Highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed electrophilic trifluoromethylation of β-ketoesters

Enantioselective Cu-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of β-ketoesters using commercially available trifluoromethylating reagents is reported. A number of α-CF(3) β-ketoesters are obtained with up to 99% ee. The trifluoromethylated products were then transformed diastereoselectively to α-CF(3) β-hydroxyesters with two adjacent quaternary stereocenters via a Grignard reaction.     

Etude de la réactivité de la fonction carbonyle avec le cétène en présence d'un alcoxyde de titane. 1ère communication. Nouvelle méthode de synthèse de β-hydroxyesters

A new synthesis of β-hydroxyesters involving a reaction between a carbonyl compound, ketene and an alkyl-orthotitanate is described. The following carbonyl compounds have been studied: aldehydes, ketones, α-diketones, α- or γ-ketoesters. A reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Friedel-Crafts reactions catalyzed by samarium diiodide

Samarium diiodide is an efficient precatalyst for the Friedel-Crafts reaction involving various aromatic substrates and chelating electrophiles. Alkyl 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvates are transformed into α-hydroxyesters in good yields with total regioselectivity. In reactions involving an ethyl glyoxylate or a glyoxylic imine, α-hydroxyesters or α-aminoesters are obtained with variable amounts of products resulting from a double Friedel-Crafts reaction.     

Expeditious and novel synthesis of α-hydroxyesters via rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation of ethyl glyoxalate

The rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation reaction of ethyl glyoxalate with aryl and alkyl boronic acids provides an efficient method for the synthesis of α-hydroxyesters. A wide range of α-hydroxyesters (up to 12) were prepared in good to excellent yields. KO^tBu was the base of choice, along with tert-amyl alcohol as the solvent. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of this catalytic arylation, using rhodium–NHC catalysts with this specific substrate type.     

A recombinant ketoreductase tool-box. Assessing the substrate selectivity and stereoselectivity toward the reduction of β-ketoesters

The substrate selectivity and stereoselectivity of a series of ketoreductases were evaluated toward the reduction of two sets of β-ketoesters. Both the structural variety at β-position and the substituent at α-position greatly affected the activity and stereoselectivity of these ketoreductases. For the first set of β-ketoesters, at least one ketoreductase was found that catalyzed the formation of either (d) or (l) enantiomer of β-hydroxyesters from each substrate with high optical purity, with the only exception of ethyl (d)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate. For the second set of β-ketoesters with α-substituents, the situation is more complex. More commonly, a ketoreductase was found that formed one of the four diastereomers in optically pure form, with only a few cases in which enzymes could be found that formed two or more of the diastereomers in high optical purity. The continued development of new, more diverse ketoreductases will create the capability to produce a wider range of single diastereomers of 2-substituted-3-hydroxy acids and their derivatives.     

The dienolate aldol reaction of (E)-N-crotonoyl C(4)-isopropyl SuperQuat: asymmetric synthesis of α-vinyl-β-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives and conversion to α-ethylidene-β-hydroxyesters (β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products)

The synthesis of α-vinyl-β-hydroxyesters and α-ethylidene-β-hydroxyesters (β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products) via the dienolate aldol reaction of (E)-N-crotonoyl C(4)-isopropyl SuperQuat is described. High levels of syn-diastereoselectivity (up to >98% de) are observed for the dienolate aldol reaction with boron enolates, generated either directly with Bu₂BOTf or by transmetalation of the potassium enolate with B-bromocatecholborane. Cleavage of the resultant syn-aldol products from the auxiliary gives α-vinyl-β-hydroxyesters in >98% de and >98% ee. Subsequent isomerisation of the double bond into conjugation provides α-ethylidene-β-hydroxyesters (β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products) in high diastereo- and enantiopurity (≥91:9 [(E):(Z)] and >98% ee).     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of α-chloro β-keto esters and phosphonates: hemisynthesis of Taxotere® through Ru-DIFLUORPHOS asymmetric hydrogenation

The dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic α-chloro β-ketoesters and α-chloro β-ketophosphonates through ruthenium-mediated asymmetric hydrogenation is reported. The corresponding α-chloro β-hydroxyesters and α-chloro β-hydroxyphosphonates were obtained in good to high enantio- and diastereomeric excesses using, in particular, the atropisomeric ligand DIFLUORPHOS. This methodology allowed an efficient preparation of the anti phenylisoserine side chain of Taxotere® which has been used for the hemisynthesis of the cancer therapeutic agent itself. In addition, ¹³C NMR in chiral oriented solvents was used to investigate the DKR effect.     

Indolinylmethanol catalyzed enantioselective Reformatsky reaction with ketones

A series of chiral indolinylmethanol ligands have been applied for the first time in the asymmetric Reformatsky reaction of an α-bromoester with ketones. In the presence of NiBr₂ and zinc powder, up to 75% yield and 87% ee were obtained for a variety of aromatic and aliphatic ketones. The use of Ni(acac)₂ resulted in 96% ee although the corresponding yield was low. This process provided a convenient method to access synthetically useful chiral β-hydroxyesters.     

Ni-catalyzed activation of α-chloroesters: a simple method for the synthesis of α-arylesters and β-hydroxyesters

Coupling reactions of α-chloroesters with aryl halides (α-arylation) or carbonyl compounds (Reformatsky) using nickel catalyst allow, under mild conditions, the preparation of various functionalized aryl propionic acid derivatives or β-hydroxyesters. In the synthesis of aryl propionic acid derivatives, the process is efficient with aryl halides bearing either electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups.     

ULTRASOUND PROMOTED SYNTHESIS OF β-HYDROXYESTERS BY REFORMATSKY REACTION USING INDIUM METAL

Ultrasound promoted Reformatsky reaction by the reaction of aldehydes or ketone with ethyl bromoacetate in the presence of indium metal afforded β-hydroxyesters in good to excellent yields under mild conditions.     

Anomalies in the molecular ion region in the electron impact mass spectra of α- and β-hydroxyesters

In the electron impact mass spectra of some alkyl α- and β-hydroxyesters (introduced using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique), the absence of the molecular ion M^+· and the presence of the [M + 1]⁺ ion instead is observed. This phenomenon is especially characteristic of C₃? C₆ glycolates and diethyl malate, and is due to chemical auto-ionization—ion-molecule reactions in the high concentration gradient at the top of the GC peak. The existence of the [M ? 2]^+·, [M ?1]⁺ and M^+· ions in the mass spectra of other β- and α-hydroxyesters is discussed.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of α,α-difluoro-allylic-β-hydroxyester

The aryl-substituted α,α-difluoro-allylic-β-hydroxyesters and aryl-substituted α,α-difluoroketones were obtained via the coupling reaction of aryl iodides with α,α-difluoro-allylic-β-hydroxyester in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ as the catalyst and Et₃N as the base.     

Synthesis of α-diazo-β-hydroxyesters through a one-pot protocol by phase-transfer catalysis: application to enantioselective aldol-type reaction and diastereoselective synthesis of α-amino-β-hydroxyester derivatives

The one-pot synthesis of α-diazo-β-hydroxyesters from sodium azide under phase-transfer-catalyzed conditions has been achieved. This protocol includes three different chemical transformations promoted by a single catalyst in each step to give products in good to excellent yields. The reaction was applied to a catalytic asymmetric aldol-type reaction using α-diazoesters with aldehydes in the presence of a chiral quaternary ammonium salt and gave products with up to 81% ee. The diastereoselective transformation of the products to chiral α-amino-β-hydroxyester derivatives is also described.     

Induction asymetrique—III: Stereochimie de l'addition du reactif de reformatsky issu de l'α-bromopropionate de methyle a diverses phenylalkylcetones. Determination des configurations relatives des β-hydroxyesters obtenus

A study of the reactivity of four aromatic ketones (C₆H₅-CO-R) with the Reformatsky reagent from methyl α-bromopropionate shows thatthe ratios of resulting diastereomeric β-hydroxyesters are unchanged, whether or not the chain R is lengthened or ramified. The relative configurations of those diastereomeric compounds are assigned by chemical correlation.     

Synthesis of (Z)-α-chloro-α,β-unsaturated esters with complete stereoselectivity promoted by samarium diiodide

Stereoselective β-elimination in α,α-dichloro-β-hydroxyesters 2 was achieved by using samarium diiodide, yielding (Z)-α-chloro-α,β-unsaturated esters 1. The starting compounds 2 were easily prepared by reaction of the lithium enolate of ethyl dichloroacetate with different aldehydes at −78 °C. A mechanism to explain this process is proposed.     

The catalytic tandem oxidation/benzilic ester rearrangement (BER): insights into reaction mechanism and stereoselectivity

This Letter describes an expeditious regiospecific and stereoselective approach to tertiary α-hydroxyesters via a simple one pot tandem catalytic oxidation/benzilic ester rearrangement of acyclic α-hydroxyketone substrates. Mechanistic studies confirming the regioselective nature of this reaction are discussed, including some insights into the nature of the stereoselectivity encountered in this reaction.     

Enantioselective direct aldol reaction of α-keto esters catalyzed by (S(a))-binam-D-prolinamide under quasi solvent-free conditions

(S(a))-Binam-D-prolinamide (20 mol%), instead of (S(a))-binam-L-prolinamide, in combination with chloroacetic acid (100 mol%) is an efficient organocatalyst for the direct aldol reaction between α-keto esters as electrophiles and alkyl and α-functionalised ketones, under quasi solvent-free conditions, providing access to highly functionalised chiral quaternary γ-keto α-hydroxyesters with up to 92% ee.     

One-pot synthesis of α-diazo-β-hydroxyesters under phase-transfer catalysis and application to the catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction

The one-pot (three steps) synthesis of α-diazo-β-hydroxyesters from tosyl chloride under phase-transfer catalysis is described. The catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction between a diazoester and aldehydes was also investigated and gave moderate to good enantioselectivity.     

Trihaloisocyanuric acids as convenient reagents for regioselective halogenation of β-dicarbonyl compounds

The reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds (β-ketoesters and β-diketones) with 0.34 mol equiv of trichloro- and tribromoisocyanuric acids produced regioselectively the corresponding α-monohalo β-dicarbonyl compound. On the other hand, utilization of 0.68 mol equiv of the trihaloisocyanuric acid produced the α,α-dihalo β-dicarbonyl compound.     

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Aldol Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids to Alkyl Aryl Ketones: Silanes as Activator and Transient Protecting Group

The first enantioselective reductive aldol reaction of unprotected α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed by employing a copper/bisphosphine catalyst. The reaction features in situ protection and activation of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid by a hydrosilane. The copper enolate formed in situ reacts with an alkyl aryl ketone to afford the β-hydroxy carboxylic acid with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). The corresponding gram-scale reaction with a low catalyst loading and the derivatization of the β-hydroxy carboxylic acids highlight the practicality of this transformation.