Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,4,5‐Trisubstituted Δ2‐Thiazolines

Δ²‐Thiazolines are interesting heterocycles that display a wide variety of biological characteristics. They are also common in chiral ligands used for asymmetric syntheses and as synthetic intermediates. Herein, we present asymmetric routes to 2,4,5‐trisubstituted Δ²‐thiazolines. These Δ²‐thiazolines were synthesized from readily accessible/commercially available α,β‐unsaturated methyl esters through a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and an O→N acyl migration reaction as key steps. The final products were obtained in good yields with up to 97 % enantiomeric excess.     

Asymmetric Hydroformylation of 4‐Vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one

A chiral cyclic carbonate, 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one was used as racemic substrate in asymmetric hydroformylation. The catalysts were formed in situ from “pre‐formed” PtCl₂(diphosphine) and tin(II) chloride. (2S,4S )‐2,4‐Bis(diphenylphosphinopentane ((S,S )‐BDPP)), (S,S )‐2,3‐O‐izopropylidine‐2,3‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane ((S,S )‐DIOP)), and (R )‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ((R )‐BINAP)) were used as optically active diphosphine ligands. The platinum‐containing catalytic systems provided surprisingly high activity. The hydroformylation selectivities of up to 97% were accompanied by perfect regioselectivity towards the dioxolane‐based linear aldehyde. The enantiomeric composition of all components in the reaction mixture was determined and followed throughout the reaction. The unreacted 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one was recovered in optically active form. The kinetic resolution was rationalized using the enantiomeric composition of the substrate and the products.     

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 7‐cyano‐7‐alkoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 7‐cyano‐7‐alkoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides ( 1 ) with various alkoxy groups were performed using chiral initiators such as lithium isopropylphenoxide (ⁱPrPhOLi)/(S)‐(–)‐2,2′‐isopropylidene‐bis(4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline) ((–)‐PhBox) and lithium isopropylphenoxide (ⁱPrPhOLi)/(–)‐sparteine ((–)‐Sp) to investigate the effect of the alkoxy groups of alkoxycarbonyl substituent in the monomers 1 and chiral ligands of chiral initiators on the control of chiral center in the formation of polymers. Molar optical rotation values of the polymers were significantly dependent upon alkoxy groups, and the polymers with higher molar optical rotation were obtained in monomers with primary alkoxy groups. The asymmetric anionic oligomerizations of the quinone methides having methoxy( 1a ), ethoxy( 1b ), and n‐propoxy( 1c ) groups with chiral initiators were carried out. Both 1‐mers and 2‐mers were isolated and their optical resolutions were performed to determine the extent of stereocontrol. High stereoselectivity was observed at the propagation reaction, but not at the initiation reaction. The effect of the counterion on the control of chiral center in the formation of the polymer was investigated in the asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 1b with ⁱPrPhOM(M = Li, Na, K)/(–)‐Sp and ⁱPrPhOM(M = Li, Na, K)/(–)‐PhBox initiators and discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α‐Tocopherol

α‐Tocopherol was synthesized from a chiral intermediate α‐hydroxy ester by means of two ring‐closing methods to yield the chromanol in 94 % diastereomeric excess.     

Atropselective Dibrominations of a 1,1′‐Disubstituted 2,2′‐Biindolyl with Diverging Point‐to‐Axial Asymmetric Inductions. Deriving 2,2′‐Biindolyl‐3,3′‐diphosphane Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis

On the ¹H NMR timescale, 2,2′‐biindolyls with (R)‐configured (1‐alkoxyprop)‐2‐yl, (1‐hydroxyprop)‐2‐yl, or (1‐siloxyprop)‐2‐yl substituents at C‐1 and C‐1′ are atropisomerically stable at <0 °C and interconvert at >30 °C. A 2,2′‐biindolyl (R,R)‐ 17 a of that kind and achiral (!) brominating reagents gave the atropisomerically stable 3,3′‐dibromobiindolyls (M)‐ and/or (P)‐ 18 a at best atropselectively—because of point‐to‐axial asymmetric inductions—and atropdivergently, exhibiting up to 95 % (M)‐ and as much (P)‐atropselectivity. This route to atropisomerically pure biaryls is novel and should extend to other substrates and/or different functionalizations. The dibromobiindolyls (M)‐ and (P)‐ 18 a furnished the biindolyldiphosphanes (M)‐ and (P)‐ 14 without atropisomerization. These syntheses did not require the resolution of a racemic mixture, which distinguishes them from virtually all biaryldiphosphane syntheses known to date. (M)‐ and (P)‐ 14 acted as ligands in catalytic asymmetric allylations and hydrogenations. Remarkably, the β‐ketoester rac‐ 25 c was hydrogenated trans‐selectively with 98 % ee; this included a dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α‐Substituted N‐Methylsulfonamides

A novel amine auxiliary for the asymmetric synthesis of α‐substituted N‐methylsulfonamides is described. The reaction of 4‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐amine ( 16 ) with various aliphatic sulfonyl chlorides afforded the corresponding sulfonamides, which were lithiated and subsequently reacted with electrophiles to give the corresponding products in high yields and good‐to‐excellent asymmetric inductions (de 83–95%). Racemization‐free cleavage of the auxiliary led to the α‐alkylated N‐methylsulfonamides in acceptable yields and high enantiomer purities (ee 91 to ≥98).     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Aminohydroxylation of 1,3‐Dienes

A Pd^II‐catalyzed asymmetric aminohydroxylation of 1,3‐dienes with N‐tosyl‐2‐aminophenols was developed by making use of a chiral pyridinebis(oxazoline) ligand. The highly regioselective reaction provides direct and efficient access to chiral 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazines in high yield and enantioselectivity (up to 96:4 e.r.). The reaction employs readily available N‐tosyl‐2‐aminophenols as a unique aminohydroxylation reagent and is complementary to known asymmetric aminohydroxylation methods.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 2‐Amidoacrylates

Earth‐abundant nickel, coordinated with a suitable chiral bisphosphine ligand, was found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2‐amidoacrylates, affording the chiral α‐amino acid esters in quantitative yields and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 96 % ee). The active catalyst component was studied by NMR and HRMS, which helped us to realize high catalytic efficiency on a gram scale with a low catalyst loading (S/C=2000). The hydrogenated products could be simply converted into chiral α‐amino acids, β‐amino alcohols, and their bioactive derivatives. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism was investigated using deuterium‐labeling experiments and computational calculations.