Synthesis of novel cinchona-amino acid hybrid organocatalysts for asymmetric catalysis

Asymmetric Additions Empowered by OrganoCatalysts, Metal Catalysts, and Deep Natural Eutectic Solvents (NADES)

This article is a history of an industrial-academic partnership that started almost two decades ago and details the evolution of a relationship between a small academic research group and a spin-out company located in Portugal. Their activities have ranged from the development of new metal-based catalytic systems for asymmetric epoxidations, allylic alkylations, and arylations to the development of novel cinchona-based organocatalysts for asymmetric hydrosilylations and Michael additions. Current common interests are centered on the development of novel chiral Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent systems, which they are investigating in different types of reaction systems.

Eco-friendly and Enantiospecific Biginelli Synthesis Using (+)-Myrtenal as the Substrate - An Impeccable and Unequivocal Analysis of the Product

BACKGROUND

We found in the literature, an excellent review of the Biginelli reaction that addresses the methodologies for obtaining enantiopure dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs). In 1992, optically pure DHPMs were obtained by fractional crystallization of the diastereomeric ammonium salt derivative with (S)-(-) and (R)- (+)-α-methyl benzylamine and by other chiral resolution techniques, such as chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Asymmetric syntheses of these compounds are also explained in the literature. The main strategy is to use acid catalysts such as organophosphates, organometallic complexes, amines and diamines, nanocomposites, and chiral ionic liquids, e.g., L-prolinium sulfate (Pro2SO4).

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to study the Biginelli reaction with a chiral aldehyde.

METHODS

A mixture of ethyl acetoacetate (0.26 g, 3 mmol), urea (0.18 g, 3 mmol) and ethyl lactate (EL) (1 mL) was left under heating at 70°C and stirring for 1 h. Next, (-)-(1R)-myrtenal (0.45 g, 3 mmol) was added, and the medium was heated for 5 h more until the formation of a white solid. Ten millilitres of distilled water was added, and the product was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 x 4 mL). The solvent was evaporated, and the product was recrystallized from ethanol-water.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

(+)-Myrtenal was used as a chiral substrate for a study that led to ethyl (R)-4-((1R,5S)- 6,6-dimethylbicyclo [3.1.1]hept-2-en-2-yl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate by the Biginelli synthesis using EL as a green solvent. The result is the first example of the enantiospecific Biginelli reaction. The product was exhaustively characterized by several physical analysis methods, i.e., 1H, 13C and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and high-resolution MS (HRMS), and its structure was unequivocally elucidated by X-ray crystallography.

CONCLUSION

Compound (4R)-4-(6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-en-2-yl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4- tetrahydropyrimidine- 5-ethyl carboxylate is the first example of the enantiospecific Biginelli reaction. In addition, the process has the advantage of using EL as a green solvent. The product was characterized by 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR and IR spectroscopy, MS, HRMS, and X-ray crystallography.

Tripeptide-Catalyzed Asymmetric Aldol Reaction Between α-ketoesters and Acetone Under Acidic Cocatalyst-Free Conditions

Here, we report the tripeptide-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction between α-ketoesters and acetone under acidic cocatalysts-free conditions. H-Pro-Tle-Gly-OH 3g-catalyzed reactions between α-ketoesters and acetone resulted in up to 95% yield and 88% ee. Analysis of the transition state using density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the tert-butyl group in 3g played an important role in enantioselectivity.

Catalytic enantioselective aldol reactions

Recent developments in catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions have been summarized.

Binaphthyl-based chiral bifunctional organocatalysts for water mediated asymmetric List–Lerner–Barbas aldol reactions

Binaphthyl-based organocatalysts were synthesized and successfully applied to the asymmetric List–Lerner–Barbas aldol reaction in water medium. These organocatalysts were found to be effective catalysts for the reactions of ketones with different aldehydes to give aldol products with higher yield and ee's.

Organocatalysts for enantioselective synthesis of fine chemicals: definitions, trends and developments

Abstract Organocatalysis, that is the use of small organic molecules to catalyze organic transformations, has been included among the most successful concepts in asymmetric catalysis, and it has been used for the enantioselective construction of C–C, C–N, C–O, C–S, C–P and C–halide bonds. Since the seminal works in early 2000, the scientific community has been paying an ever-growing attention to the use of organocatalysts for the synthesis, with high yields and remarkable stereoselectivities, of optically active fine chemicals of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. A brief overview is here presented about the two main classes of organocatalysis which are respectively characterized by covalent and non-covalent activation of the substrate. More detailed information about non-covalent interactions for organocatalysis are given. Finally, some successful examples of heterogenisation of organocatalysts are also discussed, in the view of a potential industrial exploitation.

Organocatalysts for enantioselective synthesis of fine chemicals: definitions, trends and developments

<p>Organocatalysis, that is the use of small organic molecules to catalyse organic transformations, has been included among the most successful concepts in asymmetric catalysis and it has been used for the enantioselective construction of C-C, C-N, C-O, C-S, C-P, and C-halide bonds. Since the seminal works in early 2000, the scientific community has been paying an ever-growing attention to the use of organocatalysts for the synthesis, with high yields and remarkable stereoselectivities, of optically active fine chemicals of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. A brief overview is here presented about the two main classes of substrate activation by the catalyst: covalent organocatalysis and non-covalent organocatalysis, with a more stringent focus on some recent outcomes in the field of the latter and of hydrogen-bond-based catalysis. Finally, some successful examples of heterogenisation of organocatalysts are also discussed, in the view of a potential industrial exploitation.</p>