Asymmetric dihydroxylation of allenes

We have used asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of allenes in order to synthesize chiral α-hydroxy ketones. This methodology has been applied to several aryl-substituted allenes. We have found that electron donating groups on the aromatic ring increase the efficiency of the reaction.     

An enantioselective synthesis of the C1C9 segment of antitumor macrolide peloruside A

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the C₁C₉ segment of the marine natural product peloruside A is described. The key steps involve Sharpless's catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction, a chelation-controlled reduction of chiral β-alkoxy ketones to elaborate the syn-1,3-diol functionality and a ring-closing olefin metathesis of a homoallylic alcohol-derived acrylate ester to form an α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone.     

Synthesis and reactions of lithio derivatives of 1-allenylbenzotriazole

1-(2-Chloropropen-2-yl)benzotriazole ( 6 ) is converted by heating with sodium hydroxide or by lithium diisopropylamide at -78° into 1-allenylbenzotriazole ( 1 ) in high yield. Allene 1 undergoes in situ lithiation at the α-carbon and subsequent reactions with iodomethane or carbonyl compounds to produce 1-(1-substituted allenyl)benzotriazoles 9 and 2a-c , respectively. Three equivalents of lithium diisopropylamide dilithiated 1 and afforded symmetrical 1-(1,3-disubstituted allenyl)benzotriazoles 11a,b upon reaction with ketones. The unsymmetrical 1-(1,3-disubstituted allenyl)benzotriazole 5 was obtained via a stepwise addition of benzophenone to the lithio derivative of 1 followed by a second lithiation and quenching with acetone. Monosubstituted allenes 2a and 8 were cyclized into the benzotriazolyl substituted dihydrofuran 3 and dihydropyrrole 4 respectively.     

Allenes and Dienes as Chiral Allylmetal Pronucleophiles in Catalytic Enantioselective C=X Addition: Historical Perspective and State-of-The-Art Survey

The use of allenes and 1,3-dienes as chiral allylmetal pronucleophiles in intermolecular catalytic enantioselective reductive additions to aldehydes, ketones, imines, carbon dioxide and other C=X electrophiles is exhaustively catalogued together with redox-neutral hydrogen auto-transfer processes. Coverage is limited to processes that result in both C−H and C−C bond formation. The use of alkynes as latent allylmetal pronucleophiles and multicomponent C=X allylations involving allenes and dienes is not covered. As illustrated in this review, the ability of allenes and 1,3-dienes to serve as tractable non-metallic pronucleophiles has evoked many useful transformations that have no counterpart in traditional allylmetal chemistry.     

Synthesis of mono- and 1,3-disubstituted allenes from propargylic amines via palladium-catalysed hydride-transfer reaction

Mono- and 1,3-disubstituted allenes were synthesized from the corresponding propargylamines via palladium-catalysed hydride-transfer reaction. In the current transformation, propargylic amines can be handled as allenyl anion equivalents and introduced into various electrophiles to be transformed into allenes under palladium-catalyzed conditions.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Acyloin Rearrangement of α-Hydroxy Acetals to α-Alkoxy Ketones

We report an unprecedented organocatalytic enantioselective acyloin rearrangement of α,α-disubstituted α-hydroxy acetals. In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral binol-derived N-triflyl phosphoramide, α-hydroxy acetals rearranged to α-alkoxy ketones in good to high yields with high enantioselectivities. Formation of an ion pair between the in situ generated oxocarbenium ion and the chiral phosphoramide anion was proposed to be responsible for the highly efficient transfer of chirality. Conditions for removal of cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl groups from the corresponding α-alkoxy ketones were uncovered underpinning their potential general utility as hydroxy protecting groups. Conversion of the rearranged products to the enantioenriched α-hydroxy ketone, 1,2-diol, β-amino alcohol and 1,4-dioxane was also documented.     

γ-Trimethylsilyl-substituted allylzirconcenes in organic synthesis. Stereoselective synthesis of terminal 1,3-butadienes and functionalized vinylsilanes

γ-Trimethylsilyl-substituted allylzirconcenes, prepared by hydrozirconation of trimethylsilyl-substituted terminal allenes, react with aldehydes at the γ-position to give 1,3-butadienes in one step with good stereoselectivity and undergo conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated aromatic ketones at the α-position to selectively afford functionalized vinylsilanes in the presence of catalytic CuBr·SMe₂.     

Construction of All-Carbon Chiral Quaternary Centers through CuI-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Hydroxymethylation of 1,1-Disubstituted Allenes with CO2

A catalytic enantioselective construction of all-carbon chiral quaternary centers through reductive hydroxymethylation of 1,1-disubstituted allenes with CO₂ has been developed. In the presence of a copper/Mandyphos catalyst, CO₂ is transformed into an alcohol oxidation level by an asymmetric reductive C−C bond formation with allenes by using hydrosilane (HSi(OMe)₂Me) as a reductant. The resulting chiral homoallylic alcohols are versatile synthetic intermediates and can be conveniently converted into a variety of useful chiral chemicals.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade C−H Functionalization/Asymmetric Allylation Reaction of Aryl α-Diazoamides and Allenes: Lewis Acid Makes a Difference

A Pd-catalyzed cascade C−H functionalization/asymmetric allylation reaction with aryl α-diazoamides and allenes has been developed. The reaction provides an efficient approach to construct chiral 3,3-disubstituted oxindole derivatives in high levels of yield and enantioselectivity (up to 93 % ee). Notably, the chromium complex works as Lewis acid to facilitate the formation of palladium carbene and to enhance acidity of carboxylic acid, allowing for higher stereochemical control and efficiency.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Pauson–Khand-Type Cyclization of 1,5-Allene-Alkynes: A Chirality Transfer Strategy for Optically Active Bicyclic Ketones

An efficient chirality transfer in the [RhCl(CO)₂]₂-catalyzed [2+2+1] cyclization of optically active axially chiral 1,3-disubstituted allenynes with CO to access optically active bicyclopentenone compounds has been developed. The distal C=C bond of allenes reacted with the alknye unit and CO to afford [4.3.0]-bicyclic products with high ee values under mild reaction conditions with an excellent selectivity.     

α-Amino 1,3-dithioketal mediated asymmetric synthesis of piperidines (L-733,060) and tetrahydrofuran glycines

Sulfinimine-derived α-amino 1,3-dithianes and α-amino carbonyl chiral building blocks, are utilized in asymmetric syntheses of (+)-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)glycine and the 2,3-disubstituted piperidine (+)-L-733,060.     

Conversion of 1,3-disubstituted arenes to chiral α,α-diaryl methylammonium chlorides using arene borylation

A two-step conversion of 1,3-disubstituted arenes to chiral α,α-diaryl methylammonium chlorides is described. In this procedure, arenes are converted to aryl boronic esters by iridium-catalyzed borylation, and the aryl boronic esters are converted to enantioenriched amines by subsequent rhodium-catalyzed addition to chiral tert-butanesulfinimes.     

A New General Approach to Enantiomerically Pure Cyclic and Open-Chain (R)- and (S)-α,α-Disubstituted α-Amino Acids

A wide range of cyclic and open-chain α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids 1a-p were prepared. The racemic N-acylated α,α-disubstituted amino acids were resolved by coupling to chiral amines 15-18 derived from (S)-phenylalanine to form diastereoisomers 19/20 or 21/22 that could be separated by crystallization and/or flash chromatography on silica gel (Scheme 3). Selective cleavage via the 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 10a-p gave the corresponding optically pure α,α-disubstituted amino-acid derivatives 11 or 12 in high yield (Scheme 3). The absolute configurations of the α,α-disubstituted amino acids were determined from X-ray structures of the diastereoisomers 20, 21g′, 22d .     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd-Catalyzed 1,4-Arylboration of 1,3-Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4-arylboration of 1,3-enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2-substituted 1,3-enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate-limiting step of this transformation.     

Allene cross-metathesis: synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted allenes

[reaction: see text] Grubbs catalyst, Cl2(Cy3P)2Ru=CHPh, was found to catalyze the cross-metathesis of monosubstituted allenes to 1,3-disubstituted allenes in varying yields.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Arylboration of 1,3‐Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4‐arylboration of 1,3‐enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2‐substituted 1,3‐enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate‐limiting step of this transformation.     

Controllable diastereoselective cyclopropanation. Enantioselective synthesis of vinylcyclopropanes via chiral telluronium ylides

Novel chiral telluronium salts 1 are designed for asymmetric synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes. The allylides, generated in situ from the corresponding telluronium salt in the presence of different base, reacted with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, ketones, and amides to afford cis-2-silylvinyl-trans-3-substituted or trans-2-silylvinyl-trans-3-substituted cyclopropane derivatives with high diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity in good to high yields. Thus, either one of the two diastereomers could be enantioselectively synthesized at will just by the choice of LiTMP/HMPA or LDA/LiBr. The first examples of catalytic ylide reaction for enantioselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes with high distereoselectivity is also achieved.     

Synthesis of 1,3-diaminated stereotriads via rearrangement of 1,4-diazaspiro[2.2]pentanes

The synthesis of 1,3-diaminated stereotriads via the bis-aziridination of allenes is reported. The reactive 1,4-diazaspiro[2.2]pentane intermediates undergo a mild Br?nsted acid-promoted rearrangement to yield 1,3-diaminated ketones in good yields with excellent stereocontrol. Directed reduction of the ketone can be achieved to yield a C-N/C-O/C-N stereotriad in high dr. The ability to transfer the axial chirality of the substrates to the products allows for the facile preparation of enantioenriched stereotriads from allenes in two simple steps.     

trans-3,4-Disubstituted pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition: enantioselective approaches and their limitations

In the presence of a chiral Lewis acid as co-catalyst, the acid-catalysed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction yielding trans-3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines from an azomethine ylide and achiral α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles proceeded with low enantioselectivity. Therefore a number of α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles linked to chiral auxiliaries were examined as substrates. Camphorsultam was the best auxiliary and gave good diastereoselectivity (dr=74:26). When combining chiral Lewis acids with a dipolarophile linked to a chiral auxiliary, the enantioselectivity could be slightly increased. As judged by ¹³C NMR, the small effect of the chiral Lewis acids on selectivity was probably due to breakdown of the initially formed complex with the dipolarophile caused by the dipole precursor.     

Phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung addition of nucleophiles to activated α-alkyl allenes

Highly functionalized alkenes can be prepared through phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung additions of nucleophiles (carbon-, oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-centered) to activated α-disubstituted allenes, providing many potentially useful synthetic intermediates in good to excellent yields, often with high levels of stereoselectivity for the product olefin geometry. Various substitution patterns around the allene are compatible with the process, showcasing the synthetic utility of allenes under the conditions of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis.