Albert Eschenmoser (1925-2023): A Giant of Organic Chemistry.

Albert Eschenmoser, one of the greatest organic chemists of the past hundred years, died on July 14, 2023 at the age of 97. The extraordinary breadth of his scientific contributions ranged from synthetic methodology, structure elucidation, and synthesis of natural products to the chemical etiology of biomolecular structures.

Recent Advances in Enantioselective Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: From Design to Applications.

This Review compiles the evolution, mechanistic understanding, and more recent advances in enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution and decarboxylative and oxidative allylic substitutions. For each reaction, the catalytic data, as well as examples of their application to the synthesis of more complex molecules, are collected. Sections in which we discuss key mechanistic aspects for high selectivity and a comparison with other metals (with advantages and disadvantages) are also included. For Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution, the catalytic data are grouped according to the type of nucleophile employed. Because of the prominent position of the use of stabilized carbon nucleophiles and heteronucleophiles, many chiral ligands have been developed. To better compare the results, they are presented grouped by ligand types. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative reactions are mainly promoted by PHOX or Trost ligands, which justifies organizing this section in chronological order. For asymmetric oxidative allylic substitution the results are grouped according to the type of nucleophile used.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Tetrasubstituted Acyclic Olefins.

Asymmetric hydrogenation has evolved as one of the most powerful tools to construct stereocenters. However, the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized tetrasubstituted acyclic olefins remains the pinnacle of asymmetric synthesis and an unsolved challenge. We report herein the discovery of an iridium catalyst for the first, generally applicable, highly enantio- and diastereoselective hydrogenation of such olefins and the mechanistic insights of the reaction. The power of this chemistry is demonstrated by the successful hydrogenation of a wide variety of electronically and sterically diverse olefins in excellent yield and high enantio- and diastereoselectivity.

H2 Activation by Non-Transition-Metal Systems: Hydrogenation of Aldimines and Ketimines with LiN(SiMe3 )2.

In recent years, H2 activation at non-transition-metal centers has met with increasing attention. Here, a system in which H2 is activated and transferred to aldimines and ketimines using substoichiometric amounts of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide is reported. Notably, the reaction tolerates the presence of acidic protons in the α-position. Mechanistic investigations indicated that the reaction proceeds via a lithium hydride intermediate as the actual reductant.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-Dioxides.

An efficient iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of substituted benzothiophene 1,1-dioxides is described. The use of iridium complexes with chiral pyridyl phosphinite ligands provides access to highly enantiomerically enriched sulfones with substituents at the 2- and 3-position. Sulfones of this type are of interest as core structures of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, they can be further reduced to chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzothiophenes.

Asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction: Catalyst Development and Mechanistic Insights Based on Mass Spectrometric Back-Reaction Screening.

An efficient protocol for the evaluation of catalysts for the asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction was developed. By mass spectrometric back-reaction screening of quasi-enantiomeric MBH products, an efficient bifunctional phosphine catalyst was identified that outperforms literature-known catalysts in the MBH reaction of methyl acrylate with aldehydes. The close match between the selectivities measured for the forward and back reaction and kinetic measurements provided strong evidence that the aldol step and not the subsequent proton transfer is rate- and enantioselectivity-determining.

NeoPHOX - a structurally tunable ligand system for asymmetric catalysis.

A synthesis of new NeoPHOX ligands derived from serine or threonine has been developed. The central intermediate is a NeoPHOX derivative bearing a methoxycarbonyl group at the stereogenic center next to the oxazoline N atom. The addition of methylmagnesium chloride leads to a tertiary alcohol, which can be acylated or silylated to produce NeoPHOX ligands with different sterical demand. The new NeoPHOX ligands were tested in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution. In both reactions high enantioselectivities were achieved, that were comparable to the enantioselectivities obtained with the up to now best NeoPHOX ligand derived from expensive tert-leucine.

Mass Spectrometric Back Reaction Screening of Quasi-Enantiomeric Products as a Mechanistic Tool.

In this account, we discuss a mass spectrometric method that enables unambiguous identification of intermediates involved in the enantioselective step of a catalytic cycle. This method, which we originally developed for rapid evaluation of chiral catalysts, is based on monitoring the back reaction of mass-labeled quasi-enantiomeric products by ESI-MS. In this way, the intrinsic enantioselectivity of a chiral catalyst can be determined directly by quantification of catalytically relevant intermediates. By comparing the results from the forward and back reaction, direct evidence for the involvement of a catalytic intermediate in the enantioselective step can be obtained. In addition, insights about the energy profile of the catalytic cycle may be gained. The potential of back reaction screening as a mechanistic tool is demonstrated for organocatalytic aldol reactions, 1,4-additions of aldehydes to nitroolefins, Diels-Alder reactions, Michael additions, and Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions.

Quaternary Stereogenic Centers through Enantioselective Heck Arylation of Acyclic Olefins with Aryldiazonium Salts: Application in a Concise Synthesis of (R)-Verapamil.

We describe herein a highly regio- and enantioselective Pd-catalyzed Heck arylation of unactivated trisubstituted acyclic olefins to provide all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers. Chiral N,N ligands of the pyrimidine- and pyrazino-oxazoline class were developed for that purpose, providing the desired products in good to high yields with enantiomeric ratios up to >99:1. Both linear and branched substituents on the olefins were well-tolerated. The potential of this new method is demonstrated by the straightforward synthesis of several O-methyl lactols and lactones containing quaternary stereocenters, together with a concise enantioselective total synthesis of the calcium channel blocker verapamil.

Pyridylidene-Mediated Dihydrogen Activation Coupled with Catalytic Imine Reduction.

In recent years, dihydrogen activation at non-metallic centers has received increasing attention. A system in which dihydrogen is trapped by a pyridylidene intermediate that is generated from a pyridinium salt and a base is now reported. The dihydropyridine formed in this process can act as reducing agent towards organic electrophiles. By coupling the hydrogen-activation step with subsequent hydride transfer from the dihydropyridine to an imine, a catalytic process was established. Treatment of the N-phenylimine of phenyl trifluoromethyl ketone with 5-20 mol% of N-mesityl-3,5-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)pyridinium triflate and 0.3-1.0 equivalents of LiN(SiMe3)2 under 50 bar of hydrogen gas resulted in high conversion into the corresponding amine.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of furans and benzofurans with iridium-pyridine-phosphinite catalysts.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of furans and benzofurans remains a challenging task. We report the hydrogenation of 2- and 3-substituted furans by using iridium catalysts that bear bicyclic pyridine-phosphinite ligands. Excellent enantioselectivities and high conversions were obtained for monosubstituted furans with a 3-alkyl or 3-aryl group. Furans substituted at the 2-position and 2,4-disubstituted furans proved to be more difficult substrates. The best results (80-97% conversion, 65-82% enantiomeric excess) were obtained with monosubstituted 2-alkylfurans and 2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan. Benzofurans with an alkyl substituent at the 2- or 3-position also gave high conversions and enantioselectivity, whereas 2-aryl derivatives showed essentially no reactivity. The asymmetric hydrogenation of a 3-methylbenzofuran derivative was used as a key step in the formal total synthesis of the cytotoxic naphthoquinone natural product (-)-thespesone.

A highly stereoselective and flexible strategy for the convergent synthesis of long-chain polydeoxypropionates: application towards the synthesis of the glycolipid membrane components hydroxyphthioceranic and phthioceranic acid.

A highly stereocontrolled and flexible access to biologically relevant polydeoxypropionates in optically pure form has been developed. Taking advantage of our previously established strategy for the asymmetric and stereodivergent synthesis of trideoxypropionate building blocks, we have now been able to assemble large polydeoxypropionate chains with defined configuration in a highly convergent manner. Central steps of this approach include two Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions with subsequent highly diastereoselective hydrogenations to join three advanced synthetic intermediates in excellent yield and with full stereochemical control. We have applied this strategy successfully towards the asymmetric synthesis of glycolipid membrane components phthioceranic acid and hydroxyphthioceranic acid, the latter of which was synthesized on a half-gram scale.

Iridium-catalyzed H/D exchange: ligand complexes with improved efficiency and scope.

Hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) is one of the most attractive tools for the introduction of deuterium or tritium to an organic compound. Herein, iridium complexes with N,P-ligands, highly active catalysts for asymmetric double bond reductions, have been tested for their HIE capabilities. Electron-rich ligands, containing dicyclohexylphosphines or phosphinites, have been identified as excellent ligands for efficient deuterium incorporation. Substrates with strong directing groups, that is, pyridines, ketones, and amides, as well as weak ligating units, such as, nitro, sulfones, and sulfonamides, could be labeled efficiently. With the addition of tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane to the reaction mixture, also highly deactivating nitrile substituents were well tolerated in the reaction. Based on the excellent results obtained with the chiral ThrePhox ligand, a structurally simpler, achiral ligand was developed. The iridium complex containing this ligand, proved to be a powerful catalyst for HIE reactions.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of maleic acid diesters and anhydrides.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of maleic and fumaric acid derivatives with iridium catalysts based on N,P ligands provides an efficient route to chiral enantioenriched succinates. A new catalyst derived from a 2,6-difluorophenyl-substituted pyridine-phosphinite ligand was developed and enables the conversion of a wide range of 2-alkyl and 2-arylmaleic acid diesters into the corresponding succinates in high enantiomeric purity. Mixtures of cis/trans substrates can be hydrogenated in an enantioconvergent fashion with high enantioselectivity, and further enhances the scope of this transformation. The products are valuable chiral building blocks with a structural motif found in many bioactive compounds, such as metalloproteinase inhibitors.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of α,ß-unsaturated nitriles with base-activated iridium N,P ligand complexes.

Although many chiral catalysts are known that allow highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a wide range of olefins, no suitable catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of α,ß-unsaturated nitriles have been reported so far. We have found that Ir N,P ligand complexes, which under normal conditions do not show any reactivity towards α,ß-unsaturated nitriles, become highly active catalysts upon addition of N,N-diisopropylethylamine. The base-activated catalysts enable conjugate reduction of α,ß-unsaturated nitriles with H2 at low catalyst loadings, affording the corresponding saturated nitriles with high conversion and excellent enantioselectivity. In contrast, alkenes lacking a conjugated cyano group do not react under these conditions, making it possible to selectively reduce the conjugated C=C bond of an α,ß-unsaturated nitrile, while leaving other types of C=C bonds in the molecule intact.

Asymmetric hydrogenation with iridium C,N and N,P ligand complexes: characterization of dihydride intermediates with a coordinated alkene.

Previously elusive iridium dihydride alkene complexes have been identified and characterized by NMR spectroscopy in solution. Reactivity studies demonstrated that these complexes are catalytically competent intermediates. Additional H2 is required to convert the catalyst-bound alkene into the hydrogenation product, supporting an Ir(III) /Ir(V) cycle via an [Ir(III) (H)2 (alkene)(H2 )(L)](+) intermediate, as originally proposed based on DFT calculations. NMR analyses indicate a reaction pathway proceeding through rapidly equilibrating isomeric dihydride alkene intermediates with a subsequent slow enantioselectivity-determining step. As in the classical example of asymmetric hydrogenation with rhodium diphosphine catalysts, it is a minor, less stable intermediate that is converted into the major product enantiomer.

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 3,3-disubstituted allylic alcohols in ethereal solvents.

Ir-phosphinomethyl-oxazoline complexes have been identified as efficient, highly enantioselective catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 3,3-disubstituted allylic alcohols and related homoallylic alcohols. In contrast to other N,P ligand complexes, which require weakly coordinating solvents, such as dichloromethane, these catalysts perform well in more ecofriendly THF or 2-MeTHF. Their synthetic potential was demonstrated with the formal total synthesis of four bisabolane sesquiterpenes.

Toward force fields for atomistic simulations of iridium-containing complexes.

The structural and energetic characterization of metal complexes is important in catalysis and photochemical applications. Unraveling their modes-of-action can be greatly assisted by computation, which typically is restricted to computationally demanding methods including electronic structure calculations with density functional theory. Here, we present an empirical force field based on valence bond theory applicable to a range of octahedral Ir(III) complexes with different coordinating ligands, including iridium complexes with a chiral P,N ligand. Using an approach applicable to metal-containing complexes in general, it is shown that with one common parametrization 85% of the 116 diastereomers--all within 21 kcal/mol of the lowest energy conformation of each series--can be correctly ranked. For neutral complexes, all diastereomers are ranked correctly. This helps to identify the most relevant diastereomers which, if necessary, can be further investigated by more demanding computational methods. Furthermore, if one specific complex is considered, the root mean square deviation between reference data from electronic structure calculations and the force field is ≈1 kcal/mol. This, together with the possibility to carry out explicit simulations in solution paves the way for an atomistic understanding of iridium-containing complexes in catalysis.