Ligand Exchange Reaction on a Ru(II)-Pheox Complex as a Mechanistic Study of Catalytic Reactions.

A ligand exchange of one of the acetonitrile ligands of the (acetonitrile)Ru(II)-phenyloxazoline complex (Ru(II)-Pheox) by pyridine was demonstrated, and the location of the exchange reaction was examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the mechanism of its catalytic asymmetric reactions. The acetonitrile was smoothly exchanged with a pyridine to afford the corresponding (pyridine)(acetonitrile)Ru(II)-Pheox complex with a trans orientation (C-Ru-N(pyridine)) in a quantitative yield, and the complex was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. DFT calculations indicated that the most eliminable acetonitrile is the trans group, which is consistent with the X-ray analysis.

Reusable and highly enantioselective water-soluble Ru(II)--Pheox catalyst for intramolecular cyclopropanation of diazo compounds.

A reusable and highly enantioselective catalyst for the intramolecular cyclopropanation of various diazo ester and Weinreb amide derivatives was developed. The reactions catalyzed by a water-soluble Ru(II)--Pheox catalyst proceeded smoothly at room temperature, affording the corresponding bicyclic cyclopropane ring-fused lactones and lactams in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). After screening of various catalysts, the Ru(II)--Pheox complex having an ammonium group proved to be crucial for the intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction in a water/ether biphasic medium.

Regio- and Enantioselective Intramolecular Amide Carbene Insertion into Primary C-H Bonds Using Ru(II)-Pheox Catalyst.

We have established a method for the highly regio- and enantioselective functionalization of tert-butyl groups via intramolecular amide carbene insertion into C-H bonds, yielding γ-lactams with 91% ee in up to 99% yield. This reaction uses a ruthenium(II) phenyl oxazoline (Ru(II)-Pheox) complex. The catalytic intramolecular carbene transfer reaction to the primary C-H bond proceeds rapidly and selectively compared to that with secondary C-H, benzylic secondary C-H, tert-C-H, or spC-H bonds in the presence of 1 mol % Ru(II)-Pheox catalyst.

Computational chemical analysis of Ru(II)-Pheox-catalyzed highly enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions.

Computational chemical analysis of Ru(II)-Pheox-catalyzed highly enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions was performed using density functional theory (DFT). In this study, cyclopropane ring-fused γ-lactones, which are 5.8 kcal/mol more stable than the corresponding minor enantiomer, are obtained as the major product.

Highly stereoselective spirocyclopropanation of various diazooxindoles with olefins catalyzed using Ru(ii)-complex.

Optically active spirocyclopropyloxindole derivatives were efficiently synthesized from diazooxindoles and olefins in the presence of a Ru(ii)-Pheox catalyst. Among a series of Ru(ii)-Pheox catalysts, Ru(ii)-Pheox 6e was determined to be the best catalyst for spirocyclopropanation reactions of diazooxindoles with various olefins in high yields (up to 98%) with high diastereoselectivities (up to : = >99:1<) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Furthermore, as the first catalytic asymmetric synthesis, anti-HIV active candidate 4a and a bioactive compound of AMPK modulator 4c were easily synthesized from the corresponding diazooxindoles 1i and 1b, respectively, in high yields with high enantioselectivities (4a: 82% yield, 95% ee, 4b: 99% yield, 93% ee).

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Cyclopropylphosphonation Reactions of N,N-Dialkyl Groups of Aniline Derivatives by Ru(II)-Pheox Complex.

Novel catalysis involving phosphonomethylation of N-methylaniline and asymmetric cyclopropylphosphonation reactions of N,N-diethylaniline derivatives with diazomethylphosphonates are reported. Optically active cyclopropylphosphonate derivatives were directly synthesized from diazomethylphosphonates and N,N-diethylaniline derivatives catalyzed by a Ru(II)-Pheox complex in one step in good yields and high diastereoselectivities (up to trans/ cis = > 99:1<) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). D-labeling mechanistic studies of phosphonomethylation and cyclopropylphosphonation suggested that an enamine or iminium intermediate was generated in the reaction process.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of trifluoromethyl cyclopropanes by using Ru(ii)-Pheox catalysts.

An asymmetric synthesis of various trifluoromethyl cyclopropanes from olefins, such as vinyl ferrocene, vinyl ethers, vinyl amines, vinyl carbamates and dienes, was achieved by using Ru(ii)-Pheox catalysts. This catalytic system can function at a low catalyst loading (3 mol%) compared with those reported previously, and the desired cyclopropane products are obtained in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99 : 1) and enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee).

Highly stereoselective cyclopropanation of various olefins with diazosulfones catalyzed by Ru(ii)-Pheox complexes.

A highly stereoselective cyclopropanation of various olefins with diazosulfones catalyzed by chiral Ru(ii)-Pheox complexes was developed to give chiral cyclopropyl sulfones in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent trans-selectivity and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee).

Ru(ii)-Pheox-catalyzed Si-H insertion reaction: construction of enantioenriched carbon and silicon centers.

We established a highly enantioselective Si-H insertion reaction to construct chiral centers at the carbon and silicon atoms, using a Ru(ii)-pheox catalyst. The catalytic asymmetric Si-H insertion reaction of α-methyl-α-diazoesters proceeded smoothly with excellent stereoinduction at both the neighboring carbon and silicon atoms (up to 99% yield and 99% ee).

Enantioselective Cyclopropanation of a Wide Variety of Olefins Catalyzed by Ru(II)-Pheox Complexes.

The transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of olefins with diazoacetates has become one of the most important methods for the synthesis of optically active cyclopropane derivatives, which are key pharmaceutical building blocks and present in a large number of natural products. To date, significant progress has been made in this area of research, and efficient stereocontrolled synthetic approaches to cyclopropane derivatives have been developed using rhodium, ruthenium, copper, and cobalt catalysts. However, the vast majority of these strategies are limited to electron-rich olefins, such as styrene derivatives, due to the electrophilicity of the metal-carbene intermediates generated from the reaction of the metal with the diazo compound.

Highly stereoselective cyclopropanation of diazo Weinreb amides catalyzed by chiral Ru(ii)-Amm-Pheox complexes.

The first highly stereoselective cyclopropanation of diazo Weinreb amides with olefins was accomplished using chiral Ru(ii)-Amm-Pheox complex to give the corresponding chiral cyclopropyl Weinreb amides in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99 : 1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).

Ru(II)-Pheox-Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Cyclopropanation of Electron-Deficient Olefins.

The first highly enantioselective intramolecular cyclopropanation of electron-deficient olefins, in the presence of Ru(II)--Pheox catalyst, is reported. The corresponding cyclopropane-fused γ-lactones were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (ee up to 99%). Moreover, this method enables efficient access to enantioenriched dicarbonyl cyclopropane derivatives, which are important intermediates for the synthesis of various bioactive compounds.

Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of alkylidenecyclopropanes via Ru(II)-Pheox catalyzed asymmetric inter- and intramolecular cyclopropanation of allenes.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of optically active alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) via the Ru(II)-Pheox catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of allenes has been established. This catalytic system proceeded with high regioselectivity to give the ACP products in high yield with high diastereoselectivity (up to 99/1) and enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).

Highly stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropylphosphonates catalyzed by chiral Ru(II)-Pheox complex.

Ru(II)-Pheox-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of diethyl diazomethylphosphonate with alkenes, including α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, afforded the corresponding optically active cyclopropylphosphonates in high yields and with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).

Highly enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropylamine derivatives via Ru(II)-pheox-catalyzed direct asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinylcarbamates.

The Ru(II)-Pheox-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinylcarbamates with diazoesters resulted in the corresponding cyclopropylamine derivatives in high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 96:4) and enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).

Highly stereoselective Ru(II)-Pheox catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of terminal olefins with succinimidyl diazoacetate.

The Ru(II)-Pheox complex is an efficient catalyst for the intermolecular cyclopropanation of various terminal olefins with succinimidyl diazoacetate. This catalytic system can perform under mild conditions, and the desired cyclopropane products are obtained in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity.