Asymmetric Cyclopropanation Research Articles

First enantioselective synthesis of salinipostin A, a marine cyclic enol-phosphotriester isolated from Salinispora sp

Salinipostins are cyclic enol-phosphotriesters isolated from a marine-derived Salinispora sp. as antimalarial compounds. Herein, the first enantioselective synthesis of salinipostin A was achieved. Organocatalyst-mediated asymmetric cyclopropanation and regioselective cyclopropane ring opening were the key steps.

Stereodivergent Intramolecular Cyclopropanation Enabled by Engineered Carbene Transferases.

We report the development of engineered myoglobin biocatalysts for executing asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanations resulting in cyclopropane-fused γ-lactones, which are key motifs found in many bioactive molecules. Using this strategy, a broad range of allyl diazoacetate substrates were efficiently cyclized in high yields with up to 99% enantiomeric excess. Upon remodeling of the active site via protein engineering, myoglobin variants with stereodivergent selectivity were also obtained. In combination with whole-cell transformations, these biocatalysts enabled the gram-scale assembly of a key intermediate useful for the synthesis of the insecticide permethrin and other natural products. The enzymatically produced cyclopropyl-γ-lactones can be further elaborated to furnish a variety of enantiopure trisubstituted cyclopropanes. This work introduces a first example of biocatalytic intramolecular cyclopropanation and provides an attractive strategy for the stereodivergent preparation of fused cyclopropyl-γ-lactones of high value for medicinal chemistry and the synthesis of natural products.

General Cyclopropane Assembly by Enantioselective Transfer of a Redox‐Active Carbene to Aliphatic Olefins

Asymmetric cyclopropane synthesis currently requires bespoke strategies, methods, substrates, and reagents, even when targeting similar compounds. This approach slows down discovery and limits available chemical space. Introduced herein is a practical and versatile diazocompound and its performance in the first unified asymmetric synthesis of functionalized cyclopropanes. The redox-active leaving group in this reagent enhances the reactivity and selectivity of geminal carbene transfer. This effect allowed the asymmetric cyclopropanation of various olefins, including unfunctionalized aliphatic alkenes, that enables the three-step total synthesis of (-)-dictyopterene A. This unified synthetic approach delivers high enantioselectivities that are independent of the stereoelectronic properties of the functional groups transferred. Our results demonstrate that orthogonally differentiated diazocompounds are viable and advantageous equivalents of single-carbon chirons.

General Cyclopropane Assembly by Enantioselective Transfer of a Redox‐Active Carbene to Aliphatic Olefins

AbstractAsymmetric cyclopropane synthesis currently requires bespoke strategies, methods, substrates, and reagents, even when targeting similar compounds. This approach slows down discovery and limits available chemical space. Introduced herein is a practical and versatile diazocompound and its performance in the first unified asymmetric synthesis of functionalized cyclopropanes. The redox‐active leaving group in this reagent enhances the reactivity and selectivity of geminal carbene transfer. This effect allowed the asymmetric cyclopropanation of various olefins, including unfunctionalized aliphatic alkenes, that enables the three‐step total synthesis of (−)‐dictyopterene A. This unified synthetic approach delivers high enantioselectivities that are independent of the stereoelectronic properties of the functional groups transferred. Our results demonstrate that orthogonally differentiated diazocompounds are viable and advantageous equivalents of single‐carbon chirons.

Chiral Heterobimetallic Bismuth–Rhodium Paddlewheel Catalysts: A Conceptually New Approach to Asymmetric Cyclopropanation

AbstractCyclopropanation reactions of styrene derivatives with donor–acceptor carbenes formed in situ are significantly more enantioselective when catalyzed by the heterobimetallic bismuth–rhodium complex 5 a endowed with N‐phthalimido tert‐leucine paddlewheel ligands rather than by its homobimetallic dirhodium analogue 1 a. This virtue is likely the result of two synergizing factors: the conical shape of 5 a translates into a narrower calyx‐like chiral binding site about the catalytically active Rh center; the Bi atom, although fully solvent exposed, does not decompose aryl diazoacetates and is hence incapable of promoting a racemic background reaction. Moreover, ligand variation proved that successful catalyst design mandates that the anisotropy of the conical heterobimetallic core be matched by proper directionality of the ligand sphere.

Chiral Heterobimetallic Bismuth-Rhodium Paddlewheel Catalysts: A Conceptually New Approach to Asymmetric Cyclopropanation.

Cyclopropanation reactions of styrene derivatives with donor-acceptor carbenes formed in situ are significantly more enantioselective when catalyzed by the heterobimetallic bismuth-rhodium complex 5 a endowed with N-phthalimido tert-leucine paddlewheel ligands rather than by its homobimetallic dirhodium analogue 1 a. This virtue is likely the result of two synergizing factors: the conical shape of 5 a translates into a narrower calyx-like chiral binding site about the catalytically active Rh center; the Bi atom, although fully solvent exposed, does not decompose aryl diazoacetates and is hence incapable of promoting a racemic background reaction. Moreover, ligand variation proved that successful catalyst design mandates that the anisotropy of the conical heterobimetallic core be matched by proper directionality of the ligand sphere.

Asymmetric Kulinkovich Hydroxycyclopropanation of Alkenes Mediated by Titanium(IV) TADDOLate Complexes

Asymmetric Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of carboxylic ­esters with prochiral alkenes is reported. The process is mediated by ­titanium(IV) (4R,5R)-TADDOLate complexes and affords correspondingly (Z)- or (E)-cyclopropanols with up to 84–87% ee in the event of intra- or intermolecular olefin ligand exchange in intermediate titanacyclopropane [titanium(II)-alkene] species. Configuration of the olefin double bond is preserved in the cyclopropane products, pointing out on ­total retention of configuration at Ti–C bond in the cyclopropane forming step. The results have been interpreted in the framework of ate complex mechanism, suggesting formation of pentacoordinated titanium ate species as a prerequisite of high enantiocontrol.

Catalytic Asymmetric Intermolecular Cyclopropanation of a Ketone Carbene Precursor by a Ruthenium(II)‐Pheox Complex

AbstractThe diazo derivative of acetonyl acetate is a useful basic skeleton for the synthesis of cyclopropyl ketones. The intermolecular cyclopropanations of diazo acetoxy acetone with olefins are accomplished by using a novel p‐nitro‐Ru(II)‐diphenyl‐Pheox catalyst to give the corresponding optically active cyclopropane derivatives in good yields (up to 95%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).magnified image

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (+)-Cycloclavine

The first total synthesis of natural (+)-cycloclavine uses a catalytic­ asymmetric cyclopropanation of allene, a regiospecific Pd-catalyzed­ enone formation, and two intramolecular Diels–Alder reactions for indole/indoline annulations. The binding properties of natural (+)- and unnatural (–)-cycloclavine on 16 CNS receptors revealed significant stereospecificity and unique binding profiles in comparison to LSD, psilocin, and DMT. Differential 5-HT affinities, as well as novel sigma­-1 receptor properties bode well for potential therapeutic developments of clavine alkaloid scaffolds.

Highly Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of Nitrile‐Substituted Cyclopropanes by Myoglobin‐Mediated Carbene Transfer Catalysis

AbstractA chemobiocatalytic strategy for the highly stereoselective synthesis of nitrile‐substituted cyclopropanes is reported. The present approach relies on an asymmetric olefin cyclopropanation reaction catalyzed by an engineered myoglobin in the presence of ex situ generated diazoacetonitrile within a compartmentalized reaction system. This method enabled the efficient transformation of a broad range of olefin substrates at a preparative scale with up to 99.9 % de and ee and up to 5600 turnovers. The enzymatic product could be further elaborated to afford a variety of functionalized chiral cyclopropanes. This work expands the range of synthetically valuable, abiotic transformations accessible through biocatalysis and paves the way to the practical and safe exploitation of diazoacetonitrile in biocatalytic carbene transfer reactions.

Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Nitrile-Substituted Cyclopropanes by Myoglobin-Mediated Carbene Transfer Catalysis.

A chemobiocatalytic strategy for the highly stereoselective synthesis of nitrile-substituted cyclopropanes is reported. The present approach relies on an asymmetric olefin cyclopropanation reaction catalyzed by an engineered myoglobin in the presence of ex situ generated diazoacetonitrile within a compartmentalized reaction system. This method enabled the efficient transformation of a broad range of olefin substrates at a preparative scale with up to 99.9 % de and ee and up to 5600 turnovers. The enzymatic product could be further elaborated to afford a variety of functionalized chiral cyclopropanes. This work expands the range of synthetically valuable, abiotic transformations accessible through biocatalysis and paves the way to the practical and safe exploitation of diazoacetonitrile in biocatalytic carbene transfer reactions.

Asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions catalyzed by carbohydrate-based crown ethers

Optically active cyclopropane derivatives were prepared by a novel, simple and green approach in high enantioselectivities using monosaccharide-based chiral crown ethers as phase transfer catalysts. The crown ethers having d-glucopyranoside, d-mannopyranoside and d-altropyranoside units proved to be efficient catalyst in a few asymmetric phase transfer cyclopropanation reactions. The Michael-initiated ring closure (MIRC) reactions of diethyl bromomalonate with chalcones took place with complete diastereoselectivity and up to 99% ee. Using benzylidenemalononitrile, 2-arylidenemalononitriles, 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandione, substituted 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandiones, 2-arylidene-1,3-indandiones and 2-benzylidene-1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanediones enantioselectivities up to 92%, 99%, 54% 93%, 89% and 72%, respectively, were achieved, in the presence of chiral lariat ethers derived from different monosaccharides. The absolute configuration of a cyclopropane diester product was determined by a combined CD spectroscopic and theoretical study.

Construction of All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters via Asymmetric Cyclopropanations: Synthesis of Chiral Carbocyclic Pyrimidine Nucleosides

AbstractAn efficient route to synthesize chiral carbocyclic pyrimidine nucleoside analogues containing all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters has been established via the asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanation of N1‐vinylpyrimidines and α‐aryl diazoesters. With 2 mol% of chiral dirhodium (II) carboxylate complex as the catalyst, a variety of chiral carbocyclic cytosine or uracil nucleoside analogues were obtained in good yields (up to 96% yield), high diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr), and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).magnified image

Opposite Enantioselectivity by Nanotubes and Nanospheres Self‐Assembled from Dirhodium(II) and an l‐Glutamic Acid Terminated Bolaamphiphile

AbstractCoordination is an important factor that can be used to modulate the structure and function of self‐assembly systems. Herein, we report the coordination‐regulated self‐assembly of chiral nanostructures and their enantioselective catalytic performances. We found that if a rhodium complex and an l‐glutamic acid terminated bolaamphiphile were self‐assembled by coordination, single‐walled nanotubes and nanospheres could be obtained depending on the molar ratio. Interestingly, the nanotubes and nanospheres showed opposite supramolecular chirality even though the same chiral bolaamphiphile was used. If the nanospheres and nanotubes were used as catalysts for the asymmetric cyclopropanation reaction, opposite enantioselectivities were obtained, which indicated that it was the supramolecular chirality rather than the molecular chirality that controlled the enantioselectivity of the asymmetric reaction. This work provides not only a feasible method to construct different nanostructures through metal coordination but also a new pathway of transferring chirality from the supramolecular level to chiral products.

Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclopropanation Reaction of Acyclic Amides with Allyl and Polyenyl Carbonates. Experimental and Computational Studies for the Origin of Cyclopropane Formation

Cyclopropanes with three chiral centers were afforded in good to high yields with dr ratio of 4–23:1 and ee of 83–99% in the reaction of acyclic amides with monosubstituted allyl carbonates as well as polyenyl carbonates under the Pd-catalysis in the presence of (Sphos,R)-SIOCPhox L1 as the ligand, while allylic alkylated products were provided only if (Rphos,R)-SIOCPhox L2 was the ligand. The amide group of product was easily reduced to hydroxymethyl group in high yield. The active reaction intermediate was determined and transition states for cyclopropanation and allylation were calculated. The origin of cyclopropane formation was investigated by experiments, NMR studies, X-ray analysis of allyl-Pd-ligand complexes, and DFT calculations.

Highly enantioselective cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins

A highly efficient asymmetric cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins with methyl diazoacetate has been developed in terms of an elaborate modified chiral bisoxazoline/copper complex as a catalyst. A broad scope of substrates is compatible with this catalyst system, including various trisubstituted olefins bearing different aryl-, fused aryl- and alkyl-substituents, providing an easy access to optically active 1,1-dimethyl cyclopropanes in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantio-selectivity.

Total Syntheses of Basiliolide A1, Basiliolide A2, Basiliolide C, and their Structural Analogues

A small focussed library of basiliolides including basiliolide A1, basiliolide A2, basiliolide C, and their structural analogues have been prepared for structure–activity‐relationship studies. The synthesis features a cyclopropanation/ring‐opening strategy to establish the C‐8 stereogenic centre by using the cyclopropanation substrate with the appropriate alkene geometry; an IMDA (intramolecular Diels–Alder) reaction to construct the seco acid derivatives; and a biomimetic O‐acylation to form the unprecedented seven‐membered acyl ketene acetal ring. The des‐D‐ring analogues were prepared by an IMDA/decarboxylation strategy. Moreover, an asymmetric catalytic cyclopropanation reaction has been developed; this provided an optically enriched intermediate for asymmetric synthesis.

Asymmetric Titanium-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Nitriles with Grignard Reagents

The titanium-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of cyanoesters­ with Grignard reagents was investigated for the first time. Particularly, the study of the efficiency of Taddol-based titanium complexes­ has shown that the prior preparation of Taddol titanium complexes was not required and a large panel of ligands was evaluated by using this approach. The spirocyclopropanelactams were obtained with good diastereoselectivity and with moderate enantioselectivities from the main diastereoisomer (up to 32%).

Synthesis of Chiral Bis(imidazoline) Ligands with Biphenyl Backbone and Their Application in the Asymmetric Cyclopropanation Reaction

Synthesis of Chiral Bis(imidazoline) Ligands with Biphenyl Backbone and Their Application in the Asymmetric Cyclopropanation Reaction

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Cyclopropyl Nucleosides via Catalytic Asymmetric Intermolecular Cyclopropanation.

An efficient route to construct chiral cyclopropyl purine nucleoside analogues has been established via the catalytic asymmetric Michael-initiated ring-closure reactions of α-purine acrylates with α-bromo-carboxylic esters. Using (DHQD)2AQN as the catalyst, various chiral cyclopropyl purine nucleoside analogues with a chiral quaternary stereocenter were obtained in 72-98% yields, excellent diastereoselectivities, and 93-97% ee. Through simple functional group transformations, diverse chiral cyclopropyl purine nucleosides with hydroxymethyl group or carboxyl group were obtained.