Organosilanols as Catalysts in Asymmetric Aryl Transfer Reactions

Evaluation of enantiopure N-(ferrocenylmethyl)azetidin-2-yl(diphenyl)methanol for catalytic asymmetric addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes

A facile and practical approach to preparation of enantiopure N-(ferrocenylmethyl)azetidin-2-yl(diphenyl)methanol was developed from cheap and easily available l-(+)-methionine. Synthetic highlights include the three-step, one-pot construction of the chiral azetidine ring and the development of an improved one-step procedure for the synthesis of the key intermediate l-2-amino-4-bromobutanoic acid. Enantiopure N-(ferrocenylmethyl)azetidin-2-yl(diphenyl)methanol was evaluated for catalytic asymmetric addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes. The asymmetric ethylation, methylation, arylation, and alkynylation of aldehydes achieved enantioselectivity of up to 98.4%, 94.1%, 99.0%, and 84.6% ee, respectively, in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral N-(ferrocenylmethyl)azetidin-2-yl(diphenyl)methanol. Our results demonstrated further that the four-membered heterocycle-based backbone was a good potential chiral unit for the catalytic asymmetric induction reaction, and the hindrance of the bulky ferrocenyl group, compared to a phenyl group, played an important role in the enantioselectivities. A possible transition for the catalytic asymmetric addition has been proposed on the basis of the crystal structure of the chiral ligand 3b including two HOAc molecules and previous studies.

Recent Applications of Chiral Ferrocene Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

Despite the impressive progress achieved in asymmetric catalysis during the last decade, an increasing number of new catalysts, ligands, and applications are reported every year to satisfy the need to embrace a wider range of reactions and to improve the efficiency of existing processes. Because of their availability, unique stereochemical aspects, and wide variety of coordination modes and possibilities for the fine-tuning of the steric and electronic properties, ferrocene-based ligands constitute one of the most versatile ligand architectures in the current scenario of asymmetric catalysis. Over the last few years ferrocene catalysts have been successfully applied in an amazing variety of enantioselective processes. This Review documents these recent advances, with special emphasis on the most innovative asymmetric processes and the development of novel, efficient types of ferrocene ligands.

Cascade Reactions in Total Synthesis

The design and implementation of cascade reactions is a challenging facet of organic chemistry, yet one that can impart striking novelty, elegance, and efficiency to synthetic strategies. The application of cascade reactions to natural products synthesis represents a particularly demanding task, but the results can be both stunning and instructive. This Review highlights selected examples of cascade reactions in total synthesis, with particular emphasis on recent applications therein. The examples discussed herein illustrate the power of these processes in the construction of complex molecules and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

The Mg-Oppenauer Oxidation as a Mild Method for the Synthesis of Aryl and Metallocenyl Ketones

Magnesium alkoxides undergo a hydride-transfer oxidation with benzaldehyde as the oxidant. This magnesium variant of the Oppenauer oxidation was used for the synthesis of polyfunctional biaryl ketones. LiCl was found to promote this reaction by enhancing the solubility of magnesium alkoxides. This mild oxidation method was especially useful for preparing ketones bearing a metallocenyl unit as well as various new ferrocenyl ketones and tricarbonylchromium complexes. This last class of ketones was reduced with the CBS catalyst (CBS=Corey-Bakshi-Shibata, diphenyl oxazaborolidine) to chiral benzhydrol complexes with high enantioselectivity enabling an asymmetric synthesis of electron-rich or -poor benzhydryl alcohols (up to 94 % ee).

trans-1-Sulfonylamino-2-isoborneolsulfonylaminocyclohexane Derivatives: Excellent Chiral Ligands for the Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Organozinc Reagents to Ketones

The catalytic enantioselective addition of different organozinc reagents (such as alkyl and aryl derivatives or in situ generated aryl, allyl alkenyl, and alkynyl derivatives obtained through different transmetallation processes) to simple ketones has been accomplished by using titanium tetraisopropoxide and chiral ligands derived from substituted trans-1-sulfonylamino-2-isoborneolsulfonylaminocyclohexane, producing the corresponding tertiary alcohols with enantiomeric excesses (ee) up to >99 %. A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of the chiral ligands used in these reactions is described.

Resolution of Racemic 2-Aminocyclohexanol Derivatives and Their Application as Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

A preparatively easy and efficient protocol for the resolution of racemic 2-aminocyclohexanol derivatives is described, delivering both enantiomers with >99% enantiomeric excess (ee) by sequential use of (R)- and (S)-mandelic acid. A simple aqueous workup procedure permits the isolation of the amino alcohols in analytically pure form and the almost quantitative recovery of mandelic acid. Debenzylation of enantiopure trans-2-(N-benzyl)amino-1-cyclohexanol by hydrogenation and subsequent derivatization give access to a broad variety of diversely substituted derivatives. Furthermore, the corresponding cis isomers are readily available. Applications of these optically active aminocyclohexanols in catalyzed asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions to benzaldehydes and transfer hydrogenations of aryl ketones lead to products with up to 96% ee.

Highly Effective and Recyclable Dendritic Ligands for the Enantioselective Aryl Transfer Reactions to Aldehydes

[reaction: see text] A series of chiral pyrrolidinylmethanol-based dendritic ligands were synthesized for application in enantioselective aryl transfer reactions to aldehydes with the (ArBO)3/ZnEt2 system in up to 98% ee.