The Allylic Alkylation of Ketone Enolates

The palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of non-stabilized ketone enolates was thought for a long time to be not as efficient as the analogous reactions of stabilized enolates, e. g. of malonates and β-ketoesters. The field has experienced a rapid development during the last two decades, with a range of new, highly efficient protocols evolved. In this review, the early developments as well as current methods and applications of palladium-catalyzed ketone enolate allylations will be discussed.

Stereoselective Allylic Alkylations of Amino Ketones and Their Application in the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Piperidines

Chelated ketone enolates are excellent nucleophiles for allylic alkylations. Electron-withdrawing groups on the allyl moiety allow subsequent intramolecular Michael additions giving rise to piperidines with up to five stereogenic centers.

Total synthesis of cyclomarins A, C and D, marine cyclic peptides with interesting anti-tuberculosis and anti-malaria activities

Cyclomarins are cyclic heptapeptides containing four unusual amino acids.

Synthesis of indoles and tryptophan derivatives via photoinduced nitrene C–H insertion

Functionalized indoles and tryptophans can be obtained from stannylated alkenes and o-iodoanilines via Stille coupling.

Non-stabilized enolates – versatile nucleophiles in transition metal-catalysed allylic alkylations

This review covers new developments in the transition metal-catalyzed allylic alkylations of non-stabilized enolates, preferentially generated from ketone, esters or amides.

Total syntheses and biological evaluation of miuraenamides

The miuraenamides, relatively simple representatives of a class of cyclodepsipeptides with high antitumor activity, can be easily and flexibly obtained by the concept of peptide modification. A reaction sequence consisting of an aldol reaction, oxidation, and methylation of the glycine subunit of the cyclodepsipeptides allows the incorporation of the unusual α,β-unsaturated dehydroamino acid in one of the last steps of the synthesis.

[(p-Cymene)RuCl2 ]2 : an efficient catalyst for highly regioselective allylic alkylations of chelated amino acid ester enolates

Chelated amino acid ester enolates are excellent nucleophiles for ruthenium-catalyzed allylic alkylations. Although [Cp*Ru(MeCN)3 ]PF6 was found to be the most reactive catalyst investigated, with the resulting allyl complexes reacting at temperatures as low as -78 °C, unfortunately the process took place with only moderate regio- and diastereoselectivity. In contrast, [(p-cymene)RuCl2 ]2 allowed allylations to be performed with a high degree of regioretention. Secondary allyl carboxylates with a terminal double bond were found to be the most reactive substrates, giving rise to the branched amino acids with perfect regioretention and chirality transfer. In this case, no isomerization of the Ru-allyl complex formed in situ was observed, in contrast to the analogues palladium complexes. This isomerization-free protocol can also be used for the synthesis of (Z)-configured γ,δ-unsaturated amino acid derivatives, starting from (Z)-allylic substrates. Here, the more reactive phosphates were found to be superior to the carboxylates, providing the required amino acids in almost quantitative yield with perfect regio- and stereoretention. Therefore, the Ru-catalyzed allylation reactions are well positioned to overcome the drawbacks of Pd-catalyzed processes.

Highly stereoselective modifications of peptides via Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of internal peptide amide enolates

Pd-catalyzed allylations are excellent tools for stereoselective peptide modifications, showing several advantages compared to normal alkylations. Reactions of internal peptide amide enolates with Pd-allyl complexes proceed not only with high yields of up to 86%, they show also high regio- and diastereoselectivities (88-99%), giving rise to the trans-configured products. Therefore, this protocol is a powerful synthetic tool for the synthesis of natural product and drug molecules.

Diastereotopos-differentiating allylic alkylation as a key step in the synthesis of gamma-glutamyl boletine

A straightforward approach towards gamma-glutamyl boletine is described, based on a diastereotopos-differentiating allylic alkylation of chelated amino acid ester enolates. Independent of the configuration of the leaving group in the allylic substrate, the allylation product is obtained as a single stereoisomer. Its configuration is solely controlled by the stereogenic center adjacent to the pi-allyl complex formed.

Highly Stereoselective Peptide Modifications through Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylations of Chelated Peptide Enolates

Deprotonation of peptides in the presence of zinc chloride gives rise to highly reactive nucleophiles that can be subjected to palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions. Excellent diastereoselectivities are obtained that are nearly independent of the allylic substrate used. By using this protocol, highly functionalized side chains can also be incorporated in excellent yields and selectivities. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction is exclusively controlled by the peptide chain as long as terminal pi-allyl-palladium complexes are involved. Probably, there is a threefold coordination, at least, of the deprotonated peptide chain to the chelating zinc ion. In such metal peptide complexes, one face of the generated enolate is shielded by the side chain of the adjacent amino acid, thus directing the electrophilic attack onto the opposite face. This behavior explains why an S amino acid always generates an R amino acid (and the other way round).