Effective Asymmetric Epoxidation of Styrenes by Chiral Dioxirane

Stereoselective Shi-type epoxidation with 3-oxo-4,6-O-benzylidene pyranoside catalysts: unveiling the role of carbohydrate skeletons

Asymmetric epoxidation represents a hot topic in organic synthesis. In recent years, organocatalysts based on sugar skeletons have been exploited in asymmetric epoxidation to achieve enantiomeric pure epoxides. In this work, two different endocyclic ketones derived from glucose and galactose protected with a 4,6-O-benzylidene group have been prepared and exploited for Shi-type epoxidation. The two carbohydrates show an opposite preferential stereoselective epoxidation on various olefins, affording the epoxides in high conversions and modest enantioselectivities. DFT calculations disclosed the reasons behind the inversion of selectivity achieved by the two catalysts, showing that a delicate balance between the catalyst conformation, its protecting groups, and the secondary interactions with the substrate govern the final observed results.

Synthesis and Applications of Carbohydrate-Based Organocatalysts

Organocatalysis is a very useful tool for the asymmetric synthesis of biologically or pharmacologically active compounds because it avoids the use of noxious metals, which are difficult to eliminate from the target products. Moreover, in many cases, the organocatalysed reactions can be performed in benign solvents and do not require anhydrous conditions. It is well-known that most of the above-mentioned reactions are promoted by a simple aminoacid, l-proline, or, to a lesser extent, by the more complex cinchona alkaloids. However, during the past three decades, other enantiopure natural compounds, the carbohydrates, have been employed as organocatalysts. In the present exhaustive review, the detailed preparation of all the sugar-based organocatalysts as well as their catalytic properties are described.

Chirality recognition of winding vine-shaped heterobiaryls with molecular asymmetry. Kinetic and dynamic kinetic resolution by Shi's asymmetric epoxidation

The chirality of winding vine-shaped heterobiaryls with molecular asymmetry is recognized by a sugar-based chiral oxidant. Kinetic resolution of (±)-bisbenzoimidazole bearing an olefin moiety takes place with Shi's asymmetric epoxidation to observe krel value up to ca. 35 affording the corresponding epoxide. The reaction of a (±)-bithiophene derivative also recognized the chirality to give the corresponding epoxide with er of 96:4 at 39% conversion. Dynamic kinetic resolution is found to take place when unsymmetrical biaryl composed of benzoimidazole/thiophene is subjected to Shi's epoxidation, whose conversion of the racemic substrate exceeds to 50%.

Synthesis of (R)-Modafinil via Organocatalyzed and Non-Heme Iron-Catalyzed Sulfoxidation Using H2O2 as an Environmentally Benign Oxidant

The first organocatalyzed sulfoxidation reaction towards enantioenriched (R)-modafinil (Armodafinil®), a drug against narcolepsy, is reported here. A series of chiral organocatalysts, e.g., different chiral BINOL-phosphates, or a fructose-derived N-substituted oxazolidinone ketone (Shi catalyst) were applied for the sulfoxidation reaction with environmentally friendly H2O2 as a convenient oxygen transferring agent. Furthermore, the potential of a biomimetic catalytic system consisting of FeCl3 and a dipeptide-based chiral ligand was demonstrated, which constitutes the most successful asymmetric non-heme iron-catalyzed synthesis of (R)-modafinil so far.

Enantioselective synthesis of mosquito oviposition pheromone and its epimer from a naturally occurring fatty acid

Direct epoxidation of cis-5-hexadecenoic acid towards the synthesis of Mosquito Oviposition Pheromone (MOP) and evaluation of Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) for late-stage asymmetric induction are presented.

Asymmetric organocatalytic epoxidations: reactions, scope, mechanisms, and applications

Chiral epoxides serve as versatile building blocks in the synthesis of complex organic frameworks. The high strain imposed by the three-membered ring system makes epoxides prone to a variety of nucleophilic ring-opening reactions. Since the development of the Sharpless epoxidation, there have been many important contributions and advances in this area. With the rapid development of the field of asymmetric organocatalysis, a wide range of organocatalysts is now able to catalyze the epoxidation of broad class of unsaturated carbonyl compounds. In this Minireview, recent progress in the development of organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation methods, the proposed mechanisms of these reactions and their applications as intermediates is reported.

Enantioselective epoxidation of nonconjugated cis-olefins by chiral dioxirane

A variety of nonconjugated cis-olefins has been enantioselectively epoxidized with chiral ketones 2, and up to 92% ee has been obtained. The two prochiral faces of an olefin are likely stereodifferentiated by the relative hydrophobicity of the olefin substituents and/or allylic oxygen functionality.

Asymmetric epoxidation of fluoroolefins by chiral dioxirane. Fluorine effect on enantioselectivity

The asymmetric epoxidation of various fluoroolefins has been studied using chiral ketone catalyst, and up to 93% ee was achieved with fructose-derived ketone 1.

A diacetate ketone-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of olefins

A fructose-derived diacetate ketone has been shown to be an effective catalyst for asymmetric epoxidation. High ee values have been obtained for a variety of trans and trisubstituted olefins including electron-deficient alpha,beta-unsaturated esters as well as certain cis olefins.

Chiral ketone and iminium catalysts for olefin epoxidation

Organo-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation has received much attention in the past 30 years and significant progress has been made for various types of olefins. This review will cover the advancement made in the field of chiral ketone and chiral iminium salt-catalyzed epoxidations.

Asymmetric epoxidation of 1,1-disubstituted terminal olefins by chiral dioxirane via a planar-like transition state

Various 1,1-disubstituted terminal olefins have been investigated for asymmetric epoxidation using chiral ketone catalysts. Up to 88% ee has been achieved with a lactam ketone, and a planar transition state is likely to be a major reaction pathway.

Carbohydrates as Synthetic Tools in Organic Chemistry

While amino acids, terpenes and alkaloids have found broad application as tools in stereoselective organic synthesis, carbohydrates have only lately been recognised as versatile starting materials for chiral auxiliaries, reagents, ligands and organocatalysts. The structural diversity of carbohydrates and the high density of functional groups offer a wide variety of opportunities for derivatization and tailoring of synthetic tools to a specific problem.

An N-aryl-substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketone-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidant

Asymmetric epoxidation of various olefins with an N-aryl-substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketone as catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidant has been investigated, and up to 96% ee was obtained.

Enantioselective Epoxidation of Conjugated cis-Enynes by Chiral Dioxirane

This paper describes a highly chemo- and enantioselective epoxidation of conjugated cis-enynes using readily available glucose-derived ketone 2 as catalyst and Oxone as oxidant to form cis-propargyl epoxides in high ee's. The interaction between the alkyne group of the substrate and the oxazolidinone moiety of the ketone catalyst as well as the interactions between the substituents on enynes and the oxazolidinone moiety of the ketone catalyst are important for the stereodifferentiation.

Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Aryl-γ-butyrolactones by Sequential Asymmetric Epoxidation, Ring Expansion, and Baeyer−Villiger Oxidation

This paper describes an enantioselective synthesis of gamma-butyrolactones, using the N-tolyl-substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketone as catalyst and Oxone as oxidant via a sequential asymmetric epoxidation of benzylidenecyclopropanes, ring expansion, and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. Up to 91% ee was obtained. Optically active cyclobutanones can also be obtained by suppressing the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation with use of more ketone catalyst and less Oxone.

Studies of Substituent Effect on Asymmetric Epoxidation of Chromenes by Chiral Dioxirane

A series of 6- and 8-substituted chromenes has been investigated for asymmetric epoxidation using chiral ketone catalysts. Up to 93% ee was achieved. Higher ee's are obtained when substrates are substituted at the 6-position. The enhanced enantioselectivity is likely due to the beneficial interaction between the 6-substituent of the substrate and the N-aryl or alkyl group of the ketone catalyst.