Enantioselective Synthesis of Isoflavanones by Catalytic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

RuPHOX-Ru Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Hydrogenation of 3-Substituted Chromones for the Synthesis of Corresponding Chiral Chromanols

An efficient RuPHOX-Ru catalyzed asymmetric cascade hydrogenation of 3-substituted chromones has been achieved under mild reaction conditions, affording the corresponding chiral 3-substituted chromanols in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99 % yield, >99 % ee and >20 : 1 dr). Control reactions and deuterium labelling experiments revealed that a dynamic kinetic resolution process occurs during the subsequent hydrogenation of the C=O double bond, which is responsible for the high performance of the asymmetric cascade hydrogenation. The resulting products allow for several transformations and it was shown that the protocol provides a practical and alternative strategy for the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted chromanols and their derivatives.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Five- and Six-Membered Benzo O-heterocycles

Enantiomerically enriched five- and six-membered benzo oxygen heterocycles are privileged architectures in functional organic molecules. Over the last several years, many effective methods have been established to access these compounds. However, comprehensive documents cover updated methodologies still in highly demand. In this review, recent transition metal catalyzed transformations lead to chiral five- and six-membered benzo oxygen heterocycles are presented. The mechanism and chirality transfer or control processes are also discussed in details.

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of β-Substituted α-Diketones via Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Developing innovative dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) modes and achieving the highly regio- and enantioselective semihydrogenation of unsymmetrical α-diketones are two formidable challenges in the field of contemporary asymmetric (transfer) hydrogenation. In this work, we report the highly regio- and stereoselective asymmetric semi-transfer hydrogenation of unsymmetrical α-diketones through a unique DKR mode, which features the reduction of the carbonyl group distal from the labile stereocenter, while the proximal carbonyl remains untouched. Moreover, the protocol affords a variety of enantioenriched acyclic ketones with α-hydroxy-α'-C(sp²)-functional groups, which represent a new product class that has not been furnished in known arts. The utilities of the products have been demonstrated in a series of further transformations including the rapid synthesis of drug molecules. Density functional theory calculations and plenty of control experiments have also been conducted to gain more mechanistic insights into the highly selective semihydrogenation.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Flavonoids: A Brief Overview

Stereoselective synthesis has been emerging as a resourceful tool because it enables the obtaining of compounds with biological interest and high enantiomeric purity. Flavonoids are natural products with several biological activities. Owing to their biological potential and aiming to achieve enantiomerically pure forms, several methodologies of stereoselective synthesis have been implemented. Those approaches encompass stereoselective chalcone epoxidation, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Mitsunobu reaction, and the cycloaddition of 1,4-benzoquinone. Chiral auxiliaries, organo-, organometallic, and biocatalysis, as well as the chiral pool approach were also employed with the goal of obtaining chiral bioactive flavonoids with a high enantiomeric ratio. Additionally, the employment of the Diels-Alder reaction based on the stereodivergent reaction on a racemic mixture strategy or using catalyst complexes to synthesise pure enantiomers of flavonoids was reported. Furthermore, biomimetic pathways displayed another approach as illustrated by the asymmetric coupling of 2-hydroxychalcones driven by visible light. Recently, an asymmetric transfer hydrogen-dynamic kinetic resolution was also applied to synthesise (R,R)-cis-alcohols which, in turn, would be used as building blocks for the stereoselective synthesis of flavonoids.

Rh-Catalyzed Sequential Asymmetric Hydrogenations of 3-Amino-4-Chromones Via an Unusual Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Process

Rh-catalyzed sequential asymmetric hydrogenations of 3-amino-4-chromones have been achieved for the first time via an unprecedented dynamic kinetic resolution under neutral conditions, providing (S,R)-3-amino-4-chromanols in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99.9% ee and 20:1 dr). The mechanistic studies based on control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the dynamic kinetic resolution process for the intermediate enantiomers generated in the first hydrogenation step proceeded via a stereomutation (or called chiral assimilation) pathway from an undesired enantiomer to the desired enantiomer rather than via traditional racemization of the undesired enantiomer. The protocol can be performed on a gram scale with a relatively low catalyst loading and offers a practical and convenient pathway for synthesizing a series of bioactive chromanols and their derivatives.

Synthetic and Computational Study of the Enantioselective [3+2]-Cycloaddition of Chromones with MBH Carbonates

Highly efficient and straightforward access to enantioenriched five-membered ring-fused chromanones is developed via [3+2]-cycloaddition of 3-cyanochromones with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates. Densely functionalized chiral cyclopenta[b]chromanones with three continuous quaternary and tertiary stereogenic carbon centers were obtained in high yields with high ee and dr (≤97% yield, 97% ee, and >20:1 dr). Moreover, density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the mechanism and regio- and diastereoselectivity of the reaction.

Asymmetric hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation in the enantioselective synthesis of flavonoids

In this review, we explore the applications of Asymmetric Hydrogenation (AH) and Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation (ATH) in the total synthesis of natural flavonoids and their analogues, highlighting the limitations and opportunities in the field.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 3-Fluorochromanone Derivatives to Access Enantioenriched cis-3-Fluorochroman-4-ols through Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Enantioenriched cis-3-fluoro-chroman-4-ol derivatives were conveniently prepared by the ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a new family of 3-fluoro-chromanones through a dynamic kinetic resolution process. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions using a low catalyst loading and HCO₂H/Et₃N (1:1) as the hydrogen source, affording the reduced fluorinated alcohols in good yields (80-96%), high diastereomeric ratios (up to 99:1 dr), and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

Recent Progress and Applications of Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Imines through Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Based on the ever-increasing demand for enantiomerically pure compounds, the development of efficient, atom-economical, and sustainable methods to produce chiral alcohols and amines is a major concern. Homogeneous asymmetric catalysis with transition-metal complexes including asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) and transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones and imines through dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) allowing the construction of up to three stereogenic centers is the main focus of the present short review, emphasizing the development of new catalytic systems combined to new classes of substrates and their applications as well.

1 Introduction

2 Asymmetric Hydrogenation via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

2.1 α-Substituted Ketones

2.2 α-Substituted β-Keto Esters and Amides

2.3 α-Substituted Esters

2.4 Imine Derivatives

3 Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

3.1 α-Substituted Ketones

3.2 α-Substituted β-Keto Esters, Amides, and Sulfonamides

3.3 α,β-Disubstituted Cyclic Ketones

3.4 β-Substituted Ketones

3.5 Imine Derivatives

4. Conclusion

Asymmetric one-pot transformation of isoflavones to pterocarpans and its application in phytoalexin synthesis

Phytoalexins have attracted much attention due to their health-promoting effects and their vital role in plant health during the last years. Especially the 6a-hydroxypterocarpans glyceollin I and glyceollin II, which may be isolated from stressed soy plants, possess a broad spectrum of bioactivities such as anticancer activity and beneficial contributions against western diseases by anti-oxidative and anti-cholesterolemic effects. Aiming for a catalytic asymmetric access to these natural products, we establish the asymmetric syntheses of the natural isoflavonoids (−)-variabilin, (−)-homopterocarpin, (−)-medicarpin, (−)-3,9-dihydroxypterocarpan, and (−)-vestitol by means of an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reaction. We successfully adapt this pathway to the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-glyceollin I and (−)-glyceollin II. This eight-step synthesis features an efficient one-pot transformation of a 2′-hydroxyl-substituted isoflavone to a virtually enantiopure pterocarpan by means of an ATH and a regioselective benzylic oxidation under aerobic conditions to afford the susceptible 6a-hydroxypterocarpan skeleton.

Concise total syntheses of 6a-hydroxypterocarpans are sought after due to their broad spectrum of bioactivities. Here, the authors report the asymmetric syntheses of several natural isoflavonoids, including (−)-glyceollin I and (−)-glyceollin II, by means of an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reaction.

Total Synthesis of Naturally Occurring 5,7,8-Trioxygenated Homoisoflavonoids

Homoisoflavonoids are in the subclass of the larger family of flavonoids but have one more alkyl carbon than flavonoids. Among them, 5,7,8-trioxygenated homoisoflavonoids have not been extensively studied for synthesis and biological evaluation. Our current objective is to synthesize 2 5,7,8-trioxygenated chroman-4-ones and 12 5,7,8-trioxygenated homoisoflavonoids that have been isolated from the plants Bellevalia eigii, Drimiopsis maculata, Ledebouria graminifolia, Eucomis autumnalis, Eucomis punctata, Eucomis pallidiflora, Chionodoxa luciliae, Muscari comosum, and Dracaena cochinchinensis. For this purpose, 1,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene and 4'-benzyloxy-2',3'-dimethoxy-6'-hydroxyacetophenone were used as starting materials. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation using Noyori's Ru catalyst provided 5,7,8-trioxygenated-3-benzylchroman-4-ones with R-configuration in high yield and enantiomeric excess. By selective deprotection of homoisoflavonoids using BCl3, the total synthesis of natural products including 10 first syntheses and three asymmetric syntheses has been completed, and three isomers of the reported dracaeconolide B could be provided. Our research on 5,7,8-trioxygenated homoisoflavonoids would be useful for the synthesis of related natural products and pharmacological applications.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Homoisoflavanones by Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation and Their Biological Evaluation for Antiangiogenic Activity

Neovascular eye diseases are a major cause of blindness. Excessive angiogenesis is a feature of several conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity. Development of novel antiangiogenic small molecules for the treatment of neovascular eye disease is essential to provide new therapeutic leads for these diseases. We have previously reported the therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic homoisoflavanone derivatives with efficacy in retinal and choroidal neovascularization models, although these are racemic compounds due to the C3-stereogenic center in the molecules. This work presents asymmetric synthesis and structural determination of anti-angiogenic homoisoflavanones and pharmacological characterization of the stereoisomers. We describe an enantioselective synthesis of homoisoflavanones by virtue of ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation accompanying dynamic kinetic resolution, providing a basis for the further development of these compounds into novel experimental therapeutics for neovascular eye diseases.

Kinetic Resolution and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Chromene by Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroarylation

A highly efficient kinetic resolution and dynamic kinetic resolution of chromene is reported for the first time and they procced by a rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroarylation pathway. This new approach offers versatile access to various chiral 2,3-diaryl-chromanes containing vicinal stereogenic centers, as well as the recovered chiral flavenes, in high yields with excellent ee values (s factor up to 532). Particularly noteworthy is that this strategy can be further extended to the establishment of a dynamic version of the kinetic resolution of chromene acetals and allows complete access to chiral isoflavanes and α-aryl hydrocoumarins.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Natural Isoflavans: Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation/Deoxygenation of Isoflavanones with Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

A concise and highly enantioselective synthesis of structurally diverse isoflavans from a single chromone is described. The key transformation is a single-step conversion of racemic isoflavanones into virtually enantiopure isoflavans by domino asymmetric transfer hydrogenation/deoxygenation with dynamic kinetic resolution.