Catalytic SN 2′- and Enantioselective Allylic Substitution with a Diborylmethane Reagent and Application in Synthesis

Electrooxidative Activation of B-B Bond in B2 cat2 : Access to gem-Diborylalkanes via Paired Electrolysis

This report describes the unprecedented electrooxidation of a solvent (e.g., DMF)-ligated B₂ cat₂ complex, whereby a solvent-stabilized boryl radical is formed via quasi-homolytic cleavage of the B-B bond in a DMF-ligated B₂ cat₂ radical cation. Cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory provide evidence to support this novel B-B bond activation strategy. Furthermore, a strategy for the electrochemical gem-diborylation of gem-bromides via paired electrolysis is developed for the first time, affording a range of versatile gem-diborylalkanes, which are widely used in synthetic society. Notably, this reaction approach is scalable, transition-metal-free, and requires no external activator.

Catalytic Asymmetric Allylic Substitution with Copper(I) Homoenolates Generated from Cyclopropanols

By using copper(I) homoenolates as nucleophiles, which are generated through the ring-opening of 1-substituted cyclopropane-1-ols, a catalytic asymmetric allylic substitution with allyl phosphates is achieved in high to excellent yields with high enantioselectivity. Both 1-substituted cyclopropane-1-ols and allylic phosphates enjoy broad substrate scopes. Remarkably, various functional groups, such as ether, ester, tosylate, imide, alcohol, nitro, and carbamate are well tolerated. Moreover, the present method is nicely extended to the asymmetric construction of quaternary carbon centers. Some control experiments argue against a radical-based reaction mechanism and a catalytic cycle based on a two-electron process is proposed. Finally, the synthetic utilities of the product are showcased by means of the transformations of the terminal olefin group and the ketone group.

Applications of Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution in Total Synthesis of Natural Products: An Update

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution (AAS) reaction is one of the most synthetically useful reactions catalyzed by metal complexes for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. It comprises the substitution of allylic substrates with a wide range of nucleophiles or S_N 2'-type allylic substitution, which results in the formation of the above-mentioned bonds with high levels of enantioselective induction. AAS reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups, thus has been successfully applied in the asymmetric synthesis of a wide range of optically pure compounds. This reaction has been extensively used in the total synthesis of several complex molecules, especially natural products. In this review, we try to highlight the applications of metal (Pd, Ir, Mo, or Cu)-catalyzed AAS reaction in the total synthesis of the biologically active natural products, as a key step, updating the subject from 2003 till date.

Sulfonate N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Copper Complexes: Uniquely Effective Catalysts for Enantioselective Synthesis of C-C, C-B, C-H, and C-Si Bonds

A copper-based complex that contains a sulfonate N-heterocyclic carbene ligand was first reported 15 years ago. Since then, these organometallic entities have proven to be uniquely effective in catalyzing an assortment of enantioselective transformations, including allylic substitutions, conjugate additions, proto-boryl additions to alkenes, boryl and silyl substitutions, hydride-allyl additions to alkenyl boronates, and additions of boron-containing allyl moieties to N-H ketimines. In this review article, we detail the shortcomings in the state-of-the-art that fueled the development of this air stable ligand class, members of which can be prepared on multigram scale. For each reaction type, when relevant, the prior art at the time of the advance involving sulfonate NHC-Cu catalysts and/or subsequent key developments are briefly analyzed, and the relevance of the advance to efficient and enantioselective total or formal synthesis of biologically active molecules is underscored. Mechanistic analysis of the structural attributes of sulfonate NHC-Cu catalysts that are responsible for their ability to facilitate transformations with high efficiency as well as regio- and enantioselectivity are detailed. This review contains several formerly undisclosed methodological advances and mechanistic analyses, the latter of which constitute a revision of previously reported proposals.

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,4-Keto-Alkenylboronate Esters and 1,4-Dicarbonyls

A catalytic enantioselective method for the synthesis of 1,4-keto-alkenylboronate esters by a rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition pathway is disclosed. A variety of novel, bench-stable alkenyl gem-diboronate esters are synthesized. These easily accessible reagents react smoothly with a collection of cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones, generating a new C-C bond and stereocenter. Products are isolated in up to 99 % yield with greater than 20:1 E/Z and greater than 99:1 e.r. Mechanistic studies show the site-selectivity of transmetalation and reactivity is ligand dependent. The utility of the approach is highlighted by gram-scale synthesis of enantioenriched cyclic 1,4-diketones, and stereoselective transformations of the products by hydrogenation, allylation, and isomerization.

A Boron Alkylidene-Alkene Cycloaddition Reaction: Application to the Synthesis of Aphanamal

We describe an unusual net [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between boron alkylidenes and unactivated alkenes. This reaction provides a new method for the construction of carbocyclic ring systems bearing versatile organoboronic esters. Aside from surveying the scope of this reaction, we provide details about the mechanistic underpinnings of this process, and examine its application to the synthesis of the natural product aphanamal.

Nickel-catalyzed synthesis of 1,1-diborylalkanes from terminal alkenes

Organoboron compounds play an irreplaceable role in synthetic chemistry and the related transformations based on the unique reactivity of C-B bond are potentially the most efficient methods for the synthesis of organic molecules. The synthetic importance of multiboron compounds in C-C bond formation and function transformation reactions is growing and the related borations of activated or nonactivated alkenes have been developed recently. However, introducing directly two boron moieties into the terminal sites of alkenes giving 1,1-diborylalkanes in a catalytic fashion has not been explored yet. Here we describe a synthetic strategy of 1,1-diborylalkanes via a Ni-catalyzed 1,1-diboration of readily available terminal alkenes. This methodology shows high level of chemoselectivity and regioselectivity and can be used to convert a large variety of terminal alkenes, such as vinylarenes, aliphatic alkenes and lower alkenes, to 1,1-diborylalkanes.1,1-diborylalkanes are useful building blocks in synthetic chemistry. Here, the authors present a highly chemo- and regioselective Ni-catalyzed reaction for the synthesis of 1,1-diborylalkanes from a wide variety of readily available terminal alkenes.

Versatile Homoallylic Boronates by Chemo-, SN 2'-, Diastereo- and Enantioselective Catalytic Sequence of Cu-H Addition to Vinyl-B(pin)/Allylic Substitution

A highly chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselective catalytic method that efficiently combines a silyl hydride, vinyl-B(pin) (pin=pinacolato) and (E)-1,2-disubstituted allylic phosphates is introduced. Reactions, best promoted by a Cu-based complex with a chiral sulfonate-containing N-heterocyclic carbene, are broadly applicable. Aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl- and alkyl-substituted allylic phosphates may thus be converted to the corresponding homoallylic boronates and then alcohols (after C-B bond oxidation) in 46-91 % yield and in up to >98 % SN 2':SN 2 ratio, 96:4 diastereomeric ratio and 98:2 enantiomeric ratio. The reasons why an NHC-Cu catalyst is uniquely effective (vs. the corresponding phosphine systems) and the basis for different trends in stereoselectivity are provided with the aid of DFT calculations.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective 1,2-Additions to α-Ketoesters with Diborylmethane and Substituted 1,1-Diborylalkanes

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of boronate-substituted tertiary alcohols through additions of diborylmethane and substituted 1,1-diborylalkanes to α-ketoesters is reported. The reactions are catalyzed by readily available chiral phosphine/copper(I) complexes and produce β-hydroxyboronates containing up to two contiguous stereogenic centers in up to 99:1 e.r. and greater than 20:1 d.r. The utility of the organoboron products is demonstrated through several chemoselective functionalizations. Evidence indicates the reactions occur via an enantioenriched α-boryl-copper-alkyl intermediate.