Highly enantioselective synthesis of syn- and anti-propionate aldols without diastereoselection in the chiral oxazaborolidinone-promoted aldol reaction with a silyl ketene acetal derived from ethyl 2-(methylthio)propionate

A mixture of syn- and anti-aldol products containing an α-methylthio group were obtained in good yields with high enantioselectivities in the chiral oxazaborolidinone-promoted aldol reactions of a novel silyl ketene acetal, derived from ethyl 2-(methylthio)propionate, with aldehydes. Subsequent desulfurization resulted in an effective preparation of essentially enantiopure syn- and anti-propionate aldols which were separable.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions between cyclic ketones and benzaldehyde catalyzed by chiral Zn2+ complexes of aminoacyl 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane: effects of solvent and additives on the stereoselectivities of the aldol products

The direct aldol reaction between cyclic ketones and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde catalyzed by chiral Zn²⁺ complexes of aminoacyl 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane is reported. The anti-aldol products were mainly formed in cyclohexanone/N-methylpyrrolidone(NMP)/MeOH with good diastereo- and enantioselectivity, while syn-aldol adducts were obtained as major products with good enantioselectivity in cyclohexanone/H₂O and cyclohexanone/NMP/H₂O. The fact that the UV/vis spectra of 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-1-pyridinio)phenolate (Reichardt’s dye) were nearly identical in these solvent systems suggests that the switch in the relative configuration of the aldol products is induced by a large excess of H₂O rather than the polarity of the solvent system. Furthermore, the addition of a small amount of TFA improved the enantioselectivity of the syn-aldol adducts produced in cyclohexanone/H₂O with up to 92% ee (anti/syn ratio = 30:70).     

On the Mechanism of the Asymmetric Aldol Addition of Chiral N-Amino Cyclic Carbamate Hydrazones: Evidence of Non-Curtin–Hammett Behavior

he mechanistic details of the aldol addition of N-amino cyclic carbamate (ACC) hydrazones is provided herein from both an experimental and computational perspective. When the transformation is carried out at room temperature the anti-aldol product is formed exclusively. Under these conditions the anti- and syn-aldolate intermediates are in equilibrium and the transformation is under thermodynamic control. The anti-aldolate that leads to the anti-aldol product was calculated to be 3.7 kcal mol⁻¹ lower in energy at room temperature than that leading to the syn-aldol product, which sufficiently accounts for the exclusive formation of the anti-aldol product. When the reaction is conducted at −78 °C it is under kinetic control and favors formation of the syn-aldol addition product. In this case, it was found that a solvent separated aza-enolate anion and aldehyde form a σ-intermediate in which the lithium cation is coordinated to the aldehyde. The σ-intermediate collapses with a very small activation barrier to form the β-alkoxy hydrazone intermediate. The chiral nonracemic lithium aza-enolate discriminates between the two diastereotopic faces of the pro-chiral aldehyde, and there is no rapid direct pathway that interconverts the two diastereomeric intermediates. Consequently, the reaction does not follow the Curtin–Hammett principle and the stereochemical outcome at low temperature instead depends on the relative energies of the two σ-intermediates.     

Highly enantioselective aldol reactions using a tropos dibenz[c,e]azepine organocatalyst

The four-step synthesis of a chiral primary tertiary diamine salt, possessing a tropos dibenz[c,e]azepine ring is described. It is shown that 3.5-5 mol % of this salt is capable of promoting highly enantioselective crossed-aldol reactions between cyclohexanone and a series of aromatic aldehydes. In all cases, the aldol reactions proceed with high diastereoselectivity for the anti-aldol product. The outcome of crossed-aldol reactions involving other cyclic ketones and acyclic ketones are also described. All examples involving cyclic ketones result in selectivity for the anti-aldol products, whereas acyclic ketones were found to favour the syn-aldol products. A discussion on the role of the chiral primary tertiary diamine salt in the catalysis of the aldol reactions is also presented.     

Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Benzoquinolizidinones from L-Glutamic Acid

Benzoquinolizidinone systems were synthesized in both enantiomeric forms from L-glutamic acid. The key chiral arylethylglutarimide intermediate was synthesized from dibenzylamino-glutamate and homoveratrylamine. Aldol reaction of the glutarimide afforded a mixture of syn and anti-aldol adducts. Subsequent regioselective hydride reduction of the glutarimide carbonyl followed by N-acyliminium ion cyclization afforded a product with opposite absolute configurations at C3 and C11b. Cope elimination of the dibenzylamino group then converted the two diastereomers into enantiomers.     

High acceleration of the direct aldol reaction cocatalyzed by BINAM-prolinamides and benzoic acid in aqueous media

The enantioselective direct aldol reaction, organocatalyzed by recoverable BINAM-prolinamide derivatives can be highly accelerated by a catalytic amount of a carboxylic acid without a detrimental of the obtained enantioselectivities. From the study of suitable acids and reaction conditions, benzoic acid in aqueous DMF or in water was shown to give the best results with high yields and enantioselectivities. Thus, the reaction between p-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone catalyzed by (S_a)-BINAM-l-Pro and benzoic acid can be carried out at −20 °C in only 8.5 h to give the expected product with 86% ee. In the case of butan-2-one, the iso- and the anti-isomers are obtained in a 1:1 isomer ratio up to 99% ee. Cyclohexanone gives the anti-aldol in up to 99% dr and 97% ee in only 2 h. The opposite diastereoselectivity is obtained in the case of cyclopentanone with lower ee up to 65% for the syn and 85% for the anti-isomer.     

Toward the synthesis of γ-pyrone-containing natural products: diastereoselective aldol-type reaction of a γ-pyrone

The diastereoselective aldol-type reaction of a γ-pyrone via a sodium anion has been developed. This reaction is useful for synthesizing γ-pyrone-containing natural products. Also, we applied the Mukaiyama aldol-type reaction of silyl enol ether of γ-pyrone by using TiCl₄. This Mukaiyama aldol-type reaction of γ-pyrone indicated higher anti-aldol selectivity than the aldol-type reaction of a γ-pyrone with NaHMDS.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A-D

The total syntheses of crocacins A-D are described. The key steps were a syn-aldol reaction followed by anti-reduction to secure the stereotetrad and acylation of an ene- or dienecarbamate to form the enamide.     

Stereoselective anti-SN2′ Mitsunobu reaction of α-hydroxy-α-alkenylsilanes

A novel silyl group-directed anti-S_N2′ reaction of allylic alcohols under Mitsunobu reaction conditions is described. The Mitsunobu reaction of α-hydroxy-α-alkenylsilanes with a TBS or TIPS group gave the anti-S_N2′ product, in which regio- and stereochemical outcomes of the reaction depended on the steric bulkiness of the silyl group.     

Synthetic studies directed toward the total synthesis of dolabriferol

Herein we report our results towards the total synthesis of (−)-dolabriferol, describing the synthesis of fragments C1-C9 and C10-C21. This convergent asymmetric approach relies on the use of a common Weinreb amide precursor for the preparation of both fragments, an efficient anti-aldol reaction followed by Zn(BH₄)₂ reduction to give a 1,3-syn diol, a selective oxidation of a triol under Swern conditions with concomitant lactol formation, and a diastereoselective epoxidation of an allylic alcohol with m-CPBA followed by an efficient epoxide opening with Me₂CuCNLi₂.     

Stereospecific epoxide-opening reactions of 1,1-dibromo-3,4-epoxy-1-alkenes with carbon nucleophiles

The stereospecific epoxide-opening reactions of 1,1-dibromo-3,4-epoxy-1-alkenes with allyltributylstannane and with ketene silyl acetals in the presence of a Lewis acid are described. Both the reactions occurred regioselectively at the allylic position via an S_N2 process giving rise to a single product, respectively. Treatment of the products by the latter reaction with p-TsOH afforded various 3,4-anti- and 3,4-syn-disubstituted γ-lactones in a highly stereoselective manner and high yields.     

Superior substrate control on diastereoselection in boric Lewis acid-promoted aldol reactions. Asymmetric synthesis of a 3,4-syn homologous series of ethyl 3,5-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-5-phenylpentanoates

The BF₃·OEt₂-promoted aldol reaction of chiral syn- and anti-α-methyl-β-siloxy aldehydes with a silyl ketene acetal resulted in essentially complete syn Felkin selection. Even in the asymmetric aldol reaction using chiral oxazaborolidinones, the substrate control with respect to diastereoselection was found to overcome the promoter (catalyst) control which would normally occur depending on the stereocenter of the chiral boranes.     

A new type of amino amide organocatalyzed enantioselective crossed aldol reaction of ketones with aromatic aldehydes

A new type of amino amide organocatalysts was designed and synthesized from commercially available amino acids in easy steps. Their catalytic activities were examined in enantioselective crossed aldol reaction of various acyclic and cyclic ketones with aromatic aldehydes to afford the corresponding chiral anti-aldol adducts with good to excellent chemical yields, diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to 99%, up to syn:anti?=?1:99, up to 97% ee).     

Chiral base-catalyzed aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ethers: effect of water as an additive on stereoselectivities

An aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether catalyzed by lithium binaphtholate is described. The aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether derived from cyclohexanone under anhydrous conditions predominantly afforded the anti-aldol adduct with moderate enantioselectivity, whereas the reaction under aqueous conditions predominantly resulted in the syn-adduct and the enantioselectivity of the syn-adduct was considerably improved. The best enantioselectivity was obtained in the reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether derived from 1-indanone with cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde (97% ee (syn)). This is the first example of an aldol reaction of trimethoxysilyl enol ether catalyzed by a chiral base.     

SN1‐Type Substitution Reactions of N‐Protected β‐Hydroxytyrosine Esters: Stereoselective Synthesis of β‐Aryl and β‐Alkyltyrosines

The title compounds were prepared by aldol reaction of anisaldehyde and the respective N,N‐dibenzyl glycinates. Deprotection of the nitrogen atom with Pearlman’s catalyst delivered the unprotected β‐hydroxytyrosine esters, which were further N‐protected as N,N‐phthaloyl (Phth) and N‐fluorenylmethylcarbonyloxy (Fmoc) derivatives. The Friedel–Crafts reaction with various arenes was studied employing these alcohols as electrophiles. It turned out that the facial diastereoselectivitiy depends on the nitrogen protecting group and on the ester group. The unprotected substrates (NH₂) gave preferentially syn‐products but the anti‐selectivity increased when going from NHFmoc over NPhth to NBn₂. If the ester substituent was varied the syn‐preference increased in the order Me <Et <iPr. The reactions were shown to be fully stereoconvergent and proceeded under kinetic product control. A model is suggested to explain the facial diastereoselectivity based on a conformationally locked benzylic cation intermediate. The reactions are preparatively useful for the N‐unprotected isopropyl ester, which gave Friedel–Crafts alkylation products with good syn‐selectivity (anti/syn=21:79 to 7:93), and for the N,N‐dibenzyl‐protected methyl ester, which led preferentially to anti‐products (anti/syn=80:20 to >95:5). Upon acetylation of the latter compound to the respective acetate, Bi(OTf)₃‐catalyzed alkylation reactions became possible, in which silyl enol ethers served as nucleophiles. The respective alkylation products were obtained in high yield and with excellent anti‐selectivitiy (anti/syn≥95:5).     

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective reactions of enecarbamates with an aldehyde

Catalytic asymmetric addition reactions of enecarbamates with ethyl glyoxylate have been developed using CuClO₄·4CH₃CN and a diimine ligand as the catalyst. Highly diastereo- and enantioselective addition reactions of α-mono-substituted enecarbamates have been also achieved. These reactions afforded the corresponding adducts with high selectivity; that is, syn adducts from Z-enecarbamates and anti adducts from E-enecarbamates. The proposed reaction mechanism is an aza-ene type pathway, where the proton of an enecarbamate's N-H group plays an important role, not only for accelerating the reaction but also for providing a transition state suitable for the highly selective chiral induction.     

Selective hydrolysis of anti-1,3-diol-acetonides for the differentiation of 1,3-anti and 1,3-syn diols

A mild and general method for the selective cleavage of anti-1,3-acetonides has been developed for the differentiation of 1,3-anti and 1,3-syn diols in long chain polyolic fragments. The diluted acidic conditions applied to these systems are compatible with other common protecting groups such as silyl ethers and benzyloxymethyl ethers.     

Expanding the scope of the asymmetric anti-aldol addition of chiral N-amino cyclic carbamate hydrazones

An asymmetric anti-aldol addition process of ketone-derived donors that is not limited by the structure of the ketone is described. This is achieved by merging the enantioselective α,α-bisalkylation of N-amino cyclic carbamate (ACC) hydrazones with the asymmetric anti-aldol addition of ACC hydrazones. The products of this process are obtained with essentially perfect stereoselectivity. Using this procedure it is possible to gain access to ketone-based anti-aldol addition products that are inaccessible in a controlled sense via direct aldol methods.     

Concise route to defined stereoisomers of the hydroxy acid of the chondramides

The use of Kobayashi vinylogous aldol reaction in the reaction with acetaldehyde led to anti-aldol product 11. After reductive removal of the chiral auxiliary, the primary alcohol was converted to the allyliodide 14. This compound could be engaged in an Evans alkylation reaction, leading eventually to hydroxy acid 19. Inclusion of a Mitsunobu inversion reaction on the sequence starting with ent-11 led to hydroxy ester 30, featuring a 6,7-syn-configuration. These hydroxy acids should help to elucidate the correct stereostructure of the chondramide depsipeptides.     

Photocleavage of dimers of coumarin and 6-alkylcoumarins

The cleavage of four coumarin dimers, the syn-head-to-tail (ht) dimer of parent coumarin (syn-ht-CC1), the anti- and syn-hh dimers of 6-methylcoumarin (anti-hh-CC2 and syn-hh-CC2, respectively) and the anti-hh dimer of 6-dodecylcoumarin (anti-hh-CC3), was studied by UV–vis and IR spectroscopy and HPLC upon direct 254 nm irradiation as well as sensitized excitation. The quantum yield of dimer splitting is Φ_sp = 0.1–0.3 in various solvents and the effects of structure and solvent polarity are small. In certain solvents some of the dimers produced CO₂ along with the monomers in the splitting reaction. Electron transfer from dimers to the triplet state of sensitizers, such as benzophenone or 9,10-anthraquinone, was observed in acetonitrile.