Cob (I)alamin als Katalysator. 3. Mitteilung [1]. Untersuchungen in Richtung einer enantioselektiven Reduktion α,β-ungesättigter Ester

Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Reduction

Enantioselective reduction reactions are privileged transformations for the construction of trisubstituted stereogenic centers. While these include established synthetic strategies, such as asymmetric hydrogenation, methods based on the enantioselective addition of hydridic reagents to electrophilic prochiral substrates have also gained importance. In this context, the asymmetric conjugate reduction (ACR) of α,β-unsaturated compounds has become a convenient approach for the synthesis of chiral compounds with trisubstituted stereocenters in α-, β-, or γ-position to electron-withdrawing functional groups. Because such activating groups are diverse and amenable of further derivatizations, ACRs provide a general and powerful synthetic entry towards a variety of valuable chiral building blocks. This Review provides a comprehensive collection of catalytic ACR methods involving transition-metal, organic, and enzymatic catalysis since its first versions dating back to the late 1970s.

Intercepting Hydrogen Evolution with Hydrogen-Atom Transfer: Electron-Initiated Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes

Hydrogen-atom transfer mediated by earth-abundant transition-metal hydrides (M-Hs) has emerged as a powerful tool in organic synthesis. Current methods to generate M-Hs most frequently rely on oxidatively initiated hydride transfer. Herein, we report a reductive approach to generate Co-H, which allows for canonical hydrogen evolution reactions to be intercepted by hydrogen-atom transfer to an alkene. Electroanalytical and spectroscopic studies provided mechanistic insights into the formation and reactivity of Co-H, which enabled the development of two new alkene hydrofunctionalization reactions.

Oxygen mediated highly efficient cobalt(ii) porphyrin-catalyzed reduction of functional chromones: experimental and computational studies

The highly efficient oxygen mediated reduction of functional chromones with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) catalyzed by cobalt(ii) porphyrins afforded biologically active chroman-4-ols as the reduction products in 80–98% yields.

Vitamin B12 Derivatives as Natural Asymmetric Catalysts: Enantioselective Cyclopropanation of Alkenes

Vitamin B(12) derivatives were found for the first time to be general and efficient catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA). Among several common derivatives, aquocobalamin (B(12a)) was shown to be the most effective catalyst for a variety of alkenes, providing cis-dominant cyclopropanes in excellent yields and moderate enantioselectivity. Reactivity studies under different conditions suggest that the active species in the proposed catalytic cycle is the base-on cob(II)alamin (B(12r)) that is generated possibly via in situ reduction of B(12a) by EDA.

Bioorganic modelling stereoselective reactions with chiral neutral ligand complexes as model systems for enzyme catalysis

In terms of the reporting of accomplished chemistry this review can do no more than give an indication of the rapid progress in the branch of bioorganic modelling based on the use of macrocyclic compounds that (usually) act as complexing agents. What remains to be done, however, is to point out problems that have not been satisfactorily solved and to suggest other profitable areas of investigation. From the material accumulated in this review one can draw the conclusion that especially crown (or cryptate) systems offer special advantages in bioorganic modelling because such compounds can - enzyme like - complex a potential substrate. On the basis of quite simple binding considerations, coupled with an analysis of steric interactions, accurate predictions of the stereochemistry of the complex can be made. The inclusion of catalytic groups in the crown (or cryptate) system and reactive functional groups in the substrate is then done in such a fashion that the stereoelectronic arrangement is compatible with the predicted geometry of the complex. However, the good complexing ability of the ligand is paradoxically often its greatest failing in terms of developing a system in which the functionalized ligand acts truly as a catalyst. As seen from much of the chemistry discussed in this review the ligand is incapable of the double task of complexing substrate but releasing product in an enzymic fashion, i.e. that turnover occurs. How is this problem to be solved? Induced conformational changes are an obvious approach although the design of proper systems remains a challenge for which few suggestions outside of unlimited ingenuity can be given. Much of the solution to such problems will lie also in a much better understanding than we now have of non-covalent interactions and the stereochemistry of such interactions. The assembly and disassembly of large molecular aggregates by the making and dissolution of non-covalent bonds is an art at which chemists are still relative amateurs. A better understanding of non-covalent interactions may also provide the key to achieving also the twin goals of both speed and selectivity in bioorganic modelling. As far as enantioselectivity is concerned it is clear that this can be achieved fairly effectively by the use of relatively small, but appropriately placed, groups that force the substrate to complex in an enantioselective step with the ligand. In other words, the problem of enantioselectivity can be solved at the stage of complex forming, which is kinetically rapid. The p]roblem of rate enhancement lies in the mentarity with the transition state of the reaction being catalyzed. Again the achievement of this goal lies in ingenuity of design. Potential areas of applications of chiral crown ether (or cryptate) ligand systems in bioorganic modelling lie in, for example, the formation of carbon-carbon bonds, development of oxidative processes (i.e...