Palladacyclic imidazoline-naphthalene complexes: synthesis and catalytic performance in Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective reactions of allylic trichloroacetimidates

Tuning StackPhim Ligands: Applications in Enantioselective Borylation and Alkynylation

Here we present a new stack ligand with a modified imidazoline backbone prepared from cyclohexanediamine. This new stack ligand­, Cy-StackPhim, has been found to complement the parent StackPhim ligand in an enantioselective borylation reaction. Additionally, a correlation between the nature of substituents on the imidazoline ring and the substituents on the electrophile is also discussed.

Recent Advances in Enantioselective Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: From Design to Applications

This Review compiles the evolution, mechanistic understanding, and more recent advances in enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and decarboxylative and oxidative allylic substitutions. For each reaction, the catalytic data, as well as examples of their application to the synthesis of more complex molecules, are collected. Sections in which we discuss key mechanistic aspects for high selectivity and a comparison with other metals (with advantages and disadvantages) are also included. For Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution, the catalytic data are grouped according to the type of nucleophile employed. Because of the prominent position of the use of stabilized carbon nucleophiles and heteronucleophiles, many chiral ligands have been developed. To better compare the results, they are presented grouped by ligand types. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative reactions are mainly promoted by PHOX or Trost ligands, which justifies organizing this section in chronological order. For asymmetric oxidative allylic substitution the results are grouped according to the type of nucleophile used.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reactions Using COP Catalysts

Allylic amides, amines, and esters are key synthetic building blocks. Their enantioselective syntheses under mild conditions is a continuing pursuit of organic synthesis methods development. One opportunity for the synthesis of these building blocks is by functionalization of prochiral double bonds using palladium(II) catalysis. In these reactions, nucleopalladation mediated by a chiral palladium(II) catalyst generates a new heteroatom-substituted chiral center. However, reactions where nucleopalladation occurs with antarafacial stereoselectivity are difficult to render enantioselective because of the challenge of transferring chiral ligand information across the square-planar palladium complex to the incoming nucleophile. In this Account, we describe the development and use of enantiopure palladium(II) catalysts of the COP (chiral cobalt oxazoline palladacyclic) family for the synthesis of enantioenriched products from starting materials derived from prochiral allylic alcohols. We begin with initial studies aimed at rendering catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements of allylic imidates enantioselective, which ultimately led to the identification of the significant utility of the COP family of Pd(II) catalysts. The first use of an enantioselective COP catalyst was reported by Richards' and our laboratories in 2003 for the enantioselective rearrangement of allylic N-arylimidates. Shortly thereafter, we discovered that the chloride-bridged COP dimer, [COP-Cl]₂, was an excellent enantioselective catalyst for the rearrangement of (E)-allylic trichloroacetimidates to enantioenriched allylic trichloroacetamides, this conversion being the most widely used of the allylic imidate rearrangements. We then turn to discuss S_N2' reactions catalyzed by the acetate-bridged COP dimer, [COP-OAc]₂, which proceed by a unique mechanism to provide branched allylic esters and allylic phenyl ethers in high enantioselectivity. Furthermore, because of the unique nucleopalladation/deoxypalladation mechanism of these S_N2' reactions, they provide exclusively the branched allylic product. Importantly, both enantiomers of the [COP-Cl]₂ and [COP-OAc]₂ catalysts are commercially available. We also briefly consider several other enantioselective reactions catalyzed by COP complexes. The mechanism of enantioselective COP-catalyzed allylic rearrangements and allylic substitutions is discussed in some detail. In both reactions, nucleopalladation is found to be the enantiodetermining step. The cyclobutadienyl "floor" of the COP catalyst is critical for transmitting chiral information across the palladium square plane in these reactions. This structural feature enables high enantioselection to be realized in spite of the nearly 180° angle between the catalyst, electrophile and nucleophile in the enantiodetermining step. Our discussion concludes by considering several uses of the COP family of catalysts by other researchers for the enantioselective synthesis of biologically active chiral molecules. We anticipate that additional uses for COP catalysts will emerge in the future. In addition, the structural features of these catalysts that we have identified as important for achieving high enantioselection should be useful in the future development of improved enantioselective Pd(II) catalysts.

Enantioselective synthesis and application to the allylic imidate rearrangement of amine-coordinated palladacycle catalysts of cobalt sandwich complexes

The reaction of (η(5)-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadien-yl)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with sodium tetrachloropalladate and (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine gave planar chiral palladacycle di-μ-chloridebis[(η(5)-(Sp)-2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadienyl,1-C,3'-N)(η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt]dipalladium [(Sp )-Me2 -CAP-Cl] in 92% ee and 64% yield. Enantiopurity (>98% ee) was achieved by purification of the monomeric (R)-proline adducts and conversion back to the chloride dimer. Treatment with AgOAc gave (Sp)-Me2-CAP-OAc which was applied to asymmetric transcyclopalladation (up to 78% ee). The (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine mediated palladation methodology was applicable also to the corresponding N,N-diethyl (82% ee, 39% yield) and pyrrolidinyl (>98% ee, 43% yield) cobalt sandwich complexes. A combination of 5 mol % of the latter [(Sp)-Pyrr-CAP-Cl] and AgNO3 (3.8 equiv) is a catalyst for the allylic imidate rearrangement of an (E)-N-aryltrifluoroacetimidate (up to 83% ee), and this catalyst system is also applicable to the rearrangement of a range of (E)-trichloroacetimidates (up to 99% ee). This asymmetric efficiency combined with the simplicity of catalyst synthesis provides accessible solutions to the generation of non-racemic allylic amine derivatives.

Palladium-catalyzed multicomponent synthesis of 2-imidazolines from imines and acid chlorides

We describe the palladium-catalyzed multicomponent synthesis of 2-imidazolines. This reaction proceeds via the coupling of imines, acid chlorides and carbon monoxide to form imidazolinium carboxylates, followed by a decarboxylation. Decarboxylation in CHCl₃ is found to result in a mixture of imidazolinium and imidazolium salts. However, the addition of benzoic acid suppresses aromatization, and generates the trans-disubstituted imidazolines in good yield. Combining this reaction with subsequent nitrogen deprotection provides an overall synthesis of imidazolines from multiple available building blocks.