Asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes by chiral ferrocene-based catalysts

A series of chiral C₁- and C₂-symmetric ferrocenyl Schiff bases (1a-c), ferrocenyl aminoalcohols (2a), ferrocenylphosphinamides (2b-c), 1,1′-ferrocenyl-diol (3), and 1,1′-ferrocenyl-disulfonamide (4) were prepared and employed as base catalysts or as ligand for titanium(IV) complexes in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes. High enantioselectivity up to almost 100% ee was achieved for the alkylation of benzaldehyde and p-methoxybenzaldehyde with 1 or 3. In contrast, however, the β-aminoalcohol (2a) and phosphinamides (2b and c) that are ubiquitous classes of base catalysts for this reaction proved inefficient in our hands, regardless of the types of substrates or reaction conditions. Comparative studies show that there exist various reaction parameters governing not only chemical yields but also optical yields. These include steric and electronic environment of the substrate, the solvent, the reaction temperature, and the nature of the ferrocene moieties.     

Highly enantioselective addition of linear alkyl alkynes to linear aldehydes

It is discovered that the use of biscyclohexylamine (Cy₂NH) as an additive can greatly enhance the enantioselectivity for the reaction of linear alkyl alkynes with linear aldehydes. The combination of (S)-BINOL (20 mol %), Cy₂NH (5 mol %), ZnEt₂ (2 equiv), and Ti(OⁱPr)₄ (0.5 equiv) catalyzes the reaction at room temperature in diethyl ether solution with 81-89% ee and 57-77% yield.     

Axially chiral tridentate isoquinoline derived ligands for diethylzinc addition to aldehydes

The synthesis and resolution of new tridentate isoquinoline-derived ligands has been developed. The key steps in the synthetic sequence include successive, chemo-selective Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings of 1,3-dichloroisoquinoline with suitable arylboronic acids. The new ligands prepared in this manner were resolved either via molecular complexation with N-benzylcinchonidinium chloride as with 1-[3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)isoquinolin-1-yl]naphthalen-2-ol or via chromatographic separation of its epimeric camphorsulfonates as for 1,3-bis-(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)isoquinoline. 4-tert-Butyl-2-chloro-6-[1-(2-hydroxymethylnaphthalen-1-yl)isoquinolin-3-yl]phenol was resolved by chiral semi-preparative HPLC. The application of these ligands in the diethylzinc addition to aldehydes was investigated. In certain cases, the desired secondary alcohols were obtained in high yield with excellent enantiomeric excess (ee?>?99%) at low catalyst loading (1?mol%).     

Addition of lactate-derived chiral allyltrichlorostannanes to chiral aldehydes

Chiral lactate-derived allyltrichlorostannanes reacted with chiral α-methyl β-alkoxy and syn and anti α-methyl-β-alkoxy aldehydes to give the corresponding homoallylic alcohols with moderate to high 1,4-syn-diastereoselectivities.     

Highly stereoselective addition reactions of metallated trans-1,3-dithiane-1,3-dioxide to aldehydes

The sodium anion of trans-1,3-dithiane-1,3-dioxide reacts with unhindered aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes to give adducts with 95:5 to 97:3 diastereoselectivity.     

Enantioselective diethylzinc addition to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using (3R,5R)-dihydroxypiperidine derivatives catalyst

A series of chiral (3R,5R)-dihydroxypiperidine derivatives 3a-f were conveniently prepared from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline and applied to the catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde and heptanal. Among them, 3d was found to show the best asymmetric induction in promoting the addition of Et₂Zn to various aldehydes, providing (R)-secondary alcohols in up to 98% ee.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of vicinal diols by stannous chloride-mediated addition of hydroxyallylic stannanes to aldehydes

A new protocol for the synthesis of vicinal diols was accomplished by the reaction of unprotected α-hydroxymethylmetals, as hydroxymethyl anion equivalents, with aldehydes. The treatment of hydroxyallylic stannanes, which were prepared from α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and Bu₃SnLi in situ, with various aldehydes gave but-3-en-1,2-diols in the presence of SnCl₂. The stereochemistry of the diol and olefin moieties demonstrated syn- and E-selectivities, respectively. We propose the following reaction mechanism; transmetalation of a hydroxyallylic stannane with SnCl₂ gives a rearranged allylic tin(II) species that undergoes aldehyde addition via a cyclic transition state. The strict interaction between the unprotected hydroxy moiety and the tin(II) center accounts for the selectivity.     

Highly stereoselective addition of stannylcuprates to alkynones

The addition of stannylcuprate reagents such as (Bu3Sn)(PhS)CuLi to alkynones has been found to proceed in high yield and with excellent stereoselectivity for the Z isomer of the product (>95%). The behavior of the stannylcuprates is thus very different from that of their "carbocuprate" counterparts such as Me2CuLi or Me2Cu(CN)Li2 which are nonstereoselective. Furthermore, in contrast to the reactions of (R3Sn)(PhS)CuLi with the corresponding alkynoates, the presence of a proton source in the reaction medium has no effect on the stereoselectivity of the reaction of alkynones.     

Highly diastereoselective addition of organometallic reagents to a trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrazone derived from (R)-N-benzylphenylglycinol

Organolithium and Grignard reagents add efficiently with very high stereoselectivity (>98% de) to a trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrazone derived from (R)-N-benzylphenylglycinol. The addition proceeds on the re face of the chelated hydroxyhydrazone providing the (R)-α-trifluoromethylated amine after hydrogenolysis.     

Reagent controlled addition of chiral sulfur ylides to chiral aldehydes

The degree of reagent and substrate control in the reaction of chiral sulfur ylides with chiral aldehydes has been investigated. Specifically, the reactions of the two enantiomers of the chiral benzyl sulfonium salt 1 with glyceraldehyde acetonide were studied in detail. Of the two new stereogenic centers created, it was found that the C1 stereochemistry was largely controlled by the reagent, whereas control at the C2 center was dependent on the aldehyde used. In one case, the trans isomer was produced via reversible formation of the intermediate betaine, whereas in the alternative case, the C2 center was under Felkin Anh/Cornforth control through non-reversible formation of the betaine. Thus, the aldehyde stereocenter influenced the degree of reversibility in betaine formation, which impacted on the stereocontrol at the C2 position.     

Efficient stereoselective nucleophilic addition of pyrroles to chiral nitrones

Regioselective additions of pyrroles to a variety of optically active nitrones under smooth acidic conditions lead to chiral pyrrolic N-hydroxylamines in good to excellent yields. Depending on the position of the chirality on the nitrone partner, the addition products have been isolated with high diastereoselectivity levels. Reaction of glyoxylate based chiral nitrones either at the C-2 or at the C-3 position of the pyrrole nucleus afforded N-hydroxyamino esters in high yields as single diastereoisomers. These adducts allow access to enantio-enriched non proteinogenic 2'- and 3'-pyrrolylglycines (13 and 19 respectively).     

Enantioselective phenylacetylene addition to aldehydes induced by Cinchona alkaloids

Enantioselective addition of phenylacetylene to various aldehydes was studied in the presence of inexpensive and commercially available Cinchona alkaloids. A maximum of 85% ee was obtained using cinchonidine in the presence of Ti(OⁱPr)₄.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of C-(alkynyl)-pseudoglycals from δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

An efficient and novel methodology for the synthesis of C-(alkynyl)-pseudoglycals from δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed.     

The stereoselective thermal rearrangement of chiral lophine peroxides

The thermal reaction of chiral 2-phenyl-4-(p-X-phenyl)-5-(p-Y-phenyl)-4-tert-butyldimethylsilylperoxy-4H-isoimidazoles (5b: X = CF₃, Y = OMe; 5c: X = CF₃, Y = F) was carried out in DMSO. The chiral 2-phenyl-5-(p-X-phenyl)-5-(p-Y-phenyl)-5H-imidazol-4-ones (4b: X = CF₃, Y = OMe; 4c: X = CF₃, Y = F) were quantitatively obtained in 50-60% enantiomer excess (ee). The mechanism for the reaction was proved to be stereoselective 1,5-phenyl migration. Although the sigmatropic 1,5-phenyl migration should be thermally allowed according to the Woodward-Hoffmann rule, the migration actually includes a stepwise process.