Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation with Dialkylzincs Using Phosphoramidite Ligands

Migratory allylic arylation of 1,n-enols enabled by nickel catalysis

Transition-metal-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions (Tsuji-Trost reactions) proceeding via a π-allyl metal intermediate have been demonstrated as a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry. Herein, we disclose an unprecedented π-allyl metal species migration, walking on the carbon chain involving 1,4-hydride shift as confirmed by deuterium labeling experiments. This migratory allylic arylation can be realized under dual catalysis of nickel and lanthanide triflate, a Lewis acid. Olefin migration has been observed to preferentially occur with the substrate of 1,n-enols (n ≥ 3). The robust nature of the allylic substitution strategy is reflected by a broad scope of substrates with the control of regio- and stereoselectivity. DFT studies suggest that π-allyl metal species migration consists of the sequential β-H elimination and migratory insertion, with diene not being allowed to release from the metal center before producing a new π-allyl nickel species.

Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed and DMSO-Involved Allylation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds with Alkenes

Cobalt(III)-catalyzed allylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds has been reported with in situ generated allyl reagents from alkenes and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). This novel protocol enables a high regio- and stereoselective access for a broad range of allyl 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. In the transformation, DMSO plays the role of a C1 source, and it incorporates with alkenes to form the allyl reagent allylic methyl thioether. Moreover, a multiple-step pathway has been proposed to rationalize the mechanism study, which involves silver-mediated coupling, Co(III)-catalyzed π-allylation, and intermolecular nucleophilic substitution.

Rhodium(i)/bisoxazolinephosphine-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective amination of allylic carbonates: a computational study

DFT calculations were performed to investigate the rhodium(i)/bisoxazolinephosphine-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective amination of allylic carbonates.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions

In this review, we summarize the origin and advancements of iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions during the past two decades. Since the first report in 1997, Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions have attracted intense attention due to their exceptionally high regio- and enantioselectivities. Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions have been significantly developed in recent years in many respects, including ligand development, mechanistic understanding, substrate scope, and application in the synthesis of complex functional molecules. In this review, an explicit outline of ligands, mechanism, scope of nucleophiles, and applications is presented.

Copper(i)-catalysed asymmetric allylic reductions with hydrosilanes

The copper(i)-catalysed asymmetric allylic reduction enables a regio- and stereoselective transfer of a hydride nucleophile in an S_N2′-fashion onto allylic bromides.

Pd-Catalyzed Site-Selective Mono-allylic Substitution and Bis-arylation by Directed Allylic C-H Activation: Synthesis of anti-γ-(Aryl,Styryl)-β-hydroxy Acids and Highly Substituted Tetrahydrofurans

An efficient palladium-catalyzed site-selective arylation of γ-vinyl-γ-lactone by aryl boronic acid has been developed. γ-Vinyl-γ-lactone 1a has been contemplated as allyl electrophile donor for allylic arylation via π-allyl palladium intermediate using 1.5 equiv of aryl boronic acid 2. Using 3.0 equiv of the latter resulted in mono-arylation by allylic substitution and subsequent site-selective second arylation by directed allylic C-H activation giving stereoselectively anti-γ-(aryl,styryl)-β-hydroxy acids. Presence of O₂ was crucial for the second arylation via Pd(II) catalysis. Thus, a good synergy of dual catalysis by Pd(0) and Pd(II) was observed. This methodology has been elaborated to synthesize highly substituted tetrahydrofurans including aryl-Hagen's gland lactone analogues via intramolecular iodoetherification.

Phosphoramidites: privileged ligands in asymmetric catalysis

Asymmetric catalysis with transition-metal complexes is the basis for a vast array of stereoselective transformations and has changed the face of modern synthetic chemistry. Key to this success has been the design of chiral ligands to control the regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. Phosphoramidites have emerged as a highly versatile and readily accessible class of chiral ligands. Their modular structure enables the formation of ligand libraries and easy fine-tuning for a specific catalytic reaction. Phosphoramidites frequently show exceptional levels of stereocontrol, and their monodentate nature is essential in combinatorial catalysis, where a ligand-mixture approach is used. In this Review, recent developments in asymmetric catalysis with phosphoramidites used as ligands are discussed, with a focus on the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds.

S(N)2' reaction of organozinc reagents activated by catalytic tBu-P4 base in the presence of LiCl

The tBu-P4 base was found to be an excellent catalyst for the activation of organozinc reagents. The base was used to promote the S(N)2' reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters bearing a gamma-chloride in the reactions with various organozinc reagents in the presence of LiCl. The reactions proceeded in high yield with excellent chemo-and regioselectivity. The role of LiCl appears to be the activation of the gamma-chloride of the alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, which was confirmed by NMR spectroscopic study.

Chiral α-substituted allylboronates in a one-pot three-component asymmetric allylic alkylation/carbonyl allylation reaction sequence — Applications to the syntheses of (+)-(3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-5-decanolide and (–)-massoialactone

The use of different organomagnesium reagents in the copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 3-chloropropenyl boronates with chiral phosphoramidite ligands produces the desired α-substituted allylic boronate reagents in high regioselectivity and with modest to high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee). The size of the incoming alkyl substituent from the organomagnesium reagent was found to impact the yield and selectivity of the allylic alkylation. A one-pot procedure for the preparation of these chiral allylic boronates followed by a Lewis acid (BF3) catalyzed addition to aldehydes delivers the desired allylboration products, homoallylic secondary alcohols, in good yields and very high diastereoselectivity. This three-component reaction methodology was applied to the syntheses of two lactone-containing natural products, (–)-massoialactone and (+)-(3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-5-decanolide. The key step of these syntheses involved the one-pot enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation/allylboration reaction with a benzylic aldehyde, and afforded the desired product in 87% yield, 92% ee, and high E/Z selectivity in a ratio of 22:1. Remarkably, the allylic alkylation step of this sequential reaction was performed with a low catalyst loading of 2 mol% on a scale of >15 mmol that can provide multiple grams of the three-component product.

Enantioselective iridium-catalyzed allylic arylation

We describe herein the development of the first iridium-catalyzed allylic substitution using arylzinc nucleophiles. High enantioselectivities were obtained from the reactions, which used commercially available Grignard reagents as the starting materials. This methodology was also shown to be compatible with halogen/metal exchange reactions. Its synthetic potential is demonstrated by its application towards the formal synthesis of (+)-sertraline.

Activation of organozinc reagents with t-Bu-P4 base for transition metal-free catalytic SN2' reaction

The t-Bu-P4 base was found to be an excellent catalyst for activating organozinc reagents and was used to promote the S(N)2' reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters bearing a gamma-chloride using various organozinc reagents: these reactions proceeded in high yields with excellent chemo-and regioselectivity.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions with organozinc and Grignard reagents

Asymmetric allylic alkylations (AAAs) are among the most powerful C-C bond-forming reactions. We present a brief overview of copper-catalyzed AAAs with organometallic reagents and discuss our own contributions to this field. Work with zinc reagents and phosphoramidite ligands provided a framework for later developments which employ Grignard reagents and ferrocenyl ligands. High yields and excellent regioselectivities and enantioselectivities are achieved. The AAAs may be more general than previously envisioned, in terms of using substrates functionalized with heteroatoms at various positions; heteroatom substituents at the γ-position provide densely functionalized building blocks. These h-AAA reactions rely on the design of appropriate substrates containing heteroatoms and have allowed us to demonstrate viable new approaches toward the synthesis of versatile organic building blocks. We illustrate that the chiral secondary allylic alcohols, primary homo-allylic alcohols and amines can readily be obtained in high enantiomeric purity in a catalytic asymmetric fashion by copper-catalyzed AAAs. Furthermore, we show that manipulation of the terminal olefin provides chiral building blocks where the ee of the starting materials is preserved.

Highly enantioselective Cu-catalysed allylic substitutions with Grignard reagents

A catalyst system able to perform highly enantioselective Cu-catalysed allylic alkylations with Grignard reagents is described.

Synthesis of Optically Active Bifunctional Building Blocks through Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation Using Grignard Reagents

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylations were performed on allylic bromides with a protected hydroxyl or amine functional group using several Grignard reagents and Taniaphos L1 as a ligand. The terminal olefin moiety in the products was transformed into various functional groups without racemization, providing facile access to a variety of versatile bifunctional chiral building blocks.

Copper catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral allylic esters

The complex derived from Taniaphos ligand 4 and CuBr*Me2S catalyzes the asymmetric addition of Grignard reagents to 3-bromopropenyl esters 1 to provide allylic esters 2 in high yields and high chemio-, regio-, and enantioselectivities. The work demonstrates that allylic asymmetric alkylation (AAA) can be done on substrates bearing a heteroatom at the gamma-position. The method is a practical route to chiral, nonracemic allylic alcohols. The use of functionalized substrates 1 or Grignard reagents leads to more complex products 2, which can be further manipulated as demonstrated in conversion to (S)-5-ethyl-2(5H)-furanone 6 and (S)-benzoic acid-cyclopent-2-enyl ester 7.