Stereospecific Palladium-Catalyzed Acylation of Enantioenriched Alkylcarbastannatranes: A General Alternative to Asymmetric Enolate Reactions

We report the development of a Pd-catalyzed process for the cross coupling of unactivated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylcarbastannatrane nucleophiles with acyl electrophiles. Reactions involving optically active alkylcarbastannatranes occur with exceptional stereofidelity and with net retention of absolute configuration. Because the stereochemistry of the resulting products is entirely reagent-controlled, this process may be viewed as a general, alternative approach to the preparation of products typically accessed via asymmetric enolate methodologies. Additionally, we report a new method for the preparation of optically active alkylcarbastannatranes, which should facilitate their future use in stereospecific reactions.     

Candida Rugosa lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of β-hydroxy-β-arylpropionates and δ-hydroxy-δ-aryl-β-oxo-pentanoates

A simple and convenient method was reported for the preparation of optically active β-hydroxy-β-arylpropionates, δ-hydroxy-δ-aryl-β-oxo-pentanoates and their butyryl derivatives via CRL-catalyzed hydrolysis. The optically active products are potential precursors of some chiral pharmaceuticals and natural products.     

Preparation of Optically Active Six‐Membered P‐Heterocycles: A 3‐Phosphabicyclo[3.1.0] hexane 3‐oxide,a 1,2‐Dihydrophosphinine 1‐oxide,and a 1,2,3,6‐Tetrahydrophosphinine 1‐oxide

The earlier described a 3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐3‐phospholene 1‐oxide ( 1 ) → 6,6‐dichloro‐1‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐3‐phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3‐oxide ( 2 ) → 4‐chloro‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydrophosphinine 1‐oxide ( 3 ) → 4‐chloro‐5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophosphinine 1‐oxide ( 4 ) reaction sequence was investigated from the point of view of preparing optically active intermediates/products ( 2–4 ). In principle, both the resolution of the corresponding racemic products and the transformation of the optically active starting materials are suitable approaches for the preparation of optically active six‐membered P‐heterocycles ( 2–4 ). Racemization occurred during the dichlorocyclopropanation reaction of (S)‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐3‐phospholene 1‐oxide ((S)‐ 1 ), but the thermolytic ring opening of (−)‐ 2, and the selective reduction of α,β‐double bond of (−)‐ 3 did not cause the loss of optical activity. First in the literature, the resolution of a 3‐phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3‐oxide ( 2 ) and a 1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophosphinine 1‐oxide ( 4 ) was elaborated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 24:179–186, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21080     

Ir‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐Alkylidene β‐Lactams and Cyclobutanones

Chiral β‐lactams and cyclobutanones are present in numerous natural and pharmaceutical products. The stereoselective construction of chiral four‐membered cyclic compounds is an ongoing challenge for the chemical community. Herein, we report a highly stereocontrolled construction of four‐membered ring (mini‐sized) β‐lactams and cyclobutanones via an Ir/ In‐BiphPHOX ‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation, providing the corresponding optically active four‐membered ring carbonyl products bearing an α‐chiral carbon center with excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98%) under mild reaction conditions (1.0—2.5 bar H₂ for 1.0—10 h). The reaction presents wide substrate scope. Diverse transformations of the catalyzed products were also conducted to show the potential utility of this protocol.     

1,6-Anhydroglucose in organic synthesis; preparation of fragments suitable for natural product synthesis

1,6-Anhydroglucose has been used for the stereocontrolled preparation of optically active units which should be suitable for the synthesis of propionate-derived natural products.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Alkenylation of Enelactams Using a Relay Heck Strategy

In this report, a palladium-catalyzed redox-relay Heck process to access optically active alkenylated α,β-unsaturated lactams is described. Under mild reaction conditions, electron-deficient alkenyl triflates and electron-rich alkenyl iodonium salts undergo enantioselective and site-selective coupling with enelactams to deliver the products in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the products allow facile access to natural products such as (+)-calvine and (+)-2-epicalvine in addition to the bioactive molecule aza-goniothalamin.     

Asymmetric organocatalytic Biginelli reactions: a new approach to quickly access optically active 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones

The Biginelli reaction, known for over 100 years, is an important multicomponent reaction for accessing dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs). The individual enantiomers of DHPMs exhibit different or even opposite pharmaceutical activities, which require synthetic methods to easily access the optically pure DHPMs. In recent decades, many efforts have focused on developing procedures for the preparation of optically active Biginelli products. In this article, we will summarize the developments in the synthetic methods to access optically active DHPMs with an emphasis on the recent advances in the asymmetric catalytic Biginelli reactions, along with concepts to design the organocatalytic asymmetric variants.     

Stereospecific Electrophilic Fluorination of Alkylcarbastannatrane Reagents

We report the use of isolable primary and secondary alkylcarbastannatrane nucleophiles in site‐specific fluorination reactions. These reactions occur without the need for transition metal catalysis or in situ activation of the nucleophile. In the absence of the carbastannatrane backbone, alkyltin nucleophiles exhibit no activity towards fluorination. When enantioenriched alkylcarbastannatranes are employed, fluorination occurs predominately via a stereoinvertive mechanism to generate highly enantioenriched alkyl fluoride compounds. These conditions can also be extended to stereospecific chlorination, bromination, and iodination reactions.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with Enantiomerically Pure Catalysts and Chiral Non‐Racemic Substrates: A New Approach to Catalyst‐Based Regiocontrol,Preliminary Communication

Chiral, enantiomerically pure Pd‐catalysts were used to control the regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack in allylic substitutions with optically active 1,3‐disubstituted allyl acetates (Schemes 4 – 6). In contrast to reactions with achiral catalysts, where the regioselectivity is determined by the steric and electronic effects of the allylic substituents, chiral catalysts allow selective preparation of either one of the two regioisomeric products, depending on which enantiomer of the catalyst is employed. It is not necessary to start from an enantiomerically pure substrate, because the major and minor enantiomers are converted to different regioisomers (not to enantiomeric products; see Scheme 3), resulting in products of very high ee, even when the starting material is only of moderate enantiomer purity.     

Formation of scalemic α,β-epoxysulfones

This report describes the preparation of optically active α,β-epoxysulfones using an asymmetric phase-transfer catalyzed epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated sulfones.     

An Unexpected Michael–Aldol–Smiles Rearrangement Sequence for the Synthesis of Versatile Optically Active Bicyclic Structures by Using Asymmetric Organocatalysis

A facile and simple organocatalytic procedure to generate optically active 6‐alkyl‐ and 6‐aryl‐substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐5‐en‐2‐ones is presented. The reaction is catalysed by a 9‐amino‐9‐deoxyepiquinine trifluoroacetic acid salt, which activates α,β‐unsaturated cyclic ketones for the 1,4‐addition of β‐keto benzothiazoyl sulfones in a stereoselective fashion. Subsequent intramolecular aldol reaction and Smiles rearrangement gives rise to important optically active bicycles, which are a common motif in natural products, ligands in asymmetric catalysis and substrates for Cope rearrangements, photochemical reactions, radical cyclisations and metathesis. Different bicyclic structures were obtained by utilisation of various cyclic enones or by performing ring‐expanding reactions. Furthermore, two possible mechanistic pathways are outlined and discussed.     

Synthesis and NMR spectroscopic studies of optically active derivatives of γ‐aminobutenoic acids and 2‐amino‐pyrrolin‐4‐ones

An efficient method for the preparation of optically active derivatives of γ‐amino‐butenoic acids and their cyclic derivatives, 2‐amino‐pyrrolin‐4‐ones, from α‐amino acids is described. Partial racemization accompanies the formation of initial unsaturated γ‐amino‐β‐hydroxy esters 5–8 , as determined by chiral HPLC.     

Synthesis and properties of novel optically active polyimides

A facile synthesis of an optically active di‐isocyanate containing alkylene groups and a preformed imide structure is described. Polycondensation reactions of the prepared di‐isocyanate with pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride resulted in the preparation of optically active, thermally stable polyimides. The prepared monomer and polymers were characterized by conventional methods. Optical and physical properties of the polymers including thermal stability, thermal behavior, solution viscosity, and solubility behavior were studied. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 514–518, 2001     

Asymmetric Syntheses Aided by Biocatalysts

This article summarizes the achievements of the authors‘ group in the area of biocatalyst-catalyzed organic reactions in recent 10 years. A strain of Geotrichum sp. obtained by screeninu is capable of stereoselectlvely reducing a number of carbonyl compounds. In many cases, the stermghemistry is complementary with that obtained by baker‘ s yeast. Therefore, this microorganism provides a useful pathway to the preparation of alcohol eompounds with specific configurations. On the other hand, a nmmber of plant sourees have been screened for oxynitrilases and the hydrocyanation reactions of various arylcarboxalde-hydes have been investigated.A“micro-aqueous reaction system“ was invented,by which a serles of novel optically active cyanohydrins were prepared.On this hasis,a high through-put comtimasous reaction system has been designed.This paper also deseribes examples of the syntheses of bio-active compounds by using the optieally active compounds obtained from the above mentioned catalytic reactions as precursors.     

Electrochemically active, anti-biofouling polymer adlayers on indium-tin-oxide electrodes

Here we report the synthesis of a novel electrochemically active polymer, preparation of adlayers of the polymer on optically transparent electrodes, and an application of the adlayers to immobilization of engineered cells through a direct covalent coupling reaction.     

A New Simple Synthesis of Optically Active Alkylpyridines: Remarks on the Maximum Rotatory Power of (+)-(S)-3-s. Butylpyridine

Our interest in the synthesis of optically active alkylpyridines led us to develop several synthetic routes to these products.^1–5 In particular, 2-alkylsuccinaldehyde monoacetals (1), which can be easily prepared without racemization through rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of α, β- unsaturated aldehyde acetals,⁶ proved to be valuable starting materials for the preparation of optically active 3-alkylpyridines (6).²     

Anion Sensing by Solution‐ and Surface‐Assembled Osmium(II) Bipyridyl Rotaxanes

We report the preparation of [2]rotaxanes containing an electrochemically and optically active osmium(II) bipyridyl macrocyclic component mechanically bonded with cationic pyridinium axles. Such interlocked host systems are demonstrated to recognise and sense anionic guest species as shown by ¹H NMR, luminescence and electrochemical studies. The rotaxanes can be surface assembled on to gold electrodes through anion templation under click copper(I)‐catalysed Huisgen cycloaddition conditions to form rotaxane molecular films, which, after template removal, respond electrochemically and selectively to chloride.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Imidazolidin‐4‐ones via Domino Reactions

A series of imidazolidin‐4‐one derivatives was synthesized via a domino reaction of aldiminoesters and dialkylzinc. Chiral ligands were also examined in this reaction to obtain optically active products.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryl Boronic Acids–Switch from β‐OH Elimination to Protodemetalation

It is known that Rh‐catalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with aryl metallic reagents undergoes S_N2’‐type reaction affording allenes via a sequential arylmetalation and β‐OH elimination process. Here we report a Rh/Ag‐cocatalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with organoboronic acids affording stereo‐defined (E)‐3‐arylallylic alcohols via arylmetalation and protodemetalation with a high regio‐ and stereoselectivity under very mild conditions. The reaction exhibits a good substrate scope and the compatibility with synthetically useful functional groups with no racemization for optically active propargylic alcohols. Such a reaction may also be extended to homopropargylic alcohols with a remarkable regioselectivity and exclusive E‐stereoselectivity.     

Enantioselective addition of ketene silyl acetals to nitrones catalyzed by chiral titanium complexes. Synthesis of optically active beta-amino acids

A chiral titanium complex, Ti(O-i-Pr)(4)/BINOL/tert-butylcatechol, catalyzes enantioselective addition reaction of ketene silyl acetals to nitrones to give optically active beta-amino acid derivatives which are biologically active compounds and useful synthetic intermediates of natural products and pharmaceuticals such as beta-lactam antibiotics. The combined process of catalytic oxidation of secondary amines and enantioselective carbon-carbon bond formation of nitrones thus obtained with ketene silyl acetals provides a useful two-step method for the synthesis of optically active beta-amino acid derivatives and related nitrogen compounds.