CuH-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Hydrocarboxylation of Allenes: Toward Carboxylic Acids with Acyclic Quaternary Centers

Chiral bisphosphine Ph-BPE ligand: a rising star in asymmetric synthesis

Chiral 1,2-bis(2,5-diphenylphospholano)ethane (Ph-BPE) is a class of optimal organic bisphosphine ligands with C2-symmetry. Ph-BPE with its excellent catalytic performance in asymmetric synthesis has attracted much attention of chemists with increasing popularity and is growing into one of the most commonly used organophosphorus ligands, especially in asymmetric catalysis. Over two hundred examples have been reported since 2012. This review presents how Ph-BPE is utilized in asymmetric synthesis and how powerful it is as a chiral ligand or even a catalyst in a wide range of reactions including applications in the total synthesis of bioactive molecules.

Visible-light-promoted regioselective hydrocarboxylation of allenes with formate salt and CO2

Visible-light-promoted hydrocarboxylation of allenes with formate salt and CO2 was developed for the first time using commercially available [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]PF6 as a photocatalyst. This strategy provides an efficient and practical method to access β,γ-unsaturated linear carboxylic acids in moderate yields with complete regioselectivity.

Stereoselective Copper-Catalyzed Olefination of Imines

Alkenes are an important class of organic molecules found among synthetic intermediates and bioactive compounds. They are commonly synthesized through stoichiometric Wittig-type olefination of carbonyls and imines, using ylides or their equivalents. Despite the importance of Wittig-type olefination reactions, their catalytic variants remain underdeveloped. We explored the use of transition metal catalysis to form ylide equivalents from readily available starting materials. Our investigation led to a new copper-catalyzed olefination of imines with alkenyl boronate esters as coupling partners. We identified a heterobimetallic complex, obtained by hydrocupration of the alkenyl boronate esters, as the key catalytic intermediate that serves as an ylide equivalent. The high E-selectivity observed in the reaction is due to the stereoselective addition of this intermediate to an imine, followed by stereospecific anti-elimination.

Synthetic Advantages of Defluorinative C-F Bond Functionalization

Much progress has been made in the development of methods to both create compounds that contain C-F bonds and to functionalize C-F bonds. As such, C-F bonds are becoming common and versatile synthetic functional handles. This review summarizes the advantages of defluorinative functionalization reactions for small molecule synthesis. The coverage is organized by the type of carbon framework the fluorine is attached to for mono- and polyfluorinated motifs. The main challenges, opportunities and advances of defluorinative functionalization are discussed for each class of organofluorine. Most of the text focuses on case studies that illustrate how defluorofunctionalization can improve routes to synthetic targets or how the properties of C-F bonds enable unique mechanisms and reactions. The broader goal is to showcase the opportunities for incorporating and exploiting C-F bonds in the design of synthetic routes, improvement of specific reactions and advent of new methods.

Copper-Catalyzed Benzylic Functionalization of Lignin-Derived Monomers

Within the field of lignin biorefining, significant research effort has been dedicated to the advancement of catalytic methods for lignocellulose depolymerization. However, another key challenge in lignin valorization is the conversion of the obtained monomers into higher value-added products. To address this challenge, new catalytic methods that can fully embrace the inherent complexity of their target substrates are needed. Here, we describe copper-catalyzed reactions for benzylic functionalization of lignin-derived phenolics via intermediate formation of hexafluoroisopropoxy-masked para-quinone methides (p-QMs). By controlling the rates of copper catalyst turnover and p-QM release, we have developed copper-catalyzed allylation and alkynylation reactions of lignin-derived monomers to install various unsaturated fragments amenable to further synthetic applications.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Transformation of Carbamoyl Fluorides, Fluoroformates, and Their Analogues

Carbamoyl fluorides, fluoroformates, and their analogues are a class of important compounds and have been evidenced as versatile building blocks for the preparation of useful molecules in organic chemistry. While major achievements were made in the synthesis of carbamoyl fluorides, fluoroformates, and their analogues in the last half of 20th century, an increasing number of reports have focused on using O/S/Se=CF2 species or their equivalents as the fluorocarbonylation reagents for the direct construction of these compounds from the parent heteroatom-nucleophiles in recent years. This review mainly summarizes the advances in the synthesis and typical application of carbamoyl fluorides, fluoroformates, and their analogues by the halide exchanges and fluorocarbonylation reactions since 1980.

A Catalytic Method for the Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Quaternary Ketones, α-Ketoesters and Aldehydes

A practical method for the efficient and enantioselective preparation of versatile ketones and aldehydes that contain an α-quaternary stereocenter is described. Reactions utilize simple carboxylic acid or ester starting materials, a monodentate chiral phosphine, and afford a variety of aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and alkyl-substituted ketone and aldehyde products in 25-94 % yield and 90 : 10 to >99 : 1 enantiomeric ratio. Reactions proceed by acyl substitution with in situ formed chiral allylic nucleophiles, and display selectivity and conversion dependence on a protic additive. The utility of the approach is demonstrated through several product transformations.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Allenes to Access Axially Chiral (Cyclohexylidene)ethyl Silanes

A novel strategy of copper-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective hydrosilylation of 4-substituted vinylidenecyclohexanes with silanes was developed. In this protocol, various allenes and silanes were used to afford the corresponding (cyclohexylidene)ethyl silanes in moderate to high yields with good enantioselectivities.

Progress on transition metal catalyzed asymmetric hydroesterification, hydrocarboxylation, and hydroamidation reactions of olefins

Hydrocarboxylation, hydroesterification, and hydroamidation of olefins are fundamental transformations in organic synthesis. Asymmetric processes for these transformations provide an effective and straightforward approach to optically active carboxylic acids and their derivatives, which are highly useful compounds in pharmaceuticals, materials, fine chemicals, etc. This review provides a brief summary of the development of asymmetric hydroesterification, hydrocarboxylation, and hydroamidation with CO and its surrogates.

Copper-Catalyzed Regiodivergent and Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Allenes

A copper-catalyzed regiodivergent hydrosilylation of a wide range of simple allenes is reported. Linear and branched allylsilanes were formed by judicious choice of solvents. Furthermore, branched allylsilanes were obtained with high enantioselectivity (up to 97% enantiomeric excess) with the aid of a C2-symmetric bisphosphine ligand in the unprecedented asymmetric allene hydrosilylation.

Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Enantioselective Functionalization of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters occur frequently in natural products, bioactive molecules, and pharmaceutical compounds. Construction of a carbon stereogenic center attached to four different carbons with defined spatial arrangement is a daunting challenge in asymmetric catalysis. Significant efforts have been directed towards the stereoselective construction of such acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters. In particular, catalytic generation of acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters through functionalization of unsaturated hydrocarbons is an extremely attractive approach because unsaturated hydrocarbons are easily accessible both in industry and in organic synthesis. In this short review, we summarize the recent advances achieved in this research area, with the aim to inspire future development.

1 Introduction

2 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Allenes

3 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Dienes

4 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Mono-alkenes

5 Acyclic Quaternary Carbon Stereocenters through Functionalization of Alkynes

6 Summary and Outlook

Pd-Catalyzed Regioselective Branched Hydrocarboxylation of Terminal Olefins with Formic Acid

A regioselective Pd-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of terminal olefins with HCOOH is described. A wide variety of branched carboxylic acids can readily be obtained with high regioselectivities under mild reaction conditions. The reaction is operationally simple and requires no handling of toxic CO. The ligand and LiCl are important factors for reaction reactivity and selectivity.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Carboxylic Acids from Alkynes and Formic Acid by Nickel-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions: Facile Synthesis of Profens

We report a stereoselective conversion of terminal alkynes to α-chiral carboxylic acids using a nickel-catalyzed domino hydrocarboxylation-transfer hydrogenation reaction. A simple nickel/BenzP* catalyst displayed high activity in both steps of regioselective hydrocarboxylation of alkynes and subsequent asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. The reaction was successfully applied in enantioselective preparation of three nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory profens (>90 % ees) and the chiral fragment of AZD2716.

Structural and mechanistic insights into enantioselectivity toward near-symmetric esters of a novel carboxylesterase RoCE

A novel carboxylesterase RoCE was identified with relatively high enantioselectivity toward “hard-to-be-discriminated” oxyheterocyclic esters. Molecular basis of enantioselectivity was elucidated and applied in increasing enantioselectivity of RoCE.

Enantioselective Ni/N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Redox-Economical Coupling of Aldehydes, Alkynes, and Enones for Rapid Construction of Acyclic All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

Acyclic quaternary carbon stereocenters exist widely in natural products and bioactive molecules, but their enantioselective construction remains a prominent challenge. In particular, multicomponent enantioselective couplings of simple precursors to acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenters are very rare. We describe herein an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Ni catalyzed redox-economical three-component reaction of aldehydes, alkynes, and enones that proceeds in a highly chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective manner. A wide variety of valuable acyclic α-quaternary chiral ketones were synthesized in a single step with 100% atom economy. This reaction proceeds through the formation of a transient cyclic enolate followed by an aldol reaction/ring-opening sequence. The strategy is expected to inspire new and efficient approaches to generate other acyclic quaternary stereocenters.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-stereogenic carboxylic acids: recent advances

Chiral carboxylic acids bearing an α-stereogenic center constitute the backbone of many natural products and therapeutic reagents as well as privileged chiral ligands and catalysts. Hence, it is not surprising that a large number of elegant catalytic asymmetric strategies have been developed toward the efficient synthesis of α-chiral carboxylic acids, such as α-hydroxy acids and α-amino acids. In this review, the recent advances in asymmetric synthesis of α-stereogenic free carboxylic acids via organocatalysis and transition metal catalysis are summarized (mainly from 2010 to 2020). The content is organized by the reaction type of the carboxyl source involved, including asymmetric functionalization of substituted carboxylic acids, cyclic anhydrides, α-keto acids, substituted α,β-unsaturated acids and so on. We hope that this review will motivate further interest in catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral α-substituted carboxylic acids.

Efficient asymmetric syntheses of α-quaternary lactones and esters through chiral bifunctional sulfide-catalyzed desymmetrizing bromolactonization of α,α-diallyl carboxylic acids

Asymmetric halolactonizations are powerful methods for the syntheses of chiral lactones. Catalytic and highly enantioselective halolactonizations of α-allyl carboxylic acids, however, continue to present a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the chiral bifunctional sulfide-catalyzed desymmetrizing bromolactonizations of α,α-diallyl carboxylic acids. These reactions efficiently produced chiral α-quaternary lactones and esters.

Selective Electrosynthetic Hydrocarboxylation of α,β-Unsaturated Esters with Carbon Dioxide*

The carboxylation of low-value commodity chemicals to provide higher-value carboxylic acids is of significant interest. Recently alternative routes to the traditional hydroformylation processes that used potentially toxic carbon monoxide and a transition metal catalyst have appeared. A significant challenge has been the selectivity observed for olefin carboxylation. Photochemical methods have shown a viable route towards the hydrocarboxylation of α,β-unsaturated alkenes but rely on the use of an excess reducing or amine reagent. Herein we report our investigations of an electrochemical approach that is able to hydrocarboxylate α,β-unsaturated alkenes with excellent regioselectivity and the ability to carboxylate hindered substrates to afford α-quaternary center carboxylic acids. The reported process requires no chromatography and the products are purified by simple crystallization from the reaction mixture after work-up.

Direct Access to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones via Rh/MgCl2-Mediated Acylation of Vinylsilanes

We report herein the facile and practical construction of α,β-unsaturated ketones via rhodium-catalyzed direct acylation of vinylsilanes with readily available and abundant carboxylic acids. This protocol features access to a diverse array of synthetically useful functionalities with moderate to excellent yields. More importantly, the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals was also realized with synthetically useful yield.

Allenes and Dienes as Chiral Allylmetal Pronucleophiles in Catalytic Enantioselective C=X Addition: Historical Perspective and State-of-The-Art Survey

The use of allenes and 1,3-dienes as chiral allylmetal pronucleophiles in intermolecular catalytic enantioselective reductive additions to aldehydes, ketones, imines, carbon dioxide and other C=X electrophiles is exhaustively catalogued together with redox-neutral hydrogen auto-transfer processes. Coverage is limited to processes that result in both C-H and C-C bond formation. The use of alkynes as latent allylmetal pronucleophiles and multicomponent C=X allylations involving allenes and dienes is not covered. As illustrated in this review, the ability of allenes and 1,3-dienes to serve as tractable non-metallic pronucleophiles has evoked many useful transformations that have no counterpart in traditional allylmetal chemistry.