Methylhydrazine-induced enantioselective α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters with molecular oxygen catalyzed by hydroquinine

Recent developments in stereoselective organocatalytic oxyfunctionalizations

In this chapter, asymmetric at carbon oxidations using organocatalytic systems reported from 2012 up to 2018 have been illustrated. Asymmetric epoxidations and oxidation of heteroatom-containing molecules were not included. The processes selected encopass alpha-hydroxylation of carbonyl compounds, dihydroxylation and dioxygenation of alkenes, Baeyer-Villiger and oxidative desymmetrization reactions.

Enantioselective α-Hydroxylation by Modified Salen-Zirconium(IV)-Catalyzed Oxidation of β-Keto Esters

The highly enantioselective α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters using cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as the oxidant was realized by a chiral (1S,2S)-cyclohexanediamine backbone salen-zirconium(IV) complex as the catalyst. A variety of corresponding chiral α-hydroxy β-keto esters were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The zirconium-catalyzed enantioselective α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters was scalable, and the zirconium catalyst was recyclable. The reaction can be performed in gram scale, and corresponding chiral products were acquired in 95% yield and 99% ee.

Enantioselective Organocatalyzed Transformations of β-Ketoesters

The β-ketoester structural motif continues to intrigue chemists with its electrophilic and nucleophilic sites. Proven to be a valuable tool within organic synthesis, natural product, and medicinal chemistry, reports on chiral β-ketoester molecular skeletons display a steady increase. With the reignition of organocatalysis in the past decade, asymmetric methods available for the synthesis of this structural unit has significantly expanded, making it one of the most exploited substrates for organocatalytic transformations. This review provides comprehensive information on the plethora of organocatalysts used in stereoselective organocatalyzed construction of β-ketoester-containing compounds.

A Series of Cinchona-Derived N-Oxide Phase-Transfer Catalysts: Application to the Photo-Organocatalytic Enantioselective α-Hydroxylation of β-Dicarbonyl Compounds

A series of cinchona-derived N-oxide asymmetric phase-transfer catalysts were synthesized and applied in the enantioselective photo-organocatalytic α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters and β-keto amides (23 examples) using molecular oxygen in excellent yields (up to 98%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 83% ee). These new catalysts could be recycled and reused six times for such a reaction with almost the original reactivity and enantioselectivity.