Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Halocrotonates: Efficient Synthesis of Versatile Chiral Multifunctional Building Blocks

The highly enantioselective synthesis of α‐methyl‐substituted esters is reported in up to 90% yield and up to 99% ee using copper‐TaniaPhos as chiral catalyst. The transformation proved scalable to at least 6.6 mmol (1.7 g scale). The products of this transformation have been further elaborated to multifunctional building blocks with a single (branched esters and acids) or multiple stereogenic centers (vicinal dimethyl esters, as well as, hydroxy‐ or iodo‐substituted lactones).     

Catalytic Asymmetric Five‐Component Tandem Reaction: Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines with Biological Importance

The first catalytic asymmetric five‐component tandem reactions of β‐keto esters, aromatic aldehydes and anilines have been established in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid, affording densely functionalized tetrahydropyridines with concomitant generation of five σ bonds and two stereogenic centers in high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr, 95:5 er). In addition, the first isolation and preparation of a diene species as the key intermediate of the reaction has been successfully realized, leading to the formation of the desired tetrahydropyridine via further condensation with in situ generated imine, which supported the proposed tandem [4+2] reaction pathway to some extent. This protocol not only represents the first enantioselective example of this five‐component tandem reaction, but also provides an unprecedented access to enantioenriched tetrahydropyridines with structural diversity, which holds great potential in medicinal chemistry.     

Enantioselective Vanadium‐Catalyzed Oxidation of 1,3‐Dithianes from Aldehydes and Ketones using β‐Amino Alcohol Derived Schiff Base Ligands

The asymmetric vanadium‐catalyzed oxidation of 1,3‐dithianes from aldehydes and ketones by β‐amino alcohol‐derived Schiff base ligands with two stereogenic centers was investigated. Using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant and the Schiff base 3b as a chiral ligand, a variety of 1,3‐dithianes derived from aldehydes were easily converted into the corresponding mono‐sulfoxides in good yields (81–88%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Additionally, 99% ee was obtained for the enantioselective vanadium‐catalyzed oxidation of the 1,3‐dithianes derived from ketones. We found a slight kinetic resolution when using a higher ratio of hydrogen peroxide during the oxidation of the aldehyde‐derived 1,3‐dithianes but not in the ketone‐derived 1,3‐dithianes.     

Hexahydropyrrolo[2,3‐b]indoles: A New Class of Structurally Rigid Tricyclic Skeleton for Oxazaborolidine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Borane Reduction

A new class of structurally rigid tricyclic chiral ligands based on the hexahydropyrrolo[2,3‐b]indole skeleton has been rationally designed and the catalytic abilities in asymmetric catalysis have been shown in the enantioselective borane reduction of prochiral ketones to afford the chiral alcohols in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Catalytic Enantioselective Arylative Dearomatization of 3‐Methyl‐2‐vinylindoles Enabled by Reactivity Switch

The first catalytic asymmetric dearomatization of 3‐methyl‐2‐vinylindoles has been established by using quinone monoimides as suitable electrophiles in the presence of chiral phosphoric acid, which afforded chiral indole derivatives bearing a quaternary stereogenic center in a chemospecific and highly enantioselective fashion (up to 81% yield, >99% ee). The success of this reaction was enabled by the reactivity switch of 3‐methyl‐2‐vinylindoles, which has not been reported before. This reaction also represents the first catalytic asymmetric arylative dearomatization of vinylindoles, which will help confront the challenges in catalytic asymmetric arylative dearomatization and dearomatization of vinylindoles.

     

Chiral teleinduction in the polymerization of isocyanides

The effect of the length, constitution and conformation of rod-like spacers between an isocyanide group and a chiral substituent on the diastereoselectivity of the polymerization of these monomers has been studied. The chiral induction has been monitored using circular dichroism spectroscopy as well as polarimetry, and the polymers have also been characterized using NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Of the different spacers that have been studied, the benzoate moiety is the most efficient in propagating the chiral information from stereogenic center to the polymer backbone. Remarkably, when this moiety is included in a spacer which separates the stereogenic center from the reactive carbon atom in the monomer by 21 Å an appreciable induction of activity is still observed in the resulting polymer.     

Stereoselective Prostereogenic 3‐Oxo Ester Reduction Mediated by a Novel Yeast Alcohol Dehydrogenase Derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 6556

A yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) has been purified up to a purification factor value of 21,731‐fold from Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 6556. The purification procedure consisted of two chromatographic steps (DEAE‐anion exchange and affinity chromatography). The optimal pH was 7, its optimal temperature was 40 °C and its co‐factor was NADPH. This novel ADH efficiently mediated the reduction of 3‐oxo esters with a high degree of stereoselectivity, providing chiral alcohols having the (S) absolute configuration at the newly formed stereogenic centre by delivering the hydride from the re‐face of the prochiral carbonyl compounds.     

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Primary Alcohols with an Unfunctionalized Stereogenic Center in the β‐Position

Primary alcohols with an unfunctionalized stereogenic center in the β‐position undergo an enzyme‐ and metal‐catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). The in situ racemization of the primary alcohol, required for the DKR, takes place via: (i) ruthenium‐catalyzed dehydrogenation of the alcohol, (ii) enolization of the aldehyde formed, and (iii) ruthenium‐catalyzed readdition of hydrogen to the aldehyde. The present method widens the scope of metal‐ and enzyme‐catalyzed DKR, which has so far been limited to α‐chiral alcohol and amine derivatives.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diaryl‐Substituted Spirocyclohexanonepyrazolones through a Cascade [4+2] Double Michael Addition

The spirocyclic pyrazolones are an important class of molecular structures with significant biological and pharmaceutical activities. Herein, we demonstrate that the combination of a Cinchona‐based chiral primary amine and an ortho‐fluorobenzoic acid is an efficient catalyst system for the double Michael addition of arylidenepyrazolones with α,β‐unsaturated ketones, providing chiral unsymmetrical 6,10‐diaryl‐substituted spiro[cyclohexanone‐pyrazolone] derivatives in high yields (up to 98%) with good diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 88:12 dr, 99% ee).     

Enantioselective Construction of Cyclic Indolyl α‐Amino Esters via a Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Reaction

An enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with cyclic N‐sulfonyl ketimino esters was developed. Under the optimized conditions using a chiral copper(II) triflate‐bisoxazoline complex as the catalyst, a range of N‐sulfonyl ketimino ester derivatives and indoles reacted smoothly to afford indole‐containing chiral cyclic α‐amino esters bearing tetrasubstituted α‐stereogenic centers [3‐ethoxycarbonyl‐3‐(3‐indolyl)‐2,3‐dihydrobenzo[d]isothiazole 1,1‐dioxides] in excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Pyrrole and N,N‐dimethylaniline were also investigated as aromatic substrates to afford the corresponding products with good results. An asymmetric induction model was then proposed on the basis of the observed absolute configuration of the product 3‐ethoxycarbonyl‐3‐(5‐bromo‐3‐indolyl)‐2,3‐dihydrobenzo[d]isothiazole 1,1‐dioxide. Synthetic transformations to convert the products into cyclic chiral N‐sulfonamido alcohols and the deprotection of the sulfonamides were performed. This study provides an efficient approach to chiral α‐tetrasubstituted indolic α‐amino acids as potential building blocks for peptides and biologically active molecules.

     

A Modular Furanoside Thioether‐Phosphite/Phosphinite/ Phosphine Ligand Library for Asymmetric Iridium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Minimally Functionalized Olefins: Scope and Limitations

A highly modular furanoside thioether‐phosphite/phosphinite/phosphine ligand library has been synthesized for the iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins. These ligands can be prepared efficiently from easily accessible D ‐(+)‐xylose. We found that their effectiveness at transferring the chiral information in the product can be tuned by correctly choosing the ligand components. Enantioselectivities were therefore excellent (ees up to 99%) in a wide range of E‐ and Z‐trisubstituted alkenes using 5‐deoxyribofuranoside thioether‐phosphite ligands. It should be pointed out that these catalysts are also very tolerant to the presence of a neighbouring polar group. For 1,1‐disubstituted substrates, both enantiomers of the hydrogenation product can be obtained in high enantioselectivities simply by changing the configuration of the biaryl phosphite moiety. The asymmetric hydrogenation was also performed using propylene carbonate as solvent, which allowed the iridium catalysts to be reused while maintaining the excellent enantioselectivities.     

Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Quinoline and Pyridine Derivatives with Iridium‐(P‐Phos) Catalyst

The use of a chiral iridium catalyst generated in situ from the (cyclooctadiene)iridium chloride dimer, [Ir(COD)Cl]₂, the P‐Phos ligand [4,4′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐2,2′,6,6′‐tetramethoxy‐3,3′‐bipyridine] and iodine (I₂) for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,6‐substituted quinolines and trisubstituted pyridines [2‐substituted 7,8‐dihydroquinolin‐5(6H)‐one derivatives] is reported. The catalyst worked efficiently to hydrogenate a series of quinoline derivatives to provide chiral 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines in high yields and up to 96% ee. The hydrogenation was carried out at high S/C (substrate to catalyst) ratios of 2000–50000, reaching up to 4000 h⁻¹ TOF (turnover frequency) and up to 43000 TON (turnover number). The catalytic activity is found to be additive‐controlled. At low catalyst loadings, decreasing the amount of additive I₂ was necessary to maintain the good conversion. The same catalyst system could also enantioselectively hydrogenate trisubstituted pyridines, affording the chiral hexahydroquinolinone derivatives in nearly quantitative yields and up to 99% ee. Interestingly, increasing the amount of I₂ favored high reactivity and enantioselectivity in this case. The high efficacy and enantioselectivity enable the present catalyst system of high practical potential.     

Aminocatalytic Strategy for the Synthesis of Optically Active Benzothiophene Derivatives

A novel approach for the stereoselective synthesis of benzothiophene derivatives with a fused dihydropyran moiety is demonstrated. The reaction of 2‐alkylidenebenzothiophene‐3(2H)‐ones with dienamines derived from α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and chiral secondary amines proceeds according to the inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder pathway. The formation of the aromatic benzothiophene moiety is a driving force for the developed reaction cascade. Target products bearing three adjacent stereogenic centers are obtained in excellent yields and in a highly stereoselective manner.

     

Enantioselective Addition of Malonates and β‐Keto Esters to Nitroalkenes over an Organonickel‐Functionalized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

A periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) with chiral cyclohexyldiamine‐based nickel(II) complexes incorporated within the silica framework was prepared through a co‐condensation of (1R,2R)‐cyclohexyldiamine‐derived silane and Ph‐bridged silane followed by complexation of nickel(II) bromide in the presence of (1R,2R)‐N,N′‐dibenzylcyclohexyldiamine. Structural analyses by X‐ray powder diffraction, nitrogen sorption and transmission electron microscopy disclosed its orderly mesostructure while characterization by solid‐state NMR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated the well‐defined single‐site chiral bis(cyclohexyldiamine)‐based nickel(II) active centers incorporated within the PMO material. In particular, as a heterogeneous chiral catalyst, this periodic mesoporous organosilica showed high catalytic activity and excellent enantioselectivity in asymmetric Michael addition of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes (more than 92% conversions and up to 99% ee values). More importantly, this heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered easily and reused repeatedly nine times without obviously affecting its ee value, showing good potential for industrial applications.     

An Organocatalytic Domino Thia‐Michael/Aldol Condensation Reaction: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Dihydrothiophenes

An organocatalytic domino thia‐Michael/aldol condensation reaction of α, β‐unsaturated aldehydes with 1, 4‐dithiane‐2,5‐diol catalyzed by chiral diphenylprolinol TMS ether has been developed, which provides a new practical and direct route to chiral dihydrothiophenes with high yields (up to 90%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to>99% ee). The catalytic mechanism of the domino reaction was further confirmed through the APCI‐MS detection of proposed reaction intermediates.     

Convergent Synthesis of α-Branched Amines by Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C−H Bond Additions to Imines

α-Branched amines are ubiquitous in drugs and natural products, and consequently, synthetic methods that provide convergent and efficient entry to these structures are of considerable value. Transition-metal-catalyzed C−H bond additions to imines have the potential to be highly practical and atom-economic approaches for the synthesis of a diverse and complex array of α-branched amine products. These strategies typically employ readily available starting inputs, display high functional group compatibility, and often avoid the production of stoichiometric waste byproducts. A number of C−H functionalization methods have also been developed that incorporate cascade cyclization pathways to give amine-substituted carbocycles, and in many cases, proceed with the formation of multiple stereogenic centers. Advances in the area of asymmetric C−H bond additions to imines have also been achieved through the use of chiral imine N-substituents as well as by enantioselective catalysis.     

The Application of N‐Protected 3‐Vinylindoles in Chiral Phosphoric Acid‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cyclization with 3‐Indolylmethanols: Monoactivation of the Catalyst to Vinyliminium

A highly enantioselective [3+2] cyclization of 3‐vinylindoles with isatin‐derived 3‐indolylmethanols has been established in the presence of chiral phosphoric acid, which constructed the enantioenriched cyclopenta[b]indole scaffold linking a 3‐vinylindole moiety in generally good yields, considerable diastereoselectivities and high enantioselectivities (up to 93%, >95:5 dr, >99.5:0.5 er). More importantly, this reaction utilized N‐protected 3‐vinylindoles as competent reactants, which confronted the challenge in realizing a successful monoactivation mode of chiral phosphoric acid to vinyliminium in 3‐indolylmethanol‐involved enantioselective transformations. Besides, this protocol also settled the challenge in realizing a highly enantioselective [3+2] cyclization of 3‐vinylindoles with 3‐indolylmethanols, which would serve as a useful strategy for constructing an enantioenriched cyclopenta[b]indole scaffold linking a 3‐vinylindole moiety.

     

Phosphoramidite Ligands Based on Simple 1,2‐Diols: Synthesis,Use in Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Additions,and Achirotopic Stereogenic Phosphorus Centres

Phosphoramidite ligands are widely used in catalysis and normally constructed from large C₂‐symmetrical diols such as BINOL or TADDOL. We report here on new ligands based on a set of simple diols that had been previously overlooked. Ligands based on (S,S)‐trans‐cyclohexanediol and (R,R)‐(+)‐1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol, in combination with both chiral and achiral amines, were tested in 3 different copper‐catalyzed asymmetric reactions and up to 89% ee was observed. A different ligand gave the best results in each reaction examined. Using meso‐cis‐cyclohexanediol and meso‐cis‐diphenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol with a chiral non‐racemic amine gave diastereomeric ligands bearing achirotopic stereogenic phosphorus atoms which were characterized with the assistance of X‐ray crystallography and variable temperature NMR studies. This work provides a new set of ligands that may be useful in some asymmetric reactions when phosphoramidites based on BINOL and TADDOL are ineffective. We also identify a novel stereochemical feature of phosphoramidites that may be useful in asymmetric catalysis and ligand design.

     

Reversal of Stereoselectivity in Lithiation of Ferrocenyl‐imidazolones: Epimeric Substrates lead to Planar Chiral Enantiomers

Diastereoselective induction of planar chirality in ferrocenes often employs chiral sulfur‐, carbon‐ or phosphorus‐based directing groups. The origin of stereoselectivity in these reactions may be classified as (a) cyclopentadiene (Cp) ring‐controlled or (b) base‐controlled. These two categories are represented by auxiliaries that typically have stereogenic centers α or γ to the ferrocene core, respectively. In this study, it is shown that (−)‐2‐ferrocenyl‐1S‐triethylsilyloxy‐7aS‐hexahydropyrrolo[1,2‐c]imidazol‐3‐one, the anti‐epimer of the previously reported syn‐(1R,7aS) substrate, induces lithiation of the pro‐R_p rather than the pro‐S_p Cp hydrogen in >95:5 dr, leading to enantiomers of the syn‐derived planar chiral imidazolones upon electrophile quench and elimination. This outcome provides a practical way to prepare planar chiral enantiomers in this series without having to synthesize a more expensive D ‐proline‐derived starting material, since both the syn and anti starting materials are available from a common L ‐proline‐derived intermediate. The origin of stereoselectivity in lithiation of the syn and anti epimers, which have β,γ‐stereogenic centers, appears to be driven primarily by the conformational bias exerted by the β‐silyloxy moiety in each chiral auxiliary, which positions the urea carbonyl within the proximity of one of the two prochiral ortho Cp hydrogens. As such, stereoselectivity is likely Cp ring‐controlled for both compounds despite their lack of α‐ferrocenyl stereogenic centers. This conclusion is supported by the insensitivity of lithiation selectivity to the bulkiness of the base, comparisons of enantiomers, deuteration experiments, nOe difference studies, and computational modeling of the ground states and lithiation transition states for both substrates.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Reduction of Aromatic Ketones with Chiral P2N4‐Type Macrocycles

Novel P₂N₄‐donors containing chiral 22‐membered macrocyclic ligands have been synthesized and the structures have been determined by an X‐ray diffraction study. The catalytic systems in situ generated from triiron dodecarbonyl, Fe₃(CO)₁₂, and the chiral macrocyclic ligand exhibited high activity (TOF up to 1940 h⁻¹) and excellent enantioselectivity with up to 99% ee in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones.