Catalytic Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Chiral Yttrium–Biaryldiol Complexes |
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Authors: | Hiroyuki Kakei Riichiro Tsuji Dr. Takashi Ohshima Dr. Hiroyuki Morimoto Shigeki Matsunaga Dr. Masakatsu Shibasaki Prof. Dr. |
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Affiliation: | Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku, Tokyo 113‐0033, Japan, Fax: (+81)?3‐5684‐5206 |
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Abstract: | The full details of the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated esters catalyzed by yttrium complexes with biaryldiol ligands are described. An yttrium–biphenyldiol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)3–biphenyldiol ligand–triphenylarsine oxide (1:1:1), is suitable for the epoxidation of various α,β‐unsaturated esters. With this catalyst, β‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated esters gave high enantioselectivities and good yields (≤99 % ee). The reactivity of this catalyst is good, and the catalyst loading could be decreased to as little as 0.5–2 mol % (the turnover number was up to 116), while high enantiomeric excesses were maintained. For β‐alkyl α,β‐unsaturated esters, an yttrium–binol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)3–binol ligand–triphenylphosphine oxide (1:1:2), gave the best enantioselectivities (≤97 % ee). The utility of the epoxidation reaction was demonstrated in an efficient synthesis of (?)‐ragaglitazar, a potential antidiabetes agent. |
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Keywords: | asymmetric catalysis asymmetric synthesis epoxidation rare‐earth metals yttrium |
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