Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of N-phthaloyl enamides

Rh- or Ru-catalyzed highly enantioselective hydrogenation of N-phthaloyl enamides is presented. Electron-rich TangPhos and DuanPhos are found to be effective ligands for Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of α-aryl enamides and up to 99% ee has been achieved. In contrast, for the hydrogenation of α-alkyl enamide, the Ru-C₃-TunePhos complex is more effective and up to 69% ee can be observed. This work is the first report of the hydrogenation of N-phthaloyl enamides.     

Automated Quantum Mechanical Predictions of Enantioselectivity in a Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A computational toolkit (AARON: An automated reaction optimizer for new catalysts) is described that automates the density functional theory (DFT) based screening of chiral ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed reactions with well-defined reaction mechanisms but multiple stereocontrolling transition states. This is demonstrated for the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-β-aryl-N-acetyl enamides, for which a new C₂-symmetric phosphorus ligand is designed.     

Stereoelectronic Effects in Ligand Design: Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Aliphatic Cyclic Tetrasubstituted Enamides and Concise Synthesis of (R)‐Tofacitinib

We herein report the development of a conformationally defined, electron‐rich, C₂‐symmetric, P‐chiral bisphosphorus ligand, ArcPhos, by taking advantage of stereoelectronic effects in ligand design. With the Rh‐ArcPhos catalyst, excellent enantioselectivities and unprecedentedly high turnovers (TON up to 10 000) were achieved in the asymmetric hydrogenation of aliphatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic tetrasubstituted enamides, to generate a series of chiral cis‐2‐alkyl‐substituted carbocyclic and heterocyclic amine derivatives in excellent enantiomeric ratios. This method also enabled an efficient and practical synthesis of the Janus kinase inhibitor (R)‐tofacitinib.     

Automated Quantum Mechanical Predictions of Enantioselectivity in a Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A computational toolkit (AARON: An automated reaction optimizer for new catalysts) is described that automates the density functional theory (DFT) based screening of chiral ligands for transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions with well‐defined reaction mechanisms but multiple stereocontrolling transition states. This is demonstrated for the Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (E )‐β‐aryl‐N ‐acetyl enamides, for which a new C ₂‐symmetric phosphorus ligand is designed.     

P-Chirogenic phosphonium salts: preparation and use in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides

P-Chirogenic trialkylphosphonium salts were prepared from the corresponding free phosphines by treatment with a strong acid (HBF₄ or HOTf). No racemization of the phosphonium salts occurred in methanol or water even at considerably high temperature. The salts were conveniently used in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides.     

Asymmetric enamide hydrogenation using planar-chiral cyrhetrenes

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of α-arylenamides using catalysts prepared in situ from [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ and cyrhetrenyldiphosphines was effective with a range of enamides. The corresponding acetamides were obtained with up to 93% ee.     

Direct C?H Functionalization of Enamides and Enecarbamates by Using Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis

Direct C? H functionalization of various enamides and enecarbamates was realized through visible‐light photoredox catalyzed reactions. Under the optimized conditions using [Ir(ppy)₂(dtbbpy)PF₆] as photocatalyst in combination with Na₂HPO₄, enamides such as N‐vinylpyrrolidinone could be easily functionalized by irradiation of the reaction mixture overnight in acetonitrile with visible light. The scope of the reaction with respect to enamide and enecarbamate substrates by using diethyl 2‐bromomalonate for the alkylation reaction was explored, followed by an investigation of the scope of alkylating reagents used to react with the enamides and enecarbamates. The results indicated that reaction takes place with quite broad substrate scope, however, tertiary enamides with an internal C?C double bond in the E configuration could not be alkylated. Alkylation of N‐vinyl tertiary enamides and enecarbamates gave monoalkylated products exclusively in the E configuration. Alkylation of N‐vinyl secondary enamides gave doubly alkylated products. Double bond migration was observed in the reaction of electron‐deficient bromides such as 3‐bromoacetyl acetate with N‐vinylpyrrolidinone. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction that is different from reported reactions of SOMOphiles with a nonfunctionalized C?C double bond. Further tests on the trifluoromethylation and arylation of enamides and enecarbamates under similar conditions showed that the reactions could serve as a mild, practical, and environmentally friendly approach to various functionalized enamides and enecarbamates.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Efficient Convergent Asymmetric Hydrogenation of E/Z-Enamides

Using the diphosphine-cobalt-zinc catalytic system, an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of internal simple enamides has been realized. In particular, the Ph-BPE ligand can achieve convergent asymmetric hydrogenation of E/Z-substrates. High yields and excellent enantioselectivities were obtained for both acyclic and cyclic enamides bearing α-alkyl-β-aryl, α-aryl-β-aryl, and α-aryl-β-alkyl substituents. Hydrogenated products can be applied for the synthesis of useful chiral drugs such as Arfromoterol, Rotigotine, and Norsertraline. In addition, reasonable catalytic mechanism and stereocontrol mode are proposed based on DFT calculations.     

New unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands derived from H8-BINOL for highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

A series of new H₈-BINOL-derived unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands have been synthesized and successfully used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations. The same or higher enantioselectivities (99.9% ee) were achieved in the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and α-dehydroamino acid esters as those obtained with BINOL-derived analogues. However, slightly lower enantioselectivities (99.0% ee) were obtained in the hydrogenation of enamides.     

Ethanol as a Hydrogenating Agent: Palladium-Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ynamides To Give Enamides

Ethanol is shown to act as a hydrogenating agent for ynamides under palladium catalysis. This behavior is different from the normally expected reaction of ethanol addition to alkynes. The reaction shows stereoselectivity for E enamides, which is in contrast to reports using other hydrogenating sources. The method was also extended to ynamines. Alternatively, the use of ethanol and ammonium formate as the hydrogenating source gives Z enamides. The role of ethanol in hydrogenation was demonstrated by means deuterium labeling experiment.     

Ethanol as a Hydrogenating Agent: Palladium‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ynamides To Give Enamides

Ethanol is shown to act as a hydrogenating agent for ynamides under palladium catalysis. This behavior is different from the normally expected reaction of ethanol addition to alkynes. The reaction shows stereoselectivity for E enamides, which is in contrast to reports using other hydrogenating sources. The method was also extended to ynamines. Alternatively, the use of ethanol and ammonium formate as the hydrogenating source gives Z enamides. The role of ethanol in hydrogenation was demonstrated by means deuterium labeling experiment.     

Monophosphite ligands derived from carbohydrates and H8-BINOL: highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations

A series of monophosphite ligands derived from carbohydrates and H₈-BINOL have been synthesized. Excellent enantioselectivities (over 99% ee) were obtained when these ligands were applied in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and enamides.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation with the use of chiral carborane amidophosphite derivatives in supercritical carbon dioxide and CH2Cl2

New chiral carborane-containing amidophosphites containing the BINOL fragment (BINOL stands for 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl) have been synthesized. The study of efficiency of these compounds as ligands in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) and CH₂Cl₂ showed that enantioselectivity of the process is considerably higher in scCO₂.     

Readily available chiral phosphine–aminophosphine ligands derived from 1-phenylethylamine for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenations

A series of new chiral phosphine–aminophosphine ligands have been prepared via a two- or three-step transformation from commercially available and inexpensive (S)-1-phenylethylamine, and successfully used in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various enamides, β-dehydroamino acid esters, and dimethyl itaconate. The results show that the ligand structure plays an important influence on both the reactivity and enantioselectivity. Ligand 2d bearing a N–H proton and two F-atoms on the 3,5-positions of the phenyl ring of the aminophosphino moiety was most effective for the hydrogenation of enamides and (Z)-β-aryl-β-(acylamino)acrylates, whereas ligand 1b showed the highest enantioselectivities in the hydrogenation of (Z)-β-alkyl-β-(acylamino)acrylates and dimethyl itaconate.     

A complementary method to obtain N-acyl enamides using the Heck reaction: extending the substrate scope for asymmetric hydrogenation

A method to prepare N-acyl enamides is reported that is complementary to the existing protocols. Heck reaction of a variety of aryl trifluoromethanesulfonates with commercially available N-vinylacetamide occurred in a highly regioselective fashion to provide these valuable synthetic intermediates. This method permits the formation of N-acyl enamides containing functionality that would not be tolerated by the existing methods. Asymmetric hydrogenation using [diphosphine RhCOD]BF₄ complexes provided optically active protected amines in up to 99% ee. De-acylation occurs without affecting the amine enantiopurity.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of trisubstituted N-acetyl enamides derived from 2-tetralones using ruthenium-SYNPHOS catalysts: a practical synthetic approach to the preparation of β3-adrenergic agonist SR58611A

The asymmetric hydrogenation of various trisubstituted enamides derived from 2-tetralones under mild reaction conditions using Ru-SYNPHOS catalysts is reported. This practical and clean method gives access to several chiral 2-aminotetralins derivatives in high isolated yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 95% depending on the substitution pattern of the aromatic ring and the nature of the amide moiety. In addition, the usefulness of the current method is demonstrated via a practical synthetic approach to the enantiomerically pure SR58611A compound, a potent and selective β₃-adrenergic receptor agonist.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines and N‐Acyl‐1‐aryl Ethylamines by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation

The rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of different enamides, in particular, dihydro‐β‐carboline derivates, was investigated in the presence of chiral phosphorus ligands. Enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee were obtained after ligand screening and optimization of the reaction conditions. The scope and limitation of the catalysts were shown in the synthesis of optically active tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines and other benchmark N‐acyl‐1‐aryl ethylamines.     

Highly efficient rhodium/monodentate phosphoramidite catalyst and its application in the enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives

An easily prepared and highly efficient monodentate phosphoramidite ligand derived from BINOL, (S)-2,2'-O,O-(1,1'-binaphthyl)-dioxo-N,N-diethylphospholidine, was examined in the hydrogenation of both enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives. The catalyst provided remarkably high enantioselectivities (up to 99.6% ee for enamides and >99.9% ee for alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives).     

Development of a Continuous‐Flow System for Asymmetric Hydrogenation Using Self‐Supported Chiral Catalysts

Well‐designed, self‐assembled, metal–organic frameworks were constructed by simple mixing of multitopic MonoPhos‐based ligands ( 3 ; MonoPhos=chiral, monodentate phosphoramidites based on the 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol platform) and [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ (cod=cycloocta‐1,5‐diene). This self‐supporting strategy allowed for simple and efficient catalyst immobilization without the use of extra added support, giving well‐characterized, insoluble (in toluene) polymeric materials ( 4 ). The resulting self‐supported catalysts ( 4 ) showed outstanding catalytic performance for the asymmetric hydrogenation of a number of α‐dehydroamino acids ( 5 ) and 2‐aryl enamides ( 7 ) with enantiomeric excess (ee) ranges of 94–98 % and 90–98 %, respectively. The linker moiety in 4 influenced the reactivity significantly, albeit with slight impact on the enantioselectivity. Acquisition of reaction profiles under steady‐state conditions showed 4 h and 4 i to have the highest reactivity (turnover frequency (TOF)=95 and 97 h^?1 at 2 atm, respectively), whereas appropriate substrate/catalyst matching was needed for optimum chiral induction. The former was recycled 10 times without loss in ee (95–96 %), although a drop in TOF of approximately 20 % per cycle was observed. The estimation of effective catalytic sites in self‐supported catalyst 4 e was also carried out by isolation and hydrogenation of catalyst–substrate complex, showing about 37 % of the Rh^I centers in the self‐supported catalyst 4 e are accessible to substrate 5 c in the catalysis. A continuous flow reaction system using an activated C/ 4 h mixture as stationary‐phase catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 5 b was developed and run continuously for a total of 144 h with >99 % conversion and 96–97 % enantioselectivity. The total Rh leaching in the product solution is 1.7 % of that in original catalyst 4 h .