The Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Halogenated Ketones Utilizing Cinchona-Alkaloid-Derived NNP Ligand to Produce (R)- and (S)-Halohydrins

Cinchona-Alkaloid-Derived NNP Ligand for Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of β-Keto Ester

The Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters with Cinchona-alkaloid-derived NNP ligands has been developed. β-Hydroxy esters of opposite configuration were afforded smoothly with 91.5-99.1 and 81.6-99.3% ee, respectively, using NNP L2 and L7 derived from quinidine and quinine separately even on the gram scale. The protocol for the preparation of β-hydroxy esters of opposite configuration by the simple conversion of ligand configurations offered further opportunities for the synthesis of biologically active molecules and drugs.

Chemoselective and Divergent Synthesis of Chlorohydrins and Oxaheterocycles via Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Chlorohydrins and oxaheterocycles are synthetically valuable building blocks for diverse natural products and therapeutic substances. A highly efficient Ir/f-phamidol-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ω-chloroketones was successfully developed, and various chlorohydrins and oxaheterocycles were obtained divergently with excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99% yield and >99% ee). Synthetic utilities of this divergent transformation were demonstrated by gram-scale synthesis of key intermediates of several enantiomerically enriched drugs via this catalytic methodology.

Cinchona-Alkaloid-Derived NN Ligands and Achiral Phosphines for Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Heteroaromatic and α-Chloroheteroaryl Ketones

A concise synthesis of cinchona-alkaloid-derived NN ligands bearing alkyl substituents on chiral nitrogen atoms was described. Iridium catalysts containing new chiral NN ligands and achiral phosphines were effective for the asymmetric hydrogenation of heteroaromatic ketones, which afforded corresponding alcohols in up to 99.9% ee. The same protocol was applicable to the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-chloroheteroaryl ketones. Most importantly, the gram-scale asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-acetylthiophene and 2-acetylfuran proceeded smoothly even under 1 MPa of H2.