The AZARYPHOS family of ligands for ambifunctional catalysis: syntheses and use in ruthenium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes.

The family of AZARYPHOS (aza-aryl-phosphane) phosphane ligands, containing a phosphine unit and sterically shielded nitrogen lone pairs in the ligand periphery, is introduced as a tool for developing ambifunctional catalysis by the metal center and nitrogen lone pairs in the ligand sphere. General synthetic strategies have been developed to synthesize over 25 examples of structurally diverse (6-aryl-2-pyridyl)phosphanes (ARPYPHOS), (6-alkyl-2-pyridyl)phosphanes (ALPYPHOS), 4,6-disubsituted 1,3-diazin-2-ylphosphanes or 1,3,5-triazin-2-ylphosphanes, quinazolinylphosphanes, quinolinylphosphanes, and others. The scalable syntheses proceed in a few steps. The incorporation of AZARYPHOS ligands (L) into complexes [RuCp(L)(2)(MeCN)][PF(6)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) gives catalysts for the anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes of the highest known activities. Electronic and steric ligand effects modulate the reaction kinetics over a range of two orders of magnitude. These results highlight the importance of using structurally diverse ligand families in the process of developing cooperative ambifunctional catalysis by a metal and its ligand.

Redox-neutral synthesis of beta-amino aldehydes from imines by an alkynylation/hydration sequence.

N-Protected beta-amino aldehydes have been prepared starting from imines through a sequence involving a Zn-mediated direct alkynylation followed by a Ru-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov alkyne hydration. The rate and the efficiency of the latter reaction are enhanced by the use of microwave irradiation. The possibility to carry out a one-pot Ru-catalyzed hydration/oxidation process from a terminal alkyne to a carboxylic acid was demonstrated, which provided direct access to a N-protected beta-amino acid from the corresponding terminal alkyne.

Highly active in situ catalysts for anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes.

The anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes to give aldehydes is catalyzed by complexes derived in situ from air-stable [CpRu(eta6-naphthalene)]PF6 (C) and 6-aryl-2-diphenylphosphinopyridines (L). Ligands L are readily available from a modular synthesis. Increasing the size of the ligand C-6 aryl group in the order R = Ph < mesityl < 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl < (2,4,6-triphenyl)phenyl gave hydration catalysts of highest known activity. [reaction: see text]

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted proline chimeras bearing polar side chains of proteinogenic amino acids.

The amino-zinc-ene-enolate cyclization reaction is a straightforward route to the synthesis of 3-substituted prolines. Herein we report the application of this reaction to the syntheses of proline chimeras of lysine, glutamic acid, glutamine, arginine, and serine. All these compounds were obtained in enantiomerically pure form and suitably protected for peptide synthesis.