Asymmetric Rubottom-Type Oxidation Catalyzed by Chiral Calcium Phosphates.

A highly efficient catalytic asymmetric Rubottom-type oxidation is described. Using meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) as the oxidant and chiral calcium phosphate as the catalyst, the facile transformation enables direct hydroxylation of N-Boc oxindoles and ß-ketoesters in high yields (up to 99 %) and in a highly enantioenriched fashion (up to >99 % ee). The application of the established method was demonstrated by the synthesis of a pharmaceutically important 3-hydroxyoxindole with excellent enantiocontrol.

Asymmetric Rubottom-Type Oxidation Catalyzed by Chiral Calcium Phosphates.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Jon C. Antilla at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. The image depicts asymmetric Rubottom-type oxidation catalyzed by chiral calcium phosphates. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202203720.

Enantioselective Amination of ß-Keto Esters Catalyzed by Chiral Calcium Phosphates.

A catalytic enantioselective amination of ß-keto esters using (S)-BINOL chiral calcium phosphate has been developed. The reaction produces chiral α-amino-ß-keto ester derivatives in most cases with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 %) and good yields (up to 99 %). This mild synthetic method highlights a low catalyst loading and high catalytic efficiency. When the substrate backbone was changed to 1-tetralone-derived ß-keto esters, unexpectedly high yields of selective redox products were obtained. The practicality of the reaction was realized by a scale-up without any significant loss in the enantioselectivity and yield. Chiral calcium phosphate was successfully recovered and reused for four runs, indicating its stability and high catalytic activity.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Enantio- and Diastereoselective Allylboration of Aldehydes with ß,γ-Substituted Allylboronates.

The catalytic asymmetric addition of ß,γ-substituted allylboronates to aldehydes has been described. Promoted by 5 mol % chiral phosphoric acid, the reactions were broadly applicable, scalable, and efficient, allowing for the formation of 3,4-anti/syn-homoallylic alcohols bearing adjacent tertiary or quaternary stereogenic centers in a highly enantio- and diastereoselective manner (≤99% ee and dr >20:1). The rigid chairlike transition state involving the chiral phosphoric acid contributed to the highly controlled reaction.

Chiral Calcium Phosphate-Catalyzed Enantioselective Amination of 3-Aryl-2-oxindoles with Dibenzyl Azodicarboxylate.

A chiral calcium phosphate-catalyzed enantioselective amination of 2-oxindoles with dibenzyl azodicarboxylate has been developed, affording the products in consistently high yields and excellent enantioselectivity. This synthetic method features low catalyst loading and a high catalytic efficiency. Moreover, the practical value of this process is well demonstrated by a scale-up experiment and a trial of catalyst recovery and reuse.

Catalytic Asymmetric Reduction of α-Trifluoromethylated Imines with Catecholborane by BINOL-Derived Boro-phosphates.

A catalytic enantioselective reduction of α-trifluoromethylated imines by a BINOL-derived boro-phosphate employing catecholborane as hydride source has been developed. This method provides an efficient route to prepare synthetically useful chiral α-trifluoromethylated amines in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% yield and 96% ee) under mild conditions.

Bi(cyclopentyl)diol-Derived Boronates in Highly Enantioselective Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Allylation, Propargylation, and Crotylation of Aldehydes.

In this study, we disclose the catalytic addition of bi(cyclopentyl)diol-derived boronates to aldehydes promoted by chiral phosphoric acids, allowing for the formation of enantioenriched homoallylic, propargylic, and crotylic alcohols (up to >99% enantiomeric excess (ee), diastereomeric ratio (dr) >20:1). These boronate substrates provided superior enantioselectivities, allowing for the reactions to proceed with low catalyst loading (0.5-5 mol %) and reduced reaction time (15 min at room temperature for aldehyde allylboration). A wide substrate scope was exhibited, and the novel boronates provided high enantiocontrol. Reactions with substituted allylboronates and aldehydes yielded vicinal stereogenic alcohols bearing ß-tertiary or quaternary carbon centers. High enantio- and diastereoselectivities were found due to the closed six-membered chair-like transition state, with backbone modifications of the boronate and its interactions with the chiral phosphoric acid being the most likely contributing factor.

Design and synthesis of new alkyl-based chiral phosphoric acid catalysts.

Using chiral BINOL-derived phosphoric acids (PA's) to activate substrates for enhanced reactivity is now regarded as a powerful strategy to control enantioselectivity in asymmetric synthesis. Generally, most substituents at the 3,3'-positions of BINOL PA's are aryl derivatives. These derivatives are pivotal in attaining high selectivity. PA's with alkyl substituents in these positions have rarely been reported. Herein, we introduced alkyl-based substituents at the 3,3'-position of PA's. These new potential catalysts, if applied in reactions, may allow altered noncovalent interactions (as opposed to the typical aryl substituents in these positions) with substrates used in chiral PA-catalyzed chemistry in the future.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Hetero-triarylmethanes from Racemic Indolyl Alcohols.

The direct enantioselective 1,4- and 1,8-arylations of 7-methide-7H-indoles and 6-methide-6H-indoles, respectively, generated in situ from diarylmethanols, with electron-rich arenes as nucleophiles, has been achieved in the presence of chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs). These two remote activation protocols provide an efficient approach for the construction of diverse hetero-triarylmethanes in high yields (up to 97 %) and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %). Mechanistically inspired experiments tentatively indicate that the catalytic enantioselective 1,4-addition as well as the formal SN 1 substitution could proceed efficiently in the similar catalytic systems. Furthermore, the modification of the catalytic system and diarylmethanol structure successfully deviates the reactivity toward a remote, highly enantioselective 1,8-arylation reaction. This flexible activation mode and novel reactivity of diarylmethanols expand the synthetic potential of chiral phosphoric acids.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Oxime Ethers: Desymmetrization and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Substituted Cyclohexanones.

Axially chiral cyclohexylidene oxime ethers exhibit unique chirality because of the restricted rotation of C=N. The first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of novel axially chiral cyclohexylidene oximes has been developed by catalytic desymmetrization of 4-substituted cyclohexanones with O-arylhydroxylamines and is catalyzed by a chiral BINOL-derived strontium phosphate with excellent yields and good enantioselectivities. In addition, chiral BINOL-derived phosphoric acid catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of α-substituted cyclohexanones has been performed and yields versatile intermediates in high yields and enantioselectivities.

Catalytic Asymmetric Desymmetrization of Cyclic 1,3-Diketones Using Chiral Boro-phosphates.

Herein, we report a chiral boro-phosphate-catalyzed reductive amination for the desymmetrization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-cyclopentadiones with pinacolborane as the reducing agent, delivering chiral ß-amino ketones with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in good yields (≤94%), high enantioselectivities (≤97% ee), and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr). This reaction has a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The importance of the chiral products was also demonstrated through the preparation of multifunctional building blocks and heterocycles.

In vitro evaluation of guanidine analogs as sigma receptor ligands for potential anti-stroke therapeutics.

Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment of acute stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, which must be administered within 6 hours after stroke onset. The pan-selective σ-receptor agonist N,N'-di-o-tolyl-guanidine (o-DTG) has been shown to reduce infarct volume in rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion, even when administered 24 hours after stroke. DTG derivatives were synthesized to develop novel compounds with greater potency than o-DTG. Fluorometric Ca(2+) imaging was used in cultured cortical neurons to screen compounds for their capacity to reduce ischemia- and acidosis-evoked cytosolic Ca(2+) overload, which has been linked to stroke-induced neurodegeneration. In both assays, migration of the methyl moiety produced no significant differences, but removal of the group increased potency of the compound for inhibiting acidosis-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevations. Chloro and bromo substitution of the methyl moiety in the meta and para positions increased potency by ≤160%, but fluoro substitutions had no effect. The most potent DTG derivative tested was N,N'-di-p-bromo-phenyl-guanidine (p-BrDPhG), which had an IC(50) of 2.2 µM in the ischemia assay, compared with 74.7 µM for o-DTG. Microglial migration assays also showed that p-BrDPhG is more potent than o-DTG in this marker for microglial activation, which is also linked to neuronal injury after stroke. Radioligand binding studies showed that p-BrDPhG is a pan-selective σ ligand. Experiments using the σ-1 receptor-selective antagonist 1-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-4-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (BD-1063) demonstrated that p-BrDPhG blocks Ca(2+) overload via σ-1 receptor activation. The study identified four compounds that may be more effective than o-DTG for the treatment of ischemic stroke at delayed time points.

Origins of stereoselectivities in chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed allylborations and propargylations of aldehydes.

The chiral BINOL-phosphoric acid catalyzed allylboration and propargylation reactions are studied with density functional theory (B3LYP and B3LYP-D3). Two different models were recently proposed for these reactions by Goodman and our group, respectively. In Goodman's model for allylborations, the catalyst interacts with the boronate pseudoaxial oxygen. By contrast, our model for propargylations predicts that the catalyst interacts with the boronate pseudoequatorial oxygen. In both models, the phosphoric acid stabilizes the transition state by forming a strong hydrogen bond with the oxygen of the boronate and is oriented by a formyl hydrogen bond (Goodman model) and by other electrostatic attractions in our model. Both of these models have now been reinvestigated for both allylborations and propargylations. For the most effective catalyst for these reactions, the lowest energy transition state corresponds to Goodman's axial model, while the best transition state leading to the minor enantiomer involves the equatorial model. The high enantioselectivity observed with only the bulkiest catalyst arises from the steric interactions between the substrates and the bulky groups on the catalyst, and the resulting necessity for distortion of the catalyst in the disfavored transition state.

An asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by chiral phosphate magnesium complexes: highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral spirooxindoles.

Mild Magic: A mild, enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction, catalyzed by a chiral magnesium phosphate species, has been developed for the synthesis of various chiral spirooxindoles. Molecular sieves were found to have a considerable effect when used as additives in this reaction.

Enantioselective Mukaiyama-Michael Reaction of ß,γ-Unsaturated α-Keto Esters with Silyl Ketene Acetals Catalyzed by a Chiral Magnesium Phosphate.

We would like to describe an efficient and highly enantioselective Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of silyl ketene acetals with ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters catalyzed by a chiral magnesium BINOL-derived phosphate. The resulting functionalized 1,5-dicarbonyl adducts are obtained in high yields (up to 96%) and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%) under mild conditions. Two plausible mechanistic pathways were proposed, including a 1,4-addition and a hetero Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-H Arylation of 2-Propyl Azaaryls Enabled by an Amino Acid Ligand.

A palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective arylation of unbiased secondary C(sp3)-H bonds was developed. The enantioselectivity was controlled by the combination of a pyridyl or isoquinolinyl directing group and an amino acid, N-Boc-2-pentyl proline. A variety of 2-propyl azaaryls and biaryl iodides were employed to provide arylated products in moderate to good yields (up to 82%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 93:7 er). This reaction is a rare example of an amino-acid-enabled enantioselective acyclic methylene C(sp3)-H arylation. Furthermore, the reaction proceeded with high enantioselectivity even on a gram scale, and the product was transformed to a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline bioactive molecule. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiments indicated that C-H activation is the rate-determining step for the enantioselective C(sp3)-H arylation.

Asymmetric Reductive Amination with Pinacolborane Catalyzed by Chiral SPINOL Borophosphates.

The catalytic asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with pinacolborane employing chiral SPINOL-derived borophosphates as catalysts has been realized. A series of chiral amine derivatives bearing multiple functional groups were obtained in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 97% yield, 98% ee) under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the synthetic applicability of the established method has been demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-Fendiline.

Chiral calcium VAPOL phosphate mediated asymmetric chlorination and Michael reactions of 3-substituted oxindoles.

We disclose a novel high yielding and highly enantioselective chiral calcium VAPOL phosphate-catalyzed chlorination of 3-substituted oxindoles with N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS). The reaction conditions are also shown to be effective for the catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of 3-aryloxindoles to methyl vinyl ketone.

Ligand-free copper-catalyzed arylation of amidines.

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of amidine salts were utilized to synthesize monoarylated amidines in moderate to high yields with ligand-free conditions. DMF was the superior solvent for the N-arylation of benzamidines, while MeCN was used in the formation of N-aryl amidines in moderate to high yield.

Catalytic Asymmetric C-7 Friedel-Crafts Alkylation/N-Hemiacetalization of 4-Aminoindoles.

A unique catalytic asymmetric C-7 Friedel-Crafts alkylation/N-hemiacetalization cascade reaction of 4-aminoindoles with ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters has been described. Using a chiral magnesium H8-BINOL-derived bis(phosphate) complex as catalyst, the resulting functionalized 1,7-annulated indole scaffolds are obtained in high yields (up to 98%) and with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1) under mild reaction conditions.