BOROX catalysis: self-assembled amino-BOROX and imino-BOROX chiral Brønsted acids in a five component catalyst assembly/catalytic asymmetric aziridination

Relevant Developments in the Use of Three-Component Reactions for the Total Synthesis of Natural Products. The last 15 Years

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) offer a highly useful and valuable strategy that can fulfill an important role in synthesizing complex polysubstituted compounds, by simplifying otherwise long sequences and increasing their efficiency. The total synthesis of selected natural products employing three-component reactions as their common strategic MCR approach, is reviewed on a case-by-case basis with selected targets conquered during the last 15 years. The revision includes detailed descriptions of the selected successful sequences; relevant information on the isolation, and bioactivity of the different natural targets is also briefly provided.

"Homoleptic" Tetracoordinate Boron Compounds

"Homoleptic" tetracoordinate boron compounds, in which the central boron atom links to four identical atoms, are a special and important family of boron compounds. During the past decades, they have been extensively employed in inorganic, organic, macromolecular, and materials chemistry. Many of them exhibit a diverse range of outstanding properties, and therefore, the synthesis and application of those compounds have emerged as a hot research topic in modern boron chemistry. This review summarizes and discusses the "homoleptic" tetracoordinate boron compounds, which are organized according to the kinds of atoms coordinated to the central boron.

Borane promoted aryl transfer reaction for the synthesis of α-aryl functionalised β-hydroxy and β-keto esters

The synthesis of a series of α-aryl or α-alkyl functionalised β-hydroxy and β-keto esters has been achieved by reacting α-diazoesters with boranes, and aldehydes, ketones, anhydrides, nitriles, esters or isocyanates. In a mild reaction protocol, 26 examples are presented in yields up to 73%.

3-Arylaziridine-2-carboxylic Acid Derivatives and (3-Arylaziridin-2-yl)ketones: The Aziridination Approaches

Aziridination reactions represent a powerful tool in aziridine synthesis. Significant progress has been achieved in this field in the last decades, whereas highly functionalized aziridines including 3-arylated aziridine-2-carbonyl compounds play an important role in both medical and synthetic chemistry. For the reasons listed, in the current review we have focused on the ways to obtain 3-arylated aziridines and on the recent advances (mainly since the year 2000) in the methodology of the synthesis of these compounds via aziridination.

Chiral Hydroxytetraphenylene-Boron Complex Catalyzed Asymmetric Diels-Alder Cycloaddition of 2'-Hydroxychalcones

(S)-2,15-Cl₂-DHTP-boron complex catalyst for the asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 2'-hydroxychalcones and dienes was developed and tested. The resulting cyclohexenes with three chiral centers were obtained in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 endo/exo, >99% ee). This catalytic system features high efficiency, broad substrate scopes, and mild reaction conditions. In addition, a DFT study was performed to explain the stereochemical course of the asymmetric induction.

Catalytic Asymmetric Epoxidation of Aldehydes with Two VANOL-Derived Chiral Borate Catalysts

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective method for the epoxidation of aldehydes with α-diazoacetamides has been developed with two different borate ester catalysts of VANOL. Both catalytic systems are general for aromatic, aliphatic, and acetylenic aldehydes, giving high yields and inductions for nearly all cases. One borate ester catalyst has two molecules of VANOL and the other only one VANOL. Catalysts generated from BINOL and VAPOL are ineffective catalysts. An application is shown for access to the side-chain of taxol.

Stereoselective Multicomponent Reactions in the Synthesis or Transformations of Epoxides and Aziridines

Small ring heterocycles, such as epoxides and aziridines, are present in several natural products and are also highly versatile building blocks, frequently involved in the synthesis of numerous bioactive products and pharmaceuticals. Because of the potential for increased efficiency and selectivity, along with the advantages of environmentally benign synthetic procedures, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have been explored in the synthesis and ring opening of these heterocyclic units. In this review, the recent advances in MCRs involving the synthesis and applications of epoxides and aziridines to the preparation of other heterocycles are discussed emphasizing the stereoselectivity of the reactions.

Multicomponent Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of trans-Aziridines

A multicomponent trans-aziridination of aldehydes, amines, and diazo compounds with BOROX catalysts is developed. The optimal protocol is slightly different for aryl aldehydes than for aliphatic aldehydes. The key to the success with aryl aldehydes was allowing the catalyst, aldehyde, and amine to react for 20 min before addition of the diazo compound. A variety of 11 different electron-poor and electron-rich aryl aldehydes were screened to give trans-aziridines in 73-90% yield with 82-99% ee and trans/cis selectivities of 19:1 to >99:1. The optimal protocol for the trans-aziridination of aliphatic aldehydes did not require prereaction of the catalyst, aldehyde, and amine, and instead, the diazo compound could be added directly. The scope of the reaction is limited to unbranched aliphatic aldehydes and was tolerant of a number of functional groups including ethers, esters, epoxides, carbamates, and phthalimides. A total of 10 aliphatic aldehydes were examined and found to give trans-aziridines in 60-88% yield with 60-98% ee and trans/cis selectivities of 6:1 to >99:1. Alkenyl aldehydes did not react, but an alkynyl aldehyde gave a 71% yield and 95% ee of an aziridine that was found to be the cis- and not the trans-diastereomer. The aryl and aliphatic aldehydes both gave the trans-aziridines with the same absolute configuration with the same catalyst; however, in those cases where cis-aziridines were formed, the configuration was opposite for those formed from aryl versus aliphatic aldehydes.

Catalyst-Controlled Multicomponent Aziridination of Chiral Aldehydes

A highly diastereoselective and enantioselective method for the multicomponent aziridination of chiral aldehydes has been developed with BOROX catalysts of the VANOL (3,3'-diphenyl-2,2'-bi-1-naphthol) and VAPOL (2,2'-diphenyl-(4-biphenanthrol)) ligands. Very high to perfect catalyst control is observed with most all substrates examined including aldehydes with chiral centers in the α- and β-positions. High catalyst control was also observed for a number of chiral heterocyclic aldehydes allowing for the preparation of epoxy aziridines, bis(aziridines) and ethylene diaziridines. Application of this reaction in the synthesis of β³ -homo-d-alloisoleucine and β³ -homo-l-isoleucine is reported.

Self-Assembly of a Library of Polyborate Chiral Anions for Asymmetric Catalytic Quinoline Reduction

The 'template' polyborate BOROX catalysts are shown to mediate the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 2-quinolines. The rapid and simple generation of a large family of BOROX catalysts with significantly altered asymmetric pockets is described. A transition state model that explains the enantioselectivity is proposed.

β-amino esters from the reductive ring opening of aziridine-2-carboxylates

A general study is undertaken to examine the scope of the reductive ring opening of aziridine-2-carboxylates with samarium diiodide. The competition between C-C and C-N bond cleavage is examined as a function of the nature of the N-substituent of the aziridine, the nature of the substituent in the 3-position of the aziridine, and whether the substituent in the 3-position is in a cis or trans relationship with the carboxylate in the 2-position. The desired C-N bond cleavage leads to β-amino esters that are the predominant products for most aziridines with an N-activating group. However, C-C cleavage products are observed with an aryl group in the 3-position; this can be particularly pronounced with cis-aziridines where a nearly equal mixture of the two is observed. Exclusive formation of the C-N cleavage product is observed for all aziridines with the strongly N-activating p-toluene sulfonate group. Similarly high selectivity is observed for the 2-trimethylsilylethyl sulfonate group (SES), which is easier to remove. The utility of these methods is illustrated in the synthesis of protected forms of (R)-β(3)-DOPA and L-DOPA from the same aziridine, the former by SmI2-mediated reductive opening at C-2 and the latter by palladium-mediated reductive opening at C-3.

Diastereoselective three-component synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds using diazo compounds, boranes, and acyl imines under catalyst-free conditions

Diazo compounds, boranes, and acyl imines undergo a three-component Mannich condensation reaction under catalyst-free conditions to give the anti β-amino carbonyl compounds in high diastereoselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups, and an asymmetric variant was achieved using the (−)-phenylmenthol as chiral auxiliary in good yield and selectivity. These β-amino carbonyl compounds are valuable intermediates, which can be transformed to many potential bioactive molecules.

Three-component asymmetric catalytic Ugi reaction--concinnity from diversity by substrate-mediated catalyst assembly

The first chiral catalyst for the three-component Ugi reaction was identified as a result of a screen of a large set of different BOROX catalysts. The BOROX catalysts were assembled in situ from a chiral biaryl ligand, an amine, water, BH3·SMe2, and an alcohol or phenol. The catalyst screen included 13 different ligands, 12 amines, and 47 alcohols or phenols. The optimal catalyst system (LAP 8-5-47) provided α-amino amides from an aldehyde, a secondary amine, and an isonitrile with excellent asymmetric induction. The catalytically active species is proposed to be an ion pair that consists of the chiral boroxinate anion and an iminium cation.

The iso-VAPOL ligand: synthesis, solid-state structure and its evaluation as a BOROX catalyst

The iso-VAPOL ligand is just as effective as VAPOL in the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of aziridines at one-tenth the cost.

Vaulted biaryls in catalysis: A structure-activity relationship guided tour of the immanent domain of the VANOL ligand

The active site in the BOROX catalyst is a chiral polyborate anion (boroxinate) that is assembled in situ from three equivalents of B(OPh)3 and one of the VANOL ligand by a molecule of substrate. The substrates are bound to the boroxinate by H bonds to oxygen atoms O1-O3. The effects of introducing substituents at each position of the naphthalene core of the VANOL ligand are systematically investigated in an aziridination reaction. Substituents in the 4,4'- and 8,8'-positions have a negative effect on catalyst performance, whereas, substituents in the 7- and 7'-positions have the biggest impact in a positive direction.

Isotope effects and mechanism of the asymmetric BOROX Brønsted acid catalyzed aziridination reaction

The mechanism of the chiral VANOL-BOROX Brønsted acid catalyzed aziridination reaction of imines and ethyldiazoacetate has been studied using a combination of experimental kinetic isotope effects and theoretical calculations. A stepwise mechanism where reversible formation of a diazonium ion intermediate precedes rate-limiting ring closure to form the cis-aziridine is implicated. A revised model for the origin of enantio- and diastereoselectivity is proposed based on relative energies of the ring-closing transition structures.