Dimethoxydibenzophosphepine: An Axially Chiral Monophosphane for Efficient Asymmetric Catalysis

Direct enantioseparation of axially chiral 1,1'-biaryl-2,2'-diols using amidine-based resolving agents

Amidine-based optically active resolving agents for enantiomer separation of axially chiral 1,1'-biaryl-2,2'-diols have been developed. A strongly basic amidine bearing no substituents on its nitrogen atoms enables the formation of their diastereomeric salts upon being mixed with weakly acidic phenol derivatives. Enantiopure 1,1'-biaryl-2,2'-diols can be obtained in high yields after only one crystallization of their salts with the chiral amidine derived from dehydroabietic acid. X-ray crystallography revealed that the amidine moiety forms a salt with the phenol group and additional intermolecular NH/π interactions contribute to the efficient chiral recognition process.

Recent Advances in Enantioselective Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: From Design to Applications

This Review compiles the evolution, mechanistic understanding, and more recent advances in enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and decarboxylative and oxidative allylic substitutions. For each reaction, the catalytic data, as well as examples of their application to the synthesis of more complex molecules, are collected. Sections in which we discuss key mechanistic aspects for high selectivity and a comparison with other metals (with advantages and disadvantages) are also included. For Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution, the catalytic data are grouped according to the type of nucleophile employed. Because of the prominent position of the use of stabilized carbon nucleophiles and heteronucleophiles, many chiral ligands have been developed. To better compare the results, they are presented grouped by ligand types. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative reactions are mainly promoted by PHOX or Trost ligands, which justifies organizing this section in chronological order. For asymmetric oxidative allylic substitution the results are grouped according to the type of nucleophile used.

Base-promoted lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of atropisomeric 1,1′-biaryl-2,2′-diols

Herein we report a dramatic acceleration of the lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of atropisomeric 1,1′-biaryl-2,2′-diols by the addition of sodium carbonate. This result likely originates from the increased nucleophilicity of the phenolic hydroxyl group toward the acyl-enzyme intermediate. Under these conditions, various substituted C₂-symmetric and non-C₂-symmetric binaphthols and biphenols were efficiently resolved with ∼50% conversion in only 13–30 h with excellent enantioselectivity.

The addition of a stoichiometric amount of Na₂CO₃ dramatically accelerates the lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of a range of atropisomeric 1,1′-biaryl-2,2′-diols.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrizing Aza-Wacker Reaction: Development and Application to the Total Synthesis of (-)-Mesembrane and (+)-Crinane

Reported is an unprecedented catalytic enantioselective desymmetrizing aza-Wacker reaction. In the presence of a catalytic amount of a newly developed Pd(CPA)₂ (MeCN)₂ catalyst (CPA=chiral phosphoric acid), a pyrox ligand, and molecular oxygen, cyclization of properly functionalized prochiral 3,3-disubstituted cyclohexa-1,4-dienes afforded enantioenriched cis-3a-substituted tetrahydroindoles in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. A cooperative effect between the phosphoric acid and the pyrox ligand ensured efficient transformation. This reaction was tailor-made for Amaryllidaceae and Sceletium alkaloids as illustrated by its application in the development of the concise and divergent total synthesis of (-)-mesembrane and (+)-crinane.

Biphenyl-derived phosphepines as chiral nucleophilic catalysts: enantioselective [4+1] annulations to form functionalized cyclopentenes

Because of the frequent occurrence of cyclopentane subunits in bioactive compounds, the development of efficient catalytic asymmetric methods for their synthesis is an important objective. Introduced herein is a new family of chiral nucleophilic catalysts, biphenyl-derived phosphepines, and we apply them to an enantioselective variant of a useful [4+1] annulation. A range of one-carbon coupling partners can be employed, thereby generating cyclopentenes which bear a fully substituted stereocenter [either all-carbon or heteroatom-substituted (sulfur and phosphorus)]. Stereocenters at the other four positions of the cyclopentane ring can also be introduced with good stereoselectivity. An initial mechanistic study indicates that phosphine addition to the electrophilic four-carbon coupling partner is not the turnover-limiting step of the catalytic cycle.