Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral β-Amino Phosphorus Derivatives via Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation.

Compared with chiral β-amino phosphorus compounds, which can be easily derived from natural optically pure α-amino acids, obtaining chiral β-amino phosphorus derivatives remains a challenge. These derivatives, which cannot be derived from chiral natural amino acids, possess unique biological activities or potential catalytic activities. Herein, highly enantioselective hydrogenation for the preparation of chiral β-amino phosphorus derivatives from -β-enamido phosphorus compounds is reported by using a green and low-cost earth-abundant metal nickel catalyst (13 examples of 99% ee).

Exploring Border Conditions for Spontaneous Emergence of Chirality in Allylboration of 1,2,3-Triazolic Aldehydes.

A case of spontaneous chirality generation was observed during a synthetic project studying the allylboration of 1,2,3-triazolic aldehydes. Here, we present computational studies supported by experimental findings targeting the elucidation of border conditions required for the observation of spontaneous chirality generation in the reaction of 1-Ar-1-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbaldehydes with triallylborane. Three possible sources of symmetry breaking were found computationally.

The Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds with Dicyclopentylzinc: A New Example of Asymmetric Amplifying Autocatalysis.

A previously unknown reduction of carbonyl compounds with dicyclopentylzinc is reported. Aldehydes react in mild conditions yielding corresponding primary alcohols and cyclopentene. Although cyclohexanone and acetophenone are inert to dicyclopentylzinc, a variety of heterocyclic ketones reacted readily, yielding reasonable to high yields of corresponding secondary alcohols.

Co-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation. The Same Enantioselection Pattern for Different Mechanisms.

The mechanism of the recently reported catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enyne catalyzed by the Co-(,)-QuinoxP* complex was studied by DFT. Conceivable pathways for the Co(I)-Co(III) mechanism were computed together with a Co(0)-Co(II) catalytic cycle. It is commonly assumed that the exact nature of the chemical transformations taking place along the actually operating catalytic pathway determine the sense and level of enantioselection of the catalytic reaction.

Global Search for Stable CHNO Compounds-Guinness Molecules and Stability Islands.

Global reaction route mapping (GRRM) analysis for compounds with the formula CHNO allowed for the detection of the corresponding "Guinness molecules" and , as well as around 150 other stable minima of the same composition. The results suggest that compounds of similar functionality form a kind of "Stability Island" with their free energies of formation falling within s relatively limited range.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Substituted Vinylphosphonates and Diarylvinylphosphine Oxides.

Chiral α-substituted ethylphosphonate and ethylphosphine oxide compounds are widely used in drugs, pesticides, and ligands. However, their catalytic asymmetric synthesis is still rare. Of the only asymmetric hydrogenation methods available at present, all cases use rare metal catalysts.

Nickel-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation of oximes.

Chiral hydroxylamines are vital substances in bioscience and versatile subunits in the preparation of a variety of functional molecules. However, asymmetric and non-asymmetric synthetic approaches to these compounds are far from satisfactory. Although atom-economic metal-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenations have been studied for over 50 years, the asymmetric hydrogenation of oximes to the corresponding chiral hydroxylamines remains challenging because of the labile N-O bond and inert C=N bond.

Asymmetric Hydroacylation Involving Alkene Isomerization for the Construction of C -Chirogenic Center.

A new transformation pattern for enantioselective intramolecular hydroacylation has been developed involving an alkene isomerization strategy. Proceeding through a five-membered rhodacycle intermediate, 3-enals were converted to C - or C ,C -chirogenic cyclopentanones with satisfactory yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities. A catalytic cycle has been theoretically calculated and the origin of the stereoselection is rationally explained.

Ni-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-aryl imino esters for the efficient synthesis of chiral α-aryl glycines.

Chiral α-aryl glycines play a key role in the preparation of some bioactive products, however, their catalytic asymmetric synthesis is far from being satisfactory. Herein, we report an efficient nickel-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-aryl imino esters, affording chiral α-aryl glycines in high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The hydrogenation can be conducted on a gram scale with a substrate/catalyst ratio of up to 2000.

Intermolecular Oxidative Friedel-Crafts Reaction Triggered Ring Expansion Affording 9,10-Diarylphenanthrenes.

A novel intermolecular tandem oxidative aromatic coupling between arylidene fluorenes and unfunctionalized aromatics mediated by a DDQ/TFA oxidation system has been developed for the construction of 9,10-diarylphenanthrenes (DAPs). The formation of a benzylic carbocation species possessing a quaternary sp-carbon center on the fluorene moiety by an intermolecular oxidative Friedel-Crafts reaction of two different arenes successfully triggered the subsequent ring expansion to afford DAPs.

Size is Important: Artificial Catalyst Mimics Behavior of Natural Enzymes.

Heavily substituted (R)-DTBM-SegPHOS is active in the asymmetric Pd(II)-catalyzed hydrogenation or C-O bond cleavage of α-pivaloyloxy-1-(2-furyl)ethanone, whereas (R)-SegPHOS fails to catalyze either of these transformations. An extensive network of C-H ··· H-C interactions provided by the heavily substituted phenyl rings of (R)-DTBM-SegPHOS leads to increased stabilities of all intermediates and transition states in the corresponding catalytic cycles compared with the unsubstituted analogues. Moreover, formation of the encounter complex and its rearrangement into the reactive species proceeds in a fashion similar to that seen in natural enzymatic reactions.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 2-Amidoacrylates.

Earth-abundant nickel, coordinated with a suitable chiral bisphosphine ligand, was found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-amidoacrylates, affording the chiral α-amino acid esters in quantitative yields and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 96 % ee). The active catalyst component was studied by NMR and HRMS, which helped us to realize high catalytic efficiency on a gram scale with a low catalyst loading (S/C=2000). The hydrogenated products could be simply converted into chiral α-amino acids, β-amino alcohols, and their bioactive derivatives.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of C=N Bonds Enabled by Assisted Coordination and Nonbonding Interactions.

An efficient cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of C=N bonds has been realized. Chiral hydrazines were obtained in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (95-98 % ee). The hydrogenation went smoothly at up to 2000 substrate/catalyst and on a gram scale.

Au-catalyzed skeletal rearrangement of -propargylic oximes N-O bond cleavage with the aid of a Brønsted base cocatalyst.

-Propargylic oximes that possess an electron-withdrawing aryl group on the oxime moiety undergo Au-catalyzed skeletal rearrangements N-O bond cleavage to afford the corresponding 2-1,3-oxazine derivatives. Our studies show that the inclusion of a Brønsted base cocatalyst not only accelerates the reaction but also switches pathways of the skeletal rearrangement reaction, realizing divergent synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. Computational studies indicate that the elimination of propargylic proton in the cyclized vinylgold intermediate is rate-determining and both electron-withdrawing substituents at the oxime moiety and base cocatalyst facilitate the proton elimination.

Chemo- and Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α-Formyl Enamides: An Efficient Access to Chiral α-Amido Aldehydes.

In order to effectively synthesize chiral α-amino aldehydes, which have a wide range of potential applications in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, a highly chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenation of α-formyl enamides has been developed, catalyzed by a rhodium complex of a P-stereogenic bisphosphine ligand. Under different hydrogen pressures, the chiral α-amido aldehydes and β-amido alcohols were obtained in high yields (97-99 %) and with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 % ee).

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N-Sulfonyl Imines.

An efficient nickel-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-tBu-sulfonyl imines was developed with excellent yields and enantioselectivities using (R,R)-QuinoxP* as a chiral ligand. The use of a much lower catalyst loading (0.0095 mol %, S/C=10500) represents the highest catalytic activity for the Ni-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations reported so far.

Methylene Group Transfer in Carbonyl Compounds Discovered in silico and Detected Experimentally.

A previously unknown transformation of aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acid derivatives leads to the formation of substituted oxiranes, aziridines, and azirines as shown by DFT and MP2 computations. Formations of 2,2-dimethyloxirane-d from acetone-d , phenylazirine-d from benzonitrile and 2-methyl-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxirane from 4-hydroxyacetophenone were detected experimentally by electrospray ionization mass-spectrometry with a heated desolvating capillary. This reaction is a truly concerted process characterized by high activation barriers (activation enthalpies 320-480 kJ mol ).

Pd(OAc)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically hindered N-tosylimines.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically hindered substrates still constitutes a long-standing challenge in the area of asymmetric catalysis. Herein, an efficient palladium acetate (an inexpensive Pd salt with low toxicity) catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically hindered N-tosylimines is realized with high catalytic activities (S/C up to 5000) and excellent enantioselectivities (ee up to 99.9%).

Cu-Catalyzed switchable synthesis of functionalized pyridines and pyrroles.

Herein, we describe a high yielding and switchable synthesis of a range of functionalized pyridines and pyrroles via Cu-catalyzed cascade reactions with alkynes and N-sulfonyl azadienes which are readily available from saccharin. Both unsymmetrical 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines and multi-substituted pyrroles could be transformed into some bioactive compounds and chiral ligands.

Ni(II)-catalyzed asymmetric alkenylations of ketimines.

Chiral allylic amines are not only present in many bioactive compounds, but can also be readily transformed to other chiral amines. Therefore, the asymmetric synthesis of chiral allylic amines is highly desired. Herein, we report two types of Ni(II)-catalyzed asymmetric alkenylation of cyclic ketimines for the preparation of chiral allylic amines.

A Copper-Catalyzed Reductive Defluorination of β-Trifluoromethylated Enones via Oxidative Homocoupling of Grignard Reagents.

An efficient copper-catalyzed reductive defluorination of β-trifluoromethylated enones via an oxidative homocoupling of Grignard reagents is reported. The reaction proceeded smoothly with a wide range of substrates, including the ones bearing aromatic heterocycles, such as furyl and thienyl ring systems in high yields (80-92%, except one example) under mild conditions. This provides a practical method for synthesis of gem-difluoroolefin ketones.

Solvent-Controlled Pd(II)-Catalyzed Aerobic Chemoselective Intermolecular 1,2-Aminooxygenation and 1,2-Oxyamination of Conjugated Dienes for the Synthesis of Functionalized 1,4-Benzoxazines.

Pd(II)-catalyzed intermolecular 1,2-aminooxygenation and 1,2-oxyamination of conjugated dienes have been developed. The chemoselective preparation of a variety of 2-functionalized and 3-functionalized 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives was accomplished via the adjustment of a coordinating solvent. Oxygen was successfully used in this oxidative difunctionalization of alkenes.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to nitrostyrenes.

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to nitrostyrene is reported. The catalytic system employing iPr-IsoQuinox as a chiral ligand in MeOH solvent under an air atmosphere provides the chiral diarylsubstituted products in high yields with good enantioselectivities. A variety of functionalized nitrostyrenes can be used, and the method tolerates some variation in arylboronic acid scope.

Biomimetic total synthesis of cyanosporaside aglycons from a single enediyne precursor through site-selective p-benzyne hydrochlorination.

The cyanosporasides A-F are a collection of monochlorinated benzenoid derivatives isolated from the marine actinomycetes Salinispora and Streptomyces sp. All derivatives feature one of two types of cyanocyclopenta[a]indene frameworks, which are regioisomeric in the position of a single chlorine atom. It is proposed that these chloro-substituted benzenoids are formed biosynthetically through the cycloaromatization of a bicyclic nine-membered enediyne precursor.

Palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of simple ketones with allylic alcohols and its mechanistic study.

Allylic alcohols were directly used in Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations of simple ketones under mild reaction conditions. The reaction proceeded smoothly at 20 °C by the concerted action of a Pd catalyst, a pyrrolidine co-catalyst, and a hydrogen-bonding solvent, and does not require any additional reagents. A computational study suggested that methanol plays a crucial role in the formation of the π-allylpalladium complex by lowering the activation barrier.