A convenient enantioselective synthesis of (S)-alpha-trifluoromethylisoserine

[reaction: see text] This report describes two straightforward synthetic methodologies to obtain alpha-CF3-isoserine, a new alpha,alpha-disubstituted beta-amino acid, from alpha-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid. The routes involve the synthesis of five-membered cyclic sulfates (using sulfuryl chloride) or sulfamidates (using the Burgess reagent) from the corresponding chiral diols, which are obtained by a catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) reaction.     

The direct organocatalytic asymmetric mannich reaction: unmodified aldehydes as nucleophiles

The unprecedented application of unmodified aldehydes as nucleophilic donors in direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions is disclosed in a full account. Our efforts in broadening the applicability of chiral pyrrolidine-based catalysts in direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions led to the highly diastereo- and enantioselective and concise synthesis of functionalized alpha- and beta-amino acids, beta-lactams, and amino alcohols.     

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric oxidations mediated by optically pure furyl hydroperoxides

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric oxidations which rely on the use of commercially available t-butyl (TBHP) or cumyl hydroperoxides (CHP) and enantiopure ligands represent the majority of protocols reported to obtain enantiomerically enriched valuable compounds such as epoxides, sulfoxides, diols, etc. Herein, we review our recent results on the complementary and less studied oxidative approach based on the use of optically pure alkyl hydroperoxides as oxygen and chirality source. The synthetic sequence to enantiopure furyl hydroperoxides, easily accessible from ketones of the chiral pool is firstly described. Examples of metal-catalyzed asymmetric oxidations using these compounds for the production of enantiomerically enriched sulfoxides and epoxy alcohols are shown. The entire protocol is made more advantageous by recovering the optically pure alcohols during the purification procedure and recycling them for the one-step synthesis of the hydroperoxides.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles via Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

We report a highly enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of isatins and acrolein to provide enantiomerically enriched 3-substituted 3-hydroxyoxindoles, which could serve as valuable synthetic building blocks. This is also the first time that a ketone has been used as the electrophile and acrolein as the nucleophile in a highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric MBH reaction. Hatakeyama's catalyst, β-isocupreidine (1), turned out to be a powerful catalyst for this transformation.     

Sharpless Asymmetric Aminohydroxylation: Scope,Limitations, and Use in Synthesis

As a valuable methodology for organic synthesis , asymmetric aminohydroxylation (AA)—the catalytic and asymmetric conversion of alkenes into enantiomerically enriched N‐protected amino alcohols—has become established in a remarkably short period of time. Examples of the types of products that can be synthesized easily on a reasonably large scale and in enantiomerically pure form are shown in the picture.     

Enantioselective Michael additions to alpha,beta-unsaturated imides catalyzed by a Salen-Al complex

(Salen)aluminum complex 1b is an efficient catalyst for the conjugate addition of di- and trisubstituted nitriles to a wide range of acyclic alkyl- and aryl-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated imides. This new methodology provides access to multifunctional compounds that previously have not been readily accessible in enantioenriched form. Synthetic applications of these products include the preparation of enantiomerically enriched piperidines, as exemplified by an expedient asymmetric catalytic synthesis of (-)-paroxetine.     

Asymmetric P−C Bond Formation: Diastereoselective Synthesis of Adjacent P,C‐Stereogenic Allylic Phosphorus Compounds

A novel catalytic asymmetric P?C bond formation between phosphinates/phosphine oxide and allylic carbonates was developed. This methodology could not only afford a variety of functionalized adjacent P,C‐stereogenic phosphorus compounds in high yields with high regio‐ and diastereoselectivities but also provide an alternative strategy to access enantiomerically enriched (S_P)‐phosphinates through kinetic resolution.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Propionate Aldol Reactions via Acyl Halide-Aldehyde Cyclocondensations

Catalyzed asymmetric acyl halide-aldehyde cyclocondensation (AAC) reactions afford highly enantiomerically enriched 3,4-disubstituted-2-oxetanones. These reactions constitute catalytic asymmetric propionate aldol additions. An optically active Al(III)-triamine complex (10 mol %) catalyzes the di(isopropyl)ethylamine-mediated cyclocondensation of propionyl bromide and a variety of aldehydes to afford beta-lactone adducts with uniformly high enantioselection (90 --> 98% ee), diastereoselection (74 --> 98% de), and chemical yields (78-90%). Lactone ring opening reveals that the enantiomerically enriched beta-lactones act as surrogates for syn propionate aldol adducts.     

New catalytic approaches in the stereoselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction

After more than 125 years, the Friedel–Crafts alkylation is still one of the most studied and most utilized reactions in organic synthesis. What is the secret of this astonishing success? Perhaps the great versatility in scope and applicability continues to justify its crucial role in the synthesis of more and more complex molecules. However, it has taken more than a century for asymmetric catalytic versions of this reaction to be developed and subsequently extended to a range of aromatic compounds and alkylating agents. Herein we review recent developments in the design and use of catalytic and stereoselective strategies for the alkylation of aromatic systems and synthesis of a wide range of polyfunctionalized enantiomerically enriched compounds.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Preparation of Polysubstituted Cyclopropanol and Cyclopropylamine Derivatives

The catalytic asymmetric carbometalation of cyclopropenes followed by either an electrophilic oxidation or amination reaction provides a unique approach to the formation of diastereomerically pure and enantiomerically enriched cyclopropanol and cyclopropylamine derivatives, respectively.     

Asymmetric alpha-alkylation of N'-tert-butanesulfinyl amidines. Application to the total synthesis of (6R,7S)-7-amino-7,8-dihydro-alpha-bisabolene

A highly diastereoselective alpha-alkylation of N'-tert-butanesulfinyl amidines has been developed along with methods for converting the alkylation products to enantiomerically enriched amines that incorporate both alpha- and beta-stereocenters. The utility of this chemistry is further demonstrated by the first asymmetric synthesis of the antimicrobial marine natural product (6R,7S)-7-amino-7,8-dihydro-alpha-bisabolene.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral allenes

The conventional procedures for preparing optically active axially chiral allenes generally require stoichiometric chiral sources as either substrates or reagents. On the other hand, examples of catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral allenes are rare and it is a relatively underdeveloped area in synthetic organic chemistry. In this review article, various methods for preparing enantiomerically enriched axially chiral allenes using substoichiometric chiral sources are surveyed. Some reactions with stoichiometric but recoverable chiral sources are also mentioned. Most of the asymmetric reactions in these categories are transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, and there are a few examples of organocatalytic reactions. In addition, some enzymatic/microbial systems are also known.     

A new class of versatile chiral-bridged atropisomeric diphosphine ligands: remarkably efficient ligand syntheses and their applications in highly enantioselective hydrogenation reactions

A series of chiral diphosphine ligands denoted as PQ-Phos was prepared by atropdiastereoselective Ullmann coupling and ring-closure reactions. The Ullmann coupling reaction of the biaryl diphosphine dioxides is featured by highly efficient central-to-axial chirality transfer with diastereomeric excess >99%. This substrate-directed diastereomeric biaryl coupling reaction is unprecedented for the preparation of chiral diphosphine dioxides, and our method precludes the tedious resolution procedures usually required for preparing enantiomerically pure diphosphine ligands. The effect of chiral recognition was also revealed in a relevant asymmetric ring-closure reaction. The chiral tether bridging the two aryl units creates a conformationally rigid scaffold essential for enantiofacial differentiation; fine-tuning of the ligand scaffold (e.g., dihedral angles) can be achieved by varying the chain length of the chiral tether. The enantiomerically pure Ru- and Ir-PQ-Phos complexes have been prepared and applied to the catalytic enantioselective hydrogenations of alpha- and beta-ketoesters (C=O bond reduction), 2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)propenoic acid, alkyl-substituted beta-dehydroamino acids (C=C bond reduction), and N-heteroaromatic compounds (C=N bond reduction). An excellent level of enantioselection (up to 99.9% ee) has been attained for the catalytic reactions. In addition, the significant ligand dihedral angle effects on the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-heteroaromatic compounds were also revealed.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of olefins using H2O2, part I: synthesis of new chiral N,N,N-tridentate pybox and pyboxazine ligands and their ruthenium complexes

The synthesis of chiral tridentate N,N,N-pyridine-2,6-bisoxazolines 3 (pybox ligands) and N,N,N-pyridine-2,6-bisoxazines 4 (pyboxazine ligands) is described in detail. These novel ligands constitute a useful toolbox for the application in asymmetric catalysis. Compounds 3 and 4 are conveniently prepared by cyclization of enantiomerically pure alpha- or beta-amino alcohols with dimethyl pyridine-2,6-dicarboximidate. The corresponding ruthenium complexes are efficient asymmetric epoxidation catalysts and have been prepared in good yield and fully characterized by spectroscopic means. Four of these ruthenium complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. For the first time the molecular structure of a pyboxazine complex [2,6-bis-[(4S)-4-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,3]oxazinyl]pyridine](pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate)ruthenium (S)-2 aa, is presented.     

S(N)2 ring opening of beta-lactones: an alternative to catalytic asymmetric conjugate additions

Merging catalytic asymmetric acyl halide-aldehyde cyclocondensation (AAC) reactions with ensuing Grignard-mediated ring opening of the derived enantiomerically enriched beta-lactones is presented as a generally useful asymmetric synthesis of beta-disubstituted carboxylic acids. Enantiomerically enriched beta-lactones are subject to efficient S(N)2 ring opening with a variety of copper-modified alkyl Grignard reagents, including highly branched nucleophiles. Considerable structural variation in the lactone electrophile is also tolerated. Phenyl- and vinyl-derived organometallics are not efficient nucleophiles for the ring-opening reactions.     

Recent examples of the use of biocatalysts with high accessibility and availability in natural product synthesis

Utilization of biocatalysts with high accessibility and availability, which have recently been applied in the preparation of enantiomerically enriched starting materials and synthetic intermediates for natural product syntheses (mainly 2013–2017) are summarized in this review. The main contents are as follows: 1) recruitment of biocatalysts for the transformation of organic compounds; 2) special precautions for preparative-scale biocatalytic synthetic experiments; 3) asymmetric reduction of carbonyl substrates; 4) kinetic resolution of alcohol and carboxylate enantiomers; 5) desymmetrization of multifunctional alcohol and carboxylate substrates; and 6) recognition of remote and non-central chirality.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of γ-substituted butenolides via the vinylogous Mukaiyama-Michael reaction catalyzed by a chiral scandium(III)-N,N'-dioxide complex

A highly efficient catalytic asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of the 2-silyloxyfuran with chalcone derivatives, catalyzed by a chiral N,N'-dioxide-scandium(III) complex, has been accomplished which tolerates a wide range of substrates. The reaction proceeds with complete regioselectivities, excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >99?:?1 dr) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee) under mild conditions, delivering highly functionalized enantiomerically enriched anti-γ-substituted butenolides. The process is air-tolerant and easily manipulated with available reagents. In order to illustrate the synthetic potential of this reaction, the gram-scale synthesis and the elaboration of the butenolides have been explored. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible catalytic cycle and favorable stereorecognition model have been proposed.     

Addition reactions of ROPHy/SOPHy oxime ethers: asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen containing compounds

Oxime ethers prepared from (R)- or (S)-O-(1-phenylbutyl)hydroxylamine (ROPHy or SOPHy) are versatile intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of nitrogen containing compounds including simple amines, 1,2-aminoalcohols, alpha- and beta-amino acids, heterocyclic building blocks of natural products, piperidine alkaloids, lactams, 5- to 8-membered ring nitrogen heterocycles, imino-sugars, and chiral ferrocene based receptors.     

Catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of the C(1)(')-C(10)(') segment of pamamycin 621A

[reaction--see text] This paper describes a catalytic, asymmetric approach to the C(1)(')-C(10)(') segment of pamamycin 621A. We synthesize this segment in a convergent manner, with each of the coupling partners ultimately deriving from enantiomerically enriched methylketene dimer.     

Enantioselective De Novo Synthesis of α,α-Diaryl Ketones from Alkynes

Chiral α,α-diaryl ketones are structural motifs commonly present in bioactive molecules, and they are also valuable building blocks in synthetic organic chemistry. However, catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones bearing a tertiary stereogenic center remains largely unsolved. Herein, we report a catalytic de novo enantioselective synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones from simple alkynes via chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysis. A broad range of enolizable α,α-diaryl ketones are prepared in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The described protocol also serves as an efficient deuteration method for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched deuterated α,α-diaryl ketones. Using the methodology reported, bioactive molecules, including one of the best-selling anti-breast cancer drugs, tamoxifen, are readily synthesized.