Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of (Hetero)arylketones with Tethered Rh(III)-N-(p-Tolylsulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene-1,2-diamine Complexes: Scope and Limitations.

A series of new tethered Rh(III)/Cp* complexes containing the N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene-1,2-diamine ligand have been prepared, characterized, and evaluated in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of a wide range of (hetero)aryl ketones. The reaction was performed under mild conditions with the formic acid/triethylamine (5:2) system as the hydrogen source and provided enantiomerically enriched alcohols with good yields and high to excellent enantioselectivities. Although the nature of the substituents on the phenyl tethering ring did not alter the stereochemical outcome of the reaction, complexes bearing electron-donating groups exhibited a higher catalytic activity than those having electron-withdrawing groups. A scale-up of the ATH of 4-chromanone to the gram scale quantitatively delivered the reduced product with excellent enantioselectivity, demonstrating the potential usefulness of these new complexes.

Rhodium-mediated asymmetric transfer hydrogenation: a diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of syn-α-amido ß-hydroxy esters.

The preparation of syn α-benzoylamido ß-hydroxy esters through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) with a tethered Rh(iii)-DPEN complex via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has been developed for the first time starting from α-benzoylamido ß-keto esters. A variety of α-benzoylamido ß-keto esters were converted under mild conditions into the corresponding syn α-benzoylamino ß-hydroxy esters with high yields (up to 98%) and diastereomeric ratios (up to >99 : 1 dr) as well as excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Dearomative [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of 3-Nitroindoles with Vinylcyclopropanes: An Entry to Stereodefined 2,3-Fused Cyclopentannulated Indoline Derivatives.

The palladium(0)-catalyzed diastereoselective dearomative cyclopentannulation of 3-nitroindoles with vinylcyclopropanes is described. This straightforward and highly atom-economical method leads to a wide range of functionalized indolines in good yields and diastereoselectivities and represents an unprecedented entry toward the valuable 2,3-fused cyclopentannulated indoline scaffold.

Synthetic strategy toward the C44-C65 fragment of mirabalin.

A convergent and flexible stereoselective synthesis of one isomer of the C44-C65 fragment of mirabalin is described. The key steps include organocatalytic aldolization, ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation, amide formation, Marshall stereoselective allenylation, and the Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction.