Mechanistic aspects of alkene oxidation using chiral hypervalent iodine reagents

Hypervalent Iodine-Catalyzed Fluorination of Diene-Containing Compounds: A Computational Study

Studies have shown that the incorporation of fluorine into materials can improve their properties, but C-F bonds are not readily formed in nature. Although some researchers have studied the reaction of fluorinating alkenes catalyzed by hypervalent iodine, far too little attention has been paid to its reaction mechanism. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the hypervalent iodine-catalyzed 1,4-difluorination of dienes. We found that the catalyst is favorable for the activation of C1=C2 double bonds through halogen bonds, and then two HFs interact with one F atom in the catalyst via hydrogen bonds, resulting in the cleavage of I-F bonds and the formation of [F-H∙∙∙F]-. Subsequently, the catalyst interacts with C1, and the roaming [F-H···F]- attacks C4 from the opposite side of the catalyst. After the fluorination step is completed, the nucleophile F- substitutes the catalyst via the SN2 mechanism. Our calculations demonstrated that the interaction between HF and F- is favorable for the stabilization of the transition state within the fluorination process for which the presence of two HFs in the reaction is the best. We also observed that [F-H∙∙∙F]- attacking C4 from the opposite side of the catalyst is more advantageous than attacking from the same side. This study therefore offers a novel perspective on the mechanism of the hypervalent iodine-catalyzed fluoridation of dienes.

Synthesis of Chiral Iodoaniline-Lactate Based Catalysts for the α-Functionalization of Ketones

A family of chiral iodoaniline-lactate based catalysts with C1 and C2 symmetry were efficiently synthesized. Comparisons between the reactivity and selectivity between the new and previously reported catalysts are made. The new catalysts promoted the α-oxysulfonylation of ketones in shorter reaction times and with higher yields of up to 99%. A scope for the oxysulfonylation reaction is presented, forming a variety of reported and novel products with enantioselectivities of up to 83%.

Catalyst-Substrate Helical Character Matching Determines the Enantioselectivity in the Ishihara-Type Iodoarenes Catalyzed Asymmetric Kita-Dearomative Spirolactonization

Catalyst design has traditionally focused on rigid structural elements to prevent conformational flexibility. Ishihara's elegant design of conformationally flexible C₂-symmetric iodoarenes, a new class of privileged organocatalysts, for the catalytic asymmetric dearomatization (CADA) of naphthols is a notable exception. Despite the widespread use of the Ishihara catalysts for CADAs, the reaction mechanism remains the subject of debate, and the mode of asymmetric induction has not been well established. Here, we report an in-depth computational investigation of three possible mechanisms in the literature. Our results, however, reveal that this reaction is best rationalized by a fourth mechanism called "proton-transfer-coupled-dearomatization (PTCD)", which is predicted to be strongly favored over other competing pathways. The PTCD mechanism is consistent with a control experiment and further validated by applying it to rationalize the enantioselectivities. Oxidation of the flexible I(I) catalyst to catalytic active I(III) species induces a defined C₂-symmetric helical chiral environment with a delicate balance between flexibility and rigidity. A match/mismatch effect between the active catalyst and the substrate's helical shape in the dearomatization transition states was observed. The helical shape match allows the active catalyst to adapt its conformation to maximize attractive noncovalent interactions, including I(III)···O halogen bond, N-H···O hydrogen bond, and π···π stacking, to stabilize the favored transition state. A stereochemical model capable of rationalizing the effect of catalyst structural variation on the enantioselectivities is developed. The present study enriches our understanding of how flexible catalysts achieve high stereoinduction and may serve as an inspiration for the future exploration of conformational flexibility for new catalyst designs.

Organoiodine-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular Oxy­aminations of Alkenes with N-(Fluorosulfonyl)carbamate

Organoiodine-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular oxyaminations were realized by the use of benzyl N-(fluorosulfonyl)carbamate as the exogenous nitrogen source. The method allows access to enantioenriched lactones and oxazolines, starting from γ,δ- and δ,ε-unsaturated esters and N-allyl amides, respectively.

Organoiodine-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intermolecular Oxyamination of Alkenes

Metal-free, catalytic enantioselective intermolecular oxyamination of alkenes is realized by use of organoiodine(I/III) chemistry. The protocol is applicable toward aryl- and alkyl-substituted alkenes with high enantioselectivity and electronically controlled regioselectivity. The oxyaminated products can be easily deprotected in one step to reveal free amino alcohols in high yields without loss of enantioselectivity. A key to our success is the discovery of a virtually unexplored chemical entity, N-(fluorosulfonyl)carbamate, as a bifunctional N,O-nucleophile.

Effect of noncovalent interactions in ion pairs on hypervalent iodines: inversion of regioselectivity in sulfonyloxylactonization

The noncovalent interactions between the sulfonyloxy group and the cationic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moiety substituted in hypervalent iodines caused specific regioselectivity in the sulfonyloxylactonization of 2-vinyl benzoic acids.

Innovation of hypervalent(iii) iodine in the synthesis of natural products

The focus article discusses the innovation of hypervalent(iii) iodine regarding skeletal rearrangement, cycloaddition and cyclization, and sp³ C–H functionalization in natural product synthesis.

Enantioselective Construction of Tertiary Fluoride Stereocenters by Organocatalytic Fluorocyclization

1,1-Disubstituted styrenes with internal oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles undergo oxidative fluorocyclization reactions with in situ generated chiral iodine(III)-catalysts. The resulting fluorinated tetrahydrofurans and pyrrolidines contain a tertiary carbon–fluorine stereocenter. Application of a new 1-naphthyllactic acid-based iodine(III)-catalyst allows the control of tertiary carbon–fluorine stereocenters with up to 96% ee. Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate the details of the mechanism and the factors governing the stereoselectivity of the reaction.

Recent Application of Chiral Aryliodine Based on the 2-Iodo­resorcinol Core in Asymmetric Catalysis

Chiral iodoarenes have been steadily increasing in importance in recent years, especially in enantioselective synthesis and catalysis. Since the development of the concept of chiral iodine(I/III) catalysis, the use of various chiral aryliodine frameworks has been explored in this area. This short review gives an overview of the use of chiral hypervalent iodine(I/III) reagents based on the 2-iodoresorcinol core with two attached two lactic side chains bearing ester or amide groups for the catalytic enantioselective dearomatization of phenol compounds, asymmetric oxidation of alkenes, and enantioselective α-functionalization of carbonyl compounds highlighting the excellent reactivities in terms of yield and enantioselectivity.

1 Introduction

2 Enantioselective Dearomatization of Phenol Derivatives

3 Asymmetric Oxidation of Alkenes

4 Enantioselective α-Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds

5 Conclusion and Outlook

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Difluorinated Alkyl Bromides

We report an iodoarene-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of β,β-difluoroalkyl bromide building blocks. The transformation involves an oxidative rearrangement of α-bromostyrenes, utilizing HF-pyridine as the fluoride source and m-CPBA as the stoichiometric oxidant. A catalyst decomposition pathway was identified, which, in tandem with catalyst structure-activity relationship studies, facilitated the development of an improved catalyst providing higher enantioselectivity with lower catalyst loadings. The versatility of the difluoroalkyl bromide products was demonstrated via highly enantiospecific substitution reactions with suitably reactive nucleophiles. The origins of enantioselectivity were investigated using computed interaction energies of simplified catalyst and substrate structures, providing evidence for both CH-π and π-π transition state interactions as critical features.

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.

A Triazole-Substituted Aryl Iodide with Omnipotent Reactivity in Enantioselective Oxidations

A widely applicable triazole‐substituted chiral aryl iodide is described as catalyst for enantioselective oxidation reactions. The introduction of a substituent in ortho‐position to the iodide is key for its high reactivity and selectivity. Besides a robust and modular synthesis, the main advantage of this catalyst is the excellent performance in a plethora of mechanistically diverse enantioselective transformations, such as spirocyclizations, phenol dearomatizations, α‐oxygenations, and oxidative rearrangements. DFT‐calculations of in situ generated [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]arene isomers give an initial rational for the observed reactivity.

Chiral Hypervalent Iodines: Active Players in Asymmetric Synthesis

Asymmetric organocatalytic oxidations have been witnessed to an impressive development in the last years thanks to the establishment of important chiral hypervalent iodines(III/V). Many different approaches involving both stoichiometric and catalytic versions have provided a fundamental advance in this area within asymmetric synthesis. The easily handing, nontoxic, mild, environmentally friendly (green oxidants), and high stability that are features of these reagents have been applied to many reactions and also have allowed exploring further unprecedented enantioselective transformations. The intention of the present review is thus to highlight as a whole the many approaches utilized up to date to prepare chiral iodines(III/V), as well as their reactivity in a comprehensive manner.

A Practical Aryliodine(I/III) Catalysis for the Vicinal Diamination of Styrenes

2,6-Disubstituted iodoarenes bearing amide-functionalized side arms are reported as new structures in redox-active iodine(I/III) catalysis. In combination with bis-sulfonimides as nitrogen sources and 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) as benign terminal oxidant they catalyze the vicinal diamination of styrenes. The obtained reactivity and selectivity outperform other iodoarene catalyst candidates. This protocol provides a sustainable alternative to previous related protocols for diamination that are based on stoichiometric iodine(III) reagents.

Hypercoordinate iodine for catalytic asymmetric diamination of styrene: insights into the mechanism, role of solvent, and stereoinduction

Stereoselectivity in the asymmetric diamination of styrene catalyzed by chiral hypercoordinate iodine originates from the prochiral face recognition when the substrate binds to the catalyst.

Hypercoordinate iodine has evolved as an impressive class of catalysts for various organic transformations. Extension of this idea to asymmetric applications, such as in the asymmetric difunctionalization of styrene or its derivatives, constitutes an important reaction. In this study, the mechanism and origin of stereoinduction in styrene diamination, with a sulfonimide (HNMs₂) as the diaminating agent and iodoresorcinol (((iPr)₂N(CO)-CH(Me)-O)₂Ar–I) based chiral hypercoordinate iodine as the catalyst, are investigated using density functional theory calculations. The energetically preferred catalytic pathway has been found to involve, among other steps, two very important mechanistic events: (a) the formation of a catalyst–substrate complex by the action of styrene on the catalyst ArI(NMs₂)₂, resulting in the displacement of one of the imidates (NMs₂^–); and (b) a rebound of the departed imidate on the iodine-bound styrene to form an iodonium ion intermediate with a N–C bond. Explicit interaction of the imidate ion with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), used as a solvent additive, lowers the barrier for the formation of the iodonium ion. The P helical fold of the chiral arms of the iodoresorcinol catalyst is found to offer a chiral environment for the reactants. Coordination of the iodine catalyst to the styrene double bond is found to make the benzylic carbon more electrophilic and hence makes it the preferred site for the nucleophilic addition. In the chiral environment of the catalyst, an enhanced polarization of the styrene double bond is noticed when the double bond coordinates through the si prochiral face than the re face. Nucleophilic addition on the re face of the catalyst–substrate complex is associated with a lower activation barrier leading to the experimentally observed S enantiomeric product. The stereoselective model developed in this study can be employed to related asymmetric styrene difunctionalizations using similar hypercoordinate iodine catalysts.

On the activation of hypercoordinate iodine(iii) compounds for reactions of current interest

Central to the reactivity of hypercoordinate iodine as a continually emerging compound for organic transformation is its activation by various additives. We wish to present the current understanding on bonding and activation modes under different reaction conditions involving hypercoordinate iodine(iii) compounds.

Mechanism and Origins of Chemo- and Stereoselectivities of Aryl Iodide-Catalyzed Asymmetric Difluorinations of β-Substituted Styrenes

The mechanism of the aryl iodide-catalyzed asymmetric migratory geminal difluorination of β-substituted styrenes ( Banik et al. Science 2016, 353, 51 ) has been explored with density functional theory computations. The computed mechanism consists of (a) activation of iodoarene difluoride (ArIF2), (b) enantiodetermining 1,2-fluoroiodination, (c) bridging phenonium ion formation via SN2 reductive displacement, and (d) regioselective fluoride addition. According to the computational model, the ArIF2 intermediate is stabilized through halogen-π interactions between the electron-deficient iodine(III) center and the benzylic substituents at the catalyst stereogenic centers. Interactions with the catalyst ester carbonyl groups (I(III)+···O) are not observed in the unactivated complex, but do occur upon activation of ArIF2 through hydrogen-bonding interactions with external Brønsted acid (HF). The 1,2-fluoroiodination occurs via alkene complexation to the electrophilic, cationic I(III) center followed by C-F bond formation anti to the forming C-I bond. The bound olefin and the C-I bond of catalyst adopt a spiro arrangement in the favored transition structures but a nearly periplanar arrangement in the disfavored transition structures. Multiple attractive non-covalent interactions, including slipped π···π stacking, C-H···O, and C-H···π interactions, are found to underlie the high asymmetric induction. The chemoselectivity for 1,1-difluorination versus 1,2-difluorination is controlled mainly by (1) the steric effect of the substituent on the olefinic double bond and (2) the nucleophilicity of the carbonyl oxygen of substrate.

Recent advances in hypervalent iodine(III)-catalyzed functionalization of alkenes

Hypervalent iodine(III) reagents have been well-developed and widely utilized in functionalization of alkenes, however, generally either stoichiometric amounts of iodine(III) reagents are required or stoichiometric oxidants such as mCPBA are employed to in situ generate iodine(III) species. In this review, recent developments of hypervalent iodine(III)-catalyzed functionalization of alkenes and asymmetric reactions using a chiral iodoarene are summarized.

Indanol-Based Chiral Organoiodine Catalysts for Enantioselective Hydrative Dearomatization

Rapid development in the last decade has rendered chiral organoiodine(I/III) catalysis a reliable methodology in asymmetric catalysis. However, due to the severely limited numbers of effective organoiodine catalysts, many reactions still give low to modest enantioselectivity. We report herein a solution to this issue through the introduction of a pivotal indanol scaffold to the catalyst design. Our catalyst architecture exhibits the advantage of high modularity and thereby expedites catalyst optimization. The catalyst was optimized for the challenging and highly sought-after hydrative dearomatization of 2-substituted phenols at the 4-position.

Enantioselective dioxytosylation of styrenes using lactate-based chiral hypervalent iodine(III)

A series of optically active hypervalent iodine(III) reagents prepared from the corresponding (R)-2-(2-iodophenoxy)propanoate derivative was employed for the asymmetric dioxytosylation of styrene and its derivatives. The electrophilic addition of the hypervalent iodine(III) compound toward styrene proceeded with high enantioface selectivity to give 1-aryl-1,2-di(tosyloxy)ethane with an enantiomeric excess of 70-96% of the (S)-isomer.

Asymmetric iodine catalysis-mediated enantioselective oxidative transformations

The implementation of chiral iodine catalysis has tremendously been developed in the field of asymmetric synthesis over the past decade. It enables the stereoselective creation of C-O as well as C-C, C-N and C-X (X = halogen) bonds through oxidative transformations. Thanks to the low toxicity and ease of handling of iodine compounds, this strategy offers many advantages over classical metal-catalyzed oxidations with chiral ligands. The approaches rely on iodine(i/iii) or (-i/+i) catalysis by using a chiral aryliodine or ammonium iodide respectively in combination with a suitable terminal oxidant. As such, the design of iodine compounds with central, axial or even planar chirality has allowed us to achieve high enantioselectivities. The goal of this review is to cover the different chiral iodine compound-catalyzed oxidative transformations including α-functionalization of carbonyl compounds, dearomatization of phenol derivatives and difunctionalization of alkenes which should demonstrate that iodine catalysis has now found its place in the realm of asymmetric organocatalysis.