Stereoselective Synthesis of the IDO Inhibitor Navoximod.

A highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of the IDO inhibitor navoximod, featuring the stereoselective installation of two relative and two absolute stereocenters from an advanced racemic intermediate, is described. The stereocenters were set via a crystallization-induced dynamic resolution along with two selective ketone reductions: one via a biocatalytic ketoreductase transformation and one via substrate-controlled hydride delivery from LiAlH(Ot-Bu)3. Following this strategy, navoximod was synthesized in 10 steps from 2-fluorobenzaldehyde and isolated in 23% overall yield with 99.7% ee and high purity.

Highly selective palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of secondary alkylzinc reagents with heteroaryl halides.

The highly selective palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling of secondary alkylzinc reagents with heteroaryl halides is described. The development of a series of biarylphosphine ligands has led to the identification of an improved catalyst for the coupling of electron-deficient heterocyclic substrates. Preparation and characterization of oxidative addition complex (L)(Ar)PdBr provided insight into the unique reactivity of catalysts based on CPhos-type ligands in facilitating challenging reductive elimination processes.

Direct electrophilic N-trifluoromethylation of azoles by a hypervalent iodine reagent.

Effective CF(3) transfer: Various electron-rich nitrogen heterocycles (pyrazoles, triazoles, and tetrazoles) can be directly N-trifluoromethylated by a hypervalent iodine reagent in an efficient manner. The optimized procedure, which includes an in situ silylation of the substrate followed by an acid-catalyzed CF(3) transfer, provides ready access to a series of new and previously challenging or inaccessible NCF(3) compounds.

P-stereogenic trifluoromethyl derivatives of Josiphos: synthesis, coordination properties, and applications in asymmetric catalysis.

Intermolecular nucleophilic substitution of a CF(3) group of bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphanes by a lithiated Ugi's amine (4) affords both diastereoisomers of the corresponding P-stereogenic trifluoromethylphosphanes 6 and 7. Separation of the isomers by column chromatography on silica gel followed by substitution of the dimethylamino group with phosphanes or pyrazoles yields the bidentate P^P (9 and 10) or P^N ligands (12 and 13) without epimerization at the stereogenic phosphorus center. The coordination properties of these bidentate ligands were investigated on the basis of crystal structures of the corresponding palladium and rhodium complexes. IR spectroscopic measurements of rhodium-carbonyl complexes 16-23 indicated the strongly electronic-withdrawing character of these phosphanes. The catalytic potential of these ligands was demonstrated in the rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of olefins as well as in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reaction, where high activities and enantioselectivities were observed.

Zinc-mediated formation of trifluoromethyl ethers from alcohols and hypervalent iodine trifluoromethylation reagents.

A (fluor)ry of activity: The transfer of an intact trifluoromethyl group from a hypervalent iodine reagent to an aliphatic alcohol occurs smoothly upon activation by zinc bis(triflimide). This constitutes a straightforward method for the preparation of trifluoromethoxy alkyl derivatives, compounds otherwise difficult to access.