Access to Both Enantiomers of α‐Chloro‐β‐keto Esters with a Single Chiral Ligand: Highly Efficient Enantioselective Chlorination of Cyclic β‐Keto Esters Catalyzed by Chiral Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes of a Spiro‐2,2′‐bischroman‐Based Bisoxazoline Ligand

The spiro‐2,2′‐bichroman‐based chiral bisoxazoline ligands (SPANbox) were found to be highly efficient in copper(II)‐ and zinc(II)‐catalyzed asymmetric chlorinations of cyclic β‐keto esters with N‐chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as the chlorination reagent, to give the corresponding α‐chloro‐β‐keto esters in excellent yields in 5–30 min with ee values up to 97%. The copper(II) triflate and zinc(II) triflate complexes of a single SPANbox ligand demonstrated complementary results to each other with respect to the enantioselection, affording both antipodes of the chlorinated product enantiomers with good to excellent optical purities.     

A Convenient Synthesis of 2,2′,6,6′‐Tetramethoxy‐ 4,4′‐bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)‐3,3′‐bipyridine (Cy‐P‐Phos): Application in Rh‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐(Acylamino)acrylates

The first example of the synthesis of an axially chiral bis(aryldicyclohexylphosphine) dioxide via catalytic hydrogenation of the optically resolved parent bis(aryldiphenylphosphine) dioxide was reported. The procedure for the synthesis of Cy‐P‐Phos ( 4d ) has thus successfully avoided the need for an otherwise lengthy synthetic route owing to the π‐excessive nature of one of the aryl groups in the latter. The use of Cy‐P‐Phos in the Rh(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the derivatives of methyl (Z)‐2‐acetamidocinnamate gave significantly higher rates of reaction as compared to the use of the previously reported optimal ligand Xyl‐P‐Phos ( 4c ) whilst the level of enantioselectivity was essentially maintained.     

A General Method for the Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β‐Keto Esters using Monodentate Binaphthophosphepine Ligands

17 monodentate phosphepine ligands with a 4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c;1′,2′‐e]phosphepine structural motif have been synthesized and tested in the asymmetric hydrogenation of various β‐keto esters. By variation of the substituents of the aryl group on the phosphorus atom a fine tuning of the selectivity of the catalytic system is possible. Quantitative yield and enantioselectivities up to 95% ee have been achieved for the hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate ( 7a ), methyl 3‐oxovalerate ( 7b ) and ethyl 4‐phenyl‐3‐oxo‐propionate ( 7d ) using 4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho‐[2,1‐c;1′,2′‐e]phosphepine ( 4g ) as ligand. Best enantioselectivities were obtained at comparably high temperatures (100–120 °C), which had the advantage of increased reaction rates.     

Catalytic Hydrogenation of α‐Iminophosphonates as a Method for the Synthesis of Racemic and Optically Active α‐Aminophosphonates

It was shown that the catalytic hydrogenation of α‐iminophosphonates by molecular hydrogen can serve as a convenient method for the synthesis of racemic and optically active α‐aminophosphonates. Up to 94% ee was achieved in the rhodium‐catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation using chiral ligand (R)‐BINAP.     

Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β‐Acylamino Acrylates Catalyzed by Rhodium(I)‐Monophosphite Complexes

Chiral rhodium(I) complexes bearing monophosphite ligands, prepared from chiral Binol and (L )‐menthol, were found to be efficient catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐acylamino acrylates with ee values up to 94%.     

Chiral Amino Diol Derivatives as New Modular Organocatalysts for the Enantioselective α‐Chlorination of Cyclic β‐Keto Esters

Highly modular chiral amino diol derivatives have been used as organocatalysts in the enantioselective α‐chlorination of cyclic β‐keto esters. Optimization of the catalyst structure and the reaction conditions has allowed the synthesis of optically active α‐chlorinated products with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) using inexpensive commercially available N‐chlorosuccinimide (NCS) as the chlorine source under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of Chiral 2‐Hydroxy‐1‐methylpropanoates by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydrogenation of α‐(Hydroxymethyl)‐acrylate Derivatives

The synthesis of chiral 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropanoic acid esters (e.g., “Roche ester” 3a ) based on the rhodium‐catalyzed stereoselective hydrogenation of Baylis–Hillman reaction products was investigated. Full conversions and enantioselectivities of up to 99% at a substrate/catalyst ratio of up to 500/1 were achieved by application of bisphospholanes of the catASium M series as ancillary ligands. An interesting kinetic resolution was observed by the diastereoselective hydroxy‐directed hydrogenation of related racemic β‐branched precursors affording mainly anti‐isomers with up to 96%ee.     

Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α‐Dehydroamino Acid Esters Catalyzed by Rhodium Complexes with Chiral Bisaminophosphine Ligands

A highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of a series of chiral bisaminophosphine ligands was well established with several remarkable features. The synthetic utility of these ligands was explored for rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of α‐dehydroamino acid esters. Up to 98% ee values were achieved for the enantioselective synthesis of aminocarboxylic acids and their derivatives, which are very important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of a variety of natural products and biologically active molecules.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Perhydroindolic Acids and their Application in Asymmetric Domino Reactions of Aldehyde Esters with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

(2S,3aR,7aS)‐Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans‐isomers, were readily prepared. These proline‐like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi‐substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans (possessing a multi‐substituted bicyclic backbone).     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of Cyclic 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters catalyzed by amino acid‐derived thiourea‐tertiary‐amine catalysts is presented. Using 5 mol% of a novel tyrosine‐derived thiourea catalyst, a series of chiral coumarin derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with up to 96% ee under very mild conditions within a short reaction time.     

Highly Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of α‐Imino Esters by a Phosphoric Acid

Chiral phosphoric acids have been identified as highly efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α‐imino esters and amide. Utilizing Hantzsch esters as the hydrogen donor, versatile highly enantioenriched α‐amino esters and their derivatives were obtained with up to 98 % ee.     

Titanium‐Mediated Direct Carbon‐Carbon Double Bond Formation to α‐Trifluoromethyl Acids: A New Contribution to the Knoevenagel Reaction and a High‐Yielding and Stereoselective Synthesis of α‐Trifluoromethylacrylic Acids

An efficient strategy for a high‐yielding and stereoselective synthesis of α‐trifluoromethyl unsaturated carboxylic acids directly from the reactions of 3,3,3‐trifluoropropanoic acid (CF₃CH₂COOH) with various aryl aldehydes in the presence of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) is reported here for the first time, which is a valuable expansion for the classical Knoevenagel reaction. Because these compounds may have potential applications in organic electronics and can be easily converted to the corresponding fluorinated alcohols and amino acids with excellent bioactivity, this route should be a good choice for the preparation of α‐trifluoromethyl‐containing derivatives.     

Bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol: an Improved Organocatalyst for the Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Enones

The asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐enones by the readily available bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is described. Stereoelectronic substitution on the aryl moiety of diaryl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanols was found to significantly affect the efficiency with respect to the previously reported (S)‐diphenyl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanol. Improved reactivity and enantioselectivity were achieved with bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol at reduced catalyst loading (20 mol %) with ees up to 94% for chalcone epoxides under mild reaction conditions, whereas (S)‐diphenyl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanol afforded a maximum ee of 80%. Interestingly, the methodology is applicable to the epoxidation of more challenging aliphatic or enolizable enones with good control of the asymmetric induction (up to 87% ee).     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral β‐Aryloxy Alcohols by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Ketone Hydrogenation via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution (DKR)

A highly efficient enantioselective synthesis of chiral β‐aryloxy alcohols by the {RuCl₂[(S)‐SDP][(R,R)‐DPEN]} [(S_a,R,R)‐ 1a ; SDP=7,7′‐bis(diarylphosphino)‐1,1′‐spirobiindane; DPEN=trans‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine] complex‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α‐aryloxydialkyl ketones via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has been developed. Enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee with good to high cis/anti‐selectivities (up to>99:1) were achieved.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of 5H‐Oxazol‐4‐ones: Highly Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Chiral α‐Alkylisoserine Derivatives

The first organocatalytic Mannich reaction of 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones with various readily prepared aryl‐ and alkylsulfonimides has been developed. Two commercially available pseudoenantiomeric Cinchona alkaloids‐derived tertiary amine/ureas have been demonstrated as the most efficient catalysts to access the opposite enantiomers of the Mannich products with equally excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities. From the Mannich adducts, important α‐methyl‐α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, such as the α‐methylated C‐13 side chain of taxol and taxotere, can be conveniently prepared.     

Hydrogenation of α‐Keto Ethers: Dynamic Kinetic Resolution with a Heterogeneous Modified Catalyst and a Heterogeneous Base

The first successful example of the asymmetric hydrogenation of substituted α‐keto ethers with Cinchona‐modified Pt/Al₂O₃ is reported. In the absence of an additional base, kinetic resolution of the racemic starting material was observed with high diastereoselectivity and ee's up to 98% at conversions of <50%. Addition of KOH gave a strong reaction acceleration but racemic product. Immobilization of OH ^– on solid ion exchangers resulted in the desired dynamic kinetic resolution, and ee's of >80% were obtained at >95% conversion. These effects are rationalized on the basis of a simple kinetic and structural model.     

A General Approach to the Synthesis of β2‐Amino Acid Derivatives via Highly Efficient Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐Aminomethylacrylates

A new strategy was developed for the synthesis of a valuable class of α‐aminomethylacrylates via the Baylis–Hillman reaction of different aldehydes with methyl acrylate followed by acetylation of the resulting allylic alcohols and S_N2′‐type amination of the allylic acetates. Asymmetric hydrogenation of these diverse olefinic precursors using rhodium(Et‐Duphos) catalysts provided the corresponding β²‐amino acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities and exceedingly high reactivities (up to >99.5% ee and S/C=10,000). The first hydrogenation of (Z)‐configurated substrates was studied for the synthesis of β²‐amino acid derivatives. The high influence of the substrate geometry and steric hindrance on the reactivity and enantioselectivity was also disclosed for this reaction. This protocol provides a highly practical, facile and scalable method for the preparation of optically pure β²‐amino acids and their derivatives under mild reaction conditions.