Synthesis of hindered chiral guanidine bases starting from (S)-(N,N-dialkyl-aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and BrCN

An efficient method for the preparation of hindered chiral guanidines using cyanogen bromide is described. The reaction between BrCN and vicinal diamines derived from (S)-2-(N,N-dialkyl-aminomethyl)-pyrrolidines provides chiral substituted cyanamides. The cyanamide derivatives reacted with secondary amines in hexafluoroisopropanol at reflux to form chiral hindered guanidines, which were isolated in good to excellent yields (70–96%). The chiral guanidines were prepared in an effort to design sophisticated chiral guanidine catalysts for asymmetric synthesis.     

Enantioselective catalytic synthesis of ethyl mandelate derivatives using Rh(I)–NHC catalysts and organoboron reagents

Herein we describe for the first time the enantioselective catalytic arylation of ethyl glyoxalate using phenylboron reagents and chiral rhodium(I)–NHC catalysts. KO^tBu was the base of choice, along with tert-amyl alcohol as the solvent. A novel chiral bis-imidazolium salt was synthesized and evaluated for the first time in this catalytic transformation. Although moderate enantioselectivities (up to 34% ee) were obtained for the phenylation reaction, despite the excellent yields, very low enantioselectivities were obtained using other arylboronic acids with a variety of chiral rhodium(I)–NHC catalysts.     

Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters catalyzed by new squaramide-linked bisoxazoline–Zn(OTf)2 complexes

Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions of indoles with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters catalyzed by novel chiral C₂-symmetric squaramide-linked bisoxazoline–Zn(OTf)₂ complexes were investigated. The corresponding indole ketoesters were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 98%) and with high enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). This is the first report on the use of chiral squaramide-linked bisoxazoline SQBOX in a catalytic enanitioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction.     

Synthesis of chiral β2-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation

The synthesis of chiral β²-amino acids by homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation is discussed. Prochiral β-aryl- or β-hetaryl-α-N-benzyl/N-acetyl/N-Boc substituted α-aminomethylacrylates used as substrates were prepared by a Baylis–Hillman reaction, followed by acylation and amination. For the asymmetric hydrogenation, a large variety of chiral, preferentially rhodium catalysts bearing commercially available phosphorus ligands were tested. Conversions and enantioselectivities were dependent on the reaction conditions and varied strongly between the substrates used. A chiral N-α-phenylethyl group supports the stereoface discriminating ability of the chiral catalysts and thus a matching pair effect could be realized. In strong contrast, a chiral ester group has almost no effect in this respect. In some cases the use of the corresponding substrate acid was better in comparison to the use of its ester. After optimization of the hydrogenation conditions (chiral catalyst, H₂-pressure, temperature, solvent), full conversions and products with up to 99% ee were achieved.     

Chiral 3-aminopyrrolidines as a rigid diamino scaffold for organocatalysis and organometallic chemistry

Over 20 new and easily prepared diamines were screened for the asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction. Chiral non-racemic 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1-methylpyrrolidine was found to promote efficiently the reaction of methyl vinyl ketone and substituted benzaldehydes. Enantiomeric excesses up to 73% were reached with electron-deficient benzaldehyde derivatives. After a simple deprotonation, one of these diamines was transformed into a chiral mixed aggregate for the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-1-o-tolylethanol with 76% ee.     

cis–trans Enantiomerism in the Diels–Alder cycloadducts of 6-arylfulvenes with maleic anhydride: resolution of the exo adducts via the N-((1S)-1-(naphth-1-yl)ethyl)imide derivatives: assignment of the absolute configurations based on the crystal structure of an imide diastereomer

A new case of the uncommon cis–trans enantiomerism is presented. The titled anhydride adducts were prepared in good yields by the known reaction of three 6-arylfulvenes with maleic anhydride (aryl = phenyl, p-tolyl and p-anisyl). The exo adducts were converted to the corresponding imides by reaction with (1S)-1-(naphth-1-yl)ethylamine in ∼80% yields, and the resulting diastereomeric imides separated by silica gel column chromatography. They were hydrolysed and recyclised to the chiral anhydrides, in ‘one-pot’ with 10% NaOH–EtOH, followed by treatment with 2 M HCl, in ∼40% yields. The titled anhydrides were thus obtained in homochiral form, in enantiomeric purities (generally) of ∼90% as indicated by chiral HPLC. The chiral anhydrides were also converted to the corresponding imides (presumably stereospecifically), by treatment with ammonia solution in excellent yields. The crystal structure of one of the above diastereomeric imides (derived from 6-phenylfulvene) was determined, and based on the known (S)-configuration of the naphthylethylamine moiety, the ‘configurations’ of the original anhydride adducts were assigned.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of the chiral chromenes by domino oxa-Michael-aldol reaction

The proline based chiral organocatalyst has been found to be an efficient catalyst for enantioselective domino oxa-Michael-aldol reaction. This catalytic system provided the synthesis of substituted 2-aryl-2H-chromenes-3-carbaldehyde in good to high yields (73%–97%) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97%) and reasonable reaction times. The atom economy, high yield and mild reaction conditions are some of the important features of this protocol.     

Asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylates

The first Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of chiral glyoxylic acid derivatives, i.e. N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam and (−)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate is described. The reaction with cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeded under the catalytic influence of dimethyl sulfide in the presence of titanium tetrachloride. The adducts were obtained with very high diastereoisomeric excess (over 95% d.e.) and typical yields of 78%. The absolute configuration of the newly created stereogenic center was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Iridium-catalyzed cascade decarbonylation/highly enantioselective Pauson–Khand-type cyclization reactions

An easily accessible chiral iridium-BINAP complex can effect the cooperative processes of decarbonylation of an aldehyde and cascaded enantioselective Pauson–Khand-type reaction. A survey of ligands revealed that atropisomeric aryl-diphosphine ligands were superior to chiral alkyl-diphosphines in this dual catalysis. Applying the reaction conditions of [IrCl(COD)]₂/(S)-BINAP complex with nonylaldehyde as a CO surrogate at 100 °C in anhydrous dioxane solvent, various 1,6-enynes were transformed to the corresponding optically active bicyclic cyclopentenones with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Axially chiral phosphine–oxazoline ligands in the silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of fluorinated aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran

Axially chiral phosphine–oxazoline ligand L7, prepared from (S)-binol, was found to be a fairly effective chiral ligand in the silver(I)-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich reaction of fluorinated aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran to give the corresponding adducts in up to 99% yield, over 20:1 dr and 81% ee.     

A convenient method for the preparation of chiral phosphonoacetamides and their Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction

Chiral phosphonoacetamides bearing (S)-(α-methylbenzyl)benzylamine, (S,S)-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine, l-phenylglycine methyl ester and l-phenylglycinol were easily prepared in good yield by means of the Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction of chiral bromoacetamides obtained in quantitative yield, with trimethyl phosphite, which under Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons conditions with several aryl and alkyl aldehydes under Masamune–Roush procedure using LiCl and DBU in THF or toluene gave the corresponding chiral α,β-unsaturated amides. The present procedure is a convenient and efficient methodology for the preparation of phosphonoacetamides and chiral α,β-unsaturated amides in high E-selectivity.     

Asymmetric zinc-Reformatsky reaction of Evans chiral imide with acetophenones and its application to the stereoselective synthesis of triazole antifungal agents

The Ni(acac)₂ catalytic ZnEt₂-mediated asymmetric Reformatsky-type reaction of Evans chiral imide with various acetophenones was studied. The chiral imido zinc enolate, which was formed through the metal–halogen exchange reaction of chiral α-bromopropionyl-2-oxazolidinones 2 with diethyl zinc under the catalysis of Ni(acac)₂, performed the asymmetric zinc-Reformatsky reaction with activated α-haloacetophenones 3 to give the chiral β-hydroxyamide 4 in good yields and high ratios of syn-(2R,3R)-isomers (up to >97%). This new asymmetric synthesis technology affords a practical method to synthesize the versatile chiral building block 5 for triazole antifungal agents, such as Voriconazole, Ravuconazole, TAK-187, and RO-0094815.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-oxo-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles using squaramide as the catalyst

The organocatalyzed enantioselective synthesis of a series of chiral 2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-oxo-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles was achieved using bifunctional squaramides as the catalysts. The tandem Michael addition–cyclization reaction of cyclohexane-1,3-diones and benzylidenemalononitriles gave the corresponding products in excellent yields (up to 99%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 83% ee). This investigation provides an efficient and useful process for the synthesis of chiral 2-amino-4H-chromenes.     

Chiral N-phosphonyl imine chemistry: asymmetric additions of glycine enolate to diphenyl diamine-based phosphonyl imines

Diphenyl diamine-based phosphonyl imines attached by the N-isopropyl group in the auxiliary have been synthesized in good yields under convenient reaction conditions. These new chiral N-phosphonyl imines can react with glycine enolate smoothly to give chiral α-β diamino esters in good yields (72%–90%) and up to excellent diastereoselectivity (>99:1 dr). By treatment with HBr, the chiral auxiliary can be readily removed. The absolute structure has been unambiguously determined by converting a product to a known sample.     

Chiral linker 5: scope and limitations of arylsubstituted m-hydrobenzoins as solid supported open chain chiral auxiliaries for diastereoselective syntheses

The applicability of five aryl substituted m-hydrobenzoin ethers already tested in the L-Selectride^® mediated stereoselective reduction of phenylglyoxylates as open chain chiral auxiliaries was further investigated via the α-alkylation of propionates, the addition of n-BuZnCl to phenylglyoxylates and the Diels–Alder reaction of acrylates with cyclopentadiene as model reactions. As up to 90% de could be achieved in the solution phase, two optimized auxiliary structures were immobilized on commercially available Wang-resin and applied as a reusable solid supported chiral auxiliaries in the same type of reactions.     

C2-Symmetric diphenylphosphoramide and diphenylthiophosphoramide derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as ligands for the titanium(IV) alkoxide-promoted addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Chiral C₂-symmetric diphenylphosphoramide 4 and diphenylthiophosphoramide 5 were prepared from the reaction of diphenylphosphinic chloride and diphenylthiophosphinic chloride with (1R,2R)-(−)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane in the presence of diisopropylethylamine in high yields. They were used as chiral ligands in the catalytic asymmetric addition reaction of diethylzinc to aldehydes in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide to give the corresponding sec-alcohols in 70–83% ee with an (R)-configuration and in 40–50% ee with an (S)-configuration, respectively.     

Kinetic resolution of iodophenylethanols by Candida antarctica lipase and their application for the synthesis of chiral biphenyl compounds

The kinetic resolution of (±)-iodophenylethanols was carried out using lipase from Candida antarctica and in some cases the enantiomeric excesses were high (up to >98%). Enantiomerically enriched (S)-iodophenylethanols produced by the enzymatic resolution process were used in the synthesis of chiral biphenyl compounds by the Suzuki reaction with good yields (63–65%).     

Asymmetric induction in the conjugate addition of thioacetic acid to methacrylamides with chiral auxiliaries

The conjugate addition of thioacetic acid to methacrylamides with chiral C₂-symmetric trans-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines afforded the addition products in excellent stereoselectivities (>99% de) and good yields (80–90%). The high selectivity was attributed mainly to the steric effect of the chiral auxiliaries. The cyclic nature of the chiral auxiliaries seemed also important for both the stereoselectivity and the reaction rate. Acidic hydrolysis of the adduct containing (2R,5R)-bis(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine gave (S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoic acid, a key intermediate for captopril, in 98% ee and 96% yield. The chiral auxiliary was recovered in the demethylated form of N-Boc-(2R,3R)-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine in 90% yield.     

Methods for the synthesis of chiral sulfur heterocycles and their application in the asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions

Enantiomerically pure (2S,6S)-2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran, (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro thiophene, and (2S)-2-phenyltetrahydro-2H-thiopyran were prepared in 70–72% yields and with 86–99% ee via cyclization of the corresponding dimesylate in an S_N2 cyclization reaction using sodium sulfide nonahydrate. The results on the application of various chiral sulfides in asymmetric Baylis–Hillman reactions are also described.     

Reactivity of 2-methylene-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: catalytic enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction

The catalytic enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction of 1,1-dicarbonylethenes 3 with cyclopentadiene in the presence of Ti-TADDOLs, Mg–Ph-box and Mg–Ph-mox complexes was investigated. Although both exo- and enantioselectivity with Ti-TADDOL catalysts were poor, they were much improved using Mg–Ph-box or Mg–Ph-mox complexes as chiral catalysts. Thus, 3 was an efficient two-point binding dienophile and the non-C₂-symmetric Ph-mox 8 could be used as a chiral ligand.