Mixed La-Li heterobimetallic complexes for tertiary nitroaldol resolution.

A kinetic resolution of tertiary nitroaldols derived from simple ketones is described. Mixed BINOL/biphenol La-Li heterobimetallic complexes gave the best selectivity in retro-nitroaldol reactions of racemic tertiary nitroaldols. By using a mixture of La-Li3-(1a)3 complex (LLB 2a) and La-Li3-(1b)3 (LLB* 2b) complex in a ratio of 2/1, chiral tertiary nitroaldols were obtained in 80-97% ee and 30-47% recovery yield.

Dynamic ligand exchange of the lanthanide complex leading to structural and functional transformation: one-pot sequential catalytic asymmetric epoxidation-regioselective epoxide-opening process.

The characteristic property of the lanthanide complex, which easily undergoes a dynamic ligand exchange and alters its structure and function in situ, is described. After the completion of the catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of various alpha,beta-unsaturated amides 2 in the presence of the Sm-(S)-BINOL-Ph3As=O (1:1:1) complex 1 (2-10 mol %), the addition of Me3SiN3 directly to the reaction mixture led to smooth epoxide-opening at room temperature, affording the corresponding anti-beta-azido-alpha-hydroxyamide 4 in excellent overall yield (up to 99%) with complete regioselectivity and excellent enantiomeric excess (up to >99%). The key to the success of the sequential process was the in situ generation of the highly reactive samarium azide complex through dynamic ligand exchange.

Strategy for enantio- and diastereoselective syntheses of all possible stereoisomers of 1,3-polyol arrays based on a highly catalyst-controlled epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated morpholinyl amides: application to natural product synthesis.

We describe a new strategy for enantio- and diastereoselective syntheses of all possible stereoisomers of 1,3-polyol arrays. This strategy relies on a highly catalyst-controlled epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated morpholinyl amides promoted by the Sm-BINOL-Ph(3)As[double bond]O (1:1:1) complex, followed by a conversion of morpholinyl amides into ketones and diastereoselective ketone reduction. Highly enantio- (up to >99 % ee) or diastereoselective (up to >99.

Unique reactivity of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid imidazolides: catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha,beta-epoxy esters and alpha,beta-epoxy carboxylic acid derivatives.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha,beta-epoxy esters and alpha,beta-epoxy carboxylic acid derivatives is described. Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid imidazolides using La-BINOL-Ph(3)As=O complex gave the corresponding alpha,beta-epoxy peroxy tert-butyl esters, which were directly converted to the alpha,beta-epoxy methyl esters by adding methanol to the reaction. This catalytic system had broad generality for epoxidation of various substrates.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of both syn- and anti-3,5-dihydroxy esters: application to 1,3-polyol/alpha-pyrone natural product synthesis.

[reaction: see text] We describe a catalytic asymmetric synthesis of both syn- and anti-3,5-dihydroxy esters. The method relies upon catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imidazolides and amides, using lanthanide-BINOL complexes, and diastereoselective reduction of ketones. The method was applied to the enantioselective syntheses of 1,3-polyol/alpha-pyrone natural products 9a, 9b, and strictifolione (10).

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides: efficient synthesis of beta-aryl alpha-hydroxy amides using a one-pot tandem catalytic asymmetric epoxidation-Pd-catalyzed epoxide opening process.

The catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides using Sm-BINOL-Ph3As=O complex was succeeded. Using 5-10 mol % of the asymmetric catalyst, a variety of amides were epoxidized efficiently, yielding the corresponding alpha,beta-epoxy amides in up to 99% yield and in more than 99% ee. Moreover, the novel one-pot tandem process, one-pot tandem catalytic asymmetric epoxidation-Pd-catalyzed epoxide opening process, was developed.