Catalytic asymmetric alkylation of ketones using organometallic reagents

Synthesis of W-Phos Ligand and Its Application in the Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Addition of Linear Grignard Reagents to Ketones

The asymmetric catalytic addition of linear Grignard reagents to ketones has been a long-standing challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, a novel family of PNP ligands (W-Phos) was designed and applied in copper-catalyzed asymmetric addition of linear Grignard reagents to aryl alkyl ketones, allowing facile access to versatile chiral tertiary alcohols in good to high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 94 % yield, 96 % ee). The process can also be used to synthesize chiral allylic tertiary alcohols from more challenging α,β-unsaturated ketones. Notably, the potential utility of this method is demonstrated in the gram-scale synthesis and modification of various densely functionalized medicinally relevant molecules.

1,2-Addition of Diethylzinc to a Bis(Imidazolyl)ketone Ligand

In this study, the selective 1,2-addition of diethylzinc to the ketone functionality of BMdiPhIK [bis(1-methyl-4,5-diphenylimidazolyl)ketone] is shown. The reaction product is isolated in a dimeric form with a planar Zn2(µ-O)2-motif keeping the two monomers together. This compound can serve as a model for reactive intermediates in the catalytic alkylation of ketones with diorganozinc reagents. Hydrolysis of this binuclear zinc compound leads to isolation of the C-alkylated product in 89 % yield. A reaction pathway is proposed in which BMdiPhIK initially coordinates to diethylzinc as a bidentate bis(nitrogen) ligand. This is followed by the homolytic cleavage of the Zn-Et bond and in-cage recombination of the Et-radical and the Zn-coordinated ligand-centered radical, which is mainly localized on the carbonyl moiety of the ligand.

Stereoselective Rh-Catalyzed Hydrogenative Desymmetrization of Achiral Substituted 1,4-Dienes

Highly efficient catalytic stereoselective hydrogenative desymmetrization reactions mediated by rhodium complexes derived from enantiopure phosphine-phosphite (P-OP) ligands are described. The highest performing ligand, which contains a TADDOL-derived phosphite fragment [TADDOL = (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylmethanol)], presented excellent catalytic properties for the desymmetrization of a set of achiral 1,4-dienes, providing access to the selective formation of a variety of enantioenriched secondary and tertiary alcohols (six examples, up to 92% ee).

Tertiary α-diarylmethylamines derived from diarylketimines and organomagnesium reagents

Organomagnesium reagents enable swift and versatile derivatisation of diarylimines to the corresponding α-substituted diarylmethylamines in excellent yields, through fast and clean reactions.