Pd(II)-catalyzed and diethylzinc-mediated asymmetric umpolung allylation of aldehydes in the presence of chiral phosphine-Schiff base type ligands

Chiral phosphine-Schiff base type ligand L3 prepared from (R)-(?)-2-(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2′-amine was found to be a fairly effective chiral ligand for the Pd(II)-catalyzed and diethylzinc-mediated enantioselective umpolung allylation of aldehydes to give homoallylic alcohols in good yields, moderate enantioselectivities and high syn diastereoselectivities.     

Organocatalytic hydroacylation of unactivated alkenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes interact with aldehydes to generate the Breslow intermediate, a rendering of the prototypical electrophile into a nucleophile (umpolung). Recent work has indicated that these intermediates may also add to simple, unpolarized alkenes. The use of a chiral precatalyst leads to the generation of the derived adducts with high yields and very high selectivities.     

Chiral 1,1′-binaphthylazepine derived amino alcohol catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction

The catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction of nitromethane to various aldehydes has been developed using a chiral binaphthylazepine derived amino alcohol and Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O as the catalyst. High yields and good enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) were obtained for both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. Moreover, this catalytic system also works well for the diastereoselective Henry reaction to afford the corresponding adducts in up to 95:5 syn/anti selectivity and 95% enantioselectivity.     

Superior substrate control on diastereoselection in boric Lewis acid-promoted aldol reactions. Asymmetric synthesis of a 3,4-syn homologous series of ethyl 3,5-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-5-phenylpentanoates

The BF₃·OEt₂-promoted aldol reaction of chiral syn- and anti-α-methyl-β-siloxy aldehydes with a silyl ketene acetal resulted in essentially complete syn Felkin selection. Even in the asymmetric aldol reaction using chiral oxazaborolidinones, the substrate control with respect to diastereoselection was found to overcome the promoter (catalyst) control which would normally occur depending on the stereocenter of the chiral boranes.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes induced by a new chiral Ti(IV) catalyst

A new chiral titanium reagent, derived from optically active trans-1,2-dicamphorsulfonamidocyclohexane 2a and Ti(OⁱPr)₄, was found to promote the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes giving rise to the corresponding alcohols in high yields with moderate to high selectivity.     

Effect of spacers on the activity of soluble polymer supported catalysts for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

A chiral Zn(II)-salen complex tethered with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was synthesized. This soluble polymer-supported complex was found to catalyze the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to a series of aromatic aldehydes in good yields and with good enantiomeric ratio (er). The PEG-supported catalyst could be recycled and reused up to three times. The reactivity and selectivity of the catalyst was dependent on the nature of the linker between the polymer and the complex.     

Catalytic enantioselective Pudovik reaction of aldehydes and aldimines with tethered bis(8-quinolinato) (TBOx) aluminum complex

New chiral tethered bis(8-quinolinolato) (TBOx) aluminum(III) complexes effectively catalyze the addition of phosphites to aldehydes and aldimines to give enantioenriched alpha-hydroxy and alpha-amino phosphonates in high yields and enantioselectivities with unprecedented reactivity (TON =100 as high as 200). The catalyst is optimized with the low catalyst loading of 0.5 - 1.0 mol %. The modular synthesis of the catalyst allows for potential to tune the reaction for maximum catalytic activity. To date there are few examples with broad substrate scopes that can catalyze both aldehydes and aldimines with such high selectivity and no reports utilizing such low catalyst loading.     

Stereoselective aldol condensations of organotin reagents with aldehydes

The reaction of the enolstannanes of cyclohexanone or propiophenone with various aldehydes under kinetic control (-78°) gave predominately the three aldols, diastereoselectivity as high as 95:5 being achieved. At higher temperatures (+45°) predominate erythro selectivity was observed. The enolstannane of propiophenone exists as an equilibrium mixture of O-Sn (probably the E-isomer) and C-Sn derivatives. Reaction at -78° takes place rapidly with the O-Sn enolate, further reaction requiring isomerization of the C-Sn to the O-Sn enolate. The Pd catalyzed condensation of cyanomethyltributyltin with reactive aldehydes, such as nitrobenzaldehydes, took place at ambient temperatures in polar solvents to give high yields of condensation products. No reaction occurred with aldehydes such as benzaldehyde. Only low stereoselectivity (10-34% ee) was observed when (-) DIOP or (-)BPPM were utilized as chiral phosphine ligands.     

Nucleophilic acylation of α-haloketones with aldehydes: an umpolung strategy for the synthesis of 1,3-diketones

The first example of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-promoted intermolecular acylation of α-haloketones with aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of aldehydes and enals in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically on electrophilic terminal of α-haloketones to afford 1,3-diketones and α,β-unsaturated 1,3-diketones, respectively. Short reaction time, ambient temperature, operational simplicity, and high yields are the salient features of the present procedure.     

First asymmetric nucleophilic displacement reactions on chiral α-substituted aldehyde hydrazones

The first asymmetric nucleophilic substitution reaction on racemic α-substituted aldehydes using enantiomerically pure hydrazines as chiral auxiliaries is presented. The diastereoselectivity of the process is achieved by a dynamic kinetic resolution via the 1:1 epimeric mixture of the substrate hydrazones. The a²-reactivity (Umpolung) of the α-substituted hydrazones is accomplished by complexation with Lewis acids. Several carbon-, sulfur- and oxygen-nucleophiles were shown to readily undergo substitution of the α-leaving group under these conditions, affording the substitution products with good to excellent chemical yields and with low to moderate diastereoselectivities. Two methods for the cleavage of the chiral auxiliary are described.     

The direct thioesterification of aldehydes with disulfides via NHC-catalyzed carbonyl umpolung strategy

An efficient N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed direct thioesterification of aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) with diaryl disulfides is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of aldehydes and enals in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically on diaryl disulfides to afford thioesters and α,β-unsaturated thioesters, respectively. However, aliphatic aldehydes are not suitable substrates for this reaction. No by-product formation, complete atom-economy, shorter reaction time, ambient temperature, operational simplicity, and high yields are the salient features of the present procedure.     

N‐Heterocyclic‐Carbene‐Catalyzed Umpolung of Imines

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has been widely used for the umpolung of aldehydes, and recently for the umpolung of Michael acceptors. Described herein is the umpolung of aldimines catalyzed by NHCs, and the reaction likely proceeds via aza‐Breslow intermediates. The NHC‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of aldimines bearing a Michael acceptor resulted in the formation of biologically important 2‐(hetero)aryl indole 3‐acetic‐acid derivatives in moderate to good yields. The carbene generated from the bicyclic triazolium salt was found to be efficient for this transformation.     

Convenient methods for the synthesis of highly functionalized and naturally occurring chiral allenes

A convenient two step procedure to access highly functionalized chiral allenes using chiral N-methylcamphanyl piperazine derivatives is described. In this transformation, chiral propargylamines are obtained in 79–96% yields with up to 99:1 dr by the CuBr catalyzed reactions of chiral piperazine derivatives with 1-alkynes and aldehydes containing functional groups, which are converted into chiral allenes in the presence of zinc bromide, affording the chiral allenes in 59–85% yields and with up to 99% ee. The antifungal agent Sapium japonicum and an allene precursor intermediate for the synthesis of the pheromone of the male dried bean beetle 15 are obtained in 72–78% yields and with up to 98% ee following this methodology.     

Structure influence of chiral 1,1′-biscarboline-N,N′-dioxide on the enantioselective allylation of aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilanes

A series of new axially chiral 1,1′-biscarboline-N,N′-dioxide Lewis base organocatalysts were examined in the asymmetric allylation of aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilane. The chiral catalysts (R)-1a–e bearing ester groups in 3,3′ position provided good yields of the homoallyl alcohols with excellent enantioselectivities up to 99% for a broad substrate scope that covers aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Solvent effects on the conversion and enantioselectivity were elucidated, and CH₂Cl₂ proved to be the optimal solvent for the reactions. In addition, the allylation with crotyltrichlorosilane was explored and the result showed that anti-isomer was favored from (E)-crotyltrichlorosilane with complete diastereoselectivity.     

Diastereo- and enantioselective aldol reaction of granatanone (pseudopelletierine)

Granatanone (granatan-3-one, 9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one, pseudopelletierine or pseudopelletrierin) undergoes deprotonation with lithium amides giving a lithium enolate, which reacts with aldehydes diastereoselectively giving exclusively exo isomers and anti/syn selectivity up to 98:2. Granatanone can be enantioselectively lithiated by chiral lithium amides and the resulting non-racemic enolate can be reacted with aldehydes giving aldols with enantiomeric excess up to 93% (99% ee after recrystallization). The absolute and relative configuration of the aldol products was determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.Granatanone; aldol reaction; asymmetric synthesis; enantioselective deprotonation; chiral lithium amide.     

The application of a structurally simple,recyclable, and large-scale l-prolinamide catalyst for asymmetric aldol reactions

A highly efficient, bifunctional prolinamide catalyst, which consists of chiral proline and trans-cyclohexanediamine moieties, was prepared and evaluated in the direct asymmetric aldol reactions of various ketones and aldehydes. The catalyst displayed impressive catalytic activity toward heterocyclic ketones containing oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen, which have not been sufficiently explored. The substrate scope also covered cyclic and acyclic ketones. With heterocyclic ketones or cyclohexanone, the aldol reactions gave products in high yields and with respectable enantioselectivities (87–99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 anti/syn). The catalyst could be recycled and reused up to seven times resulting in good yields and with good selectivities. This catalyst is also efficient in large-scale reactions with the enantioselectivities remaining at the same level as in the experimental scale reactions.     

Organocatalytic SOMO reactions of copper(I)-acetylide and alkylindium compounds with aldehydes

The derivatisation of aldehydes in their α-position is an important facet of organic synthesis. Organocatalytic radical reactions afford α-functionalised aldehydes via a SOMO activation pathway. New organo-SOMO reactions of aldehydes with copper(I)-acetylide and alkylindium reagents are detailed. These reactions proceed well under the catalysis of chiral imidazolidinones. The corresponding functionalised aldehydes were obtained with acceptable yields, but with only low enantiomeric ratios.     

Allylation Reactions of Aldehydes with Allylboronates in Aqueous Media: Unique Reactivity and Selectivity that are Only Observed in the Presence of Water

Zn(OH)₂‐catalyzed allylation reactions of aldehydes with allylboronates in aqueous media have been developed. In contrast to conventional allylboration reactions of aldehydes in organic solvents, the α‐addition products were obtained exclusively. A catalytic cycle in which the allylzinc species was generated through a B‐to‐Zn exchange process is proposed and kinetic studies were performed. The key intermediate, an allylzinc species, was detected by HRMS (ESI) analysis and by online continuous MS (ESI) analysis. This analysis revealed that, in aqueous media, the allylzinc species competitively reacted with the aldehydes and water. An investigation of the reactivity and selectivity of the allylzinc species by using several typical allylboronates ( 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d ) clarified several important roles of water in this allylation reaction. The allylation reactions of aldehydes with allylboronic acid 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propanediol esters proceeded smoothly in the presence of catalytic amounts of Zn(OH)₂ and achiral ligand 4d in aqueous media to afford the corresponding syn‐adducts in high yields with high diastereoselectivities. In all cases, the α‐addition products were obtained and a wide substrate scope was tolerated. Furthermore, this reaction was applied to asymmetric catalysis by using chiral ligand 9 . Based on the X‐ray structure of the Zn‐ 9 complex, several nonsymmetrical chiral ligands were also found to be effective. This reaction was further applied to catalytic asymmetric alkylallylation, chloroallylation, and alkoxyallylation processes and the synthetic utility of these reactions has been demonstrated.     

Beta-isocupreidine-catalyzed Baylis-Hillman reaction of chiral N-boc-alpha-amino aldehydes

[Structure: see text] Beta-isocupreidine (beta-ICD)-catalyzed Baylis-Hillman reaction of chiral N-Boc-alpha-amino aldehydes and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate (HFIPA) takes place without racemization and exhibits the match-mismatch relationship between the substrate and the catalyst. In the case of acyclic amino aldehydes, L-substrates show excellent syn selectivity and high reactivity in contrast to D-substrates. On the other hand, in the case of cyclic amino aldehydes, D-substrates rather than L-substrates show excellent anti selectivity and high reactivity.     

Stereoselective aldol additions of achiral ethyl ketone-derived trichlorosilyl enolates

Methods for the preparation of geometrically defined enoxy(trichlorosilanes) derived from ethyl ketone enolates have been developed. The addition of enoxy(trichlorosilanes) (trichlorosilyl enolates) to aldehydes proceeds with good yields in the presence of catalytic amounts of chiral phosphoramides. The reaction of Z-trichlorosilyl enolates to aryl aldehydes affords aldol products with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Phosphoramide-catalyzed aldol additions lacked substrate generality providing modest selectivities with unsaturated and aliphatic aldehydes. In all cases, the phosphoramide-catalyzed aldol addition of E-trichlorosilyl enolates to aldehydes provided good yields with moderate to good stereoselectivities.