Enantioselective Aryl-Iodide-Catalyzed Wagner-Meerwein Rearrangements.

We report a strategy for effecting catalytic, enantioselective carbocationic rearrangements through the intermediacy of alkyl iodanes as stereodefined carbocation equivalents. Asymmetric Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements of ß-substituted styrenes are catalyzed by the C2-symmetric aryl iodide 1 to provide access to enantioenriched 1,3-difluorinated molecules possessing interesting and well-defined conformational properties. Hammett and kinetic isotope effect studies, in combination with computational investigations, reveal that two different mechanisms are operative in these rearrangement reactions, with the pathway depending on the identity of the migrating group. In reactions involving alkyl-group migration, intermolecular fluoride attack is product- and enantio-determining. In contrast, reactions in which aryl rearrangement occurs proceed through an enantiodetermining intramolecular 1,2-migration prior to fluorination. The fact that both pathways are promoted by the same chiral aryl iodide catalyst with high enantioselectivity provides a compelling illustration of generality across reaction mechanisms in asymmetric catalysis.

Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Fluoroamination of Alkenes.

The stereoselective synthesis of syn-ß-fluoroaziridine building blocks via chiral aryl iodide-catalyzed fluorination of allylic amines is reported. The method employs HF-pyridine as a nucleophilic fluoride source together with mCPBA as a stoichiometric oxidant, and affords access to arylethylamine derivatives featuring fluorine-containing stereocenters in high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Catalyst-controlled diastereoselectivity in the fluorination of chiral allylic amines enabled the preparation of highly enantioenriched 1,3-difluoro-2-amines bearing three contiguous stereocenters. The enantioselective catalytic method was applied successfully to other classes of multifunctional alkene substrates to afford anti-ß-fluoropyrrolidines, as well as a variety of 1,2-oxyfluorinated products.

Catalytic 1,3-Difunctionalization via Oxidative C-C Bond Activation.

Electronegative substituents arrayed in 1,3-relationships along saturated carbon frameworks can exert strong influence over molecular conformation due to dipole minimization effects. Simple and general methods for incorporation of such functional group relationships could thus provide a valuable tool for modulating molecular shape. Here, we describe a general strategy for the 1,3-oxidation of cyclopropanes using aryl iodine(I-III) catalysis, with emphasis on 1,3-difluorination reactions. These reactions make use of practical, commercially available reagents and can engage a variety of substituted cyclopropane substrates. Analysis of crystal and solution structures of several of the products reveal the consistent effect of 1,3-difluorides in dictating molecular conformation. The generality of the 1,3-oxidation strategy is demonstrated through the catalytic oxidative ring-opening of cyclopropanes for the synthesis of 1,3-fluoroacetoxylated products, 1,3-diols, 1,3-amino alcohols, and 1,3-diamines.

Divergent and Regioselective Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines and Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.

Nitrogenous heterocycles are ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals and drug-like compounds; however, regioselective synthesis has proved challenging. Herein we report our efforts to develop a regioselective method for the synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines and the serendipitous discovery of a protocol for the regioselective formation of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines. Together, these transformations allow for the rapid and selective formation of two important heterocyclic motifs from a common intermediate.

Reductive sp3-sp2 Coupling Reactions Enable Late-Stage Modification of Pharmaceuticals.

Late-stage derivatization of pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds relies on the availability of highly functional-group tolerant reactions. Reactions that increase the sp3 character of molecules enable the pursuit of more selective and well-tolerated pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report the use of sp3-sp2 cross-electrophile reductive couplings to modify a generic ATP-competitive kinase inhibitor with a broad range of primary and secondary alkyl halide coupling partners.

Copper(ii)-directed synthesis of neutral heteroditopic [2]rotaxane ion-pair host systems incorporating hydrogen and halogen bonding anion binding cavities.

Neutral heteroditopic [2]rotaxane ion-pair host systems were synthesised via a Cu(ii) directed passive metal template strategy. Each rotaxane contains discrete, axle-separated interlocked binding sites for a guest anion and a transition metal countercation. The anion binding sites are composed of convergent X-H (X = C, N) hydrogen bond donor groups, or mixed X-H and C-I hydrogen and halogen bond donor groups, whereas an equivalent three-dimensional array of amine, pyridine and carbonyl oxygen donor groups comprise the transition metal binding site. 1H NMR titrations experiments in CDCl3/CD3OD or CDCl3/CD3OD/D2O solvent mixtures reveal that the heteroditopic [2]rotaxane host systems are capable of cooperative anion recognition in the presence of a co-bound Zn(ii) cation.