Enantioselective copper-catalyzed intramolecular O-H insertion: an efficient approach to chiral 2-carboxy cyclic ethers

A copper-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular O-H insertion of ω-hydroxy-α-diazoesters has been accomplished by using chiral spiro bisoxazoline ligands. This highly enantioselective intramolecular O-H insertion reaction provides an efficient approach to a variety of synthetically important chiral 2-carboxy cyclic ethers with different ring sizes as well as substitution patterns.     

Stereoselectivity and chiral recognition in copper(I) olefin complexes with a chiral diamine

Trigonal copper(I) complexes of the chiral bidentate ligand (1S,2S)-N,N'-Bis-(mesitylmethyl)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine ((S,S)-1) have been prepared with hydrocarbon olefins, as well as with allylic alcohols and ethers. The stereochemistry of the complexes has been investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) computational methods. The coordinated chiral nitrogen atoms can display equal (R, R) or opposite (R, S) configuration, the latter being disfavored if steric hindrance is present above and below the coordination plane. Although the complexes exist as rapidly equilibrated mixtures of stereoisomers, one of these is often dominant, and prochiral olefins are coordinated with high enantioface selection. In addition, the [(S,S)-1]-Cu+ fragment selectively recognizes the R enantiomer of secondary allylic alcohols and ethers, as confirmed by the X-ray crystal structure analysis of the adduct with (R)-1-buten-3-ol. The reasons for the observed selectivities have been elucidated, and lead to some implications which are consistent with the enantioselection observed in catalytic cyclopropanation reactions promoted by copper complexes of the same ligand.     

CO2 insertion into metal-carbon bonds: a computational study of Rh(I) pincer complexes

Catalytic carboxylation reactions that use CO(2) as a C1 building block are still among the 'dream reactions' of molecular catalysis. To obtain a deeper insight into the factors that control the fundamental steps of potential catalytic cycles, we performed a detailed computational study of the insertion reaction of CO(2) into rhodium-alkyl bonds. The minima and transition-state geometries for 38 pincer-type complexes were characterized and the according energies for the C-C bond-forming step were determined. The electronic properties of the Rh-alkyl bond were found to be more important for the magnitude of the activation barrier than the interaction between rhodium and CO(2). The charge of the alkyl-chain carbon atom, as well as agostic and orbital interactions with the rhodium, exhibit the most pronounced influence on the energy of the transition states for the CO(2) insertion reaction. By varying the backbone and the donor groups of the pincer ligand those properties can be tuned over a very broad range. Thus, it is possible to match the electronic and steric properties with the fundamental requirements of the CO(2) insertion into rhodium-alkyl bonds of the ligand framework.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions catalyzed by a chiral nonracemic C2-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl copper(II) complex

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions of a series of substituted indoles with methyl trifluoropyruvate, catalyzed by a chiral nonracemic C(2)-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl copper(II) triflate complex, are described. The corresponding 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-indole-3-yl-propionic acid methyl esters were formed in good yield and in high enantiomeric excess (up to 90%). This is the first report of the use of a chiral nonracemic 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand in catalytic and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions. The structural characterization of a copper(II) chloride complex of the chiral 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand by X-ray crystallography is also presented. [reaction: see text]     

InCl3 catalyzed carbene insertion into O-H bonds: efficient synthesis of ethers

An efficient InCl₃ mediated insertion of the carbene fragment (:CHCO₂Et), generated in situ from ethyl diazoacetate into O-H bond of a series of saturated and unsaturated alcohols under mild conditions has been developed to afford the corresponding ethers as exclusive products in good to high yields (70-95%) and in shorter reaction times. In the case of unsaturated alcohols, the reaction proceeded with unprecedented selectivity resulting in ethers as the only products and in high yields.     

Cu(I)-carbenoid- and Ag(I)-Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular insertion of alpha-diazo compounds into N-H bonds

Chiral Cu(I)-bisoxazoline- and Cu(I)-PN-complexes were found to catalyze the intermolecular insertion of alpha-diazo compounds into N-H bonds. The insertion reactions proceed with enantioselectivities of up to 28% ee for the different alpha-diazo acetates into one of the N-H bonds of different amines. Analogous chiral Ag(I) complexes were found to give higher enantioselectivities of up to 48% ee, however, lower yields were obtained. There are indications, that the Ag(I)-mediated reactions follow a different reaction mechanism compared to the Cu(I)-catalyzed insertions. It is demonstrated that different alpha-amino acid derivatives can be obtained via this approach in good yields and with low to moderate enantioselectivities. However, the results obtained are the highest asymmetric inductions obtained for an intermolecular N-H insertion via chiral carbene complexes or chiral Lewis acid catalysis.     

The insertion reactions of “crowned” indium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate into carbon-chlorine bonds

Whereas the soluble reagent indium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, InOTf, does not appear to react rapidly with chlorinated solvents, the crown ether ligated compounds [In(18-crown-6)][OTf] and [In(dibenzo-18-crown-6)][OTf] react rapidly with CH₂Cl₂ and CHCl₃ to produce the corresponding C-Cl insertion products. The structural features and the formation of the new indium-containing products are rationalized.     

Enantioselective ring opening of meso-epoxides with thiols catalyzed by a chiral (salen)Ti(IV) complex

A chiral (salen)Ti(IV) complex was an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric ring opening of meso-epoxides 1 with thiols 2 in high yields and good ee.     

Enantioselective synthesis of homoallylic alcohols via a chiral In(III)-PYBOX complex

In the presence of 20 mol% of a chiral catalytic complex prepared from In(OTf)(3) and chiral PYBOX, allyltributylstannane reacted with aldehydes to afford the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in moderate to high enantioselectivities (60-93% ee).     

A chiral 6-membered N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complex that induces high stereoselectivity

A chiral 6-membered annulated N-heterocyclic (6-NHC) copper complex that catalyzes β-borylations with high yield and enantioselectivity was developed. The chiral 6-NHC copper complex is easy to prepare on the gram scale and is very active, showing 10,000 turnovers at 0.01 mol % of catalyst without significant decrease of enantioselectivity and with useful reaction rates.     

Catalytic insertion of diazo compounds into N-H bonds: the copper alternative

The complexes TpxCu (Tpx = homoscorpionate) catalyse the insertion of diazo compounds into nitrogen-hydrogen bonds of amines and amides, under very mild conditions, with quantitative yields being obtained with equimolar ratios of reactants.     

Highly regioselective functionalization of aliphatic carbon-hydrogen bonds with a perbromohomoscorpionate copper(I) catalyst

The complex Tp(Br3)Cu(NCMe) (1) is an excellent catalyst for the regioselective carbene transfer reaction to tertiary C-H bonds of hydrocarbons, at room temperature, using the readily available ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) as the carbene source.     

Addition of the ortho-C-H bonds of phenol across an olefin catalysed by a chiral iridium(I) diphosphine complex

A chiral iridium(I) diphosphine complex efficiently catalyses the unprecedented ortho-alkylation of phenol with norbornene in the absence of solvent leading to the formation of one and two C-C bonds.