Selective hydrogenation of benzophenones to benzhydrols. Asymmetric synthesis of unsymmetrical diarylmethanols

[reaction: see text] trans-RuCl2[P(C6H4-4-CH3)3]2(NH2CH2CH2NH2) acts as a highly effective precatalyst for the hydrogenation of a variety of benzophenone derivatives to benzhydrols that proceeds smoothly at 8 atm and 23-35 degrees C in 2-propanol containing t-C4H9OK with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 2000-20000. Use of a BINAP/chiral diamine Ru complex effects asymmetric hydrogenation of various ortho-substituted benzophenones and benzoylferrocene to chiral diarylmethanols with consistently high ee.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted gamma-amino acids from allyltitanium sulfoximines

[structure: see text]. Asymmetric syntheses of the highly substituted protected gamma-amino acids 10a, 10b, 18, and 21 have been developed starting from the allyltitanium sulfoximines V and VI, respectively, and furan-2-carbaldehyde.     

Asymmetric synthesis of serinol-monoesters catalyzed by amine transaminases

The asymmetric synthesis of serinol-derivatives was investigated employing different amine transaminases as biocatalysts. Under the optimized conditions conversions up to 92% and excellent enantiomeric excesses up to 99% ee were obtained providing access to both, the (R)- and (S)-configurations of the serinol-monoester (2-amino-3-hydroxypropyl hexanoate).     

N-silyl-tethered radical cyclizations: a new synthesis of gamma-amino alcohols

[reaction: see text] Various allylic and propargylic amines bearing a protecting group (PG) have been employed in N-silyl-tethered radical cyclizations. The resulting silapyrrolidine adducts could be smoothly oxidized, creating access to gamma-amino alcohols. The silylation, radical cyclization, and oxidation reactions could be consolidated in a one-pot process.     

Efficient synthesis of highly functionalized vinylogous thiol esters

A series of vinylogous thiol esters 2,3 and 2,6-dioxo-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines (cyclic vinylogous thiol esters) 4 were prepared in high to excellent yields from the tandem reaction of readily available α-alkenoylketene diethylthioacetals 1 and diethyl malonate. A plausible mechanism, which involves a base catalyzed retro-Michael ring opening of cyclohexanenes 2 to give vinylogous thiol ester 3, is disclosed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalized gamma-amino esters: azetidinium salts and epoxy esters

Addition of several lithium ester enolates to chiral 1-aminoalkyl chloromethyl ketones 1 affords enantiomerically pure 3-hydroxyazetidinium salts 3 or 3-(1'-aminoalkyl)-3,4-epoxy esters 4, depending on the reaction conditions. [reaction: see text]     

Chiral thiophosphoramide catalyzed asymmetric aryl transfer reactions for the synthesis of functional diarylmethanols

In this investigation, chiral thiophosphoramide 3d was easily prepared from chiral (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine and then applied as an efficient chiral ligand in the catalytic asymmetric arylation reactions of various aromatic aldehydes. The corresponding diarylmethanol products were produced with good to excellent yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivities (up to 94%). The recovery of chiral ligand 3d could be as high as 96%.     

Asymmetric synthesis of propargylic alcohols catalyzed by (−)-MITH

This investigation describes that in the presence of 2.5 mol % of (?)-2-exo-morpholinoisobornane-10-thiol (MITH) 1, catalytic asymmetric alkynylation of aldehydes gives enantioenriched propargylic alcohols with good enantioselectivities.     

Asymmetric synthesis of orthogonally protected trans-cyclopropane gamma-amino acids via intramolecular ring closure

The synthesis of enantiomerically-enriched trans-cyclopropane amino- and hydroxy-acids can be achieved by intramolecular ring closure in moderate to good yields. The optically active cyclopropane precursors are easily prepared in a short sequence from inexpensive, commercially available olefins and tert-butyl acetate. Several leaving groups and bases were compared for the cyclopropanation step, showing that the diphenylphosphinate and tosyl leaving groups give the best results when used in combination with either LDA or NaHMDS.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes by organocatalytic domino reactions

A simple approach for the formation of optically active highly functionalized tetrahydrothiophenes, which might find important use in biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, and nanoscience is presented. Development of new organocatalytic Michael-aldol domino reactions is outlined, and with the appropriate choice of additives it is possible to control the regioselectivity of these domino reactions, yielding diastereomerically pure (tetrahydrothiophen-2-yl)phenyl methanones or tetrahydrothiophene carbaldehydes in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities up to 96% ee. The stereochemical outcome of these reactions is investigated, and the mechanism of these organocatalytic domino processes is presented.     

Asymmetric Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction catalyzed by a new type of chiral binaphthol-samarium complex

A new type of chiral 1,1'-binaphthol(BINOL) derived samarium complex, preparedfrom (R)- or (S)-BINOL and SmCl3, serves as an enantioselective catalyst for the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction in the presence of Molecular Sieves 4A(MS 4A). Moderate enantioselectivity was obtained. Kinetic studies show slight decrease of the enantiomeric excess with the conversion.     

Asymmetric Michael addition reactions catalyzed by a novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst

A novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst bearing bis-squaramide and cyclohexanediamine scaffolds was designed and prepared to catalyse a serial of asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yields (up to 99 %) and good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee). The comparative experiments indicated that the cooperative effect between calixarenes cavitives and chiral catalytic centers on this calix[4]squaramide catalyst could promote these reactions. Moreover, this strategy also provides valuable and easy access to chiral chromene, naphthoquinone and acetylacetone derivatives, which are important skeletons in biological and pharmaceutical compounds.     

Asymmetric multicomponent [C+NC+CC] synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidines catalyzed by silver(I)

[reaction: see text] Highly functionalized pyrrolidines are obtained in a single chemical step via a mild, efficient, and selective Ag(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [C+NC+CC] coupling process. Oppolzer's camphorsultam enables the desired reaction cascade and provides a reliable means to control the developing stereochemistry and purify the products. This three-component reaction provides unprecedented access to structurally diverse pyrrolidines for both target- and diversity-oriented syntheses.     

Asymmetric Michael addition reactions catalyzed by a novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst

A novel upper-rim functionalized calix[4]squaramide organocatalyst bearing bis-squaramide and cyclohexanediamine scaffolds was designed and prepared to catalyse a serial of asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yields (up to 99 %) and good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee). The comparative experiments indicated that the cooperative effect between calixarenes cavitives and chiral catalytic centers on this calix[4]squaramide catalyst could promote these reactions. Moreover, this strategy also provides valuable and easy access to chiral chromene, naphthoquinone and acetylacetone derivatives, which are important skeletons in biological and pharmaceutical compounds.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a 3,4-substituted pyrrolidine by l-proline catalyzed direct enolexo aldolization

The asymmetric synthesis of a 3,4-substituted N-tosyl pyrrolidine has been achieved by using l-proline catalyzed 5-enolexo aldolization with high enantio and diastereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric Michael addition reactions of aldehydes with nitrostyrenes catalyzed by functionalized chiral ionic liquids

A new class of pyrrolidine-based functionalized chiral ionic liquids (FCILs) has been developed and shown to be effective and reusable catalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions. For the Michael addition reaction involving various aldehydes and nitrostyrenes, FCIL 6, in combination with trifluoroacetic acid as an additive, was found to be a very effective catalyst, compared to FCIL 3, which varied slightly in structure. Excellent yields (up to 99%), good enantioselectivities (up to 85% ee), and high diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio up to 97:3) were obtained for these reactions. The FCIL catalysts were easily recycled and reused for at least five times without significantly losing their ability to affect the outcome of the asymmetric reactions.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions catalyzed by new spiro diamine derivatives

Two new organocatalysts derived from l-proline and a novel chiral spiro diamine bearing a C₂ symmetric backbone, were introduced for an asymmetric aldol reaction in moderate to good asymmetric induction in up to 76% ee and high yields.     

Asymmetric direct aldol reaction of functionalized ketones catalyzed by amine organocatalysts based on bispidine

Organocatalysts containing primary-secondary amine based on bispidine and amino acid have been designed to catalyze the asymmetric direct aldol reaction of functionalized ketones including alpha-keto phosphonates, alpha-keto esters, as well as alpha,alpha-dialkoxy ketones as aldol reaction acceptors. The corresponding products with chiral tertiary alcohols were obtained in moderate to high yields (up to 97%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). A theoretical study of transition structures demonstrated that protonated piperidine was important for the reactivity and enantioselectivity of this reaction.     

Asymmetric synthesis of primary amines catalyzed by thermotolerant fungal reductive aminases

Chiral primary amines are important intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds. Fungal reductive aminases (RedAms) are NADPH-dependent dehydrogenases that catalyse reductive amination of a range of ketones with short-chain primary amines supplied in an equimolar ratio to give corresponding secondary amines. Herein we describe structural and biochemical characterisation as well as synthetic applications of two RedAms from Neosartorya spp. (NfRedAm and NfisRedAm) that display a distinctive activity amongst fungal RedAms, namely a superior ability to use ammonia as the amine partner. Using these enzymes, we demonstrate the synthesis of a broad range of primary amines, with conversions up to >97% and excellent enantiomeric excess. Temperature dependent studies showed that these homologues also possess greater thermal stability compared to other enzymes within this family. Their synthetic applicability is further demonstrated by the production of several primary and secondary amines with turnover numbers (TN) up to 14 000 as well as continous flow reactions, obtaining chiral amines such as (R)-2-aminohexane in space time yields up to 8.1 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹. The remarkable features of NfRedAm and NfisRedAm highlight their potential for wider synthetic application as well as expanding the biocatalytic toolbox available for chiral amine synthesis.

Fungal reductive aminases as effective biocatalysts for the preparation of chiral primary amines.