ChiralN-Phosphonyl Imine Chemistry: Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Alkyl β-Amino Ketones by Reacting Phosphonyl Imines with Ketone-Derived Enolates

Asymmetric Reactions of N-Phosphonyl/Phosphoryl Imines

The asymmetric reactions of imines continued to attract the attention of the scientific community for decades. However, the stereoselective reactions of N-phosphonyl/phosphoryl imines remained less explored as compared to other N-substituted imines. The chiral auxiliary-based asymmetric-induction strategy with N-phosphonyl imines could effectively generate enantio- and diastereomeric amine, α,β-diamine, and other products through various reactions. On the other hand, the asymmetric approach for the generation of chirality through the utilization of optically active ligands, along with metal catalysts, could be successfully implemented on N-phosphonyl/phosphoryl imines to access numerous synthetically challenging chiral amine scaffolds. The current review critically summarizes and reveals the literature precedence of more than a decade to highlight the major achievements existing to date that can display a clear picture of advancement as well drawbacks in this area.

Cobalt- and iron-catalyzed regiodivergent alkene hydrosilylations

Regiodivergent olefin hydrosilylation products are accessed through a simple change in the metal center. Linear products (anti-Markovnikov) are obtained using cobalt-based catalysts whereas branched (Markovnikov) products result from an iron-based analogue.

N-Phosphonyl/phosphinyl imines and group-assisted purification (GAP) chemistry/technology

Group-assisted purification (GAP) chemistry, which can provide various chiral amines and other functionalities without the use of column chromatography or recrystallization; products are consistently obtained with excellent stereocontrol.

Asymmetric C-C Bond Formation between Chiral N-Phosphonyl Imines and Ni(II)-Complex of Glycine Schiff Base Provides a GAP Synthesis of α,β-syn-Diamino Acid Derivatives

The GAP asymmetric synthesis of α,β-diamino acid derivatives has been achieved by reacting chiral N-phosphonyl imines with Ni(II)-complex of glycine ester-based enolate without the use of traditional purifications of chromatography and recrystallization. The successful control of synstereochemistry of vicinal diamino products complements our previous methods which afforded anti stereoisomers and enables all four individual isomers to be synthesized by simply changing enolate geometry. In contrast to our previous synthesis where required at least 5 equiv of glycine Schiff base enolate for complete conversion, the new synthesis only needs 1.1 equiv of glycine Schiff base enolate to give complete diastereoselectivity (>99% de) and yields (91% - 97%). The absolute stereochemistry has been unambiguously determined by X-ray structural analysis.

N,N-DIIsopropyl-N-phosphonyl imines lead to efficient asymmetric synthesis of aziridine-2-carboxylic esters

Highly diastereoselective asymmetric synthesis of chiral aziridine-2-carboxylic esters is reported for 20 examples with good yields (51-87%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>99:1 dr for most cases). The modified N-phosphonyl imines have proven to be superior to previous imine auxiliaries for the aza Darzens reaction by using a secondary isopropyl group to replace the primary benzyl group for N,N-diamino protection. In the meanwhile, a special operation by slowly adding the pre-cooled imine solution at -78 °C into the preformed β-bromo lithium enolate mixture at this temperature in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves was found to be crucial in terms of yields and diastereoselectivity. The present method can provide an easy and general access to β-hydroxy α-amino acids and other important amino building blocks.

Microwave-assisted multicomponent reaction in water leading to highly regioselective formation of benzo[f]azulen-1-ones

Microwave-assisted three-component reaction has been established for the regioselective synthesis of benzo[f]azulen-1-ones. The reaction was performed in aqueous media under microwave irradiation by using readily available and inexpensive starting materials. A total of 38 examples were examined to show a broad substrate scope and good overall yields (70-89%). The present new synthesis shows attractive green chemistry characteristics, such as the use of water as reaction media, concise one-pot conditions, short reaction periods (7-24 min), easy work-up/purification and reduced waste production without the use of any strong acids or metal promoters.

Asymmetric synthesis of α-amino-1,3-dithianes via chiral N-phosphonyl imine-based Umpolung reaction without using chromatography and recrystallization

A series of α-amino-1,3-dithianes have been synthesized via the asymmetric Umpolung reaction of 2-lithio-1,3-dithianes with chiral N-phosphonyl imines in good chemical yields (up to 82%) and good to excellent diastereoselectivities (>99:1). The manner by which chiral N-phosphonyl imines are slowly added into the solution of 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane was found to be crucial for achieving excellent diastereoselectivity. The current synthesis was proven to follow the GAP chemistry (group-assistant-purification chemistry) process, which avoids traditional purification techniques of chromatography or recrystallization, i.e., the pure chiral α-amino-1,3-dithianes attached with the chiral N-phosphonyl group were readily obtained by washing the solid crude products with hexane or a mixture of hexane-ethyl acetate.

Asymmetric hydrophosphylation of chiral N-phosphonyl imines provides an efficient approach to chiral α-amino phosphonates

Chiral N-phosphonylimines were found to react with lithium phosphites to provide various substituted chiral α-amino phosphonates in excellent yields (94-97%) and diastereoselectivities (93:7-99:1). The types of bases utilized for generating the nucleophile are crucial for the effectiveness of asymmetric induction. In addition, N,N-isopropyl group on chiral N-phosphonylimine auxilliary was proven to be superior to other protecting groups in controlling diastereoselectivity. The absolute configuration was unambiguously determined by converting a chiral α-amino phosphonate into its authentic N-Cbz derivative.

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclic cis-beta-amino acid derivatives using sulfinimines and prochiral Weinreb amide enolates

Cyclic cis-beta-amino Weinreb amides, valuable building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic beta-amino acids derivatives, are readily prepared via ring-closing metathesis of sulfinimine-derived N-sulfinyl beta-amino diene Weinreb amides. These unsaturated cyclic cis-beta-amino Weinreb amides are valuable building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives.

Asymmetric catalytic N-phosphonyl imine chemistry: the use of primary free amino acids and Et2AlCN for asymmetric catalytic Strecker reaction

The new asymmetric catalytic Strecker reaction of achiral N-phosphonyl imines has been established. Excellent enantioselectivity (95.2-99.7% ee) and yields (89-97%) have been achieved by using primary free natural amino acids as catalysts and Et(2)AlCN as nucleophile. This work also presents the novel use of nonvolatile and inexpensive Et(2)AlCN in asymmetric catalysis. The N-phosphonyl protecting group enabled simple product purification to be achieved simply by washing the crude products with hexane, which is defined as the GAP chemistry (GAP: Group-Assistant-Purification). It can also be readily cleaved and recycled under mild condition to give a quantitative recovery of N,N'-bis(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine. A new mechanism was proposed for this reaction and was supported by experimental observations.

Chiral N-phosphonyl imine chemistry: an efficient asymmetric synthesis of chiral N-phosphonyl propargylamines

A variety of substituted chiral propargylamines have been synthesized by reacting chiral N-phosphonylimines with lithium aryl/alkyl acetylides. Seventeen examples were studied to give excellent yields (>90%) and diastereoselectivities (96 : 4 to 99 : 1). It was found that the types of bases for generating acetylides and solvents are crucial for effectiveness of this asymmetric reaction. In addition, N,N-isopropyl group on chiral N-phosphonylimine auxiliary was proven to be superior to other protecting groups in controlling diastereoselectivity.