Enantioselective Synthesis of C−O Axially Chiral Diaryl Ethers by NHC-Catalyzed Atroposelective Desymmetrization**

Axially chiral diaryl ethers, a distinguished class of atropisomers possessing unique dual C−O axis, hold immense potential for diverse research domains. In contrast to the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of conventional single axis bearing atropisomers, the atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral ethers containing flexible C−O axis remains a significant challenge. Herein, we demonstrate the first N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed synthesis of axially chiral diaryl ethers via atroposelective esterification of dialdehyde-containing diaryl ethers. Mechanistically, the reaction proceeds via NHC-catalyzed desymmetrization strategy to afford the corresponding axially chiral diaryl ether atropisomers in good yields and high enantioselectivities under mild conditions. The derivatization of the synthesized product expands the utility of present strategy via access to a library of C−O axially chiral compounds. The temperature dependency and preliminary investigations on the racemization barrier of C−O bonds are also presented.     

Axially chiral guanidine as enantioselective base catalyst for 1,4-addition reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with conjugated nitroalkenes

A new strategy for designing chiral guanidine molecules is presented, which features the introduction of an axially chiral binaphthyl backbone. The axially chiral guanidine catalysts thus developed facilitated the highly enantioselective 1,4-addition reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with a broad range of conjugated nitroalkenes and showed extremely high catalytic activity.     

Organocatalytic Atroposelective Arylation of 2‐Naphthylamines as a Practical Approach to Axially Chiral Biaryl Amino Alcohols

The first phosphoric acid catalyzed direct arylation of 2‐naphthylamines with iminoquinones for the atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral biaryl amino alcohols has been developed. This reaction constitutes a highly functional‐group‐tolerant route for the rapid construction of enantioenriched axially chiral biaryl amino alcohols, and is a rare example of 2‐naphthylamines acting as nucleophiles in an organocatalytic enantioselective transformation. Furthermore, the products, which feature various halogen atoms, provide access to structurally diverse axially chiral amino alcohols through further transformations.     

Phosphorus-bearing axially chiral biaryls by catalytic asymmetric cross-cyclotrimerization and a first application in asymmetric hydrosilylation

A novel and efficient, two-step route to axially chiral biaryls is demonstrated. In a direct asymmetric cross-cyclotrimerization in the presence of a chiral cobalt(I) catalyst, axially chiral biaryls bearing phosphoryl moieties have been prepared, and through indirect evidence the authors have been able to clarify the origin of the stereochemical induction and the nature of the central intermediate in the catalytic cycle. By subsequent reduction of the phosphoryl moiety to the corresponding phosphine, a very efficient and atom-economical approach to chiral systems has been developed. These chiral systems clearly have great potential use as axially chiral monodentate P- or bidentate P,O-ligands, as has been demonstrated by the employment of the novel NAPHEP as a new monodentate acting ligand in an asymmetric hydrosilylation reaction.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Annulation of ortho‐Alkynylanilines: Synthesis of Axially Chiral Naphthyl‐C2‐indoles

A chiral Brønsted base catalyzed asymmetric annulation of ortho‐alkynylanilines has been developed to access axially chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles via vinylidene ortho‐quinone methide (VQM) intermediates. This strategy provides a unique organocatalytic atroposelective route to axially chiral aryl‐C2‐indole skeletons with excellent enantioselectivity and functional‐group tolerance. This transformation was applicable to decagram‐scale preparation (50.0 g) with perfect enantioselectivity through simple recrystallization. Moreover, the utility of this reaction was demonstrated by a variety of transformations towards chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles for a series of carbon–heteroatom bond formations. Furthermore, the prepared axially chiral naphthyl‐C2‐indoles were applied as a chiral skeleton for organocatalytic aza‐Baylis–Hillman reaction and asymmetric formal [4+2] tandem cyclization to give the corresponding adducts in high yields with improved enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity.     

Atroposelective Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Three‐Component Cascade Reaction: Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral N‐Arylindoles

An efficient organocatalytic atroposelective three‐component cascade reaction of 2,3‐diketoesters, aromatic amines, and 1,3‐cyclohexanediones has been developed for the highly enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral N‐arylindoles. The success of this method derives from the use of a newly developed second‐generation chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acid as the catalyst. In addition, this protocol was extended to the synthesis of an axially chiral monophosphorus ligand.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral C−N Atropisomers

Molecules with restricted rotation around a single bond or atropisomers are found in a wide number of natural products and bioactive molecules as well as in chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis and smart materials. Although most of these compounds are biaryls and heterobiaryls displaying a C−C stereogenic axis, there is a growing interest in less common and more challenging axially chiral C−N atropisomers. This review offers an overview of the various methodologies available for their asymmetric synthesis. A brief introduction is initially given to contextualize these axially chiral skeletons, including a historical background and examples of natural products containing axially chiral C−N axes. The preparation of different families of C−N based atropisomers is then presented from anilides to chiral five- and six-membered ring heterocycles. Special emphasis has been given to modern catalytic asymmetric strategies over the past decade for the synthesis of these chiral scaffolds. Applications of these methods to the preparation of natural products and biologically active molecules will be highlighted along the text.     

Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral biaryls: inversion of planar chirality vs axial isomerization and functionalization at the side chain of biaryl chromium complexes

Axially chiral syn-biaryl chromium complexes having a coordinating heteroatom substituent at the benzylic position gave anti-biaryl chromium complexes 5 with inversion of the planar chirality by heating in a nonaromatic solvent, while syn-biaryl chromium complexes with an o-methyl or formyl substituent afforded axially isomerized anti-biaryl chromium complexes under heating in an aromatic solvent. syn-biaryl and both enantiomeric anti-biaryl chromium complexes with the o-formyl group were stereoselectively prepared from an identical planar chiral arene chromium complex as chiral source. The formyl group of the axially chiral chromium complexes was functionalized by radical cyclization and beta-lactam formation, and hetero-Diels-Alder reaction.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Isoquinolones: Nickel‐Catalyzed Denitrogenative Transannulation

The first Ni⁰/bis(oxazoline)‐catalyzed asymmetric denitrogenative transannulation of 1,2,3‐benzotriazin‐4(3H)‐ones with bulky internal alkynes to form novel axially chiral isoquinolones in an atroposelective manner has been developed. This method provides direct asymmetric access to axially chiral isoquinolones with excellent functional‐group tolerance in excellent yields and stereoselectivities from readily available starting materials under mild reaction conditions. These axially chiral isoquinolones exhibit high cytotoxicity against a number of human cancer cell lines. DFT calculations reveal the nature of the transition state in the key annulation step.     

Syntheses of all-methylated ellagitannin, isorugosin B and rugosin B

Ellagitannins possess a wide range of biological activities and remarkable structural diversity, which commonly include an axially chiral biaryl unit. This paper describes syntheses of all-methylated versions of isorugosin B and rugosin B, which are regioisomeric, ellagitannin-related compounds. The key features of these syntheses involve the construction of an axially chiral biaryl function on a sugar moiety through a Pd-catalyzed intramolecular biaryl coupling reaction, Bringmann’s atroposelective lactone opening reaction, and a two-step ester formation. This is the first synthetic approach for generating ellagitannins featuring a valoneoyl group.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral (allenylmethyl)silanes and chirality transfer to stereogenic carbon centers in S(E)' reactions

[reaction: see text] Novel stereoselective reactions of 4-substituted-1-trimethylsilyl-2,3-butadienes ((allenylmethyl)silanes) were developed. The axially chiral (allenylmethyl)silanes were prepared from (3-bromopenta-2,4-dienyl)trimethylsilane by a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric reaction with soft nucleophiles with up to 88% enantioselectivity. The (allenylmethyl)silanes reacted with acetals in the presence of a TiCl(4) promoter to give 1,3-diene derivatives via an S(E)' pathway. The 1,3-dienyl products have (E)-geometry exclusively and up to 88%( )()chirality transfer from the axially chiral allenes to the centrally chiral 1,3-dienes was observed in the S(E)' reaction.     

Axially Chiral Aryl‐Alkene‐Indole Framework: A Nascent Member of the Atropisomeric Family and Its Catalytic Asymmetric Construction

A new class of axially chiral aryl‐alkene‐indole frameworks have been designed, and the first catalytic asymmetric construction of such scaffolds has been established by the strategy of organocatalytic (Z/E)‐selective and enantioselective (4+3) cyclization of 3‐alkynyl‐2‐indolylmethanols with 2‐naphthols or phenols (all >95 : 5 E/Z, up to 98% yield, 97% ee). This reaction also represents the first catalytic asymmetric construction of axially chiral alkene‐heteroaryl scaffolds, which will add a new member to the atropisomeric family. This approach has not only confronted the great challenges in constructing axially chiral alkene‐heteroaryl scaffolds but also provided a powerful strategy for the enantioselective construction of axially chiral aryl‐alkene‐indole frameworks.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of C−N Axially Chiral N‐Aryloxindoles by Asymmetric Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dual C−H Activation

The first enantioselective Satoh–Miura‐type reaction is reported. A variety of C?N axially chiral N‐aryloxindoles have been enantioselectively synthesized by an asymmetric rhodium‐catalyzed dual C?H activation reaction of N‐aryloxindoles and alkynes. High yields and enantioselectivities were obtained (up to 99 % yield and up to 99 % ee). To date, it is also the first example of the asymmetric synthesis of C?N axially chiral compounds by such a C?H activation strategy.     

Synthetic application and structural elucidation of axially chiral dicarboxylic acid: asymmetric Mannich-type reaction with diazoacetate, (diazomethyl)phosphonate, and (diazomethyl)sulfone

The past decade has witnessed the burgeoning research fields of chiral Br?nsted acid catalysis. However, carboxylic acids, arguably the most general acids in organic chemistry, have rarely been used as chiral Br?nsted acid catalysts. In this context, we developed axially chiral dicarboxylic acid and evaluated its catalytic activity in asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of aromatic aldehyde-derived N-Boc imines and tert-butyl diazoacetate. To demonstrate the remarkable generality of this catalytic system, tert-butyl diazoacetate was replaced with its phosphorus and sulfur analogues, (diazomethyl)phosphonate and (diazomethyl)sulfone, by which synthetically valuable chiral β-amino phosphonates and β-amino sulfones could be obtained with high enantioselectivities under identical reaction conditions. X-ray crystallographic analysis of axially chiral dicarboxylic acid complexed with a pyridine derivative revealed its unique internal hydrogen bonding, a property that serves as a basis for its distinctive acidity and chiral scaffold.     

Asymmetric Hydrophosphinylation of Alkynes: Facile Access to Axially Chiral Styrene-Phosphines

A Cu/CPA co-catalytic system has been developed for achieving the direct hydrophosphinylation of alkynes with phosphine oxides in delivering novel axially chiral phosphorus-containing alkenes in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 99 % ee). DFT calculations were performed to elucidate the reaction pathway and the origin of enantiocontrol. This streamlined and modular methodology establishes a new platform for the design and application of new axially chiral styrene-phosphine ligands.     

Atroposelective Arene Formation by Carbene‐Catalyzed Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition

Atroposelective arene formation is an efficient method to build axially chiral molecules with multi‐substituted arenes. Reported here is an organocatalyzed atroposelective arene formation reaction by an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed formal [4+2] cycloaddition of conjugated dienals and α‐aryl ketones. This study expands the synthetic potential of NHC organocatalysis and provides a competitive pathway for the synthesis of axially chiral ligands, catalysts, and other functional molecules.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetra-ortho-Substituted Axially Chiral Biaryls through Rhodium-Catalyzed Double [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition

[reaction: see text] We have established an enantioselective synthesis of both C2 symmetric and unsymmetric tetra-ortho-substituted axially chiral biaryls through rhodium-catalyzed double [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition (up to >99% ee). This method serves as an attractive new route to enantioenriched tetra-ortho-substituted axially chiral biaryls in view of the one-step access to substrate diynes and tetraynes starting from readily available alkynes.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Biaryl Atropisomers by Pd‐Catalyzed C−H Olefination using Chiral Spiro Phosphoric Acid Ligands

The discovery of proper ligands to simultaneously modulate the reactivity and effectively control the stereoselectivity is a central topic in the field of enantioselective C?H activation. Herein, we reported the synthesis of axially chiral biaryls by Pd‐catalyzed atroposelective C?H olefination. A novel chiral spiro phosphoric acid, STRIP, was identified as a superior ligand for this transformation. A broad range of axially chiral quinoline derivatives were synthesized in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee). Density functional theory was used to gain a theoretical understanding of the enantioselectivities in this reaction.     

Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Anilides

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral o‐iodoanilides and o‐tert‐butylanilides as useful chiral building blocks was achieved by means of binaphthyl‐modified chiral quaternary ammonium‐salt‐catalyzed N‐alkylations under phase‐transfer conditions. The synthetic utility of axially chiral products was demonstrated in various transformations. For example, axially chiral N‐allyl‐o‐iodoanilide was transformed to 3‐methylindoline by means of radical cyclization with high chirality transfer from axial chirality to C‐centered chirality. Furthermore, stereochemical information on axial chirality in o‐tert‐butylanilides could be used as a template to control the stereochemistry of subsequent transformations. The transition‐state structure of the present phase‐transfer reaction was discussed on the basis of the X‐ray crystal structure of ammonium anilide, which was prepared from binaphthyl‐modified chiral ammonium bromide and o‐iodoanilide. The chiral tetraalkylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst recognized the steric difference between the ortho substituents on anilide to obtain high enantioselectivity. The size and structural effects of the ortho substituents on anilide were investigated, and a wide variety of axially chiral anilides that possess various functional groups could be synthesized with high enantioselectivities. This method is the only general way to access a variety of axially chiral anilides in a highly enantioselective fashion reported to date.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral o-iodoanilides by phase-transfer catalyzed alkylations

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral o-iodoacrylanilides and N-allyl-o-iodoanilides as useful chiral building blocks was achieved via chiral quaternary ammonium salt-catalyzed N-alkylations under phase-transfer conditions. The transition-state structure for the present reaction is discussed on the basis of the X-ray crystal structure of ammonium anilide.