Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclohexanes by Hydrogen Borrowing Annulations.

Hydrogen borrowing catalysis serves as a powerful alternative to enolate alkylation, enabling the direct coupling of ketones with unactivated alcohols. However, to date, methods that enable control over the absolute stereochemical outcome of such a process have remained elusive. Here we report a catalytic asymmetric method for the synthesis of enantioenriched cyclohexanes from 1,5-diols via hydrogen borrowing catalysis. This reaction is mediated by the addition of a chiral iridium(I) complex, which is able to impart high levels of enantioselectivity upon the process. A series of enantioenriched cyclohexanes have been prepared and the mode of enantioinduction has been probed by a combination of experimental and DFT studies.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclohexanes via an Iridium Catalyzed (5 + 1) Annulation Strategy.

An iridium catalyzed method for the synthesis of functionalized cyclohexanes from methyl ketones and 1,5-diols is described. This process operates by two sequential hydrogen borrowing reactions, providing direct access to multisubstituted cyclic products with high levels of stereocontrol. This methodology represents a novel (5 + 1) strategy for the stereoselective construction of the cyclohexane core.

Hydrogen Borrowing Catalysis with Secondary Alcohols: A New Route for the Generation of ß-Branched Carbonyl Compounds.

A hydrogen borrowing reaction employing secondary alcohols and Ph* (Me5C6) ketones to give ß-branched carbonyl products is described (21 examples). This new C-C bond forming process requires low loadings of [Cp*IrCl2]2, relatively low temperatures, and up to 2.0 equiv of the secondary alcohol. Substrate-induced diastereoselectivity was observed, and this represents the first example of a diastereoselective enolate hydrogen borrowing alkylation. By utilizing the Ph* group, the ß-branched products could be straightforwardly cleaved to the corresponding esters or amides using a retro-Friedel-Crafts reaction. Finally, this protocol was applied to the synthesis of fragrance compound (±)-3-methyl-5-phenylpentanol.

Cobalt versus Osmium: Control of Both trans and cis Selectivity in Construction of the EFG Rings of Pectenotoxin†4.

Catalytic oxidative cyclisation reactions have been employed for the synthesis of the E and F rings of the complex natural product target pectenotoxin 4. The choice of metal catalyst (cobalt- or osmium-based) allowed for the formation of THF rings with either trans or cis stereoselectivity. Fragment union using a modified Julia reaction then enabled the synthesis of an advanced synthetic intermediate containing the EF and G rings of the target.

Strategic Application and Transformation of ortho-Disubstituted Phenyl and Cyclopropyl Ketones To Expand the Scope of Hydrogen Borrowing Catalysis.

The application of an iridium-catalyzed hydrogen borrowing process to enable the formation of α-branched ketones with higher alcohols is described. In order to facilitate this reaction, ortho-disubstituted phenyl and cyclopropyl ketones were recognized as crucial structural motifs for C-C bond formation. Having optimized the key catalysis step, the ortho-disubstituted phenyl products could be further manipulated by a retro-Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction to produce synthetically useful carboxylic acid derivatives. In contrast, the cyclopropyl ketones underwent homoconjugate addition with several nucleophiles to provide further functionalized branched ketone products.

Enantioconvergent alkylation of ketones with racemic secondary alcohols via hydrogen borrowing catalysis.

An enantioconvergent method for the alkylation of o-disubstituted aryl ketones with racemic secondary alcohols is described. This process is mediated by a commercially available iridium catalyst and proceeds via hydrogen borrowing catalysis. The highly enantioenriched ß-substituted ketone products were readily cleaved to a wide range of functional groups via retro-Friedel-Crafts acylation.