Direct anti-selective catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of alpha-ketoanilides for the synthesis of gamma-amino amides and azetidine-2-amides

Self-assembly approach toward chiral bimetallic catalysts: bis-urea-functionalized (salen)cobalt complexes for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epoxides

A series of novel bis-urea-functionalized (salen)Co complexes has been developed. The complexes were designed to form self-assembled structures in solution through intermolecular urea-urea hydrogen-bonding interactions. These bis-urea (salen)Co catalysts resulted in rate acceleration (up to 13 times) in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of rac-epichlorohydrin in THF by facilitating cooperative activation, compared to the monomeric catalyst. In addition, one of the bis-urea (salen)Co(III) catalyst efficiently resolves various terminal epoxides even under solvent-free conditions by requiring much shorter reaction time at low catalyst loading (0.03-0.05 mol %). A series of kinetic/mechanistic studies demonstrated that the self-association of two (salen)Co units through urea-urea hydrogen bonds was responsible for the observed rate acceleration. The self-assembly study with the bis-urea (salen)Co by FTIR spectroscopy and with the corresponding (salen)Ni complex by (1)H NMR spectroscopy showed that intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions exist between the bis-urea scaffolds in THF. This result demonstrates that self-assembly approach by using non-covalent interactions can be an alternative and useful strategy toward the efficient HKR catalysis.

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic michael addition of α-ketoamides to nitroalkenes

The first organocatalytic enantio- and diastereoselective conjugate addition of α-ketoamides to nitroalkenes has been achieved using a bifunctional amino thiourea catalyst. In this new approach, the substrate amide proton plays a critical role in the formation of the Michael anti-adducts in high yields and high stereoselectivities. To illustrate the high synthetic potential of this methodology, the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of a hexasubstituted cyclohexane via a Michael-Michael-Henry cascade reaction is described.

Heterobimetallic transition metal/rare earth metal bifunctional catalysis: a Cu/Sm/Schiff base complex for syn-selective catalytic asymmetric nitro-Mannich reaction

The full details of a catalytic asymmetric syn-selective nitro-Mannich reaction promoted by heterobimetallic Cu/Sm/dinucleating Schiff base complexes are described, demonstrating the effectiveness of the heterobimetallic transition metal/rare earth metal bifunctional catalysis. The first-generation system prepared from Cu(OAc)(2)/Sm(O-iPr)(3)/Schiff base 1a = 1:1:1 with an achiral phenol additive was partially successful for achieving the syn-selective catalytic asymmetric nitro-Mannich reaction. The substrate scope and limitations of the first-generation system remained problematic. After mechanistic studies on the catalyst prepared from Sm(O-iPr)(3), we reoptimized the catalyst preparation method, and a catalyst derived from Sm(5)O(O-iPr)(13) showed broader substrate generality as well as higher reactivity and stereoselectivity compared to Sm(O-iPr)(3). The optimal system with Sm(5)O(O-iPr)(13) was applicable to various aromatic, heteroaromatic, and isomerizable aliphatic N-Boc imines, giving products in 66-99% ee and syn/anti = >20:1-13:1. Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of nemonapride is also demonstrated using the catalyst derived from Sm(5)O(O-iPr)(13).

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-additions of beta-keto esters to nitroalkenes promoted by a bifunctional homobimetallic Co2-Schiff base complex

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of beta-keto esters to nitroalkenes is described. 2.5 mol % of a homobimetallic Lewis acid/Brønsted base bifunctional Co2-Schiff base complex smoothly promoted the reaction in excellent yield (up to 99%), diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity (up to >30:1 dr and 98% ee). Catalyst loading was successfully reduced to 0.1 mol %. Mechanistic studies suggested that intramolecular cooperative functions of the two Co-metal centers are important for high catalytic activity and stereoselectivity.

A heterobimetallic Ga/Yb-Schiff base complex for catalytic asymmetric alpha-addition of isocyanides to aldehydes

Development of a new heterobimetallic Ga(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 2d complex for catalytic asymmetric alpha-additions of isocyanides to aldehydes is described. Schiff base 2d derived from o-vanillin was suitable to utilize cationic rare earth metal triflates with good Lewis acidity in bimetallic Schiff base catalysis. The Ga(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 2d complex promoted asymmetric alpha-additions of alpha-isocyanoacetamides to aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, and alkyl aldehydes in good to excellent enantioselectivity (88-98% ee).