Asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic ketones catalyzed by the TolBINAP/DMAPEN-ruthenium(II) complex: a significant effect of N-substituents of chiral 1,2-diamine ligands on enantioselectivity

Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of Ru(II) catalysts coordinated by TolBINAP and a series of chiral 1,2-diamines was studied. The sense and degree of enantioselectivity were highly dependent on the N-substituents of the diamine ligands. The N-substituent effect was discussed in detail. Among these catalysts, the (S)-TolBINAP/(R)-DMAPEN-Ru(II) complex showed the highest enantioselectivity. The mode of enantioface selection was interpreted by using transition state models based on the X-ray structure of the catalyst precursor. The chiral catalyst effected the hydrogenation of alkyl aryl ketones and arylglyoxal dialkyl acetals to afford the chiral alcohol in >99% ee in the best cases. Hydrogenation of racemic benzoin methyl ether with the chiral catalyst through dynamic kinetic resolution gave the anti-alcohol (syn:anti = 3:97) in 98% ee, while the reaction of alpha-amidopropiophenones resulted in the syn-alcohols (syn:anti = 96:4 to >99:1) in >98% ee.     

Ni(II) complexes containing chiral tridentate phosphines as new catalysts for the hydroamination of activated olefins

Ni(II) complexes containing chiral tridentate ferrocenyl phosphines(Ni(PPP)) have been found to efficiently catalyse the hydroamination of activated olefins with both anilines and aliphatic amines at r.t. (TON up to 71, TOF up to ca. 3 h-1, and enantioselectivities up to 69% ee).     

Platinum-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of secondary phosphines: enantioselective synthesis of p-stereogenic phosphines

The chiral Pt catalyst precursor Pt((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(Cl) mediated alkylation of racemic secondary phosphines PHR(R') with benzyl halides in the presence of base to give enantioenriched tertiary phosphines PR(R')(CH2Ar). Similar reactions of bis(secondary) phosphines yielded chiral diphosphines in up to 93% ee and with good rac/meso diastereoselection.     

Synthesis of new mono-functionalised tetrathiafulvalene derivatives by reactions of etrathiafulvalenyllithium with aldehydes and ketones: X-ray crystal structures of TTF-CMe(OH)Fc, TTF-CMe(OMe)Fc and TTF-CH(OMe)TTF (Fc = ferrocenyl)

Reactions of tetrathiafulvalenyllithium (TTF-Li) with a range of aldehydes and ketones have been explored for the first time, to provide an efficient route to mono-functionalised TTF derivatives of general formulae TTF-CH(OH)R (R = alkyl, phenyl, tetrathiafulvalenyl and ferrocenyl) and TTF-CR(OH)R′ (R = alkyl, phenyl, R′ = alkyl, phenyl, tetrathiafulvalenyl, ferrocenyl, and R-R′ = fluorenyl). Subsequent transformations involving the reactive alcohol group of some of these compounds are reported. The structures of the three title compounds have been established by single-crystal X-ray analysis.     

New chiral ferrocenyl P,S-ligands for highly diastereo-/enantioselective catalytic [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with cyclic and acyclic enones

A new family of chiral ferrocenyl P,S-ligands has been developed and successfully applied in a highly endo-selective catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with various enones, including cyclic and acyclic α-enones. For cyclic α-enones, a [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]ClO(4)/(R(c),S(Fc))-2f complex catalyzed the cycloaddition to give the sole endo-cycloadducts in perfect enantioselectivities (normally 99% ee), while an AgOAc/(R(c),S(Fc))-2f catalytic system exhibited good endo/exo selectivities (endo/exo = 91/9 to 96/4) and high enantiocontrol (up to 98% ee) for acyclic α-enones.     

Following an ISES lead: the first examples of asymmetric Ni(0)-mediated allylic amination

An ISES (in situ enzymatic screening) lead pointed to conditions (PMP N-protecting group, Ni(cod)(2) catalyst precursor) under which chiral, bidentate phosphines could promote Ni(0)-mediated allylic amination. Therefore, bidentate phosphines bearing central, axial, and planar chirality were examined with two model substrates of interest for PLP-enzyme inhibitor synthesis. In the best case, with (R)-MeO-BIPHEP, vinylglycinol derivative 2 was obtained in 75% ee (97% ee, one recrystallization) from 1. Further manipulation provided a Ni(0)-mediated entry into l-vinylglycine. [reaction: see text]     

2-amino-substituted 1-sulfinylferrocenes as chiral ligands in the addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes

A simple and modulable access to a structural variety of enantiopure amino-substituted ferrocenyl sulfoxides and their use as chiral catalysts in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes is described. Moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) were obtained in the case of the arylsulfonamide ligands (R(Fc), R(S))-4h and (R(Fc), R(S))-4i. It has been demonstrated that the planar chirality of the ferrocene unit is the decisive chiral element involved in the reaction.     

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.     

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of simple ketones with chiral ferrocenyl P,N,N-ligands

The Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of simple aromatic ketones with chiral ferrocenyl P,N,N-ligands has been developed. Under the optimized conditions, a wide range of ketones were hydrogenated to afford the corresponding chiral alcohols in good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%?ee).     

General stereoretentive preparation of chiral secondary mixed alkylmagnesium reagents and their use for enantioselective electrophilic aminations

A general preparation of enantiomerically and diastereomerically enriched secondary alkylmagnesium reagents was reported as well as their use for performing highly stereoselective transition-metal free electrophilic aminations leading to α-chiral amines in up to 97% ee. Thus, the reaction of t-BuLi (2.2 equiv.) with a mixture of chiral secondary alkyl iodides and the commercially available magnesium reagent Me₃SiCH₂MgCl in a 2 : 1 mixture of pentane and diethyl ether at up to −50 °C provided optically enriched secondary mixed alkylmagnesium species of the type alkyl(Me)CHMgCH₂SiMe₃ with high retention of configuration (up to 99% ee). The resulting enantiomerically enriched dialkylmagnesium reagents were trapped with electrophiles such as non-enolizable ketones, aldehydes, acid chlorides, isocyanates, chlorophosphines and O-benzoyl hydroxylamines providing α-chiral tertiary alcohols, ketones, amides, phosphines and tertiary amines in up to 89% yield (over three reaction steps) and up to 99% ee.

We report a general method for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched secondary alkylmagnesium reagents, which undergo highly stereoselective transition-metal free electrophilic aminations, leading to α-chiral amines in up to 97% ee.     

Ferrocene‐modified thiopyrimidines: synthesis,enantiomeric resolution,antitumor activity

Ferrocenylalkyl thiopyrimidines ( 6a–d to 9a–d ) were prepared via the reaction of the α‐(hydroxy)alkyl ferrocenes, FcCHR(OH) ( 1a–d ; Fc = ferrocenyl; R = H, Me, Et, Ph), with 2‐thiopyrimidines ( 2 – 5 ) in acetone at room temperature in the presence of TFA, yielding 50–95%. The resulting enantiomers were resolved using HPLC on modified cellulose as chiral selector. The antitumor activities of S‐ferrocenylethyl 2‐thiopyrimidine ( 6b ) against two murine solid tumor models, carcinoma 755 (Ca755) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) were evaluated in vivo. The strong antitumor effect of compound 6b on Ca755 and LLC was demonstrated. The index of tumor growth inhibition on Ca755 equaled 95% in comparison with control. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CBS法合成光学活性二茂铁基醇

以非天然氨基酸合成的手性β-氨基醇(4a～4c)为催化剂，用于不对称硼烷还原反应来合成光学活性的二茂铁基醇(1a～1e)，对映体过量值高达96%。     

A highly selective ferrocene-based planar chiral PIP (Fc-PIP) acyl transfer catalyst for the kinetic resolution of alcohols

Novel planar chiral ferrocene nucleophilic catalysts (Fc-PIP) containing both central and planar chiral elements were designed and synthesized for catalytic enantioselective acyl transfer of secondary alcohols. A remarkably efficient catalyst with high selectivity factors (up to S = 1892) was identified. Comparing the combination of central and planar chirality revealed a strong requirement for the "matched" chiral elements, indicating that the stereogenic center of the imidazole rings should present itself on the same face as the ferrocenyl fragment; otherwise, the catalyst is completely inactive. An exclusively stacked transition state that accounts for the high selectivity of the kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols is proposed. Notably, this newly designed catalyst family is suitable for the catalytic kinetic resolution of bulky arylalkyl carbinols, producing esters with extremely high ee (>99%).     

Ferrocenyl bis-phosphine ligands bearing sulfinyl,sulfonyl or sulfenyl groups: applications in asymmetric hydrogenation and allylic alkylation reactions

A new series of chiral ferrocenyl bis-phosphine ligands have been synthesized. Elements of planar and central chirality have been incorporated into a ferrocene backbone through sulfinyl, sulfonyl and sulfenyl groups at the ortho-position to the phosphines. The effectiveness of these ligands has been demonstrated in Rh-catalyzed hydrogenations and Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations.     

Enantioselective copper-catalysed propargylic substitution: synthetic scope study and application in formal total syntheses of (+)-anisomycin and (-)-cytoxazone

A copper catalyst with a chiral pyridine-2,6-bisoxazoline (pybox) ligand was used to convert a variety of propargylic esters with different side chains (R=Ar, Bn, alkyl) into their amine counterparts in very high yields and with good enantioselectivities (up to 90% enantiomeric excess (ee)). Different amine nucleophiles were applied in the reactions and the highest enantioselectivities were obtained for aniline and its analogues. Interestingly, some carbon nucleophiles could also be used and with indoles excellent ee values were obtained (up to 98% ee). The versatility of the propargylic amines obtained was demonstrated by their further elaboration to formal total syntheses of the antibiotic (+)-anisomycin and the cytokine modulator (-)-cytoxazone.     

Enantioselective addition of secondary phosphines to methacrylonitrile: catalysis and mechanism

A highly enantioselective intermolecular hydrophosphination reaction is described. The (Pigiphos)nickel(II)-catalyzed reaction of secondary phosphines and methacrylonitrile gives chiral 2-cyanopropylphosphines in good yield and high enantiomeric excess (ee's up to 94%; (R)-(S)-Pigiphos = bis[(R)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethyl}cyclohexylphos phine). We propose a mechanism involving coordination of methacrylonitrile to the dicationic nickel catalyst followed by 1,4-addition of the phosphine, and then, rate-determining proton transfer. This mechanism is supported by (a) the experimentally determined rate law (rate = k'[Ni][methacrylonitrile][t-Bu(2)PH]), (b) a large primary deuterium isotope effect k(H)/k(D) = 4.6(1) for the addition of t-Bu(2)PH(D) at 28.3 degrees C in toluene-d(8), (c) the isolation and characterization of the species [Ni(kappa(3)-Pigiphos)(kappaN-methacrylonitrile)](2+), and (d) DFT calculations of model compounds.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of di and trisubstituted enol phosphinates with N,P-ligated iridium complexes

The iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various di- and trisubstituted enol phosphinates has been studied. Excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and full conversion were observed for a range of substrates with both aromatic and aliphatic side chains. Enol phosphinates are structural analogues of enol acetates, and the hydrogenated alkyl phosphinate products can easily be transformed into the corresponding alcohols with conservation of stereochemistry. We have also hydrogenated, in excellent ee, several purely alkyl-substituted enol phosphinates, producing chiral alcohols that are difficult to obtain highly enantioselectively from ketone hydrogenations.     

New chiral ferrocenyl P,S-ligands for highly diastereo- and enantioselective Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

A new family of chiral ferrocenyl P,S-ligands incorporating an indole ring at the α-ferrocenylmethyl position has been prepared via a Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of (R_c,S_Fc)-PPFA with a variety of 2-indole thioethers. These newly developed ferrocenyl P,S-ligands proved to be efficient in the AgOAc-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with various dipolarophiles, giving cycloadducts with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Highly anti-selective SN2' substitutions of chiral cyclic 2-iodo-allylic alcohol derivatives with mixed zinc-copper reagents

[reaction: see text] Functionalized allylic electrophilic reagents such as chiral 2-iodo-1-cyclohexenyl and -cyclopentenyl phosphates undergo highly stereoselective anti-S(N)2'-allylic substitution reactions with a wide range of organozinc reagents (R(2)Zn and RZnI) leading to chiral products with a transfer of the chiral information >95%. The use of functionalized organozinc iodides allows preparation of the bicyclic enones 8 and 9 in >or=93% ee.     

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of thiocarboxylate ions: asymmetric synthesis of allylic thioesters and memory effect/dynamic kinetic resolution of allylic esters

The palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of KSAc and KSBz with racemic cyclic and acyclic allylic esters by using N,N'-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexandiylbis[2-(diphenylphosphino)-benzamide] as ligand frequently gave the corresponding allylic thioesters with high ee values and yields. The reaction of the cyclic allylic carbonates with KSAc in the presence of H(2)O was accompanied by a partial palladium-catalyzed enantioselective "hydrolysis" of the substrates with formation of the corresponding enantioenriched allylic alcohols. The degree of the "hydrolysis" was strongly dependent on the solvent and the thiocarboxylate ion. Highly selective kinetic resolutions (KRs) were observed in the palladium-catalyzed reaction of the racemic cyclohexenyl and cycloheptenyl acetates with KSAc. While the KR of the cyclohexenyl acetate is characterized by a selectivity factor S = 72 +/- 19, that of the cycloheptenyl acetate afforded (R)-cycloheptenyl acetate of >or=99% ee in 48% yield and (S)-cycloheptenyl thioacetate of 98% ee in 50% yield. The palladium-catalyzed reaction of the racemic cyclopentenyl acetate with KSAc showed a strong "memory effect" (ME), that is, both enantiomers reacted with different enantioselectivities. The ME was probed by studying the palladium-catalyzed reactions of both the matched acetate of >or=99% ee and the mismatched acetate of >or=99% ee with KSAc. The acetates not only reacted with different enantioselectivities and rates but also suffered an unexpected and concomitant palladium-catalyzed racemization in the presence of the chiral ligand. This led in the case of the mismatched acetate to a temporary dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) that featured a racemization of the mismatched acetate by the chiral catalyst. Studies of the palladium-catalyzed reaction of the racemic cyclopentenyl acetate, carbonate, and naphthoate with KSAc in the presence of the chiral ligand also showed the ME to be strongly dependent on the nucleofuge. This also allowed the synthesis of (S)-cyclopentenyl thioacetate of 92% ee in high yield from the racemic cyclopentenyl naphthoate.