(Salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening of epoxides using dithiophosphorus acid as the nucleophile

Abstract

A series of chiral bis-Schiff bases were synthesized starting from (1 R,2 R)-(+)-diaminocyclohexane, (+)- cis-1,2,2-trimethyl-1,3-diaminocyclopentane, ( R)-2,2 ′-diamino-1,1 ′-binaphthalene, and (1 S,2 S)-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine. The enantioselective ring-opening of meso epoxides with dithiophosphorus acids catalyzed by a (salen)Ti(IV) complex formed in situ upon the treatment of Ti(OPr- i) 4 and the aforementioned chiral Schiff base was realized. The resulting products were obtained with low to good enantioselectivities (up to 73% ee). The (salen)Ti(IV) complex containing the backbone of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane exhibited the best enantioselectivity. The substituents in dithiophosphorus acids and those on the salen aromatic ring have a significant influence on the reaction. Moderate enantioselectivity were obtained for the (salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed ring-opening of racemic monosubstituted epoxides. High regioselectivity was observed for the alkyl substituted epoxides, whereas poor regioselectivity was obtained for the aryl substituted ones.