Synthesis of Chiral Fluorinated Hydrazines via Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Novel trifluoromethyl ketone derivatives as oral cPLA2/COX-2 dual inhibitors for resolution of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Thirty-five trifluoromethyl hydrazones and seventeen trifluoromethyl oxime esters were designed and synthesized via molecular hybridization. All the target compounds were initially screened for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by assessing their inhibitory effect on NO release in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and the optimal compound was finally identified as 2-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-N'-((6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-1,1,1-trifluorohenicosa-6,9,12,15-tetraen-2-ylidene)acetohydrazide (F26, IC50 = 4.55 ± 0.92 μM) with no cytotoxicity. Moreover, F26 potently reduced the production of PGE2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells compared to indomethacin. The interaction of F26 with COX-2 and cPLA2 was directly verified by the CETSA technique. F26 was found to modulate the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65, as well as the protein expression of IκB, cPLA2, COX-2, and iNOS in LPS-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, F26 was observed to prevent the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in LPS-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages by immunofluorescence localization. Therefore, the aforementioned in vitro experiments demonstrated that F26 blocked the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways by binding to COX-2 and cPLA2. In the adjuvant-induced arthritis model, F26 demonstrated a significant effect in preventing arthritis symptoms and inflammatory status in rats, exerting an immunomodulatory role by regulating the homeostasis between Th17 and Treg through inhibition of the p38 MAPK/cPLA2/COX-2/PGE2 and NF-κB pathways. Encouragingly, F26 caused less acute ulcerogenicity in rats at a dose of 50 mg/kg compared to indomethacin. Overall, F26 is a promising candidate worthy of further investigation for treating inflammation and associated pain with lesser gastrointestinal irritation, as well as other symptoms in which cPLA2 and COX-2 are implicated in the pathophysiology.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Cyclic Hydrazines by Ni-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

An efficient Ni-(S,S)-Ph-BPE complex that catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic N-acyl hydrazones has been developed to produce various chiral cyclic hydrazines in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities of up to >99% enantiomeric excess. Moreover, the hydrogenation can not only proceed smoothly on a gram scale under lower catalyst loading (S/C = 3000) without any decrease of enantioselectivity but can also be applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a RIP-1 kinase inhibitor.

Iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric reductive amination utilizing primary alkyl amines as the N-sources

Direct asymmetric reductive amination is one of the most efficient methods for the construction of chiral amines, in which the scope of the applicable amine coupling partners remains a significant challenge. In this study we describe primary alkyl amines effectively serve as the N-sources in direct asymmetric reductive amination catalyzed by the iridium precursor and sterically tunable chiral phosphoramidite ligands. The density functional theory studies of the reaction mechanism imply the alkyl amine substrates serve as a ligand of iridium strengthened by a (N)H-O(P) hydrogen-bonding attraction, and the hydride addition occurs via an outer-sphere transition state, in which the Cl-H H-bonding plays an important role. Through this concise procedure, cinacalcet, tecalcet, fendiline and many other related chiral amines have been synthesized in one single step with high yields and excellent enantioselectivity.

Direct asymmetric reductive amination is one of the most efficient methods for obtaining chiral amines. Here the authors show how primary alkyl amines can undergo this transformation in the presence of an iridium catalyst with sterically tuneable chiral phosphoramidite ligands, achieving the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds.

Recent Advances in the Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Amines via Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Chiral amines are key structural motifs present in a wide variety of natural products, drugs, and other biologically active compounds. During the past decade, significant advances have been made with respect to the enantioselective synthesis of chiral amines, many of them based on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation (AH). The present review covers the use of AH in the synthesis of chiral amines bearing a stereogenic center either in the α, β, or γ position with respect to the nitrogen atom, reported from 2010 to 2020. Therefore, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the AH of imines, enamides, enamines, allyl amines, and N-heteroaromatic compounds.

An Iridium Catalytic System Compatible with Inorganic and Organic Nitrogen Sources for Dual Asymmetric Reductive Amination Reactions

Asymmetric reductive amination (ARA) is one of the most promising methods for the synthesis of chiral amines. Herein we report our efforts on merging two ARA reactions into a single-step transformation. Catalyzed by a complex formed from iridium and a steric hindered phosphoramidite, readily available and inexpensive aromatic ketones initially undergo the first ARA with ammonium acetate to afford primary amines, which serve as the amine sources for the second ARA, and finally provide the enantiopure C₂ -symmetric secondary amine products. The developed process competently enables the successive coupling of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources with ketones in the same reaction system. The Brønsted acid additive plays multiple roles in this procedure: it accelerates the formation of imine intermediates, minimizes the inhibitory effect of N-containing species on the iridium catalyst, and reduces the primary amine side products.

Evaluation of 3,3′-Triazolyl Biisoquinoline N,N′-Dioxide Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Hydrazones with Trichlorosilane

A new class of axial-chiral biisoquinoline N,N′-dioxides was evaluated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrosilylation of acyl hydrazones with trichlorosilane. While these catalysts provided poor to moderate reactivity and enantioselectivity, this study represents the first example of the organocatalytic asymmetric reduction of acyl hydrazones. In addition, the structures and energies of two possible diastereomeric catalyst–trichlorosilane complexes (2a–HSiCl₃) were analyzed using density functional theory calculations.

Hydrogenation of fluorinated molecules: an overview

The review aims at providing an overview on the developments made in hydrogenation reactions of molecules having various fluorinated groups (F, CF3, CF2H, CF2Rf). Indeed, the hydrogenation of fluorine-containing molecules is a straightforward and atom-economical way to access challenging (chiral) fluorinated scaffolds. This promising field is still in its infancy and milestones are expected in the coming years. To illustrate that, the review will highlight the major contributions made in that field and will be organized by fluorinated groups.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Cyclic Alkenyl Sulfones, Benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-Dioxides, with Mechanistic Studies

A highly efficient catalytic system based on the cheap transition metal nickel for the asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging cyclic alkenyl sulfones, 3-substituted benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxides, was first successfully developed. A series of hydrogenation products, chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxides, were obtained in high yields (95-99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (90-99% ee). According to the results of nonlinear effect studies, deuterium-labeling experiments, and DFT calculation investigations, a reasonable catalytic mechanism for this nickel-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation was provided, which displayed that the two added hydrogen atoms of the hydrogenation products could be from H₂ through the insertion of Ni-H and subsequent hydrogenolysis.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Hydrazones

Prochiral hydrazones undergo efficient and highly selective hydrogenation in the presence of a chiral diphosphine ruthenium catalyst, yielding enantioenriched hydrazine products (up to 99% ee). The mild reaction conditions and broad functional group tolerance of this method allow access to versatile chiral hydrazine building blocks containing aryl bromide, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and ester substituents. This method was also demonstrated on >150 g scale, providing a valuable hydrazine intermediate en route to an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of C=N Bonds Enabled by Assisted Coordination and Nonbonding Interactions

An efficient cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of C=N bonds has been realized. Chiral hydrazines were obtained in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (95-98 % ee). The hydrogenation went smoothly at up to 2000 substrate/catalyst and on a gram scale. The success of this reaction relies on the presence of an NHBz group in the substrates, with the reactivity and enantioselectivity improved by an assisted coordination to the cobalt atom and a nonbonding interaction with the ligand. Furthermore, this reaction has practical applications for the synthesis of several useful chiral nitrogen-containing compounds.

Synthesis of Chiral β-Fluoroalkyl β-Amino Acid Derivatives via Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation

An enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acrylic acid derivatives has been successfully developed, providing the corresponding chiral β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acid derivatives in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral γ-fluoroalkyl γ-amino alcohol could be synthesized by a simple reduction of the corresponding hydrogenated product. The mechanism of the reaction was explored by deuterium-labeling experiments.

Enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated dihydroquinoxalinones via palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation

A highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 3-(trifluoromethyl)quinoxalinones has been successfully developed, providing a general and facile access to chiral 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydroquinoxalinones with up to 99% ee.

N-Arylations of trifluoromethylated N-acylhydrazones with diaryliodonium salts as arylation reagents

A novel and efficient N-arylation of trifluoromethylated N-acylhydrazones is described by using diaryliodonium salts as arylation reagents in the presence of copper salts. A wide variety of N-aryl acylhydrazones are obtained with good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Reductive Amination of Aliphatic Ketones Utilizing Diphenylmethanamine as Coupling Partner

The highly efficient direct catalytic reductive amination of ketones with diphenylmethanamine catalyzed by iridium-phosphoramidite complexes is described. As an effective coupling partner, diphenylmethanamine is suitable for a wide range of ketones to provide chiral amines in high yields and enantioselectivity. The chiral monodentate phosphoramidite ligands are tunable and competent to accommodate substrates with different structures.

Iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric reductive amination of aromatic ketones

Diphenylmethanamine offers excellent stereocontrol and easy deprotection to provide primary amines in the studied asymmetric reductive amination.