Synthesis and evaluation of new chiral nonracemic C2-symmetric and unsymmetric 2,2′-bipyridyl ligands

Binding Interactions in Copper, Silver and Gold π-Complexes

The copper(I), silver(I), and gold(I) metals bind π‐ligands by σ‐bonding and π‐back bonding interactions. These interactions were investigated using bidentate ancillary ligands with electron donating and withdrawing substituents. The π‐ligands span from ethylene to larger terminal and internal alkenes and alkynes. Results of X‐ray crystallography, NMR, and IR spectroscopy and gas phase experiments show that the binding energies increase in the order Ag<Cu<Au and the binding energies are slightly higher for alkynes than for alkenes. Modulation of the electron density at the metal using substituents on the ancillary ligands shows that the π‐back bonding interaction plays a dominant role for the binding in the copper and gold complexes.

Chirality-Switchable 2,2'-Bipyridine Ligands Attached to Helical Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s for Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclopropanation of Alkenes

Helical poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s copolymers PQXbpy consisting of a coordinating unit, which bears a varied achiral, substituted 2,2'-bipyridyl pendant, and a chiral unit bearing chiral side chains were synthesized and used as a ligand in copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of olefins with diazoacetates, giving up to 91:9 er with high chemical yield. The enantioselection relied on the helical structure of PQXbpy. A single PQXbpy afforded either of a pair of enantiomers with high enantioselectivity by switching its helical sense by changing the reaction solvent from pure toluene to a 3/1 mixture of toluene and 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

Conformational and Optical Characteristics of Unidirectionally Twisted Binaphthyl-Bipyridyl Cyclic Dyads

An axially chiral binaphthyl-bipyridyl cyclic dyad in which the two units are connected by short -CH2O- linkers was synthesized. Experimental and theoretical analyses indicate that the (R)-binaphthyl unit in the dyad induces (R)-chirality in the bipyridyl unit, both in the solid state and in solution. It is shown that vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) is useful to determine the twisting pattern of 2,2'-bipyridyl compounds. The dyad shows crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE).

Enantiopure synthesis of 7-(1-pyrindanyl)propargyl ethers as rasagiline analogues via chemical or enzymatic resolution of 1-pyrindan-7-ol

Enantiopure 7-(1-pyrindanyl)propargyl ethers – rasagiline analogues – were efficiently obtainedviachemical and/or enzymatic resolution of the racemic precursor 1-pyrindan-7-ol.

C1-Symmetric VersusC2-Symmetric Ligands in Enantioselective Copper–Bis(oxazoline)-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation Reactions

A thorough experimental and theoretical study of the enantioselective cyclopropanation of alkenes catalyzed by chiral bis(oxazoline)- and azabis(oxazoline)-copper complexes, which comprise a new family of ligands that lack C2 symmetry, has been conducted. Surprisingly high enantioselectivities were observed with some of these ligands, which were rationalized on the basis of molecular modeling studies. The course of the asymmetric induction in connection with ligand symmetry and the implications for supported enantioselective catalysts are discussed.

Preparation of new axially chiral bridged 2,2′-bipyridines and pyridyl monooxazolines (pymox). Evaluation in copper(i)-catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanation

This work reports the synthesis of new axially chiral bridged 2,2'-bipyridines 1 and pyridylmonooxazolines (pymox) 2. The potential of these new axially chiral N,N-ligands was evaluated in asymmetric catalytic cyclopropanation of styrene derivatives 22a-c with diazoesters 21a,b. While 2,2'-bipyridines 1a-c afforded the corresponding cyclopropanes 23a-f in up to 65% ee, pymoxs 2a-e gave somewhat lower enantioselectivities (up to 53% ee). Both classes of ligands produced trans-cyclopropanes 23a-f as the major isomer, although with modest diasteroselectivities (56 : 44 to 78 : 22). A structure-stereoselectivity relationship study of ligands 1 and 2 identified the chiral biaryl axis as being mostly responsible for the enantioselective performances of these ligands.