Highly enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric anilide derivatives through catalytic asymmetric N-arylation: conformational analysis and application to asymmetric enolate chemistry

In the presence of (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)(2) catalyst, N-arylation (aromatic amination) of various o-tert-butylanilides with p-iodonitrobenzene proceeds with high enantioselectivity (88-96% ee) to give atropisomeric N-(p-nitrophenyl)anilides having an N-C chiral axis in good yields. Atropisomeric anilide products highly prefer to exist as the E-rotamer which has trans-disposed o-tert-butylphenyl group and carbonyl oxygen. The application of the present catalytic enantioselective N-arylation to an intramolecular version gives atropisomeric lactam derivatives with high optical purity (92-98% ee). The reaction of the lithium enolate prepared from the atropisomeric anilide and lactam products with various alkyl halides gives alpha-alkylated products with high diastereoselectivity (diastereomer ratio = 13:1 to 46:1).     

A concise synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched 2-alkylparaconic acid esters via ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of acylsuccinates

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of acylsuccinates using RuCl₃ as a precatalyst and atropisomeric diphosphines as chiral auxiliaries allows the synthesis of optically active 2-alkylparaconic acid esters in preparative yields with enantioselectivities up to 99.5% ee.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of key intermediates for NET inhibitors using atropisomeric lactam chemistry

An atropisomeric lactam which was prepared with high enantioselectivity by catalytic asymmetric intramolecular N-arylation, was efficiently converted to synthetic intermediates for NET inhibitors through highly diastereoselective α-alkylation followed by hydration and trans-tert-butylation.     

Carbohydrates as chiral auxiliaries in enantioselective synthesis of four stereoisomers of optically active α,γ-substituted γ-butyrolactones

Using several easily accessed and inexpensive chiral auxiliaries derived from carbohydrates, all four stereoisomers of the optically active α,γ-substituted γ-butyrolactones were obtained respectively in high enantiomeric purities (up to 96% ee for trans and up to >99% ee for cis) by the SmI₂-induced reductive coupling reaction in the presence of a proton source.     

A practical synthesis of optically active arylglycines via catalytic asymmetric Strecker reaction

A practical procedure for catalytic asymmetric synthesis of optically active arylglycine derivatives via optically active α-aminonitriles has been developed. The N-benzhydryl α-arylaminonitrile intermediates were prepared in excellent yield (89–99%) and enantiomeric purity (96 to >98% ee) by enantioselective cyanation of aldimines with TMSCN/ⁱPrOH in the presence of 2.5 mol % of an easily prepared Ti/chiral amino alcohol complex at 0 °C, without requiring slow addition of the cyanating agent. The easily racemized α-aminonitrile intermediates were efficiently hydrolyzed by an aqueous HCl/TFA mixture to give the arylglycine derivatives in good yield (60–92%) and moderate to excellent enantiomeric purity (85–98% ee).     

Efficient synthesis of optically active atropisomeric anilides through catalytic asymmetric N-arylation reaction

In the presence of (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)2 catalyst, N-arylation of ortho-tert-butyl-NH-anilides with 4-nitroiodobenzene proceeds with high enantioselectivity (89-95% ee) to give optically active atropisomeric anilides possessing N-C chiral axis. Furthermore, the intramolecular version of the present catalytic asymmetric N-arylation gave atropisomeric lactams with high optical purity (94-96% ee).     

Iridium-catalyzed cascade decarbonylation/highly enantioselective Pauson–Khand-type cyclization reactions

An easily accessible chiral iridium-BINAP complex can effect the cooperative processes of decarbonylation of an aldehyde and cascaded enantioselective Pauson–Khand-type reaction. A survey of ligands revealed that atropisomeric aryl-diphosphine ligands were superior to chiral alkyl-diphosphines in this dual catalysis. Applying the reaction conditions of [IrCl(COD)]₂/(S)-BINAP complex with nonylaldehyde as a CO surrogate at 100 °C in anhydrous dioxane solvent, various 1,6-enynes were transformed to the corresponding optically active bicyclic cyclopentenones with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic α-sulfonylaldehydes via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Hydrogen transfer reduction of α-sulfonylaldehydes using HCOOH-Et₃N system as hydrogen source and (S,S)-TsDPEN-based Ru(II) as catalyst proceeds with dynamic kinetic resolution, providing optically active β-sulfonyl primary alcohols in moderate-to-good yields and up to 90% ee.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino alcohols and α-amino acids via a copper catalyzed addition of diorganozinc reagents to N-phosphinoylimines

Enantioenriched β-amino alcohols were prepared via an asymmetric addition of diethylzinc, catalyzed by the BozPHOS·Cu(I) complex, on in situ formed N-phosphinoylimines. The nature of the hydroxyl protecting groups was found to affect the enantioselectivities. Subsequent deprotection and oxidation of N-phosphinoyl β-amino alcohols afforded optically active α-amino acids (97% ee).     

Catalytic and asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroacrylates. Application to the synthesis of tryptophan analogues

An asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with nitroacrylates catalyzed by chiral (4R,5S)-DiPh-BOX (L1)-Cu(OTf)₂ complex (10 mol %) has been developed. The reactions provide tryptophan nitro-precursors in moderate diastereoselectivities (anti/syn up to 72:28) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The alkylation products could be easily reduced to optically active tryptophan analogues with Zn/H⁺.     

A practical synthesis of optically active aromatic epoxides via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-chlorinated ketones with chiral rhodium-diamine catalyst

A practical method for the synthesis of optically active aromatic epoxides has been developed via the formation of optically active α-chlorinated alcohols and intramolecular etherification. Optically active alcohols with up to 99% ee can be obtained from the asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 1000-5000 using a formic acid/triethylamine mixture containing a well-defined chiral Rh complex, Cp*RhCl[(R,R)-Tsdpen]. The asymmetric reduction of α-chlorinated aromatic ketones with a chiral Rh catalyst is characterized by a rapid and carbonyl group-selective transformation because of the coordinatively saturated nature of diamine-based Cp*Rh(III) hydride complexes. The outcome of the reduction is significantly influenced by the structures of the ketonic substrates as well as the hydrogen source such as formic acid or 2-propanol. Commercially available reagents and solvents can be used in this reaction without special purification. This epoxide synthetic process in either a one- or two-pot procedure is practical and particularly useful for the large-scale production of optically active styrene oxides from α-chlorinated ketones.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of β-triazolyl amino alcohols by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-triazolyl amino alkanones

The synthesis of optically active β-triazolyl amino alcohols was carried out via ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-triazolyl amino alkanones. This reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with up to 99% yield and 99.9% enantiomeric excess (ee). This protocol was applied to the synthesis of an enantiopure antitubercular agent and its arylated product with retention in enantiomeric purity. The absolute configuration at the stereogenic center of the chiral product as found to be (S).     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to β-arylenals for enantioselective syntheses of 3,3-diarylalkanals: a short synthesis of (+)-(R)-CDP 840

1,4-Addition of arylboronic acid to trans-β-arylenals proceeded smoothly in acetone-water (10/1) at 10-25 °C in the presence of [Pd(S,S-chiraphos)(PhCN)₂](SbF₆)₂ (0.5 mol %), AgX (X = BF₄, SbF₆, 10 mol %) and aqueous 42% HBF₄ to afford optically active 3,3-diarylalkanals with high enantioselectivities in a range of 86-97% ee. The protocol provided a method for short-step synthesis of optically active (+)-(R)-CDP 840.     

Synthesis and application in enantioselective hydrogenation of new free and chromium complexed aminophosphine–phosphinite ligands

A straightforward synthesis of new free and Cr(CO)₃ complexed AMPP ligands (4–7) is described starting from (S)-indoline-2-carboxylic acid. The ligands were applied successfully in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-functionalized ketones i.e. a ketolactone 8, a ketoamide 9 and an aminoketone 10 leading to the corresponding optically active alcohols in 99, 97, and 99% ee respectively.     

Asymmetric reduction of ketones by employing Rhodotorula sp. AS2.2241 and synthesis of the β-blocker (R)-nifenalol

A broad range of prochiral ketones were efficiently reduced to the corresponding optically active secondary alcohols using resting cells of Rhodotorula sp. AS2.2241. The microbial reduction system exhibited high activity and enantioselectivity in the reduction of various aromatic ketones and acetylpyridines (>97% ee), but moderate to high enantioselectivity in the reduction of α- and β-keto esters. (R)-Nifenalol, a β-adrenergic blocker, was also synthesized using 2-bromo-1(R)-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol (97% ee) which was prepared through the asymmetric reduction of 2-bromo-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanone employing Rhodotorula sp. AS2.2241. The simple preparation and the high activity of the biocatalyst turned this system into a versatile tool for organic synthesis.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins from (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline

Reaction of the laterally lithiated (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline with p-tolualdehyde gave an inseparable mixture of the addition products in low diastereoselectivity. However, the (S,S)-product cyclized to the corresponding 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin faster than the (S,R)-product on silica gel, which allowed to be produced both enantiomers of 8-methoxy-3-(p-tolyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin in moderate to good optical purity [S-enantiomer: 75% ee; R-enantiomer: 96% ee]. This procedure was applied to the short-step synthesis of optically active 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin natural products such as (R)-8-hydroxy-3-(1-tridecyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and (R)-phyllodulcin.     

Alkyl 2-(2-benzothiazolylsulfinyl)acetates as useful synthetic reagents for alkyl 4-hydroxyalk-2-enoates by sulfinyl-Knoevenagel reaction

Isopropyl, ethyl, and methyl 2-(2-benzothiazolylsulfinyl)acetates have been found to be useful synthetic reagents for sulfinyl-Knoevenagel reaction with various aldehydes to give directly the corresponding 4-hydroxyalk-2-enoates [R′CH(OH)CHCHCO₂R], which are ubiquitous structures in biologically active natural products and useful building blocks for organic synthesis of chiral compounds. From the optically pure (R)-2-(2-benzothiazolylsulfinyl)acetates (>99% ee) prepared by the enzymatic kinetic resolution of (±)-2-(2-benzothiazolylsulfinyl)acetates, optically active 4-hydroxyalk-2-enoates (up to 91% ee) have been obtained in good yields.     

A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (Me-BIPAM) for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate

High performance of Me-BIPAM for enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate was demonstrated. [Rh(Me-BIPAM)(diene)]X (diene = cod, nbd; X = BF₄, PF₆, SbF₆) gave optically active β-aryl α-amino esters up to 99% ee, 1-arylethylamines up to 97% ee, methyl 2-acetylaminobutanoate with 90% ee, and dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 97% ee under 0.3−0.8 MPa dihydrogen with 0.1−1 mol % catalyst loading.     

Asymmetric cyclization-carbonylation of 2-alkyl-2-propargylcyclohexane-1,3-diones: facile access to optically active hydrindanes

Oxidative cyclization-carbonylation of 2-alkyl-2-propargylcyclohexane-1,3-diones mediated by Pd(TFA)₂/2,2′-isopropylidenebis[(4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline] 28 afforded bicyclic-β-alkoxyacrylates in 51-74% yields with 72-82% ee. The products containing quaternary carbon were converted to optically active hydrindanes 33.     

A novel synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of α-quaternary α-amino acid methyl esters from ketones via sulfinyloxiranes

Sulfinyloxiranes were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in two steps in almost quantitative yields. The sulfinyloxiranes were treated with NaN₃ in the presence of NH₄Cl to afford α-azido aldehydes, which were oxidized with iodine in the presence of KOH in methanol to give α-azido methyl esters in good overall yields. Catalytic hydrogenation of the α-azido esters afforded α-quaternary α-amino acid methyl esters in quantitative yields. Starting from β-tetralone and optically pure (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, an asymmetric synthesis of optically pure (R)-(+)-methyl 2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylate was realized in good overall yields.