Spontaneous Chiral Symmetry Breaking for Finite Systems

Theoretical clues are desirable to help uncover the origin of bio‐homochirality in life, as well as the mechanisms for the asymmetric production of functional chiral substances. Here, an open‐to‐matter reaction network based on a model proposed by Plasson et al. is studied. In the extended model, the statistical fluctuations lead the system to break chiral symmetry autonomously, that is, without any initial enantiomeric excess or external influence. In the stability diagrams, we observe regions of parameter space that correspond to racemic, homochiral, chiral oscillatory, and, to our knowledge, for the first time in a chiral model, chaotic regimes. The dependencies of the final concentrations of chiral substances on the parameters are determined analytically and discussed for both the racemic and homochiral regimes.     

Enantioselective Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Phosphine Oxides

The development of enantioselective aldol reactions catalyzed by chiral phosphine oxides is described. The aldol reactions presented herein do not require the prior preparation of the masked enol ethers from carbonyl compounds as aldol donors. The reactions proceed through a trichlorosilyl enol ether intermediate, formed in situ from carbonyl compounds, which then acts as the aldol donor. Phosphine oxides activate the trichlorosilyl enol ethers to afford the aldol adducts with high stereoselectivities. This procedure was used to realize a directed cross‐aldol reaction between ketones and two types of double aldol reactions (a reaction at one/two α position(s) of a carbonyl group) with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities.     

精氨酸水相催化直接羟醛缩合反应：一个 环境友好的反应体系

本文研究了精氨酸在水中催化羟醛缩合反应,结果表明：精氨酸在水相中可作为一种高效的有机小分子催化剂,催化缺电子芳香醛与酮间的反应,催化剂精氨酸可以回收重复使用10次,催化活性基本不变。     

无溶剂条件下脯氨酸甲酯催化syn选择性羟醛缩合反应

详细研究了无溶剂条件下L-脯氨酸甲酯催化环戊酮与一系列醛间的直接羟醛缩合反应,结果表明:对于环戊酮与醛的羟醛缩合反应,脯氨酸甲酯是一种高效的催化剂,在优化条件下,反应能给出非常好的收率和syn非对映选择性(可达100%).     

A Designer Axially Chiral Amino Sulfonamide as an Efficient Organocatalyst for Direct Asymmetric anti‐Selective Mannich Reactions and syn‐Selective Cross‐Aldol Reactions

Amino sulfonamide catalyst : A distal proton of the axially chiral amino sulfonamide (S)‐ 1 realized the opposite diastereoselectivity in Mannich and cross‐aldol reactions compared with that observed in proline‐catalyzed reactions. The reactions catalyzed by (S)‐ 1 proceeded smoothly to give the anti‐Mannich and syn‐aldol adducts in excellent enantioselectivity (see scheme).

     

Mirror Symmetry Breaking by Chirality Synchronisation in Liquids and Liquid Crystals of Achiral Molecules

Spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking is an efficient way to obtain homogeneously chiral agents, pharmaceutical ingredients and materials. It is also in the focus of the discussion around the emergence of uniform chirality in biological systems. Tremendous progress has been made by symmetry breaking during crystallisation from supercooled melts or supersaturates solutions and by self‐assembly on solid surfaces and in other highly ordered structures. However, recent observations of spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking in liquids and liquid crystals indicate that it is not limited to the well‐ordered solid state. Herein, progress in the understanding of a new dynamic mode of symmetry breaking, based on chirality synchronisation of transiently chiral molecules in isotropic liquids and in bicontinuous cubic, columnar, smectic and nematic liquid crystalline phases is discussed. This process leads to spontaneous deracemisation in the liquid state under thermodynamic control, giving rise to long‐term stable symmetry‐broken fluids, even at high temperatures. These fluids form conglomerates that are capable of extraordinary strong chirality amplification, eventually leading to homochirality and providing a new view on the discussion of emergence of uniform chirality in prebiotic systems.     

The Viedma Deracemization of Racemic Conglomerate Mixtures as a Paradigm of Spontaneous Mirror Symmetry Breaking in Aggregation and Polymerization

Simulations of a chemical kinetics model, based on the free‐energy relationships of classical primary nucleation theory, show that the deracemization phenomenon in systems of achiral or fast racemizing compounds yielding enantiopure crystals as the more stable solid phase is a true spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking process (SMSB). That is, the achievement of a stationary chiral state is more stable than the racemic one. The model translates the free‐energy relationships determined by the existence of a critical size cluster to a chemical kinetics model, in which the consideration of forward and backward reaction rate constants avoids the misuse of network parameters that violate thermodynamic constraints (microreversibility principle), which would lead to apparent in silico SMSB. The model provides qualitative agreement for deracemizations by mechanical attrition of visible crystals, as well as for those obtained under temperature gradients. The analysis of the effect of the system parameters to obtain a SMSB scenario shows that the network possesses the principal characteristics of SMSB networks: 1) an enantioselective autocatalytic stage, corresponding to the non‐linear kinetics of enantioselective (homochiral) cluster‐to‐cluster growth, and 2) the mutual inhibition step originating in the backward flow of chiral clusters towards smaller achiral clusters, or even to a racemizing monomer. The application of such a SMSB kinetic model to enantioselective polymerizations and to chiral biopolymers is discussed.     

Spontaneous Mirror‐Symmetry Breaking in Isotropic Liquid Phases of Photoisomerizable Achiral Molecules

Spontaneous mirror‐symmetry breaking is of fundamental importance in science as it contributes to the development of chiral superstructures and new materials and has a major impact on the discussion around the emergence of uniform chirality in biological systems. Herein we report chirality synchronization, leading to spontaneous chiral conglomerate formation in isotropic liquids of achiral and photoisomerizable azobenzene‐based rod‐like molecules. The position of fluorine substituents at the aromatic core is found to have a significant effect on the stability and the temperature range of these chiral liquids. Moreover, these liquid conglomerates occur in a new phase sequence adjacent to a 3D tetragonal mesophase.     

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Domino Michael/Aldol Reactions: Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Cycloheptanones,Tetrahydrochromenones, and Polyfunctionalized Bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

C′mon 1,2‐dione : A new diastereo‐ and enantioselective Lewis base catalyzed domino Michael/aldol reaction converts α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and 1,2‐diones into chiral bicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐6‐carbaldehydes. The products are produced in good to excellent enantioselectivities (90–98 % ee) and can be transformed into bicyclic diols and triols. Additionally, a retro‐aldol cyclization provides access to valuable tetrahydrochromenones (see scheme).

     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Domino Michael/Aldol Reactions: An Efficient Procedure for the Stereocontrolled Construction of 2H‐Thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline Scaffolds

An efficient procedure for the stereocontrolled construction of 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinoline scaffolds has been developed, starting from simple compounds. The domino Michael/aldol reactions between 2‐mercaptobenzaldehydes and enals, promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether, proceed with excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding synthetically useful and pharmaceutically valuable 2H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]quinolines in high yields with 90–99 % ee.     

脯氨酸催化不对称羟醛缩合反应机理研究进展

脯氨酸催化不对称直接羟醛缩合反应是近年来不对称合成研究的热点. 综述并讨论了分子内和分子间不对称直接羟醛缩合的反应机理及其微观过程.     

缩氨基(硫)脲席夫碱化合物的自发对称性破缺研究

制备了4-苯基-1-(吡啶-2-亚甲基)氨基脲(PPMSC)和4-苯基-1-(吡啶-2-亚甲基)氨基硫脲(PPMTC).用元素分析、MS、1HNMR、UV吸收光谱、X射线单晶衍射和固体CD光谱等对其进行了表征.晶体结构数据显示PPMSC属于Sohncke P212121空间群,单个分子之间通过氢键形成一个一维螺旋链状结构,沿a轴形成左手螺旋结构.固体CD光谱和重结晶实验证明,PPMSC手性晶体的形成是结晶诱导的绝对不对称合成.PPMTC的固体CD光谱和重结晶实验具有与PPMSC类似现象.