Improvement of enantioselectivity and stability of Klebsiella oxytoca hydrolase immobilized on Eupergit C 250L

BACKGROUND: A simple procedure was employed to covalently immobilize a Klebsiella oxytoca hydrolase (SNSM‐87) onto epoxy‐activated supports of Eupergit C 250L via multipoint covalent attachment. The resultant biocatalyst was explored for the hydrolytic resolution of a variety of (R,S)‐2‐hydroxycarboxylic acid ethyl esters. RESULTS: With the hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)‐ethyl mandelate in biphasic media as the model system, optimal conditions of 55 °C, pH 6 buffer and isooctane as the organic phase were selected for improving the enzyme stability (activity retained from 10% to 50% at 96 h) and enantioselectivity (V_SV_R^?1 value enhanced from 44 to 319) in comparison to the performance of free enzyme. Moreover, the immobilized enzyme retained its activity and enantioselectivity after eight cycles of hydrolysis at 55 °C. When applying the resolution process to other (R,S)‐2‐hydroxycarboxylic acid ethyl esters, 2.4‐ to 4.0‐fold enhancements of the enantioselectivity in general were obtainable. CONCLUSIONS: The enantioselectivity enhancement, good reusability and easy recovery after reaction indicate that the immobilized SNSM‐87 may have the potential as an industrial biocatalyst for the preparation of optically pure 2‐hydroxycarboxylic acids. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mono‐Estolide Synthesis from trans‐8‐Hydroxy‐Fatty Acids by Lipases in Solvent‐Free Media and Their Physical Properties

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 42A2 is known to produce two hydroxy‐fatty acids, 10(S)‐hydroxy‐8(E)‐octadecenoic and 7,10(S,S)‐dihydroxy‐8(E)‐octadecenoic acids, when cultivated in a mineral medium using oleic acid as a single carbon source. These compounds were purified, 91 and 96 % respectively, to produce two new families of estolides: trans‐8‐estolides and saturated estolides from the monohydroxylated monomer. trans‐8‐estolides were produced by three different lipases (Novozym 435, Lipozyme RM IM and Lipozyme TL IM) with reaction yields between 68.4 ± 2.1 and 94.7 ± 2.4 % in a solvent‐free medium at 80 °C in 168 h under vacuum. Novozym 435 was found to be the most efficient biocatalyst for both hydroxy‐fatty acids with reaction yields of 71.7 ± 2.3 and 94.7 ± 2.4 %, respectively. Moreover, saturated estolides were also produced from a saturated 10(S)‐hydroxy‐8(E)‐octadecenoic. These estolides were chemically and enzymatically synthesized with Novozym 435, under the previous described reaction conditions with yields of 60.7 ± 2.1 and 71.2 ± 2.3 % respectively. Finally, viscosity, glass transition temperature, decomposition temperatures and enthalpies were determined to characterize both types of estolides. Thermal applications for both types of polyesters were improved since glass transition temperatures were lowered and decomposition temperatures were increased, with respect to their corresponding substrates.     

Applying alpha‐phenacyl chloride to the enantioselective reduction of ethyl 2‐oxo‐4‐phenylbutyrate with baker's yeast

BACKGROUND: The enantioselectivity of reduction of ethyl 2‐oxo‐4‐phenylbutyrate (EOPB) to synthesize ethyl (R)‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutyrate ((R)‐EHPB) catalyzed with baker's yeast in diethyl ether can be improved by the introduction of alpha‐phenacyl chloride (PC). However, the toxicity of PC to the yeast results in a decrease in the catalytic activity of yeast. In order to overcome this limitation, four strategies for PC addition were designed. The effect of PC on the catalytic behavior of baker's yeast was studied using spectrum analysis of alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast (YADH). RESULTS: After being pretreated with PC according to Strategy 4, the pretreated baker's yeast possessed good catalytic activity and enantioselectivity for the reduction of EOPB to produce (R)‐EHPB. Under the optimum pretreatment conditions, the conversion of EOPB, the yield of EHPB and the enantiomeric excess of (R)‐EHPB reached 96%, 90% and 92%, respectively. Significant changes were observed in the UV absorption and fluorescence spectra of the YADH from the yeast pretreated by PC. CONCLUSION: The change of catalytic behavior of yeast after the pretreatment was probably caused by an interaction between yeast and PC. The reactive halomethyl group in PC molecule plays a key role for the interaction. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enzymes in Organic Chemistry, 11:[1] Hydrolase‐Catalyzed Resolution of α‐ and β‐Hydroxyphosphonates and Synthesis of Chiral,Non‐Racemic β‐Aminophosphonic Acids

The enantioselective acylation of racemic diisopropyl α‐ and β‐hydroxyphosphonates by hydrolases in t‐butyl methyl ether with isopropenyl acetate as acyl donor is limited by the narrow substrate specificity of the enzymes. High enantiomeric excesses (up to 99%) were obtained for the acetates of (S)‐diisopropyl 1‐hydroxy‐(2‐thienyl)methyl‐, 1‐hydroxyethyl‐ and 1‐hydroxyhexylphosphonate and (R)‐diisopropyl 2‐hydroxypropylphosphonate. The hydrolysis of a variety of β‐chloroacetoxyphosphonates by the lipase from Candida cylindracea and protease subtilisin in a biphasic system gives (S)‐β‐hydroxyphosphonates (ee 51–92%) enantioselectively. (S)‐2‐Phenyl‐2‐hydroxyethyl‐ and (S)‐3‐methyl‐2‐hydroxybutylphosphonates (ee 96% and 99%, respectively) were transformed into (R)‐2‐aminophosphonic acids of the same ee.     

Multi‐Enzymatic Synthesis of Optically Pure β‐Hydroxy α‐Amino Acids

A novel enzymatic production system of optically pure β‐hydroxy α‐amino acids was developed. Two enzymes were used for the system: an N‐succinyl L ‐amino acid β‐hydroxylase (SadA) belonging to the iron(II)/α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase superfamily and an N‐succinyl L ‐amino acid desuccinylase (LasA). The genes encoding the two enzymes are part of a gene set responsible for the biosynthesis of peptidyl compounds found in the Burkholderia ambifaria AMMD genome. SadA stereoselectively hydroxylated several N‐succinyl aliphatic L ‐amino acids and produced N‐succinyl β‐hydroxy L ‐amino acids, such as N‐succinyl‐L ‐β‐hydroxyvaline, N‐succinyl‐L ‐threonine, (2S,3R)‐N‐succinyl‐L ‐β‐hydroxyisoleucine, and N‐succinyl‐L ‐threo‐β‐hydroxyleucine. LasA catalyzed the desuccinylation of various N‐succinyl‐L ‐amino acids. Surprisingly, LasA is the first amide bond‐forming enzyme belonging to the amidohydrolase superfamily, and has succinylation activity towards the amino group of L ‐leucine. By combining SadA and LasA in a preparative scale production using N‐succinyl‐L ‐leucine as substrate, 2.3 mmol of L ‐threo‐β‐hydroxyleucine were successfully produced with 93% conversion and over 99% of diastereomeric excess. Consequently, the new production system described in this study has advantages in optical purity and reaction efficiency for application in the mass production of several β‐hydroxy α‐amino acids.

     

Production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol by Trichothecium roseum isolate in a laboratory scale bioreactor

BACKGROUND: Enantiomerically pure, fluorinated compounds play an important role in medicinal chemistry. Trichothecium roseum strains were isolated for the production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol. Biocatalytic production of optically active (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol was achieved by asymmetric reduction of 3′‐fluoroacetophenone in a batch culture of Trichothecium roseum using ram horn peptone (RHP). The reaction conditions (pH, temperature and agitation) required to improve the conversion of 3′‐fluoroacetophenone and enantiomeric excess (ee) of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol were studied. RESULTS: The gram scale production of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol by the most effective biocatalyst, Trichothecium roseum EBK‐11 using RHP was carried out in a fermenter with 1 L working volume. The results showed that the yield with >99% ee of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol reached 77%. The concentration of (R)‐3′‐fluorophenylethan‐1‐ol at the end of 62 h fermentation was 2.70 g L^?1. CONCLUSION: An important chiral intermediate for the pharmaceutical industry using T. roseum EBK‐11 in submerged culture containing RHP from waste material was produced up to gram scale with excellent ee (99%). In this work, T. roseum fungus was used for the first time as a biocatalyst for efficient production of a chiral alcohol. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Facile Synthesis of Enantiopure 4‐Substituted 2‐Hydroxy‐4‐ butyrolactones using a Robust Fusarium Lactonase

A facile chemo‐enzymatic process has been developed for producing stereoisomers of 4‐substituted 2‐hydroxy‐4‐butyrolactones with good to excellent enantioselectivity. This process involves an easy separation of the diastereoisomers by column chromatography and efficient enzymatic resolution by whole cells of Escherichia coli JM109 expressing Fusarium proliferatum lactonase gene. This biocatalyst shows strong tolerance towards different substrate structures and at least three out four possible isomers could be obtained in excellent enantiomeric purity. Different substrate concentrations (10 mM–200 mM) were examined, giving a substrate to catalyst ratio of up to 26:1. This general and efficient enzymatic process provides access to stereoisomers of 4‐substituted 2‐hydroxy‐4‐butyrolactones readily and cost‐effectively. The stereochemical assignments were conducted systematically based on NMR, X‐ray diffraction and circular dichroism, leading to further understanding of the enzyme’s stereoselectivity.     

Cross‐Linked Amorphous Nitrilase Aggregates for Enantioselective Nitrile Hydrolysis

A recombinant Escherichia coli strain was constructed which efficiently expressed the enantioselective nitrilase from Alcaligenes faecalis DSMZ 30030 as a hisitidine‐tagged enzyme variant under the control of a rhamnose inducible promoter. The enzyme was purified from cell extracts and used for the preparation of cross‐linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs). The conditions for the preparation of the CLEAs were optimized using various organic solvents and cross‐linking agents and a procedure was developed which combined a precipitation with 85 % (v/v) isopropyl alcohol and a cross‐linking with 30 mM glutaraldehyde. Thus, about 80 % of the initial nitrilase activity could be incorporated into the CLEAs. The hydrolysis of racemic mandelonitrile to (R)‐mandelic acid was compared between the soluble nitrilase preparations and their CLEAs (nit‐CLEAs). The nitrilase activity in the CLEAs was at 30 °C and 60 °C about 5 times more stable than in the soluble preparations. The CLEAs could be reused 5 times with only about 10 % reduction in activity. The enantioselectivity of the nitrilase for the formation of (R)‐mandelic acid from racemic mandelonitrile decreased for both preparations with increasing temperatures (10 °C to 50 °C), but this effect was significantly less pronounced for the CLEAs. A detailed analysis of solvent effects on nitrilase enantioselectivity allowed thermodynamic insights into contributions from free energy component (activation enthalpy and entropy) to chiral preference of nitrilase in such non conventional media.     

Experimental and Computation Studies on Candida antarctica Lipase B‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Alcoholysis of 4‐Bromomethyl‐β‐lactone Leading to Enantiopure 4‐Bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate

Both enantiomers of optically pure 4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, which is an important chiral building block in the syntheses of various biologically active compounds including statins, were synthesized from rac‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone through kinetic resolution. Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL‐B) enantioselectively catalyzes the ring opening of the β‐lactone with ethanol to yield ethyl (R)‐4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate with high enantioselectivity (E>200). The unreacted (S)‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone was converted to ethyl (S)‐4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate (>99% ee), which can be further transformed to ethyl (R)‐4‐cyano‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, through an acid‐catalyzed ring opening in ethanol. Molecular modeling revealed that the stereocenter of the fast‐reacting enantiomer, (R)‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone, is ∼2 Å from the reacting carbonyl carbon. In addition, the slow‐reacting enantiomer, (S)‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone, encounters steric hindrance between the bromo substituent and the side chain of the Leu278 residue, while the fast‐reacting enantiomer does not have any steric clash.     

Aqueous Asymmetric Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction Catalyzed by Chiral Gallium Lewis Acid with Trost‐Type Semi‐Crown Ligands

The combination of Ga(OTf)₃ with chiral semi‐crown ligands ( 1a – e ) generates highly effective chiral gallium Lewis acid catalysts for aqueous asymmetric aldol reactions of aromatic silyl enol ethers with aldehydes. A ligand‐acceleration effect was observed. Water is essential for obtaining high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. The p‐phenyl substituent in aromatic silyl enol ether ( 2 h ) plays an important role and increases the enantioselectivity up to 95% ee. Although aliphatic silyl enol ethers provided low enantioselectivities and silylketene acetal is easily hydrolyzed in aqueous alcohol, the aldol reactions of silylketene thioacetal ( 12 ) with aldehydes in the presence of gallium‐Lewis acid catalysts give the β‐hydroxy thioester with reasonable yields and high diastereo‐ (up to 99 : 1) and enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).     

Modification of Chiral Monodentate Phosphine Ligands (MOP) for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Cyclic 1,3‐Dienes

Several MOP ligands 5 containing aryl groups at 2′ position of (R)‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl skeleton were prepared and used for palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of cyclic 1,3‐dienes 6 with trichlorosilane. Highest enantioselectivity was observed in the reaction of 1,3‐cyclopentadiene ( 6a ) catalyzed by a palladium complex (0.25 mol %) coordinated with (R)‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)‐2′‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ( 5f ), which gave (S)‐3‐(trichlorosilyl)cyclopentene of 90% ee.     

Chemoenzymatic Preparation of Enantiopure Homoadamantyl β‐Amino Acid and β‐Lactam Derivatives

Racemic cis‐10‐azatetracyclo[7.2.0.1^2,6.1^4,8]tridecan‐11‐one was prepared from homoadamant‐4‐ene by chlorosulfonyl isocyanate addition. The transformation of the β‐lactam to the corresponding β‐amino ester followed by Candida antarctica lipase A‐catalyzed enantioselective (E>>200) N‐acylation with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl butanoate afforded methyl (1R,4R,5S,8S)‐5‐aminotricyclo[4.3.1.1^3,8]undecane‐4‐carboxylate and the (1S,4S,5R,8R)‐butanamide with>99% ee at 50% conversion. Alternatively, transformation of the β‐lactam to the corresponding N‐hydroxymethyl‐β‐lactam and the following Pseudomonas cepacia (currently Burkholderia cepacia) lipase‐catalyzed enantioseletive O‐acylation provided the (1S,4S,6R,9R)‐alcohol (ee=87%) and the corresponding (1R,4R,6S,9S)‐butanoate (ee>99%). In the latter method, competition for the enzyme between the (1R,4R,6S,9S)‐butanoate, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl butanoate and the hydrolysis product, butanoic acid, tended to stop the reaction at about 45% conversion and finally gave racemization in the (1S,4S,6R,9R)‐alcohol with time.     

An Unusual (R)‐Selective Epoxide Hydrolase with High Activity for Facile Preparation of Enantiopure Glycidyl Ethers

A novel epoxide hydrolase (BMEH) with unusual (R)‐enantioselectivity and very high activity was cloned from Bacillus megaterium ECU1001. Highest enantioselectivities (E>200) were achieved in the bioresolution of ortho‐substituted phenyl glycidyl ethers and para‐nitrostyrene oxide. Worthy of note is that the substrate structure remarkably affected the enantioselectivities of the enzyme, as a reversed (S)‐enantiopreference was unexpectedly observed for the ortho‐nitrophenyl glycidyl ether. As a proof‐of‐concept, five enantiopure epoxides (>99% ee) were obtained in high yields, and a gram‐scale preparation of (S)‐ortho‐methylphenyl glycidyl ether was then successfully performed within a few hours, indicating that BMEH is an attractive biocatalyst for the efficient preparation of optically active epoxides.     

Synthesis of poly(methylphenylsiloxane) rich in syndiotacticity by Rh‐catalysed stereoselective cross‐dehydrocoupling polymerization of optically active 1,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diphenyldisiloxane derivatives

Cross‐dehydrocoupling reactions of (R)‐methyl(1‐naphthyl)phenylsilane (>99%ee) with (S)‐methyl(1‐naphthyl)phenylsilanol (>99% ee) proceeded with 82–99% retention of configuration of chiral silicon centres in the presence of various Rh‐catalysts. Cross‐dehydrocoupling polymerization of 1,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐disiloxanediol with 1,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐disiloxane gave poly(methylphenylsiloxane) of moderate molecular weight in toluene at 60 °C in the presence of [RhCl(cod)]₂ (5.0 mol%) and triethylamine (1.0 equivalent). Assignment of the triad signals of the resulting polymer was made by ¹H NMR spectroscopy of the methyl proton (I = 0.04, H = 0.09 and S = 0.14 ppm) and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy of the ipso carbon of the phenyl group (S = 136.7, H = 136.9, and I = 137.1 ppm). Although the reaction of optically pure (S,S)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐disiloxanediol with 1,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐disiloxane [(S,S):(S,R):(R,R)] = 84:16:0] gave a poly(methylphenylsiloxane) of rather low molecular weight, its triad tacticity was found to be rich in syndiotacticity (S:H:I = 60:32:8) by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Resolution of N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam catalyzed by lipase in organic solvent

BACKGROUND: The enantiomers of N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam are important intermediates during the synthesis of chiral drugs. The preparation of its single enantiomer can be performed through enzymatic resolution. The aim of this work is to obtain (1S, 4R)‐N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam with high enantiomeric purity via lipase‐catalyzed enantioselective transesterification in organic solvents. To achieve this, effects of various reaction conditions (including lipase sources, acyl donor, substrate molar ratio, organic solvent, temperature, and water activity) on the enzyme activity as well as enantioselectivity were investigated. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the enantiopreference for all the selected enzymes was (4S, 1R)‐N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam in enantioselective transesterification of racemic N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam. Under the selected optimum conditions, the highest enantioselectivity (E = 33.8) was obtained with a higher enzyme activity (20.3 µmol g^?1 min^?1) for Mucor miehei lipase (MML) when vinyl valerate was used as the acyl donor. Besides, the remained (1S, 4R)‐N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam with high enantiomeric purity (ee > 99%) was obtained when the conversion was about 60%. CONCLUSION: The results obtained clearly demonstrated potential for industrial application of lipase in resolution of N‐hydroxymethyl vince lactam through enantioselective transesterification. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

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.     

Exploring the Biocatalytic Scope of Alditol Oxidase from Streptomyces coelicolor

The substrate scope of the flavoprotein alditol oxidase (AldO) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli, was explored. While it has been established that AldO efficiently oxidizes alditols to D ‐aldoses, this study revealed that the enzyme is also active with a broad range of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols. Alcohols containing hydroxy groups at the C‐1 and C‐2 positions like 1,2,4‐butanetriol (K_m=170 mM, k_cat=4.4 s⁻¹), 1,2‐pentanediol (K_m=52 mM, k_cat=0.85 s⁻¹) and 1,2‐hexanediol (K_m=97 mM, k_cat=2.0 s⁻¹) were readily accepted by AldO. Furthermore, the enzyme was highly enantioselective for the oxidation of 1,2‐diols [e.g., for 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol the (R)‐enantiomer was preferred with an E‐value of 74]. For several diols the oxidation products were determined by GC‐MS and NMR. Interestingly, for all tested 1,2‐diols the products were found to be the α‐hydroxy acids instead of the expected α‐hydroxy aldehydes. Incubation of (R)‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol with ¹⁸O‐labelled water (H₂¹⁸O) revealed that a second enzymatic oxidation step occurs via the hydrate product intermediate. The relaxed substrate specificity, excellent enantioselectivity, and independence of coenzymes make AldO an attractive enzyme for the preparation of optically pure 1,2‐diols and α‐hydroxy acids.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of (R)‐2‐methacryloyloxy‐2′‐methoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of (R)‐2‐methacryloyloxy‐2′‐methoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene ((R)‐MAMBN) mediated by different amine ligands, copper(I) chloride and ethyl 2‐bromopropionate in different solvents, and reverse ATRP of (R)‐MAMBN were studied. It was shown that optically active polymers were obtained, with poor control of the molecular weights, and low polydispersities. Specific rotation of the polymers increased with increasing molecular weights. By comparison with (R)‐MAMBN, poly((R)‐MAMBN)s exhibits higher specific rotation and a positive Cotton effect. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

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.     

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).