Copper catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution by MeMgX

Methyl Grignard undergoes highly regio (>90/10) and enantioselective (ee 91-96%) copper catalyzed allylic substitution on cinnamyl-type chlorides. CuBr (3%) and 3.3% of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand are sufficient for a complete reaction. The synthesis of a precursor of (+)-Naproxen is described. The reaction can be extended to alkyl substituted allylic chlorides (ee 72%).     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide, (-)-triptonide, (+)-triptophenolide, and (+)-triptoquinonide

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide (1), (-)-triptonide (2), (+)-triptophenolide (3), and (+)-triptoquinonide (4) was completed. The key step involves lanthanide triflate-catalyzed oxidative radical cyclization of (+)-8-phenylmenthyl ester 30 mediated by Mn(OAc)3, providing intermediate 31 with good chemical yield (77%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (dr 38:1). (+)-Triptophenolide methyl ether (5) was then prepared in > 99% enantiomeric excess (> 99% ee), and readily converted to natural products 1-4. In addition, transition state models were proposed to explain the opposite chiral induction observed in the oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters 17 (without an alpha-substituent) and 17a (with an alpha-chloro substituent).     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Highly Regio‐ and Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Tetrasubstituted Allenyl Sulfones: An Efficient Access to Chiral Allylic Sulfones

A highly regio‐ and enantioselective hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted allenyl sulfones has been developed, affording chiral allylic sulfones in good yields with excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 99 % ee). This method provides an efficient and concise route to chiral allylic sulfones, thus offering an atom‐economic process with a wide range of potential applications in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry.     

Preparation of 2,4-disubstituted cyclopentenones by enantioselective iridium-catalyzed allylic alkylation: synthesis of 2'-methylcarbovir and TEI-9826

A broadly applicable synthesis of chiral 2- or 2,4-substituted cyclopent-2-enones has been developed by combining asymmetric iridium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions and ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis. Enantiomeric excesses (ee values) in the range of 95-99 % ee have been achieved. This method offers a straightforward access to biologically active prostaglandins of the PGA type. As an example, an enantioselective synthesis of the prostaglandin-analogue 13,14-dihydro-15-deoxy-Delta(7)-prostaglandin-A1-methyl ester (TEI-9826) has been carried out. Furthermore, the carbonucleoside 2'-methylcarbovir has been prepared from O-protected 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-cyclopent-2-enone by Pd-catalyzed allylic amination.     

Synthesis of chiral titanium-containing phosphinoamide ligands for enantioselective heterobimetallic catalysis

The synthesis of six chiral titanium-containing phosphinoamide ligands is discussed. These ligands assemble chiral heterobimetallic Pd–Ti complexes, enable enantioselective intramolecular allylic aminations with hindered amine nucleophiles and achieve selectivity up to 53% ee. Mechanistic studies demonstrate the reversibility of the enantio-determining C–N bond forming step, which leads to a gradual increase in the % ee of the reaction over time. These results represent a rare example of enantioselective heterobimetallic catalysis and suggest that these new ligands could find broad application in enantioselective transition metal catalysis.     

Enantioselective, organocatalytic oxy-michael addition to gamma/delta-hydroxy-alpha,beta-enones: boronate-amine complexes as chiral hydroxide synthons

An organocatalytic, enantioselective oxy-Michael addition to achiral gamma- and delta-hydroxy-alpha,beta-enones was developed. The key transformation is an unprecedented, asymmetric conjugate addition triggered by complexation between an in situ generated boronic acid hemiester and a chiral amine catalyst. Functionally, the intermediate amine-boronate complex acts as a chiral hydroxide surrogate or synthon. The resultant chiral beta-hydroxy-ketones are obtained in good to excellent yields and high ee following mild oxidative removal of the cyclic boronate. Natural products (R,12Z,15Z)-2-hydroxy-4-oxohenicosa-12,15-dienyl acetate and (+)-(S)-streptenol A were synthesized to demonstrate the utility of this reaction.     

Ferrocenyl-QUINAP: a planar chiral P,N-ligand for palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions

The new planar chiral P,N-ligands 1a and 1b were prepared via a straightforward enantioselective synthesis using a Negishi cross-coupling and a sulfoxide/lithium exchange. Ligand 1a was successfully applied to Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation (86% ee) and amination (83% ee) reactions.     

Novel C2-symmetric bisoxazolines with a chiral trans-(2R,3R)-diphenylcyclopropane backbone: preparation and application in several enantioselective catalytic reactions

Various chiral bisoxazoline ligands with a chiral trans-(2R,3R)-diphenylcyclopropane backbone have been efficiently synthesized (five examples). These chiral ligands were tested and compared in palladium(0)-catalysed enantioselective allylic alkylations (up to 97% ee), copper(I)-catalysed enantioselective cyclopropanations (up to 89% ee) and aziridinations (up to 90% ee). We observed that the presence of a stereogenic centre on the oxazoline moiety is mandatory in order to obtain acceptable enantioselectivities.     

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of sodium triisopropylsilanethiolate: a new way to form chiral thiols

The iridium phosphoramidite complex-promoted regio- and enantioselective reaction of allylic carbonates with sodium triisopropylsilanethiolate produced allylic sulfides in 40-77% yields with up to 97 : 3 (branched?:?linear) and 89% ee, which were readily transformed into chiral thiol in 68% yield with 87% ee or disulfides with two chiral C-S bond centers in 40-73% yields with up to 90 : 10 dr and 99% ee.     

Concise enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine and (+)-norchelidonine by a Pd II-catalyzed ring-opening strategy

New enantioselective syntheses of the B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine, and (+)-norchelidonine are described. Our rapid and convergent route to this class of natural products involved the development and application of a Pd II-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reaction of a meso-azabicyclic alkene with an aryl boronic acid as the key step. By screening a variety of functionalized ortho-substituted aryl boronic acids, chiral ligands and reaction conditions we were able to prepare the requisite cis-1-amino-2-aryldihydronaphthalenes in high yield and in up to 90 % ee. Early attempts to complete the synthesis of (+)-homochelidonine using an N-Boc azabicyclic alkene are described in full. The successful route required a protecting group alteration followed by B ring formation and then stereoselective installation of the C-11 syn-hydroxy group by regioselective epoxide ring-opening using a hydride source. Ring-opening of the same epoxide intermediate with water ultimately led to the synthesis of (+)-chelamidine. The same strategy was then used to synthesize the other structurally similar B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, and (+)-norchelidonine.     

Development of biisoquinoline-based chiral diaminocarbene ligands: enantioselective SN2' allylic alkylation catalyzed by copper-carbene complexes

Chiral biisoquinoline-based diaminocarbene ligands (BIQ) were designed to create a chiral environment extended toward the metal center, which was confirmed by an X-ray structure. The concise ligand synthesis is highlighted by a modified Bischler-Napieralski cyclization of bisamides prepared from readily available chiral phenethylamines, and allows easy variation of the stereodifferentiating groups. The cyclohexyl-BIQ-copper complex is an efficient catalyst for enantioselective SN2' allylic alkylation with Grignard reagents showing SN2' regioselectivity higher than 5:1 and enantioselectivity in the range of 68-77% ee.     

Efficient enantioselective synthesis of (+)-sclareolide and (+)-tetrahydroactinidiolide: chiral LBA-induced biomimetic cyclization

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of the lactones (+)-sclareolide and (+)-tetrahydroactinidiolide has been achieved through Lewis acid-assisted chiral Brønsted acid-induced enantioselective cyclization of terpenic carboxylic acids. The reaction sequence involved the [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of an allylic alcohol and biomimetic cyclization of terpenic acid in the presence of (R)-2-benzyloxy-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and tin tetrachloride as key steps. The cyclization gave lactones in good yield and with high enantiomeric excess.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-scuteflorin A using organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation

We report the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-scuteflorin A in 14% overall yield, employing a chiral iminium salt to effect an organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation of xanthyletin in >99% ee as the key step.     

Chiral lithium amide base-mediated rearrangement of meso-cyclohexene oxides: asymmetric synthesis of amino- and aziridinocyclohexenols

Two different chiral lithium amide base routes for the synthesis of amino- and aziridino-containing cyclohexenols have been explored. The first strategy involved the diastereoselective preparation of novel meso-aziridinocyclohexene oxides and their subsequent enantioselective rearrangement using chiral bases. In this approach, the diphenylphosphinoyl nitrogen protecting group proved optimal and aziridinocyclohexenols of 47-68% ee were obtained. Of particular note was the smooth rearrangement of the epoxide to an allylic alcohol in the presence of an aziridine: under optimised chiral base conditions, the aziridine remained essentially unaffected. A second more straightforward strategy for introduction of an amino functionality was also investigated: (1S,4R,5S)- and (1R,4R,5S)-4,5-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)cyclohex-2-enols, readily prepared in > 95% ee using a chiral base approach, were subjected to Mitsunobu substitution using a sulfonamide and Overman rearrangement.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation and allylic substitution reaction with novel chiral pinene-derived N,P-ligands

A series of new chiral tetrahydroquinoline ligands, derived from chiral α-pinene, were successfully synthesized. Iridium and palladium complexes of these ligands were proven to be efficient catalysts for enantioselective hydrogenation and allylic substitution reactions with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (90–95% ee) and high yields.     

A catalytic, asymmetric formal synthesis of (+)-hamigeran B

A concise asymmetric, formal synthesis of (+)-hamigeran B is reported. A Pd-catalyzed, decarboxylative allylic alkylation, employing a trifluoromethylated derivative of t-BuPHOX, is utilized as the enantioselective step to form the critical quaternary carbon center in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. The product is converted in three steps to a late-stage intermediate previously used in the synthesis of hamigeran B.     

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (+)-goniodiol and (+)-8-methoxygoniodiol via Co-catalyzed HKR of anti-(2SR, 3RS)-3-methoxy-3-phenyl-1, 2-epoxypropane

A short, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-goniodiol and (+)-8-methoxygoniodiol, cytotoxic styryllactones, has been achieved in high optical purities (99% ee). The strategy employs Co-catalyzed HKR of racemic anti-(2SR, 3RS)-3-methoxy-3-phenyl-1, 2-epoxypropane and Lewis acid-mediated diastereoselective allylation of aldehyde as chiral inducing key reactions.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of glutamic acid derivatives via tandem conjugate addition-elimination of activated allylic acetates under chiral PTC conditions

A new, general, and practical procedure for the asymmetric synthesis of 4-alkylidenyl glutamic acid derivatives via a catalytic enantioselective tandem conjugate addition-elimination on allylic acetates under chiral phase-transfer conditions is reported. A variety of structural types of allylic acetates have been reacted with the benzophenone imine of glycine tert-butyl ester to give the products in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (63-92% yield, 80-97% ee, 8 cases).     

Chiral 5-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines: new N,P-ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Three chiral 5-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines, as first representative examples of a new class of chiral N,P-ligands were prepared from (+)-nopinone, (+)-camphor and 5α-androst-2-en-17-one. These ligands have been assessed in the enantioselective palladium-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. Enantioselectivity up to 74% has been obtained.     

Desymmetrization of a meso-allylic acetal by enantioselective conjugate elimination

An unprecedented enantioselective deprotonation/conjugate elimination sequence, which transforms an allylic meso-dioxepane into a chiral diene, is described. The best desymmetrization conditions (ee up to 70%) involve s-BuLi and sparteine at -78 degrees C in THF.