A new pseudo C2-symmetric tertiary diamine for the enantioselective addition of MeLi to aromatic imines

A new tertiary pseudo C₂-symmetric 1,2-diamine derived from (1S,2S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine was synthesized and tested in the enantioselective addition of MeLi to aromatic imines. A comparative study with the analogous C₂-symmetric ligand successfully used previously in the same reaction showed comparable selectivity and better reactivity for this novel diamine.     

Synthesis and application of a new pseudo C2-symmetric tertiary diamine for the enantioselective addition of MeLi to aromatic imines

A new tertiary pseudo C₂-symmetric diamine derived from (1S,2S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine was synthesized and tested in the enantioselective addition of methyllithium on different aromatic imines. A comparative study with a similar C₂-symmetric ligand derived from the cyclohexane diamine showed better reactivity and enantioselectivity up to 91%.     

Bioreduction of β-carboline imines to amines employing Saccharomyces bayanus

β-Carboline imine reductions mediated by Saccharomyces bayanus have been described achieving moderate to good enantiomeric excesses of the amine products. The enantiomeric excesses of the bioreduction showed a dependence on the imine substituents. Compounds presenting C₁–C₁₁ aliphatic substituent groups afforded amines with an (S)-configuration, whereas C₁₅ and higher aliphatic- and aromatic-substituted β-carboline imines achieved inversion of the configuration in the final (R)-2 amine products. Based on this data, a model for the Saccharomyces reduction is proposed.     

Reductive Mannich-type reaction using the composite reagents of phosphine and Lewis acid

We found that the combination of Ph₃P and TiCl₄ was the excellent promoter for reductive Mannich-type reaction of S-2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl 2-bromopropanethioate with several imines and that the corresponding products were obtained in good yields with high anti-selectivity.     

One-pot synthesis of α-aminonitriles from alkyl and aryl cyanides: a Strecker reaction via aldimine alanes

A one-pot Strecker reaction using various alkyl, arylalkyl and arylnitriles is developed. Aldimine alanes were generated in situ from nitriles by the addition of diisobutylaluminium hydride, and were converted into the corresponding imines on reaction with (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine. Nucleophilic addition to the imines in the presence of catalytic triethylamine, using acetone cyanohydrin as a cyanide source, provided α-aminonitriles.     

HBF4·DEE-catalyzed formation of sulfinyl imines: Synthesis and mechanistic studies

A mild acid-catalysed method is reported for the formation of sulfinyl imines from tert-butanesulfinamide and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes using tetrafluoroboric acid diethyletherate (10?mol%) in dichloromethane. Reactions were performed at room temperature and gave the corresponding sulfinyl imines in excellent yield after 2?h. A DFT study was performed and a mechanism for the reaction is postulated.     

Rapid Ti(Oi-Pr)4 facilitated synthesis of α,α,α-trisubstituted primary amines by the addition of Grignard reagents to nitriles under microwave heating conditions

A series of carbinamines (α,α,α-trisubstituted amines) have been prepared in a simple and efficient one-pot procedure by the addition of Grignard reagents to a series of aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic nitriles. The resulting magnesium imines are subsequently converted to the desired amine after treatment with Ti(Oi-Pr)₄ and additional microwave heating. Key to this procedure is the use of microwave heating for both steps of the reaction protocol, which significantly improves both reaction yields and reduces reaction times. In general, the Grignard addition reaction is complete within 5-10 min at 100 °C followed by conversion with Ti(Oi-Pr)₄ and additional microwave heating to give the target amines in good yields.     

Double Stereodifferentiation in the Catalytic Asymmetric Aziridination of Imines Prepared from α‐Chiral Amines

The catalytic asymmetric aziridination of imines and diazo compounds (AZ reaction) mediated by boroxinate catalysts derived from the VANOL and VAPOL ligands was investigated with chiral imines derived from five different chiral, disubstituted, methyl amines. The strongest matched and mismatched reactions with the two enantiomers of the catalyst were noted with disubstituted methyl amines that had one aromatic and one aliphatic substituent. The synthetic scope for the AZ reaction was examined in detail for α‐methylbenzyl amine for cis‐aziridines from α‐diazo esters and for trans‐aziridines from α‐diazo acetamides. Optically pure aziridines could be routinely obtained in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity and the minor diastereomer (if any) could be easily separated. The matched case for cis‐aziridines involved the (R)‐amine with the (S)‐ligand, but curiously, for trans‐aziridines the matched case involved the (R)‐amine with the (R)‐ligand for imines derived from benzaldehyde and n‐butanal, and the (R)‐amine with the (S)‐ligand for imines derived from the bulkier aliphatic aldehydes pivaldehyde and cyclohexane carboxaldehyde.     

Highly Selective Addition of a Broad Spectrum of Trimethylsilane Pro‐nucleophiles to N‐tert‐Butanesulfinyl Imines

Addition of organotrimethylsilane reagents to chiral N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines can be achieved in good yields and with excellent diastereoselectivities by employing TMSO^?/Bu₄N⁺ as a Lewis base activator in THF. A variety of aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic and organometallic chiral imines were utilised as electrophiles for the synthesis of enantioenriched N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl amides. Remarkably, the same sets of reaction conditions could be used with a highly diverse range of bench‐stable organotrimethylsilane reagents, which highlights the generality and robustness of this methodology.     

Synthesis of the bifunctional BINOL ligands and their applications in the asymmetric additions to carbonyl compounds

Efficient one-step syntheses of the bifunctional BINOL and H₈BINOL ligands (S)-6 and (S)-8 have been developed from the reaction of BINOL and H₈BINOL with morpholinomethanol, respectively. The X-ray analyses of these compounds have revealed their structural similarity and difference. The bifunctional H₈BINOL (S)-8 is found to be highly enantioselective for the reaction of diphenylzinc with many aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and especially is the most enantioselective catalyst for linear aliphatic aldehydes. Unlike other catalysts developed for the diphenylzinc addition which often require the addition of a significant amount of diethylzinc with cooling (or heating) the reaction mixture in order to achieve high enantioselectivity, using (S)-8 needs no additive and gives excellent results at room temperature. (S)-8 in combination with diethylzinc and Ti(OⁱPr)₄ can catalyze the highly enantioselective phenylacetylene addition to aromatic aldehydes. It can also promote the phenylacetylene addition to acetophenone at room temperature though the enantioselectivity is not very high yet. Without using Ti(OⁱPr)₄ and a Lewis base additive, (S)-8 in combination with diethylzinc can catalyze the reaction of methyl propiolate with an aldehyde to form the highly functional γ-hydroxy-α,β-acetylenic esters except that the enantioselectivity is low at this stage. The bifunctional BINOL ligand (S)-6 in combination with Me₂AlCl is found to be a highly enantioselective catalyst for the addition of TMSCN to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes.     

Synthesis of N6-phosphorylated sydnone imines and their functionalization via 4-Li derivatives. Novel bicyclic sydnone imines

The highly efficient gram-scale method for preparation of up to date hardly available N₆-phosphorylated sydnone imines based on the reaction of sydnone imine hydrochlorides with substituted phosphinate or phosphonate acids chlorides in the presence of a base was elaborated. A possibility of straight deprotonation of sydnone imines with n-BuLi followed by the reaction 4-Li-derivatives thus obtained with electrophiles was demonstrated. Novel representatives of bicyclic sydnone imines fused via 4,5-edge of the oxadiazolium ring were obtained. Also sydnone imines containing both phosphorus and sulfur functionalities were obtained with high yields.     

A facile intramolecular azido/amido reductive cyclization approach: synthesis of pyrrolobenzodiazepines and their dimers

A new synthetic pathway has been developed for the preparation of imine-containing pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines (PBDs) and their dimers. Selective reduction of aromatic azides as well as aliphatic amides in a single step leading to an intramolecular reductive cyclization process by employing LiAlH₄ or LiBH₄ provides the cyclized imines.     

Direct synthesis of imines by 9-azabicyclo-[3,3,1]nonan-N-oxyl/KOH-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines

A simple and efficient method for preparation of imines by the oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines using ABNO/KOH as the catalysts, and air as the economic and green oxidant was developed.     

Generation and metathesis of azomethine imines in reaction of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes with het(aryl)methylidenemalononitriles

A new metathesis reaction of azomethine imines is found. Catalytic or thermal diaziridine ring opening of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes leads to azomethine imines reacting further with het(aryl)methylidenemalononitriles to give in situ new azomethine imines inaccessible by common synthetic methods. New azomethine imines are detected as pyrazolines formed via a 1,4-H shift and trapped by the [3+2] cycloaddition with various dipolarophiles to yield 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives bearing pharmacophoric heterocycles, e.g. furan, nitrofuran, thiophene, and indole. The best results are achieved in the Et₂O·BF₃-catalyzed reactions in ionic liquids.     

New organic activators for the enantioselective reduction of aromatic imines with trichlorosilane

N-Picolinoyl-(2S)-(diphenylhydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine was found to work as an organic activator in the reduction of aromatic imines to the corresponding amines by Cl₃SiH. The highest selectivity was 80% ee. These are the first data showing that N-formyl group is not always essential as N-protecting group of pyrrolidine derivatives for the reduction of imines by Cl₃SiH.     

Highly stereoselective iminopinacol coupling of chiral aromatic imines derived from di- and tripeptides

The reduction of aromatic imines prepared from (S)-Ile-(S)-Ile-OMe, (S)-Val-(S)-Val-OMe, and (S)-Val-(S)-Val-(S)-Val-OMe with Zn-MsOH in THF gave C₂-symmetric (R,R)-diamines in high yields and stereoselectivities.     

One-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonates catalyzed by antimony trichloride adsorbed on alumina

SbCl₃ adsorbed on Al₂O₃ is found to be an efficient and recyclable catalyst in promoting three-component coupling reactions of aldehydes (aromatic and aliphatic), amines (aryl amines, aliphatic amines and esters of S-α-amino acids) and dialkylphosphites to afford the corresponding α-aminophosphonates in high yields. The ethyl ester of S-phenylalanine was observed to yield the corresponding α-aminophosphonate with S,S-diastereoisomer formed in dominance over the S,R-diastereoisomer.     

Enantioselective direct Mannich reactions of 3-substituted oxindoles catalyzed by chiral phosphine via dual-reagent catalysis

A combination of an amino acid-derived chiral phosphine catalyst and methyl acrylate to catalyze the direct Mannich reaction of 3-substituted oxindoles and imines has been reported to afford 3-tetrasubstituted oxindole derivatives which are key structures for biological activities. The products are formed with a quaternary carbon and featured with two adjacent chiral centers. Various N-EDG(electron-donating group) and N-EWG(electron-withdrawing group) protected oxindoles, including 3-aryl and 3-alkyl substituted ones, have been evaluated with aromatic and aliphatic imines under this catalytic system, smoothly giving desired products in good yields as well as excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Nickel-catalysed addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-phosphinoyl- and N-sulfonylimines

A catalytic amount of a nickel complex (0.1-5.3 mol %) extraordinarily increases the reaction rate of the addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)- or N-(benzenesulfonyl)imines. The reaction of imines derived from both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with various dialkylzinc reagents in the presence of several nickel complexes gives the expected addition products in most cases in 1 h and in very good yields. In general, the formation of reduction by-products was not an important side reaction. The process represents a great improvement, with regard to the reaction rate and the yield of the addition products, in comparison with the reactions performed in the absence of the nickel catalyst, and reaction times are much shorter than the ones reported so far using other catalysts.     

Nickel(0)‐Catalyzed Hydroalkenylation of Imines with Styrene and Its Derivatives

A nickel(0)‐catalyzed hydroalkenylation of imines with styrene and its derivatives is described. A wide range of aromatic and aliphatic imines directly coupled with styrene and its derivatives, thus providing various synthetically useful allylic amines with up to 95 % yield. The reaction offers a new atom‐ and step‐economical approach to allylic amines by using alkenes instead of alkenyl‐metallic reagents. Experiments and DFT calculations showed that TsNH₂ promotes the proton transfer from the coordinated olefin to the imine, accompanied by a new C?C bond formation.