Asymmetric synthesis of anti-homopropargylic alcohols from aldehydes and chiral sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes through generation and elimination of novel chiral alkylidenecarbene (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium ylides

A new method for the asymmetric synthesis of anti-configured homopropargylic alcohols 1 is described, which features the addition of chiral sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes 3 to aldehydes, the methylation of sulfonimidoyl substituted homoallylic alcohols 2 at the N-atom, and the elimination of alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7 with LiN(H)tBu. The reaction of isopropyl, cyclohexyl, and methyl substituted allylic titanium complexes 3a-c with benzaldehyde, p-bromobenzaldehyde, p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-methoxybenzaldehyde, (E)-3-phenylpropenal, and phenylpropynal afforded with high regio- and diastereoselectivities the anti-configured sulfonimidoyl substituted homoallylic alcohols 2a-j, respectively. Only one allylic unit of the titanium complexes 3a-c was transferred in the case of unsaturated aldehydes, and the starting allylic sulfoximines 2a-g were recovered in approximately 50% yield. The methylation of the silyl protected alkenyl sulfoximines 6a-j with Me(3)OBF(4) gave in practically quantitative yields the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7a-j, respectively. Salts 7a-e, 7g, 7h, and 7j delivered upon treatment with 2 equiv of LiN(H)tBu the enantio- and diastereomerically pure saturated and unsaturated alkynes 9a-e, 9g, 9h, and 9j, respectively, in high yields. Besides the alkynes the sulfinamide 8 (96% ee) was isolated. Aminosulfoxonium salts 9f and 9i, which carry a CC triple bond, also suffered an elimination under these conditions but did not yield the corresponding diynes. Elimination of salts 7a-e, 7g, 7h, and 7j proceeds most likely through deprotonation at the alpha-position with formation of the novel alkylidenecarbene aminosulfoxonium ylides 19a-e, 19g, 19h, and 19j, respectively. The ylides 19a-e, 19g, 19h, and 19j presumably eliminate sulfinamide 8 with generation of the chiral nonracemic (beta-siloxyalkylidene)carbenes 20a-e, 20g, 20h, and 20j, which suffer a 1,2-H-shift with formation of alkynes 9. Support for the formation of the putative alkylidenecarbenes 20 as intermediates comes from the elimination of the beta-methyl substituted aminosulfoxonium salt 24, which delivered the enantio- and diastereomerically pure 2,3-dihydrofuran derivative 28 upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu in high yield. Here, the putative (beta-siloxyalkylidene)carbene 26 suffers a 1,5-O,Si bond insertion rather than a 1,2-Me shift. Methylation of the alkenyl sulfoximine 6a at the alpha-position with formation of 13 was achieved through deprotonation of the former with formation of the alpha-lithioalkenyl sulfoximine 11a and its treatment MeI. Reaction of the alpha-methylated alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salt 14a with LiNiPr(2) at low temperatures gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure anti-configured homoallenylic alcohol derivative 15, while reaction of the salt with LiNiPr(2) or LiN(H)tBu at higher temperatures afforded the enantio- and diastereomerically pure nonterminal homopropargylic alcohol derivative 17. Deprotonation of the alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7a and 7b with nBuLi afforded the novel alkylidenecarbene aminosulfoxonium ylides 19a and 19b, respectively, which upon treatment with MeI yielded the methylated aminosulfoxonium salts 14a and 14b, respectively.     

Synthesis of 1,5-P,N-phosphino-sulfoximines through phospha-Michael reaction of alkenyl sulfoximines and their evaluation as ligands in palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

We describe a modular synthesis of cyclic and acyclic 1,5-P,N-phosphino-sulfoximines by using a phospha-Michael reaction of the corresponding alkenyl sulfoximines with HPPh₂/KOtBu as key step, which proceeds with medium diastereoselectivity. The palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of racemic 1,3-diphenyl allyl acetate with malonate in the presence of a S_SR_CR_C-configured N-benzyl-substituted cyclic phosphino-sulfoximine gave the corresponding alkene with 97% ee in 98% yield. A comparative study of N-substituted phosphino-sulfoximines showed the selectivity of the Pd(0)-catalyst to be dependent not only on the chiral backbone of the ligand but also on the N-substituent and configuration of the sulfoximine group.     

Cross-Coupling Reaction of Alkenyl Sulfoximines and Alkenyl Aminosulfoxonium Salts with Organozincs by Dual Nickel Catalysis and Lewis Acid Promotion

In this article, the cross-coupling reaction (CCR) of exocyclic, axially chiral, and acyclic alkenyl (N-methyl)sulfoximines with alkyl- and arylzincs is described_. The CCR generally requires dual Ni catalysis and MgBr₂ promotion, which is effective in diethyl ether but not in THF. NMR spectroscopy revealed a complexation of alkenyl sulfoximines by MgBr₂ in diethyl ether, which suggests an acceleration of the oxidative addition through nucleofugal activation. The CCR of alkenyl sulfoximines generally proceeds in the presence of Ni(dppp)Cl₂ as a precatalyst and MgBr₂ with alkyl- and arylzincs with a high degree of stereoretention at the C and the S atom. CCR of axially chiral alkenyl sulfoximines with Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ as a precatalyst and ZnPh₂ does not require salt promotion and is stereoretentive. The reaction with Zn(CH₂SiMe₃)₂, however, demands salt promotion and is not stereoretentive. CCR of axially chiral α-methylated alkenyl sulfoximines afforded persubstituted axially chiral alkenes with high selectivity. Alkenyl (N-triflyl)sulfoximines engage in a stereoretentive CCR with Grignard reagents and Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂. Ni-Catalyzed and MgBr₂-promoted CCR of E-configured acyclic alkenyl sulfoximines and aminosulfoxonium salts with ZnPh₂ and Zn(CH₂SiMe₃)₂ is stereoretentive with Ni(dppp)Cl₂ and Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂. CCRs of acyclic alkenyl sulfoximines and alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts, carrying a methyl group at the α position, take a different course and give alkenyl sulfinamides under stereoretention at the S and C atom. CCR of acyclic, exocyclic, and axially chiral alkenyl sulfoximines has been successfully applied to the stereoselective synthesis of homoallylic alcohols, exocyclic alkenes, and axially chiral alkenes, respectively.     

Asymmetric synthesis of unsaturated, fused bicyclic proline analogues through amino alkylation of cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes and migratory cyclization of delta-amino alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts

Described is an asymmetric synthesis of new Delta(3a,4)-unsaturated, fused bicyclic proline analogues from cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes and N-tert-butylsulfonyl imino ethyl ester. Treatment of the enantiomerically pure five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes with the imino ester gave mixtures of the corresponding (E,syn)- and (Z,syn)-configured, delta-sulfoximine substituted, cyclic gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields. Activation of the N-methyl sulfoximine group of these amino acid derivatives through methylation with Me(3)OBF(4) afforded in nearly quantitative yields the corresponding (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts. A novel migratory cyclization of these salts with DBU gave via an isomerization to the corresponding allylic (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts and an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group the enantio- and diastereomerically pure, bicyclic, N-tert-butylsulfonyl protected proline analogues having a six- and eight-membered unsaturated carbocyclic ring. Cyclization of the alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts was independent of the configuration of the double bond. N,N-Dimethylphenylsulfinamide of > or =99% ee was obtained in good yield as a further reaction product. Conversion of the sulfinamide to N,S-dimethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine of > or =99% ee, the starting material for the synthesis of the allylic sulfoximines, had been accomplished previously. Finally, cleavage of the tert-butylsulfonyl protecting group with anhydrous acid furnished the fused bicyclic proline analogue containing an unsaturated six-membered ring in high yield.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrofurans and of unsaturated bicyclic tetrahydrofurans through alpha-elimination and migratory cyclization of silyloxy alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts. Generation and intramolecular O,Si-bond insertion of chiral disubstituted beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes

Treatment of the bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes derived from the beta-methyl-substituted acyclic allylic sulfoximines 13a and 13b with aldehydes gave with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 15a-h. Methylation of sulfoximines 15a-h afforded the aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h which upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu gave in high yields the enantio- and diastereomerically pure silyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h. Treatment of the titanium complexes derived from the cyclic allylic sulfoximines 17a, 17b, and ent-17c with p-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO delivered with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted cyclic homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 18a, 18b, and ent-18c, respectively. Methylation of sulfoximines 18a, 18b, and ent-18c furnished the aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c, respectively, whose treatment with LiN(H)t-Bu gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure fused bicyclic 2,3-dihydrofurans 6a, 6b, and ent-6c, respectively, in good yields. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h, 8a, 8b, and ent-8c react with the base under alpha-elimination and formation of the acyclic and cyclic beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes 2a-h, 7a, 7b, and ent-7c, respectively, which then undergo a 1,5-O,Si-bond insertion and 1,2-silyl migration. The cyclic aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c upon treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene did not undergo an alpha-elimination but suffered a novel migratory cyclization with formation of the enantio- and diastereomerically pure bicyclic tetrahydrofurans 9a, 9b, and ent-9c, respectively. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl sulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c are isomerized to the allylic aminosulfoxonium salts 10a, 10b, and ent-10c, respectively, which then suffer an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group by the silyloxy group followed by a desilylation. The syntheses of the 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h, 6a, and 6b and of the tetrahydrofurans 9a and 9b are accompanied by the formation of sulfinamide 16 of >or=98% ee, which can be converted via sulfoxide 28 of >or=98% to the starting sulfoximine 11 of >or=98% ee.     

Gallium-mediated allyl transfer from bulky homoallylic alcohol to aldehydes via retro-allylation: stereoselective synthesis of both erythro- and threo-homoallylic alcohols

Retro-allylation of bulky gallium homoallylic alkoxides occurs to generate (Z)- and (E)-crotylgallium reagents stereospecifically, starting from erythro- and threo-homoallylic alcohols, respectively. The (Z)- and (E)-crotylgallium reagents immediately reacted with aromatic aldehydes to afford the corresponding erythro- and threo-homoallylic alcohols, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

Regio- and Enantioselective Substitution of Acyclic Allylic Sulfoximines with Butylcopper in the Presence of Lithium Iodide and Boron Trifluoride

Enantiomerically pure N-methyl-, N-benzyl-, and N-(methoxyethyl)-S-(phenyl)cinnamylsulfoximines as well as the corresponding crotylsulfoximines have been prepared from N-methyl-, N-benzyl-, and N-(methoxyethyl)-S-(lithiomethyl)sulfoximines and carbonyl compounds by an addition-elimination-isomerization reaction sequence. Under basic conditions, complete isomerization of the vinylic sulfoximines, obtained as intermediates, to the corresponding allylic sulfoximines takes place. Chromatographically separable mixtures of (E) and (Z) allylic sulfoximines were isolated in the case of beta,gamma-disubstituted allylic sulfoximines. The (E/Z) ratio depends on the nature of the substituents in the beta- and gamma-positions, and the equilibrium amount of the (Z) isomer varies from 68% to nil. The allylic N-methylsulfoximines do not racemize thermally, and their rearrangement to the corresponding allylic sulfinamides is negligible. Upon prolonged treatment with boron trifluoride at low temperatures allylic N-methylsulfoximines are recovered unchanged. The crystal structure of S-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-S-phenylsulfoximine was determined. Reaction of the allylic sulfoximines with butylcopper in the presence of lithium iodide and boron trifluoride leads with very high gamma-selectivities and moderate to high enantioselectivities to the corresponding chiral alkenes. Their configuration was determined by chemical correlation through ozonolysis to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. The asymmetric induction exerted by the chiral N-methyl-S-phenylsulfoximine group strongly depends on the double bond configuration and the substituents in the beta- and gamma-positions. The (E) allylic sulfoximines are substituted with low to moderate enantioselectivities (2-66%), whereas the (Z) allylic sulfoximines react with much higher enantioselectivities (69-92%). Interestingly, substitution of the beta-methyl-gamma-phenyl-substituted (Z) allylic sulfoximine and its beta-phenyl-gamma-methyl isomer proceeded with almost the same degree of asymmetric induction but with the opposite sense. Replacement of the N-methyl group by a benzyl or a methoxyethyl group has no significant influence on the regio- and enantioselectivity of the substitution.     

Asymmetric modular synthesis of highly functionalized medium-sized carbocycles and lactones via ring-closing metathesis of sulfoximine-substituted trienes

A modular asymmetric synthesis of medium-sized carbocycles and lactones has been developed that affords highly substituted 7-, 9-, and 11-membered rings. The key steps are (1) the highly diastereoselective synthesis of sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols from allylic sulfoximines and unsaturated as well as saturated aldehydes, (2) an E-stereoselective alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of sulfoximine-substituted alkenyllithium derivatives, (3) the esterification of sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols, and (4) the ring-closing metathesis reaction of sulfoximine-substituted trienes with the ruthenium catalyst 8. Two examples for the further synthetic elaboration of the sulfoximine-substituted carbocycles are provided. The selective cleavage of the tert-butyldimethylsilyl group of 12 in the presence of the triethylsilyl group afforded the allylic alcohol 18 which was oxidized to enone 19. A cross-coupling reaction of the sulfoximine-substituted carbocycle 9 with LiCuMe2 furnished the methyl-substituted derivative 20.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Anionic Cross-Coupling Reaction of Lithium Sulfonimidoyl Alkylidene Carbenoids With Organolithiums

The mechanistic platform for a novel nickel⁰-catalyzed anionic cross-coupling reaction (ACCR) of lithium sulfonimidoyl alkylidene carbenoids (metalloalkenyl sulfoximines) with organometallic reagents is reported herein, affording substituted alkenylmetals and lithium sulfinamides. The Ni⁰-catalyzed ACCR of three different types of metalloalkenyl sulfoximines, including acyclic, axially chiral and exocyclic derivatives, with sp² organolithiums and sp² and sp³ Grignard reagents has been studied. The ACCR of metalloalkenyl sulfoximines with PhLi in the presence of the Ni⁰-catalyst and precatalyst Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ afforded alkenyllithiums, under inversion of configuration at the C atom and complete retention at the S atom. In a combination of experimental and DFT studies, we propose a catalytic cycle of the Ni⁰-catalyzed ACCR of lithioalkenyl sulfoximines. Computational studies reveal two distinctive pathways of the ACCR, depending on whether a phosphine or 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) is the ligand of the Ni atom. They rectify the underlying importance of forming the key Ni⁰-vinylidene intermediate through an indispensable electron-rich Ni⁰-center coordinated by phosphine ligands. Fundamentally, we present a mechanistic study in controlling the diastereoselectivity of the alkenyllithium formation via the key lithium sulfinamide coordinated Ni⁰-vinylidene complex, which consequently avoids an unselective formation of an alkylidene carbene Ni-complex and ultimately racemic alkenyllithium.     

Highly selective addition of chiral,sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes to N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters: asymmetric synthesis of gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acids bearing a chiral,electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position

Selective addition of the chiral, sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes 5a-d, which are configurationally labile in regard to the Calpha-atoms, to N-toluenesulfonyl (Ts)-, N-2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl (SES)-, and N-tert-butylsulfonyl (Bus) alpha-imino ester (9a-c) in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) and ClTi(OiPr)(3) afforded with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields the (syn, E)-configured beta-alkyl-gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid derivatives 2a-g, which carry a chiral, electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position and a cyclohexyl, an isopropyl, a phenyl, and a methyl group at the beta-position. Addition of the cyclic bis(allyl)titanium complex 14 to N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c afforded with similar high regio- and diastereoselectivities the (E)- and (Z)-configured amino acid derivatives (E)-8 and (Z)-8. Reaction of complexes 5a-d with alpha-imino esters 9a-c in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) occurs stepwise to give first the mono(allyl)titanium complexes containing 2a-g as ligands, which react in the presence of ClTi(OiPr)(3) with a second molecule of 9a-c with formation of two molecules of 2a-g. Formation of (S,R,E)-configured homoallylic amines 2a-g entails Si,Re,E processes of alpha-imino esters 9a-c with the (R,R)-configured bis(allyl)titanium complexes (R,R)-5a-d and (R)-configured mono(allyl)titanium complexes (R)-17a-d, both of which are most likely in rapid equilibrium with their (S,S)-diastereomers and (S)-diastereomers, respectively. Interestingly, in the reaction of 5a-d with aldehydes, the (S,S)-configured complexes (S,S)-5a-d are the ones which react faster. Reaction of the N-titanated amino acid derivatives Ti-2a and Ti-2b with N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a led to the highly diastereoselective formation of imidazolidinones 15a and 15b, respectively. Cleavage of the sulfonamide group of the N-Bus amino acid derivative 2d with CF(3)SO(3)H gave quantitatively the sulfonimidoyl functionalized amino acid H-2d. A Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the amino acid derivative 2e with ZnPh(2) led to a substitution of the sulfonimidoyl group by a phenyl group and furnished the enantiomerically pure protected alpha-amino acid Bus-1. Two new N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters, the SES and the Bus alpha-imino esters 9b and 9c, respectively, have been synthesized from the corresponding sulfonamides by the Kresze method in medium to good yields. The N-SES alpha-imino ester 9b and the N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c should find many synthetic applications, in particular, in cases where the N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a had been used before.     

Diastereo- and enantiomerically pure allylboronates: their synthesis and scope

Allylboronates are highly attractive reagents for allyl additions. Enantiomerically pure, stable reagents with a stereogenic centre in alpha-position to boron are especially versatile, albeit often difficult to synthesize. Starting from boron-containing allyl alcohols 6 and 7, which are discussed in detail herein, a set of reagents were obtained via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements and consecutive transformations in the side chain. The configurations could be established first by chemical correlation, but also by X-ray crystallography (16, 18, 34, and 39). Allyl additions were performed resulting in the formation of predominantly (Z)-configured homoallylic alcohols (31, 43-45) with high enantiomeric excess. Detailed investigations on the matched-mismatched interaction between the reagents 15/16 (and ent-15/ent-16, respectively) and isopropylidene glyceraldehyde 42d are presented.     

Homoallylic substitution reactions of lithium dialkyl cuprates with cyclopropylcarbinyl halides: mechanistic considerations

Highly reactive lithium dialkyl cuprates and l-bromo-l-cyclo-propylalkanes, $\text{4}$, react to give good yields of the homoallylic substitution product, $\text{6}$. Less reactive organocuprates react with $\text{4}$ to give mixtures of $\text{6}$ and the direct substitution product, $\text{7}$. These results are consistent with a copper(I) radical intermediate which undergoes facile rearrangement prior to reductive coupling.     

The addition of cuprates to vinyltriphenylphosphonium bromide: a synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted Z,Z-penta-1,4-dienes

It is shown that alkyl, alkenyl and aryl cuprates add to vinyl- triphenylphosphonium bromide to provide phosphoranes and that the Z:E ratio of their Wittig condensation products with benzaldehyde and hexanal are strongly influenced by the addition of hexamethyl- phosphoramide. This reaction is applied to the one-pot synthesis of the title compound.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-alpha-alkylidene-gamma-aryl-gamma-butyrolactones via alkenylalumination of oxiranes

Alkenylalumination of substituted styrene oxides with [alpha-(ethoxycarbonyl)alkenyl]diisobutylaluminum, in the presence of BF(3).Et(2)O, affords the corresponding (Z)-alpha-alkylidene-gamma-aryl-gamma-hydroxy esters in 81-100% Z-selectivity. Chromatographic separation of isomers, followed by lactonization with trifluoroacetic acid, provides isomerically pure (Z)-alpha-alkylidene-gamma-aryl-gamma-butyrolactones in 53-78% overall yield. Isomerization of the (Z)-alkylidene hydroxyl esters using LDA, followed by protonation using a bulky proton source, such as BHT, provides a simple route to the corresponding alpha-(E)-alkylidene-gamma-phenyl-gamma-hydroxy esters in 72-78% yield, which were cyclized to obtain the corresponding (E)-butyrolactones in 78-85% yield.     

Intramolecular anti-hydrosilylation and silicon-assisted cross-coupling: highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted homoallylic alcohols

A highly regio- and stereoselective anti-intramolecular hydrosilylation of alkynyl silyl ethers catalyzed by a ruthenium arene complex has been developed. The resultant (Z)-alkylidenesilacyclopentanes are efficiently coupled with aryl or alkenyl halides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride and a palladium(0) catalyst. The yields are generally good, and the reaction is compatible with a wide range of functional groups. The overall transformation achieves the stereoselective conversion of homopropargyl alcohols to trisubstituted homoallylic alcohols. [reaction: see text]     

C-C bond-forming desulfurizations of sulfoximines

Highly substituted, enantiomerically pure azaheterocyclic ring systems play an important role in medicinal chemistry as potential peptide mimetics. Metalated 2-alkenyl sulfoximines offer an efficient entry to this class of compounds. In this paper, we describe a new means to remove the sulfonimidoyl auxiliary with concomitant formation of a C-C double bond.     

An unprecedented stereoselective [2+2] cycloreversion of cyclobutanones

A one-pot metathetic ring opening of substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones to linear polyene ketones is described. The reaction proceeds with conservation of the endocyclic (Z)-double bond. Exo-substituted vinylcyclobutanones result in (4Z,6E)-configured trienones, while endo-substituted phenyl derivatives generate (4Z,6Z)-configured dienones.     

Rhodium- and palladium-catalyzed 1,5-substitution reactions of 2-en-4-yne acetates and carbonates with organoboronic acids

Two methods involving the rhodium-catalyzed reaction of 2-en-4-yne acetates and the palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2-en-4-yne carbonates with organoboronic acids were investigated; both afforded exclusively the (E)-configured vinylallenes. The coordinative interaction of the rhodium with the acetate group promoted the δ-elimination of Rh(I)-OAc from the alkenylrhodium intermediate II in both syn and anti modes, with the syn-elimination being the major path. DFT calculations revealed that a conformer of this intermediate (II), which can lead to the (E)-configured vinylallene product via the syn-elimination mode, is energetically the most favorable conformer. The rhodium-catalyzed procedure is not applicable to reactions involving (E)-configured enyne acetates, because the geometry of the alkenylrhodium intermediate that is derived from the corresponding (E)-enyne acetate would not allow such coordinative interaction to occur. The palladium-catalyzed method, which proceeds through formation of the σ-vinylallenylpalladium intermediate, B, is suitable for both the (E)- and (Z)-configured enyne carbonates and appears to have a wider scope for both organoboronic acids and enyne substrates. The palladium-catalyzed reaction of an enantiomerically enriched enyne carbonate proceeded with racemization.     

Palladium-catalyzed N-arylation of sulfoximines with aryl bromides and aryl iodides

Various N-arylated sulfoximines have been synthesized in high yield by a direct approach which is based on a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling strategy. Aryl bromides of variable substitution pattern were found to be the most effective coupling partners, whereas aryl iodides showed a nonpredictable behavior requiring lithium or silver salts as additives to ensure product formation in acceptable yields. Coupling of (S)-2-(2'-bromophenyl)-4-tert-butyloxazoline with enantiomerically pure (-)-(RS)-S-methyl-S-phenylsulfoximine afforded the corresponding product in good yield as a single diastereomer, showing that the palladium-catalyzed arylation proceeds in a stereospecific manner. The reaction with dibromobenzenes yielded the monosulfonimidoyl arenes in all cases, suggesting that the introduction of the sulfonimidoyl moiety deactivates the arene, thus preventing a second coupling step.     

Versatile Homoallylic Boronates by Chemo‐, SN2′‐, Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Catalytic Sequence of Cu−H Addition to Vinyl‐B(pin)/Allylic Substitution

A highly chemo‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective catalytic method that efficiently combines a silyl hydride, vinyl‐B(pin) (pin=pinacolato) and (E)‐1,2‐disubstituted allylic phosphates is introduced. Reactions, best promoted by a Cu‐based complex with a chiral sulfonate‐containing N‐heterocyclic carbene, are broadly applicable. Aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, alkenyl‐, alkynyl‐ and alkyl‐substituted allylic phosphates may thus be converted to the corresponding homoallylic boronates and then alcohols (after C−B bond oxidation) in 46–91 % yield and in up to >98 % S_N2′:S_N2 ratio, 96:4 diastereomeric ratio and 98:2 enantiomeric ratio. The reasons why an NHC−Cu catalyst is uniquely effective (vs. the corresponding phosphine systems) and the basis for different trends in stereoselectivity are provided with the aid of DFT calculations.