Spiro Skeletons: A Class of Privileged Structure for Chiral Ligand Design

This Focus Review highlights the exciting results obtained in the area of asymmetric catalysis using spirobiindane‐ or spirobifluorene‐based chiral ligands. The spiro, mono, and bidentate ligands have been successfully applied in a wide range of transition‐metal‐catalyzed asymmetric reactions, including hydrogenations, carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom coupling reactions, with superior or comparable enantioselectivities to those obtained by using the related ligands bearing other backbones, thus proving that the spiro skeleton is a type of privileged structure for chiral ligand design. It is expected that the spiro concept for chiral ligand design will stimulate the future efforts to understand the features that account for their broad applicability and to apply this understanding to seek new privileged chiral ligands and catalysts.     

Cooperative Catalysis of Metal and O?H⋅⋅⋅O/sp3‐C?H⋅⋅⋅O Two‐Point Hydrogen Bonds in Alcoholic Solvents: Cu‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Direct Alkynylation of Aldehydes with Terminal Alkynes

Catalyst–substrate hydrogen bonds in artificial catalysts usually occur in aprotic solvents, but not in protic solvents, in contrast to enzymatic catalysis. We report a case in which ligand–substrate hydrogen‐bonding interactions cooperate with a transition‐metal center in alcoholic solvents for enantioselective catalysis. Copper(I) complexes with prolinol‐based hydroxy amino phosphane chiral ligands catalytically promoted the direct alkynylation of aldehydes with terminal alkynes in alcoholic solvents to afford nonracemic secondary propargylic alcohols with high enantioselectivities. Quantum‐mechanical calculations of enantiodiscriminating transition states show the occurrence of a nonclassical sp³‐C? H???O hydrogen bond as a secondary interaction between the ligand and substrate, which results in highly directional catalyst–substrate two‐point hydrogen bonding.     

Recent Advances in the Development of Chiral Gold Complexes for Catalytic Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric gold catalysis has been rapidly developed in the past ten years. Breakthroughs have been made by rational design and meticulous selection of chiral ligands. This review summarizes newly developed gold-catalyzed enantioselective organic transformations and recent progress in ligand design (since 2016), organized according to different types of chiral ligands, including bisphosphine ligands, monophosphine ligands, phosphite-derived ligands, and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for asymmetric gold(I) catalysis as well as heterocyclic carbene ligands and oxazoline ligands for asymmetric gold(III) catalysis.     

Making Spiroketal‐based Diphosphine (SKP) Ligands via a Catalytic Asymmetric Approach

The spiro concept for chiral ligand design represents an important contribution to the area of asymmetric catalysis. Due to the considerable difficulties in the construction of enantiopure all‐carbon spiro backbones, the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral spiro structures via short steps is highly valuable. Herein we present our studies on the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of aromatic spiroketals and the corresponding diphosphine (SKP) ligands.     

Asymmetric Hydrogenations (Nobel Lecture)

The start of the development of catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation was the concept of replacing the triphenylphosphane ligand of the Wilkinson catalyst with a chiral ligand. With the new catalysts, it should be possible to hydrogenate prochiral olefins. Knowles and his co‐workers were convinced that the phosphorus atom played a central role in this selectivity, as only chiral phosphorus ligands such as (R,R)‐DIPAMP, whose stereogenic center lies directly on the phosphorus atom, lead to high enantiomeric excesses when used as catalysts in asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. This hypothesis was disproven by the development of ligands with chiral carbon backbones. Although the exact mechanism of action of the phosphane ligands is not incontrovertibly determined to this day, they provide a simple entry to a large number of chiral compounds.     

Chiral iridium(I) bis(NHC) complexes as catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

The common use of NHC complexes in transition‐metal mediated C–C coupling and metathesis reactions in recent decades has established N‐heterocyclic carbenes as a new class of ligand for catalysis. The field of asymmetric catalysis with complexes bearing NHC‐containing chiral ligands is dominated by mixed carbene/oxazoline or carbene/phosphane chelating ligands. In contrast, applications of complexes with chiral, chelating bis(NHC) ligands are rare. In the present work new chiral iridium(I) bis(NHC) complexes and their application in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones are described. A series of chiral bis(azolium) salts have been prepared following a synthetic pathway, starting from L ‐valinol and the modular buildup allows the structural variation of the ligand precursors. The iridium complexes were formed via a one‐pot transmetallation procedure. The prepared complexes were applied as catalysts in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various prochiral ketones, affording the corresponding chiral alcohols in high yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities of up to 68%. The enantioselectivities of the catalysts were strongly affected by the various, terminal N‐substituents of the chelating bis(NHC) ligands. The results presented in this work indicate the potential of bis‐carbenes as stereodirecting ligands for asymmetric catalysis and are offering a base for further developments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequential Rhodium/Palladium Catalysis: Enantioselective Formation of Dihydroquinolinones in the Presence of Achiral and Chiral Ligands

Compatible combinations of achiral and chiral ligands can be used in rhodium/palladium catalysis to achieve highly enantioselective domino reactions. The difference in rates of catalysis and minimal effects of ligand interference confer control in the domino sequence. The “all‐in‐one” 1,4‐conjugate arylation and C? N cross‐coupling through sequential Rh/Pd catalysis provides access to enantioenriched dihydroquinolinone building blocks.     

DNA‐Based Hybrid Catalysts for Asymmetric Organic Synthesis

Stereoselective hybrid systems based on metal‐assisted catalysis with a chiral biomacromolecule form an attractive research area for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds. Although various methods are available for this purpose, most rely on the use of enzymes, proteins, or RNA. The application of DNA‐based hybrid catalysts for enantioselective synthesis emerged only a few years ago. DNA‐based hybrid catalysts have been self‐assembled from DNA and a metal complex with a specific ligand through supramolecular or covalent anchoring strategies and have demonstrated high stereoselectivity and rate enhancement in Lewis acid catalyzed reactions, such as Diels–Alder, Michael addition, and Friedel–Crafts reactions. For these reactions, cheap and commercially available salmon testes DNA has generally been used. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments in the area of asymmetric catalysis with DNA‐based hybrid catalysts.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Isoindolones by Chiral Cyclopentadienyl‐Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Functionalizations

Directed Cp*Rh^III‐catalyzed carbon–hydrogen (C? H) bond functionalizations have evolved as a powerful strategy for the construction of heterocycles. Despite their high value, the development of related asymmetric reactions is largely lagging behind due to a limited availability of robust and tunable chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands. Rhodium complexes comprising a chiral Cp ligand with an atropchiral biaryl backbone enables an asymmetric synthesis of isoindolones from arylhydroxamates and weakly alkyl donor/acceptor diazo derivatives as one‐carbon component under mild conditions. The complex guides the substrates with a high double facial selectivity yielding the chiral isoindolones in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.     

Nanosheet‐Enhanced Asymmetric Induction of Chiral α‐Amino Acids in Catalytic Aldol Reaction

An efficient ligand design strategy towards boosting asymmetric induction was proposed, which simply employed inorganic nanosheets to modify α‐amino acids and has been demonstrated to be effective in vanadium‐catalyzed epoxidation of allylic alcohols. Here, the strategy was first extended to zinc‐catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction, a versatile bottom‐up route to make complex functional compounds. Zinc, the second‐most abundant transition metal in humans, is an environment‐friendly catalytic center. The strategy was then further proved valid for organocatalyzed metal‐free asymmetric catalysis, that is, α‐amino acid catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction. Visible improvement of enantioselectivity was experimentally achieved irrespective of whether the nanosheet‐attached α‐amino acids were applied as chiral ligands together with catalytic Zn^II centers or as chiral catalysts alone. The layered double hydroxide nanosheet was clearly found by theoretical calculations to boost ee through both steric and H‐bonding effects; this resembles the role of a huge and rigid substituent.     

Asymmetric Catalysis with Bis(hydroxyphenyl)diamides/Rare‐Earth Metal Complexes

A series of asymmetric catalysts composed of conformationally flexible amide‐based chiral ligands and rare‐earth metals was developed for proton‐transfer catalysis. These ligands derived from amino acids provide an intriguing chiral platform for the formation of asymmetric catalysts upon complexation with rare‐earth metals. The scope of this arsenal of catalysts was further broadened by the development of heterobimetallic catalytic systems. The cooperative function of hydrogen bonding and metal coordination resulted in intriguing substrate specificity and stereocontrol, and the dynamic nature of the catalysts led to a switch of their function. Herein, we summarize our recent exploration of this class of catalysts.     

从碳中心到硅中心:手性螺环双膦配体研究的发展

手性螺环配体和催化剂已被公认是一类优势手性配体和催化剂。手性螺环配体的相关研究，促进了不对称催化领域的发展。根据螺环骨架类型进行分类，分别讨论具有螺[4.4]壬烷骨架、螺二氢茚骨架、螺[4.4]壬二烯骨架以及螺二色烷骨架的手性螺环双膦配体的合成及在不对称催化反应中的应用，为今后发展新的不对称催化体系提供了重要参考。     

Complementing Pyridine‐2,6‐bis(oxazoline) with Cyclometalated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene for Asymmetric Ruthenium Catalysis

A strategy for expanding the utility of chiral pyridine‐2,6‐bis(oxazoline) (pybox) ligands for asymmetric transition metal catalysis is introduced by adding a bidentate ligand to modulate the electronic properties and asymmetric induction. Specifically, a ruthenium(II) pybox fragment is combined with a cyclometalated N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand to generate catalysts for enantioselective transition metal nitrenoid chemistry, including ring contraction to chiral 2H‐azirines (up to 97 % ee with 2000 TON) and enantioselective C(sp³)?H aminations (up to 97 % ee with 50 TON).     

Chiral Hemilabile P,N-Ligand-Assisted Gold Redox Catalysis for Enantioselective Alkene Aminoarylation

Enantioselective, intermolecular alkene arylamination was achieved through gold redox catalysis. Screening of ligands revealed chiral P,N ligands as the optimal choice, giving alkene aminoarylation with good yields (up to 80 %) and excellent stereoselectivity (up to 99 : 1 er). As the first example of enantioselective gold redox catalysis, this work confirmed the feasibility of applying a chiral ligand at the gold(I) stage, with the stereodetermining step (SDS) at the gold(III) intermediate, thus opening up a new way to conduct gold redox catalysis with stereochemistry control.     

A Readily Accessible Class of Chiral Cp Ligands and their Application in RuII‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Syntheses of Dihydrobenzoindoles

Chiral cyclopentadienyl (Cp^x) ligands have a large application potential in enantioselective transition‐metal catalysis. However, the development of concise and practical routes to such ligands remains in its infancy. We present a convenient and efficient two‐step synthesis of a novel class of chiral Cp^x ligands with tunable steric properties that can be readily used for complexation, giving Cp^xRh^I, Cp^xIr^I, and Cp^xRu^II complexes. The potential of this ligand class is demonstrated with the latter in the enantioselective cyclization of azabenzonorbornadienes with alkynes, affording dihydrobenzoindoles in up to 98:2 e.r., significantly outperforming existing binaphthyl‐derived Cp^x ligands.     

Asymmetric Synthesis and Application of Chiral Spirosilabiindanes

Reported here is the development of a class of chiral spirosilabiindane scaffolds by Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric double hydrosilation, for the first time. Enantiopure SPSiOL (spirosilabiindane diol), a new type of chiral building block for the preparation of various chiral ligands and catalysts, was readily prepared on greater than 10 gram scale using this protocol. The potential of this new spirosilabiindane scaffold in asymmetric catalysis was preliminarily demonstrated by development of the corresponding monodentate phosphoramidite ligands (SPSiPhos), which were used in both a Rh‐catalyzed hydrogenation and a Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular carboamination.     

Trio Catalysis Merging Enamine,Brønsted Acid,and Metal Lewis Acid Catalysis: Asymmetric Three‐Component Aza‐Diels–Alder Reaction of Substituted Cinnamaldehydes,Cyclic Ketones,and Arylamines

A trio catalyst system, composed of arylamine, BINOL‐derived phosphoric acid, and Y(OTf)₃, enables the combination of enamine catalysis with both hard metal Lewis acid catalysis and Brønsted acid catalysis for the first time. Using this catalyst system, a three‐component aza‐Diels–Alder reaction of substituted cinnamaldehyde, cyclic ketone, and arylamine is carried out with high chemo‐ and enantioselectivity, affording a series of optically active 1,4‐dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives are obtained in 91–99 % ee and 59–84 % yield. DHPs bearing a chiral quaternary carbon center are also obtained with good enantioselectivity and moderate yield (three examples). Preliminary mechanistic investigations have also been conducted.     

A Kinetic and Structural Investigation of DNA‐Based Asymmetric Catalysis Using First‐Generation Ligands

The recently developed concept of DNA‐based asymmetric catalysis involves the transfer of chirality from the DNA double helix in reactions using a noncovalently bound catalyst. To date, two generations of DNA‐based catalysts have been reported that differ in the design of the ligand for the metal. Herein we present a study of the first generation of DNA‐based catalysts, which contain ligands comprising a metal‐binding domain linked through a spacer to a 9‐aminoacridine moiety. Particular emphasis has been placed on determining the effect of DNA on the structure of the Cu^II complex and the catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction. The most important findings are that the role of DNA is limited to being a chiral scaffold; no rate acceleration was observed in the presence of DNA. Furthermore, the optimal DNA sequence for obtaining high enantioselectivities proved to contain alternating GC nucleotides. Finally, DNA has been shown to interact with the Cu^II complex to give a chiral structure. Comparison with the second generation of DNA‐based catalysts, which bear bipyridine‐type ligands, revealed marked differences, which are believed to be related to the DNA microenvironment in which the catalyst resides and where the reaction takes place.     

Ferrocene‐Based Planar Chiral Imidazopyridinium Salts for Catalysis

Planar chirality remains an underutilized control element in asymmetric catalysis. Factors that have limited its broader application in catalysis include poor catalyst performance and difficulties associated with the economical production of enantiopure planar chiral compounds. The construction of planar chiral azolium salts that incorporate a sterically demanding iron sandwich complex is now reported. Applications of this new N‐heterocyclic carbene as both an organocatalyst and a ligand for transition‐metal catalysis demonstrate its unprecedented versatility and potential broad utility in asymmetric catalysis.