Practical by Ligand Design: A New Class of Monodentate Phosphoramidite Ligands for Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenations

A new class of low‐cost and easy‐to‐prepare monodentate phosphoramidite ligands (CydamPhos) has been developed from readily accessible and cheap trans‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane as starting material through a three‐step transformation. This type of ligands exhibited excellent enantioseletivities and high activities in rhodium(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of dehydro‐α‐amino acid methyl esters 9 (ee: 96.2–99.8 %) and acetylenamides 11 (91.8–98.8 %). The remarkable substituent effects exhibited by the ligands on the enantioselective control of the catalysis are rationalized on the basis of molecular structure of the catalyst precursor.     

Chiral 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐1‐naphthylamine‐Derived Phosphine‐Phosphoramidite Ligand (THNAPhos): Application in Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenations of Functionalized CC Bonds

We have recently reported a new chiral 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthylamine‐derived phosphine‐phosphoramidite ligand, (R_c,R_a)‐THNAPhos, that is highly efficient in the rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a broad range of α‐enol ester phosphonates. To further demonstrate the utility of THNAPhos in asymmetric hydrogenation, in this paper, we describe its new application in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐dehydroamino acid esters, enamides, dimethyl itaconate and α‐enamido phosphonates. The results disclosed that the Rh/(R_c,R_a)‐THNAPhos complex is highly effective for the enantioselective hydrogenation of these kinds of functionalized CC olefins, affording the corresponding hydrogenation product in excellent enantioselectivities (normally over 99% ee).     

Highly Air‐ and Water‐Stable Fluorinated Ferrocenylphosphine‐Aminophosphine Ligands and their Applications in Asymmetric Hydrogenations

Air‐ and water‐stable fluorinated ferrocenylphosphine‐aminophosphine ligands have been synthesized and applied to the Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides and α‐dehydroamino acid derivatives. These reactions afforded the corresponding products in good to excellent ees (up to 99.7% ee) and nearly quantitative yields. The combination of the remarkable air‐ and water‐stability with excellent catalytic performance makes these catalysts excellent choices for practical applications.     

Ferrocene‐Based Chiral Phosphine‐Triazines: A New Family of Highly Efficient P,N Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis

The presence of the additional heterocyclic nitrogen atoms in chiral P,N ligands has an important influence on the asymmetric catalysis, and a clear trend was observed in the present research that the enantioselectivity and reactivity were significantly increased by raising the number of heterocyclic nitrogen atoms in these P,N ligands. Through finely tuning the number of heterocyclic nitrogen atoms, a new family of ferrocene‐based chiral phosphine‐triazine ligands with three heterocyclic nitrogen atoms has been developed and successfully applied in Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution. Up to 99% ee with 99% yield of allylic alkylation products and 94% ee of allylic amination products have been obtained by the use of ligand (R_c,S_p)‐ 1f with a 4,6‐diphenoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine moiety.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Optically Active Alkanephos‐ phonates via Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of β‐Substituted α,β‐Unsaturated Phosphonates with Ferrocene‐Based Monophosphoramidite Ligands

A series of chiral β‐substituted alkanephosphonates was synthesized in high enantioselectivities via the first rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding β‐substituted‐α,β‐unsaturated phosphonates using a ferrocene‐derived monophosphoramidite ligand, with which up to 99.5% ee have been achieved for the hydrogenation of (E)‐substrates and 98.0% ee for (Z)‐substrates.     

Highly Modular P‐O‐P Ligands for Asymmetric Hydrogenation

The preparation of a library of new P‐O‐P ligands (phosphine‐phosphites and phosphine‐phosphinites), easily available in two synthetic steps from enantiopure Sharpless epoxy ethers, is reported. The “lead” catalyst of the series has proven to have outstanding catalytic properties in the rhodium‐catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of a wide variety of functionalised alkenes (16 examples). The excellent performance and modular design of the catalysts makes them attractive for future applications.     

Optically Pure 1,2‐Bis[(o‐alkylphenyl)phenylphosphino]ethanes and Their Use in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenations of α‐(Acylamino)acrylic Derivatives

Optically pure (S,S)‐1,2‐bis[(o‐alkylphenyl)phenylphosphino]ethanes 1a–d were prepared in four steps from phenyldichlorophosphine via phosphine‐boranes as the intermediates. The rhodium complexes 5a–d of these diphosphines were used for the asymmetric hydrogenations of α‐(acylamino)acrylic derivatives including β‐disubstituted derivatives. Markedly high enantioselectivity (78–>99%) was observed for the reduction of β‐monosubstituted derivatives. β‐Disubstituted derivatives were also reduced in considerably high enantioselectivity (up to 90%). The single crystal X‐ray analysis of the rhodium complex 5c of (S,S)‐1,2‐bis[phenyl(5′,6′,7′,8′‐tetrahydronaphthyl)phosphino]ethane ( 1c) revealed its δ‐type structure with face orientation of the two tetrahydronaphthyl groups and edge orientation of the two phenyl groups. This conformation corresponds to that of the rhodium complex of 1,2‐bis[(o‐methoxyphenyl)phenylphosphino]ethane (DIPAMP); the rhodium complex of (R,R)‐DIPAMP, whose chirality at phosphorus is opposite that of 5c , exhibits a λ‐type structure with the face orientation of the two o‐methoxyphenyl groups and the edge orientation of the two phenyl groups. The conformational similarity of these rhodium complexes as well as the stereochemical outcome in the asymmetric hydrogenations means that the coordinative interaction of the methoxy group of DIPAMP with rhodium metal is not the main factor that affects asymmetric induction.     

Chiral Phosphinopyrrolyl‐Oxazolines: A New Class of Easily Prepared,Modular P,N‐Ligands

Chiral 2‐(N‐phosphinopyrrol‐2‐2)oxazolines (PyrPHOX ligands) are readily prepared from 2‐cyanopyrrole by condensation with a chiral amino alcohol and subsequent reaction with dialkyl‐ or diaryl‐chlorophosphines. Iridium complexes of these ligands proved to be highly efficient catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation of olefins. With unfunctionalized arylalkenes and ethyl cinnamate enantiomeric excesses of 70–99% were obtained.     

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.     

Fluorinated Alcohols as Solvents for Enantioselective Hydrogenation with Chiral Self‐Assembling Rhodium Catalysts

We herein describe the beneficial effect of fluorinated alcohols on asymmetric hydrogenation using chiral self‐assembling rhodium complexes. Previously, the application of these catalysts has been hampered by low reaction rates in non‐polar solvents, which are essential for establishing the self‐assembling architecture via hydrogen bonding. Excellent reaction rates are usually observed in alcohols as solvents, but the characteristic hydrogen bonds are cleaved in those media, resulting in poor ee values. We now show for the first time that the disadvantageous properties of both solvent classes on the catalytic reaction can be overcome by using fluorinated alcohols. Due to this key finding, homogeneous catalysis with self‐assembling catalysts is much closer to practical application.     

Modular Hydroxyamide and Thioamide Pyranoside‐Based Ligand Library from the Sugar Pool: New Class of Ligands for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

A large library of pyranoside‐based hydroxyamide and thioamide ligands has been synthesized for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in an attempt to expand the scope of the substrates to cover a broader range of challenging heteroaromatic and aryl/fluoroalkyl ketones. These ligands have the advantage that they are prepared from commercial D ‐glucose, D ‐glucosamine and α‐amino acids, inexpensive natural chiral feedstocks. By carefully selecting the ligand components (substituents/configurations at the amide/thioamide moiety, the position of amide/thioamide group and the configuration at C‐2), we found that pyranoside‐based thioamide ligands provided excellent enantioselectivities (in the best cases, ees of >99% were achieved) in a broad range of ketones, including the less studied heteroaromatics and challenging aryl/fluoroalkyls. Note that both enantiomers of the reduction products can be obtained with excellent enantioselectivities by simply changing the absolute configuration of the thioamide substituent.

     

Axially Chiral Phosphine‐Oxazoline Ligands in Silver(I)‐ Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich Reaction of Aldimines with Trimethylsiloxyfuran

A new asymmetric catalytic system for the Mannich reaction of aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran is described. The combination of an axially chiral phosphine‐oxazoline ligand (S)‐2‐[(R)‐2′‐(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2‐yl]‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydrooxazole with silver acetate and 2,2,2‐trifluoroacetic acid is a very effective catalytic system in the asymmetric Mannich reaction of various aldimines with trimethylsiloxyfuran in dichloromethane at −78 °C, affording the corresponding adducts in up to 99% yield, 99:1 (dr) and 99% ee (major diastereoisomer) under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of Diastereomeric 1,4‐Diphosphine Ligands Bearing Imidazolidin‐2‐one Backbone and Their Application in Rh(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Functionalized Olefins

The diastereomeric 1,4‐diphosphine ligands, (S,S,S,S)‐ 1a , (R,S,S,R)‐ 1b and (R,S,S,S)‐ 1c , with the imidazolidin‐2‐one backbone were synthesized, and utilized for an investigation of the effects of backbone chirality on the enantioselectivity in the Rh(I)‐catalyzed hydrogenation of various functionalized olefinic substrates. It was found that the catalytic efficiencies are largely dependent on the configurations of the α‐carbons to phosphine. Thus, the Rh complex of the pseudo‐C₂‐symmetrical diphosphine, (R,S,S,S)‐ 1c , showed excellent enantioselectivities (93.0–98.6% ees) in the hydrogenations of a broad spectrum of substrates, and especially in the hydrogenations of methyl α‐(N‐acetyamino)‐β‐arylacrylates (95.3–97.0% ees). However, the enantioselectivities obtained with the C₂‐symmetrical (R,S,S,R)‐ 1b were largely dependent on the substrate (19.8–97.3% ees). The Rh complex of ligand 1a having the (S,S,S,S)‐configuration showed the lowest catalytic efficiency for all of the substrates examined (0–84.8% ees).     

Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Itaconic Acid Derivatives with a Chiral Bisphospholane‐Rh(I) Catalyst

The new – commercially in multi‐kg quantities available – chiral bisphospholane ligand, catASium^® M, has been successfully used in the Rh(I)‐catalysed enantioselective hydrogenation of itaconic acid derivatives. Chiral ß‐substituted succinic acid derivatives were produced in good to excellent enantioselectivities. Turnover frequencies by up to 40,000 h⁻¹ have been achieved.     

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.     

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.     

Threonine‐Derived Phosphinite‐Oxazoline Ligands for the Ir‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation

A series of chiral phosphinite‐oxazolines was synthesized in four steps starting from carboxylic acids and threonine methyl ester. In the asymmetric hydrogenation of a number of alkenes, iridium complexes of these ligands induced significantly higher enantioselectivities than the corresponding serine‐derived complexes. Enantiomeric excesses of 89 to 99% were obtained for unfunctionalized alkenes with turnover numbers of up to 5000.     

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.