Enantioselective Norrish-Yang cyclization reactions of N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenylalkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones in solution and in the solid state

The four N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenyl-alkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones 5-8 were prepared from N-acetylimidazolidinone (4). Upon irradiation, these substrates underwent Norrish-Yang cyclization to the racemic products rac-9-rac-12 (51-75%). The reactions of the N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinones 5 and 6 were conducted in tBuOH, and yielded 1:1 mixtures of exo/endo diastereoisomers rac-9a/rac-9b and rac-10a/rac-10b, accompanied by Norrish type II cleavage products. The reactions of the N-3-oxopropylimidazolidinones 7 and 8 were performed in toluene. The exo diastereoisomers rac-11a and rac-12a were the major diastereoisomers (d.r. approximately equal to 4:1). In the presence of the chiral compounds 1-3, the photocyclization of substrate 8 proceeded with significant enantiomeric excess (5-60% ee). The more sophisticated complexing agents 3 and ent-3 provided better enantiofacial differentiation (up to 60% ee) than the lactams 1 and 2 (up to 26% ee). Low temperatures and an excess of the complexing agent helped to increase the enantioselectivity. The absolute configuration of the major exo product 12a obtained from compound 8 in the presence of complexing agent 3 was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of its chiral N-methoxyphenylacetyl derivative 15a. In a similar fashion, the absolute configurations of the endo products 12b and ent-12b were established. The N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinone 5, which crystallized in a chiral space group, was irradiated in the solid state. At low levels of conversion, the product 9a/ent-9a was formed with high enantiomeric excess (78% ee). The enantioselectivity deteriorated at higher levels of conversion.     

Enantioselective [6pi]-photocyclization reaction of an acrylanilide mediated by a chiral host. Interplay between enantioselective ring closure and enantioselective protonation

The [6pi]-photocyclization of the anilides 1a and 5 was studied in the absence and in the presence of the enantiomerically pure chiral lactam 4. The relative configuration of the products was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and by NMR spectroscopy. A significant enantiomeric excess was observed upon reaction of compound 1a to its photocyclization products at -55 degrees C employing lactam 4 as a chiral complexing agent in toluene as the solvent (66% yield). The trans product ent-3a was obtained in 57% ee, and the minor diastereoisomer (trans/cis = 73/27), cis product ent-2a, was obtained in 30% ee. DFT calculations were conducted modeling the complexation of intermediates 8 and ent-8 to host 4. In agreement with steric arguments concerning the conrotatory ring closure of 1a, the formation of ent-8 is favored leading to the more stable complex 4.ent-8 as compared to 4.8. Whereas the enantioselectivity in the photocyclization to trans compound ent-3a increased upon reduction in the reaction temperature, the enantiomeric excess in the formation of cis compound ent-2a went through a maximum at -15 degrees C (45% ee) and decreased at lower temperatures. Deuteration experiments conducted with the pentadeuterated analogue of 1a, d(5)-1a, revealed that the protonation of the intermediates 8 and ent-8 is influenced by chiral amide 4. In the formation of ent-3a/3a, both the enantioselective ring closure and the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 favor the observed (6aS,10aS)-configuration of the major enantiomer ent-3a. In the formation of ent-2a/2a, the enantioselective ring closure (and the subsequent diastereoselective protonation) favors the (6aR,10aS)-configuration that is found in compound 2a. Contrary to that, the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 shows a preference for ent-2a with the (6aS,10aR)-configuration.     

B-allyl-10-Ph-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes: strategically designed for the asymmetric allylboration of ketones

The simple and efficient syntheses of B-allyl-10-(phenyl)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decane (1) in both enantiomeric forms are reported. The remarkable enantioselectivity (81-99% ee) of these reagents in the allylboration process at -78 degrees C is only modestly diminished when the process is conducted at 0 degrees C, a phenomenon attributable to its rigid bicyclic structure. In addition to providing the homoallylic alcohols 6 efficiently (70-92%), the procedure also permits the efficient recovery of the chiral boron moiety (67-82%) as an air-stable crystalline N-methylpseudoephedrine complex 4 for the direct regeneration of 1 with allylmagnesium bromide in ether (98%). The reagent gives predictable stereochemistry, providing a strategically designed "chiral pocket" which is particularly receptive to leading methyl groups (e.g., methyl ethyl ketone, 87% ee).     

Highly enantioselective intra- and intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions of 2-quinolones mediated by a chiral lactam host: host-guest interactions,product configuration,and the origin of the stereoselectivity in solution

The [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 4-alkoxy-2-quinolones was conducted in the presence of the chiral lactams 5 or ent-5. At -60 degrees C in toluene as the solvent the intramolecular reaction of quinolones 6 and 8 as well as the intermolecular photocycloaddition of various alkenes 13 to quinolone 12 proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity (81-98% ee) and in high yields (61-89%). Styrene (13d) reacted sluggishly in the intermolecular reaction (29% yield, 83% ee). The absolute configuration of the intramolecular photocycloaddition products 7 and 9 was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of the corresponding diastereomeric N-menthyloxycarbonyl derivatives. The relative configuration of the intermolecular photocycloaddition products 14 and 15 was assigned on the basis of NOESY experiments and on crystallographic evidence. The differentiation of the enantiotopic faces in the prochiral quinolones 6, 8, and 12 can be explained by assuming a coordination of these substrates to the lactams 5 or ent-5 via two hydrogen bonds. Upon binding to 5 the si-face is shielded by the bulky tetrahydronaphthalene backbone, and the re-face is exposed to an intra- or intermolecular attack. On the basis of the association constant (K(a)) for the coordination of quinolone to host 5 an interpretation of the observed enantiomeric excess has been put forward. The parent quinolone 17 was employed as substrate for microcalorimetric and NMR titration experiments. From the data obtained for K(a) and DeltaH(a) the expected enantiomeric excess was calculated for two given temperatures (-15 and -60 degrees C). The calculated values fit the observed data within reasonable limits and prove that two-point hydrogen bonding can be sufficient to achieve a preparatively useful face differentiation in solution phase photochemistry.     

Heterogeneous asymmetric reactions: Part 21. Amino acid derived modifiers in the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over supported platinum catalyst

New modifiers were prepared from -tryptophane and tested in the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over commercial alumina supported platinum catalyst. Most of these molecules induced only low enantiomeric excesses (ee). (S)-3-(1-methyl-indol-3-yl)-2-methylamino-propan-1-ol was found to be the most effective. Using this modifier under mild reaction conditions (1 bar hydrogen pressure, 273 K), enantiomeric excess up to 43% was obtained. Due to the transformation of the modifier evidenced by ESI-MS, a slight increase in hydrogen pressure led to a dramatic drop of enantioselectivity. An interesting inversion of the sense of enantioselectivity was observed in the case of this modifier when the reaction was carried out in acetic acid instead of toluene. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is proposed.     

Pressure and temperature-controlled enantiodifferentiating [4+4] photocyclodimerization of 2-anthracenecarboxylate mediated by secondary face- and skeleton-modified gamma-cyclodextrins

A series of secondary-face-substituted and skeleton-modified gamma-cyclodextrins (gamma-CDs) were prepared as chiral hosts for enantiodifferentiating [4+4] photocyclodimerization reactions of 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid (AC). These gamma-CD derivatives form stable ternary complexes with ACs, with altroside-bearing gamma-CDs undergoing induced-fit conformational changes upon complexation, and the photocyclodimerization of AC was, thus, dramatically accelerated. The enantiomeric excess (ee) of anti-head-to-head cyclodimer 3 was greatly enhanced in general with altroside-bearing gamma-CDs 7-9. Although mono-altro-gamma-CD 9 and 3A-azido-3A-deoxy-altro-gamma-CD 7 gave 2 in ee's smaller than those obtained with native gamma-CD, 3A-amino-3A-deoxy-altro-gamma-CD 8 yielded 2 in much higher ee's, which is likely to be ascribed to the combined effects of the less-symmetric cavity and the electrostatic interactions. The influence of temperature and high pressure on the supramolecular photochirogenic reaction has been investigated in depth. An ee as high as 71% was obtained for cyclodimer 2 in the photocyclodimerization of AC mediated by 8 at 210 MPa and -21.5 degrees C.     

(1S,2S)-DPEN修饰的3%Ir/SiO2/2TPP催化苄叉丙酮的不对称加氢

在温和的条件下制备了负载型3%(w)Ir/SiO2/2TPP(三苯基膦)催化剂, 并且考察了(1S,2S)-1,2-二苯基乙二胺[(1S,2S)-DPEN]作为手性修饰剂对其催化苄叉丙酮不对称加氢反应性能的影响. 结果表明, 手性修饰剂(1S,2S)-DPEN的加入, 对苄叉丙酮不对称加氢反应活性和C=O加氢的选择性都有很好的促进作用. 经优化条件, 在40 ℃下, LiOH浓度为0.375 mol·L-1的甲醇溶液中, 氢气压力为6 MPa, 反应8 h后, 苄叉丙酮的转化率大于99.0%, 对不饱和醇的选择性大于99.0%, 不饱和醇的对映选择性(ee)值达到48.1%.     

Regio- and enantioselective allylic amination of achiral allylic esters catalyzed by an iridium-phosphoramidite complex

A new catalytic asymmetric process, the iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic amination of (E)-cinnamyl and terminal aliphatic allylic carbonates, was developed by exploring complexes of chiral phosphoramidites. The reaction provided branched secondary and tertiary allylic amines in high yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity (13 examples over 94% ee). Although the reactions in polar solvent such as DMF, EtOH, and MeOH were fast, they gave low enantiomeric excesses. In contrast, reactions in THF displayed the most suitable balance of rate and enantioselectivity. Both the binaphthol unit and the disubstituted amine in the phosphoramidite affected reactivity and selectivity, and complexes of O,O'-(R)-(1,1'-dinaphthyl-2,2'-diyl)-N,N'-di-(R,R)-1-phenylethylphosphoramidite provided the highest reactivity and selectivity. Primary and cyclic secondary amines reacted at room temperature, and acyclic diethylamine reacted at 50 degrees C. p-Methoxy-substituted cinnamyl carbonate reacted similarly to the unsubstituted cinnamyl carbonate, but the o-methoxy-substituted substrate gave lower enantiomeric excess. High ee's were also observed for the products from the reaction of furanyl- and alkyl-substituted (E)-allylic carbonates.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric silaboration of allenes

An enantioselective silaboration of allenes was achieved using an achiral silylborane in the presence of a palladium catalyst bearing a chiral monodentate phosphine ligand. (R)-2-Bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl gave the highest enantioselectivities in the addition of (diphenylmethylsilyl)pinacolborane to the internal C=C bond of terminal allenes at 0 degrees C, giving the corresponding beta-borylallylsilanes in high yields with high enantiomeric excesses. The enantioselectivity depended on the bulkiness of substituents of allenes: the enantiomeric excesses were found to be 91-93% ee (R = tert- and sec-alkyl), 88-90% ee (R = aryl), and 80-82% ee (R = prim-alkyl and Me) at 0 degrees C. Perfect chirality transfer was observed in the intramolecular cyclization reactions of the functionalized allylsilanes, affording highly enantioenriched cyclic alkenylboranes, which underwent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with aryl halides.     

Asymmetric allyl- and crotylboration with the robust, versatile, and recyclable 10-TMS-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes

The remarkable versatility and selectivity of the 10-(trimethylsilyl)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes (10-TMS-9-BBDs) in the allyl- and crotylboration of representative aldehydes are reported. The new reagents are prepared through air-stable crystalline pseudoephedrine borinic ester complexes of the 10-TMS-9-BBDs (4), which are available in 63% overall yield from B-MeO-9-BBN through a simple two-step procedure. These complexes 4 are directly converted to the corresponding B-allyl-10-TMS-9-BBDs (1) with allylmagnesium bromide, which either can be isolated (98%) or used in situ for the allylations. The remarkable enantioselectivity (96 to > or =99% ee) of these reagents in the rapid (<3 h), asymmetric allylboration process at -78 degrees C is only slightly diminished when it is conducted at 25 degrees C, a phenomenon attributable to its rigid bicyclic structure. In addition to providing the homoallylic alcohols 6 efficiently (68-80%), the procedure also permits the efficient recovery of 4 (68-84%) for the direct regeneration of 1. Alternatively, an oxidative workup procedure can be used for the preparation of 6. The reagent gives predictable stereochemistry and exhibits an extremely high level of reagent control in the allylboration of d-glyceraldehyde acetonide. A simple and efficient procedure has been developed for the preparation of all four geometric and enantiomeric isomers of the B-crotyl-10-TMS-9-BBDs (10) from optically pure enantiomers of B-MeO-10-TMS-9-BBD (3). These reagents 10 also add rapidly (<3 h) and efficiently to representative aldehydes at -78 degrees C, providing ready access to all four of the possible stereoisomers of the beta-methyl homoallylic alcohols 12-15 (69-92%) in high dr (> or =98:2) and ee (94-99%).     

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.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of hydroxyketones: asymmetric Zn catalysis with a Et2Zn/linked-BINOL complex

Full details of our direct Michael addition of unmodified ketones using new asymmetric zinc catalysis are described. Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL complexes were successfully applied to direct 1,4-addition reactions of hydroxyketones. The first generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was effective for 1,4-addition of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxyacetophenone (3). Using 1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 2 mol % of Et(2)Zn, we found that a 1,4-addition reaction of beta-unsubstituted enone proceeded smoothly at 4 degrees C to afford products in high yield (up to 90%) and enantiomeric excess (up to 95%). In the case of beta-substituted enones, however, the first generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was not at all effective. The second generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 with MS 3A system was developed and was effective for various beta-substituted enones to afford products in good dr, yield (up to 99%), and high enantiomeric excess (up to 99% ee). With the Et(2)Zn/1 = 4/1 systems, catalyst loading for beta-unsubstituted enone was reduced to as little as 0.01 mol % (substrate/chiral ligand = 10 000). The new system was also effective for 1,4-addition reactions of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxypropiophenone (9) to afford chiral tert-alcohol in high enantiomeric excess (up to 96% ee). Mechanistic investigations as well as transformations of the Michael adducts into synthetically versatile intermediates are also described.     

手性胺修饰的羟基磷灰石负载RuCl_2(TPP)_3催化不对称氢化苯乙酮

采用共沉淀法制备了手性胺(L-脯氨酸、D-脯氨酸、(1R,2R)-1,2-二苯基乙二胺二磺酸钠((1R,2R)-DPENDS)、(1S,2S)-1,2-二苯基乙二胺二磺酸钠((1S,2S)-DPENDS))修饰的羟基磷灰石(HAP).并采用傅里叶变换红外(FT-IR)光谱,扫描电子显微镜(SEM),X射线衍射(XRD)和比表面积测定(BET)等仪器分析手段对其进行表征.以手性胺修饰的羟基磷灰石做载体负载RuCl2(TPP)3催化苯乙酮不对称加氢反应,详细考察温度、压力、碱的浓度、手性胺负载量等条件对催化反应的影响.在氢气压力为5.0 MPa、30℃条件下反应4 h,苯乙酮的不对称加氢反应,可获得99.9%转化率和77.8%对映选择性,其结果优于对应的均相催化反应.实验结果证明,催化反应在载体表面完成,催化剂通过简单离心分离可循环使用.     

On the origin of the stereoselectivity in organocatalysed reactions with trimethylsilyl-protected diarylprolinol

The origin of the enantioselectivity in the TMS-protected (TMS=trimethylsilyl) prolinol-catalysed alpha-heteroatom functionalisation of aldehydes has been investigated by using density functional theory calculations. Eight different reaction paths have been considered which are based on four different conformers of the TMS-protected prolinol-enamine intermediate. Optimisation of the enamine structures gave two intermediates with nearly the same energy. These intermediates both have an E configuration at the C==C bond and the double bond is positioned anti or syn, relative to the 2-substituent in the pyrrolidine ring. For the four intermediates, the chiral TMS-protected-diaryl substituent effectively shields one of the faces of the reacting C==C bond in the enamine intermediate. A number of transition states have been calculated for the enantioselective fluorination by N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) and based on the transition-state energies it has been found that the enantioselectivity depends on the orientation of the C==C bond, being anti or syn, relative to the 2-substituent on the pyrrolidine ring, rather than the approach of the electrophilic fluorine to the face of the reacting carbon atom in the enamine which is less shielded relative to the face with the highest shielding. The calculated enantiomeric excess of 96 % ee (ee=enantiomeric excess) for the fluorination reaction corresponds well with the experimentally found enantiomeric excess-97 % ee. The transition state for the alpha-amination reaction with the same type of intermediate has also been calculated by using diethyl azodicarboxylate as the amination reagent. The implication of the intermediate structures on the stereoselection of alpha-functionalisation of aldehydes is discussed.     

Nonracemic 3 degrees-carbamines from the asymmetric allylboration of N-trimethylsilyl ketimines with B-allyl-10-phenyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes

The simple and efficient asymmetric synthesis of 3 degrees -carbamines 7 from N-TMS enamines (3) and either enantiomeric form of beta-allyl-10-(phenyl)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decane (1) is reported. The high reactivity (<1 h, -78 degrees C) and enantioselectivity (60-98% ee) of these substrates can be attributed to the fact that the complexation of 3 with 1 facilitates its isomerization to the corresponding syn-N-TMS ketimine complex from which allylation can occur. In addition to providing the homoallylic amines 7 with predictable stereochemistry, the procedure also permits the efficient recovery of the chiral boron moiety (50-65%) as air-stable crystalline pseudoephedrine complexes 8, which are directly converted back to 1 with allylmagnesium bromide in ether (98%).     

Highly enantioselective introduction of bis(alkoxycarbonyl)methyl group into the 2-position of piperidine skeleton

Copper ion catalyzed carbon–carbon bond forming reaction of N-acyliminium ions with diaryl malonates was achieved with high enantioselectivity. The key intermediates in the method were 2-methoxy-3,4-didehydropiperidines, which were easily prepared through electrochemical oxidation of 1-(p-methoxybenzoyl)piperidine in methanol followed by the conversion of the oxidation product to didehydropiperidine derivative, which was subjected to a chiral Cu(II) catalyzed coupling reaction with diaryl malonates affording diaryl 2-piperidylmalonates. The maximum % ee (ee, enantiomeric excess) was 97% when di-p-chlorophenyl malonate was used as a nucleophile.     

Synthesis of highly decorated chiral 2-nitro-cyclohexane carboxylic esters through microwave-assisted organocatalyzed cascade reactions

Starting from (E)-β-substituted-β-nitroacrylates and α,β-unsaturated ketones, a stereoselective organocatalyzed one-pot methodology allowed to synthesize highly decorated chiral 2-nitro-cyclohexane carboxylic esters. The reaction is promoted by Cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amines in the presence of an acidic co-catalyst and affords two diastereoisomers, in good yields and high enantiomeric excess (often higher than 90% ee). By replacing conventional heating with microwave irradiation, cleaner reactions in shortened times (from 48 h to 30 min) were obtained, with improved dr (80:20) and high ee (up to 94%). The application of microwave technology to this organocatalytic methodology allowed also employing C1 substituted enones, leading to cyclohexanones with four contiguous stereocenters in two isomers only, and up to 99% enantioselectivity.     

Highly enantiomerically enriched alpha-haloalkyl Grignard reagents

alpha-Chloro- and alpha-bromoalkyl Grignard reagents 11 and 30 with > 97% ee (enantiomeric excess) were generated by a sulfoxide/magnesium exchange reaction from the enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure sulfoxides 25 and 27. The resulting alpha-haloalkyl Grignard reagents are configurationally stable at -78 degrees C. Racemization sets in at or above -60 degrees C, especially when the solution contains bromide ions. In the absence of halide ions, the configurational stability extends up to -20 degrees C, when chemical decomposition commences.     

Designing the "search pathway" in the development of a new class of highly efficient stereoselective hydrosilylation catalysts

The direct coupling of oxazolines and N-heterocyclic carbenes leads to chelating C,N ancillary ligands for asymmetric catalysis that combine both an "anchor" unit and a stereodirecting element. Reacting various N-substituted imidazoles with 2-bromo-4(S)-tert-butyl- and 2-bromo-4(S)-isopropyloxazoline gave the imidazolium precursors of the stereodirecting ancillary ligands. A library of ten different ligand precursors was obtained by using this simple procedure (65-97 % yield). These protioligands were metalated in a subsequent step by reaction with [{Rh(mu-OtBu)(nbd)}2] (nbd=norbornadiene), generated in situ from KOtBu and [{RhCl(nbd)}2] giving the corresponding N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [RhBr(nbd)(oxazolinyl-carbene)] 4 a-j in good yields. X-ray diffraction studies of two of the rhodium complexes, 4 d and 4 j, established a distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry with the bromo ligand occupying the apical position. The rhodium-carbene bond length was found to be 2.070(4) A (4 d) and 2.012(3) A (4 j). Complexes 4 a-j were treated with AgBF4 in dichloromethane, giving the active cationic square-planar catalysts for the hydrosilylation of ketones. As a reference reaction for the catalyst optimisation, the hydrosilylation of acetophenone with diphenylsilane was studied and the system optimised with respect to the counterion (BF(4) (-)), solvent (THF) and the silane reducing agent (diphenylsilane). The reaction product (1-phenylethanol) was obtained with the highest enantiomeric excess (ee) by carrying out the reaction at -60 degrees C, whilst the enantioselectivity drops upon going both to lower and higher temperatures. The observation that the temperature dependence of the ee values goes through a maximum indicated a change in the rate-determining step as the temperature is varied. The determination of the initial reaction rate in the hydrosilylation of acetophenone upon varying the catalyst (4 d) and substrate concentrations at -55 degrees C established a rate law for the initial conversion which is first-order in both substrates as well as the catalyst (Vi = k[4][PhCOMe][Ph2SiH2]). The catalytic system derived from complex 4 d was found to afford high yields and good enantioselectivities in the reduction of various aryl alkyl ketones (acetophenone: 92 % isolated yield and 90 % ee, 2-naphtyl methyl ketone: 99 % yield, 91 % ee). The selectivity for the reduction of prochiral dialkyl ketones is comparable or even superior to the best previously reported for prochiral nonaromatic ketones; whereas cyclopropyl methyl ketone is hydrosilylated with an enantioselectivity of 81 % ee, the increase of the steric demand of one of the alkyl groups leads to improved ee's, reaching 95 % ee in the case of tert-butyl methyl ketone. Linear chain n-alkyl methyl ketones, which are particularly challenging substrates, are reduced in good asymmetric induction, such as 2-octanone (79 % ee) and even 2-butanone (65 % ee).     

Asymmetric amplification in catalysis by trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane bistriflamide

A strong asymmetric amplification is observed in the addition of diethylzinc on aromatic aldehydes in the presence of the bistriflamide of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane 3a. The asymmetric amplification originates from the insolubility of the catalyst precursor 3a of low enantiomeric excess (ee), with a concomitant large increase of ee for the minor soluble part of 3a. Controlled mono-N-acetylation of 3a (20% ee) at -78 degrees C allowed isolation of 4 possessing 90% ee. [reaction: see text].