Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe: the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of enantiopure lithium amides to enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates

Sodium Isopropyl(trimethylsilyl)amide: A Stable and Highly Soluble Lithium Diisopropylamide Mimic

The preparation, structure, physical properties, and reactivities of sodium isopropyl(trimethylsilyl)amide (NaPTA) are described. The solubilities at room temperature range from n-heptane (0.55 M), n-hexane (0.60 M), toluene (0.65 M), MTBE (1.7 M), Et₃N (3.2 M), and THF (>6.0 M). The half-life to destruction in neat THF is >1 year at 25 °C and 7 days at 70 °C, which compares favorably to 2.5 months and 1.5 days, respectively, for LDA in neat THF. This study focuses on NaPTA in THF. ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy shows exclusively a mixture of cis and trans stereoisomeric dimers in 0.10-12 M THF in hexane. Density functional theory (DFT) computations suggest that the pK_b is intermediate between dimeric sodium diisopropylamide (NaDA) and dimeric sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS). Metalations of arenes, epoxides, ketones, hydrazones, alkenes, and alkyl halides show higher reactivities than LDA (k_NaPTA/LDA = 1-30). While the rates of arene metalation are high, the lower pK_b of NaPTA limits the substrates. Metalation of pseudoephedrate-based carboxamides to form disodiated Myers enolates solves several challenging technical problems.

Stereoselective synthesis of trans-THF rings using an oxidative cyclisation-radical deoxygenation sequence: application to the formal synthesis of trans-(2R,5R)-linalool oxide

Permanganate-mediated oxidative cyclisation-Barton–McCombie radical deoxygenation sequence is applied to 1,5-dienes to achieve stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,5-disubstituted THF rings.

trans-2-Tritylcyclohexanol as a chiral auxiliary in permanganate-mediated oxidative cyclization of 2-methylenehept-5-enoates: application to the synthesis of trans-(+)-linalool oxide

The permanganate-mediated oxidative cyclization of a series of 2-methylenehept-5-eneoates bearing different chiral auxiliaries was investigated, leading to the discovery of trans-2-tritylcyclohexanol (TTC) as a highly effective chiral controller for the formation of the 2,5-substituted THF diol product with high diastereoselectivity (dr ∼97:3). Chiral resolution of (±)-TTC, prepared in one step from cyclohexene oxide, afforded (-)-(1S,2R)-TTC (er >99:1), which was applied to the synthesis of (+)-trans-(2S,5S)-linalool oxide.

To be or not to be butterfly: New mechanistic insights in the Aza-Michael asymmetric addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide

The asymmetric Aza-Michael addition of homochiral lithium benzylamides to α,β-unsaturated esters represents an extended protocol to obtain enantioenriched β-amino esters. An exhaustive mechanistic revision of the originally proposed mechanism is reported, developing a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics protocol for the asymmetric Aza-Michael reaction of homochiral lithium benzylamides. Explicit and implicit solvent schemes were considered, together with a proper account of long-range dispersion forces, evaluated through a density functional theory benchmark of different functionals. Theoretical results showed that the diastereoselectivity is mainly controlled by the N-α-methylbenzyl moiety placing, deriving a Si/Re 99:1 diastereoselective ratio, in good agreement with reported experimental results. The main transition state geometries are two transition state conformers in a "V-stacked" orientation of the amide's phenyl rings, differing in the tetrahydrofuran molecule arrangement coordinated to the metal center. Extensive conformational sampling and quantum-level refinement give reasonable good speed/accuracy results, allowing this protocol to be extended to other similar Aza-Michael reaction systems.

α(δ')-Michael addition of alkyl amines to dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate: synthesis of α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives

The direct nucleophilic addition of alkyl amines to the α(δ')-carbon atom of dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate to generate α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives is reported. Herein, we have studied the reactivity of various primary and secondary alkyl amines in the α-selective nucleophilic conjugate addition to conjugated dimethyl (E)-hex-2-en-4-ynedioate. The reaction with primary alkyl amines gives only the (2E,4E)-stereoisomer, while that with secondary alkyl amines gives the (2E,4E) and (2Z,4E)-stereoisomers of dimethyl (2-alkylamino)-muconic ester.