Synthesis and Application of Phosphinoferrocenylaminophosphine Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis

Design and Synthesis of Pyrrolidinyl Ferrocene-Containing Ligands and Their Application in Highly Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Olefin Hydrogenation

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a series of chiral pyrrolidine-substituted ferrocene-derived ligands. The proficiency of this novel structural motif was demonstrated in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid esters and α-aryl enamides. The products were obtained with full conversions and excellent levels of enantioselectivities of up to >99.9% ee and 97.7% ee, respectively, using a BINOL-substituted phosphine-phosphoaramidite ligand which possesses planar, central, and axial chirality elements.

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.

Electrochemical Oxidative N-H/P-H Cross-Coupling with H2 Evolution towards the Synthesis of Tertiary Phosphines

Tertiary phosphines(iii) find widespread use in many aspects of synthetic organic chemistry. Herein, we developed a facile and novel electrochemical oxidative N–H/P–H cross-coupling method, leading to a series of expected tertiary phosphines(iii) under mild conditions with excellent yields. It is worth noting that this electrochemical protocol features very good reaction selectivity, where only a 1 : 1 ratio of amine and phosphine was required in the reaction. Moreover, this electrochemical protocol proved to be practical and scalable. Mechanistic insights suggested that the P radical was involved in this reaction.

A facile and novel electrochemical oxidative N–H/P–H cross-coupling method for obtaining tertiary phosphines(iii) was developed.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of β-Substituted α-Oxobutyrolactones

A concise and effective ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of β-substituted α-oxobutyrolactones has been developed, delivering a series of cis-β-substituted α-hydroxybutyrolactone derivatives with excellent yields, enantioselectivities, and diastereoselectivities. Two consecutive stereogenic centers were constructed in one step through dynamic kinetic resolution under basic conditions. The reaction could be conducted on a gram scale without loss of activity and enantioselectivity. The reductive products could be easily transformed into useful building blocks.

Discovery and Optimization of Highly Potent and Selective AT2R Antagonists to Relieve Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

The angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) has attracted much attention as a potential target for the relief of neuropathic pain, which represents an area of unmet clinical need. A series of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with a benzoxazole side-chain were discovered as potent AT2R antagonists. Rational optimization resulted in compound 15, which demonstrated both excellent antagonistic activity against AT2R in vitro and analgesic efficacy in a rat chronic constriction injury model. Its favorable physicochemical properties and oral bioavailability make it a promising therapeutic candidate for neuropathic pain.

Simultaneous Construction of Planar and Central Chiralities as Well as Unprecedented Axial Chirality on and around a Ferrocene Backbone

Simultaneous generation of planar, central and axial chiralities on and around a ferrocene backbone via a d-phenylglycinol-induced intramolecular iminium cyclization was disclosed, which is rare and differs from known methods. A series of chiral spiro[cyclopentadienyl-1,2,3,3a-tetrahydropentalenyliron(II)-1,2'-pyrrolidine] derivatives were prepared acording to the new method, and their structures were characterized unambiguously. The axial chirality caused by the ferrocene backbone and the rigid spiral structure was verified by NOESY and variable-temperature NMR experiments and single-crystal XRD analyses. Mechanism for the stereoselective iminium cyclization reaction was suggested, which was influenced by steric hindrance and hydrogen bonding.

Engineering of a keto acid reductase through reconstructing the substrate binding pocket to improve its activity

Enzyme–substrate docking-guided point mutation of the substrate-binding pocket to generate mutant L244G/A250G/L245R with superior activity in the synthesis of (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid.

A modular family of phosphine-phosphoramidite ligands and their hydroformylation catalysts: steric tuning impacts upon the coordination geometry of trigonal bipyramidal complexes of type [Rh(H)(CO)2(P^P*)]

Branched aldehyde selectivity above 50% in hydroformylation of propene and 1-octene.

Chiral surfactant-type catalyst: enantioselective reduction of long-chain aliphatic ketoesters in water

A series of amphiphilic ligands were designed and synthesized. The rhodium complexes with the ligands were applied to the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of broad range of long-chained aliphatic ketoesters in neat water. Quantitative conversion and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) was observed for α-, β-, γ-, δ- and ε-ketoesters as well as for α- and β-acyloxyketone using chiral surfactant-type catalyst 2. The CH/π interaction and the strong hydrophobic interaction of long aliphatic chains between the catalyst and the substrate in the metallomicelle core played a key role in the catalytic transition state. Synergistic effects between the metal-catalyzed site and the hydrophobic microenvironment of the core in the micelle contributed to high stereoselectivity.

Rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation as a valuable synthetic tool for the preparation of chiral drugs

During the last few decades, rhodium-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of diverse alkene classes has emerged as a powerful synthetic tool in the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to the manufacturing of chiral drugs, recent drug candidates for clinical trials, and major synthetic precursors of drugs. Numerous efficient chiral rhodium complexes, most of which are derived from enantiopure phosphorus ligands, have been employed for the preparation of chiral drugs and intermediates thereof. This review article is intended to provide an updated overview of the most striking contributions in this field, organised according to substrate class: acrylate derivatives, itaconate derivatives, α-substituted enamides, α-arylenol acetates, and minimally functionalised olefins.

Homogeneous versus supported ONN pincer-type gold and palladium complexes: catalytic activity

The ONN-tridentate unsymmetrical pincer-type (S)-1-((6-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methyl)-N-methyl-N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)pro-pyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide ligand has been synthesized by an easy method, in high purity and good yield. Its respective palladium(II) and gold(III) complexes have been prepared as air-stable solids. After deprotonation of the -OH group the coordination of the metal ion is completely stereospecific and gives rise to only one diastereoisomer. The complexes, immobilized onto ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41), are shown to be very active catalysts in the hydrogenation of prochiral olefins (98% ee was achieved with the heterogenized chiral Au(MCM-41) complex), hydrosilylation, and Suzuki and Heck C-C coupling reactions, under mild conditions. The reactions were studied with the soluble catalysts as well as their heterogenized counterparts. The high accessibility introduced by the structure of the supports allows the preparation of highly efficient immobilized catalysts. The repeated use of the immobilized catalyst in four cycles demonstrates "homogeneous" catalysis with "heterogeneous" catalysts, thus reducing solvent waste and loss of precious metal and/or ligand.

Microwave-assisted esterification of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine using modified Mukaiyama's reagents: A new approach involving ionic liquids

Inspired by the concept of ionic liquids (ILs), this study modified the original Mukaiyama's reagent, 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide (m.p. 200-dec), from ionic solid into liquids by changing its anion. The esterification of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine was investigated as a model reaction. The microwave irradiation was more effective in esterifying N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine than the conventional reflux method. The original Mukaiyama's reagent was modified into ILs through manipulating its anion. However, only non-nucleophilic anions (such as EtSO(4) (-) and Tf(2)N(-)) were favorable since nucleophilic ones (such as CF(3)COO(-) and CH(3)COO(-)) could exchange with chlorine resulting in non-reactive coupling reagents. Two modified Mukaiyama's compounds (i.e. hydrophilic [2-ClMePy][EtSO(4)] and hydrophobic [2-ClMePy][Tf(2)N]) have been identified as the best ILtype coupling reagents. The esterification reaction was greatly enhanced by using 1- methylimidazole as the base instead of conventional toxic tertiary amines, and by using excess amount of alcohols as solvents instead of dichloromethane. Overall, the method reported is effective and 'greener'.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2-Alkyl-3-phosphonopropanoic Acids via P−C Bond Formation and Hydrogenation

Allylic acetates, formed by the acetylation of Baylis Hillman adducts, undergo addition of phosphorus nucleophiles to give stereoselectively the Z-unsaturated esters. TFA cleavage of the tert-butyl ester and asymmetric hydrogenation of the unsaturated acid yields the phosphono alkyl propanoic acid moiety, commonly found in phosphonate- and phosphinate-based enzyme inhibitors.