Isoquinolyl oxazoline, derived from mandelic acid, was identified as the most efficient catalyst of the series, capable of delivering high enantioselectivities in the reduction of both ketones (up to 94% ee) and ketimines (up to 89% ee).     

Fluoride ion-induced hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones under phase-transfer conditions

The hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones with dimethylphenylsilane occurs readily in dichloromethane at room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of caesium fluoride and 18-crown-6 to afford silyl ethers of the corresponding aryl and hetaryl carbinols in good yields.     

New developments in zinc-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones with PMHS

The influence of structural modifications of the diamine ligand and the ZnR₂ precursor in the [ZnR₂-diamine]-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of prochiral ketones with PMHS in aprotic medium is reported. A new diamine ligand giving up to 91% ee in the reduction of acetophenone is described. The scope of this reduction system has been investigated using variously functionalized ketones and some deactivation pathways have been identified.