Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketones Catalyzed by a Mesoporous Silica‐Supported Iridium Catalyst

A mesoporous, silica‐supported, chiral iridium catalyst with a highly ordered dimensional‐hexagonal mesostructure was prepared by postgrafting the organometallic complex (1‐diphenylphosphino‐2‐triethylsilylethane)[(R,R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine]iridium chloride {IrCl[PPh₂(CH₂)₂Si(OEt)₃]₂[(R,R)‐DPEN] (DPEN=1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine)} on SBA‐15 silica. During the asymmetric hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones under 40 atm of hydrogen, the mesoporous, silica‐supported, chiral iridium catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity (more than 95% conversions) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to more than 99% ee). The catalyst could be recovered easily and used repetitively seven times without significantly affecting the catalytic activity and the enantioselectivity.     

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.     

A New Class of 3′‐Sulfonyl BINAPHOS Ligands: Modulation of Activity and Selectivity in Asymmetric Palladium‐Catalysed Hydrophosphorylation of Styrene

Palladium‐catalysed monophosphorylation of (R)‐2,2′‐bisperfluoroalkanesulfonates of BINOL (R^F=CF₃ or C₄F₉) by a diaryl phosphinate [Ar₂P(O)H] followed by phosphine oxide reduction (Cl₃SiH) then lithium diisopropylamide‐mediated anionic thia‐Fries rearrangement furnishes enantiomerically‐pure (R)‐2′‐diarylphosphino‐2′‐hydroxy‐3′‐perfluoralkanesulfonyl‐1,1′‐binaphthalenes [(R)‐ 8ab and (R)‐ 8g–j ], which can be further diversified by Grignard reagent (RMgX)‐mediated CF₃‐displacement [→(R)‐ 8c–f ]. Coupling of (R)‐ 8a–j with (S)‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐dioxychlorophosphine (S)‐ 9 generates 3′‐sulfonyl BINAPHOS ligands (R,S)‐ 10a–j in good yields (43–82%). These new ligands are of utlility in the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of styrene ( 1 ) by 4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane 2‐oxide ( 2 ), for which a combination of the chiral ligands with either [Pd(Cp)(allyl)] or [Pd(allyl)(MeCN)₂]⁺/NaCH(CO₂Me)₂ proves to be a convenient and active pre‐catalyst system. A combination of an electron‐rich phosphine moiety and an electron‐deficient 3′‐sulfone moiety provides the best enantioselectivity to date for this process, affording the branched 2‐phenethenephosphonate, (−)‐iso‐ 3 , in up to 74% ee with ligand (R,S)‐ 10i , where Ar=p‐anisyl and the 3′‐SO₂R group is triflone.     

Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction between α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes and Nitrones Catalyzed by Well‐Defined Iridium or Rhodium Catalysts

Reaction of the complexes (S_M,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M{(R)‐Prophos}(H₂O)](SbF₆)₂ (M=Rh, Ir) with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes diastereoselectively gave complexes (S_M,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M{(R)‐Prophos}(enal)](SbF₆)₂ which have been fully characterized, including an X‐ray molecular structure determination of the complex (S_Rh,R_C)‐[(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Rh{(R)‐Prophos}(trans‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal)](SbF₆)₂. These enal complexes efficiently catalyze the enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the nitrones N‐benzylideneaniline N‐oxide and 3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline N‐oxide to the corresponding enals. Reactions occur with excellent regioselectivity, perfect endo selectivity and with enantiomeric excesses up to 94 %. The absolute configuration of the adduct 5‐methyl‐2,3‐diphenylisoxazolidine‐4‐carboxaldehyde was determined through its (R)‐(−)‐α‐methylbenzylamine derivative.     

Highly Efficient and Enantioselective Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N‐Arylimines

A catalytic method employing the cationic iridium‐(S_c,R_p)‐DuanPhos [(1R,1′R,2S,2′S)‐2,2′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′,3,3′‐tetrahydro‐1H,1′H‐1,1′‐biisophosphindole] complex and BARF {tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate} counterion effectively catalyzes the enantioselective hydrogenation of acyclic N‐arylimines with high turnover numbers (up to 10,000 TON) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee), achieving the practical synthesis of chiral secondary amines.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Cyclic Imines

A catalytic complex made from [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ [di‐μ‐chloro‐bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)diiridium(I)] precursor and (S,S)‐f‐Binaphane ((R,R)‐1,1′‐bis{(R)‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[1,2‐c:2′,1′‐e]phosphepino}ferrocene) ligand effectively catalyzed the enantioselective hydrogenation of cyclic imines with high reactivity and good enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of Ruthenium Hydride Complexes Containing beta‐Aminophosphine Ligands Derived from Amino Acids and their use in the H2‐Hydrogenation of Ketones and Imines

The new complexes RuHCl(PPh₂CH₂CHRNH₂)₂ and RuHCl(PPh₂CH₂CHRNH₂)(R‐ binap), R=H (Pgly), R=Me [(R)‐Pala] were prepared by the substitution of the PPh₃ ligands in RuHCl(PPh₃)₃ or RuHCl(PPh₃)[(R)‐binap] with beta‐aminophosphines derived from amino acids. The complex trans‐RuHCl(Pgly)[(R)‐binap] has been characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The complex trans‐RuHCl[(S)‐Ppro]₂ where (S)‐Ppro is derived from proline was also prepared and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. These were used as catalyst precursors in the presence of a base (KOPr‐i or KOBu‐t) for the hydrogenation of various ketones and imines to the respective alcohols and amines with H₂ gas (1–11 atm) at room temperature. Acetophenone was hydrogenated to (S)‐1‐phenylethanol in low ee (up to 40%) when catalyzed by the enantiomerically pure complexes. These complexes are especially active in the hydrogenation of sterically congested and electronically deactivated ketones and imines and are selective for the hydrogenation of CO bonds over CC bonds.     

Development of a New Spiro‐BOX Ligand and Its Application in Highly Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 2‐Iodoanilines with Allenes

In this communication, we report the synthesis of a new chiral spiro‐bisoxazoline ligand, i.e., β‐naphthylmethyl‐substituted spiro‐BOX [(R_a,S,S)‐ L7 ] and have successfully applied it to the palladium‐catalyzed enantioselective cyclization reaction of simple allenes with o‐aminoiodobenzenes, affording highly optically active 3‐alkylideneindolines in good yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses.     

Immobilization of Optically Active Rhodium‐Diphosphine Complexes on Porous Silica via Hydrogen Bonding

The optically pure Rh(I)‐diphosphine complexes [((R)‐(R)‐BDPBzPSO₃)Rh(nbd)] ( 1 ), [((+)‐DIOP)Rh(nbd)]OTf ( 2 ), and [((S)‐BINAP)Rh(nbd)]OTf ( 3 ) have been tethered to silica via hydrogen‐bonding interaction of isolated silanols with a sulphonate group in either the chiral ligand or the counteranion. A preliminary study of the potential of the resulting supported hydrogen‐bonded (SHB) catalysts in the heterogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral olefins is reported.     

Preparation of (R)‐Amines from Racemic Amines with an (S)‐Amine Transaminase from Bacillus megaterium

Screening was carried out to identify strains useful for the preparation of (R)‐1‐cyclopropylethylamine and (R)‐sec‐butylamine by resolution of the racemic amines with an (S)‐specific transaminase. Several Bacillus megaterium strains from our culture collection as well as several soil isolates were found to have the desired activity for the resolution of the racemic amines to give the (R)‐enantiomers. Using an extract of the best strain, Bacillus megaterium SC6394, the reaction was shown to be a transamination requiring pyruvate as amino acceptor and pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor. Initial batches of both amines were produced using whole cells of Bacillus megaterium SC6394. The transaminase was purified to homogeneity to obtain N‐terminal as well as internal amino acid sequences. The sequences were used to design polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers to enable cloning and expression of the transaminase in E. coli SC16578. In contrast to the original B. megaterium process, pH control and aeration were not required for the resolution of sec‐butylamine and an excess of pyruvate was not consumed by the recombinant cells. The resolution of sec‐butylamine (0.68 M) using whole cells of E. coli SC16578 was scaled up to give (R)‐sec‐butylamine⋅1/2 H₂SO₄ in 46.6% isolated yield with 99.2% ee. An alternative isolation procedure was also used to isolate (R)‐sec‐butylamine as the free base.     

Bioreduction of α‐Acetoxymethyl Enones: Proposal for an SN2′ Mechanism Catalyzed by Enereductase

(Z)‐3‐Acetoxymethyl‐4‐R‐3‐buten‐2‐ones (R=aryl, alkyl) and (Z)‐3‐methyl‐4‐R‐3‐buten‐2‐ones (R=aryl) were synthesized and submitted to reduction by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae producing the (R)‐ and (S)‐4‐R‐3‐methybutan‐2‐ones, respectively. This stereochemistry control strategy was applied in the syntheses of (R)‐ and (S)‐Tropional® with moderate to high enantiomeric excesses. Other (Z)‐3‐acyloxymethyl‐4‐phenyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ones showed similar behavior to the (Z)‐3‐acetoxymethyl counterpart, and the acylated Morita–Baylis–Hillman adduct 1‐acetoxy‐2‐methylene‐1‐phenylbutan‐3‐one produced a mixture of products, with and without the acetoxy group, via three different reaction pathways. In addition to experiments employing whole cells, those in which isolated enereductases were used suggested that the main pathway through which the loss of the acetoxy group occurs during the biocatalytic cascade is an S_N2′‐type reaction, rather than formal hydrogen addition followed by acetic acid elimination. Finally, related ethyl enones were reduced enantioselectively by the yeast Candida albicans, producing both (R)‐ and (S)‐reduction products, depending on the presence of the acetoxy group in the starting material.

     

MOP‐Type Binaphthyl Phosphite and Diamidophosphite Ligands and Their Application in Catalytic Asymmetric Transformations

Monodentate phosphite and diamidophosphite ligands have been developed based on O‐methyl‐BINOL. These chiral ligands are easy to prepare from readily accessible phosphorylating reagents – (S_a or R_a)‐2‐chlorodinaphtho[2,1‐d:1′,2′‐f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepine and (2R,5S)‐2‐chloro‐3‐phenyl‐1,3‐diaza‐2‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The new ligands have demonstrated excellent enantioselectivity in the palladium‐catalysed allylic substitution reactions of (E)‐1,3‐diphenylallyl acetate with sodium p‐toluenesulfinate (up to 99 % ee), pyrrolidine (up to 97 % ee), dipropylamine (up to 95 % ee) and dimethyl malonate (up to 99 % ee). In the palladium‐catalysed deracemization of ethyl (E)‐1,3‐diphenylallyl carbonate, up to 96 % enantioselectivity has been achieved. The diamidophosphite ligands have exhibited very good enantioselectivity in the Rh‐catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate (up to 90 % ee).     

Enantioselective Benzylic Hydroxylation with Pseudomonas monteilii TA‐5: A Simple Method for the Syntheses of (R)‐Benzylic Alcohols Containing Reactive Functional Groups

Highly enantioselective benzylic hydroxylations of benzene derivatives ( 1–4 ) containing reactive functional groups were achieved for the first time with Pseudomonas monteilii TA‐5 as biocatalyst, giving the corresponding (R)‐benzylic alcohols 5 – 8 in 93–99% ee as the only products. Preparative biotransformations were demonstrated by the biohydroxylation of 1 and 2 with resting cells of P. monteilii TA‐5 to afford (R)‐ 5 in 94% ee and 66% yield and (R)‐ 6 in 94% ee and 56% yield, respectively. The highly enantioselective biohydroxylations represent a simple access to (R)‐benzylic alcohols containing reactive functional groups that are useful pharmaceutical intermediates and versatile chiral building blocks.     

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 New Chiral P,N‐Ligand Derived from 1‐Phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic Acid (Phenyl‐P‐proline) for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions

New types of P,N‐ligands, cis‐ and trans‐ 3 , containing a tetrahydroisoquinoline skeleton as an N‐donor were synthesized from (1R,2S)‐1‐phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic acid (phenyl‐P‐proline, 1 ). The cis isomer, cis‐ 3 , was found to act as an excellent ligand in palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The reactions of 1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐propenyl acetate ( 5 ) with several nucleophiles in the presence of [Pd(π‐allyl)Cl]₂, cis‐ 3 (Pd : ligand=1 : 2), and a base afforded the desired products in high yields with high enantioselectivity. It was suggested that these ligands did not serve as P,N‐bidentate ligands but as P‐monodentate ligands in these reactions.     

Enantioselective Platinum‐Catalyzed Silicon‐Boron Addition to 1,3‐Cyclohexadiene

Silaboration of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene in the presence of Pt(acac)₂, DIBALH, and a phosphoramidite prepared from (S)‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol and diisopropylamine led to (1R,4S)‐1‐(dimethylphenylsilyl)‐4‐(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)‐2‐cyclohexene with 70% ee. Chiral catalysts based on Ni gave no or essentially racemic product, whereas complexes containing Pd were inactive.     

New Pathway to C2‐Symmetric Atropoisomeric Bipyridine N,N′‐Dioxides and Solvent Effect in Enantioselective Allylation of Aldehydes

The [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of 1,7,9,15‐hexadecatetrayne with nitriles catalyzed by dicarbonylcyclopentadienylcobalt(I) opened a new pathway for the synthesis of C₂‐symmetrical bis(tetrahydroisoquinolines) that were used as starting material for the preparation of axially chiral bipyridine N,N′‐dioxides. The N,N′‐dioxides (1 mol%) were found to be highly catalytically active and enantioselective (up to 83% ee) for the asymmetric allylation of aldehydes with allyl(trichloro)silane in various solvents. In addition, a dramatic solvent effect was observed where the use of different solvents induced opposite chiralities of the product with the same enantiomer of the catalyst, e.g., 65% ee (S) in acetonitrile (MeCN) vs. 82% ee (R) in chlorobenzene.     

Asymmetric Sulfoxidation of Thioethers with Hydrogen Peroxide in Water Mediated by Platinum Chiral Catalyst

Easy stereoselective oxidation of prochiral aryl alkyl sulfides 2 to the corresponding sulfoxides can be achieved in water‐surfactant medium with inexpensive hydrogen peroxide mediated by the chiral platinum diphosphine complex {[(R)‐BINAP]Pt(μ‐OH)}₂(BF₄)₂ ( 1 ). Remarkable key features of general interest are (i) easy isolation of the products from catalyst by simple diethyl ether/water‐surfactant two phase separation, (ii) catalyst loading as low as 1% mol, (iii) good yields, sulfoxide 3 to sulfone 4 ratio up to 200 : 1 and enantioselectivities up to 88%, (iv) mild experimental conditions.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Alkynylation and Arylation of Aldehydes by an H8‐Binaphthyl‐Based Amino Alcohol Ligand

A novel chiral H₈‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐based amino alcohol ligand (1R_a,2S,3R)‐ 2 has been synthesized and applied in the direct nucleophilic addition of organozincs (alkynylzinc and arylzinc prepared in situ) to aldehydes, yielding the corresponding optically active propargylic alcohols and diarylmethanols in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities. For the asymmetric arylation reaction, one catalyst (1R_a,2S,3R)‐ 2 can afford both enantiomers of many pharmaceutically interesting diarylmethanols by a proper combination of various arylzinc reagents and aldehydes.     

Highly Efficient Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Methyl (R)‐o‐Chloromandelate,a Key Intermediate for Clopidogrel,via Asymmetric Reduction with Recombinant Escherichia coli

Methyl (R)‐o‐chloromandelate [(R)‐ 1 ], which is an intermediate for a platelet aggregation inhibitor named clopidogrel, was obtained in >99% ee by the asymmetric reduction of methyl o‐chlorobenzoylformate ( 2 ) with recombinant Escherichia coli overproducing a versatile carbonyl reductase. A remarkable temperature effect on productivity was observed in the whole‐cell reduction of 2 , and the optimum productivity as high as 178 g/L was attained at 20 °C on a 2‐g scale (1.0 M). The optimized reaction could be scaled up easily to transform 20 g of 2 in 100 mL of buffer. Three synthetic methods for 2 are compared.