An investigation of the observed, but counter-intuitive, stereoselectivity noted during chiral amine synthesis via N-chiral-ketimines.

The default explanation for good to high diastereomeric excess when reducing N-chiral imines possessing only mediocre cis/trans-imine ratios (>15% cis-imine) has invariably been in situ cis-to-trans isomerization before reduction; but until now no study unequivocally supported this conclusion. The present study co-examines an alternative hypothesis, namely that some classes of cis-imines may hold conformations that erode the inherent facial bias of the chiral auxiliary, providing more of the trans-imine reduction product than would otherwise be expected. The ensuing experimental and computational (DFT) results favor the former, pre-existing, explanation.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Alkylidene Phthalides.

The N,O-diacylhydroxylamine derivative 4 has been prepared and its reactivity with nucleophiles investigated. On reaction with lithium enolates of cyclic or acyclic ketones, 4 is converted stereoselectively to the corresponding alkylidene phthalide. The stereochemical outcome of the transformation can be modified by changing the polarity of the reaction medium and the products isomerized under acidic conditions.

Arene oxidation with malonoyl peroxides.

Malonoyl peroxide 7, prepared in a single step from the commercially available diacid, is an effective reagent for the oxidation of aromatics. Reaction of an arene with peroxide 7 at room temperature leads to the corresponding protected phenol which can be unmasked by aminolysis. An ionic mechanism consistent with the experimental findings and supported by isotopic labeling, Hammett analysis, EPR investigations, and reactivity profile studies is proposed.