Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of Saturated N-Heterocycles by Enantioselective Amidation with Chiral Hydroxamic Acids.

The preparation of enantioenriched chiral compounds by kinetic resolution dates back to the laboratories of Louis Pasteur in the middle of the 19th century. Unlike asymmetric synthesis, this process can always deliver enantiopure material (ee > 99%) if the reactions are allowed to proceed to sufficient conversion and the selectivity of the process is not unity (s > 1). One of the most appealing and practical variants is acylative kinetic resolution, which affords easily separable reaction products, and several highly efficient enzymatic and small molecule catalysts are available.

Synthesis of Tetrahydronaphthyridines from Aldehydes and HARP Reagents via Radical Pictet-Spengler Reactions.

The combination of aldehydes with newly designed HARP (halogen amine radical protocol) reagents gives access to α-substituted tetrahydronaphthyridines. By using different HARP reagents, various regioisomeric structures can be prepared in a single operation. These products, which are of high value in medicinal chemistry, are formed in a predictable manner via a formal Pictet-Spengler reaction of electron-poor pyridines that would not participate in the corresponding polar reactions.

A Robust, Recyclable Resin for Decagram Scale Resolution of (±)-Mefloquine and Other Chiral N-Heterocycles.

Decagram quantities of enantiopure (+)-mefloquine have been produced via kinetic resolution of racemic mefloquine using a ROMP-gel supported chiral acyl hydroxamic acid resolving agent. The requisite monomer was prepared in a few synthetic steps without chromatography and polymerization was safely performed on a >30 gram scale under ambient conditions. The reagent was readily regenerated and reused multiple times for the resolution of 150 grams of (±)-mefloquine and other chiral N-heterocylces.

Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of Disubstituted Piperidines by Enantioselective Acylation: Synthetic Utility and Mechanistic Insights.

The catalytic kinetic resolution of cyclic amines with achiral N-heterocyclic carbenes and chiral hydroxamic acids has emerged as a promising method to obtain enantio-enriched amines with high selectivity factors. In this report, we describe the catalytic kinetic resolution of disubstituted piperdines with practical selectivity factors (s, up to 52) in which we uncovered an unexpected and pronounced conformational effect resulting in disparate reactivity and selectivity between the cis- and trans-substituted piperidine isomers. Detailed experimental and computational studies of the kinetic resolution of various disubstituted piperidines revealed a strong preference for the acylation of conformers in which the α-substituent occupies the axial position.

Kinetic resolution of nitrogen heterocycles with a reusable polymer-supported reagent.

Shake it up baby! Simply shaking a polymer-supported reagent and the racemic amine at room temperature kinetically resolves a broad range of N-heterocycles with good selectivity. The polymer-supported reagents are robust, easy to regenerate, and can be reused dozens of times. Cleavable acyl groups can be used to give access to both amine enantiomers in a single resolution.

Expanded substrate scope and catalyst optimization for the catalytic kinetic resolution of N-heterocycles.

The scope, reactivity, and selectivity of the chiral hydroxamic acid-catalyzed kinetic resolution of chiral amines are improved by a new catalyst structure and a more environmentally friendly reaction protocol. In addition to increasing selectivity across all substrates, these conditions make possible the resolution of N-heterocycles containing lactams or other basic functional groups that can inhibit the catalyst.