New chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

A series of chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands 1-6 have been synthesized and used in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed reaction of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile. Ligands 1a, 2, 3, 5a, 6a, and 6b have been synthesized starting from racemic tert-butylphenylphosphinoborane. The use of dynamically resolved Li phosphide (-)-sparteine provided the optically pure ligands. Crystals of the allylpalladium (6a) complex were obtained, suitable for X-ray crystal structure determination. The X-ray crystal structure of the allylpalladium (6a) complex revealed a longer palladium-carbon bond distance trans to the phosphine moiety indicating that the attack of the nucleophile takes place at the carbon trans to the phosphine moiety. This was confirmed by the fact that the phosphine moiety did not affect the enantioselectivity directly. Under mild reaction conditions, enantioselectivities up to 83% were obtained (25 degrees C) with ligand 1e. Systematic variation of the ligand bridge and the phosphite moiety showed that the configuration of the product is controlled by the atropisomerism of the biphenyl substituent at the phosphite moiety. The conformation of the biphenyl group, in turn, is controlled by the substituent at the chiral carbon in the bridge. Ligands with large bite angles yielded higher enantioselectivities.     

Aminosulf(ox)ides as ligands for Iridium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A new class of efficient catalysts was developed for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of unsymmetrical ketones. A series of chiral N,S-chelates (6-22) was synthesized to serve as ligands in the iridium(I)-catalyzed reduction of ketones. Both formic acid and 2-propanol proved to be suitable as hydrogen donors. Sulfoxidation of an (R)-cysteine-based aminosulfide provided a diastereomeric ligand family containing a chiral sulfur atom. The two chiral centers of these ligands showed a clear effect of chiral cooperativity. In addition, aminosulfides containing two asymmetric carbon atoms in the backbone were synthesized. Both the sulfoxide-containing beta-amino alcohols and the aminosulfides derived from 1,2-disubstituted amino alcohols gave rise to high reaction rates and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities in the reduction of various ketones. The enantioselective outcome of the reaction was favorably affected by selecting the most appropriate hydrogen donor. Enantioselectivities of up to 97% were reached in the reduction of aryl-alkyl ketones.     

A Robust, Environmentally Benign Catalyst for Highly Selective Hydroformylation

By a sol-gel process a rhodium complex containing a diphosphane with a large natural P-Rh-P bite angle is covalently anchored in a silica matrix (see picture). The immobilized catalyst is a very selective hydroformylation catalyst that is completely and conveniently separated from the product and can be reused in numerous cycles.     

Investigation of phosphoprotein signatures of archived prostate cancer tissue specimens via proteomic analysis

Early detection of prostate cancer and determination of its aggressiveness are critical factors that influence treatment outcomes. To aid in the clinical decision making, novel biomarkers are being sought. Direct, global-scale examination of primary human specimens provides the most relevant picture of the tumor machinery and its perturbations, and this information is highly significant in the context of biomarker discovery. In the pilot study reported here, we focused on mapping of the phosphoproteome in human prostate cancer specimens obtained from a tissue repository. A gel-free proteomic strategy included whole proteome digestion, phosphopeptide enrichment with immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC), and phosphoprotein identification via LC-MS/MS and database searches. We applied this strategy to obtain phosphoprotein signatures from a set of five specimens. Phosphoproteins were characterized from each specimen. The phosphoprotein panels included 16-23 phosphoproteins that encompassed 18-30 phosphorylation sites. Some of proteins/sites were characterized in multiple specimens, whereas the majority of sites were found in single specimens. The characterized panels include caldesmone, desmin, HSP β-1, synaptopodin-2, filamin-C, tensin-1, and others. In summary, the study showed that cancer-relevant phosphoproteins can be characterized directly from archived prostate tumor specimens, establishing the groundwork for further biomarker discovery.     

The Suzuki reaction in aqueous media promoted by P, N ligands

The synthesis and structure of palladium complexes of trisubstituted PTA derivatives, PTA(R3), are described. Water-soluble phosphine ligands 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadmantane (PTA), tris(aminomethyl)phosphine trihydrobromide, tri(aminomethyl) phosphine, 3,7-dimethyl-1,5,7-triaza-3-phosphabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane (RO-PTA), 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA), lithium 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane-6-carboxylate (PTA-CO?Li), 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo [3.3.1.1]decane, and 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1]decane were used as ligands for palladium catalyzed Suzuki reactions in aqueous media. RO-PTA in combination with palladium acetate or palladium chloride was the most active catalyst for Suzuki cross coupling of aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid at 80 °C in 1:1 water:acetonitrile. The activity of Pd(II) complexes of RO-PTA is comparable to PPh?(m-C?H?SO?Na) (TPPMS) and P(m-C?H?SO?Na)? (TPPTS) and less active than tri(4,6-dimethyl-3-sulfonatophenyl)phosphine trisodium salt (TXPTS). Activated, deactivated, and sterically hindered aryl bromides were examined, with yields ranging from 50% to 90% in 6 h with 5% palladium precatalyst loading. X-ray crystal structures of (RO-PTA)PdCl?, (PTA(R3))?PdCl? (R = Ph, p-tert-butylC?H?), and PTA(R3) (R = p-tert-butylC?H?) are reported.     

Chiral induction effects in ruthenium(II) amino alcohol catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones: an experimental and theoretical approach

The enantioselective outcome of transfer hydrogenation reactions that are catalysed by ruthenium(II) amino alcohol complexes was studied by means of a systematically varied series of ligands. It was found that both the substituent at the 1-position in the 2-amino-1-alcohol ligand and the substituent at the amine functionality influence the enantioselectivity of the reaction to a large extent: enantioselectivities (ee values) of up to 95% were obtained for the reduction of acetophenone. The catalytic cycle of ruthenium(II) amino alcohol catalysed transfer hydrogenation was examined at the density functional theory level. The formation of a hydrogen bond between the carbonyl functionality of the substrate and the amine proton of the ligand, as well as the formation of an intramolecular H...H bond and a planar H-Ru-N-H moiety are crucially important for the reaction mechanism. The enantioselective outcome of the reaction can be illustrated with the aid of molecular modelling by the visualisation of the steric interactions between the ketone and the ligand backbone in the ruthenium(II) catalysts.