Enantioselective organocatalytic route to trifluoromethyl-β-amino acids using chiral bases

Biomimetic enantioselective synthesis of β,β-difluoro-α-amino acid derivatives

Although utilization of fluorine compounds has a long history, synthesis of chiral fluorinated amino acid derivatives with structural diversity and high stereoselectivity is still very appealing and challenging. Here, we report a biomimetic study of enantioselective [1,3]-proton shift of β,β-difluoro-α-imine amides catalyzed by chiral quinine derivatives. A wide range of corresponding β,β-difluoro-α-amino amides were achieved in good yields with high enantioselectivities. The optically pure β,β-difluoro-α-amino acid derivatives were further obtained, which have high application values in the synthesis of fluoro peptides, fluoro amino alcohols and other valuable fluorine-containing molecules.

Catalytic asymmetric umpolung reactions of imines via 2-azaallyl anion intermediates

The imine umpolung is a relatively new and interesting strategy, especially in catalytic asymmetric synthesis. A significant development in organo- and transition metal-catalyzed umpolung of imines took place only in the recently concluded decade. A majority of the reports on the asymmetric umpolung of imines involve the initial generation of 2-azaallyl anion intermediates with the chiral catalysts, which serve as a significant driving force for the umpolung addition/substitution reactions. A variety of organocatalysts such as bifunctional cinchona alkaloids including squaramides and thioureas, chiral BINOL derived phosphoric acids, phase transfer catalysts (PTCs), phosphines, and transition metal-complexes of iridium, copper and palladium have been employed to achieve the excellent level of asymmetric induction in such types of umpolung reactions. The asymmetric imine umpolung strategy has been applied successfully to synthesize synthetic amino-acid derivatives and other useful chiral amines, including drugs and potentially bioactive molecules. This review summarizes all the significant recent development in catalytic umpolung reactions of imines involving a 2-azaallyl anion intermediate.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of quaternary trifluoromethyl α- to ε-amino acid derivatives via umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement

In this study, we developed an efficient Ir-catalyzed cascade umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement of tertiary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acid derivatives for the preparation of a variety of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The umpolung reactivity empowered by the activation of the key isatin-ketoimine moiety obviates the intractable enantioselectivity control in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric linear α-allylation. In combination with quasi parallel kinetic resolution or kinetic resolution, the generality of this method is further demonstrated by the first preparation of enantioenriched quaternary trifluoromethyl β-, γ-, δ- and ε-amino acid derivatives.

Synthesis of Chiral β-Fluoroalkyl β-Amino Acid Derivatives via Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation

An enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acrylic acid derivatives has been successfully developed, providing the corresponding chiral β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acid derivatives in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral γ-fluoroalkyl γ-amino alcohol could be synthesized by a simple reduction of the corresponding hydrogenated product. The mechanism of the reaction was explored by deuterium-labeling experiments.

Cinchonium Betaines as Efficient Catalysts for Asymmetric Proton Transfer Catalysis: The Development of a Practical Enantioselective Isomerization of Trifluoromethyl Imines

We have developed a new class of cinchonium betaine catalysts bearing both a base moiety and an aromatic moiety as an N-substituent of the quinuclidine motif. These cinchonium betaines were found to promote proton transfer catalysis with 1000-5000 turnovers per 24 h, thereby enabling us to realize highly efficient enantioselective isomerization of trifluoromethyl imines to provide a practical access to optically active trifluoromethylated amines.

Progress in asymmetric biomimetic transamination of carbonyl compounds

Transamination of α-keto acids is an important process to form α-amino acids in biological systems. Various biomimetic transamination systems have been developed for carbonyl compounds with chiral vitamin B₆ analogues, artificial transaminase mimics, chiral nitrogen sources, and chiral catalysts. This review provides a brief summary in this area.

An efficient synthesis of optically active trifluoromethyl aldimines via asymmetric biomimetic transamination

This communication describes a chiral base-catalyzed asymmetric [1,3]-proton shift of trifluoromethyl ketimines, giving a wide variety of trifluoromethyl aldimines containing various functional groups with up to 94% ee.

Asymmetric synthesis of trifluoromethylated amines via catalytic enantioselective isomerization of imines

A new approach toward the asymmetric synthesis of optically active trifluoromethylated amines was enabled by an unprecedented, highly enantioselective catalytic isomerization of trifluoromethyl imines with a new chiral organic catalyst. Not only aryl but also alkyl trifluoromethylated amines could be obtained in high enantioselectivities.

Organic base-catalyzed stereodivergent synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acids

Organic base-catalyzed reaction of (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl (3,3,3)-trifluoroacetaldimine with dialkyl malonates was found to be effective for synthesis of both (S,S(S)) and (R,S(S)) β-aminomalonates in high yield with good to excellent diastereoselectivity (76-98% de). The products of this Mannich reaction provide direct access to β-trifluoromethyl-β-alanine of either (R) or (S) absolute configuration.