Silver-Catalysed Enantioselective Addition of OH and NH Bonds to Allenes: A New Model for Stereoselectivity Based on Noncovalent Interactions

Chiral NHC Ligands for Enantioselective Gold(I) Catalysis Under Aerobic Conditions: the Importance of Conformational Flexibility and Steric Hindrance of NHC Ligand on Reactivity

Gold(I) catalysis has been recognized as a valuable tool for the unique transformation of multiple carbon-carbon bonds. Enantioselective π-catalysis based on gold(I) complexes is, however, still underdeveloped due to lack of privileged ligands. Herein, we present an accessible method to a new family of stable yet catalytically active chiral NHC-Au(I)-Cl complexes. The key to preserving a simultaneous fine balance between reactivity and stability in this newly developed family appears to be sterically hindered, but conformationally flexible NHC ligands. These could be easily accessed on a multigram scale by merging sterically hindered anilines with commercially available amino alcohols and amines via a four-steps synthetic sequence without the need for chromatographic purification. Further investigations of the catalytic activity of NHC-Au-Cl complexes identified the OH functionality incorporated into the NHC core as crucial for the level of enantioselectivity as well as the TsO- anion responsible for the activation of NHC-Au(I)-Cl. Finally, NMR studies and X-ray investigations revealed for the first time that the widely accepted ion metathesis (NHC-Au-Cl to NHC-Au-OSO2 R) responsible for the activation of NHC-Au-Cl complexes does not take place (or it is very slow) in commonly used MeNO2 in contrast to DCM.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroalkoxylation of C-C Multiple Bonds

Asymmetric hydroalkoxylation of alkenes constitutes a redox-neutral and 100% atom-economical strategy toward enantioenriched oxygenated building blocks from readily available starting materials. Despite their great potential, catalytic enantioselective additions of alcohols across a C-C multiple bond are particularly underdeveloped, especially compared to other hydrofunctionalization methods such as hydroamination. However, driven by some recent innovations, e.g., asymmetric MHAT methods, asymmetric photocatalytic methods, and the development of extremely strong chiral Brønsted acids, there has been a gratifying surge of reports in this burgeoning field. The goal of this review is to survey the growing landscape of asymmetric hydroalkoxylation by highlighting exciting new advances, deconstructing mechanistic underpinnings, and drawing insight from related asymmetric hydroacyloxylation and hydration. A deep appreciation of the underlying principles informs an understanding of the various selectivity parameters and activation modes in the realm of asymmetric alkene hydrofunctionalization while simultaneously evoking the outstanding challenges to the field moving forward. Overall, we aim to lay a foundation for cross-fertilization among various catalytic fields and spur further innovation in asymmetric hydroalkoxylations of C-C multiple bonds.

Indolizy Carbene Ligand. Evaluation of Electronic Properties and Applications in Asymmetric Gold(I) Catalysis

We report herein a new family of carbene ligands based on an indolizine-ylidene (Indolizy) moiety. The corresponding gold(I) complexes are easily obtained from the gold(I)-promoted cyclization of allenylpyridine precursors. Evaluation of the electronic properties by experimental methods and also by DFT calculations confirms strong σ-donating and π-accepting properties of these ligands. Cationization of the gold(I) complexes generates catalytic species that trigger diverse reactions of (poly)unsaturated precursors. When armed with a methylene phosphine oxide moiety on the stereogenic center adjacent to the nitrogen atom, the corresponding bifunctional carbene ligands give rise to highly enantioselective heterocyclizations. DFT calculations brought some rationalization and highlighted the critical roles played by the phosphine oxide group and the tosylate anion in the asymmetric cyclization of γ-allenols.

Deciphering the Chameleonic Chemistry of Allenols: Breaking the Taboo of a Onetime Esoteric Functionality

The allene functionality has participated in one of the most exciting voyages in organic chemistry, from chemical curiosities to a recurring building block in modern organic chemistry. In the last decades, a special kind of allene, namely, allenol, has emerged. Allenols, formed by an allene moiety and a hydroxyl functional group with diverse connectivity, have become common building blocks for the synthesis of a wide range of structures and frequent motif in naturally occurring systems. The synergistic effect of the allene and hydroxyl functional groups enables allenols to be considered as a unique and sole functionality exhibiting a special reactivity. This Review summarizes the most significant contributions to the chemistry of allenols that appeared during the past decade, with emphasis on their synthesis, reactivity, and occurrence in natural products.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroalkoxylation of Alkenols for the Synthesis of Cyclic Ethers

The copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of unactivated alkenes for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans, phthalans, isochromans, and morpholines from 4- and 5-alkenols is reported. The substrate scope is complementary to existing enantioselective alkene hydroalkoxylations and is broad with respect to substrate backbone and alkene substitution. The asymmetric induction and isotopic labeling studies support a polar/radical mechanism involving enantioselective oxycupration followed by C-[Cu] homolysis and hydrogen atom transfer. Synthesis of the antifungal insecticide furametpyr was accomplished.

Chiral N-heterocyclic Carbene Gold Complexes: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis

N-Heterocyclic carbenes have found many applications in modern metal catalysis, due to the formation of stable metal complexes, and organocatalysis. Among a myriad of N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes, gold complexes have gained a lot of attention due to their unique propensity for the activation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds, allowing many useful transformations of alkynes, allenes, and alkenes, inaccessible by other metal complexes. The present review summarizes synthetic efforts towards the preparation of chiral N-heterocyclic gold(I) complexes exhibiting C2 and C1 symmetry, as well as their applications in enantioselective catalysis. Finally, the emerging area of rare gold(III) complexes and their preliminary usage in asymmetric catalysis is also presented.

Computing organic stereoselectivity - from concepts to quantitative calculations and predictions

Advances in theory and processing power have established computation as a valuable interpretative and predictive tool in the discovery of new asymmetric catalysts. This tutorial review outlines the theory and practice of modeling stereoselective reactions. Recent examples illustrate how an understanding of the fundamental principles and the application of state-of-the-art computational methods may be used to gain mechanistic insight into organic and organometallic reactions. We highlight the emerging potential of this computational tool-box in providing meaningful predictions for the rational design of asymmetric catalysts. We present an accessible account of the field to encourage future synergy between computation and experiment.

Enantioselective Silver-Catalyzed Transformations

This review collects the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral silver catalysts, covering the literature since 2008, well illustrating the power of these especially mild Lewis acid catalysts to provide novel asymmetric reactions.

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric cyclization of alkenoic acids leading to γ-lactones

Asymmetric cyclization of alkenoic acids was realized by the use of an iridium/chiral bisphosphine catalyst, giving high yields of the corresponding γ-lactones with good enantioselectivity.

Unraveling non-covalent interactions within flexible biomolecules: from electron density topology to gas phase spectroscopy

The NCI (Non-Covalent Interactions) method, a recently-developed theoretical strategy to visualize weak non-covalent interactions from the topological analysis of the electron density and of its reduced gradient, is applied in the present paper to document intra- and inter-molecular interactions in flexible molecules and systems of biological interest in combination with IR spectroscopy. We first describe the conditions of application of the NCI method to the specific case of intramolecular interactions. Then we apply it to a series of stable conformations of isolated molecules as an interpretative technique to decipher the different physical interactions at play in these systems. Examples are chosen among neutral molecular systems exhibiting a large diversity of interactions, for which an extensive spectroscopic characterization under gas-phase isolation conditions has been obtained using state-of-the-art conformer-specific experimental techniques. The interactions presently documented range from weak intra-molecular H-bonds in simple amino-alcohols, to more complex patterns, with interactions of various strengths in model peptides, as well as in chiral bimolecular systems, where invaluable hints for the understanding of chiral recognition are revealed. We also provide a detailed technical appendix, which discusses the choices of cut-offs as well as the applicability of the NCI analysis to specific constrained systems, where local effects require attention. Finally, the NCI technique provides IR spectroscopists with an elegant visualization of the interactions that potentially impact their vibrational probes, namely the OH and NH stretching motions. This contribution illustrates the power and the conditions of use of the NCI technique, with the aim of providing an easy tool for all chemists, experimentalists and theoreticians, for the visualization and characterization of the interactions shaping complex molecular systems.

On the understanding of BF3·Et2O-promoted intra- and intermolecular amination and oxygenation of unfunctionalized olefins

BF₃·Et₂O was found to be effective for the amination and oxygenation of unfunctionalized olefins. In the presence of 3 equiv. of BF₃·Et₂O, intra- and intermolecular amination and oxygenation reactions could be realized in up to 99% isolated yields.

Structure and bonding of [(SIPr)AgX] (X = Cl, Br, I and OTf)

A series of iso-structural complexes [(SIPr)AgX] (X = Cl, Br, I, OTf; SIPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidene) were synthesised, including the first example of a N-heterocyclic carbene silver(i) complex containing an O-bound triflate.

Ligand- and Brønsted acid/base-switchable reaction pathways in gold(i)-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of allenoic acids

Competing gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of γ-allenoic acids are optimized through ligand and Brønsted acid/base effects, affording three distinct classes of lactones.

Asymmetric gold-catalyzed lactonizations in water at room temperature

Asymmetric gold-catalyzed hydrocarboxylations are reported that show broad substrate scope. The hydrophobic effect associated with in situ-formed aqueous nanomicelles gives good to excellent ee's of product lactones. In-flask product isolation, along with the recycling of the catalyst and the reaction medium, are combined to arrive at an especially environmentally friendly process.

Chemical datuments as scientific enablers

This article is an attempt to construct a chemical datument as a means of presenting insights into chemical phenomena in a scientific journal. An exploration of the interactions present in a small fragment of duplex Z-DNA and the nature of the catalytic centre of a carbon-dioxide/alkene epoxide alternating co-polymerisation is presented in this datument, with examples of the use of three software tools, one based on Java, the other two using Javascript and HTML5 technologies. The implications for the evolution of scientific journals are discussed.