Dual Stereochemical Control in Reaction of Di- and Trialkyl Phosphites with Aldimines

Abstract

Stereochemistry of addition of di- and trialkyl phosphites to C=N compounds was investigated. Reactions of achiral dialkyl phosphites with chiral aldimines as well as that of chiral di-(1R,2S,5R)-menthyl phosphite with achiral aldimines result in low diastereomeric enrichment of the addition compound. Reaction stereoselectivity increased when supplementary chiral inductor was introduced to the reaction system. Reaction of di-(1R,2S, 5R)-menthyl phosphite with (S)-α-methylbenzylbenzaldimine proceeds as concerted asymmetric induction to form practically one diastereomer of N-substituted aminophosphonic acid. However, reaction of di-(1R,2S, 5R)-menthyl phosphite with (R)-α-methylbenzylbenzaldimine proceeded as not concerted asymmetric induction, and diastereomeric enrichment of the product was low. By chemical extrapolation, absolute configuration of compounds formed was established. Tri-(1R,2S,5R)-menthyl phosphite reacts with C=N compounds in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate to form aminophosphonic acid derivatives with the absolute configuration opposite to that appearing in the reaction of di-(1R,2S,5R)-menthyl phosphite with the same C=N compounds.