Dimethylzinc-mediated enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to 1,2-diketones using perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines as ligands.

A conformationally restricted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazine derived from (-)-8-aminomenthol behaves as a good chiral ligand in the dimethylzinc-mediated enantioselective monoaddition of aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes to 1,2-diketones. The corresponding α-hydroxyketones were obtained in good yields with high enantioselectivities starting from both aromatic and aliphatic 1,2-diketones. The alkynylation of unsymmetrical 1,2-diketones with electronically different substituents also proceeds with high regio- and enantioselectivity. This reaction provides a practical method to synthesize ketones bearing a chiral tertiary propargylic alcohol.

Fluorinated vs Nonfluorinated PR2(biaryl) Ligands and Their [AuCl(L)] Complexes: Synthesis, X-ray Structures, and Computational Study of Weak Interactions. Bond, No Bond, and Beyond.

Six fluorinated PR2(biaryl) phosphines, Ln, with R = Ph, Cy and biaryl = C6H4-C6F5, C6F4-C6H5, C6F4-C6F5, have been prepared. Their [AuCl(Ln)] complexes and H congeners with PhJohnPhos or CyJohnPhos have been studied in order to examine the interactions that bring the distal aryl close to the Au-Cl bond region. X-ray, DFT structure optimization, QTAIM, and NCI methods allow for some understanding of the forces involved. The "no bond" noncovalent distal-aryl/Au-Cl weak interactions are produced at forced short distances achieved under intramolecular structural ligand pressure. Enhanced vdW distal-aryl/Au interactions at "no bond" distances shorter than the sum of Au and C vdW radii and weaker distal-aryl/Cl interactions at "no bond" distances beyond the sum of Cl and C vdW radii counterbalance the unfavorable structural distortion of the free ligand, providing some extra stability of the molecule on the order of 2-10 kcal mol-1. The F substituents in the distal aryl induce shorter aryl distances to the Au-Cl zone, pointing overall to stronger π-aryl polarization as being mainly responsible for the NCIs with gold. The interactions in the C···Cl zone, where the distances are larger than the sum of vdW radii, contribute only about 5%, according to energy estimations using NBOs.

Tandem diastereo- and enantioselective preparation of aryl and alkyl cyclopropyl carbinols with three adjacent stereocenters using perhydrobenzoxazines and diethylzinc.

The enantio- and diastereoselective one-pot ethylation/cyclopropanation is efficiently promoted by a chiral perhydrobenzoxazine. The catalytic system tolerates a wide range of di- and trisubstituted α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes and has been found to be highly diastereo- and enantioselective. Enals leading to intermediates lacking allylic strain or with either A(1,2) or A(1,3) strain afford the corresponding syn hydroxycyclopropanes very selectively. While α-methyl enals are successfully ethylated/cyclopropanated, the presence of bulky substituents at the alpha position of the enal constitutes a limitation to the substrate scope. The use of 1,1-diiodoethane allows the obtention of the corresponding enantioenriched cyclopropylcarbinol, which bears carbon-substituents at all three positions of the ring, with good enantiocontrol, although moderate diastereoselectivity. A procedure for the asymmetric one-pot arylation/cyclopropanation of enals is proposed, which involves the use of triarylboroxin, diethylzinc and diiodomethane.

Highly homogeneous stereocontrolled construction of quaternary hydroxyesters by addition of dimethylzinc to α-ketoesters promoted by chiral perhydrobenzoxazines and B(OEt)3.

A highly efficient enantioselective addition of Me(2)Zn to α-ketoesters, assisted by a chiral perhydro-1,3-benzoxazine ligand, is described. This novel catalytic system offers homogeneous elevated enantioselectivities in the preparation of α-hydroxyesters that bear a quaternary stereocenter, with a minor dependence on electronic and steric effects when aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aliphatic α-ketoesters are employed. The catalyst can be recovered and reused without loss of activity.

Asymmetric additive-free aryl addition to aldehydes using perhydrobenzoxazines as ligands and boroxins as aryl source.

A highly efficient enantioselective aryl addition to aldehydes using boroxins as aryl source and conformationally restricted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines as ligands is reported. Both enantiomeric forms of chiral arylphenylmethanols and 1,1'-disubstituted diarylmethanols are afforded with excellent yields and enantioselectivities using the same ligand by means of an appropriate combination of boroxin and aromatic aldehyde. The enantiocontrol is not significantly influenced by electronic effects or steric hindrance, even with substituted boroxins. Very homogeneous ee's are reached when substituted arylboroxins are employed, without the use of any class of additive or pre-treatment.

Easy wide scope access to luminescent fluorophosphoranes.

The almost quantitative synthesis of homologous luminescent fluorophosphoranes, by SNAr cyclization of (2'-F,2-(PR2)biaryl) phosphines made from easily accessible reagents, is reported and the DFT cyclization mechanism and alternative pathways to complete this isomerization are studied and discussed.

Dimethylzinc-Mediated Addition of Phenylacetylene to α-Diketones Catalyzed by Chiral Perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines.

An efficient, enantioselective Me2Zn-mediated monoaddition of phenylacetylene to α-diketones in the presence of a chiral perhydro-1,3-benzoxazine ligand is described. At temperatures higher than -20 °C, a kinetic resolution of the resulting α-hydroxy ketone occurs, which greatly improves the enantioselectivity although with moderate chemical yield. The alkynylation of nonsymmetrical aromatic diketones with electronically different substituents on the aromatic rings proceed with high regioselectivity. This procedure allows the preparation of α-hydroxy-α-ynyl ketones as highly enantioenriched materials.