Chiral 2-(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines: new P–N ligands for asymmetric catalysis

Reaction Outcome Critically Dependent on the Method of Workup: An Example from the Synthesis of 1-Isoquinolones

A striking dependence on the method of workup has been found for annulation of benzonitriles ArC≡N to N-methyl 2-toluamide (1), facilitated by n-BuLi (2 equiv): quenching the reaction by a slow addition of water produced the expected 1-isoquinolones 2; by contrast, slow pouring of the reaction mixture into water afforded the cyclic aminals 5 (retaining the NMe group of the original toluamide). The mechanism of the two processes is discussed in terms of the actual H⁺ concentration in the workup. Both 2 and 5 were then converted into the corresponding 1-chloroisoquinolines 3, coupling of which, mediated by (Ph₃P)₂NiCl₂/Zn, afforded bis-isoquinolines 4.

Enantioselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation catalyzed by palladium(II) complexes with chiral P,N-ligands

Asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger reaction of symmetrical cyclobutanones 1a-j with urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP) can be catalyzed by a complex of Pd(II) and the new terpene-derived P, N-ligand 7. The resulting lactones 2a-j were obtained in high yields and with good enantioselectivity (< or =81% ee).

Ligand bite governs enantioselectivity: electronic and steric control in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations by modular fenchyl phosphinites (FENOPs)

Modular fenchyl phosphinites (FENOPs) containing different aryl units-phenyl (1), 2-anisyl (2), or 2-pyridyl (3)-are efficiently accessible from (-)-fenchone. For comparison of the influence of the different aryl units on enantioselectivities and reactivities, these FENOPs were employed in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations. The strongly chelating character of P,N-bidentate 3 is apparent from X-ray structures with PdCl2 ([Pd3Cl2]), and with allyl-Pd units in ([Pd3(eta1-allyl)] and [Pd3(eta3-allyl)]). FENOP3 gives rise to a PdL* catalyst of moderate enantioselectivity (42 % ee, R product). Surprisingly, higher enantioselectivities are found for the hemilabile, monodentate FENOPs 1 (83 % ee, S enantiomer) and 2 (69 % ee, S enantiomer). Only small amounts of 1 or 2 generate selective PdL* catalysts, while complete abolition of enantioselectivity appears with unselective PdL*2 species with higher FENOP concentrations in the cases of 1 or 2. Computational transition structure analyses reveal steric and electronic origins of enantioselectivities. The nucleophile is electronically guided trans to phosphorus. endo-Allyl arrangements are favored over exo-allyl orientations for 1 and 2 due to Pd-pi-pyridyl interactions with short "side-on" Pd-aryl interactions. More remote "edge-on" Pd-pi-aryl interactions in 3 with Pd-N(lp) coordination favor endo-allyl units slightly more and explain the switch of enantioselectivity from 1 (S) and 2 (S) to 3 (R).

Synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis of camphor-based pyridine ligands

This tutorial review deals with the synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis of camphor-based pyridine ligands. These ligands can be roughly divided into two groups: those in which the camphor is annulated in the 2,3-positions to the beta-face of the pyridine ring and those in which the pyridine is contained as a pendant on the C2 or C3 of the camphor framework. Camphor-based pyridine ligands can also contain other donor centers located on the pyridine ring or camphor skeleton. Some of these ligands have provided interesting enantioselectivities in several asymmetric reactions, such as S(N)2' reactions, allylic oxidations, carbonyl additions with organozinc reagents and hydrogenations. This review contains a lot of chemistry on ligand synthesis and readers will find it of value and also perhaps an inspiration for the development of more active and improved versions.