A Traceless Chiral Shift Reagent Based on Nonbonding Interactions with Single-Handed Helical Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl).

A single-handed poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl) (PQX) has been found to serve as a new type of chiral shift reagent (CSR) for determining the enantiomeric ratio by NMR spectroscopy. Even though there is no specific binding site in the PQX, its nonbonding interaction with chiral analytes leads to a significant shift of the NMR chemical shift, allowing quantification of the enantiomeric ratio. The new type of CSR has the advantages of a wide scope of analytes including ethers, haloalkanes, and alkanes, easy tunability of the degree of chemical shifts by measurement temperature, and erasability of proton signals of CSR because of the short spin-spin (T2 ) relaxation of the macromolecular scaffold.

PQXdpap: Helical Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s Bearing 4-(Dipropylamino)pyridin-3-yl Pendants as Chirality-Switchable Nucleophilic Catalysts for the Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols.

Helically chiral poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s bearing 4-(dipropylamino)pyridin-3-yl pendants at the 5-position of the quinoxaline ring (PQXdpap) exhibited high catalytic activities and moderate to high selectivities (up to s = 87) in the acylative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols. The solvent-dependent helical chirality switching of PQXdpap between pure toluene and a 1:1 mixture of toluene and 1,1,2-trichloroethane enabled the preparation of either compound of a pair of enantiomerically pure alcohols (>99% ee) from a single catalyst.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular hydroarylation of allylic aryl ethers devoid of a directing group on the aryl group.

Although intramolecular hydroarylation is an attractive transformation of allylic aryl ethers, it has suffered from narrow substrate scope. We herein describe Ir/(S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of allylic aryl ethers. The reaction eliminates the structural requirement from the aryl group, affording 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans bearing a stereogenic carbon center at the C3 position with up to 99% enantiomeric excess.

Protected amino acids as a nonbonding source of chirality in induction of single-handed screw-sense to helical macromolecular catalysts.

Chiral nonbonding interaction with N-protected amino acid methyl esters used as chiral additives in achiral solvents allows dynamic induction of single-handed helical conformation in poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s (PQX) bearing only achiral substituents. Ac-l-Pro-OMe, for instance, allows induction of energy preference of 0.16 kJ mol-1 per monomer unit for the M-helical structure over the P-helix in t-butyl methyl ether (MTBE). With this new mode of screw-sense induction, homochiral screw-sense has been induced in virtually achiral poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s 1000-mer containing phosphine pendants (PQXphos). Use of PQXphos as a helically dynamic ligand along with Ac-Pro-OMe (l or d) as a chiral additive in MTBE allowed a highly enantioselective Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with up to 95% enantiomeric excess.

Copper-catalyzed regioselective trans-silaboration of internal arylalkynes with stereochemical switch to cis-addition mode.

Copper-catalyzed silafunctionalization of alkynes using a silylboronic ester as a silicon source has recently progressed rapidly. Generally, the reaction affords a product with cis-stereoselectivity. We herein describe trans-selective 1,2-addition of silylboronic esters to internal arylalkynes, which was promoted efficiently by the CuOt-Bu/RCy2P/NaOt-Bu catalysts. Moreover, we report a stereochemical switch to cis-addition in the reactions of Me2(i-PrO)Si-B(pin) in hydrocarbon solvents including cyclohexane.

Enantioconvergent Cu-Catalyzed Intramolecular C-C Coupling at Boron-Bound C(sp3) Atoms of α-Aminoalkylboronates Using a C1-Symmetrical 2,2'-Bipyridyl Ligand Attached to a Helically Chiral Macromolecular Scaffold.

Enantioconvergent intramolecular coupling of α-(2-bromobenzoylamino)benzylboronic esters was achieved using a copper catalyst having helically chiral macromolecular bipyridyl ligand, PQXbpy. Racemic α-(2-bromobenzoylamino)benzylboronic esters were converted into (R)-configured 3-arylisoindolinones with high enantiopurity using right-handed helical PQXbpy as a chiral ligand in a toluene/CHCl3 mixed solvent. When enantiopure (R)- and (S)-configured boronates were separately reacted under the same reaction conditions, both afforded (R)-configured products through formal stereoinvertive and stereoretentive processes, respectively. From these results, a mechanism involving deracemization of organocopper intermediates in the presence of PQXbpy is assumed. PQXbpy switched its helical sense to left-handed when a toluene/1,1,2-trichloroethane mixed solvent was used, resulting in the formation of the corresponding (S)-products from the racemic starting material.

Holding of planar chirality of pillar[5]arene by kinetic trapping using host-guest interactions with achiral guest solvents.

We report a solvent-dependent switching and holding of planar chirality of pillar[5]arene with stereogenic carbons at both rims by host-guest complexation with achiral guest solvents. The planar chirality could be held for a given length of time at 25 °C in long linear guest solvents by kinetic trapping through host-guest complexation. The kinetic trapping worked at 25 °C, but not at 60 °C, thus a planar-chiral inversion using kinetic trapping based on host-guest complexation in the long linear solvents was demonstrated.

Construction of Silicon-Containing Seven-Membered Rings by Catalytic [4 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition through Rhodium Silylenoid.

A rhodium-catalyzed [4 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition involving 1,3-diene, alkyne, and silylene to afford silicon-containing seven-membered rings was established. In the presence of a rhodium catalyst bearing bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (DPPM), nona-1,3-dien-8-yne derivatives reacted efficiently at 80-110 °C with boryl(isopropoxy)silane or boryl(diethyamino)silane, which reacts as the synthetic equivalent of silylene, to afford 1-silacyclohepta-2,5-dienes (2,5-dihydro-1H-silepines). Regiodivergent and chemo- and stereoselective functionalization of the seven-membered nonconjugated diene was achieved by hydroboration mediated by Cs2CO3 or an iridium catalyst.

Stereoinvertive C-C Bond Formation at the Boron-Bound Stereogenic Centers through Copper-Bipyridine-Catalyzed Intramolecular Coupling of α-Aminobenzylboronic Esters.

Enantiospecific intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura-type coupling with α-(2-halobenzoylamino)benzylboronic esters to give 3-substituted isoindolinones is achieved by using copper catalysts with 2,2'-bipyridine-based achiral ligands. Enantioenriched α-aminobenzylboron reactants bearing a hydrogen atom at the boron-bound stereogenic carbons undergo stereoinvertive coupling in the presence of a 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand with high enantiospecificity. α-Aminobenzylboronates bearing fully substituted boron-bound stereogenic centers also gave the 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones with stereospecific stereochemical inversion in the presence of simple 2,2'-bipyridine as a ligand.

4,4'-Bipyridyl-Catalyzed Reduction of Nitroarenes by Bis(neopentylglycolato)diboron.

4,4'-Bipyridyl worked as an organocatalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes by bis(neopentylglycolato)diboron (B2nep2), followed by hydrolysis to give the corresponding anilines. This reduction proceeded under aerobic conditions without any prepurification of substrates and reagents. We found broad functional group tolerance and compatibility for O- and N-protecting groups under the reaction conditions. The key in this catalytic system was the addition of B2nep2 to 4,4'-bipyridyl to form N,N'-bis[(neopentylglycolato)boryl]-4,4'-bipyridinylidene as a deoxygenating reagent of nitroarenes.

Boryl-Directed, Ir-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Borylation of Alkylboronic Acids Leading to Site-Selective Synthesis of Polyborylalkanes.

Pyrazolylaniline serves as a temporary directing group attached to the boron atom of alkylboronic acids in Ir-catalyzed C(sp3)-H borylation. The reaction takes place at α-, ß-, and γ-C-H bonds, giving polyborylated products including di-, tri-, tetra-, and even pentaborylalkanes. α-C-H borylation was generally found to be the preferred reaction of primary alkylboronic acid derivatives, whereas ß- or γ-borylation also occurred if ß- or γ-C-H bonds were located on the methyl group.

Asymmetric Catalysis in Chiral Solvents: Chirality Transfer with Amplification of Homochirality through a Helical Macromolecular Scaffold.

Use of chiral solvents in asymmetric synthesis as a sole source of enantioselection remains largely unexplored in organic synthesis. We found that the use of a helical macromolecular catalyst of which helical chirality is dynamically formed in chiral solvents allowed several mechanistically different reactions to proceed with high enantioselectivity. In this system, the chirality of the solvent, such as limonene, induces a configurational imbalance to the helical macromolecular scaffold of the catalyst, and in turn to the reaction products through palladium-catalyzed asymmetric reactions including Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling (up to 98% ee), styrene hydrosilylation (up to 95% ee), and silaboration (up to 89% ee). Not only enantiomerically pure limonene but also limonene with low enantiomeric excesses induce single-handed helical structures with majority-rule-based amplification of homochirality. The helical conformation of the macromolecular catalyst was retained even in the absence of limonene in the solid state, enabling asymmetric cross-coupling in achiral solvent with high enantioselectivity.

Catalytic Generation of Rhodium Silylenoid for Alkene-Alkyne-Silylene [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition.

An alkene-alkyne-silylene [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition takes place in the rhodium-catalyzed reaction of 1,6-enynes with borylsilanes bearing an alkoxy group on the silicon atoms, which react as synthetic equivalents of silylene. The reaction proceeds efficiently in 1,2-dichloroethane at 80-110 °C in the presence of a rhodium catalyst bearing bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (DPPM) as a ligand to afford 1-silacyclopent-2-enes in good to high yields.

Telechelic Helical Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s Containing a Structurally Defined, Circularly Polarized Luminescent Terquinoxaline Core: Synthesis by Core-Initiated Bidirectional Living Polymerization.

We have designed and synthesized divalent initiators that contain a fluorescent terquinoxaline unit with two palladium groups for the living polymerization of 1,2-diisocyanobenzenes. Using these divalent initiators, the bidirectional living polymerization of a monomer bearing (S)-butoxymethyl side chains afforded telechelic helical poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s (PQXs), which consist of a terquinoxaline unit at the center of the polymer chain and chiral oligomeric blocks on both sides. The location of the core unit was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. Upon changing the solvent from CHCl3 to 1,1,2-trichloroethane, these PQXs exhibit both left- and right-handed circularly polarized luminescence with dissymmetry factors of approximately 1.0 × 10-3.

Abnormal sergeants-and-soldiers effects of poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s enabling discrimination of one-carbon homologous n-alkanes through a highly sensitive solvent-dependent helix inversion.

Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s bearing (S)-3-octyloxymethyl and n-propoxymethyl side chains show an abnormal sergeants-and-soldiers effect in n-alkane solvents, which allows the development of a series of PQXs that exhibit an extremely sensitive solvent-dependent helix inversion that permits the discrimination of n-alkane solvents that differ by a single methylene group (e.g. n-heptane and n-octane).

Enantiospecific Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling of Nonbenzylic α-(Acylamino)alkylboronic Acid Derivatives.

Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of nonbenzylic α-(acylamino)alkylboron compounds with aryl halides is established. A Pd/PCy2 Ph catalyst promotes the reaction efficiently at 145 °C. The reaction of enantioenriched α-(acylamino)alkylboron compounds affords chiral 1-arylalkylamides in high enantiospecificity and inversion of configuration.

Chirality-Amplifying, Dynamic Induction of Single-Handed Helix by Chiral Guests to Macromolecular Chiral Catalysts Bearing Boronyl Pendants as Receptor Sites.

Helical chirality of poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s bearing a boronyl pendant at the 5-position of the quinoxaline ring was induced by condensation with chiral guests such as a diol, diamine, and amino alcohol. Reversible induction of a single-handed helical structure was achieved by using less than an equimolar amount of chiral amino alcohols to the boronyl pendants. Majority-rule-effect-based chiral amplification on the polyquinoxaline main chain was demonstrated with chiral amino alcohols with low enantiomeric excess (ee). The helical macromolecular scaffold whose helicity was thus induced was utilized in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric silaboration of meso-methylenecyclopropane (up to 92% ee) by introducing (diarylphosphino)phenyl pendants at their side chains.

Elucidating the Solvent Effect on the Switch of the Helicity of Poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl)s: A Conformational Analysis by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering.

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to examine dilute solutions of a poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl) (PQX) with (R)-2-octyloxymethyl side chains in deuterated THF or a mixture of deuterated 1,1,2-TCE and THF (8/2, v/v), in which the PQX adopts pure P- and M-helical structures. The structures of the PQX that were obtained based on the SANS experiments in combination with theoretical calculations suggest that in THF, the chiral side chains of the P-helical PQX are extended, whereas in the 1,1,2-TCE/THF mixture, the side chains of the M-helical PQX are folded. Consequently, P-helical structures should be preferred in good solvents such as THF, which solvate the extended side chains, whereas M-helical structures should be preferred in poor solvents such as 1,1,2-TCE, wherein the side chains adopt shrunken conformations with maximized van der Waals interactions between the side chains. This study thus reveals the first example for fully determined nuanced conformations of the side chains of synthetic polymers in solution based on SANS experiments and theoretical calculations.

Asymmetric Cycloisomerization of o-Alkenyl-N-Methylanilines to Indolines by Iridium-Catalyzed C(sp3 )-H Addition to Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds.

Highly enantioselective cycloisomerization of N-methylanilines, bearing o-alkenyl groups, into indolines is established. An iridium catalyst bearing a bidentate chiral diphosphine effectively promotes the intramolecular addition of the C(sp3 )-H bond across a carbon-carbon double bond in a highly enantioselective fashion. The reaction gives indolines bearing a quaternary stereogenic carbon center at the 3-position. The reaction mechanism involves rate-determining oxidative addition of the N-methyl C-H bond, followed by intramolecular carboiridation and subsequent reductive elimination.

Utilization of a Trimethylsilyl Group as a Synthetic Equivalent of a Hydroxyl Group via Chemoselective C(sp3)-H Borylation at the Methyl Group on Silicon.

A conversion of trimethylsilylalkanes into the corresponding alcohols is established based on an iridium-catalyzed, chemoselective C(sp3)-H borylation of the methyl group on silicon. The (borylmethyl)silyl group formed by C(sp3)-H borylation is treated with H2O2/NaOH, and the resulting (hydroxymethyl)silyl group is converted into a hydroxyl group by Brook rearrangement, followed by oxidation of the resulting methoxysilyl group under Tamao conditions. An alternative route proceeding through the formylsilyl group formed from a (hydroxymethyl)silyl group by Swern oxidation is also established. The method is applicable to substituted trimethylsilylcycloalkanes and 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclopentane for conversion into the corresponding stereodefined cycloalkyl alcohols and 1,4-butanediol.