Binuclear trans‐Bis(β‐iminoaryloxy)palladium(II) Complexes Doubly Linked with Pentamethylene Spacers: Structure‐Dependent Flapping Motion and Heterochiral Association Behavior of the Clothespin‐Shaped Molecules

The synthesis, structure, and solution‐state behavior of clothespin‐shaped binuclear trans‐bis(β‐iminoaryloxy)palladium(II) complexes doubly linked with pentamethylene spacers are described. Achiral syn and racemic anti isomers of complexes 1 – 3 were prepared by treating Pd(OAc)₂ with the corresponding N,N′‐bis(β‐hydroxyarylmethylene)‐1,5‐pentanediamine and then subjecting the mixture to chromatographic separation. Optically pure (100 % ee) complexes, (+)‐anti‐ 1 , (+)‐anti‐ 2 , and (+)‐anti‐ 3 , were obtained from the racemic mixture by employing a preparative HPLC system with a chiral column. The trans coordination and clothespin‐shaped structures with syn and anti conformations of these complexes have been unequivocally established by X‐ray diffraction studies. ¹H NMR analysis showed that (±)‐anti‐ 1 , (±)‐anti‐ 2 , syn‐ 2 , and (±)‐anti‐ 3 display a flapping motion by consecutive stacking association/dissociation between cofacial coordination planes in [D₈]toluene, whereas syn‐ 1 and syn‐ 3 are static under the same conditions. The activation parameters for the flapping motion (ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠) were determined from variable‐temperature NMR analyses as 50.4 kJ mol^?1 and 60.1 J mol^?1 K^?1 for (±)‐anti‐ 1 , 31.0 kJ mol^?1 and ?22.7 J mol^?1 K^?1 for (±)‐anti‐ 2 , 29.6 kJ mol^?1 and ?57.7 J mol^?1 K^?1 for syn‐ 2 , and 35.0 kJ mol^?1 and 0.5 J mol^?1 K^?1 for (±)‐anti‐ 3 , respectively. The molecular structure and kinetic parameters demonstrate that all of the anti complexes flap with a twisting motion in [D₈]toluene, although (±)‐anti‐ 1 bearing dilated Z‐shaped blades moves more dynamically than I‐shaped (±)‐anti‐ 2 or the smaller (±)‐anti‐ 3 . Highly symmetrical syn‐ 2 displays a much more static flapping motion, that is, in a see‐saw‐like manner. In CDCl₃, (±)‐anti‐ 1 exhibits an extraordinary upfield shift of the ¹H NMR signals with increasing concentration, whereas solutions of (+)‐anti‐ 1 and the other syn/anti analogues 2 and 3 exhibit negligible or slight changes in the chemical shifts under the same conditions, which indicates that anti‐ 1 undergoes a specific heterochiral association in the solution state. Equilibrium constants for the dimerizations of (±)‐ and (+)‐anti‐ 1 in CDCl₃ at 293 K were estimated by curve‐fitting analysis of the ¹H NMR chemical shift dependences on concentration as 26 M ^?1 [K_D(racemic)] and 3.2 M ^?1 [K_D(homo)], respectively. The heterochiral association constant [K_D(hetero)] was estimated as 98 M ^?1, based on the relationship K_D(racemic)=1/2 K_D(homo)+1/4 K_D(hetero). An inward stacking motif of interpenetrative dimer association is postulated as the mechanistic rationale for this rare case of heterochiral association.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Anticancer Activity of the New Chiral Mono‐ and Dinuclear Palladium(II) Complexes derived from (S)‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzylphenylketone

The enantiopure ketoimine of benzil – the ( S )‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzyl phenyl ketone ( 1 ) obtained under microwave irradiation in solvent‐free conditions – reacts with Na₂[PdCl₄] to give the new chiral mono‐ and dinuclear Pd‐complexes 2 and 3 , which have been partly characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies along with MS‐FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structures of both complexes has been fully confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray studies. On the other hand, investigations in vitro of 2 and 3 have displayed growth inhibition against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K‐562 CML), colon cancer (HCT‐15), cancer breast (MCF‐7), central nervous system (U‐251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines.     

Preparation of C3‐Symmetric Homochiral syn‐Trisnorbornabenzenes through Regioselective Cyclotrimerization of Enantiopure Iodonorbornenes

C₃‐symmetric homochiral (?)‐syn‐trisoxonorbornabenzene 1 possessing a rigid cup‐shaped structure was synthesized through a novel regioselective cyclotrimerization of enantiopure iodonorbornenes catalyzed by palladium nanoclusters. The yield of the cyclotrimerization was dependent on the stability of the palladium clusters, which was ascertained from the appearance and TEM images of the reaction mixtures. The efficient preparation of (?)‐syn‐ 1 was established in short steps, including the newly developed cyclotrimerization reaction. The thus‐prepared homochiral (?)‐syn‐ 1 can serve as a key intermediate for the synthesis of C₃‐symmetric homochiral cup‐shaped molecules with a helical arrangement of substituents. Introduction of several types of substituents was well demonstrated through palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions with the corresponding phosphate and triflate of (?)‐syn‐ 1 .     

Oligo-m-phenyleneoxalamide copper(II) mesocates as electro-switchable ferromagnetic metal-organic wires

Double‐stranded copper(II) string complexes of varying nuclearity, from di‐ to tetranuclear species, have been prepared by the Cu^II‐mediated self‐assembly of a novel family of linear homo‐ and heteropolytopic ligands that contain two outer oxamato and either zero ( 1 b ), one ( 2 b ), or two ( 3 b ) inner oxamidato donor groups separated by rigid 2‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylene spacers. The X‐ray crystal structures of these Cu^II_n complexes (n=2 ( 1 d ), 3 ( 2 d ), and 4 ( 3 d )) show a linear array of metal atoms with an overall twisted coordination geometry for both the outer CuN₂O₂ and inner CuN₄ chromophores. Two such nonplanar all‐syn bridging ligands 1 b – 3 b in an anti arrangement clamp around the metal centers with alternating M and P helical chiralities to afford an overall double meso‐helicate‐type architecture for 1 d – 3 d . Variable‐temperature (2.0–300 K) magnetic susceptibility and variable‐field (0–5.0 T) magnetization measurements for 1 d – 3 d show the occurrence of S=nS_Cu (n=2–4) high‐spin ground states that arise from the moderate ferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired electrons of the linearly disposed Cu^II ions (S_Cu=1/2) through the two anti m‐phenylenediamidate‐type bridges (J values in the range of +15.0 to 16.8 cm^?1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for 1 d – 3 d evidence a sign alternation of the spin density in the meta‐substituted phenylene spacers in agreement with a spin polarization exchange mechanism along the linear metal array with overall intermetallic distances between terminal metal centers in the range of 0.7–2.2 nm. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating‐disk electrode (RDE) electrochemical measurements for 1 d – 3 d show several reversible or quasireversible one‐ or two‐electron steps that involve the consecutive metal‐centered oxidation of the inner and outer Cu^II ions (S_Cu=1/2) to diamagnetic Cu^III ones (S_Cu=0) at relatively low formal potentials (E values in the range of +0.14 to 0.25 V and of +0.43 to 0.67 V vs. SCE, respectively). Further developments may be envisaged for this family of oligo‐m‐phenyleneoxalamide copper(II) double mesocates as electroswitchable ferromagnetic ‘metal–organic wires’ (MOWs) on the basis of their unique ferromagnetic and multicenter redox behaviors.     

Self‐Assembly of Discrete Homochiral,Helical, Hydrogen‐Bonded Nanocages: From Vesicles to Microspheres and Tubules Capable of Gelating Solvents

The chiral tris‐monodentate imidazolinyl ligands 1 a – c exhibit a strong tendency to form the discrete, helical [2+3] nanocages 3 ([ 1 ₂ ?2 ₃]) with tartaric acids 2 . Circular dichroism (CD) spectra and theoretical calculations reveal that supramolecular handedness of capsulelike architectures is determined only by the chirality of the imidazolinyl ligands rather than tartaric acids. The chirality of imidazolinyl ligands is transferred to the helicity of the complexes through the directed hydrogen bonds between the N3 atom of imidazoline rings and the carboxyl of tartaric acids. These hydrogen‐bonded nanocages can spontaneously self‐assemble into spherical vesicles, during which the hydrogen bonding that arises from the hydroxyl groups of tartaric acids plays a crucial issue. The vesicles formed by [{(S,S,S)‐ 1 a }₂( 2 ^L)₃] ( 3 a ) may further evolve into microspheres that gelate organic solvents after being aged at ?20 °C for 24 h, and can also be unprecedentedly transformed to tubular assemblies capable of rigidifying the solvents when subjected to ultrasound irradiation.     

Water soluble Ru (II)–p‐cymene complexes of chiral aroylthiourea ligands derived from unprotected D/L‐alanine as proficient catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

The newfangled chiral aroylthiourea ligands (L1‐L6) were produced from unprotected D/L‐alanine and their water soluble Ru (II) organometallic catalysts ( 1 – 6 ) were designed from their reaction with [RuCl₂(η⁶‐p‐cymene)]₂. The analytical and spectral methods were used to confirm the structure of the ligands and complexes. The solid state structure of L1, 5 and 6 was confirmed by single crystal XRD. The organometallic compounds ( 1 – 6 ) catalyzed the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic, heteroaromatic and bulky ketones to yield respective enantiopure secondary alcohols with admirable conversions (up to 99%) and attractive enantiomeric excesses (ee up to 98%), in presence of formic acid and triethylamine in water medium under non‐inert atmospheric conditions.     

A Concise and Highly Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐anti‐ and (−)‐syn‐Mefloquine Hydrochloride: Definitive Absolute Stereochemical Assignment of the Mefloquines

A concise asymmetric (>99:1 e.r.) total synthesis of (+)‐anti‐ and (?)‐syn‐mefloquine hydrochloride from a common intermediate is described. The key asymmetric transformation is a Sharpless dihydroxylation of an olefin that is accessed in three steps from commercially available materials. The Sharpless‐derived diol is converted into either a trans or cis epoxide, and these are subsequently converted into (+)‐anti‐ and (?)‐syn‐mefloquine, respectively. The synthetic (+)‐anti‐ and (?)‐syn‐mefloquine samples were derivatized with (S)‐(+)‐mandelic acid tert‐butyldimethylsilyl ether, and a crystal structure of each derivative was obtained. These are the first X‐ray structures for mefloquine derivatives that were obtained by coupling to a known chiral, nonracemic compound, and provide definitive confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of (+)‐anti‐ as well as (?)‐syn‐mefloquine.     

Hexakis(prop‐2‐enamide)copper(II) bis(perchlorate) and hexakis(prop‐2‐enamide)manganese(II) bis(perchlorate)

The structures of [Cu(AA)₆](ClO₄)₂, (I), and [Mn(AA)₆](ClO₄)₂, (II) (AA is acrylamide, also known as prop‐2‐enamide; C₃H₅NO), display both intra‐ and intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonding. A three‐dimensional network is propagated via the perchlorate counter‐ions. There are two crystallographically independent molecules in the copper complex, with the most significant difference between them being the conformation of one symmetry‐related pair of AA ligands which are in the unusual syn conformation. The copper complex exhibits syn/anti disorder of the =CH₂ group in one pair of symmetry‐related AA ligands. The Cu^II and Mn^II centres are both situated on centres of inversion. The copper complex cation has octahedral coordination geometry with typical Jahn–Teller distortions.     

Enantiopure Aminopyrans by a Lewis Acid Promoted Rearrangement of 1,2‐Oxazines: Versatile Building Blocks for Oligosaccharide and Sugar Amino Acid Mimetics

1,3‐Dioxolanyl‐substituted 1,2‐oxazines, such as syn‐ 1 and anti‐ 1 , rearrange under Lewis acidic conditions to provide bicyclic products 2 – 5 . Subsequent reductive transformations afforded enantiopure 3‐aminopyran derivatives such as 7 and 9 or their protected diastereomers 16 and 18 , which can be regarded as carbohydrate mimetics. An alternative sequence of transformations including selective oxidation of the primary hydroxyl groups in 21 and 24 led to two protected β‐amino acid derivatives with carbohydrate‐like backbone (sugar amino acids). Treatment of bicyclic ester 23 with samarium diiodide cleaved the N? O bond and furnished the unusual β‐lactam 27 in excellent yield. Alternatively, γ‐amino acid derivative 29 was efficiently prepared in a few steps. Fairly simple transformations gave azides 32 and 35 or alkyne 30 which are suitable substrates for the construction of oligosaccharide mimetics such as 34 by copper iodide catalyzed cycloadditions. With this report we demonstrate that enantiopure rearrangement products 2 – 5 are protected precursors of a variety of polyfunctionalized pyran derivatives with great potential for chemical biology.     

Binuclear Cu(II) chiral complexes: synthesis,characterization and application in enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reaction

Enantiopure macrocyclic ligands were synthesized from (1R,2R)‐(+)‐ and (1S,2S)‐(?)‐diphenylethylenediamine with 3,3'‐methylenebis(5‐(tert‐butyl)‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde) and characterized. The chirality transfer and chiral inversion from ligand to copper(II) metal centre were studied using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The enantiopure binuclear copper(II) complexes (ΔΔ and ΛΛ) were used as catalysts for asymmetric nitroaldol reaction to generate β‐nitroalcohol with 88% yield and 67% enantioselectivity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure Switching and Modulation of the Magnetic Properties in Diarylethene‐Bridged Metallosupramolecular Compounds by Controlled Coordination‐Driven Self‐Assembly

We report three self‐assembled iron complexes that comprised an anti‐parallel open form (o‐ L _anti), a parallel open form (o‐ L _syn), and a closed form (c‐ L ) of diarylethene conformers. Under kinetic control, Fe^II₂(o‐ L _anti)₃ was isolated, which exhibited a dinuclear structure with diamagnetic properties. Under light‐irradiation control, Fe^II₂(c‐ L )₃ was prepared and exhibited paramagnetism and spin‐crossover behaviour. Under thermodynamic control and in the presence of indispensable [Fe^III(Tp*)(CN)₃]^?, Fe^II₂(o‐ L _anti)₃ and Fe^II₂(c‐ L )₃ transformed into tetranuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II₂(o‐ L _syn)₂, which exhibited complete spin‐crossover behaviour at T_1/2=353 K.     

Structural Aspects of Palladium and Platinum Complexes With Chiral Diphosphinoferrocenes Relevant to the Regio‐ and Stereoselective Copolymerization of CO with Propene

A series of chiral diphosphinoferrocene ligands 3a – i , derived from josiphos (=(2R)‐1‐[(1R)‐1‐(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethyl]‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, formerly called {(R)‐1‐[(S)‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethyl}dicycloxexylphosphine) where the electronic properties of the ligand are systematically varied, were prepared. X‐Ray studies of five of these new ligands confirmed that these compounds display very similar conformations in the solid state and that no structural criteria could be found indicating the modified electronic properties. These ligands find application in the Pd‐catalyzed highly regio‐ and stereoselective CO/propene copolymerization reaction, where the electronic properties of the ligand show a great impact on the catalyst activity. Coordination‐chemical aspects of these diphosphinoferrocenes relevant to the CO/propene copolymerization reaction were addressed by the preparation and characterization of Pd‐ and Pt‐complexes of the general formula [PdCl₂(P−P)] ( 5 ), [PdMe₂(P−P)] ( 6 ), [PdClMe(P−P)] ( 7 ), [PdMe(MeCN)(P−P)]PF₆ ( 8 ), and [PtClMe(P−P)] ( 9 ) (P−P=chiral diphosphinoferrocene ligand ( 3a – h ), four of which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

Chiral Iridium Spiro Aminophosphine Complexes: Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Simple Ketones,Structure, and Plausible Mechanism

The iridium complexes of chiral spiro aminophophine ligands, especially the ligand with 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl groups on the P atom ( 1c ) were demonstrated to be highly efficient catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of alkyl aryl ketones. In the presence of KOtBu as a base and under mild reaction conditions, a series of chiral alcohols were synthesized in up to 97 % ee with high turnover number (TON up to 10 000) and high turnover frequency (TOF up to 3.7×10⁴ h⁻¹). Investigation on the structures of the iridium complexes of ligands (R)‐ 1a and 1c by X‐ray analyses disclosed that the 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl groups on the P‐phenyl rings of the ligand are the key factor for achieving high activity and enantioselectivity of the catalyst. Study of the catalysts generated from the Ir‐(R)‐ 1c complex and H₂ by means of ESI‐MS and NMR spectroscopy indicated that the early formed iridium dihydride complex with one (R)‐ 1c ligand was the active species, which was slowly transformed into an inactive iridium dihydride complex with two (R)‐ 1c ligands. A plausible mechanism for the reaction was also suggested to explain the observations of the hydrogenation reactions.     

Total Syntheses and Biological Evaluation of Both Enantiomers of Several Hydroxylated Dimeric Nuphar Alkaloids

Herein, we describe the first total syntheses of five members of the dimeric nuphar alkaloids: (+)‐6,6′‐dihydroxythiobinupharidine (+)‐ 1 a , (+)‐6‐hydroxythiobinupharidine (+)‐ 1 b , (?)‐6,6′‐dihydroxythionuphlutine (?)‐ 2 a , (?)‐6,6′‐dihydroxyneothiobinupharidine (?)‐ 3 a , and (+)‐6,6′‐dihydroxyneothionuphlutine (+)‐ 4 a . The latter two have not been found in nature. We have also made each of their enantiomers (?)‐ 1 a – b , (+)‐ 2 a , (+)‐ 3 a , and (?)‐ 4 a . The key step in these syntheses was the dimerization of an α‐aminonitrile (a hydrolytically stable surrogate for its corresponding hemiaminal) with chiral Lewis acid complexes. We have also reassigned the literature structures of (+)‐ 1 a – 1 b —for those instances in which the NMR spectra were obtained in CD₃OD—to their corresponding CD₃O‐adducts. Our efforts provide for the first time apoptosis data for (?)‐ 3 a , (+)‐ 4 a , and all five non‐natural enantiomers prepared. The data indicate high apoptotic activity regardless of the enantiomer or relative stereochemical configuration at C7 and C7′.     

Palladium–N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Indolines through Regiodivergent C(sp3)H Activation: Scope and DFT Study

Two bulky, chiral, monodentate N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were applied to palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric C?H arylation to incorporate C(sp³)?H bond activation. Racemic mixtures of the carbamate starting materials underwent regiodivergent reactions to afford different trans‐2,3‐substituted indolines. Although this C_Ar?C_alkyl coupling requires high temperatures (140–160 °C), chiral induction is high. This regiodivergent reaction, when carried out with enantiopure starting materials, can lead to single structurally different enantiopure products, depending on the catalyst chirality. The C?H activation at a tertiary center was realized only in the case of a cyclopropyl group. No C?H activation takes place alpha to a tertiary center. A detailed DFT study is included and analyses of methyl versus methylene versus methine C?H activation is used to rationalize experimentally observed regio‐ and enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis and Evaluation as Glycosidase Inhibitors of Isoquinuclidines Mimicking a Distorted β‐Mannopyranoside

Racemic and enantiomerically pure manno‐configured isoquinuclidines were synthesized and tested as glycosidase inhibitors. The racemic key isoquinuclidine intermediate was prepared in high yield by a cycloaddition (tandem Michael addition/aldolisation) of the 3‐hydroxy‐1‐tosyl‐pyridone 10 to methyl acrylate, and transformed to the racemic N‐benzyl manno‐isoquinuclidine 2 and the N‐unsubstituted manno‐isoquinuclidine 3 (twelve steps; ca. 11% from 10 ). Catalysis by quinine of the analogous cycloaddition of 10 to (?)‐8‐phenylmenthyl acrylate provided a single diastereoisomer in high yield, which was transformed to the desired enantiomerically pure D ‐manno‐isoquinuclidines (+)‐ 2 and (+)‐ 3 (twelve steps; 23% from 10 ). The enantiomers (?)‐ 2 and (?)‐ 3 were prepared by using a quinidine‐promoted cycloaddition of 10 to the enantiomeric (+)‐8‐phenylmenthyl acrylate. The N‐benzyl D ‐manno‐isoquinuclidine (+)‐ 2 is a selective and slow inhibitor of snail β‐mannosidase. Its inhibition strength and type depends on the pH (at pH 4.5: K_i=1.0 μM , mixed type, α=1.9; at pH 5.5: K_i=0.63 μM , mixed type, α=17). The N‐unsubstituted D ‐manno‐isoquinuclidine (+)‐ 3 is a poor inhibitor. Its inhibition strength and type also depend on the pH (at pH 4.5: K_i=1.2?10³ μM , mixed type, α=1.1; at pH 5.5: K_i=0.25?10³ μM , mixed type, α=11). The enantiomeric N‐benzyl L ‐manno‐isoquinuclidine (?)‐ 2 is a good inhibitor of snail β‐mannosidase, albeit noncompetitive (at pH 4.5: K_i=69 μM ). The N‐unsubstituted isoquinuclidine (?)‐ 2 is a poor inhibitor (at pH 4.5: IC₅₀=7.3?10³ μM ). A comparison of the inhibition by the pure manno‐isoquinuclidines (+)‐ 2 and (+)‐ 3 , (+)‐ 2 /(?)‐ 2 1 : 1, and (+)‐ 3 /(?)‐ 3 1 : 1 with the published data for racemic 2 and 3 led to a rectification of the published data. The inhibition of snail β‐mannosidase by the isoquinuclidines 2 and 3 suggests that the hydrolysis of β‐D ‐mannopyranosides by snail β‐mannosidase proceeds via a distorted conformer, in agreement with the principle of stereoelectronic control.     

Zinc(II)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydrative Aldol Reactions of 2‐En‐1‐ynamides with Aldehydes and Water to form Branched Aldol Products Regio‐ and Stereoselectively

This work describes zinc(II)‐catalyzed hydrative aldol reactions of 2‐en‐1‐ynamides with aldehydes and water to afford branched aldol products regio‐ and stereoselectively. The anti and syn selectivity can be modulated by the sizes of sulfonamides to yield E‐ and Z‐configured zinc(II) dienolates selectively. This new reaction leads to enantiopure aldol products by using a cheap chiral sulfonamide. The mechanistic analysis reveals that the sulfonamide amides of the substrates can trap a released proton to generate dual acidic sites to activate a carbonyl allylation reaction.     

Synthesis of Citronellal by RhI‐Catalysed Asymmetric Isomerization of N,N‐Diethyl‐Substituted Geranyl‐ and Nerylamines or Geraniol and Nerol in the Presence of Chiral Diphosphino Ligands,under Homogeneous and Supported Conditions

For the asymmetric isomerization of geranyl‐ or neryldiethylamine ((E)‐ or (Z)‐ 1 , resp.) and allyl alcohols geraniol or nerol ((E)‐ or (Z)‐ 2 , resp.) to citronellal ( 4 ) in the presence of a [Rh^I(ligand)cycloocta‐1,5‐diene)]⁺ catalyst, the atropic ligands 5 – 11 are compared under homogeneous and polymer‐supported conditions with the non‐C₂‐symmetrical diphosphino ferrocene ligands 12 – 16 . The ^tBu‐josiphos ligand 13 or daniphos ligand 19 , available in both antipodal series, already catalyse the reaction of (E)‐ 1 at 20° (97% e.e.) and favourably compare with the binap ligand 5 (see Table 1). Silica‐gel‐ or polymer‐supported diphosphino ligands usually afford similar selectivity as compared to the corresponding ligands applied under homogeneous conditions, but are generally less reactive. In this context, a polymer‐supported ligand of interest is the polymer‐anchored binap (R)‐ 6 , in terms of reactivity, selectivity, and recoverability, with a turnover of more than 14400.     

Persistent Mixed‐Valence [(TTF)2]+. Dyad of a Chiral Bis(binaphthol)–tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) Derivative

Mixed‐valence dyadic [(TTF)₂]^+. (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene) species—the elementary building blocks of organic conductors—are usually too weakly associated to be observed in solution, unless covalently bound in dimers or physically constrained into a cage structure. We demonstrate here that a novel chiral tetrathiafulvalene functionalised with two 1,1′‐binaphthol units ( 1 ) is able to associate in solution into persistent mixed‐valence [(TTF)₂]^+. dyadic moieties through a stereospecific recognition pattern. This redox active molecule exhibits different electrochemical and spectroscopic responses, as enantiopure RR, SS or meso isomers, a rare example of a chiral system in which different diastereoisomers do not exhibit the same electrochemical features, with a selective formation of the mixed‐valence species in the enantiopure (RR)‐ 1 or (SS)‐ 1 isomers only, whereas the meso form does not show this association ability. A rationale for the selective self‐association of the RR and SS enantiomers upon oxidation is provided, based on the different molecular geometries and accessibility of the TTF core toward the formation of the mixed‐valence species.     

Rational design of sterically and electronically easily tunable chiral bisimidazolines and their applications in dual Lewis acid/brønsted base catalysis for highly enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reactions

A new addition to the rational design of sterically and electrically easily tunable chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands from chiral amino alcohols has been developed. Vast structural variation of chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands can be simply achieved by the choice of both the 1,2‐amino alcohol and its N‐1 R¹ substituent. A small library of chiral bisimidazolines ( 1 a – h ) has been constructed. The method has provided an easy and simplified route to a diverse set of air‐stable and water‐tolerant chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands on 10 g scales. The dual Lewis Acid/Brønsted base catalytic system generated from the (S)‐ 1 a /Cu(OTf)₂ complex and Et₃N was able to catalyze Henry reactions between aldehydes and nitromethane effectively at room temperature, and also to tolerate a wide scope of aldehydes with excellent enantiomeric excesses. Not only aromatic aldehydes but also aliphatic aldehydes afforded the nitroalcohol products, with enantiomeric excesses in the 93–98 % range. This dual catalytic system is among the most effective systems so far reported for the asymmetric parent Henry reactions. This work also represents the first members of the class of chiral bisimidazolines to have been demonstrated to achieve excellent enantioselectivities.