1,4-Asymmetric induction in the titanium-mediated aldol reactions of α-benzyloxy methyl ketones

Good levels of 1,4-anti asymmetric induction are obtained in the TiCl₃(i-PrO)-mediated aldol reaction of α-benzyloxy methyl ketones with achiral aldehydes. Such methodology represents a new approach to the substrate-controlled acetate aldol reaction, which can be useful to design more efficient synthesis.     

Highly enantioselective vinylogous addition of 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran to aldehydes promoted by the SiCl4/chiral Lewis base system

This paper reports the regio-, diastereo- and highly enantioselective vinylogous aldol reaction of 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran (TMSOF) promoted by the SiCl₄/Lewis base catalytic system. Several electron-pair donors proved to be effective as SiCl₄ activators versus the TMSOF γ-selective addition to aldehydes giving rise to different diastereoisomeric ratios, while Denmark’s chiral bis-phosphoramide (R,R)-7 gave the highest enantioselectivity for both the anti- and syn-diastereoisomers. Furthermore, by using ambident electrophiles such as α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, the SiCl₄/Lewis base-promoted process leads exclusively to the 1,2-addition products.     

Highly stereoselective titanium-mediated aldol reactions from chiral α-silyloxy ketones. A reliable tool for the synthesis of natural products

Chiral α-silyloxy ketones participate in highly stereoselective TiCl₄-mediated aldol reactions that afford diastereomerically pure syn-syn adducts in high yield irrespective of the R¹ and R² substituents flanking the carbonyl or the silicon protecting group. Further manipulation of the resulting aldol adducts provide in a straightforward manner highly functionalized fragments that facilitate the synthesis of natural products.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides: a concise asymmetric synthesis of (R)-fluoxetine

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of aromatic aldehydes and thioamides is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆/Li(OC₆H₄-p-OMe) promoted the title reaction efficiently, triggered by in situ generation of the active thioamide enolate through a soft–soft interaction of Cu(I) and the thioamide. The aldol product was transformed into (R)-fluoxetine, an antidepressant agent.     

Stereoselective titanium-mediated aldol reactions of (S)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-3-pentanone

Titanium-mediated aldol reactions based on (S)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-3-pentanone, a lactate-derived chiral ketone, provide the corresponding 2,4-syn-4,5-syn adducts in high yields and diastereomeric ratios with a wide array of achiral and chiral aldehydes. Furthermore, spectroscopic studies of intermediates involved in the process have permitted to propose a mechanism that accounts for the experimental results.     

Studies on the role of Lewis basicity of the aldehydes utilized in the enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction promoted by chiral 1,3,2-oxazaborolidin-5-ones

N-Tosyl-2-1,3,2-oxazaborolidin-5-one 1 was used to probe the role of the Lewis basicity of aldehydes utilized in Mukaiyama aldol reactions promoted by oxazaborolidin-5-ones. Eight aldehydes were each allowed to undergo a Mukaiyama aldol reaction with ketene silyl acetal derived from methyl isobutanoate. Lewis basicity of the aldehydes was determined computationally. The best results were obtained with isobutyl aldehyde and 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzaldehyde (91% and 85% ee). The best fit of ee as a function of Lewis basicity gave a correlation of R²=0.79 [when two ortho-substituted aldehydes were excluded] suggesting that Lewis basicity of O_CHO can play a role in reactions of aldehydes promoted by 1.     

The use of two optically active N-sulfinyl α-imino esters in the stereoselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction

Diastereoselective aza-Diels-Alder (aza-DA) reactions of ethyl (S)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)iminoacetate (2a) and ethyl (S)-N-(p-toluenesulfinyl)iminoacetate (2b) with different dienes including activated, non-activated, cyclic, and acyclic dienes in the presence of Lewis acids are described. Reactions with 2a were found to be more selective. Reactions of unactivated dienes (acyclic and cyclic) with stoichiometric amounts of TMSOTf as Lewis acid afforded the aza-DA adducts in modest yields and in diastereoselectivities up to 99%. A strong preference for Re-approach was observed for 2a. Cyclic dienes gave the exo adducts as major products. For the aza-DA reaction with activated Danishefsky type dienes poor diastereoselectivities were observed. In these cases, the best results were obtained using stoichiometric amounts of BF₃·Et₂O as Lewis acid (up to 69% de, 76% yield). The absolute configurations of six of the addition products were established by chemical correlation with known compounds. Acidic cleavage of the sulfinyl group occurred without racemization to optically active non-proteinogenic α-amino acid ethyl esters.     

Effective synthetic routes to activated pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indoles

Pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indoles have been formed by the aldol cyclisation of 7-formyl-N-indolylacetates. The synthetic sequence incorporates three steps from suitably activated indoles: these are alkylation at nitrogen with a bromoacetic ester, formylation at C7 and an aldol condensation between these two substituents. An X-ray crystal structure of pyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indole 24 is described.     

A ceric ammonium nitrate based oxidative cleavage pathway for the asymmetric aldol adducts of oxadiazinones derived from (1R,2S)-N-p-methoxybenzylnorephedrine

An N₄-p-methoxybenzyloxadiazinone has been prepared from (1R,2S)-norephedrine through a process of reductive amination, N-nitrosation, reduction, and cyclization. The oxadiazinone was acylated and employed in the asymmetric aldol addition reaction with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to yield aldol adducts in isolated yields ranging from 54% to 90%. Selected aldol adducts were treated with ceric ammonium nitrate in aqueous acetonitrile to afford the desired β-hydroxycarboxylic acids through a tandem process of oxidative cleavage of the N₄-p-methoxybenzyl group and acidic hydrolysis of the N₃-acyl side chain. The β-hydroxycarboxylic acids were recovered in high diastereomeric purity as determined by 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the absolute configuration was confirmed by polarimetry. The chiral auxiliary unit, the 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone), was converted into its corresponding 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone) through an oxidative pathway promoted by the ceric ammonium nitrate.     

Titanium mediated asymmetric aldol reaction with α-fluoropropionimide enolates

Aldol reaction utilising Evans N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-oxazolidinones with TiCl₄ have been explored. Reactions of N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-oxazolidinones with aliphatic aldehydes generated α-fluoro-β-hydroxy-aldol products with high diastereoselectivities. When (αR)- and (αS)-N-(α-fluoropropyl)-2-(4S)-oxazolidinones were explored as substrates they gave rise to identical aldol diastereoisomer products. Examination of the enolates formed in each case by ¹⁹F NMR, after treatment with TiCl₄, indicated that both preparations gave the same predominant enolate. This was assumed to be the E-enolate. The α-fluoro-β-hydroxy-aldol products were removed from the auxiliary either by alcoholysis or reduction and converted to the corresponding α,β-difluoro products by treatment with Deoxofluor™.     

Preparation of optically pure cross-conjugated cyclopentadienones

The synthesis of optically pure cross-conjugated cyclopentadienones is readily achieved in two steps via a one-pot alkylcuprate addition/aldol condensation/dehydration sequence using racemic or enantioenriched endo-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methano-inden-1-ones followed by microwave-mediated Lewis acid-catalysed retro Diels-Alder reaction. An alternative route involving a modified Baylis-Hillman protocol followed by conjugate addition with alkylcuprates and a retro Diels-Alder reaction was also investigated.     

Conformational preferences of the aldol adducts of oxadiazinones. H NMR spectroscopy and computational studies of N4-methyl and N4-isopropyloxadiazinones

The conformational properties of the aldol adducts of some N₄-isopropyl-oxadiazinones have been investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and computational studies. An earlier study of the syn-aldol adducts of N₄-methyl-oxadiazinone 2 led to the conclusion that the solution and solid state conformation of these compounds involve syn-parallel arrangement of the C₂- and N₃-carbonyls of the oxadiazinones. However, the synthesis and asymmetric aldol reactions of an N₃-hydrocinnamoyl-N₄-isopropyl-oxadiazinone 4 has yielded aldol adducts 5a-e in which the orientation of the C₂- and N₃-carbonyls are most likely in the anti-parallel arrangement. These aldol adducts have been studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the shielding aspect observed clearly suggests the presence of the anti-parallel arrangement. The installment of a N₄-d₆-isopropyl group further confirmed this assertion. Computational studies support the conclusion that solution state conformation of the N₄-methyl and N₄-isopropyl-oxadiazinones involves anti-parallel carbonyls in contrast to the solid state evidence of the X-ray crystallographic data of oxadiazinone 2.     

TiF4-mediated biomimetic alkylation-cyclization cascade reaction of 2-trimethylsilylmethyl-1,5-dienes with aldehydes

TiF₄ has proven to be the Lewis acid of choice for promoting the biomimetic addition of 2-trimethylsilylmethyl-1,5-dienes to aliphatic aldehydes with concomitant cyclization. 1,3-cis-Disubstituted methylenecyclohexanes are thus produced in good yields and high diastereoselectivity. The reaction appears to proceed via a highly concerted mechanism involving a chair-like transition state.     

Platinum(II) complex-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature

[{(R)-binap}Pt(μ-OH)]₂2X is a weak Lewis acid, which can catalyze the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature. The platinum(II) complex-catalyzed the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-methoxy-2-methyl-(1-trimethylsilyloxy)propene gave the corresponding aldols in high yields with enantioselectivity up to 92%. With 5 mol % loading of the complexes, the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-benzyloxy-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)propene smoothly proceeded in DMF containing 10% HMPA as to predominantly give anti-propionates with enantioselectivity up to 89%, irrespective of the silyl nucleophile geometry.     

Synthetic utility of bowl-shaped tris(2,6-diphenyl-benzyl)silyl glyoxylate as a stable glyoxylate: application to highly diastereoselective aldol reactions

A stable glyoxylate can be successfully applied to both syn- and anti-selective aldol reactions by using two different kinds of ordinary Lewis acids. Thus, treatment of bowl-shaped tris(2,6-diphenylbenzyl)silyl glyoxylate 1 with enol silyl ether under the influence of BF₃·OEt₂ gave syn-aldol product, while the use of TiCl₄ afforded anti-aldol product with >97% selectivity.     

Hydroxy-α-amino acids modified by ionic liquid moieties: recoverable organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions in the presence of water

New chiral ionic liquids bearing proline, serine or threonine moieties were synthesized. Compounds that contain 1-dodecylimidazolium or 4-(5-n-nonyl)-pyridinium cations and NTf₂ or PF₆ anions efficiently catalyze the asymmetric aldol reaction between aldehydes and ketones in the presence of water to generate aldols with high distereo- (up to 98:2) and enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee). 4-Hydroxyproline modified by the 4-(5-n-nonyl)-pyridinium hexafluorophosphate moiety retains its activity and selectivity over at least eight reaction cycles.     

C-O and C-C bond formation in the cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes catalysed by tin(IV) triflimidate at room temperature

We described herein a Sn(NTf₂)₄-catalysed cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes and derivatives where cyclohexane or tetrahydrofuran rings are formed following either a 6-enexo-endo-trig process or a 5-exo-trig process, respectively, depending on substitution patterns. The latter process features an unusual dealkylative ether cyclisation, triggered by the strong Lewis acid character of the tin(IV) triflimidate catalyst.     

Enantioselective aldol condensation of 1,3-bis-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1-methoxy-buta-1,3-diene promoted by chiral Ti(IV)/BINOL complex

Enantiomerically enriched δ-hydroxy-β-ketoesters are easily available by aldol condensation of 1,3-bis-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1-methoxy-buta-1,3-diene in the presence of Ti(O-iPr)₄/(S)-(−)-BINOL system. All reaction mixtures were separated by column chromatography and mostly isolated in moderate to good yields and all in high enantiomeric excesses.     

A chiral iron(II)-pybox catalyst stable in aqueous media. Asymmetric Mukaiyama-aldol reaction

Among various transition metals, iron is nontoxic, cheap and hence of great potential synthetic use. We report herein a water stable chiral Lewis acid containing an iron(II) ion and a pybox-type ligand. The resulting cationic aqua complex of C₂-symmetry is an effective Lewis acid catalyst for asymmetric Mukaiyama-aldol reactions in aqueous media. The aldol products have been obtained in good yields, syn-diastereoselectivities and ca. 70% levels of enantioselectivity.     

Highly diastereoselective aldol additions to five-ring N,O-acetals

Highly diastereoselective aldol additions of pure (2R,4S)-2-tert-butyloxazolidinone-3,4-dicarboxylic acid 3-tert-butyl ester 4-methyl ester 1 are reported. While achiral carbonyl compounds lead to mixtures of diastereomers, the double stereodifferentiation of chiral aldehydes gave a single product isomer. The relative and absolute configurations of the aldol products were assigned by NOESY.