Four Mechanistic Mysteries: The Benefits of Writing a Critical Review.

While writing a comprehensive review on the reactions of epoxides with titanium(III) reagents, we encountered a series of mechanistic puzzles. Using clues from the literature, many of which were not available at the time that the mysteries emerged, it was possible to demystify a number of these conundrums. We discuss four examples, which we believe will significantly change the way in which titanium(III) chemistry is practiced. Our experience underscores the importance of comprehensive and critical reviews in chemistry and the truism that the authors are prime beneficiaries of the review process.

Preparation of both C5' epimers of 5'-C-methyladenosine: reagent control trumps substrate control.

Adenosine-derived ketone 5 was subjected to Noyori asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) using aqueous sodium formate as a stoichiometric reductant. Despite the well-known sensitivity of ATH to stereoelectronic effects from a contiguous stereogenic center, the 5' stereochemistry was overwhelmingly controlled by the chirality of the catalyst. Both the (5'S,4'R) and the (5'R,4'R) diastereomers could be prepared selectively in good yields. An efficient three-step route that provides ketone 5 in 75% overall yield was developed.

"Black Swan events" in organic synthesis.

When a research area "goes viral", the event typically occurs in conjunction with a major change in "conventional wisdom". In retrospect, the literature often contains earlier hints that the original judgment was not correct. These antecedents are referred to as "Black Swan" events. The picture shows research on homogeneous gold catalysis "going viral".

Stereoselective control by face-to-face versus edge-to-face aromatic interactions: the case of C(3)-Ti(IV) amino trialkolate sulfoxidation catalysts.

The stereoselective oxidation of differently functionalised benzyl phenyl sulfides has been examined by using enantiopure Ti(IV) trialkanolamine complexes. These complexes efficiently catalyse the sulfoxidation with good stereoselectivities. The data highlight the contribution to the stereoselectivity of steric effects and non-covalent pi-pi interactions between the aromatic rings of the Ti(IV) complex and those pertaining to the substrates. Enantiomeric excesses have been correlated with the electrostatic potential surfaces (EPS) of the reacting sulfides. The overall study leads to a mechanistic interpretation that explains the stereoselectivity of the system and dissects the role of aromatic and steric interactions in the stereoselective process.

Pyrimidine as an Aryl C-H Activating Group.

The Pd-catalyzed regioselective C-H activation/arylation, /iodination, and/acetoxylation reactions of 4-arylpyrimidines using aryl iodides, N-iodosuccinimide, and (diacetoxyiodo)benzene respectively as coupling partners are described. Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and Sonogashira reactions of the resulting aryl iodides are demonstrated. The scalability of the C-H activation/functionalization starting with readily accessible 4-aryl pyrimidines is also reported.

Demystifying Cp2Ti(H)Cl and its Enigmatic Role in the Reactions of Epoxides with Cp2TiCl.

The role of Cp2Ti(H)Cl in the reactions of Cp2TiCl with trisubstituted epoxides has been investigated in a combined experimental and computational study. Although Cp2Ti(H)Cl has generally been regarded as a robust species, its decomposition to Cp2TiCl and molecular hydrogen was found to be exothermic (ΔG = -11 kcal/mol when the effects of THF solvation are considered). In laboratory studies, Cp2Ti(H)Cl was generated using the reaction of 1,2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane with Cp2TiCl as a model. Rapid evolution of hydrogen gas was demonstrated, indicating that Cp2Ti(H)Cl is indeed a thermally unstable molecule, which undergoes intermolecular reductive elimination of hydrogen under the reaction conditions. The stoichiometry of the reaction (Cp2TiCl:epoxide = 1:1) and the quantity of hydrogen produced (1 mole per 2 moles of epoxide) is consistent with this assertion. The diminished yield of allylic alcohol from these reactions under the conditions of protic versus aprotic catalysis can be understood in terms of the predominant titanium(III) present in solution. Under the conditions of protic catalysis, Cp2TiCl complexes with collidine hydrochloride and the titanium(III) center is less available for "cross-disproportionation" with carbon-centered radicals; this leads to by-products from radical capture by hydrogen atom transfer, resulting in a saturated alcohol.

An amino alcohol ligand for highly enantioselective addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes: serendipity rules.

[reaction: see text] Amino alcohol 4 (or its enantiomer) is prepared in two simple steps. Commercial (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol is dialkylated with bis(2-bromoethyl) ether. Subsequent hydrogenation over 5% Rh on alumina in the presence of morpholine unexpectedly stops at the hexahydro derivative 4. Amino alcohol 4 promotes the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes at room temperature in up to 99% enantiomeric excess.

2-deoxyribose as a rich source of chiral 5-carbon building blocks.

We have developed concise routes to a number of useful chiral 5-carbon synthetic building blocks using readily available O-1-methyl-2-deoxyribose as starting material. Novel transformations include the use of indium triflate to catalyze the oxidation of a methyl furanoside to the corresponding lactone with MCPBA and the Vasella-type fragmentation of a 5-iodo furanoside using chromium(II) chloride when zinc proved ineffective. In addition, 3,4-disubstituted piperidine derivatives were prepared without hydroxyl group protection via a simple reductive amination reaction.

Synthesis of Z-5-carboxymethylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-ones: a better way.

The title compounds were prepared by a straightforward two-step procedure. Tartaric acid was first protected as either a bis(ketal) or a bis(acetal). This intermediate was then treated with potassium tert-butoxide at reduced temperature to effect a stereoselective elimination leading to the Z diastereomer of the alpha,beta-unsaturated acid. This protocol is useful for the laboratory-scale synthesis of these compounds but can also be scaled up to produce kilogram quantities of the material.

Strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of trans-2,4-disubstituted piperidines: application to the CCR3 antagonist IS811.

A strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of trans-2,4-disubstituted piperidines is proposed and applied to the preparation of IS811, a potent CCR3 antagonist. The C2 stereocenter is derived from commercial (R)-epichlorohydrin, while the C4 stereocenter is installed via diastereoselective hydrogenation of an alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone intermediate. Inversion of the original stereocenter via an efficient intramolecular S(N)2 amination affords the piperidine core of IS811. An improved protocol for the lithiation of ethyl propiolate is reported.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of 3-alkylidenelactams: high-throughput screening provides a surprising solution.

High-throughput screening of 256 potential catalysts (8 metal precursors x 32 phosphine ligands) has identified [(BDPP)Ir(COD)]BF4 as a catalyst for the enantioselective hydrogenation of 3-alkylidenelactams. This result is surprising given the highly flexible backbone of the BDPP ligand and the ineffectiveness of this catalyst in other applications. The asymmetric hydrogenation appears fairly general for five- and six-membered lactams and in one case has been scaled up to a 20 kg level.

One-carbon chain extension of esters to alpha-chloroketones: a safer route without diazomethane.

The reaction of a variety of methyl esters with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide at 0-25 degrees C affords the chain-extended beta-keto dimethylsulfoxonium ylides. Subsequent treatment with hydrogen chloride in THF proceeds with loss of DMSO to afford the corresponding alpha-chloroketones. This sequence has been utilized to convert the methyl esters of CBZ-protected alanine and valine to the anti N-protected alpha-amino epoxides, which are important pharmaceutical intermediates. When the same protocol is applied to BOC-protected phenylalanine methyl ester, epimerization occurs so that the use of a more reactive aryl ester is required. This chemistry provides a practical route to alpha-chloroketones that avoids the use of toxic and explosive diazomethane.