A simple proline-based organocatalyst for the enantioselective reduction of imines using trichlorosilane as a reductant

Reductive Amination Revisited: Reduction of Aldimines with Trichlorosilane Catalyzed by Dimethylformamide─Functional Group Tolerance, Scope, and Limitations

Aldimines, generated in situ from aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic aldehydes and aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic primary or secondary amines, can be reduced with trichlorosilane in the presence of dimethylformamide (DMF) as an organocatalyst (≤10 mol %) in toluene or CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature. The reduction tolerates ketone carbonyls, esters, amides, nitriles, sulfones, sulfonamides, NO₂, SF₅, and CF₃ groups, boronic esters, azides, phosphine oxides, C═C and C≡C bonds, and ferrocenyl nucleus, but sulfoxides and N-oxides are reduced. α,β-Unsaturated aldimines undergo 1,2-reduction only, leaving the C═C bond intact. N-Monoalkylation of primary amines is attained with a 1:1 aldehyde to amine ratio, whereas excess of the aldehyde (≥2:1) allows second alkylation, giving rise to tertiary amines. Reductive N-alkylation of α-amino acids proceeds without racemization; the resulting products, containing a C≡C bond or N₃ group, are suitable for click chemistry. This reaction thus offers advantages over the traditional methods (borohydride reduction or catalytic hydrogenation) in terms of efficiency and chemoselectivity. Solubility of some of the reacting partners appears to be the only limitation. The byproducts generated by the workup with aqueous NaHCO₃ (i.e., NaCl and silica) are environmentally benign. As a greener alternative, DMA can be employed as a catalyst instead of DMF.

Rational Design of Simple Organocatalysts for the HSiCl3 Enantioselective Reduction of (E)-N-(1-Phenylethylidene)aniline

Prolinamides are well-known organocatalysts for the HSiCl3 reduction of imines; however, custom design of catalysts is based on trial-and-error experiments. In this work, we have used a combination of computational calculations and experimental work, including kinetic analyses, to properly understand this process and to design optimized catalysts for the benchmark (E)-N-(1-phenylethylidene)aniline. The best results have been obtained with the amide derived from 4-methoxyaniline and the N-pivaloyl protected proline, for which the catalyzed process is almost 600 times faster than the uncatalyzed one. Mechanistic studies reveal that the formation of the component supramolecular complex catalyst-HSiCl3-substrate, involving hydrogen bonding breaking and costly conformational changes in the prolinamide, is an important step in the overall process.

An efficient proline-based homogeneous organocatalyst with recyclability

A homogeneous organocatalyst for asymmetric reduction of imines can be reused for several cycles through a self-assembly method using MNPs.

The asymmetric reduction of imidazolinones with trichlorosilane

The asymmetric reduction of imidazolinones with trichlorosilane is described, catalyzed through a chiral bispyrrolidine organocatalyst.

Selective Catalytic Synthesis Using the Combination of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen: Catalytic Chess at the Interface of Energy and Chemistry

The present Review highlights the challenges and opportunities when using the combination CO2 /H2 as a C1 synthon in catalytic reactions and processes. The transformations are classified according to the reduction level and the bond-forming processes, covering the value chain from high volume basic chemicals to complex molecules, including biologically active substances. Whereas some of these concepts can facilitate the transition of the energy system by harvesting renewable energy into chemical products, others provide options to reduce the environmental impact of chemical production already in today's petrochemical-based industry. Interdisciplinary fundamental research from chemists and chemical engineers can make important contributions to sustainable development at the interface of the energetic and chemical value chain. The present Review invites the reader to enjoy this exciting area of "catalytic chess" and maybe even to start playing some games in her or his laboratory.

l-Valine derived chiral N-sulfinamides as effective organocatalysts for the asymmetric hydrosilylation of N-alkyl and N-aryl protected ketimines

l-Valine derived N-sulfinamides have been developed as efficient enantioselective Lewis basic organocatalysts for the asymmetric reduction of N-aryl and N-alkyl ketimines with trichlorosilane.

Asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane catalyzed by valine-derived formamide immobilized onto magnetic nano-Fe3O4

Magnetic nano-Fe₃O₄-supported organocatalysts were synthesized by anchoring valine-derived formamide onto the surface of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles, which were applied in the asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane.