Enantioselective hydrovinylation via asymmetric counteranion-directed ruthenium catalysis

The first Ru-catalyzed enantioselective hydrovinylation has been realized by using an asymmetric counteranion-directed catalysis strategy. Styrene derivatives react with ethylene in excellent yields and promising enantioselectivity using this approach.     

Optically active ruthenium porphyrins: chiral recognition and asymmetric catalysis

The current applications of ruthenium porphyrins in stoichiometric and catalytic asymmetric reactions are reported. Chiral recognition of racemic phosphines, isocyanides and amino esters has been studied by ¹H-NMR. Experimental investigations of the oxidation mechanism of racemic phosphines and amino esters are described. The stereochemistry of catalytic asymmetric oxidation and cyclopropanation of olefins with optically active ruthenium porphyrins are also discussed.     

Oxo-tethered ruthenium(II) complex as a bifunctional catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation and H2 hydrogenation

Newly developed oxo-tethered Ru amido complexes (R,R)-1 and their HCl adducts (R,R)-2 exhibited excellent catalytic performance for both asymmetric transfer hydrogenation and the hydrogenation of ketonic substrates under neutral conditions without any cocatalysts to give chiral secondary alcohols with high levels of enantioselectivity.     

Chiral monophosphines as ligands for asymmetric organometallic catalysis

Chelating chiral diphosphines are often used as ligands of organometallic complexes. However monophosphines, or more generally ligands with one phosphorus linked to one or several heteroatom, may also be useful. This review gives the main results obtained in that area, by considering the classes of monodentate chiral ligands bearing one P(III) atom and involved in asymmetric catalysis with organometallic complexes.     

Phosphinoferrocenylaminophosphines as novel and practical ligands for asymmetric catalysis

[structure: see text] A new series of ligands with a novel phosphine-aminophosphine ligation design as depicted in structure 1 has been prepared on a ferrocenylethyl backbone. These BoPhoz ligands of structure 2 have afforded exceedingly high activity and enantioselectivity in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydro-alpha-amino acid derivatives, itaconic acids, and alpha-ketoesters. These air-stable ligands are readily prepared from cost-effective and non-pyrophoric intermediates.     

BINOL-derived N-phosphino sulfoximines as ligands for asymmetric catalysis

BINOL-derived N-phosphino sulfoximines have been prepared for the first time and tested as ligands in asymmetric transition metal catalysis. Up to 99% ee was achieved in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins and up to 66% ee in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation.     

High-turnover supramolecular catalysis by a protected ruthenium(II) complex in aqueous solution

The design of a supramolecular catalyst capable of high-turnover catalysis is reported. A ruthenium(II) catalyst is incorporated into a water-soluble supramolecular assembly, imparting the ability to catalyze allyl alcohol isomerization. The catalyst is protected from decomposition by sequestration inside the host but retains its catalytic activity with scope governed by confinement within the host. This host-guest complex is a uniquely active supramolecular catalyst, capable of >1000 turnovers.     

Chiral olefins as steering ligands in asymmetric catalysis

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric processes offer one of the most straightforward ways to introduce stereogenic centers. Hence, the development of novel chiral ligands that can effectively induce asymmetry in reactions is crucial in modern organic synthesis. While many established chiral ligands bind to a metal through heteroatoms, structures that coordinate to metals through carbon atoms have received little attention so far. Here, we highlight the increasing number of such chiral chelating olefin ligands as well as their application in a variety of metal-catalyzed transformations.     

Multifunctional asymmetric catalysis

Two types of general and practical enantioselective catalysts, namely, bimetallic complexes and Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional catalysts were developed based on the concept of multifunctional catalysis. In the first part of this review, the first example of a catalytic enatioselective nitro-Mannich reaction as well as a direct catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction of 2-hydroxyacetophenone using bimetallic complexes is discussed. The new complex, composed of ytterbium, potassium, and BINOL in a ratio of 1:1:3, promoted the nitro-Mannich reaction of nitromethane with up to 91% ee. On the other hand, second generation ALB catalyzed an enantioselective and diastereoselective nitro-Mannich reaction of nitroalkanes in up to 83% ee with a diastereomeric ratio up to 7:1. Moreover, the reaction of aldehydes with 2-hydroxyacetophenone in the presence of LLB, KHMDS, and H2O selectively gave the corresponding anti-alpha,beta-dihydroxy ketones in up to 95% ee and, in the presence of the catalyst prepared from linked-BINOL and 2 eq of Et2Zn, selectively afforded the syn-alpha,beta-dihydroxy ketones in up to 86% ee. In the second part, the development of new catalysts displaying a Lewis acidity and a Lewis basicity is described. The Lewis acid of the catalyst activates aldehydes, imines, acyl quinoliniums, and ketones. At the same time, the Lewis base activates the nucleophile (TMSCN). Catalysts of this type produced a highly enantioselective cyanation of these electrophiles. Application of the catalytic enantioselective cyanosilylation of aldehydes to a total synthesis of epothilones is also described.     

Efficient asymmetric catalysis of chiral organoaluminum complex for enantioselective ene reactions of aldehydes

Chiral organoaluminum complex 1 efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric hetero-ene reaction of commercially available 2-methoxypropene (2) with aldehydes under mild conditions to give the corresponding β-hydroxymethyl ketones 3 in good to excellent chemical yields with high enantiomeric excesses. The asymmetric catalysis of 1 was further applied to the carbonyl addition of methallylsilanes, where exclusive formation of the optically active allylic silanes 5 was achieved.     

Biomimetic asymmetric catalysis

Enzymes are the core for biological transformations in nature. Their structures and functions have drawn enormous attention from biologists as well as chemists since last century. The large demand of bioactive molecules and the pursuit of efficiency and greenness of synthesis have spurred the rapid development of biomimetic chemistry in the past several decades. Biomimetic asymmetric catalysis, mimicking the structures and functions of enzymes, has been recognized as one of the most promising sy...     

Cooperative catalysis of a cationic ruthenium complex, amine base, and na salt: catalytic activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile

Cooperative catalysis of a cationic Ru complex, DBU, and NaPF6 is described. An exquisite combination of the catalytic triad enabled catalytic activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile under mild amine-basic conditions. Addition of in situ-generated, Ru-bound, metalated nitrile to aldehydes and imines proceeded smoothly with 2.5-5 mol % Ru complex and 2.5-10 mol % DBU in the presence of 10 mol % NaPF6. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested a role for each of the three catalytic components.     

MOP-phosphonites: a novel ligand class for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral phosphonite ligands (S,R(b))-5a, (S,S(b))-5b, (R,R(b))-6a and (R,S(b))-6b are introduced, comprising a MOP-type backbone with a binol-based binaphthyl group bound to the phosphorus. Their reaction with [Pd(η(3)-C(4)H(7))Cl](2) affords η(3)-methallylpalladium chloride complexes 7a/b and 8a/b which have been isolated and structurally characterised. Solid-state and solution studies indicate subtle differences in their coordination behaviour, which ultimately affects their efficacy in the asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrene.     

Electronically varied quinazolinaps for asymmetric catalysis

The synthesis and resolution of electronically varied axially chiral Quinazolinaps is reported. These ligands bear different aryl groups on the donor phosphorus atom and were synthesised as part of our investigations into electronic effects within this ligand class. A diastereomerically pure palladacycle of one ligand was characterised by X-ray crystallography. The application of these Quinazolinaps to the rhodium-catalysed hydroboration of vinylarenes resulted in enantioselectivities of up to 92%. Their application to the palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate resulted in conversions of up to 99% and enantioselectivities of up to 94%.     

Column asymmetric catalysis for beta-lactam synthesis

[structure] A catalytic asymmetric reaction process was designed involving the use of solid-phase reagents and catalysts that constitute the packing of a series of "reaction columns". This process was applied to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta-lactams, yielding pure product after crystallization with exceptional enantio- and diastereoselectivity.     

A chiral metallacyclophane for asymmetric catalysis

Chiral metallacyclophanes were self-assembled from cis-(PEt3)2PtCl2 and enantiopure atropisomeric 1,1'-bina-phthyl-6,6'-bis(acetylenes) and used in highly enantioselective catalytic diethylzinc additions to aldehydes to afford chiral secondary alcohols.