Substrate Range of the Titanium TADDOLate Catalyzed Asymmetric Fluorination of Activated Carbonyl Compounds

The substrate range of the [TiCl₂(TADDOLate)] (TADDOL=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol)‐catalyzed asymmetric α‐fluorination of activated β‐carbonyl compounds has been investigated. Optimal conditions for catalysis are characterized by using 5 mol‐% of TiCl₂(naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐TADDOLate) as catalyst in a saturated (0.14 mol/l) MeCN solution of F‐TEDA (1‐(chloromethyl)‐4‐fluoro‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis‐[tetrafluoroborate]) at room temperature. A series of α‐methylated β‐keto esters (3‐oxobutanoates, 3‐oxopentanoates) with bulky benzyl ester groups (60–90% ee) or phenyl ester (67–88% ee) have been fluorinated readily, whereas α‐acyl lactones were also readily fluorinated, but gave lower inductions (13–46% ee). Double stereochemical differentiation in β‐keto esters with chiral ester groups raised the stereoselectivity to a diastereomeric ratio (dr) of up to 96.5 : 3.5. For the first time, β‐keto S‐thioesters were asymmetrically fluorinated (62–91.5% ee) and chlorinated (83% ee). Lower inductions were observed in fluorinations of 1,3‐diketones (up to 40% ee) and β‐keto amides (up to 59% ee). General strategies for preparing activated β‐carbonyl compounds as important model substrates for asymmetric catalytic α‐functionalizations are presented (>60 examples).     

Ab initio X‐ray structural characterization of an inclusion compound with a compositionally disordered chiral guest: no prior knowledge of the crystal composition

The crystal structure and absolute configuration of a molecular host/guest/impurity inclusion complex were established unequivocally in spite of our having no prior knowledge of its chemical composition. The host (4R,5R)‐4,5‐bis(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolane, (I), displays expected conformational features. The crystal‐disordered chiral guest 4,4a,5,6,7,8‐hexahydronaphthalen‐2(3H)‐one, (II), is present in the crystal 85.1 (4)% of the time. It shares a common site with 4a‐hydroperoxymethyl‐4,4a,5,6,7,8‐hexahydronaphthalen‐2(3H)‐one, (III), present 14.9 (4)% of the time, which is the product of autoxidation of (II). This minor peroxide impurity was isolated, and the results of nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray fluorescence studies are consistent with the proposed structure of (III). The complete structure was therefore determined to be (4R,5R)‐4,5‐bis(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolane–4,4a,5,6,7,8‐hexahydronaphthalen‐2(3H)‐one–4a‐hydroperoxymethyl‐4,4a,5,6,7,8‐hexahydronaphthalen‐2(3H)‐one (1/0.85/0.15), C₃₁H₃₀O₄·0.85C₁₀H₁₄O·0.15C₁₀H₁₄O₃, (IV). There are host–host, host–guest, and host–impurity hydrogen‐bonding interactions of types S and D in the solid state. We believe that the crystals of (IV) were originally prepared to establish the chirality of the guest (II) by means of X‐ray diffraction analysis of host/guest crystals obtained in the course of chiral resolution during cocrystallization of (II) with (I). In spite of the absence of `heavy' elements, the absolute configurations of all anomeric centres in the structure are assigned as R based on resonant scattering effects.     

Preparation and Characterization of New C2‐ and C1‐Symmetric Nitrogen,Oxygen, Phosphorous,and Sulfur Derivatives and Analogs of TADDOL. Part I

The chloro alcohols 4 – 6 derived from TADDOLs (=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4,5‐dimethanols) are used to prepare corresponding sulfanyl alcohols, ethers, and amines (Scheme 1 and Table 1). The dithiol analog of TADDOL and derivatives thereof, 45 – 49 , were also synthesized. The crystal structures of 16 representatives of this series of compounds are reported (Figs. 1–3 and Scheme 2). The thiols were employed in Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective conjugate additions of Grignard reagents to cyclic enones, with cycloheptenone giving the best results (er up to 94 : 6). The enantioselectivity reverses from Si‐addition with the sulfanyl alcohol to Re‐addition with the alkoxy or dimethylamino thiols (Table 4). Cu^I‐Thiolates, 50 – 53 , could be isolated in up to 84% yield (Scheme 2) and were shown to have tetranuclear structures in the gas phase (by ESI‐MS), in solution (CH₂Cl₂, THF; by vapor‐pressure osmometry and by NMR pulsed‐gradient diffusion measurements; Table 5), and in the solid state (X‐ray crystal structures in Scheme 2). The Cu complex 50 of the sulfanyl alcohol is stable in air and in the presence of weak aqueous acid, and it is a highly active catalyst (0.5 mol‐%) for the 1,4‐additions, leading to the same enantio‐ and regioselectivities observed with the in situ generated catalyst (6.5 mol‐%; Scheme 3). Since the reaction mixtures contain additional metal salts (MgX₂, LiX) it is not possible at this stage, to propose a mechanistic model for the conjugate additions.     

Preparation and Characterization of New C2‐ and C1‐Symmetric Nitrogen,Oxygen, Phosphorous,and Sulfur Derivatives and Analogs of TADDOL. Part III

A brief overview is presented of the field of organocatalysis using chiral H‐bond donors, chiral Brønsted acids, and chiral counter‐anions (Fig. 1). The role of TADDOLs (=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanols) as H‐bond donors and the importance of an intramolecular H‐bond for acidity enhancement are discussed. Crystal structures of TADDOLs and of their N‐, S‐, and P‐analogs (Figs. 2 and 3) point the way to proposals of mechanistic models for the action of TADDOLs as organocatalysts (Scheme 1). Simple experimental two‐step procedures for the preparation of the hitherto strongest known TADDOL‐derived acids, the bicyclic phosphoric acids ( 2 in Scheme 2) and of a phosphoric‐trifluorosulfonic imide ( 9 in Scheme 4), are disclosed. The mechanism of sulfinamide formation in reactions of TADDAMIN with trifluoro‐sulfonylating reagents is discussed (Scheme 3). pK_a Measurements of TADDOLs and analogs in DMSO (reported in the literature; Fig. 5) and in MeO(CH₂)₂OH/H₂O (described herein; Fig. 6) provide information about further possible applications of this type of compounds as strong chiral Brønsted acids in organocatalysis.