Highly efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary aromatic alcohols at low temperature using a low-cost sulfonated sepiolite as racemization catalyst

A highly efficient dynamic kinetic resolution system for secondary aromatic alcohol using low-cost sulfonated sepiolite as a racemization catalyst has been developed. The system operates at 25 °C, achieves good ee_p (>99%) and substrate conversion ratio (>99%), is applicable to a variety of substrates and can be reused more than 10 times.     

Air-stable racemization catalysts for the dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

The substitution of a carbonyl ligand with PPh(3) in cyclopentadienylruthenium dicarbonyl complexes produces a new class of recyclable alcohol racemization catalysts. The catalysts are active at room temperature under aerobic conditions in the presence of silver oxide. Furthermore, the catalysts are compatible with the use of a lipase and isopropenyl acetate for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols under ambient conditions.     

Aminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes as racemization catalysts for dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols at ambient temperature

Aminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes, which can be used as room-temperature racemization catalysts with lipases in the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols, were synthesized from cyclopenta-2,4-dienimines, Ru(3)(CO)(12), and CHCl(3): [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (4: R = i-Pr; 5: R = n-Pr; 6: R = t-Bu), [2,5-Me(2)-3,4-Ph(2)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (7: R = i-Pr; 8: R = Ph), and [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHAr)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (9: Ar = p-NO(2)C(6)H(4); 10: Ar = p-ClC(6)H(4); 11: Ar = Ph; 12: Ar = p-OMeC(6)H(4); 13: Ar = p-NMe(2)C(6)H(4)). The tests in the racemization of (S)-4-phenyl-2-butanol showed that 7 is the most active catalyst, although the difference decreased in the DKR. Complex 4 was used in the DKR of various alcohols; at room temperature, not only simple alcohols but also functionalized ones such as allylic alcohols, alkynyl alcohols, diols, hydroxyl esters, and chlorohydrins were successfully transformed to chiral acetates. In mechanistic studies for the catalytic racemization, ruthenium hydride 14 appeared to be a key species. It was the major organometallic species in the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol with 4 and potassium tert-butoxide. In a separate experiment, (S)-1-phenylethanol was racemized catalytically by 14 in the presence of acetophenone.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols with a readily available ruthenium-based racemization catalyst

An easy to handle and stable racemization catalyst for secondary alcohols is obtained by an in situ mixture of readily available [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂ with chelating aliphatic diamines. Optimization of the reaction revealed that N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine as ligand racemizes aromatic alcohols completely within 5 h. This easy to handle and stable catalytic system is combined with a lipase-catalyzed resolution to provide an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.     

Air-stable racemization catalyst for dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols at room temperature

[reaction: see text] A novel racemization catalyst was synthesized for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of alcohols with a lipase at room temperature in the air. Furthermore, a polymer-supported derivative was also synthesized and tested as a recyclable catalyst for the aerobic DKR of alcohols.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols combining enzyme-catalyzed transesterification and zeolite-catalyzed racemization

Hydrophobic zeolite beta containing low concentrations of Zr or Al was found to be a good catalyst for the racemization of 1-phenylethanol. The formation of styrene as a side product could be minimized by reducing the metal concentration in the zeolite beta. Combined with an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica, the dynamic kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol to the (R)-phenylethylester can be achieved with high yield and selectivity. The reaction was best conducted in toluene as solvent at 60 degrees C, with higher temperatures leading to a loss in the enantioselectivity of the formed ester. By using high-molecular-weight acyl-transfer reagents, such as vinyl butyrate or vinyl octanoate, a high enantiomeric excess of the product esters of 92 and 98 %, respectively, could be achieved. This is attributed to a steric effect: the bulky ester is less able to enter the pore space of the zeolite catalyst where the active sites for racemization are localized. Close to 100 % conversion of the alcohol was achieved within 2 h. If the more common acyl donor, isopropenyl acetate, was used, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the formed ester was only 67 %, and the reaction was considerably slower.     

Combined ruthenium(II) and lipase catalysis for efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols. Insight into the racemization mechanism

Pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes (3) are excellent catalysts for the racemization of secondary alcohols at ambient temperature. The combination of this process with enzymatic resolution of the alcohols results in a highly efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure acetates at room temperature with short reaction times for most substrates. This new reaction was applied to a wide range of functionalized alcohols including heteroaromatic alcohols, and for many of the latter, enantiopure acetates were efficiently prepared for the first time via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). Different substituted cyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes were prepared and studied as catalysts for racemization of alcohols. Pentaaryl-substituted cyclopentadienyl complexes were found to be highly efficient catalysts for the racemization. Substitution of one of the aryl groups by an alkyl group considerably slows down the racemization process. A study of the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol catalyzed by ruthenium hydride eta(5)-Ph(5)CpRu(CO)(2)H (8) indicates that the racemization takes place within the coordination sphere of the ruthenium catalyst. This conclusion was supported by the lack of ketone exchange in the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol performed in the presence of p-tolyl methyl ketone (1 equiv), which gave <1% of 1-(p-tolyl)ethanol. The structures of ruthenium chloride and iodide complexes 3a and 3c and of ruthenium hydride complex 8 were confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Acid zeolites as alcohol racemization catalysts: screening and application in biphasic dynamic kinetic resolution

Acid zeolites were screened as heterogeneous catalysts for racemization of benzylic alcohols. The most promising zeolites appeared to be H-Beta zeolites, for which the optimal reaction conditions were studied in further detail. The zeolite performance was compared to that of homogeneous acids and acid resins under similar reaction conditions. In a second part of the research, H-Beta zeolites were applied in dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of 1-phenylethanol, which was conducted by means of a two-phase approach and which resulted in yields smoothly crossing the 50% border up to 90%, with an enantiomeric excess of >99%. To explore the applicability of this biphasic methodology, several other substrates were examined in the standard racemization reaction and in the biphasic dynamic kinetic resolution.     

(S)-selective kinetic resolution and chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

(S)-Selective kinetic resolution was achieved through the use of a commercially available protease, which was activated with a combination of two different surfactants. The kinetic resolution (KR) process was optimized with respect to activation of the protease and to the acyl donor. The KR proved to be compatible with a range of functionalized sec-alcohols, giving good to high enantiomeric ratio values (up to >200). The enzymatic resolution was combined with a ruthenium-catalyzed racemization to give an (S)-selective dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of sec-alcohols. The DKR process works under very mild reaction conditions to give the corresponding esters in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.     

New air-stable iron catalyst for efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary benzylic and aliphatic alcohols

We herein report a catalyst system for the dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols by combining the enzymatic resolution with an iron-catalyzed racemization. A new air-stable tricarbonyl (cyclopentadienone)iron complex is identified as the active racemization catalyst for this transformation without any additive. Various substrates including benzylic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic alcohols can be used and afford the corresponding esters in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.     

Palladium catalysts on alkaline-earth supports for racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution of benzylic amines

Palladium catalysts on alkaline-earth supports were studied as new heterogeneous catalysts for racemization of chiral benzylic amines such as 1-phenylethylamine. Particularly 5 % Pd/BaSO(4) and 5 % Pd/CaCO(3) were able to selectively racemize amines, with minimal formation of secondary amines or hydrogenolysis to ethylbenzene. In contrast, these side reactions were pronounced on Pd/C. A reaction mechanism is proposed that is consistent with the reaction kinetics. The catalyst activity was found to depend on the number of available surface Pd atoms, determined by titration with CO. The selectivity crucially depends on the rate of condensation of the amine and the primary imine, which is highest on Pd/C. The racemization catalysts were combined in one pot with an immobilized lipase to perform dynamic kinetic resolution of chiral amines. High yields (up to 88 %) of essentially enantiopure amides were obtained in a single step. The chemo-enzymatic catalyst system proved to be stable and could be reused without losing the initial activity.     

Pincer Ru and Os complexes as efficient catalysts for racemization and deuteration of alcohols

The pincer complexes [MX(CNN)(PP)] (M = Ru, Os; X = Cl, OTf; HCNN = 1-(6-arylpyridin-2-yl)methanamine; PP = diphosphine) have proven to efficiently catalyze both racemization and deuteration of alcohols in the presence of a base. Chiral alcohols have been racemized at 30-50 °C using 1 mol% of Ru or Os pincer complexes and 5 mol% of KOtBu in 2-propanol. Primary and secondary alcohols are efficiently deuterated at the α position, with respect to the OH group, using 2-propanol-d(8) as solvent with Ru or Os pincer complexes and KOtBu at 30-50 °C. For secondary alcohols incorporation of deuterium at the β position has also been observed. In 2-propanol-d(8) the pincer complexes catalyze the simultaneous deuteration and racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol, the two processes being strictly correlated. For both reactions much the same activity has been observed with the Ru and Os complexes. The pincer complexes display a superior activity with respect to the related compounds [MCl(2)(NN)(PP)] (NN = bidentate amine or pyridine ligand). The synthesis of the new complexes [MCl(CNN)(PP)] (M = Ru, 2, 4 and Os, 6, 7; PP = dppb, dppf) and [Ru(OTf)(CNN)(dppb)] (3) is also reported.     

Efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols with a novel tetrafluorosuccinato ruthenium complex

Dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of a series of secondary alcohols has been conducted with a novel dinuclear ruthenium complex, bearing tetrafluorosuccinate and (rac)-BINAP ligands as the racemization catalyst. Novozym 435 has been used as the enzyme, and isopropyl butyrate as the acyl donor. Five substrates underwent DKR successfully: an aliphatic and an aromatic secondary alcohol, an aromatic alcohol with an electron-withdrawing substituent on the phenyl ring, an aromatic alcohol bearing an electron-donating substituent on the ring and a heteroaromatic secondary alcohol. The catalyst performed optimally at 70 °C. Typically the reaction reached complete conversion within 1 day with 0.1 mol % of racemization catalyst relative to the substrate. The addition of the ketone corresponding to the substrate stabilizes the active Ru complex and, therefore, increases the rate of the reaction.     

(S)-selective dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols by the combination of subtilisin and an aminocyclopentadienylruthenium complex as the catalysts

A new procedure for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic alcohols into single enantiomers is described. This procedure employs surfactant-treated subtilisin as an (S)-selective resolving catalyst and an aminocyclopentadienylruthenium complex as a racemizing catalyst. The DKR is performed best in the presence of an acyl donor such as trifluoroethyl butyrate in THF at room temperature. Eight simple secondary alcohols have been efficiently resolved with high optical purities and good yields. The subtilisin-based DKR is complementary in stereoselectivity to its lipase-based counterpart. For an acyl-carrying alcohol, both subtilisin- and lipase-based DKRs have proceeded equally well to give a pair of enantiomeric products (>99.5% ee each) with opposite optical rotations in high yields (94-95%).     

Silylation-based kinetic resolution of monofunctional secondary alcohols

The nucleophilic small molecule catalyst (-)-tetramisole was found to catalyze the kinetic resolution of monofunctional secondary alcohols via enantioselective silylation. Optimization of this new methodology allows for selectivity factors up to 25 utilizing commercially available reagents and mild reaction conditions.     

Fast racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution of primary benzyl amines

We prepared a Pd nanocatalyst (average diameter of Pd nanoparticles = 1.73 nm) displaying a remarkable activity for the racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of 1-methylbenzylamine. It was eight times more active than the previous best. The DKR of 1-methylbenzylamine with the Pd nanocatalyst (2 mol %) in the presence of a thermostable lipase (Novozym 435) was complete in 6 h at 70 °C. The DKRs of other benzyl amines also proceeded to completion in 6 h under similar conditions except the amount of Pd nanocatalyst.