Enantioselective direct fluorination and chlorination of cyclic β-ketoesters mediated by phase-transfer catalysts

Stereoselective α-Chlorination of β-Keto Esters in the Presence of Hybrid Amide-Based Cinchona Alkaloids as Catalysts

We report an enantioselective phase transfer α-chlorination of β-keto esters catalyzed by hybrid amide-based Cinchona derivatives. The chlorination process proceeds with proper quantitative yields (up to <99%) and high asymmetric induction (up to 97% ee). We show that the use of only 0.5 mol % hybrid catalyst based on a Cinchona core allows the chlorination reaction to be conducted in a highly enantioselective manner with various indanone and tetralone carboxylate esters.

Catalytic Asymmetric Chlorination of β-Ketoesters Using N-PFB-PyBidine-Zn(OAc)2

A PyBidine-Zn(OAc)2 complex catalyzed asymmetric chlorination of β-ketoesters. With assistance of NaHCO3, a newly developed N-pentafluorobenzyl-PyBidine (N-PFB-PyBidine)-Zn(OAc)2 catalyst promoted the reaction of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters with N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) to give the chlorinated products with up to 82% ee. Results of a mechanistic study suggested that zinc-enolate of β-ketoesters was formed on the basic (N-PFB-PyBidine)-Zn(OAc)2 catalyst. The α-chlorinated-β-ketoester was successfully transformed into the chiral epoxide through sequential asymmetric chlorination/cyano-epoxidation in a one-pot synthesis.

Enantioselective Fluorination of α-Branched β-Ynone Esters Using a Cinchona-Based Phase-Transfer Catalyst

Herein, we report the fluorination of α-branched β-ynone esters to afford their corresponding quaternary fluorinated products with good enantioselectivity (ee = 73-90%) using a cinchona-based phase-transfer catalyst. α-Branched β-ynone esters possess a highly acidic α-proton and form their corresponding enolate as a single isomer, which allows the enantioselective fluorination reaction to occur under standard cinchona-based phase-transfer catalyst conditions. Moreover, the obtained α-fluorinated product can be treated with [(SPhos)AuNTf₂] (1 mol %) to afford a fluorinated 3,5-diketo carboxylic acid.

Expanding the Boxmi Ligand Family: Synthesis and Application of NON and NSN Ligands

Two synthetic strategies for a new family of neutral NON ligands featuring a "bis(oxazolinylmethylidene)isobenzofuran" framework (boxman) are reported. A Pd-mediated cyclization reaction forming the isobenzofuran core constitutes the key reaction in the eight-step synthetic route to the nonbackbone-methylated target compound ^H,Rboxman. In contrast, the introduction of two additional methyl groups provides stereochemical control during backbone construction and thereby access to the methylated derivative ^Me,Rboxman, which was synthesized in five steps and improved yields. In addition, the synthetic sequence was transferred to the thio analogue, providing access to the NSN ligand ^H,Rboxmene. Subsequent complexation experiments with iron and cobalt chloride precursors afforded the four-coordinated chlorido complexes ^Me,RboxmanMCl₂ (R = Ph, iPr; M = Fe, Co) and established the boxman family as trans-chelating, bidentate bis(oxazoline) ligands. Application of the latter in the nickel(II)- and zinc(II)-catalyzed α-fluorination of β-ketoesters and oxindoles (up to 98% yield and 94% ee) demonstrated their suitability for enantioselective catalysis.

Enantioselective Michael Reaction of Cyclic β-Ketoesters with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Derivatives Using a Phase-Transfer Catalyst

This study aims to develop a highly enantioselective Michael reaction of cyclic β-ketoesters with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) derivatives using a phase-transfer catalyst. Cyclic β-ketoesters reacted with MBH derivatives to stereoselectively generate a quaternary carbon center in the presence of cinchona alkaloid-derived bulky ammonium catalyst, and aqueous KOH and Michael adducts bearing an acrylate moiety were obtained in good chemical yields with good enantioselectivity.

Modern Approaches for Asymmetric Construction of Carbon-Fluorine Quaternary Stereogenic Centers: Synthetic Challenges and Pharmaceutical Needs

New methods for preparation of tailor-made fluorine-containing compounds are in extremely high demand in nearly every sector of chemical industry. The asymmetric construction of quaternary C-F stereogenic centers is the most synthetically challenging and, consequently, the least developed area of research. As a reflection of this apparent methodological deficit, pharmaceutical drugs featuring C-F stereogenic centers constitute less than 1% of all fluorine-containing medicines currently on the market or in clinical development. Here we provide a comprehensive review of current research activity in this area, including such general directions as asymmetric electrophilic fluorination via organocatalytic and transition-metal catalyzed reactions, asymmetric elaboration of fluorine-containing substrates via alkylations, Mannich, Michael, and aldol additions, cross-coupling reactions, and biocatalytic approaches.

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis in the asymmetric α-heterofunctionalization of prochiral nucleophiles

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis is one of the major catalytic principles in asymmetric catalysis. A broad variety of different catalysts and their use for challenging applications have been reported over the last decades. Besides asymmetric C–C bond forming reactions the use of chiral phase-transfer catalysts for enantioselective α-heterofunctionalization reactions of prochiral nucleophiles became one of the most important field of application of this catalytic principle. Based on several highly spectacular recent reports, we thus wish to discuss some of the most important achievements in this field within the context of this review.

Asymmetric Chlorination of β-Keto Esters Using Diaminomethylenemalononitrile Organocatalyst

Diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalysts promote the asymmetric chlorination of simple cyclic β-keto esters such as methyl, ethyl, and benzyl esters of 1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid. This affords the corresponding chiral α-chlorinated carbonyl products in excellent yields with high enantioselectivities.

Thiourea catalysed reduction of α-keto substituted acrylate compounds using Hantzsch ester as a reducing agent in water

The first method for the reduction of α-keto substituted acrylate compounds by Hantzsch ester in water under the catalysis of thiourea has been developed. The products were isolated with moderate to high yields (38–95%).

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.

Enantioselective synthesis of 3-fluoro-3-allyl-oxindoles via phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric γ-addition of 3-fluoro-oxindoles to 2,3-butadienoates

The first phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective γ-addition of 3-fluoro-oxindoles to 2,3-butadienoates has been developed.

Syntheses and Applications of (Thio)Urea-Containing Chiral Quaternary Ammonium Salt Catalysts

We herein report our efforts to obtain a new class of systematically modified bifunctional (thio)urea-containing quaternary ammonium salts based on easily obtainable chiral backbones. Among the different classes of catalysts that were successfully synthesized, those based on trans-1,2-cyclohexane diamine were found to be the most powerful for the asymmetric α-fluorination of β-keto esters. Selectivities up to 93:7 could be obtained by using only 2 mol-% of the optimized catalyst. The importance of the bifunctional nature of these catalysts was demonstrated by control experiments using simplified monofunctional catalyst analogues, which gave almost racemic product only.