Recognition and site-selective transformation of monosaccharides by using copper(II) catalysis.

We demonstrate copper(II)-catalyzed acylation and tosylation of monosaccharides. Various carbohydrate derivatives, including glucopyranosides and ribofuranosides, are obtained in high yields and regioselectivities. Using this versatile strategy, the site of acylation can be switched by choice of ligand. Preliminary mechanistic studies support nucleophilic addition of a copper-sugar complex to the acyl chloride to be turnover limiting.

Direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thioamides.

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides using a soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6)/LiOAr is described. Exclusive enolate generation from thioacetamides through a soft-soft interaction with the soft Lewis acid allowed for a direct aldol reaction to α-nonbranched aliphatic aldehydes, which are usually susceptible to self-condensation under conventional basic conditions. A hard Lewis basic phosphine oxide has emerged as an effective additive to constitute a highly active ternary soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base/hard Lewis base cooperative catalyst, enabling a direct enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of thiopropionamides. Strict control of the amount of the hard Lewis base was essential to drive the catalytic cycle efficiently with a minimized retro-aldol pathway, affording syn-aldol products with high stereoselectivity. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality is an obvious merit of the present aldol methodology, allowing for a facile transformation of the aldol product into the corresponding aldehyde, ketone, amide, amine, and ketoester. An aldehyde derived from the direct aldol reaction was subjected to a second direct aldol reaction, which proceeded in a catalyst-controlled manner to provide 1,3-diols with high stereoselectivity.

Copper(I)-secondary diamine complex-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate boration of linear ß,ß-disubstituted enones.

A copper(I)-chiral secondary diamine (L-e) complex catalyzes an enantioselective conjugate boration of ß,ß-disubstituted enones in high yields and up to 99% ee. Product chiral tertiary organoboronates can be converted to enantiomerically enriched cross-aldol products between ketones without any racemization.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral tertiary organoboronic esters through conjugate boration of beta-substituted cyclic enones.

The first catalytic enantioselective conjugate boration of beta-substituted cyclic enones was developed to produce enantiomerically enriched tertiary organoboronates. The optimized asymmetric catalyst includes a QuinoxP*-CuO(t)Bu complex generated from CuPF(6)(CH(3)CN)(4) and LiO(t)Bu. In situ generated LiPF(6) significantly increased product yield. The enantioselectivity, however, was almost constant irrespective of the alkali metal used (Li, Na, or K). Moreover, a protic additive, which was essential in the previous Cu-catalyzed enantioselective boration to linear beta-monosubstituted substrates (Yun's reaction), was not necessary. The substrate scope was broad, and high to excellent enantioselectivity was produced using both beta-aromatic and aliphatic (linear and branched)-substituted cyclic enones with five-, six-, and seven-membered ring sizes. Due to the synthetic versatility of organoboron compounds, a variety of new chiral building blocks containing a chiral tetrasubstituted carbon was synthesized based on this methodology. Specifically, a one-pot three-component reaction from alpha,beta-substituted cyclic enone, bis(pinacolato)diboron (PinB-BPin: 2), and an aldehyde proceeded with a high level of enantio- and diastereocontrol. These chiral building blocks are difficult to access using other methods.

Cu(I)-catalyzed hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between Danishefsky-type siloxy dienes and ketones.

A general catalytic method for the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between Danishefsky-type siloxy dienes and ketones was developed. Optimum results were produced with a catalyst generated from CuOTf x (C6H6)1/2 and TBAT with Ph 3PO as the catalytic additive. This reaction was extended to an asymmetric variant, using a Cu(I)-Walphos catalyst.

Development of general catalytic allylation of acylhydrazones with pinacolyl allylboronate using an indium(I) catalyst.

Catalytic allylation of various acylhydrazones using a group 13 metal reagent (boron) in combination with a group 13 metal catalyst in its low-oxidation state (indium) has been developed. This operationally simple carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction displays remarkable substrate scope and functional group tolerance.