A novel chiral zirconium catalyst for enantioselective aldol and Mannich-type reactions. Catalytic activation of both aldehydes and imines using a similar chiral Lewis acid

Mechanistic studies on the formal aza-Diels-Alder reactions of N-aryl imines: evidence for the non-concertedness under Lewis-acid catalysed conditions

The reaction of a para-methoxyaniline, ethyl glyoxalate-derived imine with a series of dienes has resulted in products, which initially suggest the operation of different modes of aza-Diels-Alder reaction. However, a more likely explanation is that a common reaction mechanism is operating, involving a step-wise Lewis-acid catalysed process, which only appears to behave similarly to alternative concerted cycloaddition reactions.

The direct organocatalytic asymmetric mannich reaction: unmodified aldehydes as nucleophiles

The unprecedented application of unmodified aldehydes as nucleophilic donors in direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions is disclosed in a full account. Our efforts in broadening the applicability of chiral pyrrolidine-based catalysts in direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions led to the highly diastereo- and enantioselective and concise synthesis of functionalized alpha- and beta-amino acids, beta-lactams, and amino alcohols.

Lewis Acid Catalysis in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. Use of Poly(ethylene glycol) Derivatives and Perfluoroalkylbenzenes as Surfactant Molecules Which Enable Efficient Catalysis in ScCO2

Lewis acid catalysis in supercritical carbon dioxide (CO(2)) was investigated. While solubility of most organic materials is low in scCO(2), poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives or perfluoroalkylbenzenes were found to work as surfactants to dissolve organic materials in scCO(2). In the presence of these molecules, Lewis acid catalyzed organic reactions such as aldol-, Mannich-, and Friedel-Crafts-type reactions proceeded smoothly in scCO(2). Formation of emulsions was observed in these reactions, and the systems were studied in detail.

Catalytic, asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of N-acylimino esters: reactivity, diastereo- and enantioselectivity, and application to synthesis of N-acylated amino acid derivatives

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Cu(OTf)(2)-chiral diamine 3e complex, N-acylimino esters reacted with silyl enol ethers to afford the corresponding Mannich-type adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivities. A wide variety of silyl enol ethers derived from ketones, as well as esters and thioesters, reacted smoothly. In the reactions of alpha-substituted silyl enol ethers (alpha-methyl or benzyloxy), the desired syn-adducts were obtained in high yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Several intermediates for the synthesis of biologically important compounds were prepared using this novel catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction, and at the same time, absolute and relative stereochemical assignments were made. In addition, it has been revealed that alkyl vinyl ethers reacted with N-acylimino esters in the presence of a catalytic amount of the Cu(II) catalyst to give the corresponding Mannich-type adducts in high yields with high enantioselectivities. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions with alkyl vinyl ethers. The reaction mechanism, structure of chiral catalyst-electrophile complexes, and transition states of these catalytic asymmetric reactions were assumed based on X-ray crystallographic analysis of the Cu(II)-chiral amine complex, PM3 calculations, and FT-IR analyses, etc. Finally, (1R,3R)-N-(3-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropyl)dodecanamide (HPA-12, 1), a new inhibitor of ceramide trafficking from endoplasmic reticulum to the site of sphingomyerin (SM) synthesis, has been synthesized efficiently using the present Mannich-type reaction as a key step. The synthesis involved three steps (two-pot), and total yield was 82.9%.

Diastereoselective imino-aldol condensation of chiral 3-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)-2-furaldimine and ester enolates

(Ss)-3-(p-Tolylsufinyl)-2-furaldimine was synthesized, and condensation of the chiral furaldimine with lithium ester enolates has been examined. The product distribution of the reaction is dependent upon reaction conditions and on the kind of the substituent placed on the esters. Disubstituted ester enolate resulted in the exclusive formation of (4R)-beta-lactam, while unsubstituted, tert-butyl ester enolate preferentially gave (3R)-beta-amino ester. With the monosubstituted ester enolates, the condensation afforded (4R)-beta-lactams and/or (3R)-beta-amino esters as major products. This method has been applied to an efficient route to chiral furyl beta-lactams.

Catalytic, asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of N-acylimino esters for direct formation of N-acylated amino acid derivatives. Efficient synthesis of a novel inhibitor of ceramide trafficking, HPA-12

[reaction: see text] Catalytic, enantioselective Mannich-type reactions of N-acylimino esters for direct formation of N-acylated amino acid derivatives are described. A chiral copper catalyst prepared from Cu(OTf)(2) and a chiral diamine ligand is used. A novel inhibitor of ceramide trafficking, HPA-12, is efficiently synthesized using this reaction.

Zirconium alkoxides in catalysis

This paper presents recent advances in the reactions catalyzed by zirconium alkoxide. Catalytic asymmetric reactions with chiral zirconium catalysts and redox reactions are first discussed. The diverse characteristics of zirconium alkoxides as Lewis acids, Brönsted bases, and nucleophiles, are key for promoting these unique reactions. Our recent development of novel reactions, one-pot synthesis of trans-1.2-diol derivatives and trans-beta-cyanohydrins from olefins, is also described. These reactions cannot be produced using other metals.