Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins using monodentate spiro phosphoramidite ligands

Novel chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands, SIPHOS, were conveniently synthesized from 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-diol. The Rh complexes of SIPHOS can catalyze the hydrogenation of alpha-dehydroamino esters in mild conditions, providing alpha-amino acid derivatives in up to 99% ee. Enamides and beta-dehydroamino esters can also be hydrogenated in good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% and 94% ee, respectively). The SIPHOS ligand with smaller alkyl groups on the N-atom afforded higher enantioselectivity. The X-ray analysis of single crystal showed that the structure of Rh/SIPHOS catalyst is [Rh(COD)((S)-SIPHOS-Me)(2)](+), which clarified the configuration of the catalyst with the monodentate chiral phosphorus ligand in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. A positive nonlinear effect in the relationship of the optical purities of ligand and product was observed in the hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid derivatives. The kinetic study of hydrogenation showed that the reaction is zero order in the concentration of substrate and first order in the concentration of Rh catalyst and the hydrogenation pressure. The rate of hydrogenation decreased when the Rh/L ratio changed from 1:1 to 1:4.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to nitroalkenes using olefin-sulfoxide ligands

An efficient rhodium/olefin-sulfoxide catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of organoboronic acids to a variety of nitroalkenes has been developed, where 2-methoxy-1-naphthyl sulfinyl functionalized olefin ligands have shown to be highly effective and are applicable to a broad scope of aryl, alkyl, and heteroaryl nitroalkenes.     

Highly enantioselective conjugate additions of potassium organotrifluoroborates to enones by use of monodentate phosphoramidite ligands

The use of phosphoramidite ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of potassium organotrifluoroborates to various enones in the absence of water is described. A systematic search for effective catalysts has been performed by use of high-throughput screening methods. Initially, we have screened reaction conditions, catalyst precursors, and focused ligand libraries. In the next stage we have used the monodentate ligand combination approach, and finally we have made a library of 96 different phosphoramidites by parallel synthesis in the robot (instant ligand libraries) and have tested these in the vinylation of cyclohexenone (up to 88% enantiomeric excess, ee) and 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one (up to 42% ee). Arylation of cyclohexenone by use of potassium phenyltrifluoroborate gave 3-phenylcyclohexanone with 99% ee.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to acyclic enones using monodentate phosphoramidite ligands

Herein, we report efficient catalysts based on phosphoramidites for the asymmetric copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to acyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones. A variety of Grignard reagents can be added to aliphatic and aromatic acyclic enones with good yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities.     

Readily accessible chiral diene ligands for Rh-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate additions of boronic acids

Enabled by the broad scope of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of meso- and d,l-divinylethylene carbonate, several chiral diene ligands were prepared in two steps from commercial materials. Subsequently, these ligands were evaluated in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of boronic acids to enones.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrovinylation under mild conditions using monodentate chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands

Palladium complexes of chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands are effective catalysts in the asymmetric hydrovinylation of vinylarenes with ethylene. The hydrovinylation products were obtained in modest selectivity with enantioselectivities up to 92% ee. The structures of the palladium catalysts have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The active catalyst contained one monodentate ligand. A kinetic resolution accompanied the isomerization of the hydrovinylation product in the reaction.     

The effects of solvent on switchable stereoselectivity: copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions using D2-symmetric biphenyl phosphoramidite ligands

A highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic aromatic enones was developed with phosphoramidite ligands bearing a D(2)-symmetric biphenyl backbone. This type of reaction demonstrated that toluene and THF solvents can completely reverse the absolute configuration of the products, thus simplifying the process of accessing either enantiomer (S: 92% ee, 94% yield; R: 99% ee, 96% yield).     

PipPhos and MorfPhos: privileged monodentate phosphoramidite ligands for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A library of 20 monodentate phosphoramidite ligands has been prepared and applied in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. This resulted in the identification of two ligands, PipPhos and MorfPhos, that afford excellent and in several cases unprecedented enantioselectivities in the hydrogenation of N-acyldehydroamino acid esters, dimethyl itaconate, acyclic N-acylenamides, and cyclic N-acylenamides. In addition, a method for the parallel enantioselectivity determination of eight acylated amines is presented.     

Highly regioselective asymmetric copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with dialkylzincs using monodentate chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands

The copper complexes of chiral spiro phosphoramidite and phosphite ligands were found to be effective catalysts in the asymmetric allylic alkylations of cinnamyl halides with dialkylzincs. The allylic alkylation products were obtained in high regioselectivities (S_N2′/S_N2 up to 98:2) and enantiomeric excesses of up to 74% for S_N2′ products.     

Modular monodentate phosphoramidite ligands for rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation

A new class of monodentate phosphoramidite ligands (DpenPhos) has been developed on the basis of the modular concept for Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of a variety of olefin derivatives, affording the corresponding optically active compounds in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The ligands have the advantages of facile preparation, tunable structure, and broad scope of substrates in their Rh(I) complex-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations.     

Catalytic enantioselective addition of organometallic reagents to N-formylimines using monodentate phosphoramidite ligands

The asymmetric synthesis of protected amines via the copper/phosphoramidite-catalyzed addition of organozinc and organoaluminum reagents to N-acylimines, generated in situ from aromatic and aliphatic alpha-amidosulfones, is reported. High yields of optically active N-formyl-protected amines and enantioselectivities up to 99% were obtained. Under the reaction conditions, partial oxidation of the phosphoramidite ligand to the corresponding phosphoric amide was detected. A preliminary study on the origin and the effect on the catalytic addition reaction is presented.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution with boronic acid nucleophiles

An enantio-, regio-, and diastereoselective rhodium(I)-catalyzed desymmetrization of a meso-cyclic allylic dicarbonate with organoboronic acid nucleophiles is described. The rhodium(I) catalyst formed in situ from [Rh(cod)OH]2 and Xyl-P-PHOS allowed the S(N)2' allylic substitution product to be obtained with a range of arylboronic acids in enantiomeric excesses of up to 92% with regioselectivities of up to >20:1.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate additions

The asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition of nucleophiles to Michael acceptors is reviewed. Herein an overview of the most important developments and concepts of this flourishing area of catalysis organized by the type of nucleophile involved in the process is reported.     

Copper catalyzed tandem asymmetric conjugate addition-cyclization reaction in the presence of chiral phosphoramidite ligands

Copper-catalyzed intramolecular conjugate addition-cyclization in the presence of chiral phosphoramidite ligands was described. Cyclic products with multiple chiral centers were obtained with up to 93:7 diastereomeric ratio and 94% ee.     

Enantioselective Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of N-formyl dehydroamino esters with monodentate phosphoramidite ligands

Enantioselectivities up to >99% ee were achieved in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-formyl dehydroamino esters using monodentate phosphoramidites as chiral ligands. The substrates were synthesized by condensation of methyl isocyanoacetate with a range of aldehydes and with cyclohexanone. A highly convenient multigram scale one step synthesis of methyl 2-(formamido)acrylate was developed. This compound was used in the synthesis of methyl 2-(formamido)cinnamate via a solvent free Heck reaction. Moreover, full conversion and >99% ee were obtained in 1 h in the hydrogenation of methyl 2-(formamido)acrylate with 0.2 mol % catalyst and 2 bar hydrogen pressure. The versatility of the formyl protection was established by its removal under mild conditions.     

Dendritic phosphoramidite ligands in Rh-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenations

The axially chiral BICOL backbone was functionalised with two third generation carbosilane dendritic wedges and further elaborated to a phosphoramidite ligand. High enantioselectivities were obtained when these monodentate ligands were applied in the rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl 2-acetamidocinnamate.     

Polymer-supported monodentate phosphite ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation

Several new polymer-supported monophosphite ligands have been developed and the rhodium complexes were shown to be highly efficient, highly enantioselective and easily separable catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of itaconates, enamides, α-dehydroamino acid derivatives and β-dehydroamino acid derivatives.     

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective addition of boronic acids to N-benzylnicotinate salts

The highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric addition of aryl and alkenylboronic acids to N-benzylnicotinate salt 1 is described. The dihydropyridine 2 reaction products can be converted to synthetically useful piperidines. Application of the methodology to the preparation of enantioenriched quaternary chiral centers is also discussed.     

Catalytic enantioselective aryl transfer: asymmetric addition of boronic acids to aldehydes using pyrrolidinylmethanols as ligands

Pyrrolidinylmethanols, easily accessible from readily available (S)-proline, were applied in zinc-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes; the reaction was found to proceed in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).