Visible Light-Mediated, Highly Diastereoselective Epimerization of Lactams from the Most Accessible to the More Stable Stereoisomer.

Most known methods to access δ-lactams with stereogenic centers at the α- and ß-positions are highly selective for the contra-thermodynamic syn diastereomer, typically via hydrogenation of the corresponding pyridinones or quinolinones. We describe here the development of a photoredox-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) approach for the epimerization of δ-lactams to access the more stable anti diastereomers from the contra-thermodynamic syn isomers. The reaction displays broad functional group compatibility, including acid, ester, 1°, 2° and 3° amide, carbamate, and pyridyl groups, and was effective for a range of differently substituted monocyclic and bicyclic lactams. Experimentally observed diastereoselectivities are consistent with the calculated relative stabilities of lactam diastereomers. Convergence to the same diastereomer ratio from the syn- and anti- diastereomers establishes that reversible epimerization provides an equilibrium mixture of diastereomers. Additionally, deuterium labeling and luminescence quenching studies shed further light on the mechanism of the reaction.

Recent advances in oxidative allylic C-H functionalization via group IX-metal catalysis.

Allylic substitution, pioneered by the work of Tsuji and Trost, has been an invaluable tool in the synthesis of complex molecules for decades. An attractive alternative to allylic substitution is the direct functionalization of allylic C-H bonds of unactivated alkenes, thereby avoiding the need for prefunctionalization. Significant early advances in allylic C-H functionalization were made using palladium catalysis. However, Pd-catalyzed reactions are generally limited to the functionalization of terminal olefins with stabilized nucleophiles. Insights from Li, Cossy, and Tanaka demonstrated the utility of RhCpx catalysts for allylic functionalization. Since these initial reports, a number of key intermolecular Co-, Rh-, and Ir-catalyzed allylic C-H functionalization reactions have been reported, offering significant complementarity to the Pd-catalyzed reactions. Herein, we report a summary of recent advances in intermolecular allylic C-H functionalization via group IX-metal π-allyl complexes. Mechanism-driven development of new catalysts is highlighted, and the potential for future developments is discussed.

Designing a Planar Chiral Rhodium Indenyl Catalyst for Regio- and Enantioselective Allylic C-H Amidation.

Chiral variants of group IX Cp and Cp* catalysts are well established and catalyze a broad range of reactions with high levels of enantioselectivity. Enantiocontrol in these systems results from ligand design that focuses on appropriate steric blocking. Herein we report the development of a new planar chiral indenyl rhodium complex for enantioselective C-H functionalization catalysis. The ligand design is based on establishing electronic asymmetry in the catalyst, to control enantioselectivity during the reactions. The complex is easily synthesized from commercially available starting materials and is capable of catalyzing the asymmetric allylic C-H amidation of unactivated olefins, delivering a wide range of high-value enantioenriched allylic amide products in good yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity. Computational studies suggest that C-H cleavage is rate- and enantio-determining, while reductive C-N coupling from the RhV-nitrenoid intermediate is regio-determining.

Regioselective Cp*Ir(III)-Catalyzed Allylic C-H Sulfamidation of Allylbenzene Derivatives.

In this study we report the development of the regioselective Cp*Ir(III)-catalyzed allylic C-H sulfamidation of allylbenzene derivatives, using azides as the nitrogen source. The reaction putatively proceeds through a Cp*Ir(III)-π-allyl intermediate and demonstrates exclusive regioselectivity for the branched position of the π-allyl. The reaction performs well on electron-rich and electron-deficient allylbenzene derivatives and is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups, including carbamates, esters, and ketones. The proposed mechanism for this reaction proceeds via C-N reductive elimination from a Cp*Ir(V) nitrenoid complex at the branched position of the π-allyl.

The structure of a valinomycin-hexaaquamagnesium trifluoromethanesulfonate compound.

Valinomycin is a naturally occurring cyclic dodecadepsipeptide with the formula cyclo-[D-HiVA→L-Val →L-LA→L-Val]3 (D-HiVA is D-α-hydroxyisovaleic acid, Val is valine and LA is lactic acid), which binds a K(+) ion with high selectively. In the past, several cation-binding modes have been revealed by X-ray crystallography. In the K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+) complexes, the ester O atoms coordinate the cation with a trigonal antiprismatic geometry, while the six amide groups form intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the network that is formed has a bracelet-like conformation (Type 1 binding). Type 2 binding is seen with the Na(+) cation, in which the valinomycin molecule retains the bracelet conformation but the cations are coordinated by only three ester carbonyl groups and are not centrally located. In addition, a picrate counter-ion and a water molecule is found at the center of the valinomycin bracelet. Type 3 binding is observed with divalent Ba(2+), in which two cations are incorporated, bridged by two anions, and coordinated by amide carbonyl groups, and there are no intramolecular amide hydrogen bonds. In this paper, we present a new Type 4 cation-binding mode, observed in valinomycin hexaaquamagnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate) trihydrate, C54H90N6O18·[Mg(H2O)6](CF3SO3)2·3H2O, in which the valinomycin molecule incorporates a whole hexaaquamagnesium ion, [Mg(H2O)6](2+), via hydrogen bonding between the amide carbonyl groups and the hydrate water H atoms. In this complex, valinomycin retains the threefold symmetry observed in Type 1 binding, but the amide hydrogen-bond network is lost; the hexaaquamagnesium cation is hydrogen bonded by six amide carbonyl groups. (1)H NMR titration data is consistent with the 1:1 binding stoichiometry in acetonitrile solution. This new cation-binding mode of binding a whole hexaaquamagnesium ion by a cyclic polypeptide is likely to have important implications for the study of metal binding with biological models under physiological conditions.