Highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 2-benzopyrylium-4-olate catalyzed by chiral Lewis acids

We have found that significant levels of enantioselectivity are obtained in the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 2-benzopyrylium-4-olate using chiral 2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine (Pybox)-rare earth metal triflate complexes as chiral Lewis acid catalysts. The reactions with benzyloxyacetaldehyde derivatives catalyzed by Sc(III)-Pybox-i-Pr (10 mol %) proceeded to give endo-adducts selectively with high enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee). The reaction with benzyl pyruvate under similar conditions gave an exo-adduct selectively with 87% ee. In the reaction with 3-acryloyl-2-oxazolidinone, Yb(III)-Pybox-Ph was found to be effective in providing an exo-adduct with extremely high enantioselectivity (98% ee).     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

Highly enantioselective mukaiyama aldol reaction of alpha,alpha-dichloro ketene silyl acetal: an efficient synthesis of a key intermediate for diltiazem

An efficient synthesis of methyl (2R,3S)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)glycidate (-)-2, a key intermediate for diltiazem (1), has been developed on the basis of the highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction of p-anisaldehyde (4a) with alpha,alpha-dichloro ketene silyl acetal 5. Thus, the reaction using a stoichiometric amount of chiral oxazaborolidinone catalyst 12a proceeded to excellent yield (83%) and high enantioselectivity (96% ee), together with the chiral ligand 13a in nearly quantitative recovery. The reaction using a substoichiometric amount of 12e (20 mol %) also proceeded to excellent yield (88%), with somewhat lower enantioselectivity (77% ee). The aldol product 3a thus obtained was easily converted to (-)-2 in excellent yield (80%) and high optical purity (>99% ee). The highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction with 5 catalyzed by 12a proved to be applicable to various aldehydes. An efficient preparation of 5 from inexpensive starting materials was also described.     

Enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions with N-hydroxy-N-phenylacrylamide

[reaction: see text] The use of hydroxamic acids as templates for Lewis acid catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions has been examined. A very simple chiral Lewis acid, prepared by mixing optically pure binaphthol with 3 equiv of trimethylaluminum, catalyzes the [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-hydroxy-N-phenylacrylamide with cyclopentadiene at 0 degrees C in high yield (>96%) and with a fairly good level of enantioselectivity (91% ee). Facile conversion of the products to the corresponding alcohols or aldehydes makes the hydroxamic acid intermediates particularly useful.     

Synthesis of 7,7’-Disubstituted BINAP and Their Application in Asymmetric Catalytic Reaction

The design of new chiral ligands plays a very important role in the development of transition metal catalyzed asymmetric synthesis. Many chiral diphosphine ligands have been prepared and applied in asymmetric catalytic reactions with excellent enantioselectivities. Among the chiral diphosphine ligands reported, BINAP was found to have been the widest application in the transition metal catalyzed reaction. Recently we have developed a novel oxovanadium (Ⅳ) complex catalyst for the oxidative …     

Enantioselective Construction of Pyrroloindolines via Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Cascade Michael Addition-Cyclization of Tryptamines

Enantioselective construction of pyrroloindolines via chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed cascade Michael addition-cyclization of tryptamines has been realized. With 5 mol % of chiral phosphoric acid, enantioenriched pyrroloindoline derivatives were obtained in good yields and enantioselectivity (up to 95% yield and 83% ee) from readily available tryptamines and enones.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 5-arylcyclohexenones by rhodium(I)-catalyzed conjugate arylation of racemic 5-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohexenone with arylboronic acids

[reaction: see text] A catalytic asymmetric conjugate arylation of racemic 5-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohex-2-enone with arylboronic acids was catalyzed by 3 mol % chiral amidophosphane- or BINAP-Rh(I) in dioxane-water (10:1) to afford trans- and cis-3-aryl-5-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohexanones in high enantioselectivity. Dehydrosilylation of the product mixture with cupric chloride in DMF gave 5-arylcyclohex-2-enones with up to 93% ee in good yield. Enantiofacial selectivity with chiral phosphane-Rh(I) exceeds the trans-diastereoselectivity that is maintained in the achiral or racemic phosphane-Rh(I)-catalyzed conjugate arylation of 5-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohexenone.     

Enantioselective intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition reactions of 4-substituted quinolones catalyzed by a chiral sensitizer with a hydrogen-bonding motif

Six 2-quinolones, which bear a terminal alkene linked by a three- or four-membered tether to carbon atom C4 of the quinolone, were synthesized and subjected to an intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition. The reaction delivered the respective products in high yields (78-99%) and with good regioselectivity in favor of the straight isomer. If conducted in the presence of a chiral hydrogen-bonding template (2.5 equiv) at low temperature in toluene as the solvent, the reaction proceeded enantioselectively (83-94% ee). An organocatalytic reaction was achieved when employing a chiral hydrogen-bonding template with an attached sensitizing unit (benzophenone or xanthone). The xanthone-based organocatalyst proved to be superior as compared to the respective benzophenone. Closer inspection revealed that the reaction of 4-(pent-4-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a six-membered ring, annelated to the cyclobutane, was less enantioselective (up to 41% ee with 30 mol % catalyst) than the reaction of 4-(but-3-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a five-membered ring (90% ee with 5 mol % and 94% ee with 20 mol % catalyst). Photophysical data (emission spectra, laser flash photolysis experiments) proved that the latter photocycloaddition was significantly faster, supporting the idea that the dissociation of the substrate from the catalyst prior to the photocycloaddition is responsible for the decreased enantioselectivity. Under optimized conditions, employing 10 mol % of the xanthone-based organocatalyst at -25 °C in trifluorotoluene as the solvent, three of the other four substrates gave the intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition products with high enantioselectivities (72-87% ee). In all catalyzed reactions, the yields based on conversion were moderate to good (40-93%).     

Synthesis of a Novel Chiral Ionic Liquid and Its Application in Enantioselective Aldol Reactions

A novel chiral ionic liquid, compound 1 , based on camphorsulfonic acid, was prepared. A catalytic amount of 1 readily promotes L ‐proline‐catalyzed aldol reactions, with good chemoselectivity, both in H₂O and in organic solvents. Further, the aldol reaction of cyclohexanone with 4‐nitrobenzaldehyde afforded 2‐[hydroxy(4‐nitrophenyl)methyl]cyclohexanone ( 6 ) in 98% yield with high enantioselectivity (94% ee) when large amounts of 1 (5 equiv.) were used as promoter.     

Chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular carbonyl ene reactions of unsaturated alpha-keto esters

[reaction: see text] Chiral Lewis acid-promoted highly enantioselective intramolecular carbonyl ene reactions of unsaturated alpha-keto esters have been investigated. In the presence of chiral Lewis acids such as [Sc((R,R)-Ph-pybox)](OTf)(3) and [Cu((S,S)-Ph-box)](OTf)(2), several unsaturated alpha-keto esters underwent carbonyl ene reactions in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature to give monocyclic products in good yield and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Catalytic enantioselective Nozaki-Hiyama allylation reaction with tethered bis(8-quinolinolato) (TBOx) chromium complex

The utility of the new class of chiral ligand, tethered bis(8-quinolinol) (TBOxH), is further explored. Its chromium complex, TBOxCr(III)Cl, effectively catalyzes the Nozaki-Hiyama allylation reactions of various aldehydes at room temperature with high yield (up to 95%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). The scope of the present method is shown to be wide, and this method represents an efficient access to chiral homoallylic alcohols.     

Asymmetric N-Alkylation of 1H-Indoles via Carbene Insertion Reaction

An intermolecular enantioselective N-alkylation reaction of 1H-indoles has been developed by cooperative rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed N−H bond insertion reaction. N-Alkyl indoles with newly formed stereocenter adjacent to the indole nitrogen atom are produced in good yields (up to 95 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Importantly, both α-aryl and α-alkyl diazoacetates are tolerated, which is extremely rare in asymmetric X−H (X=N, O, S et al.) and C−H insertion reactions. With this method, only 0.1 mol % of rhodium catalyst and 2.5 mol % of chiral phosphoric acid are required to complete the conversion as well as achieve the high enantioselectivity. Computational studies reveal the cooperative relay of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid, and the origin of the chemo and stereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide catalyzed by rare earth complexes

The rare earth(III) salt catalysed asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with a chiral dienophile in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) proceeded rapidly to give the adduct with a higher diastereoselectivity than that in dichloromethane; Yb(ClO₄)₃ gave the endo adduct with value up to 77% de at 40°C, 8 MPa. The chiral rare earth diketonate catalyzed hetero Diels–Alder reaction of the Danishefsky's diene with benzaldehyde gave a higher yield and an enantioselectivity in scCO₂ than that in dichloromethane. Scandium/pybox 8a complex catalysed asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone with cyclopentadiene in the presence of MS4A proceeded smoothly in scCO₂ to give the endo adduct 10 in a good yield with up to 88% ee.     

Highly enantioselective asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide catalyzed by a copper(I)/ClickFerrophos complex

A copper(I)/ClickFerrophos complex catalyzed the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of methyl N-benzylideneglycinate (the source of azomethine ylides) with vinyl sulfone to give the exo-2,4,5-trisubstituted pyrrolidine in good yield with high enantioselectivity (99% ee). The complex also effectively catalyzed reactions of other dipolarophiles such as acrylates, maleate, and maleimides to give the exo-2,4,5-, and 2,3,4,5-substituted pyrrolidine derivatives with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Asymmetric cycloaddition reactions of diazoesters with 2-alkenoic acid derivatives catalyzed by binaphthyldiimine-Ni(II) complexes

The catalytic activity of chiral binaphthyldiimine (BINIM)-Ni(II) complexes for asymmetric enantioselective diazoalkane cycloadditions of ethyl diazoacetate with 3-acryloyl-2-oxazolidinone and 2-(2-alkenoyl)-3-pyrazolidinone derivatives was evaluated. The cycloadditions of 3-acryloyl-2-oxazolidinone and its 5,5-dimethyl derivative, in the presence of the BINIM-Ni(II) complex (10 mol %; prepared from (R)-BINIM-4Ph-2QN (ligand C) and Ni(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O) afforded 2-pyrazolines having a methine carbon substituted with an oxazolidinonyl group in moderate ratios (70:30 to 72:28), along with high enantioselectivities (90-92% ee) via 1,3-proton migration. On the basis of the investigations on the counteranions of the Ni(II) complex, the N-substituent of pyrazolidinone, and reaction temperatures, the optimal enantioselectivity (97% ee) and ratio (85:15) of 2-pyrazoline were obtained for the reaction of 2-acryloyl-1-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidinone in the presence of (R)-BINIM-4Ph-2QN-Ni(II) ((R)-C/Ni(II)) complex prepared using Ni(BF(4))(2)·6H(2)O. In the cases of 1-benzyl-2-crotonoyl-5,5-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidinone, 1-benzyl-2-(2-butenoyl)-5,5-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidinone, and 1-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-2-(3-ethoxycarbonyl)propenoyl-3-pyrazolidinone, the use of the (R)-BINIM-2QN-Ni(II) ((R)-A/Ni(II)) complex gave good to high enantioselectivities (85-93% ee) with the sole formation of the 2-pyrazoline having a methine carbon substituted with a pyrazolidinonyl group. Relatively good enantioselectivity (77% ee) was observed for the reaction between 2-acryloyl-5,5-dimethyl-1-naphthylmethyl-3-pyrazolidinone and an α-substituted diazo ester, ethyl 2-diazo-3-phenylpropanoate, which has yet to be employed as a diazo substrate in asymmetric cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by a chiral Lewis acid.     

C2-symmetric recyclable organocatalyst for enantioselective Strecker reaction for the synthesis of α-amino acid and chiral diamine--an intermediate for APN inhibitor

Recyclable chiral amide-based organocatalyst 5 efficiently catalyzed asymmetric Strecker reaction of various aromatic and aliphatic N-benzhydrylimines with ethyl cyanoformate as cyanide source at -10 °C to give a high yield (95%) of α-aminonitriles with excellent chiral induction (ee, up to 99%) with the added advantage of recyclability. Based on experimental observations a probable mechanism was proposed for this reaction. This protocol with catalyst 5 was extended for the synthesis of (R)-phenylalanine and pharmaceutically important drug intermediate (R)-3-phenylpropane-1,2-diamine in high yield with high enantioselectivity.     

Chiral amino ether-controlled catalytic enantioselective arylthiol conjugate additions to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and ketones: scope, structural requirements, and mechanistic implications.

Asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of 2-trimethylsilylbenzenethiol with enoates and enones is catalyzed by a chiral amino ether-lithium thiolate complex and affords adducts with high enantioselectivity. Both the s-cis conformation and a steric wall at one side of the carbonyl group are structural requirements in substrates yielding adducts with high enantioselectivity. Reactions with tert-butyl enones gave addition products with high enantioselectivity. Construction of two contiguous chiral centers was possible by this addition-protonation sequence. Methyl tiglate was stereoselectively converted to a single syn-adduct of 95% enantiomeric excess (ee) bearing two contiguous chiral centers. Methyl 2-phenyl-2-butenoate was converted to a single syn-adduct of 95% ee, which was desulfurized to methyl 2-phenylbutanoate of 95% ee. These additions generate a transient lithium enolate that is protonated by a thiol anti to the C-S bond, giving the corresponding product having two adjacent stereocenters.     

Asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes catalyzed by palladium-MOP complexes: ligand modification and mechanistic studies

In the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrene (3a) with trichlorosilane, several chiral monophosphine ligands, (R)-2-diarylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyls (2a-g), were examined for their enantioselectivity. The highest enantioselectivity was observed in the reaction with (R)-2-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl (2g), which gave (S)-1-phenylethanol (5a) of 98% ee after oxidation of the hydrosilylation product, 1-phenyl-1-(trichlorosilyl)ethane (4a). The palladium complex of 2g also efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric hydrosilylation of substituted styrenes on the phenyl ring or at the beta position to give the corresponding chiral benzylic alcohols of over 96% ee. Deuterium-labeling studies on the hydrosilylation of regiospecifically deuterated styrene revealed that beta-hydrogen elimination from 1-phenylethyl(silyl)palladium intermediate is very fast compared with reductive elimination giving hydrosilylation product when ligand 2g is used. The reaction of o-allylstyrene (9) with trichlorosilane catalyzed by (R)-2g/Pd gave (1S,2R)-1-methyl-2-(trichlorosilylmethyl)indan (10) (91% ee) and (S)-1-(2-(propenyl)phenyl)-1-trichlorosilylethanes (11a and 11b) (95% ee). On the basis of their opposite configurations at the benzylic position, a rationale for the high enantioselectivity of ligand 2g is proposed.     

One-pot production of chiral α,β-epoxy ketones from benzaldehydes and acetophenones by recyclable poly(amino acid) catalysis

An efficient one-pot, two-step process was disclosed for production of chiral α,β-epoxy ketones from benzaldehydes and acetophenones catalyzed by imidazolium-modified poly(l-leucine). Two effective reaction systems with complementary high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) or satisfactory yields (up to 89%) have been developed. Importantly, the poly(amino acid) catalyst can be easily recovered and recycled for ten times without losing its catalytic efficiency in terms of both enantioselectivity and yield.     

Asymmetric reductive Mannich reaction to ketimines catalyzed by a Cu(I) complex

A highly diastereoselective reductive Mannich coupling of ketimines and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters was developed using CuOAc-PPh(3) or CuOAc-MePPh(2) complex as a catalyst (5 mol %) and pinacolborane as a reducing reagent. The reaction was easily conducted at room temperature, and the substrate generality was broad. This platform methodology was extended to the first catalytic asymmetric reductive Mannich reaction of ketimines using CuOAc-DIFLUORPHOS as the catalyst (10 mol %). Switching the reducing reagent from pinacolborane to (EtO)(3)SiH was key to inducing the high enantioselectivity (82-93% ee). High diastereoselectivity was also maintained (3:1 approximately 30:1). Thus, products containing contiguous tetra- and trisubstituted carbons were catalytically synthesized with high stereoselectivities. Products were converted to alpha,beta,beta-trisubstituted (beta(2,3,3)) amino acid derivatives without any racemization and epimerization through simple treatment under acidic conditions. This method is the first entry of the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta(2,3,3)-amino acid derivatives, which constitute important chiral building blocks of biologically significant molecules.