Synthesis of a new class of chiral 1,5-diphosphanylferrocene ligands and their use in enantioselective hydrogenation

A new family of ferrocenylphosphane ligands has been prepared. Their flexible synthesis allows many structural modifications. The asymmetric induction of these ligands was examined in the hydrogenation of functionalized C=C, C=O, and C=N bonds. The enantioselectivity of the reaction was strongly dependent on the substituent R at the position alpha to the ferrocene moiety. In many cases, both enantiomeric beta-hydroxyesters of the reduction product can be obtained by simply replacing a dimethylamino group in the ligand with a methyl group.     

A very simple, highly stereoselective and modular synthesis of ferrocene-based P-chiral phosphine ligands

A very simple, highly stereoselective and modular synthesis of ferrocene-based P-chiral phosphine ligands has been developed. On the basis of this new methodology, several new families of ferrocene-based phosphine ligands have been prepared coupling chirality at phosphorus with other, more standard stereogenic features. The introduction of P-chirality into ferrocene-based phosphine ligands enhances the enantioselective discrimination produced by the corresponding Rh catalyst when a matching among the planar chirality, carbon chirality, and the chirality of phosphorus is achieved.     

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.     

An efficient synthesis of chiral homophenylalanine derivatives via enantioselective hydrogenation

Chiral homophenylalanine derivatives were synthesized via enantioselective hydrogenation of 5a and 5b catalyzed by rhodium complexes bearing chiral phosphine and phosphinite legands. Enantiomeric excesses up to 96.2% were achieved when S-spiroOP(S-1) was used as a chiral ligand under 500 psi of H₂ pressure in acetone.     

An air-stable P-chiral phosphine ligand for highly enantioselective transition-metal-catalyzed reactions

A new P-chiral phosphine ligand, (R,R)-2,3-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, has been prepared by the reaction of enantiomerically pure tert-butylmethylphosphine-borane with 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline. This ligand, in contrast to most of the previously reported P-chiral ligands, is an air-stable solid and exhibits excellent enantioselectivities in both Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations and Rh- or Pd-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.     

Carbohydrate-based pseudo-dipeptides: new ligands for the highly enantioselective Ru-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation reaction

Ruthenium-complexes of novel carbohydrate based pseudo-dipeptide ligands effectively and selectively catalyze the reduction of a broad range of aryl-alkyl ketones under ATH conditions. Excellent enantioselectivities (>99% ee) are obtained using aminosugars as the sole source of chirality.     

Novel phosphine-phosphite and phosphine-phosphinite ligands for highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation

Two novel phosphine-phosphite (S,R)-o-BINAPHOS and phosphine-phosphinite (S)-o-BIPNITE ligands based on ortho phenyl substituted (S)-BINOL have been synthesized. Extremely high enantioselectivity (over 99% ee in most cases) has been achieved for the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino acid derivatives.     

Thioether-phosphite: new ligands for the highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins

We have described the first successful application of non-N-donor heterodonor ligands--thioether-phosphite ligands--in the Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins. Excellent enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99%) have been obtained for a range of substrates, including challenging terminal disubstituted substrates, under standard conditions.     

New unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands derived from H8-BINOL for highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

A series of new H₈-BINOL-derived unsymmetrical hybrid ferrocenylphosphine-phosphoramidite ligands have been synthesized and successfully used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations. The same or higher enantioselectivities (99.9% ee) were achieved in the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and α-dehydroamino acid esters as those obtained with BINOL-derived analogues. However, slightly lower enantioselectivities (99.0% ee) were obtained in the hydrogenation of enamides.     

Chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands in the highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

We have investigated a series of enantiopure phosphine-phosphite ligands (P(1)-P(2) = ligands 1-4) in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation reaction. Intermediate [Rh(P(1)-P(2))(cod)]BF(4) and [Rh(P(1)-P(2))(5)]BF(4) complexes (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; 5 = methyl acetamidoacrylate ester) were observed by (31)P[(1)H] NMR. The [Rh(P(1)-P(2))(cod)]BF(4) complexes were precursors to active catalysts of the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of several prochiral dehydroamino acid derivatives under mild reaction conditions (1 bar of hydrogen and 20 degrees C). The enantiomeric excess reached up to 99%.     

Air-stable catalysts for highly efficient and enantioselective hydrogenation of aromatic ketones

A series of chiral trans-[RuCl(2)(dipyridylphosphine)(1,2-diamine)] complexes have been synthesized and characterized by NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. These Ru complexes combined with (CH(3))(3)COK in 2-propanol formed a very effective catalyst system for the hydrogenation of a diverse range of simple aromatic ketones with high activity (substrate-to-catalyst ratio up to 100 000) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99.9%). The catalyst system was also found to be stable in solution even under a normal atmosphere.     

Highly efficient formation of halodiazoacetates and their use in stereoselective synthesis of halocyclopropanes

Halogenated analogues of ethyl diazoacetate are synthesised by a novel and highly efficient procedure and give halocyclopropanes in good to excellent yields when exposed to a Rh(ii) catalyst in the presence of alkenes.     

Chiral (iminophosphoranyl)ferrocenes: highly efficient ligands for rhodium- and iridium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins

A series of chiral (iminophosphoranyl)ferrocenes (1-3) are highly efficient ligands for Rh- and Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of a number of unfunctionalized olefins; almost perfect enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee) have been achieved under mild reaction conditions.     

Development of 4,4'-substituted-XylBINAP ligands for highly enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones

[reaction: see text] A family of 4,4'-substituted-xylBINAPs was synthesized in multistep sequences and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Ru(diphosphine)(diamine)Cl(2) complexes based on these 4,4'-substituted-xylBINAPs and chiral diamines (DPEN and DAIPEN) were synthesized by treatment of [(benzene)RuCl(2)](2) with 4,4'-substituted-xylBINAP followed by chiral diamine, and characterized by (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These Ru complexes were used for asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in a highly enantioselective manner with complete conversion. With 0.1% catalyst loading, complete conversion and enantioselectivity greater than 99% were obtained for most of the aromatic ketones examined. These Ru catalysts thus gave the highest ee for asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic ketones among all of the catalysts reported in the literature. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Ru[(R)-L(4)()][(R,R)-DPEN]Cl(2) indicated that the 4-methyl group of the naphthyl ring and the methyl groups of the two xylyl moieties form a fence on the opposite side of the DPEN ligand of the Ru center. These three methyl groups will have significant repulsive interactions with the bulky aryl ring of the hydrogen-bonded aromatic ketone in the disfavored transition state. These results support our hypothesis of combining dual modes of enantiocontrol (i.e., the substituents on 4,4'-positions of the binaphthyl framework and the methyl groups on the bis(xylyl)phosphino moieties) to achieve higher stereoselectivity in the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones.     

Unsymmetrical ferrocenylethylamine-derived monophosphoramidites: highly efficient chiral ligands for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid derivatives

[reaction: see text] A new family of unsymmetrical ferrocenylethylamine-derived monophosphoramidites were synthesized and successfully applied in the Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of a range of enamides and alpha-dehydroamino acid esters, and ee values of up to 99.5% were obtained for both types of substrate. These results suggest that unsymmetrical amine-derived monophosphoramidites can also exhibit excellent enantioselectivity for a broad range of substrates, comparable to or higher than those of the most efficient symmetrical amine-derived monophosphoramidites reported thus far.     

New monoterpene-derived phosphinopyridine ligands and their application in the enantioselective iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation

Pyridine derivatives with a phosphine or phosphinite pendant (1-11) have been synthesized from (+)-α-pinene, (−)-isopinocampheol, and/or (+)-camphor via Kröhnke annulation or another annulation method as the key step for the construction of the pyridine nucleus. The iridium complex of 6 proved to catalyze hydrogenation of the prochiral unfunctionalized alkene 44 with 94% ee, whereas the complex of 2 was most efficient in the hydrogenation of the cinnamyl-type ester 45 (83% ee).     

Readily available, recoverable and soluble polymer-monophosphite ligands for highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation

A new family of readily available, recoverable and soluble polymer-monophosphite ligands were prepared and successfully used in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides and beta-dehydroamino acid esters, in which up to 99 and 99.9% ee were obtained, respectively.     

A highly stereoselective and efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure sitagliptin

A highly stereoselective and efficient synthesis of sitagliptin 1 consisting of a chiral β-amino acid unit has been achieved through 6 steps from commercially available 2,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde 4. The chiral antidiabetic drug was obtained with almost perfect enantiomeric purity (>99.9% ee) in 40.9% overall yield. The key feature of the synthesis is the addition of a malonate enolate to a chiral sulfinylimine in more than 99:1 dr. Our synthetic procedure proved to be highly efficient, economical, and sustainable.     

Synthesis of a new class of conformationally rigid phosphino-oxazolines: highly enantioselective ligands for Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] A new class of conformationally rigid phosphino-oxazoline ligands were synthesized from readily available enantiopure phenyl glycinol. Ir complexes with these ligands are air-stable and highly enantioselective catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of aryl alkenes and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in up to 99% ee.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of (+)-deoxoprosophylline

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of (+)-deoxoprosophylline from readily available p-anisaldehyde is described. Key steps in the synthesis include the stereoselective amination of anti-1,2-dibenzyl ether using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, intermolecular olefination, and Pd-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization.