Catalytic asymmetric hydroboration with heterotopic P-N ligands: Trends in enantioselectivity with increased steric demand

The transition metal-catalysed hydroboration reaction

This review covers the development of the transition metal-catalysed hydroboration reaction, from its beginnings in the 1980s to more recent developments including earth-abundant catalysts and an ever-expanding array of substrates.

Synthesis of Axially Chiral Olefin-Oxazoline Ligands via Pd-Catalyzed Multiple C-H Functionalization

We report herein the Pd-catalyzed oxazoline-directed C-H olefination of the N-arylindole skeleton, affording two diastereomers of axially chiral olefin-oxazoline ligands in a one-step procedure. Modifications at the 3- and 3'-positions were facilely achieved via electrophilic substitution of the indole fragment and subsequent oxazoline-directed C-H amidation or olefination of the arene fragment.

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.

Architecture and synthesis of P,N-heterocyclic phosphine ligands

Diverse P,N-phosphine ligands reported to date have performed exceptionally well as auxiliary ligands in organometallic catalysis. Phosphines bearing 2-pyridyl moieties prominently feature in literature as compared to phosphines with five-membered N-heterocycles. This discussion seeks to paint a broad picture and consolidate different synthetic protocols and techniques for N-heterocyclic phosphine motifs. The introduction provides an account of P,N-phosphine ligands, and their structural and coordination benefits from combining heteroatoms with different basicity in one ligand. The body discusses the synthetic protocols which focus on P–C, P–N-bond formation, substrate and nucleophile types and different N-heterocycle construction strategies. Selected references are given in relation to the applications of the ligands.

A new context for palladium mediated B-addition reaction: an open door to consecutive functionalization

Palladium metal-catalyzed boron addition to unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds provides an efficient and convenient route for the preparation of organoboranes, which are versatile intermediates for organic synthesis. Palladium complexes are responsible for the exclusive catalytic performance and eventually allow access to selectively functionalized molecules by catalytic consecutive tandem sequences. The final objective is to find suitable palladium complexes that make it possible to perform a one-pot sequential reaction (B-addition/functionalization) by means of a multifaceted palladium catalyst. Mechanistic insights into the concatenated reactions through B chemistry are required if one wants to understand the experimental results.

Practical Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Propargylamines through a Copper-Catalyzed One-Pot Three-Component Condensation Reaction

The one-pot three-component reaction of terminal alkynes, aldehydes and secondary amines in the presence of copper(I) bromide/quinap is reported. The reaction scope has been determined and a broad variety of all three components has been used, which afforded the corresponding propargylamines in good to excellent yields and moderate to very good enantioselectivities. The reaction showed a strong positive nonlinear effect. The transformation of a propargylamine intermediate into the alkaloid (S)-(+)-coniine has also been described.

2-Phenallyl as a versatile protecting group for the asymmetric one-pot three-component synthesis of propargylamines

2-Phenallyl was found to be a versatile protecting group of primary amines for the asymmetric one-pot three-component synthesis of propargylamines which leads to enantiomeric excess of up to 96%; it can be easily removed with a palladium(0)-catalyzed allylic substitution using 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid as a nucleophile.

In Quest of Factors That Control the Enantioselective Catalytic Markovnikov Hydroboration/Oxidation of Vinylarenes

This study attempts to rationalise the unpredictable performance of transition metal catalysed asymmetric hydroboration of vinylarenes on varying the precursor of the catalyst from cationic to neutral species, [M(cod)(L-L)]BF4, [M(mu-Cl)(cod)]2/(L-L), the metal (M=Rh and Ir), and the hydroborating reagent (catecholborane, pinacolborane). The approaches are based on the agreement between experimental data provided by (R)-Binap and (R)-Quinap modified catalytic systems and computational data evidenced by DFT calculations and QM/MM strategies. Unprecedentedly high enantiomeric excesses in the hydroboration/oxidation of vinylarenes with both electron-withdrawing substituents ((R)-(+)-1-p-F-phenylethanol, ee up to 92 %) and electron-releasing substituents ((R)-(+)-1-p-MeO-phenylethanol, ee up to 98 %), can be attributed to a rhodium halide key intermediate.

Preparation and Resolution of a Modular Class of Axially Chiral Quinazoline-Containing Ligands and Their Application in Asymmetric Rhodium-Catalyzed Olefin Hydroboration

The preparation and resolution of a series of axially chiral quinazoline-containing ligands is described in which the key steps are the metal-catalyzed naphthyl-phosphorus bond formation, the naphthalene-quinazoline Suzuki coupling, and the preparation of the Suzuki electrophilic components from the corresponding imidate and anthranilic acid. Diastereomeric palladacycles derived from the racemic phosphinamines and (+)-di-mu-chlorobis[(R)-dimethyl(1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl)aminato-C2,N]dipalladium(II) were separated by fractional crystallization. The configuration of the resulting diastereomers was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Displacement of the resolving agent by reaction with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane afforded enantiopure ligand in each case. Their rhodium complexes were prepared and applied in the enantioselective hydroboration of a range of vinylarenes. The quinazolinap catalysts were found to be extremely active, giving excellent conversions, good to complete regioselectivities, and the highest enantioselectivities obtained to date for several members of the vinylarene class, including cis-beta-methylstyrene (97%), cis-stilbene (99%), and indene (99.5%).

Electronic response of a (P,N)-based ligand on metal coordination

The reaction of [(THF)Li(Ph(2)PC(H)Py)] with ZnCl(2) in the presence of ZnO yields the zinc complex [Zn(3)(Ph(2)PC(H)Py)(4)O] (1). Deprotonation of the phosphane Ph(2)P(CH(2)Py) with [Fe(N(SiMe(3))(2))2] gives the iron complexes [(Ph(2)P(CH(2)Py))Fe(Ph(2)PC(H)Py)2] (2) and [Fe(Ph(2)PC(H)Py)(N(SiMe(3))(2))]2 (3), depending on the ratio of phosphane. The solid state structures of the metal complexes illustrate the coordination flexibility of the [Ph(2)C(H)Py](-)-anion. Depending on the electronic requirements of the coordinated metal the anion acts as a (P,N)-chelating amide or C-coordinating carbanion with the P- and N-heteroatoms as donor bases.