Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of 18F-fluorinated α-amino acids under phase-transfer conditions using (s)-NOBIN

We describe a new method for the asymmetric synthesis of [(18)F]fluorinated aromatic alpha-amino acids (FAA) under phase transfer conditions using achiral glycine derivative NiPBPGly and (S)-NOBIN as a novel substrate/catalyst pair. The key alkylation step proceeds under mild conditions. Substituted [(18)F]fluorobenzylbromides were prepared using nucleophilic [(18)F]fluoride and were used as alkylation agents. Two important FAA, 2-[(18)F]fluoro-L-tyrosine (2-FTYR) and 6-[(18)F]fluoro-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (6-FDOPA), were synthesized with an ee of 92 and 96%, respectively. The total synthesis time was 110-120 min and radiochemical yields (d.c.) were 25+/-6% for 2-FTYR and 16+/-5% for 6-FDOPA.

2,8'-disubstituted-1,1'-binaphthyls: a new pattern in chiral ligands

The title binaphthyls 19 and 26, which are the positional isomers of 2-methoxy-2'-(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (MOP, 19) and 2-amino-2'-hydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl (NOBIN, 26), have been synthesized by Suzuki coupling as the key step (10 + 15-->18), followed by functional group transformations, involving C-P and C-N bond formation (18-->19 and 18-->23). Racemic intermediate 22 was resolved by co-crystallization with N-benzylcinchonidinium chloride and the absolute configuration determined by X-ray crystallography. These novel binaphthyls are configurationally stable and, as such, potentially usable as chiral ligands in asymmetric reactions. Michael addition of the glycine-derived enolate 40 to methyl acrylate, carried out in the presence of (R)-(-)-27 as the chiral phase-transfer catalyst, afforded L-glutamic acid (S)-(+)-43 of 92% ee (after hydrolysis of the primary product).

Copper(II)-mediated oxidative coupling of 2-aminonaphthalene homologues. Competition between the straight dimerization and the formation of carbazoles

Whereas the Cu(II)-mediated oxidative coupling of 2-aminonaphthalenes 7a and 7b results in the clean formation of 1,1'-binaphthyls 13a and 13b, respectively, their higher homologues and congeners 8-12 have been found to exhibit a different reaction pattern. Thus, 2-aminoanthracene (8) gave a approximately 1:1 mixture of the expected bianthryl derivative 15 and the carbazole 16, whereas the 9-aminophenanthrene (10), 3-phenyl-1-aminonaphthalene (11), and 2-aminochrysene (12) produced almost exclusively the corresponding carbazoles 19, 20, and 21, respectively. By contrast, the isomeric 3-aminophenanthrene (9) gave rise to the azo compound 17 as a result of the preferential oxidation on the nitrogen. The carbazoles have been shown to arise directly from the coupling reactions rather than from the primarily formed binaphthyls. Alternatively, carbazole 19 can also be prepared from 1b on reaction with hydrazine. On the other hand, treatment of 3a with hydrazine resulted in the formation of a approximately 2:7 mixture of amine 11 and arylhydrazine 22. 2,2'-Diamino-1,1'-bianthryl (15) has been resolved into enantiomers via cocrystallization with (-)-N-benzylcinchonidinium chloride and shown to have (R)-(-)-15 configuration by X-ray crystallography.

Diastereoisomeric cationic pi-allylpalladium-(P,C)-MAP and MOP complexes and their relationship to streochemical memory effects in allylic alkylation

The axially chiral ligands 2-(diphenylphosphanyl)-2'-methoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene (MOP; 6) and 2'-dimethylamino-2-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,1'-binaphthalene (MAP; 7) coordinate to a cationic allylpalladium fragment in an unusual bidentate (P,C)-mode through the triarylphosphane and ipso-carbon atom (C1'). The readily prepared MAP and MOP complexes [Pd[(P,C)-(L)](n3-allyl)][OTf] (9 (L = 7) and 10 (L = 6)) have been characterised in solution (NMR), in which two diastereoisomeric rotamers are observed. The stereochemical identity of the rotamers is established by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy experiments. In both the solid state and in solution, the allyl unit is shown to coordinate in a slightly distorted n3-mode that results in a more alkene-like character at the allyl terminus trans to phosphane ligand. The opposite allyl terminus, which is trans to the ipsocarbon atom (C1'), is more strongly bound and the dominant allyl stereodynamic process involves C-C bond rotation in an n'-allyl intermediate bound through this carbon. Palladium complexes of MAP and MOP are very efficient catalysts for allylic alkylation of racemic cyclopentenyl pivalate with [NaCH(CO2Me)2] in THF. Isotopic desymmetrisation revealed that the reaction occurs with powerful stereochemical memory effects and consequently with low global ee values. The memory effect is suggested to arise through selective generation of diastereoisomeric [Pd[(P,C)-L](n3-cyclopentenyl)]+ ions (L = MAP or MOP) and subsequent capture by nucleophile before ion-pair collapse or equilibration occurs.