Boron-Catalyzed Carboxylic Acid-Selective Aldol Reaction with Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

A catalytic carboxylic acid-selective aldol reaction with trifluoromethyl ketones was developed. Reversible and selective covalent bond formation between a boron catalyst and a carboxylic acid is key to realizing the unprecedented catalytic aldol reaction of simple carboxylic acids. The reaction proceeded chemoselectively at the α-position of carboxylic acid even in the presence of ketone, ester, or amide functional groups in the donor substrates. The chemoselectivity is beneficial for late-stage derivatizations of biologically relevant compounds, as demonstrated by the conversion of indomethacin and triacetylcholic acid.

Ligand-Promoted, Boron-Mediated Chemoselective Carboxylic Acid Aldol Reaction.

The first carboxylic acid selective aldol reaction mediated by boron compounds and a mild organic base (DBU) was developed. Inclusion of electron-withdrawing groups in the amino acid derivative ligands reacted with BH3·SMe2 forms a boron promoter with increased Lewis acidity at the boron atom and facilitated the carboxylic acid selective enolate formation, even in the presence of other carbonyl groups such as amides, esters, ketones, or aliphatic aldehydes. The remarkable ligand effect led to the broad substrate scope including biologically relevant compounds.

Chemoselective Boron-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Activation of Carboxylic Acids for Mannich-Type Reactions.

The carboxyl group (COOH) is an omnipresent functional group in organic molecules, and its direct catalytic activation represents an attractive synthetic method. Herein, we describe the first example of a direct catalytic nucleophilic activation of carboxylic acids with BH3·SMe2, after which the acids are able to act as carbon nucleophiles, i.e. enolates, in Mannich-type reactions. This reaction proceeds with a mild organic base (DBU) and exhibits high levels of functional group tolerance. The boron catalyst is highly chemoselective toward the COOH group, even in the presence of other carbonyl moieties, such as amides, esters, or ketones. Furthermore, this catalytic method can be extended to highly enantioselective Mannich-type reactions by using a (R)-3,3'-I2-BINOL-substituted boron catalyst.