Soluble iron nanoparticles as cheap and environmentally benign alkene and alkyne hydrogenation catalysts.

Iron nanoparticles prepared by reducing FeCl(3) with three equivalents of EtMgCl in THF are effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes under moderate conditions.

Cycloruthenated primary and secondary amines as efficient catalyst precursors for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

[reaction: see text] Ruthenacycles obtained by cyclometalation of enantiopure aromatic primary or secondary amines with [(eta6-benzene)RuCl2]2 or with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 are efficient catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (TOF up to 190 h(-1) at room temperature). Enantioselectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone ranged from 38% to 89%. It is possible to prepare the catalysts in situ, which allows the use of high throughput experimentation.

Instant ligand libraries. Parallel synthesis of monodentate phosphoramidites and in situ screening in asymmetric hydrogenation.

Chiral phosphoramidites have been identified as excellent ligands for various metal-catalyzed enantioselective transformations. Taking advantage of their easy preparation and modular nature, we designed a fully automated protocol for the parallel preparation of a library of 32 phosphoramidites and its screening in asymmetric hydrogenation of amino acid precursors. This initial study led to the discovery of a new ligand for the preparation of an enantiopure beta(3)-homoalanine precursor. [structure--see text]

Application of monodentate secondary phosphine oxides, a new class of chiral ligands, in Ir(i)-catalyzed asymmetric imine hydrogenation.

Secondary phosphine oxides were prepared from R(1)PCl(2) and R(2)MgBr, followed by hydrolysis. They were obtained in an enantiopure form by preparative chiral HPLC. These new monodentate ligands were tested in the iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of imines at 25 bar. Enantioselectivities up to 76% were obtained at L/Ir = 2. Addition of pyridine (Pyr/Ir = 1:2) raised the ee to 83%. Using pyridine as an additive allowed reduction of the L/Ir ratio to 1 without reduction of ee. [reaction: see text]

Synthesis and application in asymmetric C-C bond formation of solution phase ligand libraries of monodentate phosphoramidites.

A library of 96 unique monodentate phosphoramidite ligands has been synthesized in solution and used in the asymmetric conjugate addition of potassium vinyltrifluoroborate to enones resulting in up to 88% ee.

Highly enantioselective conjugate additions of potassium organotrifluoroborates to enones by use of monodentate phosphoramidite ligands.

The use of phosphoramidite ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of potassium organotrifluoroborates to various enones in the absence of water is described. A systematic search for effective catalysts has been performed by use of high-throughput screening methods. Initially, we have screened reaction conditions, catalyst precursors, and focused ligand libraries. In the next stage we have used the monodentate ligand combination approach, and finally we have made a library of 96 different phosphoramidites by parallel synthesis in the robot (instant ligand libraries) and have tested these in the vinylation of cyclohexenone (up to 88% enantiomeric excess, ee) and 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one (up to 42% ee). Arylation of cyclohexenone by use of potassium phenyltrifluoroborate gave 3-phenylcyclohexanone with 99% ee.