Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of aryltitanium reagents generating chiral titanium enolates: isolation as silyl enol ethers

The addition of aryltitanium triisopropoxide (ArTi(OPr-i )3) to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones proceeded with high enantioselectivity (94-99.8% ee) in the presence of 3 mol % of [Rh(OH)((S )-binap)]2 in THF at 20 degrees C to give high yields of the titanium enolates as 1,4-addition products. The titanium enolates were converted into silyl enol ethers by treatment with chlorotrimethylsilane and lithium isopropoxide.     

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated amides.

The conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated amides was carried out in the presence of a chiral rhodium catalyst and an aqueous base. The catalyst prepared in situ from Rh(acac)(CH(2)=CH(2))(2) and (S)-binap provided (R)-N-benzyl-3-phenylbutanamide with 93% ee in the addition of phenylboronic acid to N-benzyl crotonamide. The reaction suffered from incomplete conversion resulting in moderate yields, but addition of an aqueous base, such as K(2)CO(3) (10-50 mol%) was found to be highly effective to improve the chemical yields. The role of the base giving a RhOH species active for transmetalation with arylboronic acids was discussed.     

Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: large accelerating effects of bases and ligands

The effects of ligands and bases in the rhodium(I)-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were reinvestigated to carry out the reaction under mild conditions. Rhodium(I) complexes possessing a 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) and a hydroxo ligand such as [RhOH(cod)](2) exhibited excellent catalyst activities compared to those of the corresponding rhodium-acac or -chloro complexes and their phosphine derivatives. The reaction was further accelerated in the presence of KOH, thus allowing the 1,4-addition even at 0 degrees C. A cationic rhodium(I)-(R)-binap complex, [Rh(R-binap)(nbd)]BF(4), catalyzed the reaction at 25-50 degrees C in the presence of Et(3)N with high enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee for alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, 92% for aldehydes, 94% for esters, and 92% for amides.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboron reagents to α,β-unsaturated esters

Reaction of arylboron reagents, arylboronic acids or arylborates, which are readily accessible by lithiation of aryl bromides followed by treatment with trimethoxyborane, with α,β-unsaturated esters in the presence of rhodium/(S)-binap catalyst proceeded with high enantioselectivity to give high yields of optically active β-aryl esters of up to 98% ee. The enantioselectivity depends on the steric bulkiness of the ester moiety.     

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral sulfones by Rh-catalyzed asymmetric addition of boronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones

A general and efficient method for the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective catalytic conjugate addition of organoboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfones is described. The success of the process relies on the use of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones as key metal-coordinating substrates; typical sulfones such as vinyl phenyl sulfones are inert under the reaction conditions. Among a variety of chiral ligands, Chiraphos provided the best asymmetric induction. This rhodium [Rh(acac)(C2H4)2]/Chiraphos catalyst system has a broad scope, being applicable to the addition of both aryl and alkenyl boronic acids to cis and trans alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-pyridyl sulfones. In most cases, especially in the addition of aryl boronic acids, the reactions take place cleanly and with high enantioselectivity, affording chiral beta-substituted 2-pyridyl sulfones in good yields and enantioselectivities (70-92% ee). The sense and magnitude of this enantioselectivity have been studied by DFT theoretical calculations of the aryl-rhodium insertion step. These calculations strongly support the formation of a five-membered pyridyl-rhodium chelated species as the most stable complex after the insertion into the C=C bond. These highly enantioenriched chiral sulfones are very appealing building blocks in enantioselective synthesis. For instance, the straightforward elimination of the 2-pyridylsulfonyl group by either Julia-Kociensky olefination or alkylation/desulfonylation sequences provides a variety of functionalized chiral compounds, such as allylic substituted alkenes or beta-substituted ketones and esters.     

Asymmetric conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters with chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) catalysts

New asymmetric conjugate reduction of beta,beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters was accomplished with alkoxylhydrosilanes in the presence of chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) complexes in high yields and high enantioselectivity. (E)-4-Phenyl-3-penten-2-one and (E)-4-phenyl-4-isopropyl-3-penten-2-one were readily reduced at 60 degrees C in 95 % ee and 98 % ee, respectively, by 1 mol % of catalyst loading. (EtO)2MeSiH proved to be the best hydrogen donor of choice. tert-Butyl (E)-beta-methylcinnamate and beta-isopropylcinnamate could also be reduced to the corresponding dihydrocinnamate derivatives up to 98 % ee.     

High performance of a chiral diene-rhodium catalyst for the asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboroxines to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

[reaction: see text] A rhodium complex coordinated with (S,S)-2,5-dibenzylbicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene (Bn-bod) showed high catalytic activity and high enantioselectivity in the asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboroxines to cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, 0.005-0.01 mol % of the catalyst giving high yields of the addition products with not lower than 94% ee. The turnover frequency of the catalyst is up to 1.4 x 10(4) h(-1).     

Highly enantioselective 1,4-addition of arylzinc reagents to 3-arylpropenals catalyzed by a rhodium–binap complex in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane

Asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylzinc chlorides to (E)-3-arylpropenals proceeded with high enantioselectivity in the presence of a rhodium/(R)-binap catalyst and chlorotrimethylsilane to give, after hydrolysis, high yields of the corresponding 3,3-diarylpropanals of 98–99% ee. The presence of the chlorosilane is essential for high yields of the 1,4-addition products.     

Enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes bearing 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene as a chiral diene ligand. Their use as catalysts for asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride

[reaction and structures: see text] A rhodium complex coordinated with 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene (Ph-cod), [RhCl((R)-Ph-cod)]2, was obtained enantiomerically pure through optical resolution of diastereomeric isomers [Rh(Ph-cod)((R)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine)]BF4. The enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes showed high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) in the asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane.     

A new type of catalytic tandem 1,4-addition-aldol reaction which proceeds through an (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium intermediate

The reaction of 9-aryl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (B-Ar-9BBN) with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes in the presence of 3 mol % [Rh(OMe)(cod)](2) in toluene at 20 degrees C for 2 h gave high yields of the tandem 1,4-addition-aldol reaction products with high syn selectivity. The reaction proceeds through the catalytic cycle consisting of 1,4-addition of an organorhodium species to an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone and the aldol addition of the resulting (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium intermediate to an aldehyde.     

Generation of chiral boron enolates by rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of 9-aryl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (B-Ar-9BBN) to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

Asymmetric 1,4-addition of 9-phenyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (2m) to 2-cyclohexenone (1a) proceeded with high enantioselectivity in toluene at 80 degrees C in the presence of 3 mol % of a rhodium catalyst generated from [Rh(OMe)(cod)]2 and (S)-binap to give a high yield of boron enolate (S)-3am, which is 98% enantiomerically pure. Reaction of the boron enolate 3am with electrophiles, methanol-d, propanal, and allyl bromide, gave the corresponding 2-substituted (3S)-3-phenylcyclohexanones with perfect regio- and diastereoselectivity.     

High performance of Rh(Phebox) catalysts in asymmetric reductive aldol reaction: high anti-selectivity

Chiral rhodium(bisoxazolinylphenyl) complexes (1 mol %) efficiently catalyze the asymmetric reductive aldol reaction of aldehydes and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters at 50 degrees C for ca. 0.5-1.0 h with several hydrosilanes to give the corresponding beta-hydroxypropionates with extremely high anti-selectivity (up to 98%) and enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee). The stereochemical outcome is likely due to a chairlike cyclic transition state involving rhodium-(E)-enolate.     

Conjugate addition of arylsilanes to unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by rhodium in air and water

ArSiCl3 and Ar2SiCl2, believed to be unstable in aqueous media, reacted efficiently with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters in air and water (in the presence of sodium fluoride and a rhodium catalyst), giving good to excellent yields of the desired conjugate addition products.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of two αvβ6 integrin inhibitors for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and investigations on the asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to crotonate esters bearing a C4-oxygen substituent

The absolute configuration of two novel α_vβ₆ integrin inhibitors was established via degradation to the corresponding C3-aryl substituted butyrolactone. The configuration of the resulting lactones was established by asymmetric synthesis using 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to butenolide, catalysed by bis(norbornadiene)rhodium (I) tetrafluoroborate in the presence of (R)-BINAP, and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Studies on arylboronic acid conjugate additions to acyclic crotonate esters bearing a γ-oxygen substituent are also reported. Three Rh catalysts were investigated and the one giving the highest enantioselectivity was bis(norbornadiene)rhodium (I) tetrafluoroborate.     

A novel chiral sulfonium yilde: highly enantioselective synthesis of vinylcyclopropanes

A newly designed chiral sulfonium allylide, generated in situ from the corresponding sulfonium salt in the presence of KOBu(t), reacted with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, ketones, amides, and nitriles to afford trans-2-silylvinyl-trans-3-substituted cyclopropyl esters, ketones, amides, and nitriles with outstanding diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity in good to high yields. A mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines by phenylsulfanyl migration

[reaction: see text] Enantiomerically pure 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines can be prepared, in high overall yield, from alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. Asymmetry is introduced via a Michael addition, and additional stereogenic centers are introduced by an aldol reaction. A novel stereospecific ring-forming reaction, proceeding via a thiiranium (episulfonium) ion, yields pyrrolidines from beta-hydroxy sulfides. In this manner, 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines, containing three contiguous stereogenic centers around the ring, can be prepared in 44% overall yield from ethyl crotonate.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboroxines to β-alkoxyacrylate esters

Asymmetric addition of arylboroxines to β-alkoxyacrylate esters proceeded in the presence of a rhodium complex coordinated with a chiral diene ligand to give high yields of β-alkoxy-β-arylcarboxylic acid esters with very high enantioselectivity.     

New synthesis of 1,4-diketones via rhodium-catalysed 1,4 carbonylative addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The reaction of various arylboronic acids with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones under CO pressure and in the presence of rhodium catalyst yields 1,4-diketones.     

Broad-spectrum enantioselective diels-alder catalysis by chiral,cationic oxazaborolidines

The cationic chiral Lewis acids 1 and 2, generated by triflic acid protonation of the corresponding neutral oxazaborolidines, serve as excellent catalysts for Diels-Alder addition of cyclopentadiene to a wide variety of dienophiles. Adducts have been obtained in excellent yield and enantioselectivity from alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, lactones, and cyclic ketones. The absolute facial selectivity for each of these substrates follows a common pattern which differs from that observed with alpha,beta-enals. The different reaction channels can be understood in terms of pathways via complexes 3 (for alpha,beta-enals) and 4 (for alpha,beta-enones and esters).     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents

Asymmetric 1,4-arylation and 1,4-alkenylation were achieved with the use of organoboronic acids or their derivatives in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with ligands of the S-2,2"-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1"-binaphthyl (S-binap) type. The scope of this asymmetric addition is very broad: ,-unsaturated ketones, esters, amides, alk-1-enyl phosphonates, and 1-nitroalkenes are efficiently converted into the corresponding 1,4-addition products with enantioselectivity >95%. As shown by NMR spectroscopy, the catalytic cycle of the reaction in water involves three intermediates (aryl- or alkenylrhodium, (oxa--allyl)rhodium, and hydroxorhodium complexes). The asymmetric addition of B-Ar-9BBN and ArTi(OPrⁱ)₃ in aprotic solvents occurs with high enantioselectivity under mild conditions to give the corresponding metal enolates as the 1,4-addition products.