Various aspects of the reaction of a chiral catalyst or reagent with a racemic or enantiopure substrate

Parallel kinetic resolution of aziridines via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening

We report a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening reaction of racemic aziridines in a regiodivergent parallel kinetic resolution manner. Harnessing the acyloxy-assisted strategy, the highly stereocontrolled nucleophilic ring-opening of aziridines with water is achieved. Different kinds of aziridines are applicable in the process, giving a variety of enantioenriched aromatic or aliphatic amino alcohols with up to 99% yields and up to >99.5 : 0.5 enantiomeric ratio. Preliminary mechanistic study as well as product elaborations were inducted as well.

Double asymmetric synthesis: faster reactions are more selective and a model to estimate relative rate

The catalysed reaction of an enantiopure substrate with formation of a new chirality element may result in higher diastereoselectivity with one enantiomer of a catalyst (matched pair) than with the other (mismatched pair). The hypothesis that the matched reaction is faster was investigated using literature examples of kinetic resolution procedures that result in the formation of a new stereogenic centre. With one exception from fifteen examples, the selectivity factor (s = kfast/kslow) = kmatched/kmismatched. A model to estimate the relative rate of a fast-matched reaction vs. the corresponding slow-mismatched reaction is proposed. This model also provides insight into the basis of the selectivity displayed in the kinetic resolution procedures studied.

Stereodivergent routes in organic synthesis: carbohydrates, amino acids, alkaloids and terpenes

The natural occurrence of enantiomers and diastereomers is often encountered.

Merging Regiodivergent Catalysis with Atom-Economical Radical Arylation

A titanocene‐catalyzed regiodivergent radical arylation is described that allows access to either enantiomerically pure tetrahydroquinolines or indolines from a common starting material. The regioselectivity of epoxide opening that results in the high selectivity of heterocycle formation is controlled by two factors, the absolute configuration of the enantiopure ligands of the (C₅H₄R)₂TiX₂ catalyst and the inorganic ligand X (X=Cl, OTs). The overall reaction is atom‐economical and constitutes a radical Friedel–Crafts alkylation.

Stereodivergent Access to Enantioenriched Epoxy Alcohols with Three Stereogenic Centers via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation

The resolution technique of stereodivergent reaction on racemic mixtures (stereodivergent RRM) was employed for the first time in ruthenium complex catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of racemic epoxy ketones, providing a new and very simple method that allows access to enantioenriched epoxy alcohols with three stereogenic centers in a one-step fashion. The protocol features simple reaction conditions, practical operation, ability to scale up, and broad group tolerance.

Kinetic resolution of 2,2-disubstituted-1,3-diketones via carbene catalysis

Organocatalytic kinetic resolution of 1,3-diketones with central quaternary stereocenters was achieved for the first time. The resolution proceeds via two basic modes, and the inherent principles between the different combinations of ketone groups and the resolution patterns were also disclosed.

Divergent Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of a Racemic Mixture of Four Stereoisomers via N-Heterocyclic Carbene Organocatalysis

Racemic mixtures of four stereoisomers are easily formed via many fundamental organic transformations, but the direct utilities of these mixtures have been less studied and remain large challenges to date. In this work, we introduce a new method, i.e., divergent dynamic kinetic resolution, to achieve the separation of racemic mixtures of four stereoisomers. The hypothesis was proved by using a N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed benzoin reaction, which afforded two separable diastereomeric products bearing three consecutive stereocenters with good to excellent enantioselectivties. We believe that this resolution protocol will find applications in more transformations.

Synthesis of Enantioenriched Bromohydrins via Divergent Reactions of Racemic Intermediates from Anchimeric Oxygen Borrowing

We report a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed bromocyclization/regiodivergent reaction of racemic intermediates sequence, which is enabled by anchimeric oxygen borrowing. Different types of alkenes are applicable, and both enantiomers of the bromohydrin products were obtained in generally excellent yields and enantioselectivities. In addition, an example of enantioconvergent synthesis from the two isomeric products is presented.

Stereodivergent Catalysis

This review covers diastereo- and enantiodivergent catalyzed reactions in acyclic and cyclic systems using metal complexes or organocatalysts. Among them, nucleophilic addition to carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen double bonds, α-functionalization of carbonyl compounds, allylic substitutions, and ring opening of oxiranes and aziridines are considered. The diastereodivergent synthesis of alkenes from alkynes is also included. Finally, stereodivergent intramolecular and intermolecular cycloadditions and other cyclizations are also reported.

Bioinspired enantioselective synthesis of crinine-type alkaloids via iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enones

A bioinspired enantioselective synthesis of crinine-type alkaloids was developed by iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enones, providing 24 crinine-type alkaloids and 8 analogues with high yield and high enantioselectivity.

A bioinspired enantioselective synthesis of crinine-type alkaloids has been developed by iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic cycloenones. The method features a biomimetic stereodivergent resolution of the substrates bearing a remote arylated quaternary stereocenter. Using this protocol, 24 crinine-type alkaloids and 8 analogues were synthesized in a concise and rapid way with high yield and high enantioselectivity.

Isomerization of Olefins Triggered by Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation: Control of Endocyclic β-Hydrogen Elimination

Five-membered metallacycles are typically reluctant to undergo endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination. The rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of 4-pentenals into 3-pentenals occurs through this elementary step and cleavage of two C-H bonds, as supported by deuterium-labeling studies. The reaction proceeds without decarbonylation, leads to trans olefins exclusively, and tolerates other olefins normally prone to isomerization. Endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination can also be controlled in an enantiodivergent reaction on a racemic mixture.

Enantioselective cross-coupling of meso-epoxides with aryl halides

The first enantioselective cross-electrophile coupling of aryl bromides with meso-epoxides to form trans-β-arylcycloalkanols is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by a combination of (bpy)NiCl2 and a chiral titanocene under reducing conditions. Yields range from 57 to 99% with 78-95% enantiomeric excess. The 30 examples include a variety of functional groups (ether, ester, ketone, nitrile, ketal, trifluoromethyl, sulfonamide, sulfonate ester), both aryl and vinyl halides, and five- to seven-membered rings. The intermediacy of a carbon radical is strongly suggested by the conversion of cyclooctene monoxide to an aryl [3.3.0]bicyclooctanol.

Synthetic and computational evaluation of regiodivergent epoxide opening for diol and polyol synthesis

In a combined synthetic and computational study, the factors governing the selectivity of the titanocene(III)-catalyzed regiodivergent epoxide opening (REO) with Kagan's complex via electron transfer leading to derivatives of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-diols were investigated. In this manner, valuable building blocks for the synthesis of 1,3- and 1,4-diols were identified. The computational study provides crucial structural features and energies of the transition states of ring opening that are important for the design of more selective catalysts.

Transition metal-free asymmetric and diastereoselective allylic alkylation using Grignard reagents: construction of vicinal stereogenic centers via kinetic resolution

The first transition metal-free catalyzed diastereoselective and enantioselective asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) has been disclosed leading to the construction of vicinal tertiary/quaternary centers via a kinetic resolution protocol starting from readily available starting materials.

Enantioselective synthesis of (E)-δ-silyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols via an enantiodivergent hydroboration-crotylboration reaction of a racemic allenylsilane

The enantioselective hydroboration of racemic allenylsilane (±)-4 with ((d)Ipc)2BH proceeds via enantiodivergent pathways to give vinylborane 11 and crotylborane intermediate (S)-E-5. Subsequent crotylboration of aldehyde substrates with (S)-E-5 at -78 °C provides (E)-δ-silyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols in 71-89% yield and with 93-96% ee.

Total syntheses of cyanthiwigins B, F, and G

A concise and versatile approach toward the preparation of the cyanthiwigin family of cyathane natural products is described. By leveraging a unique double asymmetric catalytic alkylation procedure it is possible to quickly establish two of the most critical stereocenters of the cyanthiwigin framework with high levels of selectivity and expediency. The synthetic route additionally employs both a tandem ring-closing cross-metathesis reaction, and an aldehyde-olefin radical cyclization process, in order to rapidly arrive at the tricyclic cyathane core of the cyanthiwigin molecules. From this unifying intermediate, the preparations of cyanthiwigins B, F, and G are attained swiftly and without the need for protecting groups.

Regiodivergent reactions through catalytic enantioselective silylation of chiral diols. Synthesis of sapinofuranone A

Through the use of an amino acid based imidazole catalyst, a regiodivergent silylation of chiral diols in cases where there is not a significant steric and electronic difference between the regioisotopic hydroxyl groups has been developed. This transformation allows for the conversion of racemic diols into regioisomeric, enantiomerically enriched, monosilylated products. The utility of this process is highlighted in the efficient enantioselective preparation of a useful synthetic intermediate and the natural product, sapinofuranone A.

Catalytic parallel kinetic resolution under homogeneous conditions

Two complementary chiral catalysts, the phosphine 8d and the DMAP-derived ent-23b, are used simultaneously to selectively activate a mixture of two different achiral anhydrides as acyl donors under homogeneous conditions. The resulting activated intermediates 25 and 26 react with the racemic benzylic alcohol 5 to form enantioenriched esters (R)-24 and (S)-17 by fully catalytic parallel kinetic resolution (PKR). The aroyl ester (R)-24 is obtained with near-ideal enantioselectivity for the PKR process, but (S)-17 is contaminated by ca. 8% of the minor enantiomer (R)-17 resulting from a second pathway via formation of mixed anhydride 27 and its activation by 8d.