Atroposelective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Styrenes by Platinum-Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Internal Alkynes

Hydrofunctionalization of alkynes is one of the most efficient ways to access axially chiral styrenes with open-chained olefins. While great advances have been achieved for 1-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols and analogues, atroposelective hydrofunctionalization of unactivated internal alkynes lags. Herein we reported a platinum-catalyzed atroposelective hydrosilylation of unactivated internal alkynes for the first time. With monodentate TADDOL-derived phosphonite L1 used as a chiral ligand, various axially chiral styrenes were achieved in excellent enantioselectivities with high E-selectivities. Control experiments showed that the NH-arylamide groups have significant effects on both the yields and enantioselectivities and could act as directing groups. The potential utilities of the products were shown by the transformations of the amide motifs of the products.

Rational Design of Axially Chiral Styrene-Based Organocatalysts and Their Application in Catalytic Asymmetric (2+4) Cyclizations

A new class of axially chiral styrene-based thiourea tertiary amine catalysts, which have unique characteristics such as an efficient synthetic route, multiple chiral elements, and multiple activating groups, has been rationally designed. These new chiral catalysts have proven to be efficient organocatalysts, enabling the chemo-, diastereo-, and enantioselective (2+4) cyclization of 2-benzothiazolimines with homophthalic anhydrides in good yields (up to 96 %) with excellent stereoselectivities (all >95:5 dr, up to 98 % ee). More importantly, theoretical calculations elucidated the important role of an axially chiral styrene moiety in controlling both the reactivity and enantioselectivity. This work not only represents the first design of styrene-based chiral thiourea tertiary amine catalysts and the first catalytic asymmetric (2+4) cyclization of 2-benzothiazolimines, but also gives an in-depth understanding of axially chiral styrene-based organocatalysts.

Synthesis of Axially Chiral Styrenes through Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric C-H Olefination Enabled by an Amino Amide Transient Directing Group

The atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral styrenes remains a formidable challenge due to their relatively lower rotational barriers compared to the biaryl atropoisomers. Herein, we describe the construction of axially chiral styrenes through Pd^II -catalyzed atroposelective C-H olefination, using a bulky amino amide as a transient chiral auxiliary. Various axially chiral styrenes were produced with good yields and high enantioselectivity (up to 95 % yield and 99 % ee). Carboxylic acid derivatives of the resulting axially chiral styrenes showed superior enantiocontrol over the biaryl counterparts in Co^III -catalyzed enantioselective C(sp³ )-H amidation of thioamide. Mechanistic studies suggest that C-H cleavage is the enantioselectivity-determining step.