Enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to N-heteroaryl ketones: synthesis of α-hydroxy acids

The enantioselective addition of arylboronic acids to N-heteroaryl ketones provides a convenient access to chiral α-heteroaryl tertiary alcohols, yet addition reactions of this type have been challenging due to catalyst deactivation. In this report, an efficient rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to N-heteroaryl ketones is established, affording a variety of valuable α-heteroaryl alcohols with excellent functional group compatibility. The employment of the WingPhos ligand containing two anthryl groups is crucial for this transformation. In particular, a range of chiral benzoxazolyl-substituted tertiary alcohols were formed with excellent ee values and yields by employing a Rh loading as low as 0.3 mol%, which can serve as a practical protocol to furnish a series of chiral α-hydroxy acids after hydrolysis.

Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Allylation of Nitroalkanes: Entry to β-Stereogenic α-Quaternary Primary Amines

The first systematic study of simple nitronate nucleophiles in iridium-catalyzed allylic alkylation is described. Using a tol-BINAP-modified π-allyliridium C,O-benzoate catalyst, α,α-disubstituted nitronates substitute racemic branched alkyl-substituted allylic acetates, thus providing entry to β-stereogenic α-quaternary primary amines. DFT calculations reveal early transition states that render the reaction less sensitive to steric effects and distinct trans-effects of diastereomeric chiral-at-iridium π-allyl complexes that facilitate formation of congested tertiary-quaternary C-C bonds.

Enantioselective zinc-mediated conjugate alkynylation of saccharin-derived 1-aza-butadienes

Diethylzinc and a bis(hydroxyl)malonamide ligand allow the first conjugate alkynylation of α,β-unsaturated imines. Excellent enatioselectivities are obtained with aliphatic alkynes.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-branched enamides for the synthesis of β-stereogenic amines

β-Branched simple enamides were hydrogenated to give β-stereogenic amines in quantitative yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.

Combining NHC-Cu and Brønsted base catalysis: enantioselective allylic substitution/conjugate additions with alkynylaluminum reagents and stereospecific isomerization of the products to trisubstituted allenes

All-catalytic route to trisubstituted allenes: The first examples of catalytic enantioselective allylic substitution reactions that involve alkyne-based nucleophiles and lead to products having tertiary stereogenic centers are followed by an exceptionally stereospecific amine-catalyzed isomerization to trisubstituted allenes (see picture; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene).

Asymmetric cross-dimerization between methyl methacrylate and substituted alkene by Ru(0)-bicyclononadiene complex

New Ru(0)-naphthalene complexes containing a bicyclononadiene ligand catalyze the linear cross-dimerization between methyl methacrylate and substituted alkenes by an oxidative coupling mechanism. The chiral (S,S)-2-methylbicyclo[3.3.1]nona-2,6-diene complex (S,S)-1b catalyzes asymmetric linear cross-dimerization between methyl methacrylate and 2,5-dihydrofuran to give the cross-dimer in 74% yield in 80% ee.

Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of (triisopropylsilyl)-acetylene to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Asymmetric addition of (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds took place in the presence of a cobalt/Duphos catalyst to give the 1,6-addition products in high yields with high regio- and enantioselectivity.

Cooperative activation of alkyne and thioamide functionalities; direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides

A detailed study of the direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst, comprising [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6), bisphosphine ligand, and Li(OC(6)H(4)-p-OMe) simultaneously activated both substrates to compensate for the low reactivity of copper alkynylide. A series of control experiments revealed that the intermediate copper-thioamide enolate functioned as a Brønsted base to generate copper alkynylide from the terminal alkyne, thus driving the catalytic cycle through an efficient proton transfer between substrates. These findings led to the identification of a more convenient catalyst using potassium hexamethyldisilazane (KHMDS) as the Brønsted base, which was particularly effective for the reaction of silylacetylenes. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality and a concise enantioselective synthesis of a GPR40 receptor agonist AMG-837 highlighted the synthetic utility of the present catalysis.

Enantioselective synthesis of alkyne-substituted quaternary carbon stereogenic centers through NHC-Cu-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions with (i-Bu)2(alkynyl)aluminum reagents

A catalytic enantioselective method for the formation of alkyne-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers is reported. Additions of alkynylaluminums to alkyl-, aryl-, carboxylic ester-, or silyl-substituted allylic phosphates are promoted by 1.0-5.0 mol % loadings of NHC-Cu complexes derived from air-stable and commercially available CuCl(2)·2H(2)O. The requisite Al-based reagents are prepared through treatment of the corresponding aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkyl-, or alkenyl-substituted terminal alkynes with diisobutylaluminum hydride in the presence of 5.0 mol % Et(3)N at ambient temperature. The desired 1,4-enynes are obtained in up to 98% yield and >99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Selected Au-catalyzed cyclizations involving the alkyne unit of the enantiomerically enriched products are presented as a demonstration of the method's utility in chemical synthesis.

Enantioselective synthesis of a GPR40 agonist AMG 837 via catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkyne to α,β-unsaturated thioamide

A concise enantioselective synthetic route to a potent GPR40 agonist AMG 837 is described. The crucial catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkyne was promoted by a soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst, allowing efficient construction of the requisite stereogenic center. The thioamide functional group is key to both activation in asymmetric alkynylation and facile transformation into carboxylic acid.