A new C2-symmetric azolium compound for Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of R2Zn to cyclic enone

A new chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand was designed. Thus, an efficient synthetic route to C₂-symmetric bis(hydroxyamide)-functionalized benzimidazolium salts from chiral β-amino alcohols was developed. The combination of Cu(OTf)₂ and the chiral azolium compound efficiently promoted the conjugate addition reaction of cyclic enone with dialkylzinc to give the corresponding adduct in good yield. Among a series of chiral NHC proligands, the functionalized benzimidazolium chloride possessing a tert-butyl group as a stereodirecting group was found to be the best choice of ligand. Under optimized reaction conditions, an excellent enantioselectivity (96% ee) was realized by allowing 2-cyclohepten-1-one to react with Bu₂Zn at room temperature.     

Enantioselective addition of phenyl and alkyl acetylenes to imines catalyzed by chiral Cu(I) complexes

The stereoselective addition of phenyl acetylene and alkyl acetylenes to imines, catalyzed by chiral bis-imines-Cu(I) complexes was studied. A very simple experimental procedure allowed to obtain at room temperature optically active propargyl amines in very good yields and enantioselectivity up to 81%.     

Nucleophilic addition of potassium organotrifluoroborates to chiral cyclic N-acyliminium ions: stereoselective synthesis of functionalized N-heterocycles

The stereoselective nucleophilic addition of potassium aryl- and alkynyltrifluoroborates to cyclic N-acyliminium ion derivatives from N-benzyl-3,4,5-triacetoxy-2-pyrrolidinone, affording the respective 5-substituted 2-pyrrolidinone is described. The products were obtained in moderate to good yields and with preference for the syn diastereomer.     

Catalytic asymmetric Payne oxidation under the catalysis of P-spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphorane: application to the synthesis of N-sulfonyl oxaziridines

The studies on the development of a highly enantioselective oxidation of N-sulfonyl imines with hydrogen peroxide–trichloroacetonitrile system utilizing P-spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphoranes as an organic base catalyst are detailed. This method is general and scalable, and exhibits unique chemoselectivity, providing a practical stereoselective route to structurally diverse N-sulfonyl oxaziridines. The mechanistic investigations reveal that the reaction proceeds through the Payne-type oxidation pathway. The synthetic utility of the optically active N-sulfonyl oxaziridines as versatile organic oxidants and chiral building blocks is also demonstrated.     

Asymmetric synthesis of dihydroquinazolinones via directed ortho metalation and addition to tert-butanesulfinyl imines

An asymmetric route to dihydroquinazolinones via the addition of ortho metalated substrates to tert-butanesulfinyl imines is reported. The scope of the nucleophile and electrophile components and the absolute stereochemical outcome are presented.     

Chiral dinuclear phthalazine bridged bisoxazoline ligands: synthesis and application in enantioselective Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of ZnEt2 to enones

A new class of chiral dinuclear ligands with phthalazine bridged bisoxazoline scaffold was designed and prepared in convenient synthetic routes. ¹H NMR analysis showed that this class of ligands could coordinate with two metal ions, either same or different. These ligands afforded good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities in Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of ZnEt₂ to enones.     

Catalytic enantioselective aryl transfer: asymmetric addition of boronic acids to aldehydes using pyrrolidinylmethanols as ligands

Pyrrolidinylmethanols, easily accessible from readily available (S)-proline, were applied in zinc-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes; the reaction was found to proceed in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Rh2(S-PTAD)4-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropenation of aryl alkynes

Rh₂(S-PTAD)₄ is an effective catalyst for the asymmetric cyclopropenation of aryl alkynes using a siloxyvinyldiazoacetate as the carbenoid precursor. Upon deprotection of the silyl protecting group, highly enantioenriched cyclopropenes bearing geminal acceptor groups can be accessed. These cyclopropenes undergo regioselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed ring expansion to furans.     

BF3·Et2O catalyzed diastereoselective nucleophilic reactions of 3-silyloxypiperidine N,O-acetal with silyl enol ether and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-febrifugine

The asymmetric BF₃·Et₂O catalyzed nucleophilic reactions of 3-silyloxypiperidine N,O-acetal 10 with silyl enol ethers derived from ketones are described. (+)-Febrifugine 1, an antimalarial alkaloid, was successfully synthesized based on this nucleophilic substitution. In addition, N,O-acetal 10 was synthesized from l-benzyl glutamate in 11 steps.     

Nucleophilic allylation of N,O-acetals with allylic alcohols promoted by Pd/Et3B and Pd/Et2Zn systems

Pd/Et₃B and Pd/Et₂Zn systems promote the nucleophilic allylations of 2-aminotetrahydrofuran and 2-aminotetrahydropyran with allylic alcohols to provide ω-hydroxyhomoallylamines in high yields. The transformation is applicable to the allylation of non-protective carbohydrates, such as ribose and deoxyribose.     

The synthesis of P-stereogenic MOP analogues and their use in rhodium catalysed asymmetric addition

The synthesis is reported of novel P-stereogenic binaphthyl substituted monophosphines via a short five-step synthesis using a nickel coupling reaction with separation of the borane-protected diastereomeric products. Extensive coordination studies of these ligands with a number of well-known metal precursors were performed to more effectively understand their behaviour during catalysis.These ligands and some previously reported P-stereogenic ligands were tested in the rhodium catalysed asymmetric addition of phenyl boronic acid to napthaldehyde. These studies in asymmetric catalysis were used to compare the chiral induction of ligands that combine both axial and central chirality with ligands lacking P-stereogenicity.     

Regioselective addition of pyrrole to N-tosyl imines in the presence of Cu(OTf)2

The Cu(OTf)₂ catalysed reaction of pyrrole with N-tosyl imines gives pyrrole sulfonamides in high yields. The addition reaction takes place regioselectively at C(2) of the pyrrole. The procedure is simple and does not require anhydrous conditions.     

Asymmetric activation of tropos catalysts in the stereoselective catalytic conjugate additions of R2Zn to α,β-enones: an efficient synthesis of (−)-muscone

The preparation of a new phosphoramidite starting from (R)-BINOL and a biphenylamine is presented. In such a compound the chirality is due only to atropisomerism and this molecule possesses a flexible biphenylamine residue. Therefore it can work as a tropos catalyst. The catalytic efficiency of this new phosphoramidite has been tested in some asymmetric conjugate additions of dialkylzinc reagents to α,β-enones and compared with that of an analogous already known non-tropos ligand. Interestingly, while comparable results were obtained in the addition of ZnEt₂ to chalcone and cyclohexenone, in the case of the addition of ZnMe₂ to (E)-cyclopentadec-2-en-1-one, the new ligand provides (−)-muscone, a valuable ingredient of the perfume industry, in 84% ee, while the non-tropos ligand gives a much lower (57%) ee value.     

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic addition of unmodified aldehydes to N-Boc protected imines: one-pot asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Highly enantioselective catalytic routes to Boc protected β-amino aldehydes, β-amino acids and γ-amino alcohols are presented. The organocatalytic asymmetric reactions between unmodified aldehydes and N-Boc protected aryl imines proceed with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivities to give the corresponding compounds in high yields with up to >19:1 dr and 93% to >99% ee.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with enals: Efficient approach to functionalized spiro N-heterocyclic oxindoles

An unprecedented chiral secondary amine-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation of isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed. This strategy allowed the construction of structurally novel spiro N-heterocyclic oxindole derivatives in good yields (up to 91%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee), albeit with modest diastereoselectivities (up to 3.1:1 dr).     

A facile synthesis of 3 or 3,3′-substituted binaphthols and their applications in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

By using a direct ortho-lithiation, the ligands (S)-3-methoxymethyl-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [(S)-1], (S)-3,3′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [(S)-2], (S)-3-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [(S)-3] and (S)-3,3′-bis(quinolin-2-yl)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol [(S)-4] have been synthesized. (S)-1 and (S)-3 show moderate catalytic properties for the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aromatic aldehydes.     

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reactions of dibenzyl malonate to α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles using a La(O-iPr)3/Ph-linked-BINOL complex

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reactions of a malonate to acyclic α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles as ester equivalent acceptors are described. A La(O-iPr)₃/(S,S)-linked-BINOL complex, which is suitable for Michael addition to cyclic enones, is not suitable for acyclic α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles. A new (S,S)-Ph-linked-BINOL chiral ligand was developed to improve enantioselectivity, and a La(O-iPr)₃/(S,S)-Ph-linked-BINOL complex with the addition of HFIP afforded Michael adducts in good yield and enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee).