The synthesis of phosphine oxide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands and their application in asymmetric allylic alkylation

The phosphine oxide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands were designed and synthesized in two ways. One is the coupling of Grignard reagent derived from 2-(2-bromophenyl)oxazoline with phenylphosphonic dichloride, another route is the condensation of bis(2-formylphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine oxide with chiral amino alcohols followed by NBS oxidation. These new bis(oxazoline) ligands were applied in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions and good yields and enantioselectivities were obtained with diphenyl substituted ligand (up to 95% ee).     

New homochiral amino-phosphine ligands: application in asymmetric palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation

A new series of homochiral amino-phosphine ligands was prepared. The use of these ligands in the palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-1-acetoxy-2-propene with sodium malonate gave substitution products with up to 76% e.e. The enantioselectivity was largely dependent on the nitrogen substituent.     

Malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands with sp hybridized bridge carbon: synthesis and application in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and allylic alkylation

A series of simple and new C₂-symmetric diphenylmethylidene malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands were synthesized and applied to the Friedel-Crafts reaction and allylic alkylation. The Cu(II) complex of ligand 4b bearing the benzyl group afforded good to excellent enantioselectivity for the F-C adducts (up to >99% ee) between indole and alkylidene malonate, and the palladium complex of ligand 4c bearing the phenyl group afforded excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) for the allylic alkylation product.     

Modular synthesis of chiral pentadentate bis(oxazoline) ligands

Highly modular N,Y,Z,Y,N-ligands (Y=N, O, S; Z=N, NO, OH, OMe) have been prepared using bis(oxazoline) building blocks either as nucleophiles or as electrophiles in coupling reactions with central aromatic units. This way, a great variety of pentadentate bis(oxazoline) ligands in diastereo- and enantiomerically pure form become readily available, which are useful for the construction of helical metal complexes with predetermined chirality.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes catalyzed by a bis(oxazoline)-Cu(II) complex

The catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole with trans-β-nitrostyrene is reported in the presence of copper triflate-bisoxazoline complexes. The reaction furnished nitroalkylated indoles in excellent yields (up to 95%) and high enantioselectivities up to an 86% ee.     

Preparation of indole-phosphine oxazoline (IndPHOX) ligands and their application in allylic alkylation

Two classes of indole-phosphine oxazoline ligands have been prepared from readily available starting materials in good overall yields. These modular ligands include an indole skeleton with either a phosphine moiety or an oxazoline ring at the 2- or 3-position, respectively. The utility of these ligands was demonstrated in a catalytic asymmetric reaction: the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate was performed with enantioselectivities as high as 98%.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes catalyzed by bifunctional tridentate bis(oxazoline)-Zn(II) complex

[reaction: see text] A more practical and efficient catalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes using bifunctional tridentate bis(oxazoline)-Zn(OTf)(2) as catalyst has been developed. Various types of the nitroalkylated indoles were obtained in excellent yields (85-99%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Rational tuning of the rigidity of a ligand scaffold: synthesis of diphenylsulfide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands and their application in asymmetric allylic alkylation

The scaffold rigidity of bis(oxazoline) ligands was rationally tuned on the basis of literature information. Diphenylsulfide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands with a flexible scaffold were efficiently synthesized to test our hypothesis. The improved enantioselectivity in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction was achieved as we expected.     

New dihydroxy bis(oxazoline) ligands for the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation: experimental investigations of the origin of the reversal of the enantioselectivity

The origin of the reversal of the enantioselectivity in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate anion using chiral dihydroxy bis(oxazoline) "BO" ligands derived from (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol was investigated. To determine the structural effects of the dihydroxy BO ligand on this unique phenomenon, new homochiral dihydroxy BO ligands were prepared from L-threonine and L-serine and were assessed in the transformation. The results obtained with these novel BO ligands, compared with the one obtained by using the dihydroxy BO ligands derived from (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, reveal that the reversal in the enantioselectivity observed with the dihydroxy BO ligand depends on the structure of the ligand. The effect of different bases used to generate the dimethyl malonate anion was also examined. The results are discussed in terms of the interaction of one hydroxy group in the intermediate pi-allyl palladium complex with the dimethyl malonate anion.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 3-nitro-2H-chromenes catalyzed by diphenylamine-linked bis(oxazoline) and bis(thiazoline) Zn(II) complexes

An efficient diastereo- and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 3-nitro-2H-chromenes catalyzed by diphenylamine-linked bis(oxazoline) and bis(thiazoline) Zn(II) complexes has been developed. This asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation led to medicinally privileged indolyl(nitro)chromans in good yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) and diastereoselectivities under mild reaction conditions.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of methoxyfuran with nitroalkenes catalyzed by diphenylamine-tethered bis(oxazoline)-Zn(II) complexes

The first catalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2-methoxyfuran with nitroalkenes was developed under the catalysis of diphenylamine-tethered bis(oxazoline)-Zn(OTf)2 complexes. The reaction conditions and ligands were optimized, and the scope of the reaction was tested by varying the nitroalkenes. For most of aromatic and heteroaromatic nitroalkenes, good yields and high enantioselectivities (86-96% ee) were obtained. The methoxyfuran group in the product can be transformed to carboxylic acid via oxidative fragmentation with full retention of the configuration.     

New 1,10-phenanthroline ligands for asymmetric catalysis: enantioselective palladium catalyzed allylic substitution

A number of new chiral C₁-symmetric 1,10-phenathrolines have been prepared and assessed in the enantioselective palladium catalyzed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethylmalonate. Enantioselectivities up to 84% were obtained.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation using (R)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine-derived aminophosphine ligands

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate 7a using a dimethyl malonate–BSA–LiOAc system has been successfully carried out in the presence of new chiral aminophosphine ligands such as 4 in good yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 96% e.e.).     

Structural control in palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation by new chiral phosphine-phosphite and pyridine-phosphite ligands

The ligands 6-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxy-5,7-dioxa-6-phosphadibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 1, (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-2, and (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-2,6-bis-trimethylsilanyl-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-3, (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxymethyl)pyridine, (S)-4, and (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxy)pyridine, (S)-5, have been easily prepared.The cationic complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(L-L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=1–(S)-5) and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)(L–L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=(S)-2–(S)-4) were synthesized by conventional methods starting from the complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)Cl]₂, respectively. The behavior in solution of all the π-allyl- and π-phenylallyl-(L–L′)palladium derivatives 6–14 was studied by ¹H, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and 2D-NOESY spectroscopy. As concerns the ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5, a satisfactory analysis of the structures in solution was possible only for palladium–allyl complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 11, and [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 12, since the corresponding species [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 13, and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 14, revealed low stability in solution for a long time. The new ligands (S)-2–(S)-5 were tested in the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective substitution of (1,3-diphenyl-1,2-propenyl)acetate by dimethylmalonate. The precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-2)]CF₃SO₃ afforded the allyl substituted product in good yield (95%) and acceptable enantioselectivities (71% e.e. in the S form). A similar result was achieved with the precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-3)]CF₃SO₃. The nucleophilic attack of the malonate occurred preferentially at allylic carbon far from the binaphthalene moiety, namely trans to the phosphite group. When the complexes containing ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5 were used as precatalysts, the product was obtained as a racemic mixture in high yield. The number of the configurational isomers of the Pd-allyl intermediates present in solution in the allylic alkylation and the relative concentrations are considered a determining factor for the enantioselectivity of the process.     

New chiral phosphite ligands bearing sp2-nitrogen: complexation properties and palladium(II)-catalysed enantioselective allylic alkylation

New homochiral P,N-bidentate phosphite-type ligands containing sp²-nitrogen were synthesised and their complexation with Rh(I) and Pd(II) atoms was investigated. The X-ray crystal structure of one of the chelate chlorocarbonyl rhodium complexes was obtained. E.e.s of up to 85% were attained in the Pd-catalysed allylic substitution reaction using the new P,N-ligands.     

Umpolung in allylic phosphonates. Regioselective reaction of acetoxy allylic phosphonates with nucleophiles catalyzed by palladium(0) complex

Vinylic phosphonates with functional groups can be synthesized regioselectively by the reaction of acetoxy allylic phosphonates with soft carbon nucleophiles in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) under palladium(0) catalysis with moderate to good yields.     

New palladium(II)-(eta(3/5)- or eta1-indenyl) and dipalladium(I)-(mu,eta3-indenyl) complexes

Reaction of the dimeric species [(eta3-Ind)Pd(mu-Cl)]2 (1) (Ind = indenyl) with NEt3 gives the complex (eta(3-5)-Ind)Pd(NEt3)Cl (3), whereas the analogous reactions with BnNH2 (Bn = PhCH2) or pyridine (py) afford the complexes trans-L2Pd(eta1-Ind)Cl (L = BnNH2 (4), py (5)). Similarly, the one-pot reaction of 1 with a mixture of BnNH2 and the phosphine ligands PR3 gives the mixed-ligand, amino and phosphine species (PR3)(BnNH2)Pd(eta1-Ind)Cl (R = Cy (6a), Ph (6b)); the latter complexes can also be prepared by addition of BnNH2 to (eta(3-5)-Ind)Pd(PR3)Cl (R = Cy (2a), Ph (2b)). Complexes 6 undergo a gradual decomposition in solution to generate the dinuclear Pd(I) compounds (mu,eta3-Ind)(mu-Cl)Pd2(PR3)2 (R = Cy (7a), Ph (7b)) and the Pd(II) compounds (BnNH2)(PR3)PdCl2 (R = Cy (8a), Ph (8b)), along with 1,1'-biindene. The formation of 7 is proposed to proceed by a comproportionation reaction between in situ-generated Pd(II) and Pd0 intermediates. Interestingly, the reverse of this reaction, disproportionation, also occurs spontaneously to give 2. All new compounds have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and, in the case of 3, 4, 5, 6a, 7a, 7b, and 8a, by X-ray crystallography.     

β-Hydroxy and β-(o-diphosphino)benzoyloxy(o-diphosphino) benzamides as ligands for asymmetric allylic alkylation

Diphenylphosphinobenzoic acid was treated with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), DMAP, and with either one of two equivalents of (1R,2S)-norephedrine and (1S,2S)-pseudonorephedrine. This process yielded a series of β-hydroxy and β-(diphosphino) benzoyloxy(diphosphino)benzamides that were employed in the Tsuji–Trost asymmetric allylic alkylation process. It was determined that the diastereomeric geometry of the norephedrine series was superior to that of the pseudonorephedrine-based ligands. In addition, it was determined that the norephedrine-based β-(o-diphosphino)benzoyloxy(o-diphosphino)benzamide afforded the best enantiomeric ratio (94:6) favoring the (S)-enantiomer.     

Mechanism of aziridination of styrene catalyzed by copper(I) bis(oxazoline)

Experimental studies show that copper complexes can be effectively anchored onto the pores of mesoporous solids, having a good catalytic performance in several reactions, among them the aziridination of olefins and in particular, styrene. In this work, the mechanism of the aziridination of styrene catalyzed by a bis(oxazoline) copper(I) complex was studied in detail by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For such reactions in the homogeneous phase, our calculations revealed a wide diversity of reaction‐pathways, which have not been considered in previous studies, and should be taken into account due to the small energy differences between them. What is more, our results show that there is a strong dependence on the chosen DFT functional. This has profound implications on the way the heterogeneous reaction is studied. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.