Asymmetric Organocatalysts Research Articles

Photochemical Synthesis of Chiral Heterocycles via Asymmetric Carbon‐Heteroatom Bond Formation

AbstractChiral heterocyclic compounds play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical science, materials science, and agrochemical industries. The critical step for synthesizing chiral heterocycles is the formation of asymmetric carbon‐heteroatom bonds, which can be achieved in a chiral environment under thermal or photochemical conditions. However, photochemical asymmetric transformation has become an area of immense growth in the past 15 years. In the drug discovery and development era, chiral photochemical transformations have drawn the attention of researchers to develop new synthetic strategies for chiral heterocycles via asymmetric carbon‐heteroatom bond formation. Chiral photochemistry in the pathway of asymmetric synthesis requires a chirality source which is transferred to the products. A catalytic chiral metal complexing agent or a chiral photosensitizer that generally follows a single electron transfer (SET) or oxidative and reductive quenching cycle has been widely exploited to achieve this goal. In this review, we have demonstrated the recent development of photochemical synthesis of chiral heterocycles via asymmetric carbon‐heteroatom bond formation by using a chiral metal catalyst, asymmetric organocatalyst, or dual catalytic system based on their plausible mechanism.

Organocatalyzed Enantio- and Diastereoselective Formal Domino 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition/Rearrangement: Synthesis of Chiral Pyrrolo-thiazine-2-carbaldehydes.

An efficient approach for the synthesis of chiral pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]thiazine-2-carbaldehydes is achieved via formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/rearrangement reactions of benzothiazolium salt and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, utilizing an asymmetric organocatalyst. This process results in the formation of fluorescent, highly enantioenriched chiral molecules with three contiguous stereogenic centers, one of which is a chiral quaternary center, with excellent yields and enantio- and diastereoselectivity. A computational study demonstrated the understanding of the reaction mechanism. The synthetic utility of this protocol was successfully employed for gram scale synthesis. Fluorescent and in silico studies showed the application of the present methodology.

Use of Novel Homochiral Thioureas Camphor Derived as Asymmetric Organocatalysts in the Stereoselective Formation of Glycosidic Bonds.

We synthesized six new camphor-derived homochiral thioureas 1-6, from commercially available (1R)-(-)-camphorquinone. These new compounds 1-6 were evaluated as asymmetric organocatalysts in the stereoselective formation of glycosidic bonds, with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates as donors, and several alcohols as glycosyl acceptors, such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-octanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, cyclohexanol, phenol, 1-naphtol, and 2-naphtol. Optimization of the asymmetric glycosylation reaction was achieved by modifying reaction conditions such as solvent, additive, loading of catalyst, temperature, and time of reaction. The best result was obtained with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates, using 15 mol% of organocatalyst 1, in the presence of 2 equiv of MeOH in solvent-free conditions at room temperature for 1.5 h, affording the glycosidic compound in a 99% yield and 1:73 α:β stereoselectivity; under the same reaction conditions, without using a catalyst, the obtained stereoselectivity was 1:35 α:β. Computational calculations prior to the formation of the products were modeled, using density functional theory, M06-2X/6-31G(d,p) and M06-2X/6-311++G(2d,2p) methods. We observed that the preference for β glycoside formation, through a stereoselective inverted substitution, relies on steric effects and the formation of hydrogen bonds between thiourea 1 and methanol in the complex formed.

Synthesis of Trans-4-Hydroxyprolineamide and 3-Ketoproline Ethyl Ester for Green Asymmetric Organocatalysts

Organocatalysts have become one of the three pillars in asymmetric reactions, along with metal catalysis and enzyme catalysis. Organocatalysis is widely acknowledged in both academia and industry as a practical and advantageous synthetic method owing to its operational ease, readily available catalyst, environmentally friendly, and minimal toxicity. Much attention has been focused on the organocatalyst for its superior properties as an efficient and clean catalyst. In this work, a series of green organocatalysts of trans-4-hydroxyprolineamide were efficiently obtained in a two-step reaction utilizing EDC.HCl and HOBT as coupling reagents via a condensation reaction. The yield furnished in 93% to 97% yields. These organocatalysts have big potential in asymmetric reactions such as aldol and Michael addition reactions.

Stabilized Chiral Organic Material Containing BINAP Oxide Units as a Heterogeneous Asymmetric Organocatalyst for Allylation of Aldehydes.

Condensation of BINAPO-(PhCHO)2 and 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) results in a new imine-based chiral organic material (COM) that can be further post-functionalized through reductive transformation of imine linkers to amines. While the imine-based material does not show the necessary stability to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst, the reduced amine-linked framework can be efficiently employed in asymmetric allylation of different aromatic aldehydes. Yields and enantiomeric excesses found are comparable to those observed for the molecular BINAP oxide catalyst, but importantly, the amine-based material also permits its recyclability.

Heterogeneous fiber-based asymmetric quinine catalyst for highly enantioselective Michael addition and tandem cyclization to 4H-pyrans

As a new type of catalyst support, polyacrylonitrile fiber (PANF) has diverse advantages in physical and chemical properties. Quinine and its derivatives have been widely used as asymmetric organocatalysts recently. By combining the advantages of PANF and quinine, a novel fiber-based asymmetric catalyst (PANQNF) was successfully prepared through thiol-ene click reaction and characterized by FTIR, XRD, EA, SEM, TGA and mechanical strength analysis. The PANQNF exhibited excellent catalytic performance for asymmetric Michael addition of malononitrile to chalcone with ee up to > 99%. Further research revealed that the (S)-2-amino-4H-pyran derivatives were also successfully prepared using PANQNF as a catalyst in asymmetric tandem Michael addition-nucleophilic annulation of α-phenylchalcone and malononitrile, and the ee of the tandem reaction can also reach greater than 99%. In addition, as an immobilized catalyst, PANQNF showed relatively wide temperature tolerance and good recycling performance. Overall, the fiber catalyst has the advantages of easy preparation, high activity, high enantioselectivity, wide reaction temperature range, simple separation and good recyclability, which exhibits great potential for industrial application.

Sterically Demanding Flexible Phosphoric Acids for Constructing Efficient and Multi-Purpose Asymmetric Organocatalysts.

Herein, we present a novel approach for various asymmetric transformations of cyclic enones. The combination of readily accessible chiral diamines and sterically demanding flexible phosphoric acids resulted in a simple and highly tunable catalyst framework. The careful optimization of the catalyst components led to the identification of a particularly powerful and multi‐purpose organocatalyst, which was successfully applied for asymmetric epoxidations, aziridinations, aza‐Michael‐initiated cyclizations, as well as for a novel Robinson‐like Michael‐initiated ring closure/aldol cyclization. High catalytic activities and excellent stereocontrol was observed for all four reaction types, indicating the excellent versatility of our catalytic system. Furthermore, a simple change in the diamine's configuration provided easy access to both product antipodes in all cases.

Sterically Demanding Flexible Phosphoric Acids for Constructing Efficient and Multi-Purpose Asymmetric Organocatalysts.

Herein, we present a novel approach for various asymmetric transformations of cyclic enones. The combination of readily accessible chiral diamines and sterically demanding flexible phosphoric acids resulted in a simple and highly tunable catalyst framework. The careful optimization of the catalyst components led to the identification of a particularly powerful and multi-purpose organocatalyst, which was successfully applied for asymmetric epoxidations, aziridinations, aza-Michael-initiated cyclizations, as well as for a novel Robinson-like Michael-initiated ring closure/aldol cyclization. High catalytic activities and excellent stereocontrol was observed for all four reaction types, indicating the excellent versatility of our catalytic system. Furthermore, a simple change in the diamine's configuration provided easy access to both product antipodes in all cases.

Noncovalent Modification Strategy with Achiral Phosphoric Acid Diesters for Designing a Chiral Brønsted Base Organocatalyst

Abstract A strategy for designing chiral Brønsted base organocatalysts through noncovalent modification of a chiral dibasic molecule with an achiral phosphoric acid diester is introduced for the first time. Such a molecular modification concept utilizing acid-base interactions may facilitate the on-demand design of asymmetric organocatalysts, as preliminarily demonstrated in this work.

Expanding the Toolbox of Heterogeneous Asymmetric Organocatalysts: Bifunctional Cyclopropenimine Superbases for Enantioselective Catalysis in Batch and Continuous Flow

AbstractA strategy for the immobilization of chiral 2,3‐bisaminocyclopropenium salt (pre‐catalyst) onto polystyrene and silica supports is presented together with a suitable procedure for the conversion into the corresponding cyclopropenimine superbase catalysts. The activity and recyclability of polystyrene‐ and silica‐supported cyclopropenimines were initially tested under batch conditions in a model Michael addition detecting comparable efficiencies but a superior stability of the latter heterogeneous catalyst (5 cycles, accumulated TON of 27.1). The preferred silica‐supported cyclopropenimine behaved very similarly to the soluble counterpart in the reaction of glycine imine with different Michael acceptors (48–92% yield; 60–98% ee) and it could be utilized as packing material for the fabrication of fixed‐bed mesoreactors (pressure‐resistant stainless‐steel columns). Continuous‐flow experiments were performed with satisfactory long‐term stability (24 h on stream) with unaltered conversion efficiency and enantioselectivity.magnified image

Stereoselective Aldol and Conjugate Addition Reactions Mediated by Proline‐Based Catalysts and Its Analogues: A Concise Review

AbstractThe application of amino acids and small peptides as asymmetric organocatalysts in the aldol and conjugate addition reactions is a significant breakthrough in the past decade. The desired stereoselectivity in these reactions can be attained through tunable elements of diversity present in the amino acids/peptides. On this note, the current review highlights the organocatalytic aldol and conjugate addition by proline or its analogous in the form of amide/peptide derivatives. The wide‐ranging works of literature are classified based on the use of single amino acid or peptides as a catalyst. The designing of the aforementioned amide/amino acid/peptide catalyst, including their recent applications, is also detailed. Moreover, the analogous catalysts are also discussed, embedding other hetero‐organic functionalities that mimic the catalytic activity of proline in aldol/conjugate additions.

Asymmetric Organocatalysis with Chiral Covalent Organic Frameworks

Inspired by Mother Nature, the use of chiral covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous asymmetric organocatalysts has arisen over the last decade as a new method in enantioselective synthesis. In this Short Review, sophisticated design of these polymeric materials and their application in asymmetric organocatalysis will be discussed.

Asymmetric Catalysis of Chiral Bifunctional Selenides and Selenonium Salts Bearing a Urea Group

AbstractCatalytic asymmetric reactions with chiral organoselenium catalysts have become one of the most important research topics in the field of organocatalysis. Despite the presence of several effective chiral selenium catalysts, further developments of new chiral organoseleniums are still desired due to their remarkable potential as asymmetric organocatalysts. Herein, we report the synthesis and asymmetric catalysis of chiral bifunctional selenides and selenonium salts bearing a urea group. The new chiral bifunctional selenide organocatalysts promote asymmetric halocyclizations with good to high levels of enantioselectivity. Furthermore, we report a reaction involving a precious example of a chiral tertiary selenonium salt‐catalyzed asymmetric phase‐transfer conjugate addition.

Chiral Thioureas-Preparation and Significance in Asymmetric Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry.

For almost 20 years, thioureas have been experiencing a renaissance of interest with the emerged development of asymmetric organocatalysts. Due to their relatively high acidity and strong hydrogen bond donor capability, they differ significantly from ureas and offer, appropriately modified, great potential as organocatalysts, chelators, drug candidates, etc. The review focuses on the family of chiral thioureas, presenting an overview of the current state of knowledge on their synthesis and selected applications in stereoselective synthesis and drug development.

Inverted Binding of Non-natural Substrates in Strictosidine Synthase Leads to a Switch of Stereochemical Outcome in Enzyme-Catalyzed Pictet-Spengler Reactions.

The Pictet–Spengler reaction is a valuable route to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (THBC) and isoquinoline scaffolds found in many important pharmaceuticals. Strictosidine synthase (STR) catalyzes the Pictet–Spengler condensation of tryptamine and the aldehyde secologanin to give (S)-strictosidine as a key intermediate in indole alkaloid biosynthesis. STRs also accept short-chain aliphatic aldehydes to give enantioenriched alkaloid products with up to 99% ee STRs are thus valuable asymmetric organocatalysts for applications in organic synthesis. The STR catalysis of reactions of small aldehydes gives an unexpected switch in stereopreference, leading to formation of the (R)-products. Here we report a rationale for the formation of the (R)-configured products by the STR enzyme from Ophiorrhiza pumila (OpSTR) using a combination of X-ray crystallography, mutational, and molecular dynamics (MD) studies. We discovered that short-chain aldehydes bind in an inverted fashion compared to secologanin leading to the inverted stereopreference for the observed (R)-product in those cases. The study demonstrates that the same catalyst can have two different productive binding modes for one substrate but give different absolute configuration of the products by binding the aldehyde substrate differently. These results will guide future engineering of STRs and related enzymes for biocatalytic applications.

Review on Asymmetric Transformations with Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysts

This review focuses onasymmetric transformations with Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysts and its application. Phase-transfer catalysis is practical methodology for organic synthesis. It is possible to achieve highly enantio selective transformations under phase-transfer conditions for a variety of ─C─C─ ─C─O─ and ─C─N─ bond-forming reactions. The asymmetric transformations using modified cinchona alkaloids, chiral spiro ammonium salts and crown ether are among the primary source of effective chiral phase-transfer catalyst, which allows access to enantiomerically pure unnatural amino acids and synthetically useful adducts containing quaternary stereogenic centers. The advantage of this method is its simple experimental procedure, large chiral pool, mild reaction condition, inexpensive, environmentally benign reagent and use of simple and inexpensive reactants. Nowadays, it appears to be the most important synthetic method used in various fields of organic chemistry, and also found widespread industrial applications. This review summarizes the synthesis application, enantio selective transformation of some selected reaction, biological activities and catalytic activities of Phase-transfer catalysis and especial emphasis is given for organo catalysis. In asymmetric organo catalyst, it is possible to obtain chiral organic products in high enantio enriched form by steric hindrance approach method. The advantage of organic molecules as chiral catalysts complements the traditional organo-metallic and biological approaches to asymmetric catalysis.

Helicity Induction and Its Static Memory of Poly(biphenylylacetylene)s Bearing Pyridine N‐Oxide Groups and Their Use as Asymmetric Organocatalysts

ABSTRACTNovel poly(biphenylylacetylene) derivatives carrying different types of pyridine N‐oxide units with a bulky or less‐bulky substituent at a different position as the functional pendant groups (poly‐2a and poly‐2b) were synthesized by the rhodium‐catalyzed polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The influence of the steric environment around the catalytically active pyridine N‐oxide sites on the helicity induction and its static memory as well as the asymmetric catalytic activities of the resulting helical polymers with a macromolecular helicity memory was investigated. The polyacetylenes formed an excess one‐handed helical conformation upon noncovalent interactions with optically active alcohols and the induced macromolecular helicities of the polyacetylenes were efficiently memorized after the removal of the chiral inducers. Poly‐2b with the macromolecular helicity memory showed an enantioselectivity for the catalytic asymmetric allylation of benzaldehydes, producing optically active allyl alcohols, although their enantioselectivities were low. On the other hand, poly‐2a exhibited a negligible catalytic activity probably due to the bulky substituent at the o‐position of the pyridine N‐oxide residues, while poly‐2a underwent a unique helix‐inversion with the increasing concentration of chiral alcohols and the opposite helicity of poly‐2a was further successfully memorized. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2481–2490

Synthesis of 2′-aminouridine derivatives as an organocatalyst for Diels-Alder reaction

To develop a novel asymmetric organocatalyst based on a ribonucleoside skeleton, we designed and synthesized 2′-aminouridine derivatives. The synthesized 2′-aminouridines having bulky substituents at both base and sugar moieties could catalyze the Diels-Alder reaction between cinnamaldehyde and cyclopentadiene. However, the optical purities of the resulting products were unexpectedly low.

Hydrogen-Bond Structure and Dynamics of TADDOL Asymmetric Organocatalysts Correlate with Catalytic Activity.

The catalytic efficiency of diol-based organocatalysts has been shown to strongly depend on the diols molecular structure including hydrogen-bonding, yet, the underlying molecular-level origins have remained elusive. Herein a study on the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding of two isomeric diol-based catalysts (TADDOLs) in solution is presented: 1-Naphthyl substituted TADDOL (1nTADDOL), which exhibits high catalytic efficiency, and 2-naphthyl substituted TADDOL (2nTADDOL), which is a poor catalyst. Using nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, comparable hydrogen-bond strengths for both TADDOLs in solution were found, however, significantly slower bonding dynamics for 1nTADDOL. In aromatic solvents, 1nTADDOL forms less, but longer-lived, intermolecular OH⋅⋅⋅π bonds to solvent molecules, as compared to 2nTADDOL. Thus, rather than previously suggested differences in intermolecular hydrogen-bonding strengths, the results suggest that the hydrogen-bonding kinetics and entropies differ for both TADDOLs, which also explains their vastly different catalytic activities.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)-Misramine

The enantioselective total synthesis of an unusual pentacyclic proaporphine alkaloid, (-)-misramine, was achieved. The synthetic strategy relied on an enantioselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts-type 1,4-addition using an asymmetric organocatalyst to construct a spiroindane skeleton containing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter and a double reductive amination of the keto-aldehyde to form a piperidine ring toward the end of the synthesis. This work is the first example of asymmetric synthesis of a proaporphine alkaloid.