Ru(II) Complexes of N-Alkylated TsDPEN Ligands in Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Imines

Effect of Ligand Substituents on Spectroscopic and Catalytic Properties of Water-Compatible Cp*Ir-(pyridinylmethyl)sulfonamide-Based Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts

Transition-metal-based hydrogenation catalysts have applications ranging from high-value chemical synthesis to medicinal chemistry. A series of (pyridinylmethyl)sulfonamide ligands substituted with electron-withdrawing and -donating groups were synthesized to study the influence of the electronic contribution of the bidentate ligand in Cp*Ir piano-stool complexes. A variable-temperature NMR investigation revealed a strong correlation between the electron-donating ability of the substituent and the rate of stereoinversion of the complexes. This correlation was partially reflected in the catalytic activity of the corresponding catalysts. Complexes with electron-withdrawing substituents followed the trend observed in the variable-temperature NMR study, thereby confirming the rate-determining step to be donation of the hydride ligand. Strongly electron-donating groups, on the other hand, caused a change in the rate-determining step in the formation of the iridium-hydride species. These results demonstrate that the activity of these catalysts can be tuned systematically via changes in the electronic contribution of the bidentate (pyridinylmethyl)sulfonamide ligands.

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Shielding the active site: a streptavidin superoxide-dismutase chimera as a host protein for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

By anchoring a metal cofactor within a host protein, so-called artificial metalloenzymes can be generated. Such hybrid catalysts combine the versatility of transition metals in catalyzing new-to-nature reactions with the power of genetic-engineering to evolve proteins. With the aim of gaining better control over second coordination-sphere interactions between a streptavidin host-protein (Sav) and a biotinylated cofactor, we engineered a hydrophobic dimerization domain, borrowed from superoxide dismutase C (SOD), on Sav's biotin-binding vestibule. The influence of the SOD dimerization domain (DD) on the performance of an asymmetric transfer hydrogenase (ATHase) resulting from anchoring a biotinylated Cp*Ir-cofactor - [Cp*Ir(biot-p-L)Cl] (1-Cl) - within Sav-SOD is reported herein. We show that, depending on the nature of the residue at position Sav S112, the introduction of the SOD DD on the biotin-binding vestibule leads to an inversion of configuration of the reduction product, as well as a fivefold increase in catalytic efficiency. The findings are rationalized by QM/MM calculations, combined with X-ray crystallography.

Chiral 8-Amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline Derivatives in Metal Catalysts for the Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 1-Aryl Substituted-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines as Alkaloids Precursors

Chiral diamines based on an 8-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline backbone, known as CAMPY (L1), or the 2-methyl substituted analogue Me-CAMPY (L2) were employed as novel ligands in Cp* metal complexes for the ATH of a series of substituted dihydroisoquinolines (DHIQs), known for being key intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active alkaloids. Different metal-based complexes were evaluated in this kind of reaction, rhodium catalysts, C3 and C4, proving most effective both in terms of reactivity and enantioselectivity. Although modest enantiomeric excess values were obtained (up to 69% ee in the case of substrate I), a satisfactory quantitative conversion was successfully fulfilled even in the case of the most demanding hindered substrates when La(OTf)₃ was used as beneficial additive, opening up the possibility for a rational design of novel chiral catalysts alternatives to the Noyori-Ikariya (arene)Ru(II)/TsDPEN catalyst.

Syntheses and Applications of Symmetrical Dinuclear Half-Sandwich Ruthenium(II)–Dipicolinamide Complexes as Catalysts in the Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

The treatment of [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 with N,N’-(1,2-phenylene)dipicolinamide (H2L1) afforded the double salt complex [{Ru(η6-p-cymene)2-µ-Cl}L1][Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl3], (Ru1) in moderate yields. Separately, the reactions of ligands (H2L1), N,N’-(4,5 dimethyl-1,2-phenylene)dipicolinamide (H2L2), and N,N’-(4-methoxy-1,2-phenylene)dipicolinamide (H2L3) with the [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 in the presence of KPF6 afforded the respective dinuclear half-sandwich Ru(II) complexes [{(Ru(η6-p-cymene)2--µ-Cl}L1][PF6] (Ru2), [{(Ru(η6-p-cymene)2-µ-Cl}L2][PF6] (Ru3), and [{(Ru(η6-p-cymene)2-µ-Cl}L3][PF6] (Ru4). NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, ESI-MS spectrometry, and elemental analyses were used to establish the molecular structures of the new dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes. Single crystal X-ray crystallography was used to confirm the piano-stool geometry of the dinuclear complexes Ru1 and Ru4, as containing N^N chelated ligand and bridging chlorido ligands in each Ru(II) atom. The complexes (Ru1-Ru4) showed good catalytic activities at low catalyst concentrations of 0.005 mol% in the transfer hydrogenation of a wide range of ketone substrates.

Heterocycle-containing Noyori-Ikariya catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

The synthesis of a range of N-(heterocyclesulfonyl)-functionalised Noyori-Ikariya catalysts is described. The complexes were prepared through a short sequence from C2-symmetric 1,2-diphenylethylene-1,2-diamine (DPEN) and were characterised by a range of methods including X-ray crystallography. The complexes were active catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of a range of acetophenone derivatives, giving products of high ee in most cases, with notably good results for ortho-substituted acetophenones.

One-pot enantioselective construction of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazines over Ru/Au relay catalysis and its mechanistic serendipity

One-pot enantioselective construction of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazines have been developed through the transfer hydrogenation/cyclization enantio-relay process using Ru and Au bimetallic catalysts.

Does the Configuration at the Metal Matter in Noyori-Ikariya Type Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts?

Noyori–Ikariya type [(arene)RuCl(TsDPEN)] (TsDPEN, sulfonated diphenyl ethylenediamine) complexes are widely used C=O and C=N reduction catalysts that produce chiral alcohols and amines via a key ruthenium–hydride intermediate that determines the stereochemistry of the product. Whereas many details about the interactions of the pro-chiral substrate with the hydride complex and the nature of the hydrogen transfer from the latter to the former have been investigated over the past 25 years, the role of the stereochemical configuration at the stereogenic ruthenium center in the catalysis has not been elucidated so far. Using operando FlowNMR spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, we show the existence of two diastereomeric hydride complexes under reaction conditions, assign their absolute configurations in solution, and monitor their interconversion during transfer hydrogenation catalysis. Configurational analysis and multifunctional density functional theory (DFT) calculations show the λ-(R,R)S^Ru configured [(mesitylene)RuH(TsDPEN)] complex to be both thermodynamically and kinetically favored over its λ-(R,R)R^Ru isomer with the opposite configuration at the metal. Computational analysis of both diastereomeric catalytic manifolds show the major λ-(R,R)S^Ru configured [(mesitylene)RuH(TsDPEN)] complex to dominate asymmetric ketone reduction catalysis with the minor λ-(R,R)R^Ru [(mesitylene)RuH(TsDPEN)] stereoisomer being both less active and less enantioselective. These findings also hold true for a tethered catalyst derivative with a propyl linker between the arene and TsDPEN ligands and thus show enantioselective transfer hydrogenation catalysis with Noyori–Ikariya complexes to proceed via a lock-and-key mechanism.

Tracking Reactions of Asymmetric Organo-Osmium Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts in Cancer Cells

Most metallodrugs are prodrugs that can undergo ligand exchange and redox reactions in biological media. Here we have investigated the cellular stability of the anticancer complex [OsII [(η6 -p-cymene)(RR/SS-MePh-DPEN)] [1] (MePh-DPEN=tosyl-diphenylethylenediamine) which catalyses the enantioselective reduction of pyruvate to lactate in cells. The introduction of a bromide tag at an unreactive site on a phenyl substituent of Ph-DPEN allowed us to probe the fate of this ligand and Os in human cancer cells by a combination of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental mapping and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The BrPh-DPEN ligand is readily displaced by reaction with endogenous thiols and translocated to the nucleus, whereas the Os fragment is exported from the cells. These data explain why the efficiency of catalysis is low, and suggests that it could be optimised by developing thiol resistant analogues. Moreover, this work also provides a new way for the delivery of ligands which are inactive when administered on their own.

Transfer hydrogenation catalysis in cells

Hydrogenation reactions in biology are usually carried out by enzymes with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) or flavin mononucleotide (FAMH2)/flavinadenine dinucleotide (FADH2) as cofactors and hydride sources. Industrial scale chemical transfer hydrogenation uses small molecules such as formic acid or alcohols (e.g. propanol) as hydride sources and transition metal complexes as catalysts. We focus here on organometallic half-sandwich RuII and OsII η6-arene complexes and RhIII and IrIII η5-Cp x complexes which catalyse hydrogenation of biomolecules such as pyruvate and quinones in aqueous media, and generate biologically important species such as H2 and H2O2. Organometallic catalysts can achieve enantioselectivity, and moreover can be active in living cells, which is surprising on account of the variety of poisons present. Such catalysts can induce reductive stress using formate as hydride source or oxidative stress by accepting hydride from NAD(P)H. In some cases, photocatalytic redox reactions can be induced by light absorption at metal or flavin centres. These artificial transformations can interfere in biochemical pathways in unusual ways, and are the basis for the design of metallodrugs with novel mechanisms of action.

pH-Dependent transfer hydrogenation or dihydrogen release catalyzed by a [(η6-arene)RuCl(κ2-N,N-dmobpy)]+ complex: a DFT mechanistic understanding

The reaction mechanism of the pH-dependent transfer hydrogenation of a ketone or the dehydrogenation of formic acid catalyzed by a [(η⁶-arene)RuCl(κ²-N,N-dmobpy)]⁺ complex in aqueous media has been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The TM-catalyzed TH of ketones with formic acid as the hydrogen source proceeds via two steps: the formation of a metal hydride and the transfer of the hydride to the substrate ketone. The calculated results show that ruthenium hydride formation is the rate-determining step. This proceeds via an ion-pair mechanism with an energy barrier of 14.1 kcal mol⁻¹. Interestingly, the dihydrogen release process of formic acid and the hydride transfer process that produces alcohols are competitive under different pH environments. The investigation explores the feasibility of the two pathways under different pH environments. Under acidic conditions (pH = 4), the free energy barrier of the dihydrogen release pathway is 4.5 kcal mol⁻¹ that is higher than that of the hydride transfer pathway, suggesting that the hydride transfer pathway is more favorable than the dihydrogen release pathway. However, under strongly acidic conditions, the dihydrogen release pathway is more favorable compared to the hydride transfer pathway. In addition, the ruthenium hydride formation pathway is less favorable than the ruthenium hydroxo complex formation pathway under basic conditions.

A DFT mechanistic study has been performed to unveil the nature of preference of transfer hydrogenation of ketones and dihydrogen release catalyzed by single-site cyclometallated ruthenium complexes under different pH environments.

Catalysis, kinetics and mechanisms of organo-iridium enantioselective hydrogenation-reduction

The synthesis of chiral molecules is of great importance to the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, flavour and fragrance industries.

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation: an efficient entry to key intermediates of HIV protease inhibitors

A highly efficient diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation of α-aminoalkyl α′-chloromethyl ketones catalyzed by a tethered rhodium complex was developed and successfully utilized in the synthesis of the key intermediates of HIV protease inhibitors.

Changing the kinetic order of enantiomer formation and distinguishing between iminium ion and imine as the reactive species in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of substituted imines using a cyclopentadienyl iridium (III) complex

The iridium (III) complex of pentamethylcyclopentadiene and (S,S) or (R,R)-1,2-diphenyl-N′-tosylethane-1,2-diamine is an effective catalyst for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imines under acidic conditions. However, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the product amines from the reduction of 1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines in either acetonitrile or dichloromethane, decreases exponentially. The dominant cause of the enantioselectivity is the difference in kinetic order of the formation of the two enantiomers with the S-enantiomer being formed in a first-order process whereas that for the R-enantiomer follows zero-order kinetics when (R,R)-TsDPEN is employed, due to different rate-limiting steps for the two processes. A series of 1-fluorinated methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines were synthesised to change the rate-limiting dissociation of the (R) amine product from Ir (III) so that both enantiomers are formed with the same kinetic order. This results in almost complete removal of the enantioselectivity of the reduction. It has been suggested that reduction of imines using transition metal complexes occurs through the neutral imine rather than the more reactive iminium-ion. α-Substituted imines with electron-withdrawing groups make protonation more difficult but enhance the electrophilicity of the imine carbon facilitating nucleophilic attack. The pK a of the iminium ions of 1-fluorinated methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines were determined. Using the relative rates of the cyclopentadienyl iridium (III) complex catalysed reduction of these 1-fluorinated methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline in acetonitrile and, under the acidic conditions of a 5:2 ratio of formic acid:triethylamine, showed that the iminium ion is the reactive species.

Probing the Effects of Heterocyclic Functionality in [(Benzene)Ru(TsDPENR)Cl] Catalysts for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

A range of TsDPEN catalysts containing heterocyclic groups on the amine nitrogen atom were prepared and evaluated in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones. Bidentate and tridentate ligands demonstrated a mutual exclusivity directly related to their function as catalysts. A broad series of ketones were reduced with these new catalysts, permitting the ready identification of an optimal catalyst for each substrate and revealing the subtle effects that changes to nearby donor groups can exhibit.

Applications of N′-monofunctionalised TsDPEN derivatives in asymmetric catalysis

N′-Monoalkylated or N′-mono(thio)acylated(N-sulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene-1,2-diamine (TsDPEN) derivatives are have found extensive applications in asymmetric catalysis of a wide range of synthetic applications.

Effect of sulfonamidoethylenediamine substituents in RuII arene anticancer catalysts on transfer hydrogenation of coenzyme NAD+ by formate

A series of neutral pseudo-octahedral RuII sulfonamidoethylenediamine complexes [(η6-p-cym)Ru(N,N')Cl] where N,N' is N-(2-(R1,R2-amino)ethyl)-4-toluenesulfonamide (TsEn(R1,R2)) R1,R2 = Me,H (1); Me,Me (2); Et,H (3); benzyl,H (Bz, 4); 4-fluorobenzyl,H (4-F-Bz, 5) or naphthalen-2-ylmethyl,H (Naph, 6), were synthesised and characterised including the X-ray crystal structure of 3. These complexes catalyse the reduction of NAD+ regioselectively to 1,4-NADH by using formate as the hydride source. The catalytic efficiency depends markedly on the steric and electronic effects of the N-substitutent, with turnover frequencies (TOFs) increasing in the order: 1 < 2 < 3, 6 < 4, 5, achieving a TOF of 7.7 h-1 for 4 with a 95% yield of 1,4-NADH. The reduction rate was highest between pH* (deuterated solvent) 6 and 7.5 and improved with an increase in formate concentration (TOF of 18.8 h-1, 140 mM formate). The calculations suggested initial substitution of an aqua ligand by formate, followed by hydride transfer to RuII and then to NAD+, and indicated specific interactions between the aqua complex and both NAD+ and NADH, the former allowing a preorganisation involving interaction between the aqua ligand, formate anion and the pyridine ring of NAD+. The complexes exhibited antiproliferative activity towards A2780 human ovarian cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 1 to 31 μM, the most potent complex, [(η6-p-cym)Ru(TsEn(Bz,H))Cl] (4, IC50 = 1.0 ± 0.1 μM), having a potency similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin. Co-administration with sodium formate (2 mM), increased the potency of all complexes towards A2780 cells by 20-36%, with the greatest effect seen for complex 6.

Transfer Hydrogenation and Antiproliferative Activity of Tethered Half-Sandwich Organoruthenium Catalysts

We report the synthesis and characterization of four neutral organometallic tethered complexes, [Ru(η⁶-Ph(CH₂)₃-ethylenediamine-N-R)Cl], where R = methanesulfonyl (Ms, 1), toluenesulfonyl (Ts, 2), 4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyl (Tf, 3), and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (Nb, 4), including their X-ray crystal structures. These complexes exhibit moderate antiproliferative activity toward human ovarian, lung, hepatocellular, and breast cancer cell lines. Complex 2 in particular exhibits a low cross-resistance with cisplatin. The complexes show potent catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation of NAD⁺ to NADH with formate as hydride donor in aqueous solution (310 K, pH 7). Substituents on the chelated ligand decreased the turnover frequency in the order Nb > Tf > Ts > Ms. An enhancement of antiproliferative activity (up to 22%) was observed on coadministration with nontoxic concentrations of sodium formate (0.5–2 mM). Complex 2 binds to nucleobase guanine (9-EtG), but DNA appears not to be the target, as little binding to calf thymus DNA or bacterial plasmid DNA was observed. In addition, complex 2 reacts rapidly with glutathione (GSH), which might hamper transfer hydrogenation reactions in cells. Complex 2 induced a dose-dependent G₁ cell cycle arrest after 24 h exposure in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells while promoting an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is likely to contribute to its antiproliferative activity.

A superhydrophobic mesostructured silica as a chiral organometallic immobilization platform for heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis

Super-hydrophobic and mesostructured silica-supported molecular catalysts were developed and their applications in enantioselective organic transformation were investigated.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids: 2004-2015

In the past decade, the asymmetric synthesis of chiral nonracemic isoquinoline alkaloids, a family of natural products showing a wide range of structural diversity and biological and pharmaceutical activity, has been based either on continuation or improvement of known traditional methods or on new, recently developed, strategies. Both diastereoselective and enantioselective catalytic methods have been applied. This review describes the stereochemically modified traditional syntheses (the Pictet-Spengler, the Bischler-Napieralski, and the Pomeranz-Fritsch-Bobbitt) along with strategies based on closing of the nitrogen-containing ring B of the isoquinoline core by the formation of bonds between C₁-N₂, N₂-C₃, C₁-N₂/N₂-C₃, and C₁-N₂/C₄-C_4a atoms. Methods involving introduction of substituents at the C1 carbon of isoquinoline core along with syntheses applying various biocatalytic techniques have also been reviewed.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unprotected Indoles Catalyzed by η(6)-Arene/N-Me-sulfonyldiamine-Ru(II) Complexes

Protecting-group-free transformation is a challenging and important issue in atom-economical organic synthesis. The η(6)-arene/N-Me-sulfonyldiamine-Ru(II)-BF4 complex-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-substituted unprotected indoles in weakly acidic hexafluoroisopropanol gives optically active indoline compounds with up to >99% ee. Under mild reaction media, halogen atoms and synthetically important protecting groups (e.g., silyl ether, acetal, benzyl ether, and ester) on indoles are maintained, which is advantageous for the synthesis of further complex indoline molecules.

Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids and Related Compounds through the Alkylation of Anodically Prepared α-Amino Nitriles

α-Amino nitrile 2a was conveniently prepared in two individual steps from chiral hexafluorophosphate salt isoquinolinium (-)-8b including anodic cyanation as an efficient means to activate the sp(3) C1-H bond of the THIQ nucleus. The lithiation of 2a was carried out in THF at -80 °C in the presence of LDA to produce a stable α-amino carbanion which was condensed on a large variety of alkyl halides. The resulting quaternary α-amino nitriles were subjected to a stereoselective reductive decyanation in ethanol in the presence of NaBH4 as the hydride donor to yield N-Boc-1-alkyl-THIQs (+)-10a-g in up to 97:3 er's after removal of the chiral auxiliary group. Examination of the ORTEP view of THIQ (+)-1f revealed that the newly created stereogenic center had an absolute S configuration. Likewise, (-)-xylopinine was synthesized in four workup steps in an overall 63% yield from α-amino nitrile (+)-2b. In this process, crystallization of an enantioenriched mixture (90:10) of (-)-norlaudanosine with 1 equiv of (-)-N-acetyl-l-leucine afforded the leucinate salt (+)-13 (99:1 dr). Similarly, (+)-salsolidine was displaced from its (-)-DBTA salt (-)-12 in 99:1 er, which was determined by proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy in the presence of thiophosphinic acid (+)-14 as the chiral solvating agent.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of cyclic imines catalysed by Noyori–Ikariya half-sandwich complexes and their analogues

Trifluoroacetic acid activates cyclic imines in a new non-air sensitive asymmetric hydrogenation method. New transfer hydrogenation catalysts are demonstrated.

The kinetics and mechanism of the organo-iridium-catalysed enantioselective reduction of imines

The enantiomeric excess (ee) for the organo-iridium catalysed reduction of imines decreases during the reaction because the rate of formation of the (R)-product amine follows first-order kinetics whereas that for the (S)-enantiomer is zero-order.

The contrasting catalytic efficiency and cancer cell antiproliferative activity of stereoselective organoruthenium transfer hydrogenation catalysts

The rapidly growing area of catalytic ruthenium chemistry has provided new complexes with potential as organometallic anticancer agents with novel mechanisms of action.