Efficient Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation for the Synthesis of a New Class of N-Aryl β-Amino Acid Derivatives

1O2 and Base Assisted Oxidative Conversion of β-Enaminoesters to α-Acyloxy-β-ketoesters under Visible Light Irradiation

Singlet oxygen (1O2) and base assisted conversion of β-enaminoesters to α-acyloxy-β-ketoesters is demonstrated under visible light irradiation. The reaction involves formation of an imine intermediate via ene-type pathway initiated by 1O2 followed by base promoted dimerization and hydrolysis steps. The method is mild, environmentally friendly, requires air as the oxidant, and gives the products in moderate to high yields.

P-Stereogenic Phosphorus Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

Chiral phosphorus ligands play a crucial role in asymmetric catalysis for the efficient synthesis of useful optically active compounds. They are largely categorized into two classes: backbone chirality ligands and P-stereogenic phosphorus ligands. Most of the reported ligands belong to the former class. Privileged ones such as BINAP and DuPhos are frequently employed in a wide range of catalytic asymmetric transformations. In contrast, the latter class of P-stereogenic phosphorus ligands has remained a small family for many years mainly because of their synthetic difficulty. The late 1990s saw the emergence of novel P-stereogenic phosphorus ligands with their superior enantioinduction ability in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. Since then, numerous P-stereogenic phosphorus ligands have been synthesized and used in catalytic asymmetric reactions. This Review summarizes P-stereogenic phosphorus ligands reported thus far, including their stereochemical and electronic properties that afford high to excellent enantioselectivities. Examples of reactions that use this class of ligands are described together with their applications in the construction of key intermediates for the synthesis of optically active natural products and therapeutic agents. The literature covered dates back to 1968 up until December 2023, centering on studies published in the late 1990s and later years.

Carbene-Catalyzed and Pnictogen Bond-Assisted Access to PIII-Stereogenic Compounds

Intermolecular pnictogen bonding (PnB) catalysis has received increased interest in non-covalent organocatalysis. It has been demonstrated that organic electron-deficient pnictogen atoms can act as prospective Lewis acids. Here, we present a catalytic approach for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral PIII compounds by combining intramolecular PnB interactions and carbene catalysis. Our design features a pre-chiral phosphorus molecule bearing two electron-withdrawing benzoyl groups, resulting in the formation of a σ-hole at the P atom. X-ray and non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis indicate that the model substrates exhibit intrinsic PnB interaction between the oxygen atom of the formyl group and the phosphorus atom. This induces a conformational locking effect, leading to the crystallization of the phosphorus substrate in a preferred conformation (P212121 chiral group). Under the catalysis of N-heterocyclic carbene, the aldehyde moiety activated by the pnictogen bond selectively reacts with an alcohol to yield the corresponding chiral monoester/phosphorus product with excellent enantioselectivity. This Lewis acidic phosphorus center, aroused by the non-polarized intramolecular pnictogen bond interaction, assists in conformational and selective regulations, providing unique opportunities for catalysis and beyond.

One-Pot anti-Michael Regio- and Stereoselective Hydroamination of Activated N-Allenamides

N-Allenamides, substituted by an ester at the γ-position, were obtained through addition of terminal ynamides with ethyl diazoacetate under copper catalysis for the first time. Regio- and stereoselective hydroamination of those activated N-allenamides provided exclusively E-configured captodative enamimes through a one-pot anti-Michael addition. Numerous ynamides as well as various secondary amines were adapted in this process.

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.

Synthesis of Chiral β-Fluoroalkyl β-Amino Acid Derivatives via Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation

An enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acrylic acid derivatives has been successfully developed, providing the corresponding chiral β-fluoroalkyl β-amino acid derivatives in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral γ-fluoroalkyl γ-amino alcohol could be synthesized by a simple reduction of the corresponding hydrogenated product. The mechanism of the reaction was explored by deuterium-labeling experiments.

Synthesis of N-aryl β-amino acid derivatives via Cu(ii)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-reduction in air

In the presence of the inexpensive and stable stoichiometric reductant polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as well as certain amounts of appropriate alcohol and base additives, the non-precious metal copper-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-hydrosilylation of β-aryl or β-alkyl-substituted N-aryl β-enamino esters was well realized to afford a diverse range of N-aryl β-amino acid esters in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (26 examples, 90-98% ee). This approach tolerated the handling of both catalyst and reactants in air without special precautions. The chiral products obtained have been successfully converted to the corresponding enantiomerically enriched β-lactam and unprotected β-amino acid ester, which highlighted the synthetic utility of the developed catalytic procedure.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected β-enamine phosphonates

We have successfully developed a strategy for the first time for the enantioselective Rh-TaniaPhos catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected β-enamine phosphonates to free β-amino phosphonates directly with good enantioselectivities (80%–86% ee) and high conversions (>99% conversion).

Ethyl acetate as an acyl donor in the continuous flow kinetic resolution of (±)-1-phenylethylamine catalyzed by lipases

The synthesis of chiral amines is still a challenge for organic synthesis since optically pure amines are of great importance for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Among all the methodologies developed until now, chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution has proven to be useful for the preparation of enantioenriched primary chiral amines. In our continuous efforts toward the development of a continuous flow process, herein we report our results on the continuous flow kinetic resolution of (±)-1-phenylethylamine leading to the desired products with high enantiomeric ratios (>200) and short residence times (40 minutes) using ethyl acetate as the acyl donor.

Ammonium formate as a green hydrogen source for clean semi-continuous enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of (+/−)-α-methylbenzylamine

The chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of (+/−)-α-methylbenzylamine under continuous flow conditions in the presence of Pd/BaSO₄as racemization catalyst and ammonium formate as reductant is described.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of 4‑substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines with the use of bifunctional thiourea-ammonium salts bearing different counterions

Organoammonium salts composed of a Brønsted acid and an anilinothiourea promoted the Michael addition of ß-keto esters and α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of primary amines to give functionalized 1,4-dihydropyridines enantioselectively. With the use of the different Brønsted acids such as DFA and HBF(4) with the same bifunctional thiourea, both enantiomers of 4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine were synthesized from the same starting materials.

Design and synthesis of a novel three-hindered quadrant bisphosphine ligand and its application in asymmetric hydrogenation

A novel three hindered quadrant bisphosphine ligand has been synthesized. The ligand shows excellent enantioselectivities and reactivities for rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenations of various functionalized olefins.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of an HIV integrase inhibitor

An efficient synthesis of HIV integrase inhibitor (S)-(-)-1 via a unique asymmetric hydrogenation of a mixture of imines/enamine 5a-5b/5c is described. Hydrogenation of the imines/enamine by a Rh(I)-Josiphos complex afforded 6 in 90% yield and 90% ee. Amide formation completed the synthesis of 1 in 58% overall yield from 2, which is readily available from 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran in a seven-step sequence. A deuterium labeling study suggests the asymmetric hydrogenation proceeds predominantly via the enamine tautomer.