Total Synthesis of (R,R,R)‐α‐Tocopherol Through Asymmetric Cu‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition

By introducing a disposable activating substituent at C‐3, the asymmetric 1,4‐addition to a notoriously unreactive 2‐substituted chromenone was achieved with high levels of (2R)‐stereoselectivity in the presence of a chiral Cu^I‐phosphoramidite complex as a catalyst. This paved the way for an efficient and conceptually novel synthesis of (R,R,R)‐α‐tocopherol from readily available starting materials.     

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.     

A Convergent Total Synthesis of the Telomerase Inhibitor (±)‐γ‐Rubromycin

The total synthesis of the human telomerase inhibitor γ‐rubromycin in its racemic form was accomplished in 3.8 % overall yield. The key feature of this synthesis is an efficient acid‐catalyzed spiroketalization for the construction of the spiroketal core. The required electronically well‐balanced spiroketal precursor was obtained by the convergent assembly of a naphthyl‐substituted aldehyde, an α‐methoxyallyl‐γ‐silyl‐substituted phosphonate as the central C₃ building block, and a highly functionalized aryl Grignard reagent. Another key feature is the late‐stage construction of the isocoumarin moiety and a simultaneous protodesilylation furnishing the known methyl aryl ether protected precursor of γ‐rubromycin.     

Asymmetric Copper‐Catalyzed Vinylogous Mukaiyama Michael Addition of Cyclic Dienol Silanes to Unsaturated α‐Keto Phosphonates

A highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama Michael reaction (VMMR) leading to α‐keto phosphonate‐containing γ‐butenolides with two stereogenic centers is described. The presented transformation is catalyzed by a combination of a commercially available C₂‐symmetric bisoxazoline (BOX) ligand and a copper salt and tolerates a variety of nucleophiles and electrophiles. The stereoselectivities of the reactions are good to excellent and the products are obtained in moderate to high yields.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,2‐Addition of α‐Isothiocyanato Phosphonates: Synthesis of Chiral β‐Hydroxy‐ or β‐Amino‐Substituted α‐Amino Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

α‐Amino phosphonic acid derivatives are considered to be the most important structural analogues of α‐amino acids and have a very wide range of applications. However, approaches for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of such useful compounds are very limited. In this work, simple, efficient, and versatile organocatalytic asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions of α‐isothiocyanato phosphonate were developed. Through these processes, derivatives of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino phosphonic acid and α,β‐diamino phosphonic acid, as well as highly functionalized phosphonate‐substituted spirooxindole, can be efficiently constructed (up to 99 % yield, d.r. >20:1, and >99 % ee). This novel method provides a new route for the enantioselective functionalization of α‐phosphonic acid derivatives.     

Synthesis of β‐Substituted γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Derivatives through Enantioselective Photoredox Catalysis

β‐Substituted chiral γ‐aminobutyric acids feature important biological activities and are valuable intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Herein, an efficient catalytic enantioselective approach for the synthesis of β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid derivatives through visible‐light‐induced photocatalyst‐free asymmetric radical conjugate additions is reported. Various β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid analogues, including previously inaccessible derivatives containing fluorinated quaternary stereocenters, were obtained in good yields (42–89 %) and with excellent enantioselectivity (90–97 % ee). Synthetically valuable applications were demonstrated by providing straightforward synthetic access to the pharmaceuticals or related bioactive compounds (S)‐pregabalin, (R)‐baclofen, (R)‐rolipram, and (S)‐nebracetam.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral α‐Substituted Mercaptoglycine Derivatives via α‐Sulfenylation of Ni(II) Complex of Glycine and S‐Substituted 4‐Methylbenzenesulfonothioate

The asymmetric α ‐sulfenylation of Ni(II ) complex of glycine with S ‐substituted 4‐methylbenzenesulfonothioate is reported. Due to the mild and simple reaction conditions, this asymmetric reaction is compatible with various functional groups.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Spirocyclic β‐Lactams through Copper‐Catalyzed Kinugasa/Michael Domino Reactions

The first copper‐catalyzed highly chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselective Kinugasa/Michael domino reaction for the desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexadienones is described. In the presence of a chiral copper catalyst, alkyne‐tethered cyclohexadienones couple with nitrones to generate the chiral spirocyclic lactams with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 97 % ee, >20:1 dr). The new method provides direct access to versatile highly functionalized spirocyclic β‐lactams possessing four contiguous stereocenters, including one quaternary and one tetra‐substituted stereocenter.     

Remote Sulfonamido Group Enhances Reactivity and Selectivity for Asymmetric Michael Addition of Nitroalkanes to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The pyrrolidine–camphorsulfonamide‐based catalyst 1 a catalyzes the enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of five equivalents of water in iPrOH to give the corresponding chiral Michael adducts in good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee) with a catalyst loading as low as 1 mol %.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Substituted β‐Lactones through Oxidative Carbene Catalysis with LiCl as Cooperative Lewis Acid

The reaction of enals with β‐diketones, β‐ketoesters, and malonates bearing a β‐oxyalkyl substituent at the α‐position by oxidative NHC catalysis to provide highly substituted β‐lactones is described. Reactions occur with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. The organo cascade comprises two C? C bond formations and one C? O bond formation. Up to four contiguous stereogenic centers including two fully substituted stereocenters are formed in the cascade.     

Adding a Functional Handle to Nature′s Building Blocks: The Asymmetric Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acids

β‐Hydroxy‐α‐amino acids are not only used by synthetic chemists but are also found in natural products, many of which show anti‐microbial or anti‐cancer properties. Over the past 30 years, chemists have searched for many asymmetric routes to these useful building blocks. Initial attempts to synthesize these compounds utilized chiral auxiliaries and the reactions of glycine equivalents with aldehydes to form two stereocenters in one step. Other methods with the formation of specific intermediates or that were aimed at a specific amino acid have also been investigated. Asymmetric hydrogenation by dynamic kinetic resolution has emerged as a high‐yielding method for the synthesis of an array of modified amino acids with good stereoselectivity. More recently, amino‐acid functionalization and multicomponent reactions have increased the atom economy and simplified many long and difficult routes. In this Focus Review, many of the elegant syntheses of these compounds are explored. The applications of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids in natural‐product synthesis are also mentioned.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Homologation of Ketones with α‐Diazoesters: Synthesis of Cyclic α‐Aryl/Alkyl β‐Ketoesters

A catalytic asymmetric intramolecular homologation of simple ketones with α‐diazoesters was firstly accomplished with a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ complex. This method provides an efficient access to chiral cyclic α‐aryl/alkyl β‐ketoesters containing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. Under mild conditions, a variety of aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted ketone groups reacted with α‐diazoester groups smoothly through an intramolecular addition/rearrangement process, producing the β‐ketoesters in high yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (−)‐α‐Lycorane, (−)‐Zephyranthine,and Formal Synthesis of (+)‐Clivonine

An asymmetric route to (−)‐α‐lycorane and (−)‐zephyranthine, and a formal total synthesis of (+)‐clivonine were achieved. A pivotal intermediate, which serves as a potent precursor for the divergent syntheses of these natural products, was accessed by a diastereoselective Pd‐catalyzed cinnamylation of an N ‐tert ‐butanesulfinyl imine.     

Rhodium Fluoroapatite Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Rhodium fluoroapatite (RhFAP) is an efficient catalyst for conjugate addition of organoboron reagents to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. A variety of arylboronic acids and α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds were converted to the corresponding conjugate‐addition products, demonstrating the versatility of the reaction. The reaction is highly selective. RhFAP was recovered quantitatively by simple filtration, and reused for four cycles.     

An Efficient Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Bioactive (3R,5R)‐1‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐phenylheptane‐3,5‐diol via Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

An efficient stereoselective total synthesis of (3R,5R)‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐phenylheptane‐3,5‐diol ( 1 ) is reported based on the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. The total synthesis of compound 1 was accomplished with 30% overall yield in simple eight steps from commercially available trans‐cinnamaldehyde.     

Secondary Amine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric γ‐Alkylation of α‐Branched Enals via Dienamine Activation

The direct and enantioselective γ‐alkylation of α‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes proceeding under dienamine catalysis is described. We have found that the Seebach modification of the diphenyl‐prolinol silyl ether catalyst in combination with saccharin as an acidic additive promotes an S_N1 alkylation pathway, while ensuring complete γ‐site selectivity and a high stereocontrol. Theoretical and spectroscopic investigations have provided insights into the conformational behavior of the covalent dienamine intermediate derived from the condensation of 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal and the chiral amine. Implications for the mechanism of stereoinduction are discussed.     

Asymmetric Henry reactions of aldehydes with various nitroalkanes catalyzed by copper(II) complexes of novel chiral N‐monoalkyl cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamines

A number of novel chiral diamines 3 , (1R,2R)‐N‐monoalkylcyclohexane‐1,2‐diamines, were designed and synthesized from trans‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine and applied to the catalytic asymmetric Henry reaction of benzaldehyde and nitromethane to provide β‐nitroalcohol in high yield (up to 99%) and good enantiomeric excess (up to 89%). By using ligand (1R,2R)‐N¹‐(4‐methylpentan‐2‐yl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine ( 3g ), the reaction was optimized in terms of the metal ion, temperature, solvent and base. Further experiments indicated that the complex, 3g –Cu(OAc)₂, was an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Henry reaction between different aldehydes and nitromethane, and the desired products have been obtained with high chemical yields (up to 99%) and high enantiomeric excess (up to 93%). The optimized catalyst promoted the diastereoselective Henry reaction of various aldehyde substrates and nitroalkane, which gave the corresponding anti‐selective adduct with up to 99% yield and 83:17 anti/syn selectivity. Upon scaling up to gram quantities, the β‐nitroalcohol was obtained in good yield (96%) with excellent selectivities (93% ee). The chiral induction mechanism was tentatively explained on the basis of a previously proposed transition‐state model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.