Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of 2,6‐Di[1‐(2‐alkylaziridin‐1‐yl)alkyl]pyridines,Useful Ligands in Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

C₂‐Symmetrical, enantiopure 2,6‐di[1‐(1‐aziridinyl)alkyl]pyridines (DIAZAPs) were prepared by a high‐yielding, three‐step sequence starting from 2,6‐pyridinedicarbaldehyde and (S)‐valinol or (S)‐phenylglycinol. The new compounds were tested as ligands in palladium‐catalyzed allylation of carbanions in different solvents. Almost quantitative yield and up to 99 % enantiomeric excess were obtained in the reactions of the enolates derived from malonate, phenyl‐ and benzylmalonate dimethyl esters with 1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐propenyl ethyl carbonate.     

Optically Active 2,3‐Allenoates via Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of Enantioenriched Propargylic Mesylates

Under mild conditions, optically active 2,3‐allenoates were synthesized from enantioenriched propargylic mesylates with moderate to excellent yields and high efficiency of chirality transfer by using palladium(0) bis(dibenzylideneacetone) (3 mol%) with (S)‐(−)‐5,5′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole [(S)‐SEGPHOS] (3 mol%) as the catalyst and diammonium hydrogen phosphate (1.1 equiv .) as the base.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Stereospecific Allylation of Nitroacetates with Enantioenriched Primary Allylic Amines

An unprecedented stereospecific allylation reaction of nitroacetates with enantioenriched primary allylic amines has been developed. A range of nitroacetates smoothly underwent allylation with enantioenriched primary allylic amines in the presence of a palladium catalyst and boric acid followed by one‐pot decarboxylation to afford structurally diverse homoallylic nitro compounds in good to excellent yields with excellent retention of configuration. On the other hand, the allylation followed by denitronation provided a facile synthetic route to optically active β‐chiral γ,δ‐unsaturated esters.

     

Relay Redox and Lewis Acid Catalysis in the Titanocene‐ Catalyzed Multicomponent Assembly of 1,5‐Enynes

Herein we describe a direct, multicomponent assembly of 1,5‐enynes. The titanocene‐catalyzed coupling of an aryl aldehyde, iodoalkyne, and allylsilane enables the convergent and rapid synthesis of this versatile architectural motif in good to excellent yields.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Asymmetric Hydroamination with 4,4′‐Disubstituted BINAP and SEGPHOS

A family of tunable precatalysts [Pd((S)‐L*)(NCMe)₂](OTf)₂, where L* is 4,4′‐disubstituted BINAP or SEGPHOS, was synthesized and used for the asymmetric intermolecular hydroamination of aniline to vinylarenes with ee values of up to 85 %, and it is believed that the bulky groups on the 4,4′‐positions and the narrower dihedral angle of the biaryl moiety are responsible for the ee enhancement in these reactions.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition of Arylboronic Acids to β‐Arylenones for Enantioselective Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4H‐chromenes

The enantioselective 1,4‐addition of arylboronic acids to β‐arylenones to give β‐diaryl ketones was carried out at 0–25 °C in the presence of a dicationic palladium(II) catalyst, [Pd(S,S‐chiraphos)(PhCN)₂](SbF₆)₂. Addition of a silver salt such as silver tetrafluoroborate [AgBF₄] or silver hexafluoroantimonate [AgSbF₆] (5–10 mol %) was effective to achieve high enantioselectivities at low temperatures (92–99 % ee) and to reduce the catalyst loading to 0.05 mol %. The protocol provided a simple access to 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes. Optically active chromenes were synthesized with up to 99 % ee via dehydration of the 1,4‐adducts between arylboronic acids and β‐(2‐hydroxyaryl)‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones.     

Facile Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 3‐Arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines

An efficient palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of 3‐arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines has been investigated. The key step in the synthesis is a Suzuki biaryl coupling of 3‐bromo‐2,5‐dimethyl‐7‐aminopyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines with arylboronic acids to provide 3‐arylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines in moderate to good yield. The synthetic utility of this methodology has been demonstrated by a concise and convergent synthesis of R121920, a potent CRHR₁ antagonist recently undergoing clinical evaluations.     

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.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Functional Tetralins via Benzylic Activation

2‐Monosubstituted, 2,2‐ and 2,3‐disubstituted tetralin derivatives have been synthesized from α,α′‐dihalo‐o‐xylenes and activated olefins using a palladium catalyst under basic conditions. The effects of temperature, base, palladium precursor and solvent have been fully explored, and this new catalytic reaction has been extended to a variety of substrates.     

Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Olefin Isomerization/α‐Alkylation of α‐Alkynylcrotonates as a Route for 1,4‐Enynes

The phase‐transfer‐catalyzed alkylation of α‐alkynylcrotonates was developed as a means to provide 1,4‐enynes deconjugated by an all‐carbon quaternary center. Extension to the asymmetric version using the chiral phase‐transfer catalyst (S)‐ 3 provided the alkylated compounds with up to 87% ee.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Reaction of 3‐(Tri‐n‐ butylstannyl)allyl Acetates,Aldehydes, and Triorganoboranes: An Alternative to the Carbonyl Allylation Using α,γ‐Substituted Allylic Tin Reagents

A three‐component reaction of 3‐(tri‐n‐butylstannyl)allyl acetates, aldehydes, and triorganoboranes in the presence of a palladium‐Xantphos catalyst system predominately gave (E)‐anti‐homoallylic alcohols with high diastereoselectivity and good to high levels of alkene stereocontrol. An efficient chirality transfer was observed when an enantioenriched substrate was employed. The reaction was initiated by the formation of an allylic gem‐palladium/stannyl intermediate, which subsequently underwent allylation of the aldehyde by an allyltributyltin followed by a coupling reaction of the in‐situ‐generated (E)‐vinylpalladium acetate with the triorganoborane.

     

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.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Tandem‐Cyclization of Functionalized Ynamides: An Approach to Benzosultams

A palladium‐catalyzed tandem‐cyclization of functionalized ynamides to afford a wide range of hetero‐substituted benzosultams (1,2‐benzothiazine 1,1‐dioxides) has been achieved. Medicinally useful compounds like nortriptyline and eugenol could also be used as nucleophiles. Base has a significant effect in the cyclization process, depending on the nucleophile source used. DFT studies suggest that the reaction involves a [Pd(II)]–[Pd(0)]–[Pd(II)] cycle. Structures of key products were proven by X‐ray crystallography.

     

Enantioselective Phase‐Transfer Catalytic α‐Benzylation and α‐Allylation of α‐tert‐Butoxycarbonyllactones

A new enantioselective α‐benzylation and α‐allylation of α‐tert‐butoxycarbonyllactones was devloped. α‐Benzylation and α‐allylation of α‐tert‐butoxycarbonylbutyrolactone and α‐tert‐butoxycarbonylvalerolactone under phase‐transfer catalytic conditions (50% cesium hydroxide, toluene, −60 °C) in the presence of (S,S)‐3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl‐NAS bromide (1 mol%) afforded the corresponding α‐substituted α‐tert‐butoxycarbonyllactones in very high chemical yields (up to 99%) and optical yields (up to 99% ee). The synthetic potential of this method has been successfully demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of unnatural α‐quaternary homoserines, 3‐alkyl‐3‐carboxypyrrolidine and 3‐alkyl‐3‐carboxypiperidine.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Methoxycarbonylation of 1,3‐Butadiene: Catalysis and Mechanistic Studies

The palladium‐catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of 1,3‐butadiene to methyl 3‐pentenoate has been studied. Intermediates of the proposed catalytic cycle were synthesized and the elementary steps of the reaction have been investigated in detail. It is shown that the first step of the catalytic cycle, the formation of crotylpalladium complexes from 1,3‐butadiene, proceeds even at room temperature. Examination of the influence of different reaction parameters on product yield and selectivity demonstrate the importance of chelating phosphine ligands and benzoic acids as additive in order to get good results.     

A Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative–Deacetylative Sequence to 1,3‐Keto Amides

An efficient three‐component reaction involving carbon monoxide with a range of aryl bromides and N‐substituted acetoacetamides is reported for the synthesis of β‐keto amides. This transformation is promoted by Pd‐catalysis followed by an acid‐mediated deacetylation upon work‐up, enabling a large number of β‐keto amides to be isolated. Finally, d₂‐¹³C‐dyclonine could be synthesized in three steps utilizing the developed catalytic system as the key step.

     

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.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed N‐Arylations of 1,4,7‐Triazacyclononanes

Various 1,4,7‐triazacyclononanes have been N‐arylated by palladium catalysis. Using optimized Buchwald–Hartwig protocols the corresponding products have been obtained in high yields.     

Progress in the Palladium‐Catalyzed α‐Arylation of Ketones with Chloroarenes

Non‐ and deactivated chloroarenes can be coupled with a wide range of ketones to yield the corresponding arylmethyl ketones in good to excellent yields using a palladium(II) acetate/n‐BuPAd₂ catalyst system. Depending on the ketone, the chloroarene/ketone ratio and the base, mono or diarylation can be effected selectively.