Key role of the Lewis base position in asymmetric bifunctional catalysis: design and evaluation of a new ligand for chiral polymetallic catalysts

New chiral ligands for asymmetric polymetallic catalysts were designed on the basis of the assumption that the higher-order assembly structure is stabilized by modifying the modular unit. The designed ligands 6 and 7 contained a scaffolding cyclohexane ring with a Lewis base phosphine oxide directly attached to the scaffold. A module in the polymetallic complex contains two metals per ligand, and a stable 6-, 5-, 5-membered fused chelation ring system should be generated. Synthesis of these ligands is simple and high yielding, using a catalytic dynamic kinetic resolution promoted by the Trost catalyst as a key step. Ligand function was assessed in a catalytic asymmetric ring-opening reaction of meso-aziridines with TMSCN, a useful reaction for the synthesis of optically active beta-amino acids. The Gd complex generated from Gd(OiPr)3 and the ligand was a highly active and enantioselective catalyst in this reaction. Enantioselectivity was reversed compared to the previously reported d-glucose-derived catalyst containing the same chirality of the individual module. ESI-MS analysis and X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that the assembly state of the modules in the polymetallic catalysts differs depending on the chiral ligand. The difference in the higher-order structure stems from a subtle change (one carbon) in the position of the Lewis base relative to the Gd metal. The change in the higher-order structure of the polymetallic complex led to a dramatic reversal of the enantioselectivity and increased catalyst activity.     

The rational design of modified Cinchona alkaloid catalysts. Application to a new asymmetric synthesis of chiral chromanes

A new asymmetric synthesis of 2-substituted chiral chromanes has been achieved. The key step is the intramolecular conjugate addition of a phenolic nucleophile on a α,β-unsaturated ester catalyzed by Cinchona alkaloids. The high ee’s obtained with cinchonine and its derivatives have been rationalized by ab initio quantum chemistry calculations of transition state structures.     

Modular chiral bidentate phosphonites: design, synthesis, and application in catalytic asymmetric hydroformylation reactions

A new class of C(2)-symmetric chiral bidentate phosphonite ligands has been synthesized in moderate to good yields from readily available starting materials. Application of these air-stable chiral phosphonites in the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene derivatives, vinyl acetate, and allyl cyanide afforded the corresponding chiral aldehydes with high regio- and enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions. The modular nature of the ligands allows fine-tuning of the selectivities through judicious modifications of the substituents on the ligand backbone. X-ray structural analysis of the catalyst precursor suggested that the steric hindrance caused by the protruding remote substituents of the ligands into the vicinity of the metal center might be an important factor for the enantio-control of the reaction, whereas the sense of asymmetric induction can be rationalized on the basis of a trigonal-bipyramidal transition state diagram.     

Novel chiral bisoxazoline ligands with a biphenyl backbone: preparation, complexation, and application in asymmetric catalytic reactions

Novel C(2)-symmetric chiral bisoxazoline ligands 1 were easily prepared from enantiomerically pure 2-amino alcohols and achiral 2, 2'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid via the corresponding amide and mesylate as intermediates. Since these ligands bear only two ortho-substituents on the biphenyl backbone, the biphenyl axis is not fixed, and the two diastereomers of these ligands exist in equilibrium in solution. Interestingly, when the ligands 1 were coordinated with a metal ion, only one of the two possible diastereomer complexes, an (S,aS,S)-complex, can be formed depending on the combination of the ligand and the metal ion. Thus, copper(I) afforded only the (S,aS,S)-complexes with all ligands 1, while zinc(II), palladium(II), and silver(I) afforded the (S,aS, S)-complexes as the sole product only with 1b, which has a bulky tert-butyl group on the oxazoline ring, and a mixture of the two diastereomer complexes with 1a,c,d. The copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with diazoacetate proceeded successfully with these ligands and good to excellent enantioselectivities were afforded.     

Synthesis of new tridentate chiral aminoalcohols by a multicomponent reaction and their evaluation as ligands for catalytic asymmetric Strecker reaction

A one-step, multicomponent Mannich-type reaction between phenols, paraformaldehyde, and β-aminoalcohols in the presence of LiCl afforded N-2-hydroxybenzyloxazolidines with high ortho-selectivity. Hydrolytic or reductive ring opening of the oxazolidines provided a series of N-salicyl-β-aminoalcohols in 84-92% overall yield. The synthesized compounds were evaluated as ligands for a titanium-catalyzed catalytic asymmetric Strecker reaction. The reaction employing 10 mol % of catalyst provided the Strecker products in excellent yields and up to 98% ee.     

Chiral imidates as a new class of nitrogen-based chiral ligands: synthesis and catalytic activity in asymmetric aziridinations and diethylzinc additions

Chiral imidates were efficiently synthesized in one step and with high yields (seven examples). These chiral imidates were used as ligands in the Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric aziridination of methyl cinnamate and in the asymmetric diethylzinc additions to benzaldehyde as a proof of principle. The imidate catalyst system showed high catalytic activities and induced encouraging selectivities. An X-ray structure analysis of an imidate-Cu(I) complex is included, showing a distorted tetrahedral arrangement with two bidentate ligand molecules surrounding the metal.     

A facile synthesis and asymmetric catalytic activity of new 3‐substituted chiral BINOL ligands

Three new chiral ligands, (S)‐3‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl‐1,1′‐binaphthol [(S)‐ 1 ], (S)‐3‐(1H‐1,2,3‐benzotriazol‐1‐yl)methyl‐1,1′‐binaphthol [(S)‐ 2 ] and (S)‐3‐(2H‐1,2,3‐benzotriazol‐2‐yl)methyl‐1,1′‐binaphthol [(S)‐ 3 ], were prepared by a simple method. They showed moderate catalytic properties for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synthesis of new planar chiral heterobidentate chelate ligands for asymmetric catalysis

A series of new heterobidentate N,S; N,O and N,P chelate ligands have been synthesised where the sole source of chirality is derived from a planar chiral ferrocene unit and have been shown to give up to 79% ee (R) in the palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction, suggesting that they may be suitable in other palladium catalysed processes.     

Novel chiral gallium Lewis acid catalysts with semi-crown ligands for aqueous asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reactions

Asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reactions in aqueous media (water-ethanol = 9:1) were catalyzed by chiral gallium catalysts with semi-crown ligands to give aldol products with good yields, syn-diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of two new chiral fluorous bis(oxazolines) and their applications as ligands in catalytic asymmetric reactions

Two new chiral fluorous bis(oxazolines) with a fluorous content of 56.9% and 59.3%, respectively, have been prepared starting from (S)-serine and (S)-tyrosine. Applications of these compounds as fluorous box ligands in asymmetric alkylations gave ees up to 92%, and in allylic oxidations ees up to 50%. Recycling and reuse of the ligands in asymmetric alkylation and of the catalytic system in allylic oxidation gave the same enantioselectivities.     

First chiral [2.2]paracyclophane-derived phosphite ligands: synthesis and application in asymmetric reactions

First representatives of chiral phosphite ligands derived from 4,5-dihydroxy[2.2]paracyclophane have been synthesized. A possibility of the use of these compounds in the reactions of asymmetric Pd- and Ir-catalyzed allylic amination of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with pyrrolidine and Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate has been demonstrated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 132–134, January, 2008.     

Reuse of chiral cationic Pd-phosphinooxazolidine catalysts in ionic liquids: highly efficient catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions

Chiral cationic palladium-phosphinooxazolidine catalysts in ionic liquid afforded excellent enantioselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions and the catalyst was easily recycled eight times without any significant decrease in chemical yields or enantioselectivity (89-99%, 88-99% ee).     

Synthesis of new chiral monodentate phosphite ligands and their use in catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] New monodentate phosphite ligands have been developed from axially chiral biphenols, which show excellent enantioselectivity in the Rh(I)-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate. The new chiral ligand system is suitable to create libraries and possesses fine-tuning capability.     

Catechol-based phosphoramidites: a new class of chiral ligands for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations

[reaction: see text] The synthesis and application of a new class of catechol-based phosphoramidites is described. Ees up to 99% were obtained in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acids and enamides.     

Chiral phosphite-oxazolines: a new class of ligands for asymmetric Heck reactions

[chemical reaction: see text]. A series of phosphite-oxazoline ligands, derived from readily available D-glucosamine, have been used for the first time in the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction of several substrates with high regio- and enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99%) and improved activities in standard conditions.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a new non-cross-linked polystyrene supported hydantoin chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reactions

A new non-cross-linked polystyrene supported chiral hydantoin was prepared and it was shown to be a particularly effective chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reactions, affording high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, the recovery and recycling of the polymer-supported chiral auxiliary have been successfully achieved without an appreciable reduction in the yield or diastereoselectivity.     

On Ni catalysts for catalytic, asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated coupling reactions

The importance of the Ni catalyst in achieving catalytic asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated coupling reactions effectively is demonstrated. Six phenanthroline-NiCl(2) complexes 1a-c and 2a-c and five types of alkenyl iodides A-E were chosen for the study, thereby demonstrating that these Ni catalysts display a wide range of overall reactivity profiles in terms of the degree of asymmetric induction, geometrical isomerization, and coupling rate. For three types of alkenyl iodides A-C, a satisfactory Ni catalyst(s) was found within 1a-c and 2a-c. For disubstituted (Z)-alkenyl iodide D, 2c was identified as an acceptable Ni catalyst in terms of the absence of Z → E isomerization and the degree of asymmetric induction but not in terms of the coupling rate. Two phosphine-based Ni catalysts, [(Me)(3)P](2)·NiCl(2) and [(cy)(3)P](2)·NiCl(2), were found to meet all three criteria for D. The bond-forming reaction at the C16-C17 position of palytoxin was used to demonstrate the usefulness of the Ni catalysts thus identified.