Pressure dependent highly enantioselective hydrogenation of unsaturated beta-amino acid precursors

A universal reactor platform for batch and flow: application to homogeneous and heterogeneous hydrogenation

Micro-CSTRs have been developed and used to determine optimal pressure hydrogenation conditions in batch, before being reconfigured for continuous flow.

The inverted ketene synthon: a double umpolung approach to enantioselective β2,3-amino amide synthesis

A stereocontrolled synthesis of β2,3-amino amides is reported. Innovation is encapsulated by the first use of nitroalkenes to achieve double umpolung in enantioselective β-amino amide synthesis. Step economy is also fulfilled by the use of Umpolung Amide Synthesis (UmAS) in the second step, delivering the amide product without intermediacy of a carboxylic acid or activated derivative. Molybdenum oxide-mediated hydride reduction provides the anti-β2,3-amino amide with high selectivity.

Rhodium diphosphine complexes: a case study for catalyst activation and deactivation

The present work provides an overview of possible activation and deactivation phenomena in homogeneous catalytic processes promoted by different types of rhodium complexes containing diphosphine ligands.

Synthesis and asymmetric hydrogenation of (3E)-1-benzyl-3-[(2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl)methylidene]piperidine-2,6-dione

The synthesis of (3E)-1-benzyl-3-[(2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl)methylidene]piperidine-2,6-dione 5 from N-benzylglutarimide was achieved in three steps. The asymmetric hydrogenation of 4 gave either the product of partial reduction (10) or full reduction (13), depending on the catalyst which was employed, in high ee in each case. Attempts at asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of resulted in formation of a racemic product.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of alpha-aminomethylacrylates containing a free NH group for the synthesis of beta-amino acid derivatives

We describe highly enantioselective synthesis of beta-amino acid derivatives (1a-c) using asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-aminomethylacrylates (2a-c), which contain a free basic N H group, as the key step. The alpha-aminomethylacrylates (2a-c) were prepared using the Baylis-Hillman reaction of an appropriate aldehyde with methyl acrylate followed by acetylation of the resulting allylic alcohols (4a-b) and S(N)2'-type amination of the allylic acetates (3a-b).

Highly Selective Hydroaminomethylation of Internal Alkenes To Give Linear Amines

The application of phenoxaphosphino-modified Xantphos-type ligands (1-9) in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation of internal olefins to give linear amines is reported. Excellent chemo- and regioselectivities have been obtained through the use of 0.1 mol % [Rh(cod)2]BF(4)/0.4 mol % xantphenoxaphos (1), providing a practical and environmentally attractive synthetic route for the preparation of amines from internal alkenes. For the first time, both functionalized internal olefins and mixtures of internal and terminal olefins have been converted highly selectively into linear amines. Investigations of the effects of the calculated natural bite angles of ligands on hydroaminomethylation shows that the regioselectivity for the linear product follows a similar trend to that seen in the hydroformylation of internal alkenes with the aid of these ligands. Hydroaminomethylation and each of its individual steps were monitored by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that hydroaminomethylations take place by a sequential isomerization/hydroformylation/amination/hydrogenation pathway.

A New Class of Versatile Chiral-Bridged Atropisomeric Diphosphine Ligands: Remarkably Efficient Ligand Syntheses and Their Applications in Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation Reactions

A series of chiral diphosphine ligands denoted as PQ-Phos was prepared by atropdiastereoselective Ullmann coupling and ring-closure reactions. The Ullmann coupling reaction of the biaryl diphosphine dioxides is featured by highly efficient central-to-axial chirality transfer with diastereomeric excess >99%. This substrate-directed diastereomeric biaryl coupling reaction is unprecedented for the preparation of chiral diphosphine dioxides, and our method precludes the tedious resolution procedures usually required for preparing enantiomerically pure diphosphine ligands. The effect of chiral recognition was also revealed in a relevant asymmetric ring-closure reaction. The chiral tether bridging the two aryl units creates a conformationally rigid scaffold essential for enantiofacial differentiation; fine-tuning of the ligand scaffold (e.g., dihedral angles) can be achieved by varying the chain length of the chiral tether. The enantiomerically pure Ru- and Ir-PQ-Phos complexes have been prepared and applied to the catalytic enantioselective hydrogenations of alpha- and beta-ketoesters (C=O bond reduction), 2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)propenoic acid, alkyl-substituted beta-dehydroamino acids (C=C bond reduction), and N-heteroaromatic compounds (C=N bond reduction). An excellent level of enantioselection (up to 99.9% ee) has been attained for the catalytic reactions. In addition, the significant ligand dihedral angle effects on the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-heteroaromatic compounds were also revealed.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Functionalized Olefins Using Monodentate Spiro Phosphoramidite Ligands

Novel chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands, SIPHOS, were conveniently synthesized from 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-diol. The Rh complexes of SIPHOS can catalyze the hydrogenation of alpha-dehydroamino esters in mild conditions, providing alpha-amino acid derivatives in up to 99% ee. Enamides and beta-dehydroamino esters can also be hydrogenated in good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% and 94% ee, respectively). The SIPHOS ligand with smaller alkyl groups on the N-atom afforded higher enantioselectivity. The X-ray analysis of single crystal showed that the structure of Rh/SIPHOS catalyst is [Rh(COD)((S)-SIPHOS-Me)(2)](+), which clarified the configuration of the catalyst with the monodentate chiral phosphorus ligand in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. A positive nonlinear effect in the relationship of the optical purities of ligand and product was observed in the hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid derivatives. The kinetic study of hydrogenation showed that the reaction is zero order in the concentration of substrate and first order in the concentration of Rh catalyst and the hydrogenation pressure. The rate of hydrogenation decreased when the Rh/L ratio changed from 1:1 to 1:4.

A Novel Class of P−O Monophosphite Ligands Derived from d-Mannitol: Broad Applications in Highly Enantioselective Rh-Catalyzed Hydrogenations

We report on a new class of P-O monophosphite ligands (designated 3a-k) with a double six-membered-ring backbone onto which are attached additional groups and on applications of their Rh complexes in the hydrogenation of enamides, alpha-dehydroamino acid esters, dimethyl itaconate, and beta-(acylamino)acrylates. Our results demonstrate that the Rh complexes with ligands 3a-k exhibit high enantioselectivity and reactivity in asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. An ee value of up to 98.0% was obtained for the hydrogenation of alpha-dehydroamino acid esters, and the ee values were all over 99% for the other three types of substrate, with a turnover number of up to 5000.

Recent Developments in the Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of α- and β-Amino Acids

The stereoselective synthesis of amino acids is of great importance for the construction of optically active natural products and pharmaceuticals. Apart from enzymes, a broad repertoire of chiral reagents, auxiliaries, and catalysts can be used for the formation of amino acids. Asymmetric reactions using catalytic amounts of chiral molecules provide efficient methods for the generation of optically active proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic amino acids. This minireview collects recent work on catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha- and beta-amino acids.

A catalytic asymmetric method for the synthesis of gamma-unsaturated beta-amino acid derivatives

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of beta-amino acid derivatives is an area of intense interest, due to the importance of these compounds as components in pharmaceutical agents and peptidomimetics. In this report, we present the first catalytic enantioselective method for the synthesis of gamma-unsaturated beta-amino acids and their corresponding 1,3-amino alcohol derivatives. This methodology takes advantage of a highly enantioselective vinylzinc addition to an aldehyde to set chirality. The resulting allylic alcohols are then transformed into the corresponding allylic amines via Overman's [3,3]-sigmatropic imidate rearrangement, and subsequent one-pot deprotection-oxidation of a pendant oxygen leads to the gamma-unsaturated beta-amino acid derivatives of high enantiopurity.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted olefins of cyclic beta-(acylamino)acrylates

Hydrogenation of a series of cyclic beta-(acylamino)acrylates with tetrasubstituted olefins has been accomplished successfully with the use of Ru catalysts with chiral biaryl ligands such as C3-TunaPhos, and up to over 99% ee's have been achieved. This methodology provides an efficient catalytic method for the synthesis of both cis and trans chiral cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives.

Ru-catalyzed highly enantioselective hydrogenation of beta-alkyl-substituted beta-(acylamino)acrylates

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of beta-alkyl-substituted (E)-beta-(acylamino)-acrylates catalyzed by Ru((R)-Xyl-P-Phos)(C(6)H(6))Cl(2) complex (cat. 1c) was achieved in up to 99.7% ee. Moderate to good enantioselectivities in the hydrogenation of corresponding (Z)-isomers in the presence of [Rh((R)-Xyl-P-Phos)(COD)]BF(4) (cat. 2c) were also obtained. The results demonstrated that the electronic and steric properties of the dipyridylphosphine ligands as well as the different transition metal ions have significant influences on the catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of beta-(acylamino)acrylates.

Synthesis of a new chiral bisphospholane ligand for the Rh(I)-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of isomeric beta-acylamido acrylates

The highly stereoselective synthesis of a chiral silylphospholane has been described, which can be advantageously used as a building block under base-free conditions for the construction of diphosphines related to DuPHOS. The utility of silylphospholane is shown in the synthesis of a new bisphospholane ligand 1 (MalPHOS), which is characterized by a maleic anhydride backbone. The ligand forms with Rh(I) a complex with a larger bite angle P-Rh-P than the analogue Me-DuPHOS complex. Both complexes have been tested in the asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated alpha- and beta-amino acid precursors of pharmaceutical relevance. In several cases, the new catalyst was superior in comparison to the Me-DuPHOS complex, in particular when (Z)-configured beta-acylamido acrylates were used as substrates.

Mono- versus bidentate ligands in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. A comparative rate study

[reaction: see text] Bidentate chiral phosphines are no longer essential for achieving a fast and highly enantioselective hydrogenation of alpha- or beta-dehydroamino acid derivatives. In particular, a readily accessible and stable monodentate phosphoramidite can be highly effective in these asymmetric hydrogenations.

Highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of beta-dehydroamino acid derivatives using monodentate phosphoramidites

New and very easily accessible monodentate phosphoramidite ligands have been developed that lead to excellent ee's and full conversions in the hydrogenation of (E)- and (Z)-beta-dehydroamino acid derivatives with both aliphatic and aromatic side chains. Particularly, two different catalytic systems were established for (E)-beta-(acylamino)acrylates (98-99% ee) and (Z)-beta-(acylamino)acrylates (92-95% ee) based on phosphoramidites 2 and 3, respectively.