Highly enantioselective reduction of beta,beta-disubstituted aromatic nitroalkenes catalyzed by Clostridium sporogenes

This is the first report of the use of Clostridium sporogenes extracts for enantioselective reduction of CC double bonds of beta,beta-disubstituted (1) and alpha,beta-disubstituted nitroalkenes (3). Crude enzyme preparations reduced aryl derivatives 1a-e and 1h, in 35-86% yield with > or =97% ee. Reduction of (E)- and (Z)-isomers of 1c gave the same enantiomer of 2c (> or =99% ee). In contrast, alpha,beta-disubstituted nitroalkene 3a was a poor substrate, yielding (S)- 4a in low yield (10-20%), and the ee (30-70% ee) depended on NADH concentration. An efficient synthesis of a library of nitroalkenes 1 is described.     

Copper(II)-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones using chiral dipyridylphosphane ligands: highly enantioselective synthesis of valuable alcohols

In the presence of PhSiH(3) as the reductant, the combination of enantiomeric dipyridylphosphane ligands and Cu(OAc)(2)·H(2)O, which is an easy-to-handle and inexpensive copper salt, led to a remarkably practical and versatile chiral catalyst system. The stereoselective formation of a selection of synthetically interesting β-, γ- or δ-halo alcohols bearing high degrees of enantiopurity (up to 99.9% enantiomeric excess (ee)) was realized with a substrate-to-ligand molar ratio (S/L) of up to 10,000. The present protocol also allowed the hydrosilylation of a diverse spectrum of alkyl aryl ketones with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and exceedingly high turn-over rates (up to 50,000 S/L molar ratio in 50 min reaction time) in air, under very mild conditions, which offers great opportunities for the preparation of various physiologically active targets. The synthetic utility of the chiral products obtained was highlighted by the efficient conversion of optically enriched β-halo alcohols into the corresponding styrene oxide, β-amino alcohol, and β-azido alcohol, respectively.     

Convenient catalytic, enantioselective conjugate reduction of nitroalkenes using CuF2

We document the use of a new catalyst system for the enantioselective conjugate reduction of nitroalkenes utilizing commercially available CuF(2) and the bis-phosphine JOSIPHOS as a ligand. This new protocol not only facilitates ready access to a variety of optically active nitroalkanes, but the results provide also new insight into copper-catalyzed reactions. [reaction: see text]     

Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Aromatic Ketones Catalyzed by an Economical and Effective Copper-Diphosphine Catalytic System in Air

In the presence of the inexpensive and non‐toxic polymethylhydrosiloxane, the combination of copper(II) acetate and a chiral diphosphine displayed high catalytic efficiency in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of a series of aromatic ketones in air atmosphere and at room temperature. (R)‐1‐Arylethanols were obtained with up to 99% yield and 93% enantiomeric excess. Meanwhile, the electron effect and steric hindrance of substituents on the aromatic ring had an interesting influence on both the yields and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, a possible mechanism was presented to explain the influence of some key factors on the reaction.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Phosphine Boronates

The first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of ambiphilic phosphine boronate esters is presented. The asymmetric boration of α,β‐unsaturated phosphine oxides catalyzed by a copper bisphosphine complex affords optically active organoboronate esters that bear a vicinal phosphine oxide group in good yields and high enantiomeric excess. The synthetic utility of the products is demonstrated through stereospecific transformations into multifunctional optically active compounds.     

Catalytic, enantioselective, vinylogous aldol reactions

In 1935, R. C. Fuson formulated the principle of vinylogy to explain how the influence of a functional group may be felt at a distant point in the molecule when this position is connected by conjugated double-bond linkages to the group. In polar reactions, this concept allows the extension of the electrophilic or nucleophilic character of a functional group through the pi system of a carbon-carbon double bond. This vinylogous extension has been applied to the aldol reaction by employing "extended" dienol ethers derived from gamma-enolizable alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Since 1994, several methods for the catalytic, enantioselective, vinylogous aldol reaction have appeared, with which varying degrees of regio- (site), enantio-, and diastereoselectivity can be attained. In this Review, the current scope and limitations of this transformation, as well as its application in natural product synthesis, are discussed.