Catalytic anti-selective asymmetric Henry (nitroaldol) reaction catalyzed by Cu(I)–amine–imine complexes

Hydrosoluble Complexes Bearing Tris(pyrazolyl)methane Sulfonate Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity for Henry Reaction

The catalytic activity of the water-soluble scorpionate coordination compounds [Cu(-NN’O-Tpms)2] (1), [Mn(Tpms)2] (2) and Li[FeCl2(-NN’N’’-Tpms)] (3) [Tpms = tris(pyrazolyl)-methane sulfonate, O3SC(pz)3], were studied towards the (Henry) reaction between benzaldehyde and nitromethane or nitroethane in aqueous medium to afford, respectively, 2-nitro-1-phenylethanol or 2-nitro-1-phenylpropanol, the latter in the syn and the anti diastereoisomeric forms. Complex 1 exhibited the highest activity under the optimum experimental conditions and was used to broaden the scope of the reaction to include several aromatic aldehydes achieving yields up to 94%.

Synthesis of chiral salalen ligands and their in-situ generated Cu-complexes for asymmetric Henry reaction

Chiral salalen ligands derived from (S)-proline and derivatives of salicyaldehydes were synthesized, and their in-situ generated Cu (II) complexes were evaluated in the asymmetric Henry reaction. Salalen ligand of different substituents on the phenyl moiety showed remarkable effect on the enantioselectivity of nitro-aldol product of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and nitromethane. Cu (II) complex generated in situ with (S)-2-(tert-butyl)-6-((2-(((2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzylidene)amino)methyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl) phenol (10 mol%) and Cu (OAc)₂ .H₂ O (10 mol%), found to be better catalyst for nitro-aldol reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and nitromethane, gave corresponding product in 85% yield and 88% enantiomeric excess (ee) in isopropanol at 35°C after 40 hours. The catalyst also used for the Henry reaction with different substituted benzaldehydes and corresponding products were obtained in 22% to 99% yields with 66% to 92% ee. Henry reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and prochiral nitroethane gave anti-selective product (dr = 79/21; anti/syn) in a 91% yield with 80% ee.

Cu (II)-catalyzed asymmetric henry reaction with a novel C1-symmetric aminopinane-derived ligand

A novel C₁-symmetric dinitrogen ligand was synthesized in high yield from commercially available (1R,2R,3R,5S)-(−)-isopinocampheylamine and 1-methyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde. In combination with Cu(OAc)₂∙H₂O, this new ligand promote the reaction between nitromethane and aliphatic aldehydes with high yields (up to 97%) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 67% ee). The reactions with benzaldehyde required prolonged reaction time that resulted in diminished yields, but accompanied with ee-values in the 55%–76% range.