Asymmetric 1,4-addition of alkenylzirconium reagents to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by chiral rhodium complexes

Highly enantioselective 1,4-addition of alkenylzirconocene chlorides to α,β-enones was found to be catalyzed by a chiral rhodium complex generated from [Rh(cod)(MeCN)₂]BF₄ and (S)-BINAP. The reaction can be applied to either cyclic or acyclic enones and the optical yield was up to 99% ee. The reaction mechanism would involve the transmetalation between the alkenylzirconocene chloride and the rhodium complex to give the alkenylrhodium species as a key intermediate.     

Design and synthesis of chiral 1,10-phenanthroline ligand,and application in palladium catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was developed using chiral 1,10-phenanthroline derivative as ligand. Good yields (up to 97%), and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) were achieved.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric aqueous Pauson-Khand-type reaction

An interesting rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric aqueous Pauson-Khand-type reaction was developed. A chiral atropisomeric dipyridyldiphosphane ligand was found to be highly effective in this system. This operationally simple protocol allows both catalyst and reactants to be handled under air without precautions. Various enynes were transformed to the corresponding bicyclic cyclopentenones in good yield and enantiomeric excess (up to 95 % ee). A study of the electronic effects of the enyne substrates revealed a correlation between the electronic properties of the substrates and the ee value obtained in the product of the Pauson-Khand-type reaction. A linear free-energy relationship was observed from a Hammett study.     

Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of terminal alkynes to vinyl ketones

The metal complex Rh(acac)(CO)₂ in the presence of an eqimolar amount of tris(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine provides a useful catalyst system for the 1,4-addition of alkynes to unsubstituted vinyl ketones. Best yields are obtained when the transformation is performed in benzene at reflux with an excess of vinyl ketone. Both aryl and alkyl substituted alkynes participate in the reaction. Primary alcohols and alkyl chlorides are well tolerated under these reaction conditions. The reaction also proceeds in aqueous solvent mixtures, unlike most organometallic addition reactions.     

Copper-catalysed asymmetric 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents to 2-cyclohexenone using novel phosphine-phosphite ligands

A series of novel non-symmetrical phosphine-phosphite ligands 1–10 have been tested in the copper-catalysed asymmetric addition of diethylzinc and triethylaluminium to 2-cyclohexenone. In all cases, excellent conversion and regioselectivities for the 1,4-product were found. Good enantiomeric excesses (up to 62%) were obtained when triethylaluminium was used as the alkylating reagent.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with PhthalaPhos, a new class of chiral supramolecular ligands

A library of 19 binol-derived chiral monophosphites that contain a phthalic acid diamide group (PhthalaPhos) has been designed and synthesized in four steps. These new ligands were screened in the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral dehydroamino esters and enamides. Several members of the library showed excellent enantioselectivity with methyl 2-acetamido acrylate (6 ligands gave >97% ee), methyl (Z)-2-acetamido cinnamate (6 ligands gave >94% ee), and N-(1-phenylvinyl)acetamide (9 ligands gave >95% ee), whilst only a few representatives afforded high enantioselectivities for challenging and industrially relevant substrates N-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)-acetamide (96% ee in one case) and methyl (E)-2-(acetamidomethyl)-3-phenylacrylate (99% ee in one case). In most cases, the new ligands were more active and more stereoselective than their structurally related monodentate phosphites (which are devoid of functional groups that are capable of hydrogen-bonding interactions). Control experiments and kinetic studies were carried out that allowed us to demonstrate that hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the diamide group of the PhthalaPhos ligands strongly contribute to their outstanding catalytic properties. Computational studies carried out on a rhodium precatalyst and on a conceivable intermediate in the hydrogenation catalytic cycle shed some light on the role played by hydrogen bonding, which is likely to act in a substrate-orientation effect.     

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of aryltitanium reagents generating chiral titanium enolates: isolation as silyl enol ethers

The addition of aryltitanium triisopropoxide (ArTi(OPr-i )3) to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones proceeded with high enantioselectivity (94-99.8% ee) in the presence of 3 mol % of [Rh(OH)((S )-binap)]2 in THF at 20 degrees C to give high yields of the titanium enolates as 1,4-addition products. The titanium enolates were converted into silyl enol ethers by treatment with chlorotrimethylsilane and lithium isopropoxide.     

Some new C2-symmetric bicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene ligands: synthesis and catalytic activity in rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4- and 1,2-additions

C₂-Symmetric bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes with various substituents (R=Bn, i-Bu, c-Hex, allyl) are prepared starting from the corresponding enantiomerically pure bis-triflate (R=OTf). These chiral ligands are tested and compared in rhodium(I)-catalyzed 1,4- and 1,2-addition of phenylboronic acid to cyclic enones and aryl aldehydes, respectively. Some interesting reactivity and selectivity effects due to the introduction of sterically demanding or olefinic substituents are reported. Moreover, remarkably high catalytic activity is observed for the rhodium(I)-catalyzed 1,2-addition.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of organoboronic acids to γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated aldehyde: facile synthesis of chiral β-substituted γ-lactones

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylvinyl- and arylboronic acids to a γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, which affords β-substituted γ-lactols, has been established using a diarylprolinol silyl ether as an organocatalyst. The β-substituted γ-lactols have been obtained in good yields and with up to 91% ee, which lead to chiral β-substituted γ-lactones followed by oxidation.