Synthesis and catalytic applications of new chiral ferrocenyl P,O ligands

A new method to synthesize both enantiomers of 2-diphenylphosphino-ferrocenecarboxaldehyde with the phosphine group protected as a thiophosphine group was developed. These aldehydes react with 1,2 or 1,3 diols to give, in good yields, new chiral phosphine-acetals. For unsymmetrical (R)-1,3-butanediol, the new asymmetrical acetalic carbon is asymmetric and its configuration was completely controlled by the chirality of the diol. These new P,O ligands were tested in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enylacetate. Good yields and enantioselectivities up to 77% were observed. The catalytic performances of two diastereoisomeric ligands with opposite configurations in planar chirality only proved to be significantly different, showing a strong influence of both planar and central chiralities.     

Pyrazolin-4-ylidenes: a new class of intriguing ligands

The immense success of N-heterocyclic carbenes in recent years has initiated the search for even stronger ligands leading to the discovery of abnormal and remote NHCs. This article reflects our particular interest in the coordination chemistry of pyrazolin-4-ylidenes as a contribution to this field. A modular approach to 4-iodopyrazolium salts with different substitution patterns is described, which upon oxidative addition to Pd(0) gave rise to a library of new Pd(ii) pyrazolin-4-ylidene complexes. A preliminary study showed that selected complexes are active precatalysts in Suzuki-Miyaura and Mizoroki-Heck coupling reactions. The 3,5-substituents of pyrazolin-4-ylidenes are found to have significant effects on complexation and catalytic activities. Finally, the nature of this new class of ligands is discussed, and a future direction for further explorations in this exciting field is envisioned.     

Oxazole-based peptide macrocycles: a new class of G-quadruplex binding ligands

Herein we report on the synthesis and DNA binding properties of a new class of water soluble oxazole-based peptide macrocycles that bind selectively to quadruplex DNA, with no detectable binding to duplex DNA. We have recently identified one quadruplex in the proto-oncogene c-kit that is suspected to act as a regulatory element for the expression of the c-kit gene. Here we provide the first example of a ligand binding to and stabilizing the c-kit quadruplex. Moreover, we show that these macrocycles show a preference for the c-kit quadruplex as compared to the human telomeric quadruplex.     

New ferrocenyl P,O ligands with polar substituents

A new ferrocenyl P,O ligand has been synthesized and successfully used in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of phenylboronic acid with bromobenzene. Some analogues carrying charged (imidazolium) or neutral (monomethylether PEG 750, tetraethylbisphosphonate) polar substituents have been prepared by functionalization of a common synthetic intermediate easily obtained using bromoalcohol p-HOCH₂(C₆H₄)CH₂Br as bifunctional linker.     

Chiral phosphite-oxazolines: a new class of ligands for asymmetric Heck reactions

[chemical reaction: see text]. A series of phosphite-oxazoline ligands, derived from readily available D-glucosamine, have been used for the first time in the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction of several substrates with high regio- and enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99%) and improved activities in standard conditions.     

Enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of indoles by a new class of chiral ferrocenyl P/S ligands

Chiral ferrocenyl heterobidentate P/S ligands bearing both central and planar chirality were prepared from (S)-Ugi's amine via a three-step modular synthesis. Through systematic screening and optimization, L8 was found to be the best ligand for Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of indoles with ee's up to 96% being attained.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a new class of CyPHOX ligands

Four newly designed CyPHOX ligands with chiral cyclohexane scaffold replacing the previous planar aryl group of PHOX ligands, were efficiently prepared. The synthesis features a kinetically controlled asymmetric phos-Michael reactions of trisubstituted cyclic carboxylates, which is quite simple, reliable and scalable.     

Sulfoxide-alkene hybrids: a new class of chiral ligands for the Hayashi-Miyaura reaction

Sulfoxide-alkene hybrids are introduced as a new class of chiral heterodentate ligands for the Hayashi-Miyaura reaction. The synthesis of these ligands was achieved without the use of protecting groups. A chiral resolution was performed via simple column-chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric ligands. Both diastereomers proved to be excellent ligands in Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition reactions, furnishing chiral products with high enantioselectivities and, remarkably, opposite stereoconfigurations.     

Catechol-based phosphoramidites: a new class of chiral ligands for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations

[reaction: see text] The synthesis and application of a new class of catechol-based phosphoramidites is described. Ees up to 99% were obtained in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acids and enamides.     

P-Chirogenic diaminophosphine oxide: a new class of chiral phosphorus ligands for asymmetric catalysis

We successfully synthesized a novel P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxide 4, which was applied to catalytic enantioselective construction of quaternary carbon centers using Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution with various beta-keto esters (up to 99% yield, 94% ee). Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that two molecules of 8 coordinate to the Pd metal in a monodentate fashion, resulting in the formation of Pd complex 9 (Pd:8 = 1:2), which functions as the active species.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with PhthalaPhos, a new class of chiral supramolecular ligands

A library of 19 binol-derived chiral monophosphites that contain a phthalic acid diamide group (PhthalaPhos) has been designed and synthesized in four steps. These new ligands were screened in the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral dehydroamino esters and enamides. Several members of the library showed excellent enantioselectivity with methyl 2-acetamido acrylate (6 ligands gave >97% ee), methyl (Z)-2-acetamido cinnamate (6 ligands gave >94% ee), and N-(1-phenylvinyl)acetamide (9 ligands gave >95% ee), whilst only a few representatives afforded high enantioselectivities for challenging and industrially relevant substrates N-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)-acetamide (96% ee in one case) and methyl (E)-2-(acetamidomethyl)-3-phenylacrylate (99% ee in one case). In most cases, the new ligands were more active and more stereoselective than their structurally related monodentate phosphites (which are devoid of functional groups that are capable of hydrogen-bonding interactions). Control experiments and kinetic studies were carried out that allowed us to demonstrate that hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the diamide group of the PhthalaPhos ligands strongly contribute to their outstanding catalytic properties. Computational studies carried out on a rhodium precatalyst and on a conceivable intermediate in the hydrogenation catalytic cycle shed some light on the role played by hydrogen bonding, which is likely to act in a substrate-orientation effect.     

Synthesis and application of planar-chiral phosphaferrocene-oxazolines, a new class of P,N-ligands

The synthesis of several phosphaferrocene-oxazolines, members of a new family of planar-chiral ligands, is described. These bidentate P, N-ligands are applied to enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations, for which it is shown that the planar-chirality of the phosphaferrocene, not the chirality of the oxazoline, determines the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

A triazine core for a new class of Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation ligands

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation ligands were synthesized using a triazine spacer group in two, high yielding steps from cheap, readily available starting materials. The ligands, gave good enantioselectivities in the asymmetric dihydroxylation of alkenes and may provide a very economic alternative to current systems.     

Unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocene-based phosphine-phosphoramidites: a new class of practical ligands for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] The synthesis and application of a new family of air-stable, highly unsymmetrical ferrocene-based phosphine-phosphoramidites is described. The new ligands exhibit excellent enantioselectivities (over 99% ee) in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides, dimethyl itaconate, and methyl (Z)-acetamidocinnamate even with high catalyst turnovers (S/C=10,000). The binaphthyl moiety is crucial for reactivity and enantioselectivity, and its absolute configuration plays a dominant role in determining the chirality of the hydrogenation products.     

Tetramethylpyridiniumporphyrazines--a new class of G-quadruplex inducing and stabilising ligands

3,4-Tetramethylpyridiniumporphyrazines bind strongly and selectively to human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA, inducing the formation of an antiparallel quadruplex in a process that mimics molecular chaperones.     

Derivatives of phosphorous acid as a new class of ligands for Pd-catalyzed allylation

Amido- and aminophosphites and hydrospirophosphoranes can be used as ligands in the Pd-catalyzed allylation of ethyl malonate with ethyl (3-phenylprop-2-enyl) carbonate. Bidentate ligands (RO)₂P--O(CH₂)_n--NR"₂ (n = 2 and 3) were found to be the most effective ligands.