Rhodium complexes with chiral counterions: achiral catalysts in chiral matrices

The neutral complexes [Rh(I)(NBD)((1S)-10-camphorsulfonate)] (2) and [Rh(I)((R)-N-acetylphenylalanate)] (4) reacted with bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to form the cationic Rh(I)(NBD)(dppe) complexes, 5 and 6, respectively, accompanied by their corresponding chiral counteranions. Analogously, 4 reacted with 4,4^′-dimethylbipyridine to yield complex 7. Complexes 5 and 6 disproportionated in aprotic solvents to form the corresponding bis-diphosphine complexes 8 and 9, respectively. 8 was characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis. In order to form achiral Rh(I) complexes bearing chiral countercations new sulfonated monophosphines 13-16 with chiral ammonium cations were synthesized. Tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonic acid (H₃TPPS, 11) was used to protonate chiral amines to yield chiral ammonium phosphines 14-16. Thallium-tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonate (Tl₃TPPS, 12) underwent metathesis with a chiral quartenary ammonium iodide to yield the proton free chiral ammonium phosphine 13. Phosphines 15 and 16 reacted with [Rh(NBD)₂]BF₄ to afford the highly charged chiral zwitterionic complexes [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(naphtyl)ethylammonium]₅ (17) and [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][BF₄][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-phenethylammonium]₆ (18), respectively. Complexes 5, 6, and 18 were tested as precatalysts for the hydrogenation of de-hydro-N-acetylphenylalanine (19) and methyl-(Z)-(α)-acetoamidocinnamate (MAC, 20) under homogeneous and heterogeneous (silica-supported and self-supported) conditions. None of the reactions was enantioselective.     

Chiral β-diketonate ligands of ‘pseudo planar chiral’ topology: enantioselective synthesis and transition metal complexation

A practical enantioselective synthesis of chiral β-diketonate ligands 1a-1d, which are of ‘pseudo planar-chiral’ topology, is described. Additionally, the first chiral bis(diketonates) 2a-2c, ligands of C₂-symmetry that are isoelectronic with respect to related salen ligand systems, have been prepared. Protocols for the metallation of ligands 1a-1d, 2b and 2c are reported.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with the ruthenium(II) catalyst derived from C2 symmetric N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-O-(diphenylphosphinite)ethyl]ethanediamide

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones with chiral molecular catalysts is realized to be one of the most magnificent tools to access chiral alcohols in organic synthesis. A new chiral phosphinite compound N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-O-(diphenylphosphinite)ethyl]ethanediamide (1), has been synthesized by the reaction of chlorodiphenylphosphine with N,N′-bis[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-hydroxyethyl]ethanediamide under argon atmosphere. The oxidation of 1 with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or grey selenium in toluene gave the corresponding oxide 1a, sulfide 1b and selenide 1c, respectively. Pd, Pt and Ru complexes were obtained by the reaction of 1 with [MCl₂(cod)] (M: Pd 1d, Pt 1e) and [Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂1f, respectively. All these new complexes were characterized by using NMR, FT-IR spectroscopies and microanalysis. Additionally, as a demonstration of their catalytic reactivity, the ruthenium complex 1f was tested as catalyst in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions of acetophenone derivatives with iPrOH was also investigated.     

Michael addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones to activated cyclic alkenes

The nucleophilic conjugate addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 to doubly activated cyclic alkenes 2-8 proceeds smoothly to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 25 in variable yields and selectivities. The reactions take place either spontaneously or in the presence of MgI₂ as a mild Lewis acid depending on the type of substrate. Release of the chiral auxiliary was achieved by transformation of the hydrazone moiety into acetals, dithioacetals or nitriles.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

6,6′-Bis-substituted BINOL boronic acids as enantioselective and chemoselective fluorescent chemosensors for d-sorbitol

A new chiral fluorescent BINOL boronic acid 1 has been synthesized. The chiral recognition properties of 1 are drastically different from BINOL boronic acid c. Sensor 1 shows improved enantioselectivity as well as chemoselectivity toward sugar alcohols, such as d-sorbitol and d-mannitol.The enantioselectivity of sensor 1 toward d-sorbitol (K_R/K_S) is 1:35 (pH 9.0), and the chemoselectivity for d-sorbitol/d-mannitol is 20:1.     

Unusual asymmetric oxidation of sulfide; the diastereoselective oxidation of prochiral sulfide-chiral acid salt with hydrogen peroxide without metal

The sulfide 4 was treated with chiral acid in a mixture of toluene and methyl iso-butylketone to precipitate the salt, which reacted with 30% H₂O₂ for 3 weeks at rt. The resulting crystals were collected followed by recrystallization to give the salt of enantiometrically pure sulfoxide and chiral acid 7 in 72% yield and 98.1% de, which was led to chiral sulfoxide S-3 after neutralization. Sulfoxide S-3 was led to S-1a as the candidate for an orally active HIV-1 therapeutic agent.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and triboluminescence of a pair of Eu(III)-based enantiomers

Using the chiral ligands L_SS (+)-4,5-pinene bipyridine and L_RR (−)-4,5-pinene bipyridine (Scheme 1), two novel Eu(III)-based complexes with the formula [Eu(DBM)₃L] (L_SS in 1, L_RR in 2, DBM = dibenzoylmethanate) have been successfully synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystal determination and spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 reveal that they crystallize in the chiral space group P2₁ of the monoclinic system. The central Eu(III) ion is eight-coordinated in a geometrical environment intermediate between a square antiprism and a dodecahedron. The CD spectra reflect that complexes 1 and 2 are enantiomers. When ground in daylight, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit brilliant triboluminescence at room temperature.     

Diastereoselective schenck ene reaction of singlet oxygen with chiral allylic alcohols; access to enantiomerically enriched 1,2,4-trioxanes

A series of antimalarial chiral 1,2,4-trioxanes (1-8) were synthesised in high enantiomeric purities. Enantioselective addition of R₂Zn reagent to 3-methyl-2-butenal catalysed by (+)-MIB or (−)-MIB yielded both the enantiomers of the chiral allylic alcohols 9-11 (90-98% ee), which were subjected to diastereoselective photooxygenation in the presence of tetraphenylporphine (TPP) to obtain (R,R)-threo- or (S,S)-threo-β-hydroperoxy alcohols (12-14). Reaction of β-hydroperoxy alcohols (12-14) with different cyclic ketones produced optically active trioxanes 1-8.     

Chiral molecular polygons based on the Pt-alkynyl linkage: Self-assembly, characterization, and functionalization

Treatment of 2,2′-diacetoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-6,6′-bis(ethyne), L-H₂, with one equiv of trans-Pt(PEt₃)₂Cl₂ led to a mixture of different sizes of chiral metallocycles [trans-(PEt₃)₂Pt(L)]_n (n = 3-8, 1-6). Each of the chiral molecular polygons 1-6 was purified by silica-gel column chromatography and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, MS, IR, UV-Vis, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies, size exclusion chromatography, and microanalysis. Chiral molecular square 2 was also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The acetyl groups of 2 were readily deprotected under mild conditions to generate 2a which possesses exposed chiral dihydroxy functional groups. The dihydroxy groups were functionalized with n-octadecyl chains or Fréchet-type dendrons to generate dendritic molecules built on a chiral molecular square core. This work shows the potential of generating interesting functional supramolecular systems based on Pt-alkynyl chiral molecular polygons.     

Asymmetric reduction of perfluoroalkyl ketones with chiral lithium alkoxides

Reduction of perfluoroalkyl ketones with chiral lithium alkoxides gave chiral α-perfluoroalkyl alcohols in high enantiomeric excesses. Interestingly, reaction of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone (1) with lithium (S)-1-phenylethoxide (2) gave (S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanol (3), while the same reaction of perfluorooctan-1-one (7) with 2 gave (R)-1H-1-phenylperfluorooctanol (8). Based on the speculation of mechanism, the order of steric effects on this reaction is estimated as C₇F₁₅ > substituted phenyl > CF₃.     

Chiral organotin (IV) carboxylates complexes: Syntheses, characterization, and crystal structures with chiral (S)-(+)-6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthaleneaceto acid ligand

Eight new organotin (IV) carboxylates, (R₃Sn)₄(nap)₄ (R = Me 1, n-Bu 2), [(R₃Sn) (nap)]_n (R = Ph 3, PhCH₂4), (R₂Sn) (nap)₂ (R = n-Bu 5, Ph 6, PhCH₂7) and {[R₂Sn(nap)]₂O}₂ (R = Me 8) (nap = (S)-(+)-6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthaleneaceto anion) have been synthesized. All of the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectra. Among these complexes, complexes 1, 3, 5 and 8 were also characterized by X-ray crystallography diffraction analysis, and the data of X-ray crystallography diffraction indicated that complexes 1, 3 and 5 are new chiral organotin (IV) carboxylates complexes. The structural analyses show that complex 1 has a tetranuclear Sn₄O₈ macrocycle structure, complex 3 has a 1D spring-like chiral helical chain with a columnar channel, complex 5 possesses a dimer structure, and complex 8 has a supramolecular chainlike ladder structure through weak intermolecular non-covalent O^…O interactions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

(R,R,R)-Tris(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- and (S,S,S)-tris(2-hydroxy-2-methylethyl)phosphine: water-soluble chiral trialkylphosphines with C3-symmetry

The first α- and β-chiral water-soluble trialkylmonophosphines, 1 and 2, respectively, both with C₃ symmetry, were synthesised from sodium phosphide and chiral mesylates, accessible from (S)-ethyl lactate. X-ray structures of a corresponding 2:1 gold(I) complex [1₂Au(I)]OTf and of a borane complex 2·BH₃ were determined.     

Synthesis and structures of two novel non-centrosymmetric metal-organic polymers containing 2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid ligands

Two novel non-centrosymmetric coordination polymer, [Zn₂(PIDC)(H₂O)Cl]_n (1) and {[Mn(HPIDC)H₂O]·2H₂O}_n (2) have been synthesized through hydrothermal method and characterized by IR, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallized in a chiral space group P2₁2₁2₁ has a 2D network structure. Complex 2 is a 3D open framework with 1D channel where 1D zigzag water chains are reside through hydrogen-bonding interactions and crystallized in a chiral space group C_c. Both 1 and 2 display a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) response.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of pyrroloquinolone as a potent PDE5 inhibitor

A concise enantioselective strategy for the synthesis of key PDE5 inhibitor 2 was developed in 5 and 6 steps using asymmetric hydrogenation and one-pot chiral auxiliary approaches, respectively. The synthesis features the use of imine 6 obtained through Bischler-Napieralsky reaction from amide 5. Absolute R configuration was introduced in (+)-7 by asymmetric transfer-hydrogenation reaction with Ru(II) catalyst followed by establishing the tricyclic pyrroloquinalone core using the Winterfeldt oxidation. Another alternative synthetic approach for the introduction of chirality in the molecule employed imine 6 and chloroformates of different chiral auxiliaries, which achieved N-acyliminium ion intermediates that were reduced in situ using PdCl₂/Et₃SiH protocol. These synthetic routes were applied in the total synthesis of promising male erectile dysfunction (MED) PDE5 inhibitor 1.     

The investigation of stereogenic properties of cyclotriphosphazene derivatives with two different chiral centres

Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene N₃P₃Cl₆ and gem-disubstituted cyclotriphosphazene derivatives N₃P₃Cl₄X₂ (X = Ph, PhS, PhNH) were reacted with N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine and 3-amino-1-propanol to give compounds (9a-12a, 9b-12b) which exist as cis and trans geometric isomers and are two different racemic isomers, respectively to describe the stereogenic properties of a series of chiral cyclotriphosphazene compounds with two different centres of chirality. The geometric isomers were separated by column chromatography on silica gel and analysed by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, and also the geometric forms (cis or trans) of 9b, 10a, 11a, 11b and 12a have been determined by the X-ray crystallography. The enantiomers of all racemic compounds have been analysed by the changes in ³¹P NMR spectra on addition of a Chiral Solvating Agent (CSA), (R)-(+)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(9′-anthryl)ethanol. On the other hand, the racemic forms of chiral cyclotriphosphazene derivatives have been confirmed by contribution of chiral HPLC methods which have been developed for this study.     

Change in conformation upon complexation of double-armed terephthalamide hosts: dynamic molecular recognition of ditopic guests with strong CD signaling

Conformation of novel terephthalamide hosts 1 changes from anti to syn upon complexation with a bidentate guest (2 or 3). Chiral sense in the helical syn-form of the double-armed host molecules 1 is biased by the asymmetric centers on the chiral guest [(R,R)/(S,S)-2a], which can be detected by the drastic change in circular dichroism (CD) spectrum thanks to the exciton coupling of two chromophores (‘arms’) linked to the amide nitrogens. Asymmetric centers on the host molecule also exhibit preference for the twisting direction upon change in geometry from the anti- to syn-form. Thus, the achiral guests (2b or 3) can also be detected by modulation of CD spectrum upon complexation with the chiral host [(R,R)-1a].     

Synthesis, properties and complexation of (pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene, the first planar-chiral isocyanide ligand

Reaction of enantiomerically pure, planar-chiral (_pS)-1-bromo-2-methylferrocene (1) with phthalimide in the presence of Cu₂O produces (_pS)-1-phthalimido-2-methylferrocene (2), quantitative reduction of which with hydrazine hydrate affords (_pS)-1-amino-2-methylferrocene (3) with >99% ee. Formylation of amine 3 followed by dehydration of the resulting (_pS)-1-formamido-2-methylferrocene (4) provides (_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene (5), the first example of a planar-chiral isocyanide ligand, in a good yield. Isocyanide 5 reacts with PdI₂ to give the crystallographically characterized chiral complex trans-[PdI₂{(_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene}₂] (6). The redox behavior of 4, 5, and 6, accessed by cyclic voltammetry, is discussed.     

Synthesis of polylactide using a zinc complex containing (S)-N-ethyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanamine

The reaction between ZnCl₂ and (S)-N-ethyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanamine (S-EPP) as a chiral ligand affords [ZnCl₂(S-EPP)], whose structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. [ZnEt₂(S-EPP)] has demonstrated high activity toward the polymerization of rac-lactide with a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of 121. Despite the intended stereocontrol by employing a chiral ligand, however, the observed heterotacticity was limited to under 0.6. The MWDs of the PLAs were found to be modulated by changing the solvent or controlling the concentration of the monomer in the solution. The glass transition temperature (T_g) was critically dependent on the MW within the narrow MWD regime, but the dependence became significantly shallow when the MWD was broadened.