Palladium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Heck Carbonylation with a Monodentate Phosphoramidite Ligand: Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)‐Physostigmine, (+)‐Physovenine,and (+)‐Folicanthine

Reported herein is the development of the first enantioselective monodentate ligand assisted Pd‐catalyzed domino Heck carbonylation reaction with CO. The highly enantioselective domino Heck carbonylation of N‐aryl acrylamides and various nucleophiles, including arylboronic acids, anilines, and alcohols, in the presence of CO was achieved. A novel monodentate phosphoramidite ligand, Xida‐Phos, has been developed for this reaction and it displays excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity. The reaction employs readily available starting materials, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides straightforward access to a diverse array of enantioenriched oxindoles having β‐carbonyl‐substituted all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters, thus providing a facile and complementary method for the asymmetric synthesis of bioactive hexahydropyrroloindole and its dimeric alkaloids.     

Phosphoramidites: Privileged Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric catalysis with transition‐metal complexes is the basis for a vast array of stereoselective transformations and has changed the face of modern synthetic chemistry. Key to this success has been the design of chiral ligands to control the regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. Phosphoramidites have emerged as a highly versatile and readily accessible class of chiral ligands. Their modular structure enables the formation of ligand libraries and easy fine‐tuning for a specific catalytic reaction. Phosphoramidites frequently show exceptional levels of stereocontrol, and their monodentate nature is essential in combinatorial catalysis, where a ligand‐mixture approach is used. In this Review, recent developments in asymmetric catalysis with phosphoramidites used as ligands are discussed, with a focus on the formation of carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Heck Carbonylation with a Monodentate Phosphoramidite Ligand: Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)-Physostigmine, (+)-Physovenine,and (+)-Folicanthine

Reported herein is the development of the first enantioselective monodentate ligand assisted Pd-catalyzed domino Heck carbonylation reaction with CO. The highly enantioselective domino Heck carbonylation of N-aryl acrylamides and various nucleophiles, including arylboronic acids, anilines, and alcohols, in the presence of CO was achieved. A novel monodentate phosphoramidite ligand, Xida-Phos, has been developed for this reaction and it displays excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity. The reaction employs readily available starting materials, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides straightforward access to a diverse array of enantioenriched oxindoles having β-carbonyl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereocenters, thus providing a facile and complementary method for the asymmetric synthesis of bioactive hexahydropyrroloindole and its dimeric alkaloids.     

Expanding the Scope of Atropisomeric Monodentate P‐Donor Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis: Hydrogen‐Transfer Reduction of α,β‐Unsaturated Acid Derivatives by Rhodium/Ph‐binepine Catalysts

A range of α,β‐unsaturated acids and esters have been selectively reduced to the corresponding saturated acid derivatives by hydrogen transfer. As the reducing agent, formic acid was used in the presence of Rh^I complexes formed with the powerful chiral ligand Ph‐binepine ( 1 ), an axially chiral binaphthalene‐type monodentate P‐donor ligand. Very high stereoselectivities (up to 97% ee) were obtained in the case of itaconic acid ( 2a ).     

Asymmetric Hydrogenation Using Rhodium Complexes Generated from Mixtures of Monodentate Neutral and Anionic Phosphorus Ligands

A series of monodentate neutral and anionic phosphorus ligands was synthesized and evaluated in the asymmetric rhodium‐catalyzed hydrogenation of functionalized olefins by using either catalysts containing identical ligands or catalysts generated from mixtures of two different ligands. We expected that the combination of an anionic ligand with a neutral ligand would favor the formation of hetero over homo bis‐ligand complexes due to charge repulsion. NMR spectroscopic studies confirmed that charge effects can indeed shift the equilibrium toward the hetero bis‐ligand complexes. In several cases, the combination of a neutral phosphane with an anionic phosphane, one chiral and the other achiral, furnished significantly higher enantioselectivities than analogous mixtures of two neutral ligands. The best results were obtained with a mixture of an anionic phosphoramidite and a neutral phosphoric acid diester. It is supposed that in this case a hydrogen bond between the two ligands additionally stabilizes the hetero ligand combination.     

Phosphorus-bearing axially chiral biaryls by catalytic asymmetric cross-cyclotrimerization and a first application in asymmetric hydrosilylation

A novel and efficient, two-step route to axially chiral biaryls is demonstrated. In a direct asymmetric cross-cyclotrimerization in the presence of a chiral cobalt(I) catalyst, axially chiral biaryls bearing phosphoryl moieties have been prepared, and through indirect evidence the authors have been able to clarify the origin of the stereochemical induction and the nature of the central intermediate in the catalytic cycle. By subsequent reduction of the phosphoryl moiety to the corresponding phosphine, a very efficient and atom-economical approach to chiral systems has been developed. These chiral systems clearly have great potential use as axially chiral monodentate P- or bidentate P,O-ligands, as has been demonstrated by the employment of the novel NAPHEP as a new monodentate acting ligand in an asymmetric hydrosilylation reaction.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins using monodentate spiro phosphoramidite ligands

Novel chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands, SIPHOS, were conveniently synthesized from 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-diol. The Rh complexes of SIPHOS can catalyze the hydrogenation of alpha-dehydroamino esters in mild conditions, providing alpha-amino acid derivatives in up to 99% ee. Enamides and beta-dehydroamino esters can also be hydrogenated in good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% and 94% ee, respectively). The SIPHOS ligand with smaller alkyl groups on the N-atom afforded higher enantioselectivity. The X-ray analysis of single crystal showed that the structure of Rh/SIPHOS catalyst is [Rh(COD)((S)-SIPHOS-Me)(2)](+), which clarified the configuration of the catalyst with the monodentate chiral phosphorus ligand in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. A positive nonlinear effect in the relationship of the optical purities of ligand and product was observed in the hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid derivatives. The kinetic study of hydrogenation showed that the reaction is zero order in the concentration of substrate and first order in the concentration of Rh catalyst and the hydrogenation pressure. The rate of hydrogenation decreased when the Rh/L ratio changed from 1:1 to 1:4.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrovinylation under mild conditions using monodentate chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands

Palladium complexes of chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands are effective catalysts in the asymmetric hydrovinylation of vinylarenes with ethylene. The hydrovinylation products were obtained in modest selectivity with enantioselectivities up to 92% ee. The structures of the palladium catalysts have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The active catalyst contained one monodentate ligand. A kinetic resolution accompanied the isomerization of the hydrovinylation product in the reaction.     

Design of Stereogenic-at-Iron Catalysts with a (3+2+1)-Ligand Sphere

A stereogenic-at-iron(II) catalyst scaffold is introduced which contains one coordinated meridional tridentate imidazolidin-2-ylidene-functionalized 2,2′-bipyridine, one bidentate pyrazolylpyridine, and one monodentate acetonitrile ligand. This (3+2+1)-coordination sphere implements a stereogenic iron center. A carbon stereocenter in the N-heterocyclic carbene moiety controls the absolute metal-centered configuration. The bench-stable diamagnetic iron(II) complexes can be synthesized in a highly diastereoselective fashion from iron dibromide in an efficient one-pot coordination reaction. The obtained enantiopure complexes were applied as chiral catalysts in the ring contraction of an isoxazole to a chiral 2H-azirine (quantitative yields, up to 90 : 10 er).     

Sequential Rhodium/Palladium Catalysis: Enantioselective Formation of Dihydroquinolinones in the Presence of Achiral and Chiral Ligands

Compatible combinations of achiral and chiral ligands can be used in rhodium/palladium catalysis to achieve highly enantioselective domino reactions. The difference in rates of catalysis and minimal effects of ligand interference confer control in the domino sequence. The “all‐in‐one” 1,4‐conjugate arylation and C? N cross‐coupling through sequential Rh/Pd catalysis provides access to enantioenriched dihydroquinolinone building blocks.     

The combinatorial approach to asymmetric hydrogenation: phosphoramidite libraries, ruthenacycles, and artificial enzymes

For a more general implementation of asymmetric catalysis in the production of fine chemicals, the screening for new catalysts and ligands must be dramatically accelerated. This is possible with a high-throughput experimentation (HTE) approach. However, implementation of this technology requires the rapid preparation of libraries of ligands/catalysts and consequently dictates the use of simple ligands that can be readily synthesised in a robot. In this concept article, we describe how the development of new ligands based on monodentate phosphoramidites enabled the development of an integral HTE protocol for asymmetric hydrogenation. This "instant ligand library" protocol makes it possible to synthesise 96 ligands in one day and screen them the next day. Further diversity is possible by using mixtures of monodentate ligands. This concept has already led to an industrial application. Other concepts, still under development, are based on chiral ruthenacycles as new transfer hydrogenation catalysts and the use of enzymes as ligands for transition-metal complexes.     

A New Strategy for Enantioselective Construction of Multisubstituted Five‐Membered Oxygen Heterocycles via a Domino Michael/Hemiketalization Reaction

A new highly enantioselective domino Michael/hemiketalization reaction of α‐hydroxyacetophenone with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters for the synthesis of 2,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted chiral tetrahydrofurans is reported. With 2 mol % intramolecular dinuclear zinc‐AzePhenol complex prepared in situ from the reaction of multidentate semi‐azacrown ether ligand with ZnEt₂, the corresponding anti‐multisubstituted tetrahydrofuran products were obtained in up to 90 % yields, and 98 % enantiomeric excess (ee) at 0 °C for 45 min. Moreover, the products were easily converted to 2,3,5‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydrofurans without any loss in optical activity.     

Absolute Asymmetric Synthesis: Protected Substrate Oxidation

Three new conglomerates incorporating bidentate sulfide ligands coordinated by Ru^II centers have been prepared. Total spontaneous resolution by slow crystallization gives highly enantioenriched crystal batches, which are used in enantioselective oxidation of the sulfide ligands to give chiral sulfoxide complexes with >98 % ee. All relevant stereoisomers have been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, CD spectroscopy, and chiral HPLC. If the ligand range can be extended to monodentate sulfides, a large‐scale and recyclable process for enantioselective oxidation of sulfides can be designed.     

Highly Phosphorescent Crystals of Square‐Planar Platinum Complexes with Chiral Organometallic Linkers: Homochiral versus Heterochiral Arrangements,Induced Circular Dichroism,and TD‐DFT Calculations

A novel class of chiral luminescent square‐planar platinum complexes with a π‐bonded chiral thioquinonoid ligand is described. Remarkably the presence of this chiral organometallic ligand controls the aggregation of this square planar luminophor and imposes a homo‐ or hetero‐chiral arrangement at the supramolecular level, displaying non‐covalent Pt–Pt and π–π interactions. Interestingly these complexes are highly luminescent in the crystalline state and their photophysical properties can be traced to their aggregation in the solid state. A TD‐DFT calculation is obtained to rationalize this unique behavior.     

Last ten years (2008–2018) of chiral ligand‐exchange chromatography in HPLC: An updated review

Chiral ligand‐exchange chromatography is one of the elective strategies for the direct enantioresolution of small chelating compounds: amino acids, diamines, amino alcohols, diols, small peptides, etc. Unlike other methods, the interaction between chiral selector and analyte enantiomers is mediated by a cation, thus producing diastereomeric ternary complexes. Two main approaches are conventionally applied in chiral ligand‐exchange chromatography. The first relies upon chiral stationary phases where the chiral selector is either covalently immobilized or physically adsorbed onto suitable packing materials (coated phases). In the second approach, chiral molecules are added to the eluent, thus generating chiral eluent systems. Among the advantages of chiral ligand‐exchange chromatography, the generation of UV/vis‐active metal complexes, and the use of commercially available or easy‐to‐synthesize chiral selectors, in combination to rather inexpensive achiral columns for coated phases and chiral eluents, are noteworthy. Besides amino acids and amino alcohols, other species have proven suitable for chiral ligand‐exchange chromatography applications. Recently, the use of either chiral ionic liquids or micellar liquid chromatography systems as well as the successful off‐column formation of diastereomeric complexes have expanded the selectivity profiles and application fields. All of these issues are touched in the review, shedding light to the contributions appeared in the last decade.     

Supramolecular chiral phosphorous ligands based on a [2]pseudorotaxane complex for asymmetric hydrogenation

A new type of supramolecular chiral phosphorus-based ligands was prepared from easily available monodentate ligands through complexation between dibenzylammonium salt and dibenzo[24]crown-8 macrocycle. Rhodium complexes with these supramolecular ligands were prepared, and the supramolecular bidentate ligand-containing catalyst has demonstrated better catalytic activity for all substrates, and higher enantioselectivity except for the ortho-substituted substrates than those obtained from the parent monodentate ligand in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino acid esters.     

Umpolung of Methylenephosphonium Ions in Their Manganese Half‐Sandwich Complexes and Application to the Synthesis of Chiral Phosphorus‐Containing Ligand Scaffolds

Half‐sandwich manganese methylenephosphonium complexes [Cp(CO)₂Mn(η²‐R₂P?C(H)Ph)]BF₄ were obtained in high yield through a straightforward reaction sequence involving a classical Fischer‐type manganese complex and a secondary phosphine as key starting materials. The addition of various nucleophiles (Nu) to these species took place regioselectively at the double‐bonded carbon center of the coordinated methylenephosphonium ligand R₂P⁺?C(H)Ph to produce the corresponding chiral phosphine complexes [Cp(CO)₂Mn(κ¹‐R₂P? C(H)(Ph)Nu)], from which the phosphines were ultimately recovered as free entities upon simple irradiation with visible light. The synthetic potential of this umpolung approach is illustrated herein by the preparation of novel chiral pincer‐type phosphine–NHC–phosphine ligand architectures.     

Direct Synthesis of Benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrroles through a Radical Addition/[3,3]‐Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Cyclization/Lactamization Cascade

A straightforward synthetic method for the construction of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐ones by a novel domino reaction through a radical addition/[3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement/cyclization/lactamization cascade has been developed. The domino reaction of O‐phenyl‐conjugated oxime ether with an alkyl radical allows the construction of two heterocycles with three stereogenic centers as a result of the formation of two C?C bonds, a C?O bond, and a C?N bond in a single operation, leading to pyrrolidine‐fused dihydrobenzofurans, which are not easily accessible by existing synthetic methods. Furthermore, asymmetric synthesis of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives through a diastereoselective radical addition reaction to a chiral oxime ether was also developed.     

High efficiency and enantioselectivity in the rh-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids using monodentate phosphoramidites

A very fast reaction and enantioselectivities >98% have been reached in the rhodium-catalyzed arylboronic acid addition to enones using a monodentate phosphoramidite ligand. Temperature-dependent studies show that monodentate phosphoramidites form stable complexes with metals and can induce high enantioselectivities even at high temperatures in polar solvents.     

Polymer-Supported Chiral Monodentate Phosphoramidites in Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation Reactions

A new and simple method for immobilization of monodentate chiral ligand on the cheap resin has been developed. A series of resin-immobilized phosphoramidite ligands based on BINOL and TADDOL backbones have been synthesized and characterized with gel-phase NMR. The immobilized ligands have been applied to the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate. Among four ligands, the supported bulky monodentate phosphoramidite ligand based on TADDOL backbone afforded the chiral product with ee up to 65%; moreover, this ligand could be recycled for 3 times without substantial decrease of the conversion and ee.