Synthesis, structure and stereodynamics of atropisomeric N-chloroamides.

Atropisomeric N-chloroamides were efficiently accessed by electrophilic halogenation of ortho-substituted secondary anilides. The stereodynamics of atropisomerism in these novel scaffolds was interrogated by detailed experimental and computational studies, revealing that racemization is correlated with amide isomerization. The stereoelectronic nature of the amide was shown to significantly influence racemization rates, with potentially important implications for other C-N atropisomeric scaffolds.

Interrogating the configurational stability of atropisomers.

Atropisomers are molecules whose stereogenicity arises from restricted rotation about a single bond. They are of current importance because of their applications in catalysis, medicine and materials science. The defining feature of atropisomeric molecules is that their stereoisomers are related to one another by bond rotation: as a result, evaluating their configurational stability (i.e., the rate at which their stereoisomers interconvert) is central to any work in this area. Important atropisomeric scaffolds include C-C linked biaryls, such as the ligand BINAP and the drug vancomycin, and C-N linked amine derivatives such as the drug telenzepine. This article focuses on the three most widely used experimental methods that are available to measure the rate of racemization in atropisomers, namely: (i) kinetic analysis of the racemization of an enantioenriched sample, (ii) dynamic HPLC and (iii) variable-temperature NMR. For each technique, an explanation of the theory is set out, followed by a detailed experimental procedure. A discussion is also included of which technique to try when confronted with a new molecular structure whose properties are not yet known. None of the three procedures require complex experimental techniques, and all can be performed by using standard analytical equipment (NMR and HPLC). The time taken to determine a racemization rate depends on which experimental method is required, but for a new compound it is generally possible to measure a racemization rate in <1 d.

Redox Reorganization: Aluminium Promoted 1,5-Hydride Shifts Allow the Controlled Synthesis of Multisubstituted Cyclohexenes.

An efficient synthesis of cyclohexenes has been achieved from easily accessible tetrahydropyrans via a tandem 1,5-hydride shift-aldol condensation. We discovered that readily available aluminium reagents, e.g. Al2 O3 or Al(Ot Bu)3 are essential for this process, promoting the 1,5-hydride shift with complete regio- and enantiospecificity (in stark contrast to results obtained under basic conditions). The mild conditions, coupled with multiple methods available to access the tetrahydropyran starting materials makes this a versatile method with exceptional functional group tolerance. A wide range of cyclohexenes (>40 examples) have been prepared, many in enantiopure form, showing our ability to selectively install a substituent at each position around the newly forged cyclohexene ring. Experimental and computational studies revealed that aluminium serves a dual role in facilitating the hydride shift, activating both the alkoxide nucleophile and the electrophilic carbonyl group.

Control of Absolute Stereochemistry in Transition-Metal-Catalysed Hydrogen-Borrowing Reactions.

Hydrogen-borrowing catalysis represents a powerful method for the alkylation of amine or enolate nucleophiles with non-activated alcohols. This approach relies upon a catalyst that can mediate a strategic series of redox events, enabling the formation of C-C and C-N bonds and producing water as the sole by-product. In the majority of cases these reactions have been employed to target achiral or racemic products. In contrast, the focus of this Minireview is upon hydrogen-borrowing-catalysed reactions in which the absolute stereochemical outcome of the process can be controlled. Asymmetric hydrogen-borrowing catalysis is rapidly emerging as a powerful approach for the synthesis of enantioenriched amine and carbonyl containing products and examples involving both C-N and C-C bond formation are presented. A variety of different approaches are discussed including use of chiral auxiliaries, asymmetric catalysis and enantiospecific processes.

A hydrogen borrowing annulation strategy for the stereocontrolled synthesis of saturated aza-heterocycles.

An iridium catalyzed method for the synthesis of saturated aza-heterocycles from amines and diols is reported. A wide range of substituted heterocycles can be obtained using this approach including products bearing substituents at the C2, C3 and C4 positions. Employing water as the solvent, enantiopure diols could undergo annulation with minimal racemization, enabling the synthesis of valuable enantioenriched C3 and C4-substituted saturated aza-heterocycles.

Enantioconvergent alkylation of ketones with racemic secondary alcohols via hydrogen borrowing catalysis.

An enantioconvergent method for the alkylation of o-disubstituted aryl ketones with racemic secondary alcohols is described. This process is mediated by a commercially available iridium catalyst and proceeds via hydrogen borrowing catalysis. The highly enantioenriched ß-substituted ketone products were readily cleaved to a wide range of functional groups via retro-Friedel-Crafts acylation.

Chemo- and Regioselective Synthesis of Acyl-Cyclohexenes by a Tandem Acceptorless Dehydrogenation-[1,5]-Hydride Shift Cascade.

An atom-economical methodology to access substituted acyl-cyclohexenes from pentamethylacetophenone and 1,5-diols is described. This process is catalyzed by an iridium(I) catalyst in conjunction with a bulky electron rich phosphine ligand (CataCXium A) which favors acceptorless dehydrogenation over conjugate reduction to the corresponding cyclohexane. The reaction produces water and hydrogen gas as the sole byproducts and a wide range of functionalized acyl-cyclohexene products can be synthesized using this method in very high yields. A series of control experiments were carried out, which revealed that the process is initiated by acceptorless dehydrogenation of the diol followed by a redox-neutral cascade process, which is independent of the iridium catalyst. Deuterium labeling studies established that the key step of this cascade involves a novel base-mediated [1,5]-hydride shift. The cyclohexenyl ketone products could readily be cleaved under mildly acidic conditions to access a range of valuable substituted cyclohexene derivatives.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclohexanes by Hydrogen Borrowing Annulations.

Hydrogen borrowing catalysis serves as a powerful alternative to enolate alkylation, enabling the direct coupling of ketones with unactivated alcohols. However, to date, methods that enable control over the absolute stereochemical outcome of such a process have remained elusive. Here we report a catalytic asymmetric method for the synthesis of enantioenriched cyclohexanes from 1,5-diols via hydrogen borrowing catalysis. This reaction is mediated by the addition of a chiral iridium(I) complex, which is able to impart high levels of enantioselectivity upon the process. A series of enantioenriched cyclohexanes have been prepared and the mode of enantioinduction has been probed by a combination of experimental and DFT studies.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclohexanes via an Iridium Catalyzed (5 + 1) Annulation Strategy.

An iridium catalyzed method for the synthesis of functionalized cyclohexanes from methyl ketones and 1,5-diols is described. This process operates by two sequential hydrogen borrowing reactions, providing direct access to multisubstituted cyclic products with high levels of stereocontrol. This methodology represents a novel (5 + 1) strategy for the stereoselective construction of the cyclohexane core.

Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Allenes by Point-to-Axial Chirality Transfer.

An enantiodivergent method for the synthesis of multiply substituted allenes is described. Highly enantioenriched, point-chiral boronic esters were synthesized by homologation of α-seleno alkenyl boronic esters with lithiated carbamates and eliminated to form axially chiral allene products. By employing either oxidative or alkylative conditions, both syn and anti elimination could be achieved with complete stereospecificity. The process enables the synthesis of either M or P allenes from a single isomer of a point-chiral precursor and can be employed for the enantioselective assembly of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted allenes.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric biaryls by a cation-directed O-alkylation.

Axially chiral biaryls, as exemplified by 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL), are key components of catalysts, natural products and medicines. These materials are synthesized conventionally in enantioenriched form through metal-mediated cross coupling, de novo construction of an aromatic ring, point-to-axial chirality transfer or an atropselective transformation of an existing biaryl. Here, we report a highly enantioselective organocatalytic method for the synthesis of atropisomeric biaryls by a cation-directed O-alkylation. Treatment of racemic 1-aryl-2-tetralones with a chiral quinidine-derived ammonium salt under basic conditions in the presence of an alkylating agent leads to atropselective O-alkylation with e.r. up to 98:2. Oxidation with DDQ gives access to C2-symmetric and non-symmetric BINOL derivatives without compromising e.r. We propose that the chiral ammonium counterion differentiates between rapidly equilibrating atropisomeric enolates, leading to highly atropselective O-alkylation. This dynamic kinetic resolution process offers a general approach to the synthesis of enantioenriched atropisomeric materials.

Synthesis of Functionalized Alkenes by a Transition-Metal-Free Zweifel Coupling.

The Zweifel reaction is a powerful method for the synthesis of alkenes, serving as a transition-metal-free alternative to the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. To date, the scope of the Zweifel coupling has been rather narrow and has focused mainly on the coupling of vinyllithium reagents to synthesize simple aryl- and alkyl-substituted olefins. Herein, the development of a general transition-metal-free coupling process enabling the coupling of Grignard reagents or organolithiums is described. This method enables the enantiospecific synthesis of a wide variety of functionalized acyclic and cyclic olefin products.

Conjunctive functionalization of vinyl boronate complexes with electrophiles: a diastereoselective three-component coupling.

A method for the conjunctive functionalization of vinyl boronate complexes with electrophiles is described. The overall process represents a three-component coupling between a vinyl boronic ester, carbon nucleophile and an electrophile, thus affording complex multifunctionalized products from simple starting materials. The diastereoselectivity (syn or anti) of this process is strongly dependent upon the nature of the electrophile.

Stereodivergent Olefination of Enantioenriched Boronic Esters.

A stereodivergent coupling reaction between vinyl halides and boronic esters is described. This coupling process proceeds without a transition-metal catalyst, instead proceeding by electrophilic selenation or iodination of a vinyl boronate complex followed by stereospecific syn or anti elimination. Chiral, nonracemic boronic esters could be coupled with complete enantiospecificity. The process enables the highly stereoselective synthesis of either the E or Z alkene from a single isomer of a vinyl coupling partner.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric biaryls: a cation-directed nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction.

A catalytic enantioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction which yields axially chiral biaryl derivatives in excellent yields with e.r. values of up to 97:3 has been developed. This process uses a chiral counterion to direct the addition of thiophenolate to a prochiral dichloropyrimidine by a tandem desymmetrization/kinetic resolution mechanism. The products can be derivatized to a range of atropisomeric structures without any reduction in enantioenrichment, thus offering access to unexplored chiral biaryl architectures.

Furanyl cyclic amines: a diastereoselective synthesis of 2,6-syn-disubstituted piperidines under thermodynamic control.

Utilising the propensity of the 2-furanyl group to facilitate equilibration of an adjacent tosylamide chiral centre, a diastereoselective route to 2,6-syn-piperidines was developed that proceeds with high levels of thermodynamic stereocontrol. X-ray crystallography structures suggest that, as seen in similar systems, pseudo-allylic strain between the N-tosyl group and the substituents at the 2 and 6 positions dominates stereochemical preference, overriding 1,3 diaxial interactions.