Synthesis of new C2-symmetric bis(β-hydroxy amide) ligands and their applications in the enantioselective addition of alkynylzinc to aldehydes

Synthesis and medicinal chemical characterisation of antiproliferative O,N-functionalised isopulegol derivatives

Benzylation of isopulegol furnished O-benzyl-protected isopulegol, which was transformed into aminodiols via epoxidation followed by ring opening of the corresponding epoxides and subsequent hydrogenolysis. On the other hand, (-)-isopulegol was oxidised to a diol, which was then converted into dibenzyl-protected diol derivatives. The products were then transformed into aminotriols by using a similar method. The antiproliferative activity of aminodiol and aminotriol derivatives was examined. In addition, structure-activity relationships were also explored from the aspects of substituent effects and stereochemistry on the aminodiol and aminotriol systems. The drug-likeness of the compounds was assessed by in silico and experimental physicochemical characterisations, completed by kinetic aqueous solubility and in vitro intestinal-specific parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA-GI) measurements.

Research on promoting the asymmetric reaction of phenylacetylene with aldehydes by chloramphenicol base ligands

A series of chiral ligands were synthesized using chloramphenicol base as starting materials. These ligands were applied to the asymmetric catalytic reactions of terminal alkynes with aldehydes to obtain a propargyl alcohol product in high yield (80-94%) with excellent enantioselectivities (82-96%).

Development of Zn-ProPhenol-catalyzed asymmetric alkyne addition: synthesis of chiral propargylic alcohols

The development of a general and practical zinc-catalyzed enantioselective alkyne addition methodology is reported. The commercially available ProPhenol ligand (1) has facilitated the addition of a wide range of zinc alkynylides to aryl, aliphatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in high yield and enantioselectivity. New insights into the mechanism of this reaction have resulted in a significant reduction in reagent stoichiometry, enabling the use of precious alkynes and avoiding the use of excess dimethylzinc. The enantioenriched propargylic alcohols from this reaction serve as versatile synthetic intermediates and have enabled efficient syntheses of several complex natural products.

The Enantioselective Addition of Alkyne Nucleophiles to Carbonyl Groups

Over the past decade, large strides have been achieved in the invention of methods for the direct enantioselective addition of alkynes and metal alkynylide nucleophiles into prochiral aldehydes, ketones, and imines. This review highlights and compares the available methods for these transformations.