Ni-Catalyzed asymmetric reduction of α-keto-β-lactams via DKR enabled by proton shuttling

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.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ-Keto Acids, Esters, and Amides to Chiral γ-Lactones and γ-Hydroxy Acid Derivatives

A highly efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of a series of γ-keto acid derivatives, including γ-keto acids, esters, and amides, using a Ni-(R,R)-QuinoxP* complex as the catalyst has been developed to afford chiral γ-hydroxy acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities, up to 99.9% ee. This method provides not only an economical one-pot approach for the synthesis of chiral γ-lactones but also access to (S)-norfluoxetine, an inhibitor of neural serotonin reuptake and an essential intermediate for pharmaceutical synthesis.