Synthesis of xylal- and arabinal-based crown ethers and their application as asymmetric phase transfer catalysts.

New xylal- and arabinal-based monoaza-15-crown-5 ethers were synthesized starting from l- and d-xylose, and l- and d-arabinose, respectively. These monosaccharide-based chiral macrocycles were tested as phase transfer catalysts in a few asymmetric reactions. The xylal-based crown compounds proved to be efficient catalysts in a few liquid-liquid phase reactions.

Synthesis of d-mannitol-based crown ethers and their application as catalyst in asymmetric phase transfer reactions.

A few new d-mannitol-based monoaza-15-crown-5 type chiral lariat ethers and 18-crown-6 type macrocycles were synthesized. These crown compounds were used as phase transfer catalysts in asymmetric Michael addititons and in a Darzens condensation under mild conditions to afford the corresponding products in a few cases in good to excellent enantioselectivities. In the Michael addition of diethyl acetoxymalonate to trans-chalcone, in the addition of diethyl acetamidomalonate to ß-nitrostyrene, in the reaction of diethyl bromomalonate with benzylidene malononitriles, in the cyclopropanation reaction of diethyl bromomalonate and 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandione, and in the Darzens condensation of α-chloroacetophenone with benzaldehyde, maximum enantioselectivities of 39%, 65%, 99%, 56%, and 62%, respectively, were obtained in the presence of the d-mannitol-based macrocycles as the catalysts.

Synthesis of l-threitol-based crown ethers and their application as enantioselective phase transfer catalyst in Michael additions.

A few new l-threitol-based lariat ethers incorporating a monoaza-15-crown-5 unit were synthesized starting from diethyl l-tartrate. These macrocycles were used as phase transfer catalysts in asymmetric Michael addition reactions under mild conditions to afford the adducts in a few cases in good to excellent enantioselectivities. The addition of 2-nitropropane to trans-chalcone, and the reaction of diethyl acetamidomalonate with β-nitrostyrene resulted in the chiral Michael adducts in good enantioselectivities (90% and 95%, respectively).