Synthesis of a simple chiral auxiliary derived from levoglucosenone and its application in a Diels-Alder reaction

The synthesis of a chiral alcohol derived from levoglucosenone has been studied. The alcohol was employed as chiral template in an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of the corresponding acrylic ester derivative with cyclopentadiene, and was shown to be an efficient asymmetric inductor. The oxidation reaction detected during the hydrogenation of a secondary allylic alcohol intermediate with Pd/C was also investigated.     

Convenient asymmetric synthesis of beta-trifluoromethyl-beta-amino acid, beta-amino ketones, and gamma-amino alcohols via Reformatsky and Mannich-type reactions from 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-oxazolidines

The stereoselective syntheses of beta-trifluoromethyl-beta-amino ester, beta lactams, and beta-amino ketones starting from an oxazolidine derived from trifluoroacetaldehyde hemiacetal and (R)-phenylglycinol are reported. The Mannich-type reaction involving a chiral fluorinated iminium ion occurred in a good yield and with a higher stereoselectivity (dr up to 96:4) than that of the Reformatsky-type reaction. This straightforward strategy was applied to the short syntheses of (R)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid, a series of novel enantiopure unprotected fluorinated beta-amino ketones, and their corresponding gamma-amino alcohols.     

Iminium ion-enamine cascade reaction enables the asymmetric total syntheses of aspidosperma alkaloids vincadifformine and ervinceine

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-vincadifformine and (+)-ervinceine is reported by utilizing an iminium ion triggered cascade reaction using chiral 3,3-disubstituted piperidine imine and 2,3-disubstituted indole derivatives coupling partner. In the first generation total synthesis, the pivotal imine is prepared in excellent stereoselectivity but in moderate yield involving a Birch reduction-alkylation strategy. Furthermore, to improve upon the synthesis of the decisive imine, the more practical second generation route is devised through a Johnson-Claisen rearrangement to access chiral 3,3-disubstituted piperidinone in excellent yield and stereoselectivity. Apart from synthesizing (+)-vincadifformine, this strategy is also exploited for the first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-ervinceine employing an iminium ion mediated cascade reaction. This distinctive strategy simultaneously sets up two new rings, two new stereogenic centers, and three new sigma bonds in a single operation.     

A comparative mechanistic study of Cu-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions with N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline

A comparative mechanistic study of Cu-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline with different nucleophiles was conducted. Two previously reported combinations of catalyst and oxidant were studied, CuCl(2)·2H(2)O/O(2) and CuBr/tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). On the basis of a synthetic study with different nucleophiles, the electrophilicity of the intermediate iminium ion was estimated and differences between the two methods were revealed. The key intermediate in the aerobic method is shown to be an iminium ion, formed through oxidation by copper(II), which can react with any nucleophile of sufficient reactivity. The role of oxygen is the reoxidation of the reduced catalyst. In the CuBr/TBHP system, an α-amino peroxide is proposed as a true intermediate within the catalytic cycle, formed from the amine and TBHP by a Cu-catalyzed radical reaction pathway and acting as a precursor to the iminium ion intermediate.     

Three‐Component Asymmetric Catalytic Ugi Reaction—Concinnity from Diversity by Substrate‐Mediated Catalyst Assembly

The first chiral catalyst for the three‐component Ugi reaction was identified as a result of a screen of a large set of different BOROX catalysts. The BOROX catalysts were assembled in situ from a chiral biaryl ligand, an amine, water, BH₃?SMe₂ , and an alcohol or phenol. The catalyst screen included 13 different ligands, 12 amines, and 47 alcohols or phenols. The optimal catalyst system (LAP 8‐5‐47) provided α‐amino amides from an aldehyde, a secondary amine, and an isonitrile with excellent asymmetric induction. The catalytically active species is proposed to be an ion pair that consists of the chiral boroxinate anion and an iminium cation.     

Aminocatalytic Cross‐Coupling Approach via Iminium Ions to Different CC Bonds

Given the attractive ability of iminium ions to functionalize molecules directly at ostensibly unreactive positions, the reactivity of iminium ions, in which an α CH₂ group is replaced by C?O was explored. Background studies on the ability of such iminium cations to promote reactions via an iminium‐catalyzed or iminium‐equivalent pathway are apparently unavailable. Previously, tandem cross‐coupling reactions were reported, in which an iminium ion undergoes nucleophilic 1,2‐addition to give a putative three‐component intermediate that abstracts a proton in situ and undergoes self‐deamination followed by unprecedented DMSO/aerobic oxidation to generate α‐ketoamides. However, later it was observed that iminium ions can generate valuable α‐ketoamides through simple aerobic oxidation. In all reactions, iminium ions were generated in situ by reaction of 2‐oxoaldehydes with secondary amines.     

CuII/TEMPO-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Alkynylation of Tertiary Cyclic Amines through Shono-Type Oxidation

A novel strategy for asymmetric Shono-type oxidative cross-coupling has been developed by merging copper catalysis and electrochemistry, affording C1-alkynylated tetrahydroisoquinolines with good to excellent enantioselectivity. The use of TEMPO as a co-catalytic redox mediator is crucial not only for oxidizing a tetrahydroisoquinoline to an iminium ion species but also for decreasing the oxidation potential of the reaction. A novel bisoxazoline ligand is also reported.     

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes with group 10 metals: synthesis via aryl C-H activation and some catalytic applications

Aryl-based pincer metal complexes with anionic terdentate ligands have been widely applied in organic synthesis, organometallic catalysis and other related areas. Synthetically, the most simple and convenient method for the construction of these complexes is the direct metal-induced C(aryl)-H bond activation, which can be fulfilled by choosing the appropriate functional donor groups in the two side arms of the aryl-based pincer preligands. In this perspective, we wish to summarize some results achieved by our group in this context. Successful examples include symmetrical chiral bis(imidazoline) NCN pincer complexes with Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II), bis(phosphinite) and bis(phosphoramidite) PCP pincer Pd(II) complexes, unsymmetrical (pyrazolyl)phosphinite, (amino)phosphinite and (imino)phosphinite PCN pincer Pd(II) complexes, chiral (imidazolinyl)phosphinite and (imidazolinyl)phosphoramidite PCN pincer complexes with Ni(II) and Pd(II) as well as unsymmetrical (oxazolinyl)amine and (oxazolinyl)pyrazole NCN' pincer Pd(II) complexes. Among them, the P-donor containing complexes are efficiently synthesized by the "one-pot phosphorylation/metalation" method. The obtained symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes have been used as catalysts in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction (Pd), asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole with trans-β-nitrostyrene (Pt) as well as in asymmetric allylation of aldehyde and sulfonimine (Pd). In the Suzuki couplings conducted at 40-50 °C, some unsymmetrical Pd complexes exhibit much higher activity than the related symmetrical ones which can be attributed to their faster release of active Pd(0) species resulting from the hemilabile coordination of the ligands. Literature results on the synthesis of some related pincer complexes as well as their activities in the above catalytic reactions are also presented.     

Enantioselective Polyene Cyclization Catalyzed by a Chiral Brønsted Acid

The first enantioselective polyene cyclization initiated by a BINOL‐derived chiral N‐phosphoramide (NPA) catalyzed protonation of an imine is described. The ion‐pair formed between the iminium ion and chiral counter anion of the NPA plays an important role for controlling the stereochemistry of the overall transformation. This strategy offers a highly efficient approach to fused tricyclic frameworks containing three contiguous stereocenters, which are widely found in natural products. In addition, the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐ferruginol was accomplished with an NPA catalyzed enantioselective polyene cyclization, as the key step for the construction of the tricyclic core, with excellent yield and enantioselectivity.     

New palladium(II)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,2-dibromo synthesis

[reaction: see text] The oxidation of olefins by chiral monometallic and bimetallic Pd(II)-Cu(II) catalysts in bromide-containing aqueous-THF reaction mixtures produced chiral 1,2-dibromides. With alpha-olefins, the ee's were about 95% while most of the internal alkenes gave somewhat lower enantioselectivities ( approximately 80%).     

Chiral tetraaminophosphonium carboxylate-catalyzed direct Mannich-type reaction

The cooperative asymmetric catalysis of chiral tetraaminophosphonium carboxylate (P,S)-1.OCOR has been established, and its synthetic utility has been successfully demonstrated by application to the highly enantioselective direct Mannich-type reaction of azlactones with N-sulfonyl imines. The present study stimulates the cultivation of the potential of the chiral quaternary onium salt catalysis by the structural modification of organic anion.     

Asymmetric epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by chiral iminium salts generated in situ from amines and aldehydes

[reaction: see text] A new approach for catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of olefins was developed that utilized chiral iminium salts, generated in situ from chiral amines and aldehydes, as catalysts. Epoxidation reactions can be conducted with 20 mol % of amines and aldehydes. The enantioselectivity of epoxides can be up to 65%. This modular approach obviates the difficulties inherent in the preparation and isolation of unstable exocyclic iminium salts.     

The ying and yang of asymmetric aminocatalysis

During the last six years the asymmetric catalysis of carbonyl transformations via iminium ion and enamine intermediates using chiral amines as organocatalysts has grown most remarkably. In this personal account an overview of this area is given. The field can be divided into two sub areas: (a) Iminium catalysis, which is typically used for cycloadditions and conjugate additions to enals and enones and (b) Enamine catalysis, which is commonly used in electrophilic alpha-substitution reactions of ketones and aldehydes. A common origin of the two catalysis principles is proposed and their recent merger in tandem sequences is discussed.     

A novel chiral porous metal-organic framework: asymmetric ring opening reaction of epoxide with amine in the chiral open space

A novel chiral metal-organic framework, [Cu(2)(5,5'-BDA)(2)] was synthesized by treating chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthalene-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid (5,5'-H(2)BDA) with a Cu(II) ion, in which the asymmetric ring opening reaction of an epoxide with amine proceeds efficiently under solvent-free conditions.     

CuII/TEMPO‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)–H Alkynylation of Tertiary Cyclic Amines through Shono‐Type Oxidation

A novel strategy for asymmetric Shono‐type oxidative cross‐coupling has been developed by merging copper catalysis and electrochemistry, affording C1‐alkynylated tetrahydroisoquinolines with good to excellent enantioselectivity. The use of TEMPO as a co‐catalytic redox mediator is crucial not only for oxidizing a tetrahydroisoquinoline to an iminium ion species but also for decreasing the oxidation potential of the reaction. A novel bisoxazoline ligand is also reported.     

Counterions of BINAP-Pt(II) and -Pd(II) complexes: novel catalysts for highly enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction

[formula: see text] Platinum and palladium chiral bisphosphine complexes and their counterion effects in asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions have been investigated. The reaction of cyclopentadiene and various bidentate dienophiles in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pt(II)- or Pd(II)-BINAP complex proceeds with excellent endo/exo selectivity as well as endo enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).     

Remarkable stereocontrol in the synthesis of 1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyrans via an asymmetric heterocycloaddition of a ketone-derived enol ether

The synthesis of chiral 1,2,3,5-substituted tetrahydropyrans has been realized via an asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction. The key step that involved a trisubstituted chiral enol ether derived from (R)-mandelic acid as the dienophile promoted the creation of three stereogenic centers with a remarkable and unprecedented endo and facial stereocontrol. The hydrogenation of the heteroadduct 2 was optimized by using Pd on charcoal and diisopropylethylamine, leading to a unique isomer. The chiral inductor was cleanly and stereoselectively removed via an acetal reduction, which demonstrated the potential of this methodology for the efficient construction of key intermediate of biologically active molecules.     

A synthetic route to highly substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines via Yb(OTf)3 -catalyzed diastereoselective ring opening of bridged oxazolidines: asymmetric synthesis of 2-azapodophyllotoxin

We herein report a robust and efficient synthetic route to highly functionalized enantiopure 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) from Garner aldehyde. We utilized the inherent chirality of Garner aldehyde through 1,2- and 1,3-/1,4-asymmetric inductions iteratively to obtain 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstitued THIQs using rigid and isolable bridged oxazolidines without any external chiral sources. All possible stereoisomers of bridged oxazoliodines were efficiently synthesized from L- and D-Garner aldehydes and transformed into fully functionalized THIQs via diastereoselective ring opening with various nucleophiles in the presence of Yb(OTf)(3). This methodology furnished four out of eight possible diastereomers of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted THIQs despite the electronic nature of substituents on the aryl rings. Finally, the enantioselective synthesis of 2-azapodophyllotoxin was achieved with an overall yield of 35.4% (eight steps) from D-Garner aldehyde using this synthetic route.     

A Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Effects of Silyl Substituents in Enantioselective Reactions Catalyzed by Diphenylprolinol Silyl Ether

The effect of silyl substituents in diphenylprolinol silyl ether catalysts was investigated. Mechanistically, reactions catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether can be categorized into three types: two that involve an iminium ion intermediate, such as for the Michael‐type reaction (type A) and the cycloaddition reaction (type B), and one that proceeds via an enamine intermediate (type C). In the Michael‐type reaction via iminium ions (type A), excellent enantioselectivity is realized when the catalyst with a bulky silyl moiety is employed, in which efficient shielding of a diastereotopic face of the iminium ion is directed by the bulky silyl moiety. In the cycloaddition reaction of iminium ions (type B) and reactions via enamines (type C), excellent enantioselectivity is obtained even when the silyl group is less bulky and, in this case, too much bulk reduces the reaction rate. In other cases, the yield increases when diphenylprolinol silyl ethers with bulky substituents are employed, presumably by suppressing side reactions between the nucleophilic catalyst and the reagent. The conformational behaviors of the iminium and enamine species have been determined by theoretical calculations. These data explain the effect of the bulkiness of the silyl substituent on the enantioselectivity and reactivity of the catalysts.     

Facile synthesis of vicinal diamines via oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines with DDQ

The oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines occurs rapidly with DDQ. Under ambient conditions and in the presence of nitromethane, the corresponding β-nitroamine derivatives are isolated in good to excellent yields. Variation in the electronic nature of the isoquinoline and the N-phenyl substituent showed that a broad range of substituents are tolerated, with electronic communication between the isoquinoline aromatic ring and the C1 carbon being stronger than with the N-aryl ring. Reduction of the β-nitroamines to the corresponding novel chiral vicinal diamines are straightforward. Examination of the reaction by ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggested that the reaction proceeds via an iminium ion, which then reacts with nitromethane upon work-up. This information was used to shorten the required reaction time.