Synthesis of Enantioenriched Bromohydrins via Divergent Reactions of Racemic Intermediates from Anchimeric Oxygen Borrowing

Creation of Dopant-Plasmon Synergism in Double Perovskites for Bias-free Photoelectrochemical Synthesis of Bromohydrins and Hydrogen Peroxide

The integration of photoexcited charge carriers into the synthesis of valuable chemicals offers substantial sustainability benefits, particularly by replacing toxic and costly oxidants and reductants typically used in conventional processes. The efficiency of such transformations is fundamentally governed by the ability to optimize light absorption and charge carrier dynamics within photoelectrodes/photocatalysts. Herein, we present a Cu+/Cu2+-substituted double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 photoanode, embedded with plasmonic Ag nanoparticles, for bias-free photoelectrochemical production of bromohydrins and H2O2. Spectroscopic analyses, coupled with three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations, demonstrate that the inclusion of Ag nanoparticles significantly enhances electromagnetic energy utilization and improves carrier separation efficiency. The synergistic effect of the Cu2+ and Ag nanoparticles results in a 7-fold increase in the yield of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanol, compared to pristine Cs2AgBiBr6, alongside an impressive H2O2 productivity of 25.8 μmol h-1 cm-2. Experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the Cu2+ substitution strengthens Br- adsorption and oxidation, promoting the bromohydroxylation of alkenes via electrophilic addition in the bulk solution. These findings offer critical insights into the design of advanced metal halide perovskites for sustainable and solar-driven chemical transformations.

Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolytic Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Epoxides and Activated Alcohols

We report a chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed hydrolytic parallel kinetic resolution (HPKR) of racemic epoxides and activated alcohols. Using an acyloxy-assisted activation strategy, this method enables the highly stereocontrolled hydrolysis under mild conditions. A wide range of aryl-substituted epoxides and activated secondary alcohols were effectively transformed, providing corresponding chiral alcohols with combined yields of up to 99% and enantiomeric ratios exceeding 99:1.

Parallel kinetic resolution of aziridines via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening

We report a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening reaction of racemic aziridines in a regiodivergent parallel kinetic resolution manner. Harnessing the acyloxy-assisted strategy, the highly stereocontrolled nucleophilic ring-opening of aziridines with water is achieved. Different kinds of aziridines are applicable in the process, giving a variety of enantioenriched aromatic or aliphatic amino alcohols with up to 99% yields and up to >99.5 : 0.5 enantiomeric ratio. Preliminary mechanistic study as well as product elaborations were inducted as well.

Kinetic Resolution of Electron-Deficient Bromohydrins via Copper(II)-Catalyzed C-C Bond Cleavage

Herein, we report a nonenzymatic kinetic resolution (KR) of α,β-unsaturated ketone-derived bromohydrins (up to s = 211) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of a chiral Cu(II)-Box catalyst via the C-C bond cleavage of the fast reacting enantiomer. A one-pot synthesis-KR approach of the same has also been realized with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Both protocols are found to be effective for a variety of substrates, leading to enantioenriched bromohydrins. The synthetic utility of this process has been demonstrated by exploring a new strategy to convert the resolved enantiomer to an optically active epoxide.

Surmounting Byproduct Inhibition in an Intermolecular Catalytic Asymmetric Alkene Bromoesterification Reaction as Revealed by Kinetic Profiling

Kinetic profiling has shown that a (DHQD)₂PHAL-catalyzed intermolecular asymmetric alkene bromoesterification reaction is inhibited by primary amides, imides, hydantoins, and secondary cyclic amides, which are byproducts of common stoichiometric bromenium ion sources. Two approaches to resolving the inhibition are presented, enabling the (DHQD)₂PHAL loading to be dropped from 10 to 1 mol % while maintaining high bromoester conversions in 8 h or less. Iterative post-reaction recrystallizations enabled a homochiral bromonaphthoate ester to be synthesized using only 1 mol % (DHQD)₂PHAL.

Mechanistic Details of Asymmetric Bromocyclization with BINAP Monoxide: Identification of Chiral Proton-Bridged Bisphosphine Oxide Complex and Its Application to Parallel Kinetic Resolution

The mechanism of our previously reported catalytic asymmetric bromocyclization reactions using 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (BINAP) monoxide was examined in detail by the means of control experiments, NMR studies, X-ray structure analysis, and CryoSpray electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis. The chiral BINAP monoxide was transformed to a key catalyst precursor, proton-bridged bisphosphine oxide complex (POHOP·Br), in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and contaminating water. The thus-formed POHOP further reacts with NBS to afford BINAP dioxide and molecular bromine (Br₂) simultaneously in equimolar amounts. While the resulting Br₂ is activated by NBS to form a more reactive brominating reagent (Br₂─NBS), BINAP dioxide serves as a bifunctional catalyst, acting as both a Lewis base that reacts with Br₂─NBS to form a chiral brominating agent (P═O⁺─Br) and also as a Brønsted base for the activation of the substrate. By taking advantage of this novel concerted Lewis/Brønsted base catalysis by BINAP dioxide, we achieved the first regio- and chemodivergent parallel kinetic resolutions (PKRs) of racemic unsymmetrical bisallylic amides via bromocyclization.

Crystallization-Induced Diastereomer Transformation of α-Bromo α'-Sulfinyl Ketones. Diastereodivergent Synthesis of (+)-α-Conhydrine and (-)-β-Conhydrine

Crystallization-Induced Diastereomer Transformation (CIDT) of α-bromo-α'-(R)-sulfinylketones is reported. This process provides not readily accessible enantiopure stereolabile α-bromoketones, which after diastereoselective carbonyl group reduction lead to the corresponding highly value-added anti and syn-bromohydrins with excellent diastereoselectivities. As an application, a diastereodivergent synthesis of enantiopure hemlock alkaloid (+)-α-conhydrine and its diastereomer (-)-β-conhydrine is also described.

Regiodivergent Organocatalytic Reactions

Organocatalysts are abundantly used for various transformations, particularly to obtain highly enantio- and diastereomeric pure products by controlling the stereochemistry. These applications of organocatalysts have been the topic of several reviews. Organocatalysts have emerged as one of the very essential areas of research due to their mild reaction conditions, cost-effective nature, non-toxicity, and environmentally benign approach that obviates the need for transition metal catalysts and other toxic reagents. Various types of organocatalysts including amine catalysts, Brønsted acids, and Lewis bases such as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts, cinchona alkaloids, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and hydrogen bond-donating catalysts, have gained renewed interest because of their regioselectivity. In this review, we present recent advances in regiodivergent reactions that are governed by organocatalysts. Additionally, we briefly discuss the reaction pathways of achieving regiodivergent products by changes in conditions such as solvents, additives, or the temperature.

Nitroxyl Catalysts for Six-Membered Ring Bromolactonization and Intermolecular Bromoesterification of Alkenes with Carboxylic Acids

We developed a nitroxyl-catalyzed bromoesterification of alkenes with bromo reagents, which includes a six-membered ring bromolactonization of alkenyl carboxylic acids catalyzed by AZADO as the nitroxyl radical catalyst, and an intermolecular bromoesterification of alkenes with carboxylic acids using NMO as the N-oxide catalyst. We also accomplished a remote diastereoselective bromohydroxylation via an AZADO-catalyzed six-membered ring bromolactonization and a subsequent ring cleavage reaction with alkylamines to furnish ε-bromo-δ-hydroxy amides with high diastereoselectivity.

Stereoselective syntheses and biological activities of E-series resolvins

Recent research efforts focusing on the many mechanisms participating in the resolution of acute inflammation have uncovered a new genus of pro-resolving lipid mediators. These endogenous molecules include the lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins, collectively coined specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). SPMs are oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids biosynthesized by lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases enzymes. These chemically sensitive molecules are produced in nano- to pico-gram amounts in vivo and exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving bioactions. In addition, SPMs clear bacterial infections, reduce pain and display bioactivities towards host defense, organ protection and tissue remodeling. Altogether, these bioactions and the need for synthetic SPMs for determination of absolute configuration and in vivo experiments have spurred a great interest in the synthetic and biomolecular communities. This review covers reported stereoselective total syntheses and outlines the most significant bioactions of the E-series resolvins.

Catalytic enantioselective bromohydroxylation of cinnamyl alcohols

This work describes an effective enantioselective bromohydroxylation of cinnamyl alcohols with (DHQD)₂PHAL as the catalyst and H₂O as the nucleophile, providing a variety of corresponding optically active bromohydrins with up to 95% ee.

Optically active bromohydrins are obtained with up to 95% ee via asymmetric bromohydroxylation of cinnamyl alcohols with H₂O as nucleophile.

Ritter-enabled catalytic asymmetric chloroamidation of olefins

Intermolecular asymmetric haloamination reactions are challenging due to the inherently high halenium affinity (HalA) of the nitrogen atom, which often leads to N-halogenated products as a kinetic trap. To circumvent this issue, acetonitrile, possessing a low HalA, was used as the nucleophile in the catalytic asymmetric Ritter-type chloroamidation of allyl-amides. This method is compatible with Z and E alkenes with both alkyl and aromatic substitution. Mild acidic workup reveals the 1,2-chloroamide products with enantiomeric excess greater than 95% for many examples. We also report the successful use of the sulfonamide chlorenium reagent dichloramine-T in this chlorenium-initiated catalytic asymmetric Ritter-type reaction. Facile modifications lead to chiral imidazoline, guanidine, and orthogonally protected 1,2,3 chiral tri-amines.

Intermolecular haloamination reactions are challenging due to the high halenium affinity of the nitrogen atom. This is circumvented by using acetonitrile as an attenuated nucleophile, resulting in an enantioselective halo-Ritter reaction.

Zwitterion-Catalyzed Intermolecular Bromoesterifications

Intermolecular haloesterification is an important class of transformations. The resulting products are valuable building blocks. However, it is often necessary to use super-stoichiometric amount of acid in order to compensate the low reactivity. Herein, we report a zwitterion-catalyzed intermolecular bromoesterification using acid and olefin in an equimolar ratio. Mechanistic study revealed that the charge pair in the zwitterion works synergistically in activating both NBS and carboxylic acid.

Computational Design of Enhanced Enantioselectivity in Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Oxidative Desymmetrization of 1,3-Diol Acetals

A general method for the highly enantioselective desymmetrization of 2-alkyl-substituted 1,3-diols is presented. A combination of computational and experimental studies has been utilized to understand the origin of the stereocontrol of oxidative desymmetrization of 1,3-diol benzylideneacetals. DFT calculations demonstrate that the acetal protecting group is highly influential for high enantioselectivity, and a simple but effective new protecting group has been designed. The desymmetrization reactions proceed with high enantioselectivity for a variety of substrates. Moreover, the reaction conditions are also shown to be effective for desymmetrization of 2,2-dialkyl-substituted 1,3-diols, which provides chiral products bearing acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenters. The method has been applied to the formal synthesis of indoline alkaloids.

Parallel Kinetic Resolution of Unsymmetrical Acyclic Aliphatic syn-1,3-Diols

Disclosed is a mild, reliable, and enantioselective catalytic parallel kinetic resolution of unsymmetrical acyclic aliphatic syn-1,3-diol derived acetals mediated by chiral phosphoric acid. This method provides stereoselective access to a variety of syn-1,3-diols as valuable building blocks with high enantioselectivity. Moreover, this mild system allows for site-selective protection of optically pure syn-1,3-diols in excellent regioselectivity.