The First Highly Enantioselective Alkynylation of Chloral: A Practical and Efficient Pathway to Chiral Trichloromethyl Propargyl Alcohols

A new, inexpensive chiral amino alcohol‐based ligand, (1S,2S)‐2‐N,N‐dimethylamino‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3‐(tert‐butyloxy)propan‐1‐ol, was developed for the asymmetric alkynylation of chloral in high yield with up to 98% ee. The resulting chiral adduct (S)‐1‐trichloromethyl‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propyn‐1‐ol was hydrogenated over 10% Pd/C to give the useful intermediate chiral trichloromethyl carbinol in quantitative yield, which was efficiently transformed into the pharmaceutically important building blocks 2‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutanoate and homophenylalanine in high yield with excellent enantiomeric excess.     

Chiral NCN Pincer Rhodium(III) Complexes with Bis(imidazolinyl)phenyl Ligands: Synthesis and Enantioselective Catalytic Alkynylation of Trifluoropyruvates with Terminal Alkynes

A series of new chiral C₂‐symmetrical NCN pincer rhodium(III) complexes with bis(imidazolinyl)phenyl ligands have been conveniently synthesized from easily available materials. The complexes were subsequently applied in the enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to trifluoropyruvates. With catalyst loading of 1.5–3.0 mol%, the alkynylation of ethyl or methyl trifluoropyruvate with a variety of electronically and structurally diverse terminal alkynes gave the optically active trifluoromethyl‐substituted tertiary propargylic alcohols with enantioselectivities of up to >99% ee and high yields. Although good to excellent enantioselectivities (85–98% ee) could be achieved only for some of the aliphatic terminal alkynes under the optimized conditions, the enantioselectivities were consistently excellent (94% to >99% ee) in the case of aromatic as well as heteroaromatic alkynes and enynes.     

Donor‐Stabilized Phosphenium Adducts as New Efficient and Immobilizing Ligands in Palladium‐Catalyzed Alkynylation and Platinum‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation in Ionic Liquids

The straightforward synthesis of a new donor‐stabilized phosphenium ligand 3d by addition of bromodifurylphosphine to 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium‐2‐carboxylate 1 is described. The obtained ligand exhibits a very strong π‐acceptor character, comparable to that of triphenyl phosphite [P(OPh)₃] or of tris‐halogenophosphines, with a ν_CO(A₁) at 2087 cm⁻¹ for its nickel tricarbonyl complex. This ligand, as well as the related 3a which was obtained from chlorodiphenylphosphine, were tested in palladium‐catalyzed aryl alkynylation and in the platinum‐catalyzed selective hydrogenation of chloronitrobenzenes, both in an ionic liquid phase. In C C bond cross‐coupling we observed that the increase of the π‐acceptor character in ligand 3d , due to the introduction of an additional electron‐withdrawing group, provides a very efficient catalyst in the alkynylation reaction of aryl bromides with phenylacetylene, including the deactivated 4‐bromoanisole or the sterically hindered 2‐bromonaphthalene. The catalytic activity decreases with recycling due to the sensitiveness of ligands to protonation in the ionic phase. Conversely, a multiple recycling of the metal/ligand system in non‐acidic media was achieved from platinum‐catalyzed hydrogenation of m‐chloronitrobenzene. The catalytic results obtained by employing the complex of platinum(II) chloride with 3a [trans‐PtCl₂( 3a )₂] in comparison with the non‐ionic related trans‐tris(triphenylphosphine)platinum dichloride [trans‐PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] complex clearly indicate that the simultaneous existence of a strong π‐acceptor character and a positive charge within the ligand 3a significantly increases the life‐time of the platinum catalyst. The selectivity of the reaction is also improved by decreasing the undesirable formation of dehalogenation products. This cationic platinum complex trans‐PtCl₂( 3a )₂ is the first example of a highly selective catalyst for hydrogenation of chloronitroarenes immobilized in an ionic liquid phase. The system was recycled six times without noticeable metal leaching in the organic phase, and no loss of activity.     

Asymmetric 1,4‐Addition of Diethylzinc to Cyclic Enones Catalyzed by Cu(I)‐Chiral Sulfonamide‐Thiophosphoramide Ligands and Lithium Salts

The chiral sulfonamide‐thiophosphoramide ligand L1 , prepared from the reaction of (1R,2R)‐(−)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine with diphenylthiophosphoryl chloride and p‐toluenesulfonyl chloride, was used as a chiral ligand in Cu(MeCN)₄ClO₄‐promoted catalytic asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones using LiCl as an additive in which up to 90% ee can be realized under mild conditions within 0.5 h. This chiral ligand is stable and recoverable after usual work‐up and can be reused in the same catalytic asymmetric reaction. Moreover, it was found that this series of chiral ligands represents a type of S,O‐bidentate ligands on the basis of ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic investigations. The linear effect of ligand ee and product ee further revealed that the active species is a monomeric Cu(I) complex bearing a single ligand.     

Highly selective asymmetric synthesis of 2-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters through chiral oxazolidinone carboximides

Highly selective asymmetric synthesis of 2-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters has been accomplioshed through chiral imide enolates. Five chiral oleic acid imides were prepared by reaction of oleioc acid with pivaloyl chloride followed by reaction with five different lithiated chiral oxazolidinones including (R)-(+)-4-benzyl-2-, (S)-(-)-4-benzyl-2-, (4R,5S)-(+)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-, (4S,5R)-(-)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-, and (R)-(+)-4-isopropyl-2-oxazolidinones in 88–92% yileds. The chiral imides were reacted with NaN(Me₃Si)₂ at −78°C to give enolates, which subsequently reacted with 2-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-phenyloxaziridine to give hydroxylated products in 78–83% yields. Methanolysis of the hydroxylated products with magnesium methoxide gave methyl 2-hydroxyoleate. Enantiomeric excesses (ee) of the products were determined to be very high (98–99% ee) by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance study after esterification of the hydroxy group with (S)-(+)-O-acetylmandelic acid. Enantioselective hydroxylation of other fatty acids including elaidic, petroselinic, vaccenic, and linoleic was evaluated under the similar conditions using (4R, 5S)-(+)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinone as a chiral auxiliary to give 98% ee values for all cases.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and photoluminescence properties of Sm-based enantiomeric pair

Novel Sm-based enantiomeric pair, generally formulated Sm(DBM)₃L (L_R,R in 1, L_S,S in 2, DBM = dibenzoylmethanate) have been successfully prepared via the reaction of Sm(DBM)₃·2H₂O with chiral ligands L_R,R (−)-4,5-pinene bipyridine and L_S,S (+)-4,5-pinene bipyridine (Scheme 1), respectively. The crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 reveal that they crystallize in chiral space group P2₁ of monoclinic system. The central Sm(III) ion is octacoordinate with six β-diketonate oxygen atoms and two chiral pinene bipyridine nitrogen atoms, forming a coordination polyhedron best described as the distorted square antiprism (SA). The CD spectra (Fig. S1) further confirm that 1 and 2 are enantiomers. The photoluminescence investigations of 1 and 2 demonstrate that they display deep-red luminescence characteristic of the Sm³⁺_.     

In Situ Formed Bifunctional Primary Amine‐Imine Catalyst: Application to the Construction of Chiral Tertiary Alcohols through Asymmetric Aldol‐Type Reaction

An in situ formation method to obtain chiral bifunctional primary amine‐imine catalysts from the C₂‐symmetric chiral diimines has been developed. The efficiency of this method in the construction of chiral tertiary alcohols which are valuable pharmaceutical intermediates is proved by its application to the asymmetric aldol‐type reaction of cyclic ketones with other activated ketone compounds as the enamine acceptors, i.e., β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters and isatins. In general, good to excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to 96/4 dr, 96% ee for β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters and up to 91/9 dr, 94% ee for isatins) were obtained. The active primary amine‐imine catalylst and enamine intermediate in the reaction process could be demonstrated by ESI‐MS analysis.     

Synthesis of chiral polymers containing the acetoxybornyl group and their applications on the asymmetric induction

Optically active 2-endo-actoxy-5-endo-bornyl methacrylate (ABMA) was prepared from (+)-camphor. The homopolymerization of ABMA and copolymerization of ABMA with achiral methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (St) were carried out with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in benzene. Effects of temperature, solvents, and reaction time on the copolymerization were discussed. The monomer reactivity ratios(r₁, r₂) for poly(ABMA-co-MMA) and poly(ABMA-co-St) and Q and e values for the chiral ABMA in the copolymerization systems were evaluated by the Fineman—Ross method. The absolute value of the specific rotation of poly(ABMA-co-MMA) increased with increasing ABMA unit content. A small deviation from linearity was observed, which suggests that asymmetry is not introduced into the copolymer main chain. Temperature and solvent effects on the specific rotation of the chiral homopolymer and copolymers were investigated. The results suggest that the chiral polymers synthesized in this investigation did not show a strong preference for a particular helical conformation. Applications of the chiral polymers on the asymmetric addition of n-butyllithium to aldehydes were also discussed.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Pauson–Khand Reaction Using Monophosphoramidite Ligand SIPHOS

A novel rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction using a chiral monophosphoramidite ligands is described. In this reaction, an in situ generated catalyst from [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂, the spiro‐monophosphoramidite ligand SIPHOS and AgSbF₆ was found to be effective for a series of 1,6‐enynes, providing the co‐cyclization products in good enantioselectivities (84% ee).     

Highly Enantioselective Biginelli Reaction Promoted by Chiral Bifunctional Primary Amine‐Thiourea Catalysts: Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidines

The diastereospecific formation of dihydropyrimidines (DHPMs) has been achieved in moderate to high yields with up to 99% ee by a Biginelli reaction. The reaction was performed by using a combined catalyst consisting of a chiral bifunctional primary amine‐thiourea 9f and a Brønsted acid with tert‐butylammonium trifluoroacetate (t‐BuNH₂⋅TFA) as additive in dichloromethane at room temperature. The possible mechanism for the reaction has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction.     

A Catalytic Enantioselective Imino‐Reformatsky Reaction

The admission of air in the reaction mixture of imine, ethyl iodoacetate and dimethylzinc, in the presence of 20–30 mol % of inexpensive and commercially available N‐methylephedrine as the chiral ligand, promoted the Reformatsky reaction, without the need for other metals or catalysts. Excellent yields (up to 92 %) and enantioselectivities (83–94 %) were obtained for the tested substrates. The reaction shows a broad scope, and all the imines are prepared in situ, using Me₂Zn as the dehydrating agent.     

Internal Alkene Hydroaminations Catalyzed by Zirconium(IV) Complexes and Asymmetric Alkene Hydroaminations Catalyzed by Yttrium(III) Complexes

The thiophosphinic amide 2 was prepared in 68 % yield by the reaction of 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propanediamine with diisopropylchlorophosphine followed by the addition of sulfur. Attachment of the proligand 2 to zirconium was achieved by direct metalation with Zr(NMe₂)₄ in benzene‐d₆ or toluene‐d₈ to afford complex 3 via elimination of dimethylamine. The neutral Zr(IV) complex 3 has been shown to be an effective precatalyst for intramolecular alkene hydroaminations that provide cyclic amines in good to excellent yields. A variety of chiral ligands ( 20 , 22 , 24 , and 25 – 30 ) were prepared for asymmetric internal alkene hydroaminations. Metalation of chiral ligands to yttrium was accomplished with Y[N(TMS)₂]₃ in benzene‐d₆ or toluene‐d₈ to give complexes. Treatment of 7 with 5 mol % of 33 in benzene‐d₆ (25 °C, 18 h) or toluene‐d₈ (25 °C, 15 h) afforded 2,4,4‐trimethylpyrrolidine 14 in 95 % yield (61 % ee).     

Combination of Reaction and Separation in Heterogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation of Ethylformate

Continuous hydrogenation reaction of ethyl benzoylformate was studied over a (–)‐cinchonidine (CD)‐modified Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The catalyst showed a good stability, and high enantioselectivity was achieved in the fixed‐bed reactor. Chromatographic separation of (R)‐ and (S)‐ethyl mandelate originating from a post‐continuous hydrogenation reaction of ethyl benzoylformate over the (–)‐CD‐modified Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst was investigated in the same reaction mixture. A commercial column filled with a chiral selector resin was chosen as a perspective preparative‐scale adsorbent. Since adsorption equilibrium isotherms were linear within the entire investigated range of concentrations, they were determined by pulse experiments for the isomers present in a post‐reaction mixture. Breakthrough curves were measured and described successfully by the dispersive plug‐flow model with linear driving force approximation.     

A Novel D2‐Symmetrical Chiral Tetraoxazoline Ligand for Highly Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Aromatic Ketones

A novel D₂‐symmetrical chiral tetraoxazoline ligand was synthesized from 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid and L ‐valinol via a one‐pot reaction, and the asymmetric hydrosilylation of aromatic ketones was carried out in dichloromethane in the presence of 1.0 mol% of a bivalent copper ion catalyst with the tetraoxazoline to give optically active secondary alcohols. The chiral catalyst showed excellent activities and enantioselectivities in the hydrosilylation of aryl ketones with up to 99% ee.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of chiral triglycerides

Under certain reaction conditions, the acidolysis of tripalmitin with oleic acid using immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei resulted in a higher level of monosubstituted oleoyldipalmitoyl (OPP) triglycerides than had been predicted according to kinetic modeling. The reaction products were subjected to chiral analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which indicated that the enzyme was more active at the sn-1 position of the triglyceride than at the sn-3 position, resulting in synthesis of the chiral triglyceride 1-oleoyl-2,3-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol. A kinetic model was developed and was correlated with the HPLC method to provide a simple means to predict the stereoselectivity of lipase-catalyzed reactions. By using the model, the stereoselectivity of immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase was found to depend strongly on the initial water activity (a _w) of the reaction mixture, with greater selectivity occurring at lower a _w. The sn-1 selectivity was essentially maintained using various solvents, or without solvent, when a _w was kept constantly low. Variation in the fatty acid composition of the triglyceride indicated that shorter-chain fatty acids result in greater stereoselectivity, while variation of the chainlength of the free fatty acid indicated an enhancement by the longest chainlength. The stereoselectivity of this lipase was confirmed using a new ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance method. By using immobilized R. miehei lipase at low a _w approximately 80% of the chiral triglyceride found in the reaction mixture was the sn-1 enantiomer, at high reaction conversion.     

Asymmetric Epoxidation of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by (≡SiO) x Ta(OEt)3-x (Dialkyl Tartrate Diolate): Influence of the Reaction Conditions

Silica-supported chiral tantalum alkoxides are active catalysts for the asymmetric epoxidation of propenol and trans hex-2-en-1ol. The influence of different parameters on their catalytic performance was followed: the impregnation duration by a tartrate (step in their preparation); the nature of the solvent (CH₂Cl₂, pentane, toluene) and of the oxidant (TBHP, CHP, H₂O₂); poisoning effects by water or t-butanol; the reaction temperature and the substrate concentration.     

Role of chiral amine cocatalysts in the helix-sense-selective polymerization of a phenylacetylene using a catalytic system

We have examined the role of the chiral amine cocatalyst in the recently discovered helix-sense-selective polymerization of a phenylacetylene using a catalytic system consisting of an achiral rhodium complex ([Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂) as the catalyst and a chiral amine as the cocatalyst. Several chiral amines were effective for the polymerization reaction and their effectiveness depended on their bulkiness and coordination ability to rhodium. The sense selectivity of the polymerization increased with the concentration of the chiral amines. To discuss the structure of the true active species in the catalytic system, we have synthesized a new chiral rhodium complex having two chiral amines as ligands ([Rh(norbornadiene)(chiral amine)₂]⁺BF₄⁻). The isolated chiral complex also catalyzed the helix-sense-selective polymerization. These findings suggest that a chiral rhodium complex having two chiral amines may be the true active species when using the catalytic system consisting of [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂ and a chiral amine.     

Immobilized Co/Rh Heterobimetallic Nanoparticle‐Catalyzed Pauson–Khand‐Type Reaction

Co/Rh heterobimetallic nanoparticles were prepared from cobalt‐rhodium carbonyl clusters [Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ and Co₃Rh(CO)₁₂] and immobilized on charcoal. HR‐TEM revealed that the size of the heterobimetallic nanoparticles was ca. 2 nm and ICP‐AES analysis showed a 2 : 2 and a 3 : 1 cobalt‐rhodium stoichiometry (Co₂Rh₂ and Co₃Rh₁) in the heterobimetallic nanoparticles. The Co/Rh heterobimetallic nanoparticles immobilized on charcoal were used as a catalyst in the Pauson–Khand‐type reaction under 1 atm of CO. The catalytic reactivity was highly dependent upon the ratio of Co : Rh with the highest reactivity being observed when the ratio was 2 : 2 (Co₂Rh₂). The Co₂Rh₂ immobilized catalyst is quite an effective catalyst for intra‐ and intermolecular Pauson–Khand‐type reactions. When the immobilized Co₂Rh₂ catalyst was used as a catalyst in the Pauson–Khand‐type reaction in the presence of an aldehyde instead of carbon monoxide, the catalytic system was highly efficient. When the reaction was carried out in the presence of chiral diphosphines, ee values up to 87% were observed. The catalytic system can be reused at least five times in the presence of chiral diphosphines without loss of catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. The addition of Hg(0), a known heterogeneous catalyst poison, completely inhibits further catalysis. Thus, an environmentally friendly and sustainable process was developed.     

Palladium(II) Complexes of C2‐Bridged Chiral Diphosphines: Application to Enantioselective Carbonyl‐Ene Reactions

(11bR,11′bR)‐4,4′‐(1,2‐Phenylene)bis[4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin] [abbreviated as (R)‐BINAPHANE], (3R,3′R,4S,4′S,11bS,11′bS)‐4,4′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐4,4′,5,5′‐tetrahydro‐3,3′‐bi‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin [(S)‐BINAPINE], (1S,1′S,2R,2′R)‐1,1′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐2,2′‐biphospholane [(S,S,R,R)‐TANGPHOS] and (2R,2′R,5R,5′R)‐1,1′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis[2,5‐bis(1‐methylethyl)phospholane] [(R,R)‐i‐Pr‐DUPHOS] are C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines that form stable complexes with palladium(II) and platinum(II) containing a five‐membered chelate ring. The Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst displayed good to excellent enantioselectivities with ee values as high as 99.0% albeit in low yields for the carbonyl‐ene reaction between phenylglyoxal and alkenes. Its Pt(II) counterpart afforded improved yields while retaining satisfactory enantioselectivity. For the carbonyl‐ene reaction between ethyl trifluoropyruvate and alkenes, the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst afforded both good yields and extremely high enantioselectivities with ees as high as 99.6%. A comparative study on the Pd(II) catalysts of the four C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines revealed that Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE afforded the best enantioselectivity. The ee values derived from Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE are much higher than those derived from the other three Pd(II) catalysts. A comparison of the catalyst structures shows that the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst is the only one that has two bulky (R)‐binaphthyl groups close to the reaction site. Hence it creates a deep chiral space that can efficiently control the reaction behavior in the carbonyl‐ene reactions resulting in excellent enantioselectivity.     

A unique 3-D chiral Zn(II) coordination framework with 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxyl and 4,4′-bipyridyl tectons showing 4-connected self-penetrating network and helical character

Hydrothermal reaction of Zn(II) acetate, 4,4′-bipyridyl (bpy) and 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H₃bta) results in a 3-D coordination framework {[Zn₄(bta)₂(Hbta)(bpy)₃](H₂O)₃}_n (1), which shows the self-penetrating net with a new 4-connected topological prototype and chiral helical character.