Confined space and cations enhance the power of a chiral auxiliary: photochemistry of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropane derivatives

Alkali ion-exchanged Y-zeolites significantly enhance asymmetric induction in the photoisomerization of a number of cis-1,2-diphenylcyclopropane derivatives containing a distant chiral auxiliary.     

Cyclosulfamide as a chiral auxiliary: application to efficient asymmetric synthesis (alkylation/aldolization)

The chiral cyclosulfamide (S)-2-benzyl-4-isopropyl-1,2,5-thiadiazolidine 1,1-dioxide was designed as a chimera of Evans and Oppolzer chiral auxiliaries. The N-propionyl derivative appeared to be very powerful for the stereocontrolled synthesis of chiral building blocks through asymmetric aldolization and alkylation reactions.     

Pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary for asymmetric Michael reactions: synthesis of 3-aryl-delta-lactones

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric Michael reaction of pseudoephedrine amides is reported. The 1,5-dicarbonyl products are converted to 3-aryl-delta-lactones in a two-step reduction/lactonization sequence. This method provides access to enantiomerically enriched trans-3,4-disubstituted delta-lactones.     

Boron enolates of a hydantoin chiral auxiliary derived from l-phenylalanine: a versatile tool for asymmetric aldol reactions

The aldol reactions of boron enolates derived from a hydantoin chiral auxiliary derived from l-phenylalanine occur in good yields with high syn diastereoselectivity. Aldol adduct 4a is readily cleaved by hydrolysis to afford (2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropionic acid 5a in good yield and in almost enantiomerically pure form.     

Asymmetric induction during photocyclization of chiral and achiral alpha-oxoamides within achiral zeolites

The photochemistry of 31 alpha-oxoamides capable of undergoing gamma-hydrogen transfer has been examined within zeolites. These molecules, upon excitation, yield two products--a beta-lactam and oxazolidinone--in solution, both resulting from gamma-hydrogen transfer. While in benzene the major product is oxazolidinone, within an MY zeolite, the main product is a beta-lactam. In this investigation, we have focused our attention on asymmetric induction in the formation of the beta-lactam product. Two approaches--using a chiral inductor and chiral auxiliary--have been employed. While in solution, in the presence of chiral inductors, achiral alpha-oxoamides yield beta-lactams with zero enantioselectivity; within zeolites, an ee of up to 44% has been achieved. Alpha-oxoamides appended with a chiral auxiliary gave beta-lactams with less than 5% diastereoselectivity in solution while within zeolites, the same alpha-oxoamides gave the products with de's of up to 83%. Such a remarkable influence of zeolites is attributed to an alkali ion interaction with the reactant alpha-oxoamides and to the confined environment of the zeolite interior. At this stage, we have not been able to provide a model with predictive power and further work is needed to understand this valuable asymmetric induction strategy.     

The use of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose as a chiral auxiliary in asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions

The stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropylmethylidene acetals derived from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-d-xylofuranose, as a chiral auxiliary, is described. The Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation reaction of the corresponding alkenylidene derivatives with CH₂I₂/ZnEt₂, in different reaction conditions, took place with high stereoselectivity. The diastereomeric excess in each case depended on the solvent and the temperature used in the reaction. The absolute configuration of the new stereogenic centres formed was determined by acid hydrolysis of the cyclopropane moiety of the chiral auxiliary, which was also recovered.     

Isothermal titration calorimetry as a new tool to investigate chiral interactions at crystal surfaces

In this communication we describe for the first time the use of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to measure the energetics of adsorption of enantiomers from aqueous onto chiral crystal surfaces. Our results demonstrate that ITC can be used to measure chiral interactions at crystal surfaces.     

Investigation of a novel diamine based chiral auxiliary in the asymmetric alkylation of ketones

A novel chiral auxiliary containing a pyrrolidine ring has been utilised in the preparation of various chiral ketones with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 92%). It has been successfully employed in aldol and Michael reactions giving moderate to high selectivity.     

Role of pseudoephedrine as chiral auxiliary in the "acetate-type" aldol reaction with chiral aldehydes; asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized chiral building blocks

We have studied in depth the aldol reaction between acetamide enolates and chiral α-heterosubstituted aldehydes using pseudoephedrine as chiral auxiliary under double stereodifferentiation conditions, showing that high diastereoselectivities can only be achieved under the matched combination of reagents and provided that the α-heteroatom-containing substituent of the chiral aldehyde is conveniently protected. Moreover, the obtained highly functionalized aldols have been employed as very useful starting materials for the stereocontrolled preparation of other interesting compounds and chiral building blocks such as pyrrolidines, indolizidines, and densely functionalized β-hydroxy and β-amino ketones using simple and high-yielding methodologies.     

Efficient asymmetric synthesis of (S)- and (R)-N-Fmoc-S-trityl-alpha-methylcysteine using camphorsultam as a chiral auxiliary

(1R)-(+)-2,10- and (1S)-(-)-2,10-camphorsultam were acylated with ethyl 2-phenylthiazoline 4-carboxylate to afford (+)- and (-)-2-phenylthiazolinylcamphorsultam, which were stereoselectively alkylated with MeI in the presence of n-BuLi. Alkylation of these phenylthiazolinylcamphorsultams occurred from the beta-face rather than alpha-face, resulting in the formation of (S)-alpha-methylcysteine from (1R)-(+)-2,10-camphorsultam and (R)-alpha-methylcysteine from (1S)-(-)-2,10-camphorsultam after acidic hydrolysis. Subsequent protection of the side chain thiol group with trityl alcohol and alpha-amine function with Fmoc-OSu furnished fully protected (S)- and (R)-N-Fmoc-S-trityl-alpha-methylcysteine in overall 20% yield.     

Rhodium-catalyzed Reformatsky-type reaction for asymmetric synthesis of difluoro-β-lactams using menthyl group as a chiral auxiliary

We developed a new methodology for the asymmetric Reformatsky-type reaction of (−)-menthyl bromodifluoroacetate (2) with imine in the presence of RhCl(PPh₃)₃. Ester 2 with the cost-effective chiral auxiliary gave (S)-difluoro-β-lactams in moderate to good yields and high diastereoselectivities through spontaneous removal of the auxiliary.     

Asymmetric strecker synthesis of alpha-amino acids via a crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation using (R)-phenylglycine amide as chiral auxiliary

[reaction: see text]. Diastereoselective Strecker reactions based on (R)-phenylglycine amide as chiral auxiliary are reported. The Strecker reaction is accompanied by an in situ crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation, whereby one diastereomer selectively precipitates and can be isolated in 76-93% yield and dr > 99/1. The diastereomerically pure alpha-amino nitrile obtained from pivaldehyde (R1 = t-Bu, R2 = H) was converted in three steps to (S)-tert-leucine in 73% yield and >98% ee.     

Recent advances in the application of the Oppolzer camphorsultam as a chiral auxiliary

Oppolzer’s camphorsultam has attracted much attention as an efficient chiral auxiliary, and is one of the most powerful synthetic tools in asymmetric synthesis. The sultam chiral auxiliary can be applied in a variety of different reactions such as alkylations, allylations, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, cyclopropanation, reductions, Diels–Alder, aldol and ene reactions. These applications have been highly successful in the stereoselective construction of a number of important natural products via total synthesis. The present review is focused on the utility and versatility of the sultam in various asymmetric reactions.     

Synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids using pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary

[reaction: see text] beta-Amino acids are becoming increasingly attractive as intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of molecular structures. However, few methods are available for the synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that are both readily scalable and highly stereoselective. Herein we report a new method for synthesizing alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that satisfies both of these requirements using enantiomerically pure pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary.     

(S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine as chiral auxiliary in asymmetric aza-Michael reactions. Unexpected selectivity change when manipulating the structure of the auxiliary

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric aza-Michael reaction of metal benzylamides to alpha,beta-unsaturated amides derived from the chiral amino alcohol (S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine has been studied in detail. A deep study of the most important experimental parameters (solvent, temperature, nucleophile structure, influence of additives) has been carried out, showing that the reaction usually proceeds with good yields and diastereoselectivities, although the experimental conditions have to be modified depending on the substitution pattern of the conjugate acceptor. Additionally, a very interesting facial selectivity inversion has been observed when manipulating the structure of the chiral auxiliary, which has allowed a diastereodivergent procedure to be set up for performing asymmetric aza-Michael reactions using the same chirality source. Finally, the adducts obtained in the asymmetric aza-Michael reaction have proven to be very versatile synthetic intermediates in the preparation of other interesting compounds such as beta-amino esters, gamma-amino alcohols, and beta-amino ketones in highly enantioenriched form.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a new non-cross-linked polystyrene supported hydantoin chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reactions

A new non-cross-linked polystyrene supported chiral hydantoin was prepared and it was shown to be a particularly effective chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reactions, affording high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, the recovery and recycling of the polymer-supported chiral auxiliary have been successfully achieved without an appreciable reduction in the yield or diastereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric induction during Yang cyclization of alpha-oxoamides: the power of a covalently linked chiral auxiliary is enhanced in the crystalline state

Gamma-hydrogen abstraction has been revealed to be the primary photoprocess in the crystalline state of alpha-oxoamides through photochemical and X-ray structural studies. The outstanding ability of a covalent chiral auxiliary in generating asymmetric induction in the photoproduct beta-lactam has been established with 10 examples. We have shown that the crystal lattice preorganizes the reactant molecules toward a single diastereomer of the beta-lactam and prevents large motions of the 1,4-diradical intermediate that would result in the loss of stereochemical memory. A rare single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation path of one of the examples investigated establishes the direct correlation between the stereochemistries of the reactant and the product.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel pyrazole derivatives using tert-butansulfonamide as a chiral auxiliary

A novel chiral pyrazole derivative was developed by our research program as a potent PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The asymmetric synthesis of the inhibitors carrying the pyrazole moiety, including nitrogen directly bonded to a chiral center, through a novel approach is disclosed. The key steps of the synthetic sequence begin with the preparation of chiral toluenesulfinyl imine by the condensation of (R)- and (S)-tert-butanesulfinamide with an aldehyde. Next, a corresponding chiral amine synthesis by a stereoselective addition reaction of 4-picolyl lithium to the chiral toluenesulfinyl imine is performed, followed by desulfination. The preparation of the cis-type enaminone from the addition of the enaminone to the corresponding chiral amine is then accomplished, with further transformation into the pyrazole derivatives through the amination of the enaminones and subsequent dehydro-cyclization. A total of 8 steps are completed to produce a 5.5% yield (100% ee).     

Reverse-docking as a computational tool for the study of asymmetric organocatalysis

A novel methodology for 'reverse-docking' a cationic peptide-based organocatalyst to a rigid anionic transition state (TS) model for the conjugate addition of azide to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl substrates is described. The resulting docking poses serve as simplified TS models for enantioselective catalysis. Molecular mechanics-based scoring and ranking of the docking poses, followed by clustering and structural analysis, reveal a clear energetic preference for docking to the S-enantiomeric azidation TS model, in agreement with experiment. Clear energetic trends emerged from docking the catalyst to both enantiomers of all six azidation TS models of this study. Structural analysis of the most favorable pose suggests a mechanism for enantioselective catalysis that is consistent with principles of molecular recognition, catalysis, and experimental data.     

A new entry to asymmetric synthesis of optically active alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones, using a carbohydrate derived amide as both a chiral auxiliary and a proton source

A new entry for the asymmetric synthesis of optically active alpha,gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones was developed by using a carbohydrate-derived amide as both a chiral auxiliary and a proton source. Unlike the previously reported examples, the chiral auxiliary employed in this reaction also successfully functioned as a protonating agent. Excellent asymmetric induction could be achieved by this dual stereoselective control in the reaction process.