Synthesis of chiral 2-alkyl-8-quinolinyl-oxazoline ligands: reversal of enantioselectivity in the asymmetric palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

New chiral 2-alkyl-8-quinolinyl-oxazolines were synthesized from 2-alkyl-8-quinolinecarboxylic acids and enantiomerically pure amino alcohols using a convenient procedure. Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate in the presence of 2-alkyl-8-quinolinyl-oxazolines provided an alkylation product with an opposite configuration compared to those obtained from unsubstituted quinolinyl-oxazoline ligands.     

Application of chiral dipyridylmethane ligands in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

New chiral C₁-symmetric dipyridylmethane ligands have been prepared from naturally occurring monoterpenes according to a method based on two consecutive constructions of the pyridine rings. These ligands have been assessed in the enantioselective palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethylmalonate. Enantioselectivity up to 68% ee has been obtained.     

Direct palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations of alcohols with enamines: Synthesis of homoallyl ketones

An efficient, direct nucleophilic allylic substitution of α-, β- and γ-substituted alcohols with enamines, using the Pd(OAc)_2/PPh₃ catalyst system and ZnBr₂ as a promoter in CH₂Cl₂ at reflux, is reported. The reaction course was dependent on the steric hindrance at the α- or γ-positions with respect to the functionalized α-carbon, selectively affording in moderate to good yields, α- or γ-homoallyl ketones, the so-called “linear” and “branched” products, respectively.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem allylic substitution using chiral 2-(phosphinophenyl)pyridine ligand

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem allylic substitution of (Z)-1,4-diacyloxy- and (Z)-1,4-bis(alkoxycarbonyloxy)-2-butene (2a-c) using 2-(phosphinophenyl)pyridine 1 as chiral ligand provided optically active six-membered 2-vinyl-1,4-diheterocyclic compounds with good to high enantioselectivity. For example, the reactions with catechol, 2-(benzylamino)phenol, or 1,2-bis(benzylamino)ethane as a nucleophile gave 2-vinyl-1,4-benzodioxane (71% ee), 4-benzyl-2-vinyl-1,4-benzoxazine (86% ee), and 1,4-dibenzyl-2-vinylpiperazine (86% ee), respectively.     

Isotope effects and the mechanism of palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

The palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reaction of 1,1-dimethylallyl acetate with dimethyl malonate is studied by a combination of isotope effects and theoretical calculations. A large ¹³C isotope effect of ≈1.037 is observed at the tertiary carbon, while small isotope effects are observed at the olefinic carbons. These results support rate-limiting ionization of a η²-Pd complex. The observed isotope effects are compared with predictions from calculational models employing either solvent models or ionization of an amidinium ion. The calculated transition structures are notably η² in character, and the implications of this observation are discussed.     

A novel,C2-symmetric,chiral bis-cyclosulfinamide-olefin tridentate ligand in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-additions

A C₂-symmetric, chiral bis-cyclosulfinamide-olefin ligand composed of two 1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1,2-benzisothiazole moieties with rigid skeletons and a conformationally flexible butenylene chain is disclosed for the first time. HRMS and ¹H NMR analyses verify that the in situ-generated complex of the ligand and [Rh(C₂H₄)₂Cl]₂ possesses a rhodium (I) center coordinated to the tridentate ligand via two sulfinyl moieties and a CdbndC bond. The chiral ligand provided extremely high enantioselectivity (up to >99%ee) in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids to cyclohexenone and cyclopentenone. The tridentate ligand gave much higher enantioselectivity than the analogous chiral bidentate ligands.     

On the formation of Pd(II) complexes of Trost modular ligand involving N-H activation or P,O coordination in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations

Specific chiral ligands have been designed by Trost et al. to perform enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations. It is shown that the Pd(0) complex formed by addition of the Trost ligand (4) to Pd⁰(dba)₂ is not stable in most solvents (acetone, DMF, CH₂Cl₂). Indeed, Pd⁰(dba)(4) leads to the formation of a stable Pd^II complex 5 (X-ray structure), likely by activation of the two N-H bonds of the ligand by the Pd⁰ centre. The formation of the Pd^II complex competes with the reaction of Pd⁰(4) with (E)-PhCHCH-CH(OAc)-Ph, excluding any investigation of the kinetics of the latter reaction. The ionization steps from intermediate (η²-PhCHCH-CH(OAc)-Ph)Pd⁰(4) were found to be very slow. The cationic P,P complex [(η³-Ph-CH-CH-CH-Ph)Pd(4)]⁺, expected to be generated by addition of 2 equiv. of 4 to the precursor [(η³-Ph-CH-CH-CH-Ph)Pd(μ-Cl)]₂, in the presence of a chloride scavenger, leads to a complex mixture whereas addition of 1 equiv. of 4 affords a stable bis-cationic Pd^II complex {[(η³-Ph-CH-CH-CH-Ph)Pd]₂(4)]}²⁺, (X-ray structure) via a P,O complexation of each allyl-Pd moieties. This dissymmetric P,O coordination will favour the enantioselectivity of Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of (E)-PhCHCH-CH(OAc)-Ph by the control of the regioselectivity of the nucleophilic attack onto the allylic ligand which is responsible of the enantioselectivity of the overall catalytic reaction.     

The use of a new carboranylamidophosphite ligand in the asymmetric Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation in organic solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide

A novel P-monodentate ligand based on carboranyl alcohol and (S)-2-(anilinomethyl)pyrrolidine provides high enantioselectivities (ee’s up to 95%) in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate. The first example of the Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation in supercritical carbon dioxide is also described.     

Malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands with sp hybridized bridge carbon: synthesis and application in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and allylic alkylation

A series of simple and new C₂-symmetric diphenylmethylidene malonate-type bis(oxazoline) ligands were synthesized and applied to the Friedel-Crafts reaction and allylic alkylation. The Cu(II) complex of ligand 4b bearing the benzyl group afforded good to excellent enantioselectivity for the F-C adducts (up to >99% ee) between indole and alkylidene malonate, and the palladium complex of ligand 4c bearing the phenyl group afforded excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) for the allylic alkylation product.     

Stereoselective synthesis of substituted 1,2-ethylenediaziridines and their use as ligands in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

The double addition of organometallic reagents to fused oxazino-oxazines prepared from glyoxal and (S)-phenylglycinol afforded C₂- or C₁-symmetric 1,2-ethylenebis(β-aminoalcohols), depending on the nature of the organometallic reagent. This route was modified by the use of (S)-valinol and phenylglyoxal as starting materials, and by reduction of the oxazino-oxazines by diborane. Cyclization of the β-aminoalcohol moieties gave 1,2-ethylenediaziridines bearing one substituent/stereocenter on the ring carbon and one, two or no substituents/stereocenters in the ethylene tether. These bis(aziridines) were used as ligands in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dimethyl malonate. It was established that the substituent(s) in the carbon tether and the configuration of the corresponding stereocenters have limited influence on the enantioselectivity.     

Tridentate chiral NPN ligands based on bis(oxazolines) and their use in Pd-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution in molecular and ionic liquids

NPN ligands based on the bis(oxazoline) skeleton can be prepared by a divergent method, which allows a high modularity both in the type of phosphorous group (phosphinite, phosphate, phosphane) and the substitution in the methylene bridge. The Pd complexes of these ligands can efficiently promote the allylic substitution both in molecular solvents and ionic liquids, with important effect of the nature of ligand, which also controls the partial recovery of the Pd catalyst in ionic liquid.     

Use of zinc enolate, free from other metals, in enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

Zinc enolate, free from other metal cations directly prepared from malonate and diethylzinc, was proven to be an excellent nucleophile for enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation, particularly for the allylic cation bearing aromatic rings at the 1- and 3-positions.     

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective construction of phthalide-oxindole hybrids bearing vicinal quaternary chiral centers via an organocatalytic allylic alkylation

A diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of phthalide-oxindole hybrids including congested adjacent quaternary chiral centers was demonstrated through a Lewis base catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates of isatins and 3-cyanophthalides. The various hybrid molecules with two valuable pharmacophores-combined frameworks can be obtained in good to high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

A new chiral iminophosphine ligand derived from (1S,4S)-fenchone in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations

A new chiral iminophosphine ligand derived from (1S,4S)-fenchone has been developed, and its usefulness as a chiral ligand in asymmetric synthesis was demonstrated in palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations.     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed rearrangement of allyl enol ethers to form chiral quaternary carbon centers via asymmetric allylic alkylation

Herein we report the first palladium(0)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of allyl enol ether via π-allylpalladium intermediate using Trost chiral diphosphine. This unprecedented reaction produced very rare α-aryl quaternary aldehydes with multi-functional groups. The main novelty in the chemistry demonstrates that enol ethers can be used as precursors for π-allylpalladium intermediates, an observation that is certainly rare and to the best of our knowledge, perhaps without prior precedent. Chiral ligand (R,R)-L3 was found to be optimal in this Pd-AAA reaction and provided good to excellent yield (80–95%) and enantioselectivity (70–90%) with a range of analogs.     

First evidence for the use of polyamines as nucleophiles in a regioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic amination reaction

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of unsymmetrical allylic electrophiles with polyamines gives rise to regioisomeric allylic polyamines. An original catalytic procedure providing an efficient method for the regioselective synthesis of new classes of polyamino derivatives of biological interest is reported. Based on experimental considerations, a mechanistic rationale involving a thermodynamically controlled isomerization of the initially formed branched product is proposed to account for the total regioselectivity observed.     

Synthesis of P-chirogenic diarylphosphinoacetic acids and their proline derivatives for palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reactions

The synthesis of P-chirogenic diarylphosphinocarboxylic acids was achieved, from which a new class of amido- and amino-diphosphine ligands (PNP*) were derived, containing an l-proline backbone. The catalytic activities of the novel ligands were evaluated in the palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation reaction of 1,3-diphenylpropenyl acetate.     

Highly regioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane

A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane has been studied. Using different allylic carbonates, a variety of terminal mono-fluoromethylated compounds were achieved in 85-99% yields with high regioselectivities.     

Origin of enantioselectivity with heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp) ligands in palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution

A series of new chiral heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands 3a-c, 6 were readily prepared from cheap and easily available (R)-cysteine and l-(+)-methionine. A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate was used as a model reaction to examine the catalytic efficiencies of these aziridine sulfide ligands, and ligand 3b afforded the enantioselectivity of up to 91% ee. The origin of enantioselectivity for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands was first rationalized based on X-ray crystallographic data, and NMR spectroscopic data for relevant intermediate palladium allylic complexes. Our results demonstrated that the sulfur atom was a better π-allyl acceptor than the nitrogen atom for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands, and the steric as well electronic properties of the palladium allylic complexes were crucial for the enantioselectivity.     

Highly efficient chiral PNNP ligand for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in water

Chiral PNNP ligand II and [IrHCl₂(COD)]₂ were applied for the first time in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with HCOONa in water, giving the corresponding optical alcohols in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). Particularly, the reduction of propiophenone proceeded smoothly at a substrate to catalyst molar ratio of 8000, without compromising the ee values obtained.