Chiral phosphine-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective allylic amination of Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates

Enantioselective allylic substitution of Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) acetates with phthalimide was realized in the presence of a novel l-proline-derived chiral trifunctional phosphine amide ligand to give the corresponding allylic amination adducts in good yields (70–95%) and in modest to good enantioselectivities (34–78% ee’s).     

Multifunctional chiral phosphines-catalyzed highly diastereoselective and enantioselective substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts with oxazolones

Multifunctional chiral phosphine (phosphine-thiourea type) L2-catalyzed allylic substitutions of MBH adducts 1 with oxazolones 2 produce the corresponding optically active adducts 3 in good to excellent yields and ee's as well as moderate to good de's under mild conditions. The synergistic interaction between hydrogen bond donor site and nucleophilic site has been discussed, indicating that finely tuning the active sites of the multifunctional phosphine organocatalysts is very important.     

Highly enantioselective regiodivergent allylic alkylations of MBH carbonates with phthalides

Phthalides were used for the first time in the allylic alkylation reactions with MBH carbonates for the creation of chiral 3,3-disubstituted phthalides. Highly enantioselective regiodivergent synthesis of γ-selective or β-selective allylic alkylation products was achieved by employing bifunctional chiral phosphines or multifunctional tertiary amine-thioureas as the catalyst, respectively. It was demonstrated that proper selection of catalysts and reaction conditions would differentiate an S(N)2'-S(N)2' pathway and an addition-elimination process, yielding different regioisomers of the allylic alkylation products in a highly enantiomerically pure form.     

Facile synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides from Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates

A facile two-step synthesis of bisphosphine monoxides (BPMOs, with both the phosphine and phosphine oxide moieties within one molecule) from readily available Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates was realized. Under the catalysis of DABCO, the MBH carbonates undergo allylic phosphorylation reaction with diphenylphosphine oxide or diethyl phosphonate to give monophosphine oxides bearing an activated alkene moiety; subsequent base-catalyzed hydrophosphination of the prepared monophosphine oxide with HPPh₂ readily affords the BPMOs.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric transformations of modified Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts

Chiral Lewis basic tertiary amines or phosphines can enable properly modified Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts to undergo asymmetric allylic substitutions with a wide range of nucleophiles. In addition, assisted by a Br?nsted base, chiral Lewis bases can also catalytically convert modified MBH adducts into allylic ylides, which can be engaged in a variety of asymmetric annulation reactions. This tutorial review will focus on such chiral Lewis base-catalysed asymmetric transformations of MBH adducts, especially those developed over the past five years, allowing for the rapid construction of densely functionalised chiral molecules with high levels of regio- and stereoselectivities.     

N-Aryl indole-derived C–N bond axially chiral phosphine ligands: synthesis and application in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

N-Aryl indole-derived C–N bond axially chiral phosphine ligands 2a–c were obtained by DDQ oxidation of N-aryl indoline-derived phosphine oxide followed by silane reduction. Resolution of C–N bond atropisomers was achieved by chiral HPLC. The investigation of the rotation barrier for the C–N bond axial stability of phosphines and the determination of the absolute configuration of 2c are described. Finally, the ability of the chiral ligand 2c was demonstrated in a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (up to 99% ee).     

Lewis base catalyzed enantioselective allylic hydroxylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with water

A Lewis base catalyzed allylic hydroxylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates has been developed. Various chiral MBH alcohols can be synthesized in high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). This is the first report using water as a nucleophile in asymmetric organocatalysis. The nucleophilic role of water has been verified using (18)O-labeling experiments.     

Chiral phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective construction of gamma-butenolides through substitution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates with 2-trimethylsilyloxy furan

Chiral multifunctional phosphine (R)-N-(2'-diphenylphosphanyl-[1,1']binaphthalenyl-2-yl)methanesulfonamide L2 or (R)-N-(2'-diphenylphosphanyl-[1,1']binaphthalenyl-2-yl)acetamide L3 is an efficient catalyst in the allylic substitutions of MBH acetates 1 with 2-trimethylsilyloxy furan 2 to provide gamma-butenolides 3 in good to excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses in the presence of water.     

Palladium/chiral phosphine–olefin complexes: X-ray crystallographic analysis and the use in catalytic asymmetric allylic alkylation

X-ray crystallographic studies on π-allylpalladium complexes coordinated with a chiral phosphine–olefin ligand (−)-1b demonstrate that the phosphine ligand shows a larger trans-influence than the π-bound olefin. The palladium/chiral phosphine–olefin complex efficiently catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with 96% enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric palladium(0)-mediated synthesis of 2-vinylchroman

Optically active 2-vinylchroman was synthesized from the corresponding hydroxy allylic carbonate by palladium-catalyzed cyclization in the presence of various chiral ligands. Enantioselectivity of up to 53% was obtained using NMDPP as the chiral phosphine.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted Allylic Fluorides

Although there are many methods for the asymmetric synthesis of monosubstituted allylic fluorides, construction of enantioenriched 1,2-disubstituted allylic fluorides has not been reported. To address this gap, we report an enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted allylic fluorides using chiral diene-ligated rhodium catalyst, Et₃N ⋅ 3HF as a source of fluoride, and Morita Baylis Hillman (MBH) trichloroacetimidates. Kinetic studies show that one enantiomer of racemic MBH substrate reacts faster than the other. Computational studies reveal that both syn and anti π-allyl complexes are formed upon ionization of allylic substrate, and the syn complexes are slightly energetically favorable. This is in contrast to our previous observation for formation of monosubstituted π-allyl intermediates, in which the syn π-allyl conformation is strongly preferred. In addition, the presence of an electron-withdrawing group at C2 position of racemic MBH substrate renders 1,2-disubstituted π-allyl intermediate formation endergonic and reversible. To compare, formation of monosubstituted π-allyl intermediates was exergonic and irreversible. DFT calculations and kinetic studies support a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation process wherein the rate of isomerization of the 1,2-disubstituted π-allylrhodium complexes is faster than that of fluoride addition onto the more reactive intermediate. The 1,2-disubstituted allylic fluorides were obtained in good yields, enantioselectivity, and branched selectivity.     

The synthesis of phosphine oxide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands and their application in asymmetric allylic alkylation

The phosphine oxide-linked bis(oxazoline) ligands were designed and synthesized in two ways. One is the coupling of Grignard reagent derived from 2-(2-bromophenyl)oxazoline with phenylphosphonic dichloride, another route is the condensation of bis(2-formylphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine oxide with chiral amino alcohols followed by NBS oxidation. These new bis(oxazoline) ligands were applied in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions and good yields and enantioselectivities were obtained with diphenyl substituted ligand (up to 95% ee).     

Auto‐Tandem Cooperative Catalysis Using Phosphine/Palladium: Reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman Carbonates and Allylic Alcohols

Auto‐tandem catalysis (ATC), in which a single catalyst promotes two or more mechanistically different reactions in a cascade pattern, provides a powerful strategy to prepare complex products from simple starting materials. Reported here is an unprecedented auto‐tandem cooperative catalysis (ATCC) for Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates from isatins and allylic carbonates using a simple Pd(PPh₃)₄ precursor. Dissociated phosphine generates phosphorus ylides and the Pd leads to π‐allylpalladium complexes, and they undergo a γ‐regioselective allylic–allylic alkylation reaction. Importantly, a cascade intramolecular Heck‐type coupling proceeds to finally furnish spirooxindoles incorporating a 4‐methylene‐2‐cyclopentene motif. Experimental results indicate that both Pd and phosphine play crucial roles in the catalytic Heck reaction. In addition, the asymmetric versions with either a chiral phosphine or chiral auxiliary are explored, and moderate results are obtained.     

Enantioselective Allylic Amination of Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman Acetates Catalyzed by Chiral Thiourea‐Phosphine

The enantioselective allylic amination of Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman acetates catalyzed by chiral cyclohexane‐based thiourea‐phosphine catalysts was investigated. In the presence of 20 mol% rosin‐derived thiourea‐phosphine 3j , the chiral amines were obtained in up to 88% yield and up to 85% ee.     

Chiral biscinchona alkaloid promoted asymmetric allylic alkylation of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction with respect to prochiral 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and MBH carbonate by a chiral biscinchona alkaloid catalyst was investigated. The corresponding adducts, containing a quaternary center at the C3-position of the benzofuran-2(3H)-one as well as a vicinal tertiary center, were generally obtained in high yields (up to 97%) with very good diastereo- (up to 98:2 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee).     

Nickel/Brønsted acid dual-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective hydrophosphinylation of 1,3-dienes: access to chiral allylic phosphine oxides

While chiral allylic organophosphorus compounds are widely utilized in asymmetric catalysis and for accessing bioactive molecules, their synthetic methods are still very limited. We report the development of asymmetric nickel/Brønsted acid dual-catalyzed hydrophosphinylation of 1,3-dienes with phosphine oxides. This reaction is characterized by an inexpensive chiral catalyst, broad substrate scope, and high regio- and enantioselectivity. This study allows the construction of chiral allylic phosphine oxides in a highly economic and efficient manner. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that the 1,3-diene insertion into the chiral Ni–H species is a highly regioselective process and the formation of the chiral C–P bond is an irreversible step.

Asymmetric hydrophosphinylation of 1,3-dienes with phosphine oxides using an inexpensive chiral catalyst has been demonstrated, providing access to chiral allylic phosphine oxides with broad substrate scope and high regio- and enantioselectivity.     

Chiral phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones or oxindoles with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

An efficient chiral phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric substitution reaction of MBH carbonates with 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones or 3-substituted oxindoles has been described in this context, giving the corresponding allylic alkylation products bearing adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers in high yields, moderate diastereoselectivities and high enantioselectivities under mild conditions.     

Enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic amination with self-assembling and non-assembling monodentate phosphine ligands

New chiral phospholanes were prepared by coupling of bromo-substituted heterocycles with the enantiopure, building block (2R,5R)-2,5-dimethyl-1-chlorophospholane. Some of the new phosphine ligands have the potential for self-assembling via hydrogen bondings in a metal complex. By application of these and related ligands in the palladium catalyzed allylic amination reaction, high enantioselectivities (up to 99%) were achieved. The influence of the construction of the cyclic phosphine ligands on the enantioselectivity is analyzed.     

Synthesis and optical resolution of aminophosphines with axially chiral C(aryl)-N(amine) bonds for use as ligands in asymmetric catalysis

N-Aryl indoline-type aminophosphines 1a-c were obtained in good yields by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S(N)Ar) reaction followed by silane reduction. Aminophosphine 1d was also prepared from 2,3-difluorobenzaldehyde (4) via dimethylhydrazone. Optical resolution of C(aryl)-N(amine) bond atropisomers was achieved using (S)-(+)-di-mu-chlorobis[2-[(dimethylamino)ethyl]phenyl-C(2),N]dipalladium(II) ((S)-10). The determination of absolute configuration and the investigation of the rotation barrier for C(aryl)-N(amine) bond axial stability of an aminophosphine 1 are described. Finally, the ability of the chiral phosphine ligand 1 is demonstrated in a catalytic asymmetric reaction, such as a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate (up to 95% ee).     

Direct asymmetric allylic alkenylation of N-itaconimides with morita-baylis-hillman carbonates

The asymmetric allylic alkenylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates with N-itaconimides as nucleophiles has been developed using a commercially available Cinchona alkaloid catalyst. A variety of multifunctional chiral α-methylene-β-maleimide esters were attained in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99%) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee). The origin of the regio- and stereoselectivity was verified by DFT methods. Calculated geometries and relative energies of various transition states strongly support the observed regio- and enantioselectivity.